Tag archives: birthday

Teresa Kuskey Nowak’s deliciously decadent La Boheme Dance Company, who were attired in Versailles 18th century Marie Antoinette costumes at the Santa Barbara Polo Club earlier this month, were back at the picturesque locale for the birthdays of ubiquitous KEYT-TV reporter John Palminteri and former Cottage Hospital orthopedic nurse Rochelle Mirabello. As guests feasted on […]

It was all Greek to many when Kostis Protopapas, general director of Opera Santa Barbara, celebrated his half-century with a delightful evening of music and song at the University Club. Kostis, who was born in Athens and moved to the U.S. in 1993 on an Onassis scholarship to study piano at The Boston Conservatory and […]

It was who’s-who of magic lovers and masters of the mystifying when they gathered virtually from New York to Hawaii to celebrate the patriarch of illusion Milt Larsen’s 90th birthday. The virtual event was followed by an intimate COVID-friendly gathering on the grounds of Hollywood’s Magic Castle, sister branch of the Montecito locale, where Milt […]

Normally the party animals are out in force when Gretchen Lieff hosts her birthday bash at her Arcady estate, but the pandemic restrictions put paid to that. So the annual fun fest became Zoom with a view when friends from far and wide “attended” the party on their computer screens, while the few real guests […]

Hungarian-American philanthropist Eva Haller celebrated her 90th birthday at Casa Dorinda at the weekend with a “drive by” party. Eva, a trustee of UCSB, co-founder and president of the Campaign Communications Institute of America, Visiting Professor of Glasgow Caledonian University, and the 2014 Magnusson Fellow, who escaped the Nazis during World War II, was accompanied […]

The Music Academy of the West, whose 73rd annual summer festival was due to kick off on June 15 until July 10, is launching the Music Academy Remote Learning Institute to connect with audiences online during the lockdown. “Our hope is to bring the faculty and fellows to Santa Barbara and enjoy music together with […]

After about a decade of marriage, I came to the realization that my wife has a birthday every year. That was also about the time she told me that I had given her the same humorous birthday card four of those years in a row. She also showed me the three “unique” heart necklaces with […]

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 […]

It was a double occasion for celebration when Montecito animal rights activist Gretchen Lieff threw a sunset soirée at Tydes at the Coral Casino when her longtime beau medical equipment executive Miles Hartfeld celebrated his 66th birthday. The peripatetic twosome just returned from sojourns in Oahu and Kauai where they got engaged, Gretchen tells me. […]

Every beach and ocean’s friend, Hillary Hauser, celebrates her big 75th this week. Thanks to this founder of Heal the Ocean, who is also an amazing writer, artist, musician, raconteur and not-to-be-messed-with advocate, our local ocean is clearer and cleaner.  So, what blessings shall we bestow on this hard-working mermaid? She says all she wants […]

A torrent of tony tête toppers filled the Biltmore’s Loggia Ballroom when Montecito uber philanthropist Leslie Ridley-Tree, dressed immaculately in pink with magnificent millinery from Fenwicks of London, celebrated the 45th anniversary of her half century. The boffo bash was hosted by the Lady of Largesse’s many friends including Hiroko Benko, Bob and Val Montgomery, […]

Globetrotting journalist Kimi Matar, who used to write the Honolulu Social Diary, but now spends much of her time in our Eden by the Beach, did double duty at the Rosewood Miramar’s charming Manor bar when she combined her birthday celebration with Epicurean Santa Barbara’s Wine Down Wednesday. Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force […]

Social gridlock reigned at the East Haley Street wine bar Uncorked when Santa Barbara TV game-show host Rebecca Brand marked the 18th anniversary of her 40th. Rebecca, who turned a small business hosting dinner parties and teaching French impressionist oil painting at her home into a culinary and travel TV show empire, has just returned […]

It was all a very hush-hush affair when Belle Hahn, daughter of the late billionaire art dealer Stephan Hahn, who died in 2011, celebrated her 35th birthday with a night on the tiles. More than 120 guests gathered on the rooftop of the MOXI Museum for the top secret bash, with Belle thinking she was […]

John Fowler really made a spectacle of himself when he was presented with the Jim Stanley Memorial Award as Volunteer of the Year at a 14th recognition lunch for the Lions Sight and Hearing Center at Mulligan’s Cafe at the Santa Barbara municipal golf club. John, who was presented with the coveted trophy by former […]

Montecito über philanthropist Leslie Ridley-Tree celebrated the 44th anniversary of her 50th birthday with a pizza party hosted by her good friend, Christopher Toomey. The 50 guests noshed on pies from Christopher’s pizza oven before wishing her a rousing Happy Birthday. An amazing lady.

It was a busy week of birthday celebrations as I marked my Medicare moment, the 25th anniversary of my 40th. My longtime friend Cat Pollon ventured up from her home in the Big Orange, bunking at the Hotel Californian, given her usual accommodations at the San Ysidro Ranch were out of action. Dinner at Lucky’s, […]

Who doesn’t like birthday parties? Girls Inc. had 220 guests at their 60th one held in their Goleta facility. The decorations reminded me of the “olden days” when getting a new box of shiny colored Crayons was a big deal – never mind cell phones, since there weren’t any. There were balloons and brightly wrapped […]

New York’s legendary St. Patrick’s Day parade was a triple celebration for Santa Barbara fire chief Pat McElroy. Pat was marking his 65th birthday, his retirement after 36 years, and his 26-year-old son, Brendan, becoming a full-fledged firefighter in San Diego. “It was quite the day!” says Pat, who jetted to the Big Apple with […]