Tag archives: gala

Maritime Merriment
By Richard Mineards   |   January 16, 2019

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum kicked off its 20th anniversary year with a boffo bash at its depository on South Salinas Street when the Kieding Collections Chandlery was named in honor of Bob Kieding, 82, one of the founders and a premier sailboat racer. As part of the celebrations, the popular museum, which is located next […]

Storyteller’s Dirty 30
By Lynda Millner   |   November 15, 2018

Storyteller Children’s Center (SCC) held its 30-year black-tie gala in a new place in town – the Hotel Californian at 36 State Street. It was a movable feast with the evening beginning on the rooftop for a VIP reception for patrons. We moved on to the courtyard below for martinis, the silent auction, and a […]

Ocean’s 20
By Richard Mineards   |   November 1, 2018

A tidal wave of generosity swept over the historic El Paseo restaurant when Heal the Ocean, celebrating its 20th anniversary, hosted its annual sold-out gala, raising around $200,000 from 200 guests. The bustling bash had Montecito actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, recently recovered from a breast cancer scare, as honorary chair and Los Angeles auctioneer Rick Werner […]

Just for Funds
By Richard Mineards   |   October 25, 2018

Philanthropist Sara Miller McCune was front and center when CAMA – the Community Arts Music Association – threw its centennial gala at the Biltmore, with 110 guests raising around $210,000 for the organization that brings many of the world’s most famous orchestras and performers to our Eden by the Beach. Sara, who has donated millions […]

Living Legends
By Richard Mineards   |   September 20, 2018

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 […]

Best Wishes
By Richard Mineards   |   September 20, 2018

Santa Barbara’s 21-year-old Breast Cancer Resource Center found a different venue to park its annual gala fundraiser, which had 210 guests and raised around $200,000 for the non-profit. The boffo bash is normally held at the Coral Casino, but because of the devastating mudslides in January the tony beachfront locale couldn’t guarantee an opening date, […]

Festival Gala
By Lynda Millner   |   August 23, 2018

The Music Academy of the West gave its 2018 Summer Festival Gala weaving its magic to turn a parking lot into an elegant, glamorous venue. Co-chairs Regina Roney and Judy Getto called it a “Feast for the Senses”. After cocktails in the garden with a white Steinway player piano tinkling away, guests made their way […]

All That and MAW
By Richard Mineards   |   August 9, 2018

It couldn’t have been a more perfect evening when the Music Academy of the West threw its annual gala at the impeccably manicured Miraflores campus with 300 guests raising around $750,000 for its scholarship fund and community initiatives. After quaffing cocktails in the garden, the music lovers repaired to Hahn Hall for a 90-minute concert […]

Boys and Girls Club
By Lynda Millner   |   June 28, 2018

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 amid dozens of rose bushes to toast 80 years of […]

Boys & Girls Club
By Lynda Millner   |   May 31, 2018

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 […]

Fund and Games
By Richard Mineards   |   May 24, 2018

It couldn’t have been a more perfect evening when the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara threw its 80th anniversary gala at the Heartstone Ranch in Carpinteria, with the 220 guests raising $200,000 for the popular organization. The super soirée, emceed by Montecito Bank & Trust chairman Janet Garufis and the ubiquitous Andrew Firestone, […]

Music for Money
By Richard Mineards   |   May 24, 2018

Santa Barbara Choral Society marked its 70th anniversary with a Sentimental Journey-themed gala at the Rockwood Woman’s Club, with 125 guests raising more than $60,000. The boffo bash, co-chaired by Marylove Thralls and Mary Dan Eades, revisited the post-war era with the Broadway musical and the Big Band sound. JoAnne Wasserman, who is celebrating her […]

No Average Dough
By Richard Mineards   |   May 17, 2018

Too many cooks spoil the broth goes the old adage, but culinary wizards were in abundance when UCSB Arts & Lectures threw a benefit gala at the Museum of History with Anthony Bourdain, host of CNN’s Parts Unknown. The 61-year-old, who flew in from Bali via Dubai for the 300-guest fete, gave an expletive-filled speech […]

On the Money
By Richard Mineards   |   May 10, 2018

Laguna Blanca School’s annual gala at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara was a roaring success, with the 265 guests raising more than $500,000. The bounteous bash, with a 1920’s theme, was co-chaired by Tiffany Pelletier and Valerie Rice, with ubiquitous KEYT-TV broadcaster John Palminteri as emcee and Alicia Wilson as auctioneer, with lots including trips to Vail, […]

Having a Ball
By Richard Mineards   |   April 26, 2018

The Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse’s 32nd annual Amethyst Ball at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara was a real gem! The socially gridlocked bash attracted around 350 glamorously garbed guests and raised more than $500,000 for the 68-year-old charity, which has an annual budget of $5.6 million serving more than 8,600 people with 23 programs for […]

What’s Cooking
By Richard Mineards   |   April 12, 2018

There was certainly food for thought when the 119-year-old Family Service Agency hosted its fourth annual Cooking Up Dreams gala at the Carriage and Western Art Museum, attracting 280 guests and raising around $100,000 for the nonprofit’s work, including counseling students at schools impacted by the recent disasters, providing basic-needs support to displaced workers and […]

On the Money
By Richard Mineards   |   December 14, 2017

It was just the ticket for this illustrious organ’s bridle correspondent Lynn Kirst when she attended the Dream Foundation’s annual gala at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Lynn splashed out $200 for 10 raffle tickets at the popular fete and came up a winner, receiving a diamond and 18-carat gold necklace featuring an ancient Roman coin designed […]

Sweet Dream
By Richard Mineards   |   November 30, 2017

British singer Cliff Richard was the star of the show in the cavernous ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Bacara when 400 glamorously garbed guests turned out for the popular charity, the Dream Foundation, which hosted its 16th annual gala, Dreamland. Cliff who, you might ask, but Sir Cliff, 77 – he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth […]