Tag archives: birthday

Drive-by Birthday Bash
By Richard Mineards   |   May 14, 2020

Hungarian-American philanthropist Eva Haller celebrated her 90th birthday at Casa Dorinda at the weekend with a “drive by” party. Eva, a trustee of UCSB, co-founder and president of the Campaign Communications Institute of America, Visiting Professor of Glasgow Caledonian University, and the 2014 Magnusson Fellow, who escaped the Nazis during World War II, was accompanied […]

Virtual Virtuosos
By Richard Mineards   |   April 30, 2020

The Music Academy of the West, whose 73rd annual summer festival was due to kick off on June 15 until July 10, is launching the Music Academy Remote Learning Institute to connect with audiences online during the lockdown. “Our hope is to bring the faculty and fellows to Santa Barbara and enjoy music together with […]

Happy B-Day/V-Day… I Pray
By Ernie Witham   |   March 5, 2020

After about a decade of marriage, I came to the realization that my wife has a birthday every year. That was also about the time she told me that I had given her the same humorous birthday card four of those years in a row. She also showed me the three “unique” heart necklaces with […]

Happy Birthday, Hillary
By Richard Mineards   |   September 19, 2019

Heal the Ocean founder Hillary Hauser celebrated her 75th birthday in style at the Person Ryan Gallery at the Summerland Center for the Arts. Hillary, who is marking the occasion by flying to Normandy, which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, also exhibited a number of her colorful fish paintings, with all […]

Double the Fun
By Richard Mineards   |   September 12, 2019

It was a double occasion for celebration when Montecito animal rights activist Gretchen Lieff threw a sunset soirée at Tydes at the Coral Casino when her longtime beau medical equipment executive Miles Hartfeld celebrated his 66th birthday. The peripatetic twosome just returned from sojourns in Oahu and Kauai where they got engaged, Gretchen tells me. […]

Life Is A Beach
By J'Amy Brown   |   September 5, 2019

Every beach and ocean’s friend, Hillary Hauser, celebrates her big 75th this week. Thanks to this founder of Heal the Ocean, who is also an amazing writer, artist, musician, raconteur and not-to-be-messed-with advocate, our local ocean is clearer and cleaner.  So, what blessings shall we bestow on this hard-working mermaid? She says all she wants […]

Lauding Lady Leslie
By Richard Mineards   |   September 5, 2019

A torrent of tony tête toppers filled the Biltmore’s Loggia Ballroom when Montecito uber philanthropist Leslie Ridley-Tree, dressed immaculately in pink with magnificent millinery from Fenwicks of London, celebrated the 45th anniversary of her half century. The boffo bash was hosted by the Lady of Largesse’s many friends including Hiroko Benko, Bob and Val Montgomery, […]

Birthday Girl
By Richard Mineards   |   August 22, 2019

Globetrotting journalist Kimi Matar, who used to write the Honolulu Social Diary, but now spends much of her time in our Eden by the Beach, did double duty at the Rosewood Miramar’s charming Manor bar when she combined her birthday celebration with Epicurean Santa Barbara’s Wine Down Wednesday. Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force […]

Staying on Brand
By Richard Mineards   |   August 15, 2019

Social gridlock reigned at the East Haley Street wine bar Uncorked when Santa Barbara TV game-show host Rebecca Brand marked the 18th anniversary of her 40th. Rebecca, who turned a small business hosting dinner parties and teaching French impressionist oil painting at her home into a culinary and travel TV show empire, has just returned […]

Belle of the Ball
By Richard Mineards   |   August 8, 2019

It was all a very hush-hush affair when Belle Hahn, daughter of the late billionaire art dealer Stephan Hahn, who died in 2011, celebrated her 35th birthday with a night on the tiles. More than 120 guests gathered on the rooftop of the MOXI Museum for the top secret bash, with Belle thinking she was […]

Honoring a Visionary
By Richard Mineards   |   May 9, 2019

John Fowler really made a spectacle of himself when he was presented with the Jim Stanley Memorial Award as Volunteer of the Year at a 14th recognition lunch for the Lions Sight and Hearing Center at Mulligan’s Cafe at the Santa Barbara municipal golf club. John, who was presented with the coveted trophy by former […]

94 and Counting
By Richard Mineards   |   September 6, 2018

Montecito über philanthropist Leslie Ridley-Tree celebrated the 44th anniversary of her 50th birthday with a pizza party hosted by her good friend, Christopher Toomey. The 50 guests noshed on pies from Christopher’s pizza oven before wishing her a rousing Happy Birthday. An amazing lady.

Birthday Boy
By Richard Mineards   |   July 26, 2018

It was a busy week of birthday celebrations as I marked my Medicare moment, the 25th anniversary of my 40th. My longtime friend Cat Pollon ventured up from her home in the Big Orange, bunking at the Hotel Californian, given her usual accommodations at the San Ysidro Ranch were out of action. Dinner at Lucky’s, […]

Happy Birthday
By Lynda Millner   |   April 19, 2018

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 […]

Irish Eyes are Smiling
By Richard Mineards   |   March 29, 2018

New York’s legendary St. Patrick’s Day parade was a triple celebration for Santa Barbara fire chief Pat McElroy. Pat was marking his 65th birthday, his retirement after 36 years, and his 26-year-old son, Brendan, becoming a full-fledged firefighter in San Diego. “It was quite the day!” says Pat, who jetted to the Big Apple with […]

Wise Guise
By Ashleigh Brilliant   |   February 1, 2018

On December 9, 2013, I celebrated my 80th birthday at a hilltop park overlooking Santa Barbara. Inviting everybody, on a pot-luck basis, I announced, somewhat facetiously, that this would enable me to assume the role of a “Wise Old Man of the Mountain.”  To my surprise, the City took this seriously, to the extent of […]

Happy 80th
By Richard Mineards   |   May 3, 2013

Gloria Clark, wife of Ozzie singer Peter Clark, threw a surprise birthday lunch bash at the University Club to mark the 20th anniversary of his 60th. Pianist Peter, who has a traveled the world performing and used to host an Australian TV music show in his 20s, also appeared in two videos, edited by C. […]