Petite Goes Big

Enterprising sisters, Malia Christensen and Makena McGinley, who lives in San Luis Obispo, used the enforced downtime cause by the pandemic to launch their own business, the charmingly named Petite Fleet, which consists of a converted horse trailer and two vintage mail cars.

“We love events and everything they entail,” says Santa Barbara-based Malia. “Planning, decorating, making exotic drinks, so during COVID — and after a few glasses of wine — we came up with the idea of a mobile bar.

“We knew gatherings would be mainly outdoors with our new way of life and we also love vintage cars and trailers, so we combined the two!”

The dynamic duo bought a 1968 horse trailer and converted it to a copper bar named Lucille. More recently they bought two vintage postal service cars from the ‘50s they’re currently restoring.

“We put great care into every event we work and make sure everything looks perfect,” adds Malia. “We are a full bar service and work at everything – weddings, showers, even corporate events.”

Their number is (805) 305-6880.

Quite the Return

After a 19-month absence, the longest in its 103-year history, CAMA — Community Arts Music Association — hosted Les Violons du Roy, the 37-year-old Quebec, Canada, ensemble at the Lobero.

Due to illness, conductor Jonathan Cohen was unable to attend, but was more than ably replaced by talented harpsichordist Julian Wachner.

Grammy nominated Israeli mandolin master Avi Avital was the undoubted star of the highly entertaining show playing works from Vivaldi and Bach, as did the other musicians in the ensemble.

The concert, sponsored by Marta Babson, bodes well for the launch of CAMA’s 103rd season with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, at the Granada on January 11.

Welcome Back

To Hahn Hall at the Music Academy of the West for Westmont College’s fall concert under the expert direction of Michael Shasberger, its first such concert since February 2020.

Michael, who has been the orchestra’s maestro since its founding in 2005, is retiring in May after an extraordinary musical career at the Montecito college.

The new performance “Season of Seasons” featured Vivaldi’s ever popular The Four Seasons — autumn and winter — Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony No.7 in B minor,” “Suite From The Tender Land” by Aaron Copland, and an “English Folk Song Suite” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, the latter conducted by Daniel Gee, assistant professor of music.

A delightful evening…