A pristine natural preserve that is perfect for time alone, exercising or taking the dog out for a walk is located super close to your Santa Barbara home! The Douglas Family Preserve is largest area of coastal open space within Santa Barbara city limits. This special park consists of 70 acres of open, undeveloped earth that sits above the Arroyo Burrow Beach with a walking trail loops the park perimeter with many smaller trails across and along the interior. Visitors enjoy spectacular cliff-side views of gorgeous bluffs, beaches and ocean below including the surf and Hendry's Beach and views of the Channel Islands.

Sometimes you can see dolphins and occasionally whales from the cliffs, live in Santa Barbara. Dogs and their owners especially enjoy the park as dogs are allowed off leash can run and play with other dogs. There is also a variety of wildlife to enjoy and observe at the park including resident hawks, woodpeckers, and horned owls. Be sure to visit the Douglas Family Preserve soon! The park is open from sunrise to 10 p.m., although take note that there are no restroom or picnic facilities. To arrive, take the 101 to Carrillo Street and turn away from the mountains, then drive until you reach Cliff Drive and turn right. Turn left onto Mesa Lane (second stop light) and then right onto Borton. Then turn left onto Linda and follow it to the end. Park on the streets in the friendly surrounding neighborhood areas. For more information, click here.

Attention all movie goers, film junkies and admirers of theatre! If you enjoy following some of the best modern films and the actors who make them successful, you'll likely be interested in a special Evening with John Cusack coming up this week, live in Santa Barbara. On Wednesday, May 16 at 8pm, Mr. Cusack will be in conversation with film critic Leonard Maltin, longtime contributor to Entertainment Tonight, at the Campbell Hall, UCSB near your Santa Barbara home. Students and non-students alike are invited to this rare event.

As an actor, John Cusack has earned the kind of respect and admiration from critics and difficult audiences for his wit and captivating demeanor in front of the camera, behind the camera and also in real life. He is a versatile performer, winning hearts and accolades in drama and comedy as well as other genres. A Chicago-born film devotee and legend, Cusack has starred in films such as Say Anything, High Fidelity and Being John Malkovich. He also starred in The Grifters and Con Air, as well as his latest role in The Raven, a gothic thriller. And not only does he star in films, but he writes them and produces them as well. Come learn what makes the man a master or at least find out how he views his career and art from a critical and candid perspective. It's sure to be a rewarding evening. For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.

Want to add a little sparkle to your life? Then take note because Red Dot Film Studios and the the 2012 Miss California United States Beauty Pageant will be making its home in Santa Barbara this weekend! If you enjoy contests and pageants, Maureen McDermut suggests you might want to snag tickets to this event featuring contestants between the ages of 13 to 55 and representing more than 100 cities in California. The participants will compete in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown, and interview, for an audience live in Santa Barbara. Depending on their performances, one contestant will go on to the Miss United States Pageant that will be held over July 4th week in Washington, D.C.

The 2012 Miss California United States Beauty Pageant will be held on Thursday and Friday May 10th and 11th at the historic Marjorie Luke Theater at Santa Barbara Junior High School, located at 721 Cota Street. All contestants will stay at the oceanfront Fess Parker Doubletree Resort while not performing. Contestants chosen as state delegates will participate in several benefits and events throughout the United States, including the annual July 4th parade on Capitol Hill. The cost to enter the pageant is $30. To follow Miss California United States and purchase tickets for this event, please click here.

May Madness takes place on Saturday, May 5th, from 9am to 3pm at the Academy of the West. The Women’s Auxiliary of the Music Academy welcomes donations of your treasures which will then be sold to benefit the music academy’s full scholarship program. The Women’s Auxiliary is a volunteer organization that supports the Academy year-round. Items for sale will include furniture, small appliances, kitchenware, fine linens, antiques, silver, crystal, china, rugs, art, books, board games, music and movies, electronics, luggage, jewelry, garden accessories, men’s and women’s clothing, and sports equipment. The Academy is located at 1070 Fairway Road in SB. The merchandise will be arranged by type throughout the academy’s beautiful grounds. For more information, please click here.

The festival was founded under the belief that “each genre of literature contributes to this collective of the human spirit, this fabric that makes us more alike than different”. The schedule begins with an introduction and welcome in the main room with the first two speakers addressing participants for 45 min each, often with Q & A at the end if time permits. Then there will be a selection of breakout sessions for 45 minutes held in smaller rooms for more interaction. Time will be given to purchase books and for book signings and in the afternoon, after lunch, there are two afternoon author presentations followed by final remarks and then adjournment.

The Santa Barbara coastline has several safe and fun locations for beginner surfers to learn the ins and outs of catching a wave. Each participant will be taught the fundamentals of this exciting sport: reading the water, paddling, etiquette, catching waves and riding. Surf sites will be based on the current swell and tide conditions, in order to find the best breaks for successful learning.

A Surfing trip will include 2 sessions with a break for lunch on the beach and costs only $99 per person, with a 2 person minimum. Children must be at least 7 years old and all students must be comfortable in the ocean. This trip package includes 3.2 wetsuits (short and full), soft-top surfboards, lunch and beverages, knowledgeable guides and comprehensive instruction. Some personal equipment such as sunscreen and bathing suits are also required. For more information, click here.

CycleMAYnia! is the unique program lasting the whole month of May that encourages and inspires Santa Barbara residents to ride their bikes more. Bicycling has a much lighter footprint than driving and benefits the rider and everyone in the community with fresher air, less car traffic, better health and myriad of other perks. Most days in May, CycleMAYnia will host an event, activity or contest to boost the community’s enthusiasm for biking. Some of the events include a Bike Fashion Show, Bike to Work Day and Children’s Bike Crafts.

The Bike Challenge competition will take place all month with participant teams competing to bike the most throughout May. The winners will be awarded charitable contributions to a Santa Barbara Organization of their choice. There will also be raffle drawings throughout the month for bike gear and certificates to local sponsors such as Bicycle Bobs and REI. For more information, click here.

You are invited to come and delight in shopping the Garden all throughout the month of April. The Garden’s courtyard has been transformed into a botanical wonderland full and overflowing with fascinating plants from growers across the state, including many grown locally right here at the Botanic Garden. You won’t want to miss out on an added bonus to take advantage of expert planting advice from the Garden’s staff. The Garden is located at 1212 Mission Canyon Road in Santa Barbara and is open daily from 10am to 5pm. For more information on the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, click here.

With a little help, you’ll be tapping your feet to the beat and getting ready to shake a leg once you try out the Lindy Circle Dance Lessons. Everyone is welcome to the free weekly lessons recurring on Mondays from 8-10pm through June 11th. If you are interested in swing dancing, Maureen McDermut suggests that you definitely come check it out and have a ball in the process of learning. Beginner and intermediate lessons take place from 8 to 9 p.m. with open dancing from 9 to 10 p.m. The Santa Barbara Housing Co-Op is located at 777 Camino Pescadero, Isla Vista, CA 93117. For more information, click here.

The Storybook Land features local foods, wine & beer, arts & crafts, horticulture and fine arts displays. Taste free samples of the featured desserts, appetizers and other scrumptious foods in the Fair & Expo Cooking Contest, offered daily at Fair. Be sure to visit “The Land of Make-Believe” to enjoy the interactive displays and see artwork, photography, pottery and many other projects entered by children from our community. The fair will take place at Earl Warren Showgrounds at Las Positas Road at Hwy 101, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. For more information on the schedule, click here.