SANTA BARBARIANS

For the not-so-rich-and-famous, Santa Barbara’s quaint beauty eventually wears thin (“The Santa Barbara Story,” by Paul Rosenfield, Oct. 20). As recent emigres from its shores, we found Suzy Parker’s quote in Rosenfield’s article the most apt. She likened Santa Barbara to Disneyland. When shocked Los Angeles veterans ask, “How could you leave Paradise?,” we tell ‘em, “It was hell. Couldn’t find a decent bagel to save your life, never mind a movie theater worth going to.” After four years of driving to L.A. for bagels and big-screen productions, we made the move south. L.A., we love it.

SYDNEY WEISMAN

Los Angeles