Tag archives: Katy Perry

New Manager at the Helm
By Richard Mineards   |   October 3, 2019

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 […]

Pretty in Pink
By Richard Mineards   |   September 26, 2019

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 […]

All Hands on Deck
By Richard Mineards   |   September 19, 2019

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 […]

Welcome, Kelsey
By Richard Mineards   |   September 12, 2019

After my exclusive about KEYT-TV chief meteorologist Alan Rose departing for Colorado after 14 years on TV Hill, I now hear he is being replaced by Kelsey Gerckens, a regular on the ABC affiliate’s morning show with her husband, co-anchor Joe Buttitta, according to news director Jim Lemon. The tony twosome obviously work well together […]

Celebrating Sculpture
By Richard Mineards   |   September 5, 2019

Santa Barbara has just added a new art gallery to its myriad collection with the opening of Chessmar Sculpture Studios on East Anapamu Street by Brian Anders Chessmar, a graduate of The School of Art Institute of Chicago. “My work is an exploration – emotional, physical, and spiritual – of what is seen and unseen […]

Caliente Cocina
By Richard Mineards   |   August 29, 2019

To La Cocina, formerly Somerset, with my snapperazzi Priscilla, to check out the made-over East Anapamu Street eatery, which now features Mexican-Californian cuisine. The charming back courtyard, filled with lavender bushes and gnarled ancient fig trees brought in by flatbed trucks from Northern California and craned in over the rooftops when it first opened after […]

Fintastic Feast
By Richard Mineards   |   August 22, 2019

To the Bluewater Grill with my snapperazzi Priscilla where, on the second Tuesday of each month, the popular eatery offers a new seafood tasting menu. The all-inclusive dinner included chipotle blackened swordfish with rice, corn and avocado relish with clam chowder – Manhattan or New England – and a glass of Cuvee Rouge. Scrumptious… Moving […]

Julia’s Back
By Richard Mineards   |   August 15, 2019

Montecito actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ critically acclaimed HBO series Veep went on hiatus while she underwent treatment for breast cancer. Now Julia, 58, has opened up to the celebrity glossy, Vanity Fair, about her cancer diagnosis and returning to work after a life-threatening illness. On the cover of the Conde Nast monthly Julia wears a diaphanous […]

An Obama in Ojai
By Richard Mineards   |   August 8, 2019

After Queen Elizabeth‘s granddaughter Princess Beatrice dining at Lucky’s with her boyfriend, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, it was the turn of former President Barack Obama‘s daughter, Malia, and her beau Rory Farquharson, to check out the area. The twosome, who both attend Harvard and have been dating for three years, were spotted at the Ojai Valley […]

Grilling Out
By Richard Mineards   |   July 25, 2019

Food From The Heart, a Santa Barbara charity which serves 160 elderly clients a week using 60 volunteers, hosted a thank-you bash at the Pilgrim Terrace senior living facility to mark its 25th anniversary. With an annual budget of just $270,000 and hydroponic vegetables grown on 120 produce towers by the Pilgrim Terrace Foundation, more […]

BoHo Manifesto
By Richard Mineards   |   July 4, 2019

Social gridlock reigned at fashion designer Kendall Conrad‘s Montecito Country Mart store when she hosted a book launch bash for writer Julia Chaplin‘s 191-page The BoHo Manifesto, An Insider’s Guide to Postconventional Living. Brooklyn, New York-based Julia has already written and produced three books – Gypset Style, Gypset Travel, and Gypset Living, and has founded […]

Reunited after 50 Years
By Richard Mineards   |   June 27, 2019

Former Montecito resident Jim Sokolove, who moved with his wife, Stephanie, to Boca Raton, Florida last year, has just attended his 50th reunion at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. Jim, who was in the class of 1969, founded his firm Sokolove Law in 1979. The tony twosome used to host the annual Table of […]

Rotary Club Scholarships
By Richard Mineards   |   May 16, 2019

Montecito Rotary Club has awarded ten $1,250 scholarships to high-performing City College vocational and career technology students. “For more than 25 years, the club has made scholarships available, with the total amount of support provided during this time exceeding $120,000,” says club foundation president, the aptly named Cathy Cash. “The club membership believes in the […]

Two for One
By Richard Mineards   |   March 29, 2019

Santa Barbara Choral Society has plenty to sing about as the tony troupe celebrates its 70th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of its director JoAnne Wasserman. To mark the double-header, longtime supporters Gary and Kate Rees hosted a sunset soirée for premier Canto donors at their charming mountainside home before next month’s anniversary concert at […]

Generous Grants from Garufis
By Richard Mineards   |   March 28, 2019

To mark its 44th anniversary, Montecito Bank & Trust hosted a grants reception at its majestic State Street headquarters when president and CEO Janet Garufis handed out checks worth $20,000 to 10 local charities. Along with the checks, the nonprofits also received a professionally produced one-minute promotional video. Employees of the bank, which since its […]

Foodies and Winos
By Richard Mineards   |   March 21, 2019

Gourmands and oenophiles were out in force at the Wine Shepherd when the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum threw an intimate bash to mark the 38th year of its popular wine and food festival in June, which is expected to raise $130,000 for educational programs. The fest on the 14-acre campus along the shaded banks […]

Not All Heroes Wear Capes
By Richard Mineards   |   March 14, 2019

It was an early start when the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation hosted its 5th annual Little Heroes breakfast for 350 guests at the Hilton, which was expected to raise around $100,000 for the popular charity. The boffo bash, co-chaired by Heather Ayer, Matthew Fish, Emilee Garfield, and Nina Johnson, featured keynote speaker Eduardo Garcia, a […]

Making the Rounds
By Richard Mineards   |   March 14, 2019

The mad social whirl was at full throttle when UCSB Arts & Lectures hosted parties for guest speakers at the Granada and Campbell Hall. The first was held at the charming Montecito residence of Audrey and Tim Fisher, the former home of actor James Brolin, for global photographer James Balog, who spoke about his new […]

Golden Mike Winners
By Richard Mineards   |   February 21, 2019

It wasn’t quite the Olympics, but KEYT-TV reporters Mike Klan, Kelsey Gerckens, Joe Buttitta, Kacey Drescher, and Tracy Lehr were definitely going for gold at the 69th annual Golden Mike awards in Los Angeles. The ABC affiliate broadcaster won the coveted trophies at a glittering Radio and Television News Association of Southern California gala at […]

SB Gains an Ace
By Richard Mineards   |   February 14, 2019

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club has added a new tennis pro to its talented staff. Born and raised in Scotland, Nikki Slater grew up playing with Wimbledon champ Andy Murray and his brother, Jamie, as her coach was the ace racketeers’ mother, Judy. She graduated from Florida State University where she was number one […]