After four years as manager of the tony 92-cottage Belmond El Encanto, Janis Clapoff, has passed the torch to new manager Pedro Dias, who is moving to our Eden by the Beach after running the hotel group’s 113-room Cap Juluca in Anguilla. Janis is taking over as manager of the historic California Club, founded in […]
Democracy has spoken. Montecito comic Steve Martin, 78, has been deemed the perfect person to portray Vice President Kamala Harris’ recently appointed vice president candidate Minnesota governor Tim Walz, 60, on NBC’s Saturday Night Live this fall, when it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Social media was instantly abuzz noting the physical resemblance of the two […]
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To the Ritz-Carlton Bacara to indulge in an evening of culinary delight at Angel Oak, the tony hostelry’s oceanside eatery, with my trusty shutterbug Priscilla. In the fall Costa Rican chef Diego Seitour is introducing a new three-course tasting menu for a nominal $95. Although wine is at extra cost, I chose a Far Niente […]
Two new members have joined the board of the Santa Barbara Choral Society – Dr. Lawrence M. Schecter and singer Susan Renehan. Schecter, a teacher, mentor, innovator and humanist, has added coaching and consulting to his impressive career in the healthcare industry. He was chief medical officer in hospitals in Santa Monica and an associate […]
Ellen DeGeneres and actress wife Portia de Rossi have sold their sprawling Carpinteria spread for a hefty $96 million. The dynamic duo purchased the 20-acre property in 2022 for $70 million, at the time one of the largest real estate deals in Santa Barbara County. Property records obtained by the Wall Street Journal show they […]
The 100th anniversary of Fiesta came to a glorious close with the 25th anniversary of the Fiesta Finale when 170 guests descended on the historic El Paseo restaurant raising around $100,000 for the John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts which helps musicians, dancers, artists, actors and authors chart their career paths. More than $250,000 […]
Santa Barbara winemaker Doug Margerum celebrated the launch of his new sauvignon blanc with a boffo bash fieldside at the Santa Barbara Polo Club where the new label is being sold. His “all white” party for 150 guests at the weekend, featured all of his labels, including his popular Rhône varietal M5 and a host […]
It’s a wrap! The Music Academy of the West marked the finale of its 77th Summer Festival with the Academy Festival Orchestra at the Granada under Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu playing Mahler’s “Symphony No. 6 in A Minor, ‘Tragic.’” Lintu, 56, graduated the Sibelius Academy in 1996 and took up the baton as chief conductor […]
The Music Academy of the West has awarded its 2024 Duo Competition winners to cellist Shengyu Meng and pianist Yoshino Toi, with each receiving $5,000 cash and digital assets for career promotion. Meng, from Shanghai, is earning her bachelor’s degree at the Colburn Conservatory of Music. She was former principal cellist at the California Young […]
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Meghan Markle took a private jet with entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima to attend a one-day business summit in the oh-so tony Hamptons. The Duchess of Sussex, 42, was in attendance at the G9 Ventures Summer Summit hosted by Amy Griffin, wife of billionaire hedge fund founder John Griffin, at their $13 million home. The Riven […]
Crossing Encephalartos horridus with Encephalartos woodii might sound like the formula for developing the world’s next deadly disease. But horticulturalists will realize that it’s actually a unique cycad hybrid – one that results in super spiny and glossy green leaves. The Lotusland-created specimen will be among the hundreds of rare and specimen plants available at […]
A positive profusion of creative and colorful tony tête toppers packed the stands and cabanas as the Santa Barbara Polo Club celebrated its 17th annual Ladies Day. As usual I had the onerous task of judging the mélange of magnificent millinery, including the largest, most colorful and most creative, and the day couldn’t have been […]
Our tony town’s annual Fiesta fest kicked off with the La Recepción del Presidente for 220 traditionally garbed guests, including 18 past presidents and current incumbent Brian Schwabecher, in the Hilton’s Plaza del Sol. After a blessing from fun loving Franciscan friar Larry Gosselin, the dancing entertainment – emceed by the ubiquitous KEYT-TV reporter John […]
After more than 50 years as a journalist and TV commentator, I took on one of my most unusual assignments when the Polo Training Center hosted its 10th anniversary Denim and Diamonds benefit dinner, raising more than $50,000 from the 120 guests in a giant fieldside marquee at the Carpinteria-based polo club. Club president Rhys […]
