Prayer Breakfast

With the pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, our Eden by the Beach certainly has a great deal to be grateful for.

More than 500 guests descended on the ballroom of the Hilton for the 63rd annual Santa Barbara Community Prayer Breakfast emceed by retiring Unity Shoppe head honcho Tom Reed with the Pledge of Allegiance from Brigadier General Frederick Lopez, who spent 31 years in the Marines.

After a scripture reading from Jaelynne Lay and an invocation from Robert Curtis, a quartet with Adam Cappa from the Calvary Chapel added a musical accompaniment to the solemn occasion.

Dean Wilson, president and CEO of the Turner Foundation, was keynote speaker and recounted the travails in his life, including an early dependence on alcohol and dealing with a child suffering from cerebral palsy.

Former police officer Mike McGrew, father of a son who committed suicide after being diagnosed with cancer, closed the program.

Among those turning out for the early morning fete, co-chaired by Andrew Tricerri and Reed Spangler, were singer Katy Perry’s parents, Keith and Mary Hudson, Adam McKaig, John Daly, Mayor Randy Rowse, Sheriff Bill Brown, Das Williams, fun loving Franciscan friar Larry Gosselin, and Drew Wakefield.

The tradition was started in 1953 by President Dwight Eisenhower in Washington, D.C.

Amen to that…

Vows & Gowns

Fast & Furious actress Jordana Brewster, 42, tied the knot with her investment firm CEO beau, Mason Morfit, 44, in an outdoor ceremony at a Montecito estate at the weekend, with guests including actor Vin Diesel.

After getting hitched, Brewster, who wore a Carolina Herrera couture gown, carried a bouquet of white roses as she held hands with her new husband, who donned a traditional black tuxedo.

It was the second marriage for Brewster after finalizing her divorce from producer Andrew Form.

Her late Fast & Furious co-star Santa Barbara actor Paul Walker’s model daughter Meadow, 22, let the cat out of the bag posting a series of Instagram photos from the ceremony and reception, which also showed a number of cars used in the popular film series.

Quite an Honor

Local nonprofit One805 is honoring several Montecito residents at the One805LIVE! gala in Summerland next week.

The honorees are retired Santa Barbara City fire chief Pat McElroy and executive director of the Partnership for Resilient Communities, Travis and Amanda Winn-Twining, and Alastair and Ann Wynn for their magnificent help during the mudslides, and Alixe Mattingly, long a keystone in our area’s nonprofit organizations.

Lynda Weinman designed and created the beautiful and unique 3D printed ceramic awards that will be presented to the honorees.

Congratulations to all…

Home Sweet Home

Our rarefied enclave now feels like home for Queen Elizabeth’s grandson Prince Harry and his former actress wife, Meghan Markle.

The 18,671-square-foot nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom home on five acres in Montecito, where the tony twosome have lived for two years, evokes a classic Tuscan villa, a Napa Valley vineyard, and a manicured Beverly Hills country club, according to The Cut writer Allison P. Davis, who interviewed the Duchess of Sussex.

“We were looking in this area and this house kept popping up online in searches,” explained Meghan.

At first they resisted visiting.

“We didn’t have jobs, so we were not just going to come and see this house. It wasn’t possible. It’s like when I was younger and you’re window shopping. It’s like I don’t want to go and look at things that I can’t afford. That doesn’t feel good.”

The Sussexi ultimately toured the property and immediately fell in love with it. And could afford to purchase it after striking a $100 million deal with Netflix and a $25 million deal with Spotify.

“We did everything we could to get this house,” adds Meghan, 41. “It’s healing. We now feel free.”

Flipping Out

Retired TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, barely six months after spending $21 million on an historic Moorish-style 11,947-square-foot mansion on 2.45 acres on Hot Springs Road, has lost no time in flipping it.

The four-bedroom, five-bathroom 2014-built property has been snapped up for $36 million by uber music manager Scooter Braun, who looks after the careers of singers Justin Bieber and fellow Montecito resident Ariana Grande.

Modeled on the Alhambra Palace in Spain, Villa Tragara also includes a one-bedroom guest house and a 16-seat covered pergola for al fresco dining and entertaining.

Last year Braun purchased a Mandeville Canyon home for $65 million, the highest residential sale in Brentwood history, and sold another Montecito estate for $28 million at the same time.

More House News

Vlocity partners Mark Armenante and Young Sohn, who paid $7.2 million for a 2009 contemporary home in Montecito, have now splashed out $18.5 million for a 6,600-square-foot four-bedroom, seven-bathroom home on 42.69 acres perched on a promontory plateau in Carpinteria.

A two-bedroom guest cottage augments the accommodation, bringing the total space to 8,453 square feet.

Toeing the Line

Carpinteria actor Ashton Kutcher has lost 12 pounds as he gets ready for the New York City marathon in November.

Ashton, 44, tells Entertainment Tonight he has been building muscle mass on his legs while preparing for the 26.2-mile race that ends in Manhattan’s Central Park.

And the That 70s Show star says his actress wife Mila Kunis has been “super supportive.”

Toasting Bendle

Local bling emporium Silverhorn is popping the corks for head designer Noel Bendle, celebrating 25 years with the company.

Bendle has been creating award-winning custom designs for Montecito clients and international visitors alike.

With Silverhorn’s workshop now on the main floor of their CVR gallery, you can stop by and marvel at his talented skills…

Another busy week on the royals watch!

An old New York friend Ben Widdicombe, editor of Avenue Magazine, called to interview me on my neighbors, Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle, for the top Conde Nast U.K. society glossy Tatler.

The top syndicated entertainment show Access Hollywood also featured me in a piece on the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death.

Top network NBC also interviewed me for a special on the late Princess of Wales.

And how was your week?….

Sightings:

Actor Chris Pratt doing pushups while filling his auto at the Chevron station on CVR… Singer Katy Perry and actor fiancé Orlando Bloom frolicking in Positano, Italy… Author T.C. Boyle noshing at Ca’Dario on CVR

Pip! Pip! Be safe, wear a mask when necessary, and get vaccinated.