A New Pandemic Pastime

Writer-producer-director Rod Lathim has an interesting new pastime during the pandemic: producing fig balsamic.

“I have a prolific fig tree that I’ve never really paid any attention to, but in the summer it’s become a cornucopia of sweet purple figs and I do an annual harvest to make my fig balsamic, which I give away to friends,” says Rod. “It makes a great salad dressing with olive or walnut oil, a great marinade for grilled vegetables, fish or chicken. And it’s divine on a tomato or fresh mozzarella capers salad!”

He is also keeping himself busy producing the Marjorie Luke Theatre’s virtual concert series from Santa Barbara Junior High School, which has launched two of its seven slated events online at www.luketheatre.org.

The concerts are free to watch 24/7 with Mendeleyev In Concert and Resonance now playing.

Other future offering include the Goleta School of Ballet’s Nutcracker in December and talented guitarist Jackson Gillies in concert. Jackson, an American Idol contestant and winner of the 2016 Teen Star U.S.A., has been studying in London for the past few months.

Linens and Things

Former TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey may be worth billions, but during the coronavirus lockdown has found herself changing her own bed linens while hunkering down at her East Valley Road estate.

Oprah, 66, could be seen struggling with the task of maneuvering her duvet into its cotton cover on Instagram.

“Anyone else find it challenging getting a duvet inside a cover?” she asked. “There must be a method I’m missing changing linens.”

As a result of her enforced isolation Oprah has found herself taking on multiple household tasks she has generally done by staff.

Sightings

Actor Rob Lowe strolling on Miramar Beach… Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi getting takeout at Lucky’s… Actor Christopher Lloyd picking up The New York Times at Pierre Lafond