For more than 25 years, uber philanthropist Leslie Ridley-Tree and her husband Paul generously supported the Santa Barbara Museum of Art in its mission to “integrate into the lives of people.” Leslie, who moved to more heavenly pastures two years ago at the age of 98, served on the board of trustees for 15 years, […]

Animal activist and winemaker Gretchen Lieff hosted a pre-Independence Day bash at her charming Arcady estate for 60 guests, including her ex-husband, international legal eagle Robert Lieff, who is also an award-winning vintner with his Rutherford cabernet. Among those hovering around the barbecue to snaffle the burgers and hotdogs while quaffing Gretchen’s La Lieff vino […]

Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell, music director of London’s Academy of St, Martin-in-the-Fields, joined iconic pianist Jeremy Denk in a dazzling duo performance at the Granada. The tony twosome’s concert, part of the Music Academy of the West’s Summer Festival, featured works by Franck, Beethoven, and Mozart. The sold-out 90-minute performance featured Mozart’s “Sonata No. 18 […]

The Environmental Defense Center, one of the nation’s longest running nonprofit environmental law firms working to protect the California coast and natural resources, has added a tony triumvirate of highly qualified new staff members to the team. Jeremy Frankel, a Goleta native, is a new staff attorney, with Matt Campa, who serving as a legal […]

Mother Nature was decidedly uncooperative as 250 guests gathered on the Serena Rooftop of mega winemaker Bill Foley’s Hotel Californian for the third year to watch the much-anticipated July 4 pyrotechnics over the harbor. But the evening soon resembled a scene from Wuthering Heights as a heavy marine layer rolled in totally obscuring the colorful […]

Local realtor, investor, and entrepreneur Kim Stone is the new president of the Montecito Rotary Club. A longtime Rotarian who has led multiple service projects for the organization, she succeeds Tony Morris, who has just completed a two-year term. Founded in 1953, club has developed projects and provided service to the community and the wider […]

Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry has teased the lyrics of her new fantasy song “Woman’s World” in a most environmental way, wearing them on the back of her Balenciaga dress during Paris Fashion Week. While her one-shoulder red velvet look featured a super-short hemline, it also included an extraordinary train that trailed an unbelievable 200 […]

Drama fans were out in force when the Ensemble Theatre Company hosted its annual Curtain Up! gala, kicking off with a Legends of Santa Barbara concert at the New Vic featuring iconic songs from a number of our Eden by the Beach’s legendary artists including Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Katy Perry, Brian Wilson, and Mike […]

MOXI: The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, which opened its doors in 2017, welcomed its one millionth guest last week in colorful and explosive style. As Vincent Regina, manager of Chili’s in Goleta, brought his youngsters Dante, 3, and Vivian, 5, through the door, a cannon of colorful confetti unloaded, much to the delight […]

Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä, 71, former musical director of the Seoul Philharmonic, was in fine form at the Granada when he led the Academy Festival Orchestra in its first performance of the summer festival season. The highly entertaining concert opened with Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. and Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer, concluding […]