Editor’s Pick: Desert Dancer

Posted on January 29, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Desert Dancer is the opening night film for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Desert Dancer Productions

Desert Dancer

Opening night of the 30th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival brings the U.S. premiere of the powerful and true story of a self-taught dancer pursuing a dream in the suppressed society of Iran during the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election. Forming an underground dance company, the dancers learn, through banned online videos, from timeless legends like Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Jan. 27, 8 p.m. Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. sbiff.org

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine, Winter 2014/15.

SBIFF Film Feast Returns with 12 Days of VIP Experiences

Posted on January 26, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Film Feast illustration courtesy Visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s fifth annual Film Feast returns from January 27 to February 7, offering 12 straight days of VIP access to the top libations and dining offerings as well as exclusive lodging packages throughout Santa Barbara’s theater district. Coinciding with the 30^th anniversary of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), Santa Barbara’s Film Feast is a unique take on Restaurant Week and part of California’s Restaurant Month.

Special menus and hotel packages will celebrate the theme “30 Years of Filmmaking,” with offers available at participating restaurants, wine tasting rooms and hotels throughout Santa Barbara. Visitors and locals alike will enjoy themed offerings inspired by the blockbuster films and indie favorites of the past 30 years. And don’t forget to share your red carpet experience on Twitter or Instagram using #SBFilmFeast for the chance to win a Santa Barbara getaway and other great prizes!

According to the folks at Visit Santa Barbara, you can rediscover your favorite films with cinema-inspired menus and tasting flights at Santa Barbara’s top restaurants, tasting rooms and lounges, with highlights including:

· Belcampo Meat Company will run a special meatball sandwich during Film Feast, inspired by 2009 comedy Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Mention the film for a 30% discount on your sandwich!

· C’est Cheese introduces guests to 2005 British-American animated film Wallace + Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, with a menu featuring Wallace’s favorite cheeses.

· Ty Lounge at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara will be debuting three specialty cocktails inspired by this year’s festival honorees. Imbibe with a Birdman Martini, an Outstanding Carell Collins or a Cousteau Margarita.

· Olio Crudo Bar and Olio e Limone Ristorante bring you the flavors and filmmaking of Italy, with exclusive prix fixe menus celebrating 30 years of Italian cinema.

See what’s on the menu at SBFilmFeast.com. Santa Barbara’s Film Feast 2015 is presented as part of California Restaurant Month, held each January to showcase the destination’s unforgettable dining experiences. Learn more at DineinCA.com.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on January 25, 2015.

Cocktail Corner: A Toast to Downton Abbey

Posted on January 23, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg

One of my favorite television shows recently had a wonderful plot twist: Downton Abbey, the wonderful British period drama which returned this month to PBS, now has its own wine label, believe it or not!

Available at www.Wine.com and www.DowntonAbbeyWine.com as well as select retailers, the Downton Abbey Wine Collection features two blends from the Bordeaux region of France: a “Blanc” white wine and a “Claret” red wine. Downton Abbey Blanc is a light and crisp white blend, while Downton Abbey Claret is medium-bodied red with bright fruit and a silky finish.

Made in the finest Bordeaux winemaking tradition by the Grands Vins de Bordeaux, a family-owned winery with more than 130 years of winemaking experience in the prized Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux, France, both blends are finely balanced, elegant wines that are eminently drinkable. According to the manufacturer, they’re even using the same vines, soil and region used to produce the wines from the Downton Era.

In addition, other offerings from the collection include a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon. These new world bottlings take their inspiration from Lady Cora Crawley, the thoroughly modern, American-born wife of British aristocrat, Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham. Bold-flavored and fruit forward, the new wines are a counterpoint to Downton Abbey Wines’ more classically restrained Bordeaux offerings.

Lady Mary would most certainly approve.

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on January 23, 2015.

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.”

The Books of 2014

Posted on January 21, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

So many books, so little time—part eight.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the eighth year we’ve done this.

My favorite books of 2014 were probably One More Thing by B.J. Novak, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, and My Latest Grievance by Eleanor Lipman. All are fiction but otherwise they have very little in common other than sharp writing.

Anyway, I’d love to hear about other people’s favorite books this year.

2014 Book List

title	author last	author first
Whiskey Beach	Roberts	Nora
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming	Jackson	Joshilyn
Don’t Go	Scottoline	Lisa
A Playdate With Death	Waldman	Ayelet
Elsewhere	Russo	Richard
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage	Patchett	Ann
What My Mother Gave Me: 31 Women on the Gifts That Mattered	Benedict	Elizabeth
Fast Women	Crusie	Jennifer
Eleanor & Park	Rowell	Rainbow
Winners	Steel	Danielle
The Big Burn	Egan	Timothy
Until the End of Time	Steel	Danielle
The Tenth of December	Saunders	George
The Replacement Wife	Gouge	Ellen
Divergent	Roth	Veronica
The Island	Hildenbrand	Elin
My Latest Grievance	Lipman	Elinor
That Summer	Dessen	Sarah
The Magician’s Assistant	Patchett	Ann
Girlchild	Hassman	Tupelo
Summer at Willow Lake	Wiggs	Susan
Irresistable Forces	Jackson	Brenda
The Patron Saint of Liars	Patchett	Ann
The Sixes	White	Kate
Empty Mansions	Dedman	Bill and Paul Clark Newell Jr.
The Good Luck of Right Now	Quick	Matthew
The Smart One	Close	Jennifer
Tempting Fate	Green	Jane
Slim to None	Gardiner	Jenny
The Madwoman in the Volvo	Tsing Loh	Sandra
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee	Miller	Rebecca
The Gap Year	Bird	Sarah
Tempted	Cast	P.C. & Kristen
Goodbye for Now	Frankel	Laurie
Crow Planet	Haupt	Lyanda Lynn
Diary of a Mad Fat Girl	McAfee	Stephanie
The Day I Ate Whatever I wanted	Berg	Elizabeth
Cinderella Ate My Daughter	Orenstein	Peggy
The Renaissance Soul	Lobenstine	Margaret
The Big Short	Lewis	Michael
One More Thing	Novak	B.J.
San Miguel	Boyle	T.C.
The Signature of All Things	Gilbert	Elizabeth
Wedding Night	Kinsella	Sophie
The Interestings	Wolitzer	Meg
Traveling With Pomegranites	Monk Kidd	Sue & Ann Kidd Taylor
A Foolish Consistency	Weir	Andrea
Tiny Beautiful Things	Strayed	Cheryl
Truth and Beauty	Patchett	Ann
You Can Date Boys When You’re Forty	Barry	Dave
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian	Alexie	Sherman
When I Found You	Ryan Hyde	Catherine
I’ve Still Got It … I Just Can’t Remember Where I Put It	McCarthy	Jenna
Famous Baby	Rizzo	Karen
Blossom Street Brides	Macomber	Debbie
Prospect Park West	Sohn	Amy
And the Heart Says Whatever	Gould	Emily
The Chaperone	Moriarty	Laura
Astonish Me	Shipstead	Maggie
My Reading Life	Conroy	Pat
Backseat Saints	Jackson	Joshilyn
The Apple Orchard	Wiggs	Susan
The Picture of Dorian Gray	Wilde	Oscar
The Wonder Bread Summer	Blau	Jessica Anya
Summerland	Hildenbrand	Elin
The Buddha in the Attic	Otsuka	Julie
Gratitude & Trust	Jackson	Tracey & Paul Williams
The Here and Now	Brashears	Ann
The One and Only	Griffin	Emily
100 Names	Ahern	Cecilia
Love Letters	Macomber	Debbie
The Girls of August	Siddons	Anne Rivers
Beautiful Ruins	Walter	Jess
The Engagements	Sullivan	J. Courtney
Vintage	Gloss	Susan
Not That Kind of Girl	Dunham	Lena
The Half Life	Weiner	Jennifer
Before We Kiss	Mallery	Susan
Choose Your Own Autobiography	Harris	Neil Patrick
You Should Have Known	Korelitz	Jean Hanff
Save the Date	Andrews	Mary Kay

Click to read The Books of 2013.

Click to read The Books of 2012.

Click to read The Books of 2011.

Click to read The Books of 2010.

Click to read The Books of 2009.

Click to read The Books of 2008.

Click to read The Books of 2007.

SBIFF INTRODUCES FIRST ANNUAL ARTISANS AWARDS

Posted on January 21, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Gone Girl composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, courtesy SBIFF

Santa Barbara International Film Festival, in conjunction with Variety, will present the first annual Variety Artisans Awards, which will take place on Tuesday, February 3, at the Arlington Theatre, moderated by Variety’s Seinor Vice President Awards Editor, Tim Gray. The Tribute evening will celebrate those essential to the filmmaking process and who have exhibited the most exciting and innovative work of the year in the fields of Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Hair & Makeup, Production Design, Score, Song, Sound Editing & Mixing and Visual Effects. The audience will be treated to a unique and lively discussion with the honorees about their individual crafts and the ways in which their fields all support and rely on each other.

The Variety Artisans Award, will be presented to:

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Gone Girl (Score)

Dion Beebe, Into the Woods (Cinematography)

Steven Noble, The Theory of Everything (Costume Design)

Sandra Adair, Boyhood (Editing)

Bill Corso & Kathrine Gordon, Foxcatcher (Hair & Makeup)

Suzie Davies, Mr. Turner (Production Design)

Shawn Patterson / Tegan & Sara, “Everything is Awesome” from The Lego Movie (Song)

Richard King & Mark Weingarten, Interstellar (Sound Mixing & Editing)

Joe Letteri, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes & The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (VFX)

For more information, or to purchase tickets please visit www.sbiff.org.

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on January 20, 2015.

Cocktail Corner: Everything You Need to Know About Molecular Mixology

Posted on January 16, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Parks and Recreation, courtesy NBC.com

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg

Want to know about Molecular Mixology? Here’s the real lowdown from Parks & Recreation.

And by the way, this hilarious show just started its final season. (Pawnee drinking game, anyone?)

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Published in Santa Barbara Seasons on January 16, 2015.

Leslie Dinaberg

Style File: Winterizing Your Hair

Posted on January 9, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Aviva’s Hair Rescue Renewal Masque, courtesy photo

Colder weather can take a toll on your tresses. Luckily, there are loads of great products to “winterize” your hair—here are a few tips:

#1 Use a moisturizing deep conditioner.

“This will give your hair all the hydration it needs to sustain the cold winter weather. You should aim for a deep conditioning treatment once a week,” says board certified dermatologist, Dr. Marnie Nussbaum. If you color or straighten or otherwise chemically treat your hair, Anna Urban, CEO of AVIVA, recommends “a hair mask like Aviva’s Hair Rescue Renewal Masque 1-2 times per week to repair damage and restore elastic, while protecting from the drying effects of UV rays.”

#2 Avoid shampooing too often.

Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum, courtesy photo

“Everybody loves the look and feel of freshly washed hair, but shampooing too often strips your hair of natural oils, drying it out faster,” warns Nussbaum. Products made with Argan Oil, like Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum, are great styling tools for all hair types. It repairs and nourishes as it de-frizzes, with no residue and no color-fading. There are also some great new dry shampoo products on the market, such as Batiste Dry Shampoo, which is particularly good for brunettes, since it doesn’t leave any white residue behind.

Batiste Dry Shampoo, courtesy Facebook

Tip #3 Try air drying your hair.

“Put down your blow dryer or stick to one blow dry session a week. Too much heat will guarantee dry split ends in the winter,” says Nussbaum.

Tip #4 Take a hair supplement.

“Your body needs the correct amount of nutrients in order to maintain or achieve healthy hair. Aviva Advanced Hair Nutrition supplement contains biotin, and 18 other essential nutrients to keep your healthy and full of life,” says Nussbaum.

Tip #5 If all else fails, wear a hat.

Aviva Advanced Hair Nutrition, courtesy photo

Goorin Bros. Hat Shop (802 State St.) has some adorable options for winter, including a great selection of warm felt, wool, and cotton fedoras, beanies, flatcaps, newboy and wool ivy hats. These also make great gifts (hint, hint!).

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on January 7, 2015.

Santa Barbara Printmakers Best Impressions at the Arts Fund

Posted on January 5, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Courtesy Arts Fund

Opening on January 9 at the Arts Fund, BEST IMPRESSIONS consists of works by ten artist members of the Santa Barbara Printmakers who were awarded top prizes in recent annual exhibitions organized by the group and juried by art professionals from universities, galleries, and printmaking organizations in our region.

Artists with work on view are David Graves, Yessy Kim, Inés Monguio, Jerilynne Nibbe, Patti Post, Karen Schroeder, Garrett Speirs, Don Zimmerman, Siu Zimmerman and Pamela Zwehl-Burke.

Santa Barbara Printmakers is a group of artists dedicated to producing fine art prints using etching, woodblock, collagraph, linocut, clay, lithography and solar plate processes. Their distinctive marks on paper were produced by hand and press printing, and represent a wide range of artistic expression and techniques.

The exhibition, curated by Don Zimmerman,opens with a reception on January 9 from 5-8 p.m. and extends until February 28. The exhibition will be held at The Arts Fund Gallery, located at 205-C Santa Barbara St. in the Funk Zone. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday-Friday from noon-5 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from11 a.m.-4 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on January 2, 2015.

Local Lowdown: Class-y Gifting

Posted on December 29, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

By Leslie Dinaberg

In a season chock-full of stuff, the notion of learning a new skill, or improving upon an old one, through taking a class is a great way to give someone a gift that keeps on giving—providing memorable experiences and perhaps even spurring lasting new interests. Here are some class-y gift suggestions for everyone on your list.

Courtesy Eat This, Shoot That!

Eat This, Shoot That!

One glance at Instagram is all it takes to know that food shots are all the rage. Learn how to take fantastic food and travel photos while tasting delicious food and drinks in and around Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone with this unique tour. (800/979-3370, 805/699-6719, eatthisshootthat.com) Eat This, Shoot That! owner Tara Jones and her crew take you to taste and shoot at Deep Sea Winery, Santa Barbara Shellfish Co., Lucky Penny, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, Riverbench Winery, Koval Confections and Seven Bar + Kitchen. In addition to photography tips and nibbles and tipples, the tour also offers tidbits of Santa Barbara history.

Polo Play

Learn the fast-paced game of polo at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, where John Westley’s world-renowned polo school has taught players of all skill levels for more than 20 years (805/729-2812, sbpoloschool.com). The club offers a variety of options to learn to play polo for beginners and to fine tune polo skills for more advanced players.

Make Music

Studies have shown that learning music enhances brain power, improves memory and boosts performance. What a great gift to give to someone at any age! Learn to sing or play an instrument at Santa Barbara School of Music (805/699-5594, schoolofmusicsb.com), where the goal is to make learning to sing or play an instrument a fun, rewarding and positive experience.

Santa Barbara Centre for Aerial Arts, courtesy photo

Up in the Air

Has the same old, same old exercise routine gotten stale? Santa Barbara Rock Gym’s skilled staff teaches aspiring rock hounds of all ages everything from beginner climber safety and climbing techniques to advanced bouldering skills (805/770-3225, sbrockgym.com). For a completely different type of high flying fun, check out Cloud 10 Jump Club (805/617-3900, cloud10jumpclub.com); with almost 19,000 square feet of trampolines to play on, the club is also home to the C10 “Air Academy” training center for trampoline and tumbling classes, camps and flipping clinics. Also up in the air for fun and fitness are classes at Santa Barbara Centre for Aerial Arts (805/284-8785, sbaerial.com), including intensive stretching and conditioning, static trapeze, aerial sling, the art of balance and more.

Dance Fever

Dance to your heart’s content at Santa Barbara Dance Center (805/899-2901, santabarbaradancecenter.com), where lessons are offered in Brazilian dancing, Bollywood fusion, world dance, salsa, Argentine tango and more. Arthur Murray Dance Center (805/963-6658, arthurmurraysantabarbara.com) gets students out on the floor for a wide variety of Latin, country Western and ballroom dances, including the waltz, jitterbug, fox trot, cha cha, Texas two-step, swing, Polka, merengue, quickstep and more.

Adventure Awaits

Yearning to get out on the water? Santa Barbara Adventure Company (805/884-9283, sbadventureco.com) offers standup paddling lessons, surf lessons, paragliding and kayaking. Santa Barbara Sailing Center (800/350-9090, sbsail.com) has more than 40 charter boats in its program and a large staff of instructors to accommodate sailors of all levels. In addition to one-on-one lessons, it also offers plenty of live-aboard instructional vacation options to choose from, as well as regularly scheduled group classes.

The WOODS Art Studio offers creative mixed-media classes, date nights, art parties and more. Photo courtesy The Woods Art Studio.

Grow Artsy

Get out a paintbrush and get back to nature at the same time at The WOODS Art Studio, a fun sunlit outdoor studio in the Santa Barbara foothills, where LeAnne Iverson offers both private and small group classes in mixed media painting, collage, Photoshop techniques, acrylics, art journaling, mosaics, found object construction and art parties (including bachelorette gatherings, date nights and singles nights) for children/teens and adults (646/369-7277, facebook.com/thewoodsartstudio). For a more traditional approach, Santa Barbara Museum of Art (805/884-6457, sbmuseart.org) offers a wide variety of studio art classes at Ridley-Tree Education Center, including instruction in watercolor and acrylic painting.

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine, Winter 2014/15.

Local Lowdown: Christmas in the Sand

Posted on December 29, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Santa Claus on Santa Claus Lane, historic photo by SB Vintage Photo

Shopping Santa Claus Lane | By Leslie Dinaberg

Santa may be gone*, but the shopping scene is alive and well on his namesake street in Carpinteria. Tucked just south of Montecito, amid the soothing sounds of the sea—and occasional toots from the train—the eclectic Santa Claus Lane is home to an impressive variety of charming shops displaying everything from garden goodies and home decor to surf supplies and casually elegant clothes.

Porch is a unique shop “where shelter and nature converge.” Photo by Mercedes Lowe.

Porch

A unique shop “where shelter and nature converge” into distinct art and home accessories and furniture.

1. PORCH, 3823 Santa Claus Lane, 805/684-0300, porchsb.com.

Ze Bird is an ever-evolving treasure trove for the home. Photo by Mercedes Lowe.

Ze Bird

Original artwork plus a design and consign business makes this an ever evolving treasure trove for the fashionable home.

2. Ze Bird, 3825 Santa Claus Lane, 805/318-1818, zebirdsb.com.

Hawthorn, photo by Mercedes Lowe.

Hawthorn

This clothing and accessories boutique embodies the casual elegance of the Santa Barbara lifestyle.

3. Hawthorn, 3817 Santa Claus Lane, 805/684-6474, facebook.com/hawthornpadarobeach.

The Garden Market on Santa Claus Lane offers unique gifts like Mama’s Preserves. Photo by Mercedes Lowe.

The Garden Market

This tranquil little bistro is a great place to relax in the outdoor garden, or shop for unique gifts and treasures.

4. The Garden Market, 3811 Santa Claus Lane, 805/745-5505, gardenmarketsb.com.

Reed Interiors offers a variety of stylish lighting, as well as flooring, furniture and more for the home. Photo by Mercedes Lowe.

Reed Interiors

This design showroom offers flooring, stylish lines of furniture, lighting, accessories, window treatments, wall coverings, upholstery and more.

5. Reed Interiors, 3821 Santa Claus Lane, 805/684-7583, reedfloors.com.

Hummingbird is a chic boutique on Santa Claus Lane. Photo by Mercedes Lowe.

Hummingbird

A chic boutique carrying women’s clothing, jewelry, handbags, accessories, eyewear, art and gifts.

6. Hummingbird, 3823 Santa Claus Lane, 805/684-5800, hummingbirdcarpinteria.com.

a-Frame Surf Shop, photo by Mercedes Lowe.

a-Frame Surf Shop

Whether you’re looking for surf lessons, the latest in surf gear or the coolest in clothing and beach wear, they’ve got you covered.

7. A-Frame Surf Shop, 3785 Santa Claus Lane, 805/684-8803, aframesurf.com.

Holiday on the Lane

Santa may have retired, but he’ll be back for a visit at the Santa Claus Lane Annual Block Party on Saturday, December 13 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

*The jolly red giant moved to Oxnard in 2003.

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine, Winter 2014/15.

LeslieDinaberg.com

Leslie Dinaberg Editor & Writer

Category Archives: Articles

Editor’s Pick: Desert Dancer

SBIFF Film Feast Returns with 12 Days of VIP Experiences

Cocktail Corner: A Toast to Downton Abbey

The Books of 2014

SBIFF INTRODUCES FIRST ANNUAL ARTISANS AWARDS

Cocktail Corner: Everything You Need to Know About Molecular Mixology