It couldn’t have been a more picturesque locale when Opera Santa Barbara hosted its second Opera in the Park concert at Godric Grove in Elings Park. More than 150 fans turned out to watch five singers, all Chrisman Studio Artists, sing famous opera works and music from the likes of Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, Mozart, Puccini, […]
Social gridlock reigned at artist Colette Cosentino’s Atelier and Gallery on West Anapamu when she opened her latest exhibition in collaboration with former Sunstone Winey vintner Anna Rice, who is using Colette’s artwork for her labels on her wine, including the Brut Rosé and Chardonnay. “It’s the perfect melding,” says Anna, now owner of the […]
Capping an impactful, three-decade career in the area’s nonprofit sector, Barbara Robertson is retiring as president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, as of December 31. “We owe Barbara a tremendous debt of gratitude for her calm, steady leadership during a period of unprecedented social turmoil and uncertainty these past two-plus years,” […]
The 113-year-old Netjets Pacific Coast Open is considered the biggest polo event on the Left Coast, but this year’s final at the Santa Barbara Polo Club was an absolute cracker with the L.I.N.Y. team, consisting mainly of teenagers, beating the more established Farmers & Merchants Bank, led by two-time PCO winner Dan Walker, 12-11 in […]
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 […]
Social gridlock reigned at Arnoldi’s, one of our tony town’s oldest eateries, when my trusty shutterbug Priscilla celebrated the 30th anniversary of her half century with a dinner for her many friends hosted by social gadabout Rick Oshay. After eclectic cocktails guests tucked into pasta, steak, and other items from the expansive menu as Priscilla, […]
Supporters of the Santa Barbara Symphony, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, had to face the music at the historic Lobero Theatre when veteran maestro Nir Kabaretti outlined the season’s nine programs in the next nine months, kicking off with Carmina Burana in collaboration with the State Street Ballet at the Granada in October. Local […]
The party animals were out in force when Santa Barbara Zoo held its 36th annual sold-out Zoofari gala with an Enchanted Forest theme, with the 712 guests taking the theme to heart with colorful, creative costumes more befitting Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and the Harry Potter novels as they converged on the […]
Santa Barbara Symphony’s Crescendo Society hosted its second annual brunch at the Santa Barbara Club as the talented musicians, under maestro Nir Kabaretti, celebrate their 70th anniversary. As the 100 guests, major donors to the Granada Theatre-based organization, tucked into fresh fruit and quiche, while quaffing coffee and orange juice, the Gatsby Trio with symphony […]
Mallets were changed for golf clubs when the Santa Barbara Polo Club’s Polo Training Center hosted its fourth annual golf tournament at the Montecito Club with a record 80 participants raising $20,000 for the Carpinteria-based facility. Players went round the Jack Nicklaus-designed course in foursomes during the Farmers & Merchants Bank-sponsored event, although a truck […]
Billionaire Rick Caruso’s Rosewood Miramar went to the dogs when dozens of canines invaded the tony hostelry’s Great Lawn to celebrate International Dog Day. With pet owners paying $250 to enter, all proceeds benefited the local animal shelter, Santa Barbara Humane – which has two campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria – with judges looking […]
Local businesswomen and philanthropists Eva Rhodes and Elizabeth Farnan Rodrigues have joined the Dream Foundation’s national board of directors, helping raise awareness about the organization’s mission of fulfilling final dreams for terminally-ill adults. Rhodes is currently Vice President and banker for the Santa Barbara office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she works closely with […]
Social gridlock reigned at the historic Santa Barbara Club when the Ensemble Theatre Company marked its 43rd season with a Curtain Up! gala for 150 guests, raising more than $200,000 for productions at the New Vic. Susan Van Abel chaired the fun fête that featured the ubiquitous Chris Fossek on classical guitar, singer Linda Purl, […]
Montecito animal activist Gretchen Lieff, who has been making wine for 17 years, has opened her first La Lieff tasting room in the Funk Zone. The 1,000-square-foot Gray Avenue locale, formerly a storage facility for the late Pierre Lafond, had a sneak preview for Tama Takahashi’s 10-year-old Inside Wine club with 37 guests to show […]
Scott and Kohanya Groff opened the doors of their delightful Riven Rock estate for a garden party for the 22-year-old Rona Barrett Foundation with 70 guests raising more than $20,000, its first ever event in Montecito. The monies will go towards the construction of a 60-unit extension to the former Good Morning America gossipeuse’s Golden […]
Montecito globetrotting accountant Frank McGinity has just published his latest 246-page work chronicling nearly 40 years of the California branch of the American Irish Historical Society from its creation in 1983 through the first quarter of the 21st century. Riven Rock-based founder Frank says his work serves not only as a historical document of the […]
Dr. Rebecca Aldoretta is the new Director of Veterinary Services at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. She has vast experience in veterinary care, including wildlife and exotic pet medicine, companion animal general practice, and emergency medicine. After earning her veterinary degree from Kansas State University in 2015, she worked all over the U.S. including […]
On a personal note, my thoughts are with writer Sir Salman Rushdie, 75, as he recovers after being stabbed repeatedly by an Iranian sympathizer as he was about to speak at the Chautauqua Institute literary festival in upstate New York. It follows the fatwa issued by Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989 after his 1988 […]
Dietary concerns went out the window when the Santa Barbara Historical Museum was the venue for a 14-course dinner for 40 guests as part of a gastronomic evening of Spanish cuisine hosted by the Consul of Tourism Affairs in Los Angeles, local California missions honcho David Bolton, and Gonzalo Sarmiento. Two of Madrid’s top chefs, […]
A record 160 guests turned out for the fourth annual Compassionate Care of Carpinteria lunch at the Rincon Beach Club raising more than $40,000 for the nonprofit that deals with end-of-life care. The fête, chaired by Marybeth Carty, was emceed by brothers Ed and Winfred Van Wingerden, with Virginia Benson Wigle, who lost her husband […]
Teresa Kuskey Nowak’s birthday bash at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum may have had an Under the Sea theme, but there was not a flipper or snorkel to be seen when 112 guests descended on the harborside institution for the fun fête hosted by social gadabout Rick Oshay. After margaritas and comestibles on the museum’s […]
The John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts hosted its 22nd annual Fiesta Finale gala for 144 guests at the historic El Paseo restaurant, raising around $100,000. The fun fête featured myriad entertainers, including the Martinez Brothers, Marco Labastida, Guillermo De Fazio and Giovanna Dan, soprano Camila Lima and pianist Ruy Folguera, and flamenco dancers […]
Our tony town’s annual Fiesta fest kicked off at a sold-out La Recepción del Presidente for 160 guests when 14 past fest presidents with current president Maria Cabrera filled the Carriage and Western Art Museum, accompanied by the Spirits of Fiesta. After a blessing from fun-loving Franciscan friar Larry Gosselin, just back from a vacation […]
The Music Academy wrapped up its 75th anniversary summer festival in fine form at the Granada when alumna Italian Speranza Scappucci conducted the Academy Festival Orchestra. With the hugely entertaining program including Rossini’s “William Tell Overture,” “The Pines of Rome” by Respighi, and vocal works by Donizetti, Verdi, Gounod, Bizet, Serrano, Chapi, and Puccini, the […]
A sea of colorful hats proliferated in the stands at the Santa Barbara Polo Club when, for the 15th consecutive year, I had the onerous task of judging the mélange of magnificent millinery. Sorting out the torrent of tony tête toppers and choosing three winners was not the easiest of jobs given the sheer number […]
Professional polo player, philanthropist, and movie producer Sarah Siegel-Magness is selling her 61-acre Carpinteria estate for $50 million. Sarah, a regular patron at the Santa Barbara Polo Club with her Dundas team and partner in Smokewood Entertainment, bought the property, a tiara’s toss or two from Bella Vista, the sprawling estate of polo playing hotel […]
As its 75th anniversary season winds down, the Music Academy’s Academy Festival Orchestra under conductor Stéphane Denève was in fine form at the Granada. The entertaining concert featured Ravel’s masterpiece “Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2” and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3.” Frenchman Denève, music director of the St. Louis Symphony and the Brussels Philharmonic, was […]
Pedro Paz has been named executive director of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation. Paz joins the organization after working for the Santa Barbara Foundation as Director of Policy and External Affairs, and First 5 in Santa Barbara and Merced counties. Raised in our Eden by the Beach and attending Dos Pueblos High, he holds a […]
Longtime team member Juli Askew has been promoted to development manager of the Santa Barbara Symphony. Askew, who has been in charge of special events, will oversee critical donor appeals and seven distinct events celebrating the symphony’s 70th anniversary. A native of our Eden by the Beach, Askew is a seasoned development professional with expertise […]
Fiesta fever was palpable when the Santa Barbara Historical Museum hosted its La Fiesta del Museo, chaired by Sharon Bradford, for the first time in two years with 300 traditionally garbed guests helping raise 10% of the popular institution’s annual budget. A colorful variety of musical acts kept the fiesta fans entertained including Juan Zaragoza […]
It was a very in-tents occasion when Teresa Kuskey, the bubbly founder of the La Boheme dance company, and social gadabout Rick Oshay hosted their annual fiesta bash at the Santa Barbara Polo Club for 175 guests. The fun fête in a giant marquee featured Teresa’s colorful dancers, who led our Eden by the Beach’s […]
American automotive designer, author, and photojournalist Peter Brock will be the honoree this year at the Montecito Motor Classic at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in October, I can exclusively reveal. Brock is best known for his work on the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe and the Corvette Stingray. His accomplishments have been honored with numerous […]
It wasn’t quite the exotic Moroccan city of Marrakech where I had been scheduled to celebrate the 19th anniversary of my half century, but our rarefied enclave’s newest eatery Local on Coast Village Road served as a suitable replacement locale to celebrate. I joined good friends, animal activist Gretchen Lieff and her fiancée Miles Hartfeld, […]
Nicholas Burlett is the new chair of Opera Santa Barbara replacing Joan Rutkowski after a four-year reign. Burlett, a graduate of Cornell University, New York, is a director of engineering for an international safety and security software firm and moved to our Eden by the Beach in 2004. “We must be willing to look for […]
Montecito’s Magic Castle, after five years as a club, is closing its doors. Dynamic duo Milt and Arlene Larsen, who bought the former Cafe del Sol eatery owned by Jack and Emilie Sears, a tiara’s toss from the 42-acre Andree Clark Bird Refuge, in 2016 hosted a farewell bash with 130 club members and friends […]
Patricia Westley, daughter of the Santa Barbara Polo Club’s John Westley, who used to manage the polo training school, had just scored the experience of a lifetime two months before Russia invaded Ukraine. The Kiwi-American opera singer had won an Atkins Foundation fellowship to work at the historic Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, finding an […]
We were all clearly in the right aria when the Music Academy staged Tchaikovsky’s classic Eugene Onegin at the Granada, directed by Peter Kazaras, head of Opera UCLA. With the orchestra under Slovenian-born conductor Daniela Candillari, Yale-educated baritone Samuel Kidd as Onegin, and soprano Johanna Will as his lover, they were absolutely superb in the […]
Santa Barbara’s Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation has elected Erin Bonski-Evans to its board. A prolific pianist and collaborative artist, serving on the faculties of Westmont College and Santa Barbara City College, Erin is the resident coach and répétiteur for Ensemble Theatre Company and assistant conductor for the Santa Barbara Master Chorale. She frequently works with […]
On a personal note, I remember Ivana Trump, a friend of many years and a former Upper Eastside neighbor, when I lived in Manhattan. Ivana, who died at her East 64th Street townhouse, opposite the home of the late Italian designer Gianni Versace, at the age of 73 was a partner at many social events, […]
Social gridlock reigned when, after a two-week hiatus, Santa Barbara Polo Club launched its highly anticipated high goal season with four top teams playing in the roster at the Carpinteria equine paradise through September. The 20-goal culminates at the end of August with the Netjets Pacific Coast Open, the biggest tournament on the Left Coast, […]