Alisal Ranch Marks 80 Years with a Summer of Celebration

Alisal Ranch, the 10,500-acre working ranch and resort in the Santa Ynez Valley, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this summer. The property first welcomed guests on July 16, 1946, and has spent eight decades building a reputation for Western hospitality and family tradition. I've never stayed there myself, but I have friends who have, and they can't stop raving about it. It's firmly on my bucket list.

To mark the milestone, the ranch is rolling out a summer's worth of experiences and keepsakes. The centerpiece is the 1946 Legacy Package, a two-night stay for six adults priced at a symbolic $19,460. It includes a private stay at the Jackson House, a candlelight dinner in the historic library, a falconry and whiskey tasting experience called "Wild at Dusk: Birds & Bourbon," a sunrise hot air balloon ride and a private horseback ride through the ranch's hills.

On Nov. 8, the ranch will host its Chapter & Hearth Dinner, complete with a haywagon ride, storytelling from a local historian, a Western cookout, live music and dancing under the stars.

The anniversary also brought a few new collaborations worth knowing about. Alisal partnered with Goleta's M.Special Brewing Co. on a limited-edition 4.7% ABV lager called 1946 Alisal Beer. There's also a new 1946 Collection of retail goods, including caps, tees and a crewneck sweater, plus handmade ceramic mugs from a local ceramicist featuring artwork of the ranch's oak-studded hills.

A commemorative coffee-table history book traces the property's roots back to 1843 through eight decades of Jackson family stewardship, with archival photos and guest stories throughout.

The retail collection, beer and history book are available now at the ranch and at shopalisalranch.com. The ceramic mugs arrive later this summer. For details on the 1946 Legacy Package or the full slate of anniversary events, call (805) 688-6411 or visit alisalranch.com/1946-2.

Good Together House: Laguna Beach’s Home for the Extraordinary and Unexpected

Laguna Beach has quietly upped its game when it comes to indie retail, and Good Together House is a big reason why. On Ocean Avenue, the shop has spent the last five years becoming the kind of place people build a Saturday around. Part home goods store, part apothecary, part vintage jewelry counter, it's the sort of shop where a candle, a ceramic vase and a vintage silk scarf can all feel like they belong in the same bag.

I will admit it, this is one of my favorite stores in Laguna Beach. The vibe alone is worth the drive, warm and curated without ever feeling precious about it. It is also my go-to when I need a gift that feels thoughtful instead of last-minute. There is always something on the shelves I did not know I needed until I saw it.

Owner Kristin Winter opened Good Together House in June 2021, but her roots at that Ocean Avenue address go back further. She was a partner at Brass Tack, a retail store that once occupied the same space, and it's where she first worked alongside Jenn, her current business partner.

The name is intentional. "Good Together House" is meant to signal that the shop exists for its community as much as its customers, Kristin said. That philosophy shows up in three simple goals: make everything inside the walls extraordinary and unexpected, help customers discover the passion behind the products and the people who make them, and send every visitor home having had a genuinely good experience.

"We want Good Together House to be a worthwhile place for you to spend time," Kristin said.

That focus on craftsmanship is central to what sets the store apart. Kristin has cultivated relationships with artists and artisans whose work is hard to find anywhere else in Laguna Beach, or locally at all. Among her favorites on the shelves are ceramics from Isa Carr, MH Ceramics, Il Buco, Aaron Murray, Rachel Pally, Greg Garrett, Mt. Washington and LA Clay.

The store's connection to Laguna Beach runs deep on a personal level too. Eight of the shop's 10 employees live in Laguna Beach, and the other two live nearby.

For Kristin, the best part of running Good Together House isn't the merchandise, it's the people who walk through the door.

"The people we meet every day in the store give us such faith in our community and world," she said.

Good Together House is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, at 311 Ocean Ave. in Laguna Beach. For more information, call (949) 466-4428.

VIII by Selanne Unveils Summer Tasting Menu

VIII by Selanne, the intimate tasting-menu restaurant next to Selanne Steak Tavern, has introduced a new summer menu celebrating California's seasonal harvest through a multi-course dining experience.

Available for a limited time, the menu highlights premium seafood, locally sourced produce and expertly prepared meats, with each course designed to capture the freshness of summer and reflect VIII's contemporary approach to fine dining.

Executive Chef Vince Terusa and his team open the experience with an assortment of canapés, including king crab tartelette, beef tartare and pomme dauphine, before moving into California Coastline, a seafood trio of bay scallop, bluefin tuna toro and Misty Point oyster. Inspired by VIII's oceanfront setting, the opening courses pay homage to Laguna Beach's coastline and Southern California's abundant seafood.

Seasonal produce takes center stage in the Summer Vegetables course, featuring Jimmy Nardello peppers with labneh and house-baked focaccia. The menu continues with California seabass, charred fennel and preserved apricot, followed by handkerchief pasta with sweet summer corn, squash and ricotta.

Entrées include pork secreto with pineapple, Anaheim romesco and guajillo jus, and dry-aged rib loin with cherry, torpedo onion, celeriac custard and pepper jus. The tasting concludes with a peach profiterole featuring champagne caramel, raspberry gel and almond anglaise, a bright finish inspired by California's stone fruit season.

Each course is paired with VIII's signature wine selections, curated by Advanced Sommelier Vito Pasquale. Highlights include Klein Constantia Blanc de Blanc from South Africa, a Riesling tasting, Reverdito Pelaverga 2023 from Italy, Granbazán Albariño 2025 from Spain, La Rioja Alta Reserva 2020 from Spain, a special Judgment of Paris tasting and Miles Madeira 1988 to close the evening.

Together, Terusa's seasonal cuisine and Pasquale's wine pairings reflect VIII by Selanne's philosophy of showcasing exceptional ingredients through globally inspired cuisine, all while celebrating the coastal beauty of Laguna Beach.

VIII by Selanne is located at 1464 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach. 949-715-9881.