Farewell, Oliver’s
By Richard Mineards   |   May 14, 2020

Oliver’s, the Coast Village Road vegetarian restaurant that took five years to transform from the old Peabody’s space under owner cell phone billionaire Craig McCaw, 70, has been sold, says my mole with the martini. McCaw, who has moved back to Seattle, has been divesting himself of his properties in our rarefied enclave, including his […]

SBCC Helps
By Richard Mineards   |   May 7, 2020

The Santa Barbara City College Foundation has sprung into action to support students facing multiple challenges resulting from the current health crisis, including loss of paid work, and homeschooling of children. “When a crisis hits, philanthropy has a unique role to play,” says foundation CEO Geoff Green. “Community-based organizations can immediately move resources to help […]

 

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We’ll Drink to That
By Richard Mineards   |   May 7, 2020

Lucky’s, the achingly trendy eatery on Coast Village Road, is living up to its name. The Paso Robles winery, PharaohMoans, has donated 100 bottles of their highly acclaimed 2017 Rhone-style wine, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going directly to the restaurant to help support the staffers affected by the coronavirus lockdown. Each bottle […]

Preparing for Polo
By Richard Mineards   |   May 7, 2020

Santa Barbara Polo Club, which was re-scheduled to kick off its 109th season on May 15, now plans to launch in July, according to manager David Sigman. “The health and safety of our membership, staff, and the community are of the utmost importance to us,” says David. “As we look ahead toward the possible reopening […]

Grassroots Gear
By Richard Mineards   |   May 7, 2020

Social activist Judi Weisbart, founder and president of Busy Woman Consulting, is now Santa Barbara’s Queen of Masks. The county has hired Judi as Face Covering Community Coordinator, she tells me. “The community desperately needs face coverings on every face,” she says. “There are other funds for healthcare workers PPE, but we must also help […]

Trying Times
By Richard Mineards   |   May 7, 2020

Santa Barbara’s 55-year-old Rescue Mission is another local non-profit impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “It is uniquely challenging to keep essential emergency services intact with appropriate safety measures in place for some of the neediest people in our community,” says president Rolf Geyling. “We have seen more people coming to us for food and shelter, […]

Heading Home
By Richard Mineards   |   May 7, 2020

Kevin Marvin, CEO of the Santa Barbara Symphony, is leaving our Eden by the Beach and returning to Colorado for personal and family reasons. Kevin, who previously headed the now defunct Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, has led the orchestral organization, under maestro Nir Kabaretti, for three seasons. He was responsible for organizing the benefit concert […]

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  • Santa Barbara Has a New TV Show!
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 7, 2020

    Good Life TV with Dean Wilson, executive director of the Turner Foundation, which provides accommodation for the elderly and economically challenged, is taped in the garden at his Montecito home near the Rosewood Miramar and is dedicated to bringing “real stories from real people.” “We invite people from all walks of life to share their […]

    Congrats to Charley
    By Richard Mineards   |   April 30, 2020

    Montecito real estate broker Charley Egan has been elected to the board of directors of the Center for Successful Aging. Egan, who works at Village Properties, is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz and also earned a Masters at the University of Southern California. He is also certified as a senior real estate specialist, a […]

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    Hope is Here
    By Richard Mineards   |   April 30, 2020

    Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner has launched a new plush toy version to raise money for coronavirus relief. Ty, owner of the Biltmore and the San Ysidro Ranch, has been putting up New York medical workers free of charge at his five-star Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan, as I have chronicled in this illustrious organ. […]

    Virtual Virtuosos
    By Richard Mineards   |   April 30, 2020

    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 […]

    Feeling Puzzled
    By Richard Mineards   |   April 30, 2020

    Just in time for the coronavirus lockdown, Belgian-born Pierre Nizet, the first medical director of Casa Dorinda, has come up with a series of fiendishly difficult cryptic clues to while away the stultifying boredom. Each clue has two parts, one a normal definition of the answer, the other an additional hint using wordplay. “During my […]

    Facemask Fashion
    By Richard Mineards   |   April 30, 2020

    It’s the perfect blend of fashion and fabulousness. French society crimper Xavier Scordo, who owns an eponymous salon on Coast Village Road, has become a passionate collector of face masks that match his extensive wardrobe during the COVID-19 pandemic. And Mexican tailor Patty Moo, who owns Perfect Fit just a tiara’s toss away, has been […]

    Foodbank Launches Chef’s Kitchen
    By Richard Mineards   |   April 30, 2020

    The coronavirus pandemic has stretched many local charitable organizations to the limit, particularly the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. “The need we are seeing now is unlike anything we’ve witnessed before,” says CEO Erik Talkin.”This disaster affecting everyone in the county, and the world, at exactly the same time is unprecedented. And the precipitous job […]

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