A Titanic Estate
By Richard Mineards   |   July 18, 2023

Mega director James Cameron and his wife, Suzy, are selling their longtime oceanfront home on the Gaviota Coast for a titanic $33 million. The roughly 100-acre property was purchased in 1999 for $4.37 million, according to records. Cameron, 68, wrote the blockbuster movie Avatar, the highest grossing film of all time, at the ranch. He […]

Remembering Julian Sands
By Richard Mineards   |   July 11, 2023

On a personal note, I remember the British actor Julian Sands, whose remains were found in the San Gabriel Mountains after he was reported missing by his family in January. Julian, 65, known for his Oscar-nominated films, including 1985’s delightful Room with a View, disappeared during a trek in the Mount Baldy area of the […]

 

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Movie in the Works
By Richard Mineards   |   July 11, 2023

Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner, 78, is coming to the big screen, in a comedy, no less. America’s favorite plushies are finally getting the movie and TV treatment with The Beanie Bubble, which shines a light on the owner of the Biltmore and the San Ysidro Ranch, the tycoon behind the collection craze from the […]

Dining Among the Natural History
By Richard Mineards   |   July 4, 2023

Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History when the popular venue hosted the region’s premier food and wine event, attracting 1,400 supporters to the sprawling 17-acre Mission Creek campus, raising more than $200,000 for the museum’s programs and exhibits. Around 200 VIP tickets, giving early access to […]

Art in the Club
By Richard Mineards   |   July 4, 2023

The Art Foundation of Santa Barbara took over the historic town club for its annual members’ art exhibition, which featured 45 works scattered throughout the venerable Chapala Street venue. The Santa Barbara Club’s featured speaker was British artist and gallery owner Ralph Waterhouse, who with his wife, Diane, recently opened a new gallery on Coast […]

Art in the Castle
By Richard Mineards   |   July 4, 2023

It was quite the celebrity turnout when the Santa Barbara Museum of Art launched its latest exhibition The Private Universe of James Castle, which runs through September 17. With more than 90 works, the show features many of the most beautiful and accomplished drawings created by the extraordinarily gifted, profoundly deaf, self-taught artist, many of […]

Quadruple the Fun and Laughs
By Richard Mineards   |   July 4, 2023

The second week of the Music Academy’s Summer Festival lineup goes from strength to strength. Hahn Hall on the 10-acre Miraflores campus was the venue for the String Quartet showcase featuring the Vela Quartet – violinists Aaron You-Xin Li and Harin Kang, violist Vincenzo Keawe Calcagno, and cellist Hamzah Zaidi – kicking off the highly […]

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  • New Members on Board
    By Richard Mineards   |   July 4, 2023

    Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has three new board members – Don Barthelmess, Tom Elliott, and Chad Makela. The 21-member board provides oversight to the stewardship of the harborside organization, and the tony triumvirate brings a unique skill set and experience to the role.

    Ranchera at La Patera
    By Richard Mineards   |   June 27, 2023

    More than 600 guests turned out for the 15th anniversary of Fiesta Ranchera at the 151-year-old Rancho La Patera gardens in Goleta raising in excess of $30,000 split equally between Old Spanish Days and the Goleta Valley Historical Society. The fun fête, chaired by the tony triumvirate of Janice Howell, Paula Bottiani, and Jenna Verbryke, […]

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    And the Grant Goes to…
    By Richard Mineards   |   June 27, 2023

    The Fund for Santa Barbara hosted its spring grand awards celebration handing out checks totaling a record $330,000 at the Lobero Theatre Courtyard, including $230,000 in racial equity funds. “The money has come in fast,” says Patricia Solorio, associate director. “The recession has been a bit of a wet blanket, but I think the future […]

    Summer of the Artist Starts Strong
    By Richard Mineards   |   June 27, 2023

    The Music Academy’s 76th annual festival Summer of the Artist got off to a glorious start with two major sold-out concerts at Hahn Hall on the Miraflores campus. Kicking off the eight-week event, which ends on August 5, was the ever-popular Takacs Quartet with violinists Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes, cellist András Fejér, and violist […]

    Sinatra and the Symphony
    By Richard Mineards   |   June 27, 2023

    Santa Barbara Symphony, under dashingly attired veteran maestro Nir Kabaretti, concluded its 70th anniversary season at the Granada with An Evening with Sinatra with Tony DeSare singing not only the music of Ol’ Blue Eyes, but a medley of favorites by Cole Porter, and wrapping up the highly entertaining show with the 1957 hit, “Great […]

    A&L Going Strong at 64
    By Richard Mineards   |   June 27, 2023

    Social gridlock reigned at the Santa Barbara Club when 245 guests converged on the historic venue when UCSB Arts & Lectures, which is celebrating its 64th anniversary, revealed its slate of performances for the 2023-2024 season that features 48 events. These include recitals by Broadway star Audra McDonald and Kristin Chenoweth, jazz legend Herbie Hancock, […]

    Attorneys’ Fees Continue
    By Richard Mineards   |   June 27, 2023

    Kevin Costner’s divorce from estranged wife Christine Baumgartner would appear to be getting more acrimonious by the day with claims the Oscar winner is now “homeless,” she splurged $95,000 on his credit card, and has a restraining order against him. The Carpinteria-based actor’s attorneys claim they have made “multiple offers” to get his wife to […]

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