Silverhorn’s Back

Like the proverbial phoenix, the Montecito bling emporium, Silverhorn, which closed its doors after 30 years at 1155 Coast Village Road, has returned to the ritzy rue at 1235 Coast Village Road.

The new 1,100 sq ft store, which complements owners Michael and Carole Ridding‘s boutique at the Biltmore, enables customers to see the company’s artisans at work behind a glass screen. Formerly the workshop, with its goldsmiths and designers at work, was upstairs and not seen by the public.

“This is a new concept for us and will be a new experience for our clients,” says Carole. “We believe this is a rejuvenation of traditional retail and will engage our customers.”

The tony twosome’s dogs, Ruby and Gracie, will also be at the store, which was formerly the headquarters of the Coast Village Association during the New Year mudslides and the former French designer footwear store, Arche. 

All It’s Cracked up to Be

State Street Ballet’s production of Tchaikovsky’s enchanting The Nutcracker at the sold-out Granada is always a Christmas highlight.

With the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra under Brian Asher Alhadeff for the seventh year, it has taken on a whole new perspective.

Boasting colorful sets from Moscow, including a magnificent expanding Christmas tree and ornate costumes from Christina Giannini, Mary Etta Lang, and Nicole Thompson, and a truly international cast with dancers from Russia, Japan, Brazil, Chile, and Cuba, the show couldn’t fail to please.

Brazilian Deise Mendonca and Marika Kobayashi from Japan took on the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy, partnered with Cuban guest artist Francois Llorente and Tanner Blee.

Additional principal roles were performed by company members John Christopher Piel, James Folsom, and Anna Carnes.

Artistic director Rodney Gustafson, Gary McKenzie, Megan Philipp, and Marina Fliagina mustered every available performer – nearly 200 dancers – in the talented company’s arsenal from the tiniest of tots to the seasoned professionals, including Sergei Domrachev, who plays a magnificently camp Mother Ginger.