The Friendship Center in Montecito held a Thanksgiving luncheon for its members and their families and friends on Wednesday, November 22 at the center. The festive feast was led by Executive Director Kathryn Westland and her team of Kim Larsen, cooks, and even her cousins – the MeekerFamily from San Diego! The cooks were busy […]
A new nonprofit called the Milpas Eastside Business Association (MEBA) was officially designated and granted active status by the Secretary of the State of California on July 14 of this year. The newly formed nonprofit was built by four key Eastside business owners and residents who quietly and humbly on their own decided over a […]
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) Board of Trustees held its sponsor supported Black Tie Autumn Dinner titled “Art’s Artful Affairs: Seasons of Change” at the museum on Wednesday, November 15, from 5:30 to 9 pm. The elegant event commenced with a champagne and wine reception in the museum’s Ludington Court Gallery amidst the […]
St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara CEO and President Rosa Paredes with Dr. Regina Ruiz, Vice President of Development and Marketing, are announcing their 14th Annual Fashion and Luncheon Show at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito on Saturday, November 25, 10 am to 1:30 pm. For tickets to be one of the lucky 300 attendees, visit www.stvincents-sb.org/events/fashion-show-luncheon/. […]
The Association of Fundraising Professionals Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter celebrated National Philanthropy Day with a Philanthropy Awards presentation on Tuesday, November 14, at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The event was led by their President Lauren Trujillo, her co-chairs Molly Kemper and Gerry Pantoja, and the event committee: Karen Y. Kawaguchi, Megan Nuss, Hannah Quiroz, Shannon […]
The Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District has two announcements for our town: their Annual Santa Run and a call for applications for Firefighter Paramedics and Firefighter EMTs. Pat Cockrum, President of the Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation, in conjunction with the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, announces their 3rd Annual Santa Run on December 9. The […]
The beloved Music Academy’s (MA) Auxiliary held its 2nd Annual Sip and Swap Fundraiser at the MA’s Marilyn Horne Main House on Thursday, November 9. The event saw both its members and their friends joining for a lovely evening of libations and top tier swapping of one or more treasured items from one’s closet to […]
On Friday, November 10, the world-renowned Rose Story Farm (RSF) in Carpinteria opened its doors to the public for the first time in 25 years for a ticketed fundraiser event. RSF owner Danielle Dall’Armi Hahn was talking with fellow rose designers about staging parts of the house for fun on an off weekend, which soon […]
Paris Chong, Gallery Manager and Curator of the prestigious Leica Gallery Los Angeles since 2013, curated an exhibition dedicated to a select group of accomplished and diverse Leica photographers, titled, Faces of Leica L.A. on view at the Ren Gallery [the Leica Annex] in the L.A. Arts District through November 30. I was invited and […]
The Ritz-Carlton brand presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to ocean-diving explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau at a formal affair held on Saturday, November 11, at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. The brand celebrated all things Cousteau, from his Ocean Futures Society to the Ambassadors of the Environment, along with the brand’s programming in environmental concerns. VIP brand […]
After 30 years in the skin-care industry, Linda Ross Beverly Hills continues to hold court for her in-person treatments and skin care line, available by referral only. Her client list matches the red carpet, and she has appeared in Glamour, Who What Wear, New Beauty, Women’s Health, InStyle, and Lucky Magazine and on the Style […]
Mike Lazaro is appointed the Board President of the Alcazar Theatre Carpinteria as of Oct. 28. We talked via phone Nov. 5, and he shared: “Right now, these are exciting days for the Alcazar Theatre. We are blessed with so many opportunities to show the diversity of what the theater can provide, from live performances, […]
Renowned ocean explorer and diver Jean-Michel Cousteau will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara on November 11 as part of a weekend of festivities that benefit Cousteau’s nonprofit organization Ocean Futures Society (OFS). The event, titled the 78 Years of Diving & Discovery Gala, starts Friday, November 10 and goes through Sunday, […]
I attended the opening of an exhibition at the Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) titled New Landscapes Part I, which is on view through December 8. The artists exhibiting are Whitney Bedford, Diedrick Brackens, Manuel López, Cruz Ortiz, Jonathan Ryan,and Jonas Wood. The exhibition was conceived and curated by Atkinson Gallery Director […]
The Carp-Summerland Fire Protection District is doing their annual FREE chipping service for Carpinteria and Summerland area residents, starting October 30 for two weeks. The service is done to increase defensible space around properties and neighbors. Heading the work is Firefighter and Wildland Specialist Dan Fawcett, on board since 2020. Prior he worked 15 years […]
Explore Ecology’s (EE) Annual Sustainable Table Fundraiser was held for the first time since 2019 on Thursday, October 26, at the Cabrillo Pavilion. The lucky 120 guests were treated to an extraordinary dinner event that was warm and welcoming, with many longtime friends of the organization reuniting. Seen at the event were EE’s Art from […]
The Assistance League (AL) of Santa Barbara celebrated its 75th Anniversary with an afternoon reception at its Veronica Springs Road offices on Thursday, October 26. The local chapter, the 10th of 120 chapters nationally, was founded post-WWII in 1948 by 15 society women who saw a need to help the community in ways beyond compare. […]
The Hillside House organization held its 2nd Annual “Friend-raiser” event to bring their work out to the community in an open program event on Sunday afternoon, October 29, at the Carousel House at Chase Palm Park. There were mini-info tables all around the rotunda with staff members providing information on the various programs of the […]
Photos by Joanne A Calitri The 21st Annual Ghost Village Road event took place with much enthusiasm, pomp, and costuming this year! The hallmark of the event is the amazing support of the Coast Village Road realtors, restaurants, shops, and banks in great Halloween costumes and spirits serving up treats and entertainment, especially the teams […]
Summerland Elementary School and the Summerland community have a new sports court area thanks to the generosity and legacy building by Summerland residents Nora McNeely Hurley and husband Michael Hurley through Nora’s family Manitou Foundation, who donated the $1.3 million needed to make it happen. Superintendent of the Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) Diana Rigby […]
Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT) presented their 2023 Freedom Awards to five recipients for their work in advancing human rights globally. Santa Barbara resident Barbara Rubin is a recipient. Rubin’s work started in the 1990s when she initiated the protection of women and children from sexual exploitation. She volunteers with the Presbyterian Women USA […]
Monday, October 16, saw the 22nd Annual St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara Golf Classic at the Montecito Club, a charity tournament supporting single mothers and young children in the Family Strengthening Program. There were 20 teams with 80 players who competed for grand prizes in over five categories. The event commenced at 10 am with breakfast, […]
Medora Steedman Bass is the daughter of Carrie and George Steedman, owners of Casa del Herrero. Earlier this year, various papers and journals of hers were discovered at the house, which document her love of books and reading, and spawned the creation of a book club in her honor called The Medora Book Club. Medora […]
On Friday, October 13, Rona Barrett saw her hard work pay off with the opening of Harry’s House (HH), a housing concept for seniors and especially those with dementia, at the same campus of her first housing for seniors, the Golden Inn & Village in Santa Ynez. Harry’s House is named after her dad, who […]
Suffolk University held its annual alumni gathering for the Southern California area on Wednesday, October 11, at the Jonathan Beach Club Santa Monica. The event was hosted by Trustee Christine Garvey, Juris Doctor (JD) of Montecito; Susan Cappiello,JD Santa Barbara; and Matthew Howard,JD at JP Morgan Chase & Co. Los Angeles, with special thanks to […]
The Los Padres Forest Association’s (LPFA) 7th Annual Used Outdoor Gear Sale is on October 22, at 11 am at Tucker’s Grove Site #2, Santa Barbara. Bargains abound on great outdoor gear, including Gossamer backpacks. This year the sale is being held in honor of Robert Frederick “Rik” Christensen, Jr. of Summerland, who passed in […]
Giving a new meaning to Friday the 13th, artist Tom Pazderka opened his show of his latest 13 art works at the Silo118 Gallery in the Funk Zone on precisely Friday, October 13. The show will be up through, you guessed it, 13’s reversed number, October 31st (yes, and Halloween). I attended the opening, having […]
The beloved Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (SBRM) held its 22nd annual major fundraiser, Big Waves on the Bayou, on Saturday, October 7 at the Dos Pueblos Ranch with the ocean waves as the backdrop. Over 300 guests sported beach resort attire. The event décor by Decoration Chair Dianne Davis complemented the shoreline with coral tablecloths, […]
Rona Barrett celebrated her 87th birthday in style with her annual birthday fundraiser, this year Beatles themed and titled, “I Rona Hold Your Hand!”The event saw an intimate guest list at the Santa Ynez Historical Carriage Museum on precisely her birthday, Sunday, October 8 – which is the same as John Lennon! Here, all things […]
The preparations for the 37th Annual Avocado Festival in Carpinteria were going as planned, when unexpected news came to the board that their dear colleague, avocado grower, and longtime festival foundation supporter Mac Brown had passed away on October 5. Avo Fest Co-President and the Director of Productions & Operations Mike Lazaro shared with me: […]
In its 1st Annual Estate Sale, the team at Casa del Herrero saw six months of love and labor come to fruition to pull together the most exquisite estate sale for our town with sale proceeds to benefit the organization’s mission. There were two sale dates, a private pre-sale party on Friday, October 6, and […]
The Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) held its 36th Annual Amethyst Ball at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum on Friday, September 29. The Ball’s theme this year was “The Great Gatsby,” and guests were in full-on brilliant 1920s vintage frocks, with women in colorful sequined dresses, silks, matching cocktail gloves, feathered velvet headpieces, […]
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, held its Annual MOXI@Night fundraising gala at the museum on Saturday, September 30. The theme this year was “A Celebration of Sound + Light,” utilizing both throughout the museum with multi-genre live music and light show entertainment experiences. Funds raised are dedicated to the museum’s STEAM education […]
Kathryn Westland is the new executive director for the Friendship Center Adult Day Services (FC) in Montecito. This is the first appointment to the position since Heidi Holly, who held the position for 38 years and retired earlier this year. Westland worked at the FC as program manager from fall 2017 through January 2021, and […]
The Montecito Med Spa (MMS), a local Montecito business, celebrated its one-year anniversary at its Coast Village Circle location on Thursday, September 21, from 2 to 7 pm, with a champagne party for its clients and their guests. Owner Karen Neary, MSN, RN,had her vision come true last year by opening the spa in Montecito. […]
Montecito is extremely lucky to have Pyp Pratt lead the cleanups for Butterfly Beach. He is the Beach Captain for the third year during this important annual Coastal Cleanup Day that takes place along California’s entire coast. Along with his dad Paul Pratt and mom Rali Kirova, they have been doing beach cleanups in Montecito […]
The Art Foundation of Santa Barbara (AFSB) has announced its annual art exhibition and sale titled, An Artful Affair at Riven Rock, on Sunday, October 8, from 3 to 5 pm, at the historic Riven Rock estate of Frank McGinity. Tickets are limited to 150 lucky guests and selling fast. I met with McGinity and […]
The 34th season for Camerata Pacifica was celebrated with a Director’s Cut event at a private club in Goleta on Monday, September 11. The focus was the formal introduction of its new Executive Director Ana Papakhian by its founder and Artistic Director Adrian Spence. There was also a lovely meet and greet with four of […]
Casa del Herrero’s newest outreach, Cocktails at the Casa, officially launched its opening soirée on Thursday, September 14, at its house and gardens. Casa del Herrero Board Secretary Mari McAlister with her fellow board members and staff created the event as an introduction to their new club for locals. “We are all thrilled to welcome […]
The Friendship Center held its 11th Annual Wine Down fundraiser at its Montecito location on Thursday, September 14 from 4 to 7 pm. The support for this homespun event was large, with over 200 guests and volunteers stopping by to sip and mingle with friends, and enjoy the charcuterie table, especially the freshly baked sweets […]