About Town… Kendall Conrad
Most people know Kendall Conrad for her exotic leather handbag line but what they may not realize is that she’s a a fifth generation Californian. The daughter of artist and author Barnaby Conrad, she once bid Southern California adieu for modeling jobs in Paris, Milan and New York. Comfortably back home in S.B. with her own family, she started her current collection in 2008 using sustainable materials in addition to American alligator and snakeskin to create her limited-edition line of accessories which include wallets and weekenders. Here, C’s Editor-at-Large shares some of her favorite places in Santa Barbara:
DRESSED & READY I shop here for a great selection of Celine, The Row, Givenchy, and Kendall Conrad on Coast Village Road.
MAISON K They have great gifts and home accessories. It’s such a pretty store—Kim Phillips brings things back from her travels all over the world. The wooden salad bowls and glassware are my favorite.
RORI’S ARTISANAL CREAMERY They have the best organic ice cream, with unique flavors. Rori is such a talent and it is such a cute shop. The flavors Serious Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel are my personal favorites.
SANTA BARBARA BOWL This is the best venue to see a concert. I was 13 when I went the first time and I continue to go every summer. The best shows I’ve seen are The B52’s in 1982, Talking Heads “Stop Making Sense” tour, The Cure, Beck, Massive Attack, Florence and The Machine, and Radiohead every time they come to town. It’s a very intimate venue.
THE CHANNEL ISLANDS You can take a private boat or take the Island Packers out of Ventura. My family and I like to go to Santa Cruz Island and kayak the sea caves, hike and picnic above Potato Harbor. It’s like another world out there. The Island of the Blue Dolphins takes place there. There’s amazing snorkeling and sea life.
SAN YSIDRO RANCH I love to be on the lower terrace garden under the loquat trees. It reminds me of The Colombe D’Or in St. Paul de Vence. Just swap out fig trees for loquat. It’s so romantic!
RINCON BEACH I grew up here and it is the prettiest beach with the best waves bar none. We park ourselves there all day in front of my parent’s house throughout the year and I like to walk all the way to the seal rookery. My daughters are avid surfers and my husband surfs and paddle boards. I am a boogie boarder now, but maybe I’ll start surfing again this summer.
LOTUSLAND The most incredible gardens all on one property. You cannot come to Santa Barbara without visiting it. A great way to spend an afternoon is strolling around from the Aloe garden to the Bromeliad Forest to the Japanese Garden and of course The Lotus.
FARMERS MARKET I get about 80% of my marketing done here and I buy so much! I have a guy there that helps me carry it all. My favorite stands are Tutti Frutti, In the Garden of…, B.D.’s, the raw dairy guy, and Roots.
RIVIERA THEATER I love to see foreign films at this beautiful old theatre.
JAMES PERSE The store is in the Montecito Country Mart. I’m a fan of his basics and great workout clothes for yoga.
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