$50K: How Sweet it is

The Rape Crisis Center, now renamed Standing Together to End Sexual Assault, threw its 10th annual Chocolate de Vine event at the Greek Orthodox Church, attracting more than 250 oenophiles and chocaholics, raising around $50,000 for the worthy charity which has an annual budget of $950,000.

Eight chocolatiers and nine wineries participated, and for the first time beer was on the menu, including the Telegraph and Figueroa breweries.

“We wanted to expand our horizons,” joked Elsa Granados, executive director, while new mayor Cathy Murillo emceed, April Howard chaired, and city council member Gregg Hart auctioned off a number of items, including a trip to Bermuda.

One of our tony town’s sweeter events.

Gusto for Gustav

The Granada stage was positively heaving when Santa Barbara Symphony, under energized maestro Nir Kabaretti, performed Gustav Mahler’s mammoth Symphony No. 6 in A minor.

The 102 musicians, the full symphony orchestral arsenal, reversed the order of the second and third movements on the weekend days of the impressive electrifying concert.

The intensive show was, in a word, magnificent.