Celebrate Family Holiday Movie Weekend at the Granada Theatre

Granada Holiday Movie Weekend

Enjoy the magic of the holidays at The Granada Theatre’s Family Holiday Movie Weekend on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14!  In addition to screening holiday movie favorites with the only 4K cinema projection system in the region, Santa Claus will make a special visit to The Granada Theatre to greet children, and there will be special seasonal musical performances by local school and musical groups including Montecito Union Elementary, La Colina Junior High, San Marcos High School, Santa Barbara High School and local public elementary school students from the Incredible Children’s Art Network (iCAN) program.

Here’s the schedule:

Saturday, December 13

11 a.m. Music by Montecito Union Elementary

Movies: Merry Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda

noon to 1:30 p.m.   Meet Santa Claus!

3 p.m. Music by San Marcos High School Madcappella Choir

Movie: White Christmas

7 p.m. Music by La Colina Junior High Outburst Choir

Movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Sunday, December 14

11 a.m. to noon Meet Santa Claus!

noon Music by Incredible Children’s Art Network (iCAN) group Pacific Choir

Movie: Miracle On 34th Street

5 p.m. Music by Santa Barbara High School Madrigals Choir

Movie: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas

General Admission tickets are just $5 and include open seating. Reserved seating in the Loge is available for $10 per ticket. Click here to purchase tickets for each music and movie performance, or by calling The Granada Theatre’s Box Office at 805/899-2222.  The Granada is located at 1214 State St.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on December 10, 2014.

Cocktail Corner: Cocktails and Cookies for Santa

Ocean Vodka's White Christmas Cocktail, photo by Jessica Pearl

Ocean Vodka’s White Christmas Cocktail, photo by Jessica Pearl

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg |

Maybe your Santa Claus drinks milk with his cookies … but after a long night’s journey up and down chimneys delivering gifts, mine prefers a good stiff adult beverage.

Here are just a few of Santa’s favorite Christmas Eve cocktails (click on drink names for links to the full recipes).

Santa Sleigh Cocktail from the always-festive Sandra Lee of the Food Network features brandy, amaretto and ice cream. Yum!

Bourbon and pear puree are the primary flavors in this delicious Santa’s Little Helper from bartender Kris Doyle via laist.com.

Want to tickle Santa’s Whiskers? Try this concoction of 42Below Honey Vodka and Angostura Bitters from Mixologist Pete Gugni via about.com’s cocktail section.

Vodka, amaretto and cranberry juice create a refreshing red splash for Santa’s Helper from Chris Nease at celebrationsathomeblog.com.

Leave it to Rachel Ray to create the Tipsy Santa cocktail, featuring bourbon and ginger ale.

Our friends at Ocean Vodka came up with the White Christmas, a tasty treat featuring peppermint extract and Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur.

Finally, we’ve got 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails from the fabulous folks of Tablespoon.com. Try the Spice “Cake Batter” Shots to give your night an extra festive kick.

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on December 20, 2013.

Leslie Dinaberg

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”