Monthly Archives: December 2013

Mark Your Calendars for La Arcada Christmas Walk

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La-Arcada-ChristmasThe spirit of Christmas—both past and present—is alive and well at this favorite annual celebration taking place on Wednesday, December 4, from 5–8 p.m. The charming, historic arcade’s holiday open house has all the trimmings including twinkling lights, costumed carolers, refreshments and the chance to tell Santa what a good boy or girl you’ve been this year (and even snap a photo if you’ve been really, really good!).

In its 19th year, the La Arcada Christmas Walk is a festive way to start the holiday season, and spend time with the whole family in a beautiful setting wandering down the enchanting, tree filled courtyard as it is transformed into a winter wonderland.  Hungry? Andersen’s, Cielito, Jeannine’s, La Arcada Bistro, Petit Valentien and State & Fig will all be open for dining that evening.

Photos with Santa are FREE (5 to 7:30 p.m.), as are fresh popped popcorn, treats in shops and the chance to sing-a-long to familiar holiday tunes.

Retail stores and specialty shops including Chocolats du CaliBressan, Coast 2 Coast Collection, Encanto, Hampstead Village, Kathleen Cooper Fine Papers, Lewis and Clark, La Tavola, Peanuts, Oliver & Espig, Renaissance, Socorro, The Barber Shop, Urban Optics and the new Isabella Gourmet Foods and Sanford Winery will extend their hours for this very special evening.  Art enthusiasts will enjoy visiting Gallery 113, Santa Barbara Arts, Waterhouse Gallery and the historically significant permanent collection of interactive sculptures throughout the Historic La Arcada Courtyard.

La Arcada is located at 1114 State St. between Figueroa and Anapamu streets.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on November 26, 2103.

Local Arts and Culture Nonprofits Join Giving Tuesday Movement to Encourage Nonprofit Support

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image003First there was Black Friday. Then there was Cyber Monday and now we have Giving Tuesday on Tuesday, December 3.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Ensemble Theatre Company, Ganna Walska Lotusland, Lobero Theatre Foundation, Music Academy of the West, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, Santa Barbara Dance Institute, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Zoo, State Street Ballet, The Granada Theatre, and Wildling Museum have joined Giving Tuesday, a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners—charities, families, businesses and individuals—to transform the way people talk about, think about and participate in the giving season.

Coinciding with the Thanksgiving Holiday and the traditional kickoff of the holiday shopping season, the aim of Giving Tuesday is to inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the causes they support and ultimately help to create a better world.

Launched in 2012, Giving Tuesday welcomed more than 2,500 partners from all 50 states in the U.S. The collective efforts of partners, donors, and advocates helped fuel a 50% increase in online giving. Last year more than 50 million people worldwide spread the word about Giving Tuesday―resulting in milestone trending on Twitter.

Sounds like a lovely idea to us!

For more information about the Giving Tuesday initiative and to search participating nonprofits in the Santa Barbara area, visit www.givingtuesday.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on December 1, 2103.

Brad Nack’s Annual 100% Reindeer Art Show is December 5th

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Reindeer #9 by Brad Nack

Reindeer #9 by Brad Nack

Artist Brad Nack has been painting abstract reindeer portraits since 1996 and each year he has a big “one night show” that brings the new herd together. This year the exhibit will be at Roy (7 W. Carrillo St.) and there will be about 50 new pieces. These elegantly framed small oil paintings of reindeer will be on display and for sale from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, which also happens to be 1st Thursday!

Now in its 16th year, the Brad Nack 100% Reindeer Art Show has become an unofficial Santa Barbara holiday tradition, often with all the work being sold on opening night. The paintings have been simultaneously described as fun and upbeat but also as pensive and morose.

“That’s what makes them special,” says Nack “each reindeer has it’s own emotion and then each person responds differently.” Nack continues, “I have yet to get tried of painting these reindeer, I always get drawn back into investigating where this series is going.”

Nack is a Santa Barbara based artist who also was manager of the band Toad The Wet Sprocket and is currently art curator at MichaelKate Interiors & Art Gallery.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on December 2, 2103.

Local Artist Christine Brallier Exhibits Mosaics and Signs Newly Illustrated “The Night Before Christmas”

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book_coverMosaic artist Christine Brallier‘s first children’s book was recently released: the classic, The Night Before Christmas, newly illustrated with her stained glass mosaics.  Brallier spent four years creating the 15 mosaics for the book, which were made by hand cutting thousands of pieces of stained glass and fitting them together to form the images.
For the month of December, all 15 of her mosaics will be on exhibit at Granada Books,  1224 State St. The book is also available locally at Chaucer’s Books.
In addition, for the 1st Thursday event of December (Dec. 5), Brallier will be on hand at Granada Books where she will read and sign books, as well as share her mosaics.
For more information visit  www.cbmosaics.blogspot.com or www.cbmosaics.com.
—Leslie Dinaberg
Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on December 2, 2103.

Cocktail Corner: Enjoy Cocktails With Culture at 1st Thursday: After Hours

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Figueroa Mountain Brewery

Figueroa Mountain Brewery

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg

It used to be that the fun was just getting started when 1st Thursday ended…but not anymore! Lobero Theatre, The Granada and The New Victoria Theatre have teamed up for a terrific new production: Historic Theatre District’s 1st Thursday: After Hours from 7:30–9:30 p.m., where you can enjoy your cocktails with culture every 1st Thursday.

Premiering on Thursday, December 5,  1st Thursday: After Hours  is a fun FREE event featuring entertainment by magician Mark Collier, bites from Sojourner Café, and beer tasting by Figueroa Mountain Brewery. This first one will be on the historic (newly reopened) Lobero Esplanade in front of the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.

In addition, the party also features a no-host bar and additional live entertainment.

This is the first of six “1st Thursday After Hours” celebrations with Santa Barbara’s newly formed Historic Theatre District in which the Lobero Theatre, the Granada Theatre and The New Vic are teaming up for new ways to access the best in Santa Barbara’s performing arts. After enjoying the exhibits throughout the downtown galleries and local shops, guests are invited to keep the fun going  in Santa Barbara’s Historic Theatre District.

Hosted at a different theater each month, the 1st Thursday After Hours will feature sips and bites from one of the Theatre District’s restaurant partners and live local entertainment.

“This creative partnership between the three theaters is a great example of cultural organizations coming together to increase access to the arts and expand their audiences, while engaging the community,” says Ginny Brush, executive director of the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission. “1st Thursday has become an immensely popular tradition for local Santa Barbara arts and culture enthusiasts, igniting the Cultural Arts District after 5 p.m. With the addition of ‘After Hours’ at the theaters, that energy can continue!”
The schedule of 1st Thursday: After Hours through the Spring is:
·       December 5, 2013 at the Lobero Theatre
·       Skipping January due to holidays
·       February 6 at The Granada Theatre
·       March 6 at the New Vic
·       April 3 at the Lobero Theatre
·       May 1 at The Granada Theatre
·       June 5 at the New Vic

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Originally featured in Santa Barbara SEASONS Magazine on November 29, 2103.

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.”

Sullivan Goss Presents 100 GRAND, 2013

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100grand2013smallIn what has quickly become a favorite Santa Barbara holiday tradition, Sullivan Goss presents the fifth annual 100 GRAND exhibition, curated by Susan Bush and featuring 100 WORKS OF ART FOR $1,000 OR LESS. 

Opening on 1st Thursday (December 5) and running through February 2, this exhibition has become “an incubator of emerging talent, an entryway for beginning collectors, a holiday celebration in the art community and an ever timely reminder that everyone’s life is improved by the addition of original works of art.”

100 GRAND features paintings, drawings, photographs, assemblage and sculpture by emerging and established artists that are priced to sell and sized (for the most part) to fit into smaller spaces. Contemporary curator Susan Bush was able to secure work from many of last year’s best­selling artists, but there are also 17 artists who have never shown with Sullivan Goss before.

Featured artists include: Will Adler, Sean Anderson, Meredith Brooks Abbott, Erik Berg, Ken Bortolazzo, Liz Brady, Lisabette Brinkman, Phoebe Brunner, Chris Chapman, Carlyle Chaudruc, Connie Connally, Joann Dufau, Mehosh Dziadzio, Pamela Enticknap, Peggy Ferris, Priscilla Fossek, Nancy Gifford, Dane Goodman, Robin Gowen, James Taylor Gray, Ruthy Green, Jason Hadley, James Hapke, Holli Harmon, Tracey Sylvester Harris, Derek Harrison, Kristen Hawkes, Cynthia James, Scott Kahn, Masha Keating, Philip Koplin, Mary­Austin Klein, Dan Levin, Mark Lozano, Clare Little, Laurie Macmillan, Virginia McCracken, Susan McDonnell, David Molesky, Jennifer Moses, Amalia Mourad, Zoe Nathan, Hank Pitcher, Lisa Pedersen, Rafael Perea, Angela Perko, Kimberley Pratt­-Shiber, Ian Putnam, Paula Re, Erik Reel, Maria Rendon, Brad Reyes, Joan Rosenberg­-Dent, Jourdan Ross, Lindsey Ross, Caren Satterfield, Susan Savage, Susan Shapiro, Elena Siff, Leslie Lewis Sigler, Barry Spacks, Nicole Strasburg, Marlene Struss, Makeda Tekle­-Smith, James David Thomas, Susan Tibbles, Casey Underwood, Taj Vaccarella, Sarah Vedder, Deborah Veldkamp, Roe Ann White, Monica Wiesblott and Abigail Zimmerman.

Sullivan Goss—An American Gallery is located at 7 E. Anapamu St. For more information click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on November 29, 2103.