There is one bar I can never get sick of in Santa Barbara. I think it is the only place I feel totally content sitting alone on a Monday evening drinking a glass of wine or dancing away on a weekend with crowds of people.

The James Joyce is a great Irish bar with friendly bartenders, giant peanut barrels and awesome local bands. Most nights out of the week, you can find a variety of “Big Band” type musicians playing at the Joyce. My personal favorite is the Saturday night standard, Ulysses S. Jazz. This group is made up of older, mostly retired musicians playing every instrument under the sun.

One of the eldest of the group plays the trombone, piano, saxophone all at once while often putting them down to sing! Don’t be fooled by the “No Dancing” sign on the wall because I often see swing dancers twirling away to this band. Many of the members of Ulysses S. Jazz play with other Joyce groups during the week, switching instruments and bringing in different local singers to accompany them. While you listen to the bands, you can play pool or darts or chat up the bartenders, most of which are from Ireland. You can check out the full musical lineup at www.thejamesjoyce.com. Make sure you check them all out. I guarantee you’ll have a great time and if not, your pint is on me – you can usually find me at the table closest to the peanuts.

Last Friday night, my boyfriend and I finally tried Arigato Sushi on State Street. After too many gasps of disbelief when we mentioned we had never been, we decided to cave and prepare for a hefty bill (or so we were told). Arigato definitely lived up to the hype and was actually much less expensive than we had expected.

The restaurant did not take reservations so we were a bit nervous at 7:00pm when we showed up to a full house. Luckily we got in right away at a cozy table right in the front. Our waitress was friendly, very attentive and the menu was huge. I don’t eat the actual fish at sushi places so I first noticed how vegetarian friendly their menu was. I then noticed all the crazy combinations they made with their rolls (including a Mexican inspired roll with jalapenos and habanero sauce). Prices range from $5 a roll to $14 (and a couple “at market” items).

I chose an amazing Magic Mushroom roll, a veggie roll and the Mediterraneaneo roll with artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and pesto sauce (definitely the highlight of my dinner). My boyfriend ordered the Dijon Ahi roll, the RockNRoll (their take on a rainbow roll) and the Manhattan roll – all of which he loved. Each roll came out on a different plate and arrangement so you knew they weren’t prepared too hastily. At first glance, we thought the rolls might be too small to fill us up. However, they were surprisingly generous and only seemed smaller because they use less rice filler and more good stuff inside. An hour later we were feeling full and healthy after spending less than $100 on a great dinner (drinks and appetizers included!).

Hot tip: There is apparently a “secret menu” with some pretty cool rolls. We heard about a “whatever” roll that is specially made by the sushi chefs on weekdays. Word on the street is that it’s loaded with the freshest ingredients and tastes amazing.

Sometimes dinner and movie just doesn’t cut it. If you’re dating an athlete or even someone who gets a little antsy sitting around at a coffee shop or movie, I have some great local places to get your move on. Luckily, Santa Barbara is a haven for fun outdoor activities. The obvious first choice is a hike and picnic. Grab a sandwich to go and check out some great hiking trails around the city. Chances are there is a trail within a mile from your house. Hiking is a great way to get to know someone with some quality one on one time.

We also have a TON of bike paths here in town. Rent a bike at the Pier and check out the town with a stroll along the water and around the downtown area. If you’re up for a climb, bike up the Mesa and through Hope Ranch for some awesome ocean views and beautiful homes. If you get tired climbing up those hills, just throw your bike on the bus and hop a ride back home.

For those of you that don’t want to venture too far, stop by the batting cages on lower Milpas Street. Right next door is Arturo’s Taqueria – I’ve heard it’s one of the best taco stands in town. Work up an appetite hitting some balls, grab some food and take a stroll a couple blocks down to the beach.

Wherever you choose to bring your partner, just remember that the endorphins you get from a great workout can only increase your chances of creating a perfect date.

You know the feeling. You need to get out of the house but you already ate dinner and its 8 o'clock. Aside from the typical movie or coffee date, there is another option that is great for a late night outing with your friend or partner. Go out for dessert at a nice restaurant. Whenever we go out for dinner, my boyfriend and I are surrounded by tons of other couples as well as other people we don't know waiting for a table. There is no time to quietly relax after a meal and to sit and enjoy the company of your date. The dessert date is the perfect way to have a less hectic experience at a nice restaurant without having to feel rushed.

Santa Barbara is filled with great restaurants and I have found that a few have some really great desserts. I have tried the tiramisu at a good amount of restaurants and I've found that my favorite is from Arnoldi's Café on 600 Olive Street. Arnoldi's outside garden terrace is a great place to bring a date to relax and chat under the stars. Bouchon at 9 W Victoria has a very classy atmosphere and their Meyer Lemon Tart is delicious. If you want a more relaxed scene, the Chase Café has great desserts and big booths to get comfortable in. At Christmas, they load up on the lights and decorations, making you feel right at home. Even more laid back is the gelato bar at Via Maestra 42 on 3343 State Street. You can sit and eat your gelato at one of their inside or outside tables, and you can take it to go if you wish.

By far, my favorite dessert idea in Santa Barbara has been the S'mores on the Campfire at Holdren's Steaks and Seafood at 512 State Street. They bring you all the fixings for S'mores at your table and a little fire to cook them over yourself. It's like having a little camping getaway right at your table.

Being a Jersey girl, I am constantly on the lookout for new sandwich shops. When I moved out west, there was a void in my life when I could not find one sandwich shop that lived up to my high standards. Sadly enough, I have since lowered my standards - until I visited McMaster's Steak and Hoagie shop in Isla Vista.

When my friend and I first got there on our lunch break, I noticed that there were barely any people sitting inside and eating so I got a little nervous. However, as soon as I heard the unmistakable Philadelphia accent from the owner, I felt my nervousness subside. Finally, an authentic sandwich shop! We decided to split a Philly cheese steak with mushrooms and peppers and a side of fresh cut fries. While I was waiting for my food, I began to notice that it was in between classes at UCSB and people were coming in and out on their bikes and picking up to-go orders and that they were actually quite busy during the lunch hour.

The shop itself was very clean and had an open kitchen area. The owner/cashier was extremely friendly and efficient. There was also a condiment area with different sweet and spicy peppers, some of which I had never seen before. The sandwich was very good, probably the most authentic Philly cheese steak I've had on the west coast. My only complaint is that they didn't put a lot of meat inside (maybe this is because they use rib-eye, a more expensive cut of meat). When we looked over the menu when we ordered, I noticed there was an option for adding "double meat/double cheese" but I am not too much of a carnivore so I assumed we would have plenty. The French fries were also good and very fresh – think In-n-Out, but a little thicker.

After passing our taste test and proving worthy, my friend and I were still hungry after only eating a half so we ordered seconds! This time around, we tried just the cheese steak with mushrooms and no sauce. This one was just as good and with less veggies and a little more meat. Altogether, I was pretty impressed with this place. My recommendation for others who stop by McMasters is to definitely order a whole one to yourself and if you are a big eater, get the double meat/double cheese.