Tag archives: benefit

A Brilliant Thing Coming to Town
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 27, 2022

Every Brilliant Thing starts off as the story of a seven-year-old boy whose mother has been hospitalized with suicidal depression. In an effort to lift her spirits, he begins creating a list of the joys of life from his perspective, from ice cream, water fights, and badgers, to, as time goes by, Christopher Walken’s voice, […]

75th Anniversary at MA
By Lynda Millner   |   July 12, 2022

There was recently a luxe event under the stars for the Music Academy’s (MA) 75th Anniversary Signature Benefit, complete with a red carpet. It’s always amazing how the committee magically transforms the parking lot into an elegant theater and dining room, along with a couple of grand pianos. The three people who headed up that […]

Some Magic in the Air
By Richard Mineards   |   December 28, 2021

Basketball legends Magic Johnson and Jerry West delighted sports fans galore at the Turner Foundation’s Legacy gala at the Rosewood Miramar benefitting the popular organization’s music and imagination program, and the Lisa Smith Wengler Foundation House for transitional youngsters between 18 to 24. More than $500,000 was raised from the 424 guests at the Yuletide […]

Holiday Party at Paseo Nuevo! Impressive Lineup Will Put You in the Holiday Spirit
By Nick Masuda   |   November 22, 2021

Mary Lynn Harms-Romo readily admits that at 5:30 pm every day, she plans to step away from whatever she is doing to take in the snow. Yes, the snow. It’s a holiday benefit to her role as senior marketing director and local leasing manager with Paseo Nuevo — and a welcomed sight after the pandemic […]

Lotusland Benefit
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 19, 2021

Ganna Walska Lotusland and the Lutah Maria Riggs Society are collaborating to screen the award-winning documentary, Lutah – A Passion for Architecture: A Life in Design, this Saturday, November 20, at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara.  Lutah Maria Riggs is an integral part of Santa Barbara architectural history. Lotusland’s archives contain several drawings by […]

CAST of Characters
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 21, 2021

Your faithful correspondent finds collaborations compelling, whether between artists in various genres or among cooperating venues. Both are in play with the current showcase series at Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science, and Technology (SBCAST), where three of its Artists in Residence are staging weekend exhibits of installation art, design, multimedia projects, and performances. The […]

Bringing Back the Beatles: ETC Music Benefit Honors the Fab Four
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 1, 2021

For Ensemble Theatre Company’s education director Brian McDonald, the theme for this year’s fundraiser for the ETC’s education and outreach programs was a bit of a no-brainer: “Come Together.” After all, the title of the Beatles song from their penultimate album provides the perfect prescription for emerging from a pandemic that has kept people apart […]

Lotusland Art Sale
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 22, 2021

In an effort to rethink traditional in-person fundraising efforts, Lotusland has announced a new benefit event, Sanctuary.  Earlier this year, 36 local artists were asked to create new work inspired by Lotusland. The artists were given three days to visit the Garden and only eight weeks to create, capture, and complete their muse at Lotusland. […]

Museum Exhibits, Sells 450 Art Pieces
By Scott Craig   |   December 10, 2020

The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art celebrates its 10th anniversary with a fundraising exhibition, “5×5: Celebrating Ten Years,” which features about 450, five-inch-square works of art from December 3-18. The art will be available for purchase through an online auction at westmont.edu/museum/5×5 that ends Friday, December 18, at 5 pm. The exhibition, which benefits the […]

A Night in Paris
By Tim Buckley   |   February 20, 2020

I don’t speak French but neither did anyone else at the “A Night in Paris” benefit for Montessori Center School (MCS) at Rosewood Miramar Hotel. Ball gowns and tuxes were de rigueur as guests sipped mimosas and wine. The ballroom doors opened to a stunning sight of white with white feathers in very tall vases […]

On a Mission
By Richard Mineards   |   October 10, 2019

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 […]

Music in the Gardens
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 3, 2019

You won’t find any violins, violas or cellos on the grounds of the Music Academy of the West next Sunday afternoon, October 13, when the classical music institute hosts the Music in the Gardens benefit. But there will be plenty of guitars, electric basses, banjos, horns and even a fiddle or two at the second […]

Run the Franklin Trail
By James Buckley   |   September 5, 2019

This year’s 4th Annual Island View Trail Race, hosted by Santa Barbara County Trails Council, is set to showcase the Franklin Trail on September 15. The Franklin Trail – nearly wiped out by the Thomas Fire two years ago – is the longest trail in Santa Barbara’s front country. “It’s remarkable how well it has […]

Shanghai Nights
By Lynda Millner   |   January 27, 2019

The entire Santa Barbara Club was transformed in a time warp to Shanghai of the 1920s for the annual benefit of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara located at 632 East Canon Perdido Street. The dress was cocktail attire with a touch of Shanghai – fans, mandarin collars, and silk dresses with slits. […]

Ocean-Side
By Richard Mineards   |   December 6, 2018

United Way board member Bob Hollman and his wife, Joan, opened the doors of their beautiful Montecito Valley Ranch home for VIP supporters for a festive fete, with Ocean’s Eight producer Susie Ekins regaling guests with Hollywood dish. Ekins was also executive producer for Ocean’s 10, 11, 12 and 13! Among those quaffing the champagne […]

Four-Legged Friends
By Richard Mineards   |   November 8, 2018

The party animals were out in costumed force when the popular charity Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network threw its 30th annual benefit at the Carriage and Western Art Museum, with a record 260 guests raising around $80,000 for the Goleta-based facility that rescues and treats more than 3,500 animals annually. The bustling bash, co-chaired by […]

Yacht Club Charity Gala
By Tim Buckley   |   September 20, 2018

The Santa Barbara Yacht Club (SBYC) got underway with their 14th Annual Charity Regatta benefiting Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care (VNHC) and celebrating our dedicated teachers. They were recognized for going 110 percent above and beyond the call of duty during the Thomas Fire and mudslides to continue their student’s education. They arranged alternate classroom […]

Gala-Force Winds Spring into August
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 26, 2018

The Music Academy of the West’s (MAW) annual gala benefit concert is anchored by a quintet of distinguished alumni artists. Among the former Fellows performing at this year’s special fundraiser are soprano Brenda Rae (2008), whom Opera News has praised for her “dazzling, pinpoint coloratura,” and bass-baritone Brandon Cedel (2010-11), whom The New Yorker‘s Alex […]

Clearing Mud through Music
By Steven Libowitz   |   May 17, 2018

When the mud and debris from the mountains coursed through Montecito back on January 9, Robert Cassidy immediately felt the need to support the victims and the community in some way. “Like so many people, I wanted to help, but I didn’t really know what I could do,” said Cassidy, a classical pianist who only […]

No Average Dough
By Richard Mineards   |   May 17, 2018

Too many cooks spoil the broth goes the old adage, but culinary wizards were in abundance when UCSB Arts & Lectures threw a benefit gala at the Museum of History with Anthony Bourdain, host of CNN’s Parts Unknown. The 61-year-old, who flew in from Bali via Dubai for the 300-guest fete, gave an expletive-filled speech […]