A tidal wave of generosity swept over the historic El Paseo restaurant when Heal the Ocean, celebrating its 21st anniversary, hosted its annual sold-out gala, raising around $300,000 from 200 guests. The fun fete had Montecito actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, now recovered from breast cancer surgery, as honorary chair and Los Angeles auctioneer T.Wanna Kennedy selling […]
Santa Barbara Symphony kicked off its 66th season with Festa Italiana! at the Granada featuring works by Verdi, Paganini, Mendelssohn’s Italiana symphony and Tschaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien under the baton of Nir Kabaretti. International Italian violinist Francesca Dego was at the top of her game playing Paganini’s fiendishly complicated Concerto No.1 in D Major, and then […]
Montecito accountant Frank McGinity has just published the third edition of Get Off Your Street, a personal travelogue of his global jaunts. The 253-page book encompasses six new trips, including China, Cambodia, South Africa, Easter Island, Antarctica and Israel, and a six-page chapter on the mudslides, which had a major impact on his longtime home […]
Thomas Tighe, president and CEO of Direct Relief for 19 years, was lauded at a sold-out Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Healthcare Heroes lunch at the Montecito Club. During his time with the non profit, it has provided cash grants of more than $40 million and furnished more than $4 billion in essential medicines, equipment and […]
It was another high note when the Women’s Auxiliary of the Music Academy of the West hosted its second annual benefit Music in the Gardens on the Miraflores campus, with a record 400 guests raising around $80,000 to benefit the community access program, which provides subsidized and free tickets to MAW events. Themed American Rhythms, […]
Korean-American Richard O’Neill, longtime violist for Adrian Spence‘s Camerata Pacifica, is joining the internationally acclaimed lineup of the 45-year old Takacs Quartet. He will replace Geraldine Walther, who is retiring after 15 years in May. Richard, 41, joins founding member, cellist Andras Jejer, English first violinist Edward Dusinberre and American second violinist Harumi Rhodes, in […]
William Shakespeare was clearly ahead of his time with his play Measure for Measure, which has just opened the new season of the Ensemble Theatre Company at the New Vic. Creatively directed by Jonathan Fox, the production is considered one of the bard’s most beguiling plays, dramatizing one of his more infamous bargains – a […]
Prolific Montecito author and former attorney Steven Gilbar has published his latest book, The Poet and The Prince: Stories of Forgotten Santa Barbara Writers. Steve, who has authored more than 20 books, including Literary Santa Barbara, and founded Speaking of Stories, which just ended a 25-year run this year, says his latest work is about […]
It was a night on the tiles when the Santa Barbara’s Wildlife Care Network hosted a Rose on the Roof sunset soiree at the Union Bank on Anacapa Street for 60 guests. As well as quaffing the wine, donated by co-chair Gretchen Lieff, the animal lovers noshed on a variety of treats from Santa Barbara […]
Two of the Granada Theatre’s resident companies, the State Street Ballet, celebrating its 25th anniversary, and the 72-year-old Santa Barbara Choral Society, combined their abundant talents in American Masters. The enticing program featured masterworks from Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and Morten Lauridsen, and choreography ranging from neoclassical to the avant garde combined in an endeavor […]
A record 260 guests were seeing red when United Way of Santa Barbara County threw its 23rd annual Red Feather Ball “Red State of Mind” at the Coral Casino, raising around $300,000 for the award-winning Fun in the Sun summer enrichment program and the United for Literacy Initiative. Montecito event whiz Merryl Brown draped the […]
Montecito author Alicia St. John is bringing her award-winning children’s book Piglet Willy to film. The work, which I helped narrate some years back, won the CALM Celebrity Authors award the year it was published and was endorsed by Thomas Steinbeck, son of novelist John Steinbeck. Now Dan Goldbacher, director of the Dana Point Ocean […]
A local father and son duo, Ryan and James Williams, have come up with an ingenious new app. Known as GYDO, an acronym for Get Your Drink On, one might best describe it as the alcoholic version of Interflora, a network which boasts 58,000 flower shops in 140 countries. James, 26, a former student at […]
A record $570,000 was raised when more than 300 guests turned out for the Dream Foundation’s 5th annual Endless Summer Dream at Bella Vista, the sprawling Summerland estate of polo-playing hotel magnate Pat Nesbitt and his wife, Ursula. The charity’s coffers were helped immeasurably by former board member J. Paul Gignac and Robert Curtis, who […]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival has hired veteran Benjamin Goedert as its new development director. In his new role, Goedert will be responsible for generating funds to support the fest’s dynamic arts and educational programs through sponsorships, grants and donations. He moved to our tony town 11 years ago to attend City College where he […]
The Music Academy of the West suffered social gridlock when Santa Barbara Beautiful hosted its 55th annual awards, co-chaired by Mark Whitehurst and Kerry Methner, at the Miraflores campus. Ubiquitous KEYT-TV senior reporter John Palminteri emceed the ceremony in the Lehmann Ballroom after a welcome by organization president Penny Haberman, who revealed SBB had provided […]
Santa Barbara Choral Society member Will Breman is hitting a high note! Tenor Will, who has sung under the baton of veteran conductor Jo Anne Wasserman for four years, has been wowing TV audiences on NBC’s hit show The Voice. He attended a blind audition at the studio and both judges, John Legend and Gwen […]
The MOXI Museum, which has 150,000 guests annually, was socially gridlocked when 300 supporters attended the third annual fundraiser Colorosity, raising around $300,000 for the STEAM education, outreach, and accessibility initiatives. All three floors provided a feast for the eyes and palate, with bountiful food at each stop. The boffo bash, co-chaired by Kelly Bret […]
Black and white checks were de rigueur when the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission hosted its 18th annual benefit, Bayou 500, at Goleta’s Dos Pueblos Ranch. A record 365 guests attend the car racing themed fun fête, emceed by radio host Catherine Remak and co-chaired by Susan Hughes, Kim Mullen and Joan Wimberly, which featured a […]
The venerable Granada Theatre was the place to be when UCSB Arts & Lectures launched its latest season. Author and historian Tara Westover, 33, whose memoir Educated debuted at number one on The New York Times bestseller list, and was a finalist for myriad awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award, spoke to a […]
A sea of blue swept over, Bella Vista, the Summerland estate of hotelier Pat Nesbitt and his wife, Ursula, when they hosted the fifth annual Fun with the Force with a record 900 guests raising around $300,000 for the ten-year-old Santa Barbara Police Foundation. The popular organization provides financial support for injured and ill police […]
Santa Barbara Yacht Club has a new manager, Richard Nahas, who replaces Layosh Toth, heading the charming harborside nautical venue. Richard, a former UCSB student, is normally used to more landlocked activities having been general manager of the Glen Annie Golf Club for 19 years. “Some of my fondest memories as a child are of […]
Members of the Santa Barbara chapter of the United Nations Association were spoilt for choice at the third annual Peace Prize dinner at the University Club. Normally there are three nominations to choose from, but this year seven candidates were up for the accolade. The super septet included Leslie Clark, founder of the NOMAD Foundation, […]
It was a decidedly busy night when Santa Barbara Choral Society held a kick-off reception for its 72nd season at the Music Academy of the West. Claudia Scott, who has sung with the choir for half a century, was recognized for her sterling contribution to the choir, while Debra Stewart and Erica Di Bartolomeo, both […]
John and Betsey Moller opened the doors of their charming ocean-view Ennisbrook estate for the 8th annual Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Table of Life, which attracted more than 205 supporters and raised around $450,000 for the popular organization, which has a $4.5 million annual budget and distributes 10 million pounds of food annually. This […]
What a difference a year makes! Last year’s guests at the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s annual Gold Ribbon lunch were sheltering from the pouring rain under a large tent erected on the main lawn at the Biltmore. This year the 378 supporters of the 7th annual event, who raised around $250,000 for the nonprofit, were […]
Santa Barbara Music Club, which provides free concerts to the public, is celebrating its half century! The organization has evolved from a private women’s club to the largest public series of classical music concerts in Santa Barbara County, and is supported wholly by membership dues, donations, bequests, and grants. In addition to the twice-monthly concerts, […]
Montecito über philanthropist Sara Miller McCune was honored when the State Street Ballet hosted its 25th anniversary gala for 150 guests in the Biltmore’s Loggia Ballroom, raising around $125,000 for the popular local dance company, which has 20 dancers representing six countries. The room was decorated in myriad shades of blue, Sara’s favorite color, while […]
Montecito artist Bill Dalziel, who lost his home in the mudslides, has published his first book Ulma, The Kidnapped Tree. The work, handsomely illustrated with his own pictures, tells of an architect’s dream in bringing an elm, an American Liberty Tree, from Virginia to a shopping center in Southern California. “It’s a heart-filled story of […]
Santa Barbara’s Breast Cancer Resource Center hosted The Pink Lounge gala for 300 guests at the Rosewood Miramar, which raised more than $230,000 for programs, which are provided at no cost to recipients. The 21st annual bustling bash in the chandeliered ballroom, co-chaired by Douglas Mackenzie and Joanne Funari, had Hayley Wise, 32, a breast […]
Supporters of The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County got a sneak peek of the charity’s forthcoming 8th annual Table of Life event at the Ennisbrook home of John and Betsey Muller when a reception was hosted at Marge Cafarelli‘s Public Market. Guests at the sunset soirée were able to taste bites from a number of […]
The Gaviota Coast Conservancy hosted its first ever Coastal Legacy bash at the sun-soaked Music Academy of the West, attracting 230 guests and raising around $200,000 for the environmental non-profit. The event honored philanthropists Jack and Laura Dangermond who, two years ago, preserved in perpetuity the largest privately-owned ranch on the Gaviota Coast with the […]
After hosting annual evening events, the Santa Barbara branch of the American Cancer Society threw a lunch this year in the Hilton’s Reagan Room for nearly 100 guests, which raised around $100,000 for the popular organization, which helps more than 100,000 people in the western region annually. Chairwoman Denise Sanford emceed the fete which honored […]
It seemed appropriate that this year’s tenth annual sell-out Green Gala thrown by the 49-year-old Community Environmental Council, raising around $300,000 for the cause, coincided with Global Climate Week. The boffo bash at Sherry Villanueva‘s Funk Zone eatery, The Lark, lavishly decorated in green hues, was co-chaired by Elizabeth Wagner, Carolyn Fitzgerald, and Leanne Schlinger, […]
It was horsepower of a very different kind on display at the Santa Barbara Polo Club when the 8th annual Montecito Motor Classic, which used to display its pricey wares on Coast Village Road, pitched up at the Carpinteria equestrian facility. With the theme Supercar Designs & Legacy Milestones, featuring one-of-a-kind cars made by Lamborghini, […]
ShelterBox, the Santa Barbara-based charity, has had its hands full of late with a whole slew of global disasters, most recently in the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian. More than 250 guests turned out at the Summerland estate of John McGovern for a sunset fundraiser, which garnered around $250,000 for the 19-year-old nonprofit, which has responded […]
Santa Barbara twosome Ivan and Polly Pelly are enjoying the sweet life! The dynamic duo has just launched Ivan Bar, a new nutritional candy with Macadamia nuts, almonds, chia, hemp and pumpkin seeds, and dates. “I bought my last grocery store snack bar four years ago,” says Ivan, a software engineer from the U.K. “They […]
Hospice of Santa Barbara hosted its 7th annual Jewels by the Sea lunch at the Coral Casino when more than 340 guests helped raise a record $165,000 for the nonprofit. The sun suffused bash, co-chaired by Robin Himovitz, Melinda Goodman-Kemp, and Jill Kitnick, was emceed by KEYT-TV husband and wife anchors CJ Ward and Beth […]
Heal the Ocean founder Hillary Hauser celebrated her 75th birthday in style at the Person Ryan Gallery at the Summerland Center for the Arts. Hillary, who is marking the occasion by flying to Normandy, which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, also exhibited a number of her colorful fish paintings, with all […]
Santa Barbara’s New House, a 64-year-old nonprofit to help men suffering from alcohol and drug dependency, held its fourth annual lunch with a sold-out record 270 guests at the Hilton emceed by KEYT-TV reporter John Palminteri, which raised around $35,000. The charity’s three residences in our Eden by the Beach provide 98 beds for those […]