Max’s Tips For a Stress-free Holiday Season

Dear Friends,

Seasons greetings from Max’s Restaurant and Cucina. Thank you to all our loyal customers for making the last 31 years such an amazing journey. It has been a joy to provide the Santa Barbara community with a friendly and casual dining experience for so many years.  We’ve shared some memorable moments this year as many of you celebrated special occasions with us.  We also shared more than a few laughs on our 2nd Sunday Comedy Nights! Oktoberfest was a success, we had a great turnout for our annual Oktoberfest Beer Dinner!

Remember to include Max’s in your holiday plans. Start your day by joining us for breakfast or take a break from holiday shopping and pop in for lunch.  Max’s Restaurant is a great way to unwind from your busy holiday schedule.

Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming holiday hours.  Max’s Restaurant will be open on Dec. 24th until 1pm, closed on Dec. 25th, Open on Dec. 26th at 7am.  We are happy to announce that Max’s will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party this year!  Come ring in the New Year with us!  

Take a break and let us do the cooking this year.   The hustle and bustle of the holidays can stress out the calmest of souls. Arm yourself with these stress-reducing tips and have yourself a relaxing holiday season.

Tips For a Stress-free Holiday in Santa Barbara

-Celebrate within your means: Finances can be a major cause of stress, even more so during the holidays.  Make a holiday budget and stick with it.  Evaluate your spending habits, eliminate unnecessary expenses and look for more affordable options to holiday expenses.  Affordable restaurants in Santa Barbara like Max’s offers breakfast, lunch and dinner at prices for every budget!

-Time management: The big day is looming on the calendar and there is still so much to do! In addition to your standard daily obligations, you now have to find the time check off your holiday to-do list. Organizing your schedule in advance can take some of the stress out of the holidays and be sure to include a visit to Max’s Restaurant and Cucina.

-Avoid scheduling overload: It’s not only holiday tasks that are a drain on our time, there is also the seemingly endless array of holiday celebrations to attend.  Festivities with friends, family and coworkers can consume an alarmingly large portion of our vacation time.  As hard it it may seem, it is important to learn to say no.  Save your time and your sanity by graciously declining  holiday events that are going to lead to stress. Sometimes less really is more.

-Remember to celebrate: So much time, effort and expense goes into executing our holiday plans that sometimes we forget to enjoy ourselves.  Take time to spend with friends and family; remember to appreciate the food, drink and company.  Dinner at Max’s is a great way to spend time with loved ones and celebrate the season.

-Don’t overindulge: Temptation is everywhere during the holiday season. We are surrounded by baked goods, rich sauces and decadent foods. While there is no reason to indulge a little (after all, it IS the holidays), try to tip the balance in your favor by making healthy choices when you can. More sensible choices will lead to less guilt. This in turn adds up to one less thing to stress about over the holidays. Max’s offers healthy alternatives, ask your server for details.

-Exercise: Get out for a family walk or incorporate a quick at home workout into your day. This may not be the best time to start training for a marathon or to start a strenuous exercise regime, but fitting in a little exercise over the holidays is a great way to reduce stress.

-Prioritize and delegate: How much holiday chaos is really necessary? Eliminate and reevaluate non-essential chores and outings. Ask for help and put your family to work.  The old adage is true; many hands do make light work! Share the holiday responsibilities and free yourselves to spend quality holiday time together.

-Be realistic: Perfection is an unattainable goal. The tree can be crooked and your holiday decor doesn’t have to come straight from the pages of Martha Stewart’s handbook.  Try to practice a little less perfection and a little more celebration this holiday season.

Be sure to see our friends across the street at Santa Barbara’s most comprehensive day spa, Qui Si Bella. They have several holiday specials running right now!

We are so grateful to have customers like you and wish you all a joyful holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2016.

Holiday Q&A

Q: Do you offer any promotional rewards?

A: Register for a Max’s eClub membership and you’ll have access to special discounts and coupons.  First time registrants are also eligible for a free pasta dinner upon enrollment.

Q: Can I bring my own bottle of wine to accompany my dinner?

A: You are welcome to bring your own wine to any dinner at Max’s for a nominal fee.  You can also take advantage of No Corkage Fee Wednesdays where we will waive the corkage fee for each entree purchased.

SANTA BARBARA HOLIDAY EVENTS

Nightly Snowfall – The entire family will enjoy the nightly snowfall at Paseo Nuevo! Share some holiday magic daily at Center Court, final show will be Christmas Eve at 5 & 6 pm.

Christmas Dinner at OSK – The Organic Soup Kitchen is hosting an authentic Italian dinner on Christmas day.  From noon until 3pm. A special holiday guest will be in attendance!

Let It Snow!  – Experience holiday magic at the Paseo Nuevo nightly snowfall. This free show runs at Center Court Monday-Friday at 7&8 pm and Sundays at 5&6 pm.

Coming in December – 30th Annual Santa Barbara Parade of Lights: “A Red, White & Blue Holiday” in tribute to our local veterans. The event starts with fun for the entire family at Santa’s Village on the City Pier in Santa Barbara Harbor. The annual boat parade begins at 5:30 p.m. with about 25 boats motoring, sailing, and paddling the Santa Barbara Coastline. The event culminates with a 5-7 minute fireworks display at approximately 7 p.m.

Sammy’s wine tours are the perfect choice for a great wine tasting trip this Thanksgiving.  Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez are home to some of the best wineries in California.

About Max’s Restaurant & Cucina: Max’s Restaurant is located at 3514 State Street, Santa Barbara, in the Upper State St. area. The Santa Barbara family restaurant serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Fine Italian cuisine and home-made Italian pasta are served Tuesday through Saturday evenings, from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m. Visit the website at http://www.maxsrestaurantsb.com for complete menu selections. “Like” theFacebook page for news on comedy nights and upcoming dinner specials. Call 805-898-9121 to make reservations.