After years of teaching at pilates studios, best friends Alissa Disalvo and Natalie Harper have opened Pilates Cult at 11 W. Figueroa St., just off Santa Barbara’s busy State Street. 

Disalvo and Harper have lived in Santa Barbara for 10 years. Disalvo grew up in San Luis Obispo, while Harper hails from New York City. 

Harper found her love of pilates after spending time as a competitive gymnast. She and her husband have opened restaurants, studios and bars across the United States and beyond, from New York to Toronto to the Caribbean, including Santa Barbara bar Red Piano.

“Once you’re an entrepreneur, you’re always going to be an entrepreneur,” she said. 

Disalvo described herself as an athlete with a history of biking, cycling, running and hiking who fell in love with pilates after reading about it. 

“I went and took some classes and just thought, ‘This is so much easier than spending hours a day getting this cardio training (in) … all the things I’m working so hard to do, and I can get the same results,'” she said. “It just felt so different and so nice in my body.” 

Both have extensive pilates teaching backgrounds, including locally at Club Pilates and Core Sport. Harper also taught at Sante and Olada, and Disalvo at the Santa Barbara Athletic Club. 

The pair have been looking for the perfect space to open up a pilates studio together for years, and they finally found it on Figueroa Street.

The studio is split into two. At the front are six Cadillac machines, which the pair said are for more acrobatic classes; in the back is a much larger, airy space with a high ceiling and 12 reformer machines spread throughout.

What sets Pilates Cult apart machine-wise are the Cadillacs, the pair said. Most studios don’t offer those in a group setting because of the size. 

“Our space is the biggest one in Santa Barbara,” Disalvo said. 

Pilates Cult has been open for six weeks. The business offers several types of classes at various levels; some focus on weights and strength training or cardio pilates, while others tap into the fundamentals of the pilates workout.

The 50-minute classes are priced by drop-in and membership class packs. A drop-in class is $45, while the class packs range from $140 for a four-week four-pack to $459 to a four-week 20-pack. The studio also offers a “cult-curious” three-pack for beginners for $99.

Disalvo and Harper are the only teachers so far, but they are launching their first teaching training this month.

“What sets us apart is … how we teach,” Disalvo said.

“We have more of an athletic approach,” Harper added. 

They hope to open up another studio in Goleta in the future. 

“We’re building our own cult,” Disalvo said. 

Carpinteria’s Brass Bird Expands to Santa Barbara

Carpinteria’s Brass Bird opened a second shop in Santa Barbara this week across from MacKenzie Park at 3102 State St.

“We’re beyond thrilled to share that our second location is officially on the way!” representatives said on social media before the official opening.

“This has been a dream in the making, and we can’t wait to bring even more good coffee, great vibes, and community your way.” 

Sarah Dandona and Juan Rodriguez — owners of Teddy’s By the Sea, a seafood spot also located in Carpinteria — first opened Brass Bird in Carpinteria in 2022 at 4835 Carpinteria Ave.

Free Scoops at New Rori’s Location in Goleta

Rori’s Artisanal Creamery’s new Goleta location officially opens on Friday.

A free scoop of ice cream will be offered to everyone who comes by on the grand opening date. Doors will open at noon.

Creamery representatives confirmed to Noozhawk earlier this year that an eighth Rori’s location was set to open in Goleta at 270 Storke Road.

The new location will offer Rori’s 24 standard ice cream flavors and one or two new flavors introduced monthly. 

The shop’s namesake and founder, Rori Trovato, told Noozhawk the Rori’s team has been on the hunt for a good location in Goleta for years because there are lots of families and schools in the area. 

Draughtsmen Aleworks to Celebrate 10 Years

Draughtsmen Aleworks — a brewery and taproom with three locations in Santa Barbara County — will celebrate 10 years of operation in May at its Goleta taproom. 

Although the brewery started in Goleta at 53 Santa Felicia Drive in 2016, it has since expanded to two other locations: in Santa Barbara at 1131 State St. and in Solvang at 1631 Mission St.

Draughtsmen Aleworks partner Tami Snow said in a news release that the founders’ goal “was to be more than a brewery.” 

“We wanted to be part of the fabric of the community we live and work in,” Snow said. “We’ve been fortunate to collaborate with and give back to so many incredible organizations over the past 10 years. That impact is something we’re deeply proud of, and it continues to inspire everything we do.”

Partner Scott Stefan said: “This milestone belongs to our community as much as it does to us. … We are incredibly grateful for the loyal and supportive people who have shown up, raised a glass and helped us grow over the past 10 years. It’s because of them that we’ve been able to thrive, evolve and keep doing what we love.”

Two days of celebrations are planned for May 2-3, with live music, local food, games, face painting, a photo booth and more. 

Those include, on May 2, Matt Kustra at noon; Art of Funk at 2 p.m.; The Genuine Article at 4 p.m.; Dark Current at 6 p.m.; and DJ Frew and DJ Paige at 8 p.m. Saturday food options include Mylestone BBQ, El Fogon Purepecha and Zapp Thai. 

On May 3, Paradise Kings will take the stage at noon, MoneLuv at 3 p.m. and Sam Kulchin at 5 p.m. Sunday eats include Beef Hearts, Goodland Waffles & Melts, Poe & Co. Ramen Bar and Zapp Thai.

Silvergreens to Return Under Amazon Partnership

The health-focused eatery Silvergreens is returning under the rebranded Silvergreens Café at 1001 State St. in Santa Barbara this spring.

Silvergreens, owned and operated by the owners of chicken spot Kyle’s Kitchen, opened in 1995 in Isla Vista. It closed in 2020. 

A notice on the Silvergreens website states the State Street location is “coming soon” under a partnership with Amazon.  

The notice reads: “Now, 30 years later, Silvergreens is back — reimagined for a new generation. In partnership with Amazon, Silvergreens Café blends a welcoming coffee shop atmosphere with a wide variety of fresh, healthy items prepared daily. Open to both Amazon employees and the public, we’re here to provide convenient, flavorful options that make eating well easy.”