Tag archives: holiday

WEV-traordinary 
By Richard Mineards   |   December 24, 2024

“Extraordinary” was the theme at the Women’s Economic Ventures annual holiday appreciation fête for the League of Extraordinary Women at the downtown eatery Gala. Restaurateur Tara Penke, who catered my 71st birthday bash in July, and organization CEO Nicki Parr celebrated a year of impact for WEV – which has been supporting women in their […]

A Historical Holiday Soirée
By Richard Mineards   |   December 24, 2024

Santa Barbara Historical Museum had more than 300 lunar-tics at the Members Holiday Soirée under a full moon, which also marked the opening of two new exhibitions: The Chair, featuring seating through the ages, and J. Walter Collinge, displaying the photographer’s images of our Eden by the Beach before and after the 1925 earthquake. The […]

A Beautiful Yuletide Voice
By Richard Mineards   |   December 24, 2024

Social gridlock reigned when Santa Barbara Beautiful threw its annual Yuletide bash at the Voice Gallery in La Cumbre Plaza with 100 guests. Since its founding in 1965 the organization has planted 13,000 trees in our Eden by the Beach as well as placing colorful murals in the Library Plaza and the area at the […]

CALM-ing Holiday Tea
By Richard Mineards   |   December 24, 2024

Lobero Associates hosted its annual holiday tea at the University Club while collecting toys for CALM, which fights child abuse. Established in 1972, the associates have raised more than $1.5 million – purchasing a Steinway grand piano, updating the historic theater’s bathrooms and replacing the theater’s ancient curtain, and undertaking innumerable other tasks. Paula Bottiani […]

Mothers’ Helpers: Helping Mothers this Holiday Season and Beyond
By Clarissa Rios   |   December 17, 2024

For the past 15 years, the nonprofit organization Mothers’ Helpers has supported low-income families in Santa Barbara county by providing them access to essential baby items. This holiday season, the organization is hosting a Christmas program that allows community sponsors to purchase and wrap gifts for selected families, bringing a bit of magic and cheer […]

Ch-ch-ch-choices in Voices
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 17, 2024

If you want to take in all of the choral programs happening this weekend, you’d better figure out how to clone yourself quickly. By some quirk of fate, or quirky communication between them, seven different mostly choral concerts are taking place this week, including an astonishing five between Saturday and Sunday, four of them from […]

Opportunities Outside of the Weekend 
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 17, 2024

Those six shows will have to hold you ‘til Tuesday, when the 42nd annual Messiah Sing Along takes place at 7:30 pm in the First Presbyterian Church, a Santa Barbara holiday tradition that benefits Unity Shoppe. Phillip McLendon conducts a performance of Handel’s choral masterpiece – the Christmas portion plus the “Hallelujah” chorus and “Worthy […]

Down to the Wire on Holiday Shopping? Head Downtown!
By Jeff Wing and Zach Rosen   |   December 17, 2024

by Jeff Wing and Zach Rosen ‘Tis that time of year… the parking lots are getting thick and the shelves are slimmin’ as seemingly everyone hurries around town to wrap up their holiday shopping. If you’re similarly behind in the holiday hustle, these downtown Santa Barbara stores can help you fulfill that loving checklist faster […]

Lots of Lights
By Richard Mineards   |   December 17, 2024

La Arcada, the charming thoroughfare off State Street, had its 29th annual Christmas Walk with carolers in Dickensian costume, a real snow machine and free popcorn for 1,000 guests. Youngsters were even able to send letters to Santa Claus with typewriters in the Crafter’s Library which, given their age, was probably the first time they’d […]

Montecito’s Holiday Magic Car Parade Returns
By Christopher Matteo Connor   |   December 13, 2024

And it’s Bigger and Brighter Than Ever! It’s finally here, Montecito’s moment for ultimate holiday cheer! Ring a jingle bell? The Montecito Association and the holiday powers that be are throwing the 4th Annual Holiday Magic Car Parade on Saturday, December 14th! And our sleigh bell sources tell us that this year will be even […]

CVR Holiday Tree Lighting
By Montecito Journal   |   December 10, 2024

If you walked along Coast Village Road this week you may have noticed that there have been some holiday elves (okay, let’s just call them what they are – very hard workers) adding festive color and décor – including the monolithic 25+ foot tree that stands in front of Renaud’s – along the Lower Village’s […]

My December Holiday Traditions
By Hattie Beresford   |   December 10, 2024

Until I was five years old, I had never heard of Santa Claus. Instead, being born in Holland, each year I anticipated the December 5th arrival of Sinterklaas and his stalwart assistant Zwarte Piet. Supposedly, they arrived from Spain on a steamship complete with the blessed bishop’s white horse, which huppelt het dek op en […]

Christmas Festival Tickets
By Scott Craig   |   December 10, 2024

Tickets have been selling briskly for the 20th annual Westmont Christmas Festival which will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 pm and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 pm at the Granada Theatre. Tickets, which cost $22 each, may be purchased at westmont.edu/christmas-festival.  This wonderful evening of music features the Westmont Orchestra, College Choir, and […]

Festive Holiday Art Sale
By Scott Craig   |   December 10, 2024

The Westmont Art Department’s annual Holiday Art Sale features handmade work by students, faculty and alumni on Friday, Dec. 6 from 11 am – 4 pm along the second floor of Adams Center for the Visual Arts and in the design and craft studios. A portion of sales support art student scholarship fund.  This festival […]

Hillside: A ‘Shining’ Example for the Community
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 10, 2024

Next year marks the 80th anniversary for Hillside, the residential home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who receive not only quality care, but also whatever degree of independence they can handle, as well as integration within our community.  Those last two parts weren’t always true.  Hillside first opened its doors in the 1940s […]

Holiday Happenings: Granada Turns into Grace-land
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 10, 2024

Grace Fisher Foundation’s seventh annual Winter Music Showcase also marks the 10-year milestone since then-high school senior Fisher contracted a rare virus that suddenly spread to her spine, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. Confined to her wheelchair, Fisher quickly resumed her interest in art and music via specially-adapted devices, and less than three […]

Outdoor Opportunities: Surf and Turf for the Holidays
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 10, 2024

Heading outside, the overwhelming headliner this week – at least in the continuing post-pandemic absence of the Santa Barbara Downtown Holiday Parade – is the 38th annual Parade of Lights on December 8 at the waterfront. The celebration gets underway at 3:30 pm with a Winter Wonderland on the City Pier in the Santa Barbara […]

Home for the Holidays: Fa-La-La-La-La, La Lower Village
By Jeff Wing   |   December 3, 2024

A wintry evening and you are momentarily alone. Your friends will be by soon to collect you. You’re all headed to starry Coast Village Road, where your lovely gang will walk, arms linked, straight into the welcoming embrace of the lamplit Lower Village. For now, though, you’re lost in reflection. December. Another year! Cupping your […]

Coast 2 Coast Hosts
By Richard Mineards   |   November 26, 2024

Bob and Holly Murphy celebrated the 14th anniversary of their colorful La Arcada two-story gift store Coast 2 Coast Collection with a boffo bash for more than 150 guests, a fun fête so large they took over the eatery State & Fig, just across the way to accommodate everyone. The locale – formerly Hampstead Village, […]

Local Holiday Gift Ideas 2024
By Montecito Journal   |   November 25, 2024

It’s that time of year again! Are you looking for unique and special gifts for your friends and family? Check out this epic gift list that’ll help you shop local this holiday season! This stunning blue tourmaline cabochon ring, features accents of indicolite tourmalines & diamonds set in platinum Since 1976, Internationally recognized Silverhorn Jewelers […]