Montecito Bank & Trust sponsors the MClub, which offers various travel trips. Today we met at the Santa Barbara Club, courtesy of president/CEO George Leis, who is a member and he welcomed everyone. Maria McCall is in charge of MClub and instigates some special outings and programs. This day, it was with Ken Richardson, who […]
My favorite kind of music is Broadway, so I was in heaven at UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) last Granada performance for the season highlighting the world-renowned soprano Audra McDonald. She is the winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and an Emmy Award, not to mention being named one of Time […]
“Mothers and daughters serving communities together.” That is the mission of the National Charity League, Inc. (NCL). Beginning in the 7th grade, moms and daughters get together and volunteer for charity work in their communities. Our local chapter recently held their Senior Recognition for the class of 2018 Ticktockers at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront […]
The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara (BGC) found a new and beautiful country venue, the Heartstone Ranch, in Carpinteria for its annual gala. This time the attire was – what else? – country chic! All the “cowgirls” and “cowboys” gathered on the terraced lawn amidst dozens of rose bushes to toast 80 years […]
The Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort (formerly The Fess Parker) was the venue for the 2018 Spirit of Entrepreneurship (SOE) Awards. An exciting event for the 33 finalists, all women, being judged in 11 categories with three finalists in each. The SOE Foundation is to support entrepreneurship at all levels in our area and to […]
The Community Action Commission (CAC) of Santa Barbara County just held their 13th annual CAC Champions dinner in Solvang at the Corque Hotel. Until recently, I was not aware of this nonprofit and all they do. But during the mudslide, they were my lifeline when I called 211. I always got a real person on […]
The title of Mike Lewis’s first book is not about jumping off bridges, but When to jump. If the Job You Have Isn’t the Life You Want. Mike now lives in San Francisco but his folks, Michael and Betsy Lewis, live in Montecito half the year. Mike’s publisher is Henry Holt. Not too shabby! Mike […]
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing finally (postponed due to fire and flood) were able to have the grand opening of their new affordable housing development at 510 North Salsipuedes St. If you’ve driven down Haley Street, it’s that beautiful Spanish-style building on the corner. There were 300 applications, and a lottery was held for the 40 apartments […]
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care (VNHC) held its 17th annual Mother’s Day Luncheon to honor and remember our mothers in the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. It was a poignant event and totally heartfelt. It began with emcee Pamela Dillman Haskell moderating the lively (cool?) teen-parent fashion show from K.frank. The Santa Barbara Arts Performance […]
The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) held its 22nd annual Military Ball honoring excellence in service and to remember Armistice Day at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Philanthropist Pierre Claeyssens initiated the Ball in 1996 as a way of paying tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces, past and present, in Santa Barbara and Ventura […]
“It is said that at any given time, somewhere in the world, someone is playing or singing a Jeff Barry song.” The Lobero Associates had the privilege of having a “Hats Off Evening” featuring the iconic songwriter himself and honoring him. It definitely “Lit up the Night.” The Lobero Associates are a group of women […]
The American Heart Association (AHA) held the inaugural event, their Heart Ball, in the renovated ball room of the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton, formerly The Fess Parker. As the event chair Sarah Jaimes told the audience, “Thank you for joining us at the 19th year to celebrate the accomplishments we have made both globally and […]
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art Women’s Board (SBMAWB) just held their new and ingenious event idea called “Art of the Table.” They gathered together 12 national and local designers who could choose their inspiration from a piece of art in the permanent collection. They were Signature Designer 2018 John Saladino; Cynthia Belliveau Designs; Gina […]
They may be small but they are mighty! That would be Transition House Auxiliary, which puts on the Mad Hatter Luncheon every year, now its 21st one. There are only about 35 ladies who do all this work, including co-chairs of this year’s event: president Sally Stewart and Carolyn Creasey, invitation chair Diane White, silent […]
Shades of yesteryear! Does anyone remember the Twist or Chubby Checker? He was here with his Wildcats band at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara and so were his fans or new fans. The occasion was the 32nd Amethyst Ball “Twistin’ at the Ritz” given by CADA (Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse). Dress was black tie or […]
For 19 years, Youth and Family Services (YFS, a branch of the Channel Islands YMCA) has held a fabulous dining experience. This year, they went all out with 15 chefs, plus SBCC culinary students and eight wineries and wines curated by Tama Takahashi for a five-course ultra gourmet dinner at Rockwood Women’s Club. Guests began […]
The oldest nonprofit in town, The Cecilia Fund (TCF) met in the oldest club in town, the Santa Barbara Club for a tea. That would be 126 years for both. The Cecilia Fund used to call themselves the Saint Cecilia Society but rebranded recently so it wouldn’t be confused with a religious group. The reason […]
The CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation) Auxiliary invited everyone to celebrate the 32nd annual Authors Luncheon at the Double Tree Resort by Hilton, formerly The Fess Parker. I was at the first one and all the rest, but it has grown even stronger through the years with about 500 ladies and gents attending. Master of […]
The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission gave its annual donor appreciation luncheon at the First Presbyterian Church Hall. Julie Willig, president of the women’s auxiliary, gave the welcome and prayer. Board chair Joyce McCullough spoke of the “Miracle on Yanonoli Street.” That’s where the Mission is located and where they recently had a graduation of recovered […]
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum (SBHM) tried something new and different. The event began at the Lobero tent for a reception. After, the guests went into the historic theatre for a presentation by architect Marc Appleton titled “Florestal: Then and Now.” This talk was about architecture, garden, and a family chronicle of the Spanish Colonial […]
Planned Parenthood (PP) held their annual fundraising soirée at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara with the theme “Birds and Bees Bash” and a full house of 525 guests. Co-chairs Cynthia Abulafia, Amy Baird and Wendy Smith had the ballroom shimmering in purple and silver, florals and lighting for Planned Parenthood’s 101st anniversary. After cocktails and a huge […]
Women of Inspiration was the perfect title for the Carpinteria Girls Inc. annual luncheon where women of inspiration are honored. This one was honoring the memory of global activist Nancy Koppelman. Nancy’s daughter, Renee, accepted the Women of Inspiration award on behalf of her mother and told what it was like to have her for […]
Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc. celebrated the opening of a new exhibit in their Leigh Block Gallery and had a reception to celebrate. They were displaying the work of the late David Glenn (Judd) Crouch, whose career spanned 60+ years as an active exhibiting artist. He was also a master scientific illustrator for the University […]
“Sips and Nibbles” was the title of a benefit for Food from the Heart (FFH) – a nonprofit I’d never heard of. Founder Evelyn Jacob informed me, “We have been around for 24 years.” I would soon learn Food from the Heart is all about feeding people. We were gathered in the courtyard of El […]
Who doesn’t like birthday parties? Girls Inc. had 220 guests at their 60th one held in their Goleta facility. The decorations reminded me of the “olden days” when getting a new box of shiny colored Crayons was a big deal – never mind cell phones, since there weren’t any. There were balloons and brightly wrapped […]
Community Arts Music Association (CAMA) has been presenting the world’s finest classical artists since 1919. This concert at the Granada was the last of their 99th year. The next show will be the beginning of its 100th anniversary. What a testament to all the people who founded CAMA and to all those who have supported […]
It was time for another MClub meeting called “Lunch & Learn” at the Santa Barbara Club, this time with guest speaker Beverley Jackson telling us about “Splendid Slippers – The Chinese Practice of Foot Binding.” The MClub is a travel club that is part of the Montecito Bank and Trust run by Maria McCall. We […]
The Center for Successful Aging (CSA) presented “Sophisticated Ladies” which was a tribute to the Assistance League of Santa Barbara for their 70 years of service to our community. The event featured Ike Jenkins and his 20-piece Santa Barbara Big Band described as brassy, jazzy, nostalgic music of the Big Band era. Marjorie Luke Theatre […]
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care (VNHC) will celebrate its 110th anniversary later this year. It continues to serve its communities and meet their needs when people are most vulnerable. It used to deliver firewood by horse-and-buggy and then started the first non-hospital health care service. Eventually, they developed homemaker and home health programs and provided […]
What a perfect theme for the perfect place! That was the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) transformed into the White Star Line R.M.S. Titanic, the ship of dreams. As co-chairs David Bolton and Cindy Makela said, “Love Boat was too corny.” Titanic had drama. It took us back to April 15, 1912. The Titanic was […]
As president and CEO of Cottage Health, Ron Werft said in the invitation to the Tiara Ball 2018, “In light of the impact of the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslide on our community, the Tiara Ball committee struggled with whether to continue with plans for the event made prior to the storm.” They also felt […]
Dr. Ronald G. Latimer and Sansum Clinic established the Visiting Professor of Surgery Endowment Fund. For one week every year for the past seven years, an outstanding surgeon has been invited to Santa Barbara to further educate our local surgeons about his or her specialty. The premier sponsor has been Cottage Health System and various […]
In this St. Patrick’s Day month, it seemed appropriate to attend a meeting of the American Irish Historical Society at a private club. The founder and president of the California branch Frank McGinity had invited me. The speaker was a notable Irishman Hugh Kelly, who brought his book Honest John Kelly Truth or Satire. Hugh […]
What is a ghostlight? As described in the program: “Ghostlight is named for a theatrical tradition dating back to Shakespeare’s old globe, the ghostlight is a bare bulb atop a rudimentary pole which stands at center stage, lit by the last person to leave the theater each night and extinguished by the first to arrive […]
For the 146th time, the Santa Barbara Yacht Club celebrated the inauguration of their sailing season. Members and guests who came from far and near were greeted by red, white, and blue balloons and buntings all about the clubhouse. At the “helm” of the receiving line was commodore John Koontz, vice commodore Scott Deardorff, and […]
The Santa Barbara Club turned into a mini film festival when there was a preview screening of a new documentary called The Romancing & Reaping of Riven Rock. The executive producer was Frank McGinity. He told me, “I went to some of my Riven Rock neighbors and said that I needed $500 from each to […]
Beverley Jackson gives an annual Christmas party with all the guests bringing an unwrapped toy to be donated to needy children. This year she had to postpone it twice because of the fire and floods. About 100 folks gathered at her cozy condo in Montecito Shores armed with precious stuffed animals, games, and books that […]
Old Spanish Days recently announced the theme for Santa Barbara Fiesta 2018. Meet La Presidenta Denise Sanford, (another lady president) who stood in front of the great arch at the courthouse and told us, “I chose the theme Celebrate Traditions. It is the privilege of the president to choose a theme of their choice.” Denise […]
If any of you have been to the Magic Castle in Hollywood, you probably know its owners are Milt and Arlene Larsen, who live right here in Santa Barbara. There will soon be a Magic Castle Cabaret located at the Bird Refuge. It will be a private club with 200 members and a dress code: […]
The Tuna Canyon Detention Station exhibition at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum (SBHM) opens with a plaque that will be installed at the historic site just a few miles from downtown Los Angeles. The plaque contains the following words: The beauty of an oak grove in Tujunga, California, belies a tragic history. At the beginning […]