A Gil-ded Wrap Up
By Richard Mineards   |   May 27, 2025

Gil Shaham, former concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Symphony, wrapped the current season at the Granada this weekend with works by Brahms, Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 8” and Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto.” The Sunday concert had Shaham duetting with his wife Adele Anthony and the West Coast premiere of Avner Dorman’s “A Time to Mourn and a […]

Salut Salonen
By Richard Mineards   |   May 20, 2025

CAMA – the Community Arts Music Association – closed its 106th season’s International Series with the Los Angeles Philharmonic led by beloved conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, joined by French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard at the Granada.  The concert hailed maestro Salonen’s 16th appearance conducting for CAMA over the past three decades – 12 with the L.A. Phil […]

 

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More from Montecito

Brunchin’ at MOXI
By Richard Mineards   |   May 20, 2025

MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovations, hosted its annual spring brunch + learn event, an inspiring and informative showcase of MOXI’s educational programs and commitment to providing access opportunities for all youngsters and families. The event, co-chaired by Angie McGrath and Sabina Vohra-Miller, focused on the benefits of early childhood education and STEAM […]

Words to Live By
By Richard Mineards   |   May 20, 2025

Montecito actor Rob Lowe is at work on his third book. The working title for his next tome is What Do I Know? A Guide to Living which he hopes will land him in the self-help section at the bookstore. “It’s my truisms, what I found to work, what I found to not work, what […]

Riveting Divots
By Richard Mineards   |   May 13, 2025

Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club opened its 114th season on Sunday, kicking off an action-packed schedule with exciting tournaments and events that will showcase some of the world’s most talented equestrians. With a record number of teams and players participating, including a Number Ten rider – the top accolade in the sport – this […]

Historical ‘Vision’
By Richard Mineards   |   May 13, 2025

English-born artist Don Louis Perceval is the focus of the latest exhibition at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum with His Vision of the West, which runs through August 17. Curated by Marlene Miller, Perceval’s interests were mainly the colorful people and cultures native to the desert realms. Perceval made Montecito his home for the last […]

Good Persons
By Richard Mineards   |   May 13, 2025

It was all very in-tents. The Hilton rotunda was socially gridlocked and covered in a marquee when licensed psychologist Dr. Carrie Towbes, and lifelong conservationist George Burtness were selected as the 82nd Persons of the Year, with the Santa Barbara Foundation as the organizing sponsor – and legacy the occasion’s unspoken theme. Burtness’ father was […]

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  • United in Bloom
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 13, 2025

    The Amazons were out in force at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum for Women United’s Blue in Bloom lunch co-chaired by Alice Hampton and Julie Heider-Gray. The fun fest, which raised more than $20,000 for United Way, featured two keynote speakers Dr. Melissa Drake, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist in Santa Barbara, and Diana Rigby, superintendent of […]

    Al Fresco Angels
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 6, 2025

    Angels Foster Care hosted its 12th annual Al Fresco Afternoon for 170 guests on the Ocean Lawn at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, raising more than $150,000 for the popular nonprofit with founder Meichelle Arntz and Montecito Bank & Trust head honcho Janet Garufis as Mistresses of Ceremonies. Supporters gaining their wings included Sarah Powers, Monique Limón, […]

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    Ballet Brilliance
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 6, 2025

    To the Gail Towbes Center for Dance for a sneak peek of State Street Ballet’s upcoming Lobero Theatre show The Brilliance Program: Balanchine, Arpino and Beyond – celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary with an electrifying finale. Featuring Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Arpino’s Birthday Variations, and a world premiere by Kassandra Taylor Newberry, a choreographer known for […]

    Something to Sing About
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 6, 2025

    Santa Barbara Symphony under veteran maestro Nir Kabaretti debuted its new eponymous chorus at the Granada with Brahms’ “German Requiem” which took the composer nearly three decades to complete. Joining the voices was the Westmont College Choir in Brahms’ poetic work from the Bible and the Psalms along with Gustaf Mahler’s haunting Rückert-Lieder. Soloists were […]

    Squash Magic
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 6, 2025

    The racketeers were out in force when the Santa Barbara School of Squash celebrated its fifth annual gala, The Magic of SBSOS, at the charming La Arcada complex. A record 150 guests attended the Courthouse Distillery raising more than $40,000 with founder Robert Graham, former U.S. No. 1 squash player, saying that a further squash […]

    Quakin’ Soirée
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 6, 2025

    A roaring ‘20s speakeasy soirée at the historic El Paseo restaurant – commemorating the centennial of the 6.3 earthquake that destroyed or heavily damaged our Eden by the Beach – was a sell-out in support of nonprofit programming dedicated to preserving and educating the community about the city’s history, resilience and cultural heritage. The earthquake, […]

    Neighborly Support
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 6, 2025

    Meghan Markle has revealed the reason she opted out of filming her Netflix show With Love, Meghan at her $14 million Riven Rock estate. The Duchess of Sussex, 40, appeared at the TIME100 summit in Manhattan last week speaking about her lifestyle brand As Ever, as well as her culinary series which premiered on the […]

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