Living Legends

It was quite the tony triumvirate getting honored at the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts 4th annual Legends gala at the Granada, with rocker Kenny Loggins, uber philanthropist Sara Miller McCune, and the 65-year-old SB Symphony receiving the honors at the impressive event, co-chaired by Joan Rutkowski and Stephanie Sokolove.

After cocktails and canapés in the Miller McCune Founders Room, following free-flowing champagne in the lobby, the more than 240 well-heeled guests stepped on the cavernous stage for a three-course dinner accompanied by Fess Parker and Andrew Murray wines, and emceed by the ubiquitous Andrew Firestone.

The handsome crystal awards, engraved with the “G” shield logo designed by Santa Barbara architect Roger Phillips, and featured in the theater’s lobby, were presented by Anne Towbes, Celesta Billeci, and Joan Rutkowski.

Each presentation featured a short video produced and directed by Dana Morrow, screened on the Granada’s state-of-the-art digital cinema system, accompanied by entertainers including mezzo soprano Audrey Babcock, baritone Lee Poulis, pianists Kostis Protopapas and Debbie Denke, members of the Teen Sing choir, and musicians from the orchestra.

Among the cascade of glamorously garbed guests were Palmer and Susan Jackson, Allen and Anne Sides, Leslie Ridley-Tree, Richard and Annette Caleel, Jonathan Fox, Brooks and Kate Firestone, Mary Dorra, Hal and Haley Conklin, Barry and Jelinda DeVorzon, Dan and Meg Burnham, Henry and Dilling Yang, Barbara Tellefson, Geoff Rutkowski, Jim Sokolove, Harry and Judi Weisbart, Ali Ahlstrand, Craig and Kirsten Springer, Ivana Firestone, Kevin Marvin, Chris Lancashire, Gillian Launie, Janet Garufis, Paul and Bobbi Didier, Robert Weinman, Christopher and Lisa Lloyd, Ed and Sue Birch, George and Laurie Leis, Morrie and Irma Jurkowitz, David Asbell, Virginia Castagnola-Hunter, Gary and Susan Gulbransen, Caren Rager, Bob and Sandy Urquhart, Hayley Firestone Jessup, Nir Kabaretti, Lynda Weinman, Gretchen Lieff, and Miles Hartfield.

A legendary evening, indeed.