Bach, Broadway & Beyond Features Wicked’s Tiffany Haas

Posted on June 10, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

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The Music and Arts Conservatory of Santa Barbara presents Bach, Broadway & Beyond, featuring soprano Tiffany Haas, star of Broadway’s Wicked, and MAC’s Virtuoso Strings conducted by Ernest Richardson, on Sunday, June 14 at 7 p.m. at Marjorie Luke Theatre, 721 E. Cota St.

“When Tiffany sang for us I just put a star by her name, put down my pen and listened,” Richardson recalls about his first encounter with Haas’ incredible voice. “From that point on, she has been such an important artist in my life. I write music for Tiffany and her ability to bring life to the notes I write is incredible. She is classically trained and can go from Bach to Broadway effortlessly which she will demonstrate beautifully while she literally enchants Santa Barbara.”

Haas’ program will include Bach’s Cantata No. 51 Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen; L’Amero saro costante from Mozart’s Il Re Pastore; Glitter and Be Gay from Bernstein’s Candide; and Jeanine Tesori’s The Girl in 14G. Also on the program, which may be subject to change, Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four Violins in B minor and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com or www.sbmac.org.

In addition, Haas will offer a musical theater master class and concert preview on Saturday, June 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the UCSB Music Department‘s Geiringer Hall. Tickets are $15, $5 for students, at the door. For more information, visit www.sbmac.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on June 9, 2015.

Local Poets on Ray Strong

Posted on June 9, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Ray Stanford Strong, Lower East Side, New York City, Rainy Day Under the El, 1926-27. Oil on canvas mounted on board. SBMA, Museum purchase with funds provided by Robert and Marlene Veloz.

There’s a great, free poetry event coming up on Thursday, June 11, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Local poets will follow Ray Strong‘s example in SBMA’s exhibition and write about the world “Beyond Santa Barbara,” while remaining true to their homegrown cultivated poetic visions. The event takes place on the front steps of Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St.

The museum also has a related exhibition, Ray Strong: Beyond Santa Barbara, running through June 21. Here’s the scoop:

“This intimate presentation of paintings and drawings by esteemed artist Ray Strong (1905–2006) highlights distinct moments within the artist’s practice over the course of 45 years. Featuring landscapes and cityscapes produced outside of the Santa Barbara area, the selected works from the Museum’s holdings offer a view of Strong’s travels and his lifelong interest in depicting the environment around him.”

Ray Strong: Beyond Santa Barbara is organized in conjunction with The Ray Strong Project, an initiative of Sullivan Goss – An American Gallery. This effort includes a series of events and exhibitions coalescing in June of 2015 at museums and galleries in the Santa Barbara area. This initiative will also produce the first monograph on Ray Strong and an online catalogue raisonné.”

For additional information, visit www.theraystrongproject.com.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on June 5, 2015.

Reel Cool Movies at the Granada

Posted on June 8, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

The Muppet Movie Get ready for a fun series of family favorite movies at the Granada this summer. The 2015 Summer Film Series offers audiences an especially rare opportunity to see memorable favorites on the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art digital 4K rear-projection screen at the historic Granada Theatre.

These family friendly films screen on Wednesdays throughout the summer.

June 10, 6 p.m.: The Muppet Movie (1979), G

June 24, 6 p.m.: Ghostbusters (1984), PG

July 8, 6 p.m.: E.T. (1982), PG

July 22, 6 p.m.: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe (2005), PG

August 12, 6 p.m.: Surf’s Up (2007), PG

August 26, 6 p.m.: Despicable Me (2010), PG

General Admission tickets are $10 with discounts for multiple series purchases. Click here to purchase tickets for each movie performance, or by calling The Granada Theatre’s Box Office at 805/899-2222. The theater is located at 1214 State St. For more information please visit www.granadasb.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on June 6, 2015.

Cocktail Corner: SB Passport … to Libations!

Posted on June 6, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

As far as I’m concerned, there’s almost nothing better than the buzzy fun of enjoying summertime cocktails with friends—but one thing that does beat that is getting a great DEAL on summertime cocktails with friends.

There’s a new player in town—The Santa Barbara Passport—that offers great deals on drinks this summer at 28 establishments for just 20 bucks. This cleverly illustrated, pocket-sized booklet offers loads of drink deals—you receive a stamp in your booklet upon redemption—and the specials will run all summer through Labor Day (September 7), providing ample time to collect stamps and explore.

It even includes a section on Beer 101 and Wine Labels for Dummies, as well as cocktail fundamentals for making—and ordering—classic libations like Negronis, Manhattans and Old Fashioneds.

Courtesy Santa Barbara Passport

“The Passport is the friend that helps you decide where to go for happy hour, on a date or a Sunday afternoon,” says Casey Berry, co-founder of the Passport Program, who describes it as “a curated guide to the beverage culture of Santa Barbara.”

Indeed, participating venues include some of my favorites:

Corks n’ Crowns: Gold or craft brew flight for 50% off

Pure Order Brewing Company: Pint for 50% off

“Santa Barbara offers not just a great nightlife, but the drinks culture is so diverse that you won’t be disappointed when sipping a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Funk Zone or a cold White Rascal beer at American Ale,” says Jane Pimcomrie, city manager for the Santa Barbara branch of the Passport Program. “The Santa Barbara Passport features enough wineries for wine-lovers, breweries for after work socializing, and unique bars for cocktail and spirits junkies. Plus it will make the heat of summer that much more enjoyable.”

Can’t argue with that logic. For more information or to purchase a passport, go here.

Cheers! Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

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.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS Magazine on June 5, 2015.

Dream Foundation’s Flower Empower Luncheon

Posted on May 23, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Kenny Slaught (Dream Foundation, Board Chairman & Peony Sponsor), Elizabeth Slaught (Peony Sponsor), Lynette Hall (Flower Empower Event Committee), Kisa Heyer (Dream Foundation, Executive Director) and Tristan Layton (Dream Foundation, Director of Corporate Sponsorships & Marketing). Photo by Kacie Fowle (Portraits For Causes).

The Dream Foundation’s Flower Empower program, like all of its programs, delivers kindness and compassion to those in need—but this particular act of kindness comes in the form of fresh bouquets, made and delivered with love to show people that the community cares about them, and that they’re not alone.

This simple yet power message was on full display at last week’s luncheon, held at Kevin and Christine Costner’s oceanfront meadow in Summerland and attended by approximately 225 supporters, including lucky me!

Waxing Poetic designed and donated these special one-of-a-kind charms for Flower Empower supporters. Photo by Kacie Fowle (Portraits For Causes).

This unique spot, with a killer view, celebrated the dedicated band of volunteers (roughly 15 per week) who assemble and deliver 150 fresh bouquets a week to hospices, cancer centers, nursing homes and residences throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Flower Empower volunteers have made tens of thousands of flower deliveries in from Goleta to Ventura since the program began in June 1994.

To refer a flower recipient, contact Dream Foundation with your name and phone number, the name and address of the person you’re referring, and why you believe they need flowers. Perhaps he or she has lost a loved one, is recovering from surgery, has received a devastating diagnosis, is having a first or last chemo treatment, is in the hospital or a rehabilitation facility. These people will receive flowers every other week.

Farm-to-Table lunch set up, photo by Kacie Fowle (Portraits For Causes).

The program is made possible by the generosity of our community growers and retailers. It currently receives donated flowers from eight Carpinteria flower growers and distributors and is being sponsored by local residents Tim & Diane Brown and George & Lisa Hagerman.

Event hosts and Flower Empower volunteers Shirin Rajaee and Alan Rose of KEYT served as emcees. Nora McNeely-Hurley was the Flower Empower Luncheon Honorary Chair, and several supporters were honored at the event, including Special Volunteers of the Year, Roger & Robin Himovitz; Volunteers of the Year, William & Lauren Bonds; Youth Volunteer of the Year, Casey Slaught; and In-kind Donors of the Year, Jean-Michel & Jill Marie Carre, owners of Chocolats du Cali Bressan.

For more information about the Dream Foundation, click here.

Diane & Tim Brown (2015 Flower Empower Program Sponsors) with Valerie Banks (Flower Empower Coordinator). Photo by Kacie Fowle (Portraits For Causes).

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on May 21, 2015.

La Primavera Fiesta Kick Off

Posted on May 20, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

El Presidente Cas Stimson (center) celebrating at La Primavera, photo by Fritz Olenberger

Last weekend was the official kick off for the 2015 Fiesta season, La Primavera, where El Presidente Cas Stimson unveiled the official Fiesta theme, poster design, and pin.

The theme, Fiesta Romántica, states Stimson, “recalls the time in the early 19th century when people met at parties filled with music and dance… that lasted for days! During this charming era, young men wooed their ladies with music and song under the moonlight. Old Spanish Days continues this romance of people coming together in celebration with their best friends and spouses. As has been the case with many visitors and residents of Santa Barbara, my wife Kathy and I met during Fiesta 25 years ago.”

La Primavera was held at the historic El Paseo Restaurant. Here’s a look at the event, featuring photos by Fritz Olenberger.

The 2015 Old Spanish Days poster, photo by Fritz Olenberger

Celebrating at La Primavera, photo by Fritz Olenberger

Erin Graffy de Garcia, celebrating at La Primavera, photo by Fritz Olenberger

2015 Spirit of Fiesta Alexandra Freres celebrating at La Primavera, photo by Fritz Olenberger

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on May 13, 2015.

Pacific Pride Foundation’s Royal Ball

Posted on May 15, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

(L-R): Linda Wallem-Etheridge, Jane Lynch, Jason Collins, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Don Roos, Dan Bucatinsky, and Joanna Kerns, photo by JP Montalvo.

Pacific Pride Foundation (PPF) hosted its Fourth Annual Royal Ball fundraiser last month at the Bacara Resort & Spa. The sold out event attracted 500 guests and a host of local Hollywood celebrities. Among the stars out that night: Jane Lynch of Glee fame was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep) presented Pacific Pride Foundation’s first ever Advocacy Award to Award Winning Director/Screenwriter Don Roos and Emmy award winning actor Dan Bucatinsky.

Danny Franzese, co-star of Mean Girls and the HBO series Looking; Marisa Tomei, actress and producer; Mary McCormack, actress, writer, and producer; Michael Morris, television director and producer; Linda Wallem, actress, writer producer; Jeff Perry, actor; Linda Lowy, casting director; Jason Collins, NBA Basketball star and Brunson Green, film producer and president of Harbinger Pictures, also attended the event.

(L-R) (back row): Pacific PrideFoundation Board of Directors: Marco Silva, Ralph Barbosa, Lamar Pugh, honoree Dan Bucatinsky, MicheleHock, honoree DonRoos, Solomon N’dungu, Alan Rose, Jessa Tucker Riley and Auralee Bunch. (front row): Go-go dancers from The Abbey in West Hollywood, photo by Joel Conroy.

Each year, Pacific Pride Foundation hosts the Royal Ball to bring together gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) people and straight allies to share a memorable evening of fun and celebration of our diverse community, all in support of Pacific Pride Foundation’s vital programs and services for the LGBTQ and HIV communities.

The mission of Pacific Pride Foundation is to advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community; care for people living with HIV; and prevent the transmission of HIV. For more information, please visit www.pacificpridefoundation.org/.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, photo by Joel Conroy.

Costumed greeters welcomed guests to the Pacific Pride Foundation’s 4th Annual Royal Ball. Photo by Isaac Hernandez.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on May 13, 2015.

Style File: Double Duty Beauty

Posted on March 31, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

We’re all about multi-tasking these days, so anything that can help streamline my morning routine gets a thumbs up Merle Norman CC Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in my book. Here are a few double duty products we’ve been loving around here.

Merle Norman CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30

One of my favorite trends continuing into this season is the nude or more natural looking face. Designers like Stella McCartney, Chloe, Narciso Rodriguez and others show off their latest designs with velvety smooth faces and natural pink lips. Merle Norman‘s new CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is a great way to achieve smooth, light coverage, while evening out skin tone and providing a nice sunscreen as well. It’s made from good natural stuff— Watermelon Rind, Lentil Fruit and Apple Extracts—and it also features Lumiesse, which contains a stable version of Vitamin C to deliver Murad Invisablur youthful radiance. I’m all for that!

Murad’s Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Murad’s Invisiblur is another great multi-tasker I’ve tried recently. Made from ingredients like Shitake Mushroom Peptides, Black Currant, Rosemary and Goldenrod Extracts (sounds like a great salad), this new product treats the visible signs of aging, blurs imperfections, and protects e.l.f. Studio Bronzer against UV damage. Plus it feels great on your skin!

e.l.f. Studio Bronzer

Multitone Bronzers are the ultimate product to give you a nice glow, with a mix of a few different shades that can be worn separately or swirled together for natural-looking warmth. To get even more out of your palette, use the pink or peach tones as blush and swipe the earthy brown shades on your lids.

Lush Ultrabalm

This versatile balm can be used all over your body! A great product to stash in your purse or glove compartment, it locks in moisture, protects skin, soothes scrapes and burns, makes your lips shiny and even tames flyaway hair in a pinch!

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on March 24, 2015.

Videos From CALM’s 29th Annual Celebrity Authors’ Luncheon

Posted on March 20, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

CALM’s (Child Abuse Listening Mediation) 29th Annual Celebrity Authors’ Luncheon last weekend was, as always, a rousing success, thanks in large part to the hard work of co-chairs Becky Cohn and Carolyn Gillio.

A tear-jerking video presentation brought the work that CALM does in the community to the forefront of the luncheon–to prevent, assess, and treat child abuse by providing comprehensive, services for children and their families–inspiring the approximately 500 supporters at the luncheon to dig deep into their pockets to help abused children.

Then it was on to the main show, where retired KEYT anchor Debby Davison and Tom Weitzel interviewed an interesting panel of authors, including Cindy Chupack (The Longest Date: Life as a Wife, Sex & the City), Andrew Marlowe (Castle, Derrick Storm series) and Hank Phillippi Ryan (The Other Woman) . Here are some snippets from the event.

For more information about CALM, visit calm4kids.org. Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on March 17, 2015.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Style File: Nerium Skincare Products

Posted on March 12, 2015 by lesliedinaberg

Nerium’s line age-defying skincare products. Courtesy photo.

So many people I know are raving about Nerium skincare products, not to mention signing up to sell them, the buzz is almost deafening. I’ve been testing them for a couple of months now and have been quite pleased with the results.

According to the experts, the secret ingredient in their popular NeriumAD night cream and day cream, and also in the NeriumFirm body contouring cream, is the exclusive, patented NAE-8 extract–a combination of antioxidants that have anti-aging properties and aloe, which hydrates, firms and soothes skin tissue.

What I know is this: my skin looks better. It’s not an inexpensive product, but if you apply it to wet skin then a little goes a long way. Plus, both the night and day creams address multiple skincare concerns at once, including the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, enlarged pores and uneven skin texture.

They also have another product called NeriumFirm, which works to improve the appearance of cellulite and dimpling on common “problem-areas” (like love handles, or your thighs, waist and upper arms).

If you’ve been on the fence about attending one of the events for this product, I’d say it’s worth checking out. For more information visit nerium.com.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on March 10, 2015.

LeslieDinaberg.com

Leslie Dinaberg Editor & Writer

Category Archives: Blog Posts

Bach, Broadway & Beyond Features Wicked’s Tiffany Haas

Local Poets on Ray Strong

Reel Cool Movies at the Granada

Cocktail Corner: SB Passport … to Libations!

Dream Foundation’s Flower Empower Luncheon

La Primavera Fiesta Kick Off

Pacific Pride Foundation’s Royal Ball

Style File: Double Duty Beauty

Videos From CALM’s 29th Annual Celebrity Authors’ Luncheon

Style File: Nerium Skincare Products

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