Santa Barbara

A night after the Josh Akognon Show at the Big West Conference tournament, UC Santa Barbara didn't want to see a repeat of the Cal State Fullerton star's 37-point performance. The Gauchos already had caught his act in Titan Gym in February, anyway: That night, he scored 29 and brought Fullerton from 22 points behind to win. This time, Santa Barbara did what amounts to holding Akognon down.

Regarding "Soaking Up Seattle" by Christopher Reynolds, July 29: To do Seattle like a real local, one needs to not just stay in the downtown area but also explore West Seattle, which is an entity in itself. Longtime Seattle inhabitants also do not miss taking in Alki Beach, Lincoln Park, the Frye Art Museum, Saltwater State Park, shopping/eating at the Junction (West Seattle's local downtown, with businesses, restaurants, etc., that line the cross streets of California and Alaska avenues)

at UC Santa Barbara 68, UC Irvine 61: James Powell scored 19 points and made a three-pointer with 1:54 left to give the Gauchos, 7-8 overall and 1-2 in the Big West Conference, the victory. The Anteaters (3-11, 1-1) got 13 points from freshman Eric Wise. Long Beach State 74, at Pacific 64: Stephan Gilling scored 19 points for the 49ers (8-7, 3-0 Big West), who shot 58% from the field in the second half to take control after trailing by five points at halftime.

I am a subscriber and an online reader. I look forward to the Travel section. Seriously, it is one of the first sections I dive into. Today's write-up about Santa Barbara is wonderful, and I got lost in it like a good book ["It's Ripening on the Vine" by Christopher Reynolds, Oct. 7]. As fall finally arrives, it will be a short trip by rail from San Diego County. I appreciate the great writing and am considering a weekend trip there. Christopher Carmichael Santee, Calif. After reading Reynolds' description of the inns in the Los Olivos area, I feel compelled to put in a word for the ForFriends Inn. My husband and I stayed there for a getaway weekend last month and found the property and rooms beautiful and the innkeepers wonderfully friendly and charming.

A wind-driven brush fire Tuesday in the Santa Barbara foothills charred at least 420 acres, forced the evacuation of about 1,000 homes and renewed grim memories of the devastating fires that swept through the area last fall. The Jesusita fire started about 1:50 p.m., racing through thick chaparral on the slopes above San Roque Canyon. It was burning about a mile west of November's Tea fire, which destroyed more than 200 homes in Santa Barbara and Montecito.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor Ben Affleck with the Modern Master Award for his work this year as director, star and producer of the CIA thriller “Argo.” The festival, which runs Jan. 24 through Feb. 3, will present the tribute to the multi-hyphenate on Jan. 26 at the Arlington Theatre. “Affleck has come into his own as a multi-dimensional artist with 'Argo,' ” said festival Executive Director Roger Durling. “He embodies what the Modern Master Award is all about, and we're thrilled to honor him this year.” The award marks the festival's highest honor.

Every time I come to Santa Barbara, I find something new to like. Not exactly secrets, just favorite things, and I'm not talking about raindrops on roses, though they probably have those too in that golden town 90 miles up the coast from L.A. Here are some of my choices: A night on the town The popular, long-running UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures series ([805] 893-3535, http://www.artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu ) gets star billing on the town's cultural calendar, bringing Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the Geneva Ballet, new documentary films and talks by authors, journalists, actors and directors.

MEN at Long Beach State 76, UC Santa Barbara 64: Casper Ware scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half in the Big West Conference opener for both schools. Long Beach State, 6-7 overall and 1-0 in the Big West, held multiple double-digit leads in the second half, but the Gauchos cut the lead to 68-61 on a three-pointer by James Powell with 1:29 remaining. The 49ers secured the victory by making eight of 10 free throws the rest of the way.

WHERE TO STAY Ojai Retreat, 160 Besant Road, Ojai; (805) 646-2536, http://www.ojairetreat.com . Main house and four cottages (12 units in all) on 5 acres. No TV or phones, free Wi-Fi. Rates $99-$289 (and no lodging tax, because it's a nonprofit). Carpinteria Shores vacation rentals, 4975 Sandyland Road, Carpinteria; (805) 684-3570, http://www.carpinteriashores.com . There are no hotels on the beach in Carpinteria. These 35 beach-facing two-bedroom, one-bath, full-kitchen condos rent for $2,000-$3,300 a week in summer, $1,200-$1,800 a week the rest of the year.