Condor Express owner Hiroko Benko hosted a romantic evening cruise along the Santa Barbara coastline, delighting opera lovers with a stunning live performance at sea. Guests enjoyed powerful numbers by American Idol contestant and soprano Micaela McCall, baritone Brian Hotchkin, and pianist Renée Hamaty, who performed opera favorites during the two-hour sunset cruise. Hotchkin sang […]
The venerable Granada Theatre was socially gridlocked when it held its 9th annual Legends gala with 100 people recognizing the John C. Mithun Foundation, the Lobero Theatre, and esteemed Santa Barbara Symphony maestro Nir Kabaretti. The tony event, which raised around $400,000, was emceed by the ubiquitous Andrew Firestone and co-chaired by Susan Jackson and […]
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It was a complete sell-out when Santa Barbara Hospice threw its 13th annual Heroes of Hospice lunch for 350 guests at the Rosewood Miramar raising a hefty $300,000 for the 51-year-old organization. Jesse Brisendine emceed and welcomed prolific author and grief specialist David Kessler as key speaker while Isabella Darke spoke emotionally about death’s effect […]
Heart of New House, which helps drug and alcohol addicted people, welcomed 220 guests to its 9th annual lunch at the Hilton, raising $135,000 for the charity. Executive Director Adam Burridge presented Hero awards to Demetrio Espinosa and Alex Vandenbelt, who went on to study at Berkeley and New York’s Columbia University where he attained […]
Santa Barbara Humane went to Studio 54 for its annual gala themed Glitter Paw Disco at the Cabrillo Pavilion with a sold-out 160 guests raising around $200,000 for the charity’s new $64 million development in Goleta, its first since the 1960s. The organization, founded in 1897, has looked after more than one million animals in […]
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) signature fundraising event, known as the Green Gala, is returning to the Bakery Block, the newest event venue in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, for its 2025 event on Saturday, September 27. The Green Gala brings together an influential group of community leaders, philanthropists, and climate activists to help fill the […]
The first three One805LIVE! Rock for First Responders benefit concerts at Kevin Costner’s Summerland-Carpinteria estate – created to continue to support the first responders of Santa Barbara County in the aftermath of the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flows – were smashing successful affairs. Past artists have included P!NK as You+Me, Maroon 5, John Fogerty, […]
Social gridlock reigned, equestrian style, when 4,000 spectators descended on the Santa Barbara Polo Club to watch the U.S. Polo Association’s Pacific Coast Open, the biggest tournament on the Left Coast, with the winners lifting a five-foot gold and silver trophy. The six chukker match was hard fought to the final chukker when La Karina, […]
Polo players turned in their mallets for golf clubs and showed non-equestrian talents at the Glen Annie course for the 7th annual Polo Training Center fundraiser. The event, which raised around $10,000, was partially sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank and organized by Rhys Williams. The Friedman family, led by Geoff Friedman, looking dashing in […]
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One of the original TV “bachelors” Andrew Firestone has called it quits with his wife Ivana after 17 years of marriage, I am saddened to report. “After much reflection and many hours of counseling we have decided we can best serve the children and honor our commitment to family by moving forward as co-parents,” Andrew, […]
Ralph Minc, longtime Santa Barbara local, passionate athlete, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2025, at the age of 79. Ralph was born in Tayport, Scotland, to Catherine Duncan Minc and Hendryk Minc, a Polish Jew who escaped the Nazis and eventually made his way to Scotland. In 1958, the […]
With the NFL football season launching earlier this month, the Santa Barbara Symphony is hosting a kickoff of their own, a free season preview event on Thursday, September 18, at the at the historic Lobero Theatre. The preview will be jamming with fun, music, and inside info to introduce a season that marks a milestone […]
Hellos loves! Here is a cosmic literary nod in my Society column just for you. I attended the first public appearance of global social media sensation Dr. Tara Swart, at Godmothers, Monday, August 18. Four days prior, she openly discussed her private life reveal and new book, The Signs: The New Science of How to […]
The party animals were out in full force when the Santa Barbara Zoo hosted its 39th annual sold-out Zoofari Ball. Themed “Out of this World,” with the 700 guests – invited to wear space cadet casual and starlight chic – helping raise more than $700,000 for the 37-acre menagerie. The cosmic fête, co-chaired by Jeff […]
