History + Harvest in the Santa Rita Hills

Posted on July 24, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Hibbits Grove, courtesy Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

Hosted by the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County on July 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., this excursion starts with a private, docent led tour through the grounds of La Purisima Mission. Founded in 1787, there is much to learn about its history, community, restoration, and preservation—a treasure not to be missed!

After the tour, you’ll go to Hibbits Family Ranch, less than one mile west of the Mission, for a farm to table lunch including a sample of Hibbits’ walnuts and wines and a talk about local walnut harvesting by Ranch owner, Art Hibbits. You will wrap up the afternoon with a casual walk through the orchards and vineyards with exceptional views of the valley.

The Hibbits family, long standing advocates for local agriculture, decided to protect the scenic and agricultural value of their land through a voluntary conservation agreement with the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. The Hibbits Ranch is the largest single landholding within a 2000-acre block of fertile farmland bordered by the City of Lompoc, La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, the Santa Ynez River and Santa Rosa Hills.

La Purisima Mission is located at 2295 Purisima Rd., Lompoc.

About the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

Since 1985, The Land Trust has worked with willing landowners, public and private grant agencies and other community organizations to protect, restore and manage open space, wildlife habitat and agricultural land in Santa Barbara County by:

• Acquiring land and conservation easements through negotiation with willing private property owners, through charitable donation and purchase.
• Creating conservation plans, restoration projects and incentives for landowners. Raising private donations and grants from government, foundations and corporations to support land conservation.
• Promoting the preservation, stewardship and restoration of wildlife habitat and watershed resources on the land we protect.
• Educating both children and adults about ecology, agriculture and conservation through programs and events at Land Trust preserves. To date, The Land Trust has protected 23,000 acres of land and has completed or is underway on close to twenty habitat restoration, open space and trail projects.

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 23, 2014.

Opa! Santa Barbara Greek Festival Time!

Posted on July 23, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Santa Barbara Greek Festival, Photograph by Nell Campbell

Go Greek for the weekend of July 26–27 at the Santa Barbara Greek Festival.

Baklava, gyros and moussaka galore! This delicious annual event showcases the best bounty from Greece, including the sights, sounds and tastes of the Mediterranean land. The notes of the bouzouki coupled with the alluring performers dancing throughout the park bring you right into Greek culture.

There’s even free shuttle service from the parking lot of Sansum Clinic at 1317 W. Pueblo St. to take you to the festivities at Oak Park, 300 W. Alamar Ave. The event is Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

For more information call 805/683-4492, or visit santabarbaragreekfestival.com.

Click here to read a 2012 feature about the Santa Barbara Greek Festival by Cheri Rae.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 22, 2014.

Marilyn Horne Named “Honorary La Diva of Old Spanish Days”

Posted on July 23, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Marilyn Horne, courtesy photo

Viva la Fiesta and Viva la Diva!

This summer, The Music Academy of the West presents the 2014 Carmen Celebration; a special series of events in honor of the legendary opera singer Marilyn Horne’s 80th birthday. As part of this series, the Music Academy has partnered with Old Spanish Days to celebrate Horne, director of the Music Academy’s voice program, in conjunction with her 80th birthday, and recognize her with the official title, “Honorary La Diva of Old Spanish Days.”

On July 23, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., the Music Academy hosts a special private event to commemorate this occasion. The program includes performances from the Music Academy’s production of Bizet’s Carmen and the 2014 Spirit of the Fiesta. (The Music Academy will present a new, fully staged production of Carmen, directed by David Paul, conducted by James Gaffigan, and featuring State Street Ballet dancers at Santa Barbara’s Granada Theatre on August 1 and 3.)

“Marilyn Horne embodies the very spirit of our extraordinary performing arts & cultural community in Santa Barbara, and Old Spanish Days is the perfect partner to help us commemorate our Carmen Celebration in honor of her 80th birthday,” says Scott Reed, president of the Music Academy of the West. “We are thrilled to bestow this honor upon a legend, and true legacy of the Music Academy of the West.”

This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the Fiesta Historical Parade, one of the largest equestrian parades in the United States, which will take place on August 1. As part of the Carmen Celebration festivities, during the parade Horne will ride in an antique carriage sponsored by the Music Academy’s presenting sponsor, Montecito Bank & Trust.

The Granada Theatre will also commemorate the honor of Marilyn Horne’s title “Honorary La Diva of Old Spanish Days” on the theatre’s marquee.

Horne has long been recognized as one of the most influential artists to portray Carmen. Her first major professional engagement was in 1954, when she dubbed the singing voice of Dorothy Dandridge in the film Carmen Jones. Horne went on to sing the title role in Bizet’s Carmen to open the Metropolitan Opera’s 1972-73 season, which featured Leonard Bernstein as conductor, and earned a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 1974. Horne’s distinguished career has garnered her numerous honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Gramophone magazine. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1995, received the National Medal of Arts in 1992, and has been inducted into the American Classical Music and Hollywood Bowl halls of fame. Among her worldwide prizes are the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters from France’s Ministry of Culture. She was named a National Endowment for the Arts Opera Honors recipient in 2009.

Horne, who attended the Music Academy in 1953, has been a member of the Music Academy faculty since 1995, and has directed the Academy’s renowned Voice Program since 1997.

Please also note these upcoming performances.
• Opera Covers Performance in Lehmann Tuesday, Jul 22 at 3:15 p.m.
• Carmen Opera Performances, Friday, August 1 and Sunday, August 3
• Vocal Masterclass with Marilyn Horne, Wednesday, August 6

For more information, visit musicacademy.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on July 22, 2014.

Todd Rogers + Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore = An Exclusive Extraordinary Experience

Posted on July 22, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Olympic Gold Medalist Todd Rogers, courtesy Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara

Looking for the summer adventure of a lifetime (or the perfect gift for the man or woman who has everything)? Four Seasons has a new collection of exclusive Extraordinary Experiences, one of which takes place right here in our own backyard.

Looking to improve your sky ball and finally master that serve? How about a beach volleyball workshop with USA Olympic gold medalist Todd Rogers as your personal coach? Spend a day on the sand sharpening your beach volleyball skills with the two time Olympian, gold medalist and Santa Barbara native as your personal coach. You’ll meet at East Beach, where Rogers will share the tips he’s picked up in 19 years as a professional player. If you ask nicely, he may even let you touch his gold medals!

Then, when you’re ready to show off your new skills, join Rogers for a friendly match. When the sand settles, sit back and enjoy a delicious beach picnic catered by Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara, while you recap the morning’s highlights and hear about Roger’s journey to becoming one of the most decorated male American players.

This experience can be tailored to any age, skill level, and interest to include lesson, match play, or advanced training for already skilled players. In addition, to enhance the experience for single players and families, Rogers can also arrange for additional players to participate, whether training partners or his own family (all volleyball players in their own rights).

For reservations call 805/565-8291. The experience may be booked through the resort concierge.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 21, 2014.

Artist Julie B. Montgomery at MichaelKate

Posted on July 10, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Painting by Julie B. Montgomery

She’s had her paintings featured on Mad Men, Glee and Scandal, and throughout the U.S. and Europe—now artist Julie B. Montgomery brings her work to MichaelKate Interiors & Art Gallery in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.

Painting by Julie B. Montgomery

Born in Germany and now making her home locally, Montgomery’s paintings are described as “like poetry,” by gallerist Donna Seager. “Her subtle, warm palette of layers added and removed from the canvas, have a power that is felt long before any literal information is taken in. They bring to mind something Jorge Luis Borges said about poetry, ‘I know for a fact that we FEEL the beauty of a poem long before we even begin to think of a meaning.’ These paintings unveil themselves slowly, akin to the work of JMW Turner where the eyes have to adjust before all the subtle detail can be taken in.”

“Encountering Montgomery’s paintings is like staring out across the fog-covered Pacific and seeing the Channel Islands revealed as the ocean mist lifts on a sunny Santa Barbara day. Gazing westward, we know the islands are there, even when they are obscured by haze. Contemplating Montgomery’s art, we know the poetry is there, but the elegant erasures and ellipses force us to look further, to look deeper, to look within, in order to perceive the shifting strata of meaning,” wrote art critic Betty Ann Brown.

Painting by Julie B. Montgomery

See the work for yourself. It’s on view at MichaelKate, 132 Santa Barbara St., from July 11 to August 30, with an opening reception on Friday, July 11, from 5-7 p.m. Arts writer Charles Donelan will moderate a discussion that evening with the artist.

The Funk Zone 2nd Saturdays Art Walk is Saturday, July 12 from 1-5 p.m., with art exhibits, live performances and special events all around the Funk Zone. For more information click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 9, 2014.

Babes, Books & Booze

Posted on July 7, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Not only will there be be babes, books and booze … I can guarantee lots of giggles and guffaws when you join funny women/authors Jenna McCarthy, Karen Rizzo and Starshine Roshell as they talk about social media over sharing, ungraceful aging, maternal intensity and their new books.

McCarthy’s latest book, I’ve Still Got It…I Just Can’t Remember Where I Put It: Awkwardly True Tales From the Far Side of Forty, hit the shelves this month to rave reviews like, “I am not exaggerating when I say that I was crying tears of laughter before I even made it to the first chapter. … Pack this one in your pool bag and be prepared to ignore the odd glances you get when you’re cracking up!” (Five Minutes for Books).

Rizzo’s debut novel, Famous Baby, a Los Angeles Times Summer Books Preview selection, has been described as, ” inventive, hysterical, and touching. Rizzo wraps a timeless drama about the love between mothers and daughters in a fresh, snappy package for the social media age.” (Christina Schwarz).

Roshell, a columnist for Santa Barbara Independent and the author of the column collection Broad Assumptions, will moderate what’s sure to be a lively conversation at Municipal Winemakers (22 Anacapa St.) on Monday, July 14 at 7 p.m. The first glass is on the publishers, but be sure to RSVP to info@prospectparkbooks.com.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 3, 2014.

Best Seat for Solstice Parade may be at the Granada Theatre

Posted on June 23, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Enjoy the Solstice Parade from the comfort of the Granada. Photo courtesy “Parades at the Granada.”

Here’s your chance to support a great cause and avoid fighting the parade crowds too! “Parades at The Granada Theatre” offers an opportunity to experience Santa Barbara’s State street parades from seats right in front of the theater.

As part of the Santa Barbara Center for Performing Arts’ Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement, contributors to the SBCPA Annual Fund, at any level, are invited to come watch the Summer Solstice Parade on Saturday, June 21 with fellow friends and supporters of The Granada Theatre. Guests will enjoy special seating on State Street in front of the theater and have the opportunity to visit inside the theater for festive sips and bites.

After debuting last year, “Parades at The Granada Theatre” are a popular way to build a broader base of support within the community and engage supporters with the not-for-profit Granada Theatre in a family-friendly way.

“The Summer Solstice Parade is one of Santa Barbara’s most festive and whimsical celebrations, and we are thrilled to open our doors so that our generous supporters can enjoy the parade from our grandstands,” says Nancy O’Connor, SBCPA board member. “Our ‘Parades at The Granada Theatre” are a wonderful opportunity to welcome all of the community, both young and old, to the theater and share in the rich history of performing arts.”

This year, The Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement is presenting “Parades at The Granada Theatre” for the Summer Solstice, Fiesta, and the Downtown Holiday Parades.

For more information, please visit The Granada Theatre’s website, granadasb.org, or call 805/899-3000. For more information on supporting The Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement, please contact Kristi Newton, Director of Development, at 805/451-2932 or at knewton@granadasb.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on June 20, 2014.

Cocktail Corner: The Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail “Summer Celebration”

Posted on May 16, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Courtesy Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

It sure feels like summer with the weather we’ve had this week! The Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail will keep the warm summer vibe going with three toast-worthy events over one wine-filled weekend, May 30 – June 1.

Dubbed the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail “Summer Celebration,” the festivities feature a Passport to the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail for the weekend, a Red & White AVA Seminar and the Grand Tasting. The “Summer Celebration” Passport will be happening all weekend long (May 30 – June 1) at all of the 23 tasting rooms. The Passport gives you special wine tasting opportunities and complimentary tastings, including the chance to meet winemakers, reserve vintage exhibitions, light bites and live musical entertainment. Passport holders will also get a 10% discount on wine purchases at all member tasting rooms that weekend.

Guests begin their wine tasting adventures by picking up their Passport and signature logo glass at any one of the three check-in points, including Carr Winery, Santa Barbara Winery and Margerum Wine Company.

Courtesy Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail

The event kicks into high gear on Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Wine Cask restaurant with the Red & White AVA Seminar featuring ten wines (five red and five white) from some of Santa Barbara’s top wineries, including AVA Santa Barbara, Carr, Deep Sea, Grassini, Jaffurs, Margerum Wine Company, Pali, Riverbench, and Sanford. Learn all about the American Viticulture Areas (AVA) of Santa Barbara County—Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon and Happy Canyon—and how the different grape growing regions affect taste. Each of the winemakers will share one of their finest library and current release wines that represent the AVA it was grown in. Mitchell Sjerven, owner of the renowned Bouchon restaurant, will moderate the seminar and guide guests through each of these unique and notable wines.

Summer Celebration passport-poster The festivities continue on Saturday evening with the Grand Tasting at the Carrillo Ballroom from 6–9 p.m. All 23 of the winemakers from the Urban Wine Trail will host guests for an evening of world-class wine, along with the opportunity to purchase very limited library wines not available to the public. A selection of the area’s best restaurants will also share delicious delights that pair nicely with each of the wine varietals.

It wouldn’t be a true Santa Barbara event without a nonprofit component and this weekend has two terrific nonprofit partnerships. A special collaboration with Youth Interactive Santa Barbara will showcase art produced by the students, inspired by each of the 23 wineries, and will be displayed at the Grand Tasting. There will also be a live auction to raise money for the Unity Shoppe of Santa Barbara.

Tickets can be purchased for just one of the events or the entire weekend, with prices as follows: $60 – Seminar only; $75 – Grand Tasting only; $50 – Passport only; $100 – Grand Tasting/Seminar bundle; $100 – Grand Tasting/Passport bundle and $150 – VIP All Access.

Urban Wine Trail member wineries include: Au Bon Climat, AVA Santa Barbara, Area 5.1 Winery, Carr Vineyards & Winery, Cottonwood Canyon, Deep Sea Tasting Room, Fox Wines, Grassini Family Vineyards, Happy Canyon Vineyard, Jaffurs Wine Cellars and Kalyra Winery.

Photo courtesy Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail.

Kunin Wines, Margerum Wine Company, Municipal Winemakers, Oreana Winery, Pali Wine Co., Riverbench Winery, Sanford, Sanguis, Santa Barbara Winery, Silver Wines, Summerland Winery and Whitcraft Winery are also on the trail.

Created by a group of like-minded Santa Barbara County wineries, the Urban Wine Trail is comprised of 23 wineries that have opened both tasting rooms and production facilities, all within walking distance in downtown Santa Barbara. The Urban Wine Trail’s purpose is to promote and support the wineries and tasting rooms in the downtown Santa Barbara. Members include wineries that hold a Type 02 winegrowers license and whose annual production is at least 75% from Santa Barbara County. For more information visit urbanwinetrailsb.com.

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns. Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on May 16, 2014.

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.”

Local Chefs Pay it Forward for SBCC Culinary Arts School

Posted on May 13, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

If last weekend’s show of support at the launch party for SANTA BARBARA CULINARY ARTS A Taste of Santa Barbara’s Culinary Bounty,a new cookbook featuring 62 recipes from Santa Barbara County chefs, caterers and food purveyors, is any indication, our towns’ future chefs will be graduating into a very welcoming culinary community.

Chefs from Opal, Fresco and Sly’s were out to support the nonprofit Santa Barbara Culinary Arts. Photo by Leslie Dinaberg

Local chefs were out in full force to support the cookbook, which is a special project of the nonprofit Santa Barbara Culinary Arts. The group raises money to endow the Santa Barbara Culinary Arts Scholarship in Honor of Julia Child for students at the School of Culinary Arts at SBCC.

“We love to support the community,” says executive pastry chef Julia San Bartolome of Sweet Arleen’s.Sweet Arleen’s, which primarily sells via food truck, has plans in the works to open a storefront in Santa Barbara. “We’ve scouted out Santa Barbara as key market,” says San Bartolome. “Ideally we’ll open something in 2015.”

SBCC Culinary Student Angela Hernandez. Photo by Leslie Dinaberg

Culinary student Angela Hernandez was one of many who staffed the event, held on May 3 at the Gourmet Dining Room at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). Handing out delicious samples from Via Maestra 42, Hernandez says the program has really taught her the principles of cooking and really given her a good foundation. “My end goal is to be involved in baking,” says Hernandez, who currently has a part time job at Panera Bread. “My first semester we did a lot of baking, but I really get to do a lot outside of school.”

Alicia and Laurie of Nimita’s Cuisine were out to support the nonprofit Santa Barbara Culinary Arts. Photo by Leslie Dinaberg

The School of Culinary Arts at SBCC also has brings in local chefs as guest speakers, many of whom contributed recipes and were on hand to sign books. Tama Takahashi edited and designed the cookbooks, with photography by Linda Blue. SANTA BARBARA CULINARY ARTS A Taste of Santa Barbara’s Culinary Bounty is available for sale at local bookstores and other supporting venues.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on May 12, 2014.

Amgen Tour of California—Editor’s Pick for Spring

Posted on May 12, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images, courtesy Visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara once again hosts the Stage 5 finish of the Amgen Tour of California, a challenging route that the world’s top cyclists travel for more than 700 miles during America’s premier professional cycling race. Riders start the day in Pismo Beach before ending in Santa Barbara, which hosts the race for the second consecutive year and the 5th time in the race’s nine years. “This annual event showcases amazing athleticism and philanthropic generosity,” says Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider. “I’m so pleased that the City of Santa Barbara is able to host such a worthwhile and fun event and look forward to seeing the finish firsthand.” May 15. AmgenTourofCalifornia.com.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in the Spring 2014 issue of Santa Barbara SEASONS Magazine.

LeslieDinaberg.com

Leslie Dinaberg Editor & Writer

Category Archives: Blog Posts

History + Harvest in the Santa Rita Hills

Opa! Santa Barbara Greek Festival Time!

Marilyn Horne Named “Honorary La Diva of Old Spanish Days”

Viva la Fiesta and Viva la Diva!

Todd Rogers + Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore = An Exclusive Extraordinary Experience

Artist Julie B. Montgomery at MichaelKate

Babes, Books & Booze

Best Seat for Solstice Parade may be at the Granada Theatre

Cocktail Corner: The Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail “Summer Celebration”

Local Chefs Pay it Forward for SBCC Culinary Arts School

Amgen Tour of California—Editor’s Pick for Spring

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Viva la Fiesta and Viva la Diva!

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