Music Academy of the West Presents “Carmen” in Honor of Opera Great Marilyn Horne

Posted on July 29, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Music Academy of the West “Carmen,” photo by David Bazemore.

The Music Academy of the West will present a new, fully staged production of Georges Bizet’s timeless opera Carmen in honor of celebrated mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne’s 80^th birthday at Santa Barbara’s historic Granada Theatre. Directed by David Paul and conducted by James Gaffigan, the performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 1, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 3.

In addition to Music Academy Voice and Instrumental Fellows, the Academy’s production will feature dancers from Santa Barbara’s State Street Ballet, choreography by William Soleau, and a chorus that includes local children.

For tickets and information, call 805.969.8787 or visit musicacademy.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 28, 2014.

Cocktail Corner: Lucky Dogg Winery Opens

Posted on July 26, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Brent Melville and his new Lucky Dogg wines, courtesy photo.

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

What’s in a name? For Brent Melville‘s new Lucky Dogg Winery it’s a little bit of kismet and a whole lot of luck.

Searching for the perfect moniker for his winery venture, Melville struck inspiration gold on the golf course.

“My friend, referring to my ‘lucky’ streak, called me a ‘lucky dog.’ And it all clicked. We want to share the good karma of our grapes with others, through the resulting wines that we produce,” says Melville, Lucky Dogg Winery president/owner/winemaker. “I had a good shot and my friend was like ‘hey, you’re a lucky dog. “And I started thinking about it, and I was like, gosh darn it, I am. And I started thinking about karma and positive energy. Everybody has a little lucky dog in them, you know. If I grow really good fruit and make great wine out of it, I will then pass on the good vibrations to the consumer. … Basically our philosophy is it’s all about the goodness from the beginning of growing the plant to the end of the consumer drinking the wine.”

Melville knows a lot about growing good fruit.

His roots run deep in the wine industry, where he has managed farming operations for his family’s vineyards for the past 25 years. Starting in 1989, when his family purchased a vineyard in Calistoga, CA, that would become the original “Melville Vineyards,” he worked grape harvests in that vineyard through 1995, then moved on to the family’s new vineyard purchase of 40 acres in Lompoc in 1996. In 1997, the family bought an adjacent, 55-acre parcel of land, now the existing “Melville Vineyards and Winery” in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.

Melville now runs the 100-acre Verna’s Vineyard in Los Alamos, giving him particular control over the cultivating methods behind his own label’s wines, as well as strategic farming practices for the four other Central Coast labels who pull grapes from Verna’s Vineyard: Tensley Wines, Casa Dumetz Wines, Consilience Wines and Frequency Wines.

The tasting room is a casual, family-friendly—and dog-friendly—place to hang out. “We especially encourage families that have children to come in to the tasting room … we have a kid’s corner. They can do crayons or play games while the mom and dad can have a glass of wine. And we allow dogs in the tasting room as well,” says Melville.

“Usually most tasting rooms are very prim and proper and they’ve got the classical music on. But we wanted to be very family-oriented because we’re not going to be doing a lot of case production at the facility or at the tasting room. We’re going to keep it very small and very intimate. We’re an estate winery, which means we don’t buy fruit from anybody else. It all comes from the ranch named after my Grandma, Grandma Verna,” he continues.

Lucky Dogg’s first five releases include:

2013 Viognier

“This is a stainless steel Viognier. There was no oak involved and we picked the grapes at the perfect time to do it and it’s a wonderful, wonderful wine, something totally different. Not a lot of people do a stainless Viognier,” says Melville.

Tasting Notes: Aromas of pear, apricot, honeysuckle, maple, crushed rocks and pineapple rind with hints of vanilla, and maple. The mouth feel is lush and soft with crisp tropical and stone fruit flavors, and a long finish. This is a very well balanced wine with good tension that has a very silky mouth feel with a refreshing pop of acidity and vanilla tannin. Pair this wine with any Thai dish, specifically a peanut sa-tay. This would also go well with a spicy shrimp dish, scallops or a brie en croute.

Vineyard: Verna’s Vineyard, Ryann’s Block (named for Melville’s oldest daughter Ryann, age 12)

Fermentation: Whole cluster pressed, no ML, inoculated in barrel

Aging: 6 months in 100% stainless steel

Production: 118 Cases bottled

2013 Rosè of Pinot Noir

“The Pinot Rosè is probably the best summer wine and probably one of our best sellers in the tasting room right now,” says Melville. “It is also a very unique wine because a lot of people don’t do Pinot Rosè. It sat on skins for less than 24 hours and then was pressed into a stainless steel tank and then cold fermented for four months and we bottled it in January.”

Tasting Notes: Aromas of plum, strawberry, ripe raspberries and just a hint of anise. Invokes a sensation of sweet acidity on the pallet, with flavors of vibrant strawberry, tannic spice and a mineral finish. This is a perfect summer time wine and pairs great with anything on the BBQ. This is your warm day, front porch relaxing, anytime wine.

Vineyard: Verna’s Vineyard, Pressley’s Block (named for Melville’s younger daughter Pressley, age 10)

Fermentation: 2 days on the skins, no ML, inoculated in barrel

Aging: 6 months in neutral French oak

Production: 123 Cases bottled

2013 Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes: This is a very complex Pinot Noir with scents of wet gravel, sweet tobacco, pomegranate and earth. This is an old world style Pinot Noir that has a classic Burgundian start with smokey tobacco flavors, fresh, ripe fruits in the middle and a long tannic finish with mouth watering acidity. This wine is drinking beautifully now but will also continue to progress with time. Pair this with a roasted pork loin or beef tenderloin but will also work well with a grilled salmon or portobello mushrooms.

Vineyard: Verna’s Vineyard

Fermentation: Destemmed, cold soaked 14 days, punched down 3 times/day

Aging: 9 months in neutral French oak

Production: 196 Cases bottled

2013 Syrah “Brady’s Blend”

Melville describes this wine, named for his son Braeden, age 8, as, “a very cool climate Syrah, not your big fat jammy or berry Syrah, it’s more of a peppery olive finish to it.”

Tasting Notes: Heavy and inky, this wine embodies everything that is traditionally Syrah. On the nose you will find smoke, dark chocolate, ground white pepper, sweet tobacco, fig, ripe plums, and hints of leather. The wine has great texture, very little acid and a long spicy finish that lingers on the tip of your tongue. Pair this wine with a grilled flank steak, flat iron or hanger steak.

Vineyard: Verna’s Vineyard

Fermentation: 15% Whole cluster pressed, cold soaked 10 days, punched down 3 times/day

Aging: 8 months in neutral French oak

Production: 185 Cases bottled

2013 Reserve Syrah

“Our reserve Syrah is actually a clonal selection and the clone is called 383. It’s just a very unique clone for the Syrah family, and so we bottled it separately from all the rest because we thought it was our best flagship wine,” says Melville.

Tasting Notes: The most decadent of our wines, the Reserve Syrah has a warm climate texture with cool climate flavors. You will find aromas of cocoa beans, cherries, dark bitter chocolate and a hint of cigar smoke. The mouth feel has a fresh, lush texture with strong minerality, assertive oakiness and a touch of black olive. Pair this wine with a big juicy rib-eye or just drink it on it’s own.

Vineyard: Verna’s Vineyard, clone 383

Fermentation: 15% Whole cluster pressed, cold soaked 10 days, punched down 3 times/day

Aging: 8 months in neutral French oak

Production: 100 Cases bottled

Also available at the tasting room is a late harvest Viognier, “which is made specifically for all those sweet tooth people out there. Being in the business somebody always comes into the tasting room and they’re like, ‘hey do you have anything sweet for us?’ And I’m like ‘yeah; we have the perfect wine for you,'” laughs Melville.

This is just the beginning.

“I’m coming out with a bunch of different new wines next year and I’m actually going to come out with a Viognier beer,” he says. “I think it would be really cool to be the only tasting room in Santa Barbara County that does beer and wine. There’s a difference between having beers from other people and making your own. I’m making my own. … And all of this is very, very small production. I don’t want to get into the business of selling my stuff to liquor stores or supermarkets or restaurants or anything like that. I want to keep it very simple.”

Lucky Dogg Winery currently produces about 750 cases, and aims to maintain a boutique winery status, with an eventual total of about 1,500 cases. Melville will leverage Verna’s Vineyard’s reputation for producing Burgundian and Northern Rhone-style Santa Barbara County wines, in his future plans to release a stainless steel Chardonnay, among others.

Lucky Dogg Winery’s tasting room is located at 1607 Mission Dr., Suite 102 (at the corner of Mission Drive and Atterdag Road), Solvang. The tasting room is open from noon-6 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; and from noon-7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. The label will be launching a Wine Club (called “The Doghouse”) in the coming months. For more information, call 805/691-9774 or visit luckydoggwinery.com.

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 25, 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.”

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.

Cocktail Corner: Happy Anniversary to Uptown Lounge

Posted on July 21, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Uptown Lounge is located on, you guessed it, upper State St. Photo courtesy https://www.facebook.com/uptownsb.

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

Believe it or not, the Uptown Lounge (3126 State St.) is celebrating two years in business tonight. First opened during Fiesta 2012, this fun, friendly place has quickly become a clean, comfortable neighborhood hangout spot for locals and visitors who want to get away from the rambunctious crowds of downtown, with an all-ages clientele that is a refreshing change from many local hot spots.

We watched the World Cup finals there last weekend, so I can personally attest that this is a great place for sporting event viewing. They have loads of seating indoors and outside, and multiple flat screen TVs visible from almost every corner. They also recently opened their own kitchen featuring an outdoor pizza oven (very tasty), as well as simple pub food.

See if you can spot our editor at the Uptown Lounge during the World Cup Finals. Photo courtesy https://www.facebook.com/uptownsb.

The July 18 anniversary celebration theme is “Party Through the Decades,” with guests encouraged to rock the night away in their favorite clothes from their favorite decade. Grab those tie dye tees, spandex neon brights, bell bottoms and go-go boots and get ready for live music from DJ Quizo, who will spin songs from each decade:

9 p.m. – 70’s
10 p.m. – 80’s
11 p.m. – 90’s
midnight – 00’s
1 a.m. – Today’s

The bar at the Uptown Lounge. Photo courtesy https://www.facebook.com/uptownsb.

On non-anniversary nights, Uptown Lounge has well-priced strong drinks, pool tables, ping pong tables, and features live music from local pianists on their baby Grand. They run daily drink specials, including Bloody Mary Sundays, and ladies Thursday night with half off drinks for women They also feature live music from local bands, as well as D.J. nights, a nice outdoor patio, Monday Night Football/Monday Nigh Trivia, Tuesday Open Mic Night, and once a month Whiskey Wednesday tastings and Wine Tasting Thursdays.

We’ll be back soon. Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 18, 2014.

Leslie Dinaberg

Style File: Sweet Summer Scents

Posted on July 18, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Burberry Summer, FragranceNet.com.

Summer is in full swing and a spritz of a light, fresh scent can feel just as cool and refreshing against your skin as a fabulous blast of air conditioning. Whether your summer dreams include fresh picked fruit, fresh-cut flowers, a day at the beach or a night under the stars, there’s a fragrance for that. Here are a few ideas:

One of the go-to summer scents we’re loving right now is the aptly named Burberry Summer Perfume (FragranceNet.com), which combines fruity notes of citrus and green apple with light florals like rose, water lilly and freesia.

Ralph Lauren Romance Summer Blossom (nordstorm.com) is a lovely, fresh and fruity scent for all of those summer wedding celebrations.

CK One Summer, Macys.com.

Another nice choice for the warm weather season is Gucci Flora Gracious Tuberose (FragranceNet.com), a lovely eau de parfum that combines peach, tuberose, rose, and violet leaf with exotic base notes of African orange flower and French labdanum.

Bobbi’s Brown’s ocean-inspired Beach Fragrance (sephora.com)is almost as refreshing as a dip in the Pacific. This light, happy, nostalgic scent blends jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin.

For those of us who require fruity umbrella drinks to really make it feel like summertime, CK One Summer (macys.com) is just the ticket, blended with tangerine and lemon to make you feel like you’re sipping a fruity cocktail, seaside.

Santa Barbara’s own Grapeseed Company’s (thegrapeseedcompany.com) Mojito Man Shaving Prep Scrub has a refreshing lime and mint scent that’s great for summer shaving.

Santa Barbara’s own Grapeseed Company’s (thegrapeseedcompany.com) Mojito Man Shaving Prep Scrub

We’ve also been loving the cooling refreshing feeling—and scents—of Jane Iredale’s ECOCERT Hydration Sprays (janeiredale.com), which can be used as moisturizers under makeup or as a quick pick-me-up during the day. We particularly like the smell of the Balance Hydration Spray, made with orange essential oil, orange peel extract, grapefruit peel extract and algae.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 17, 2014.

Local Music Spotlight: Vincent & Vedant

Posted on July 17, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Vincent & Vedant, courtesy photo

Want to travel to exotic places without leaving Santa Barbara? Every Friday evening at Zaytoon (209 E. Canon Perdido St.) guitar and violin duo Vincent & Vedant create a mesmerizing and unique gypsy sound on the restaurant’s lovely outdoor patio.

The combination of percussive flamenco guitar and classically trained, haunting violin music pairs beautifully with Zaytoon’s fresh and tasty Lebanese cuisine. The place is truly a hidden oasis right here in downtown Santa Barbara.

Locals Vincent Zorn & Vedant Koppera have been wowing audiences at local festivals, weddings, and parties for the past few years. In fact, just this week you can hear them at the Pugaritaville benefit for Central Coast Pug Rescue on July 19, as well as opening for Benise at the Granada Theatre on July 20.

For more information click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 15, 2014.

Cocktail Corner: Beer Pairing Dinner at Rodney’s Grill + Seven More Fun Events

Posted on July 14, 2014 by lesliedinaberg

Rodney’s Grill pairs a four-course tasting menu with hand crafted beers from The Bruery. (courtesy photo)

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

Santa Barbara Beer Week is winding down this weekend, but the suds continue to pour around town, including at Rodney’s Grill (at The Fess Parker – A Doubletree by Hilton Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd., 800/879-2929), where executive chef Kirk DeLong believes nothing tastes quite like an ice-cold hand crafted beer to quench summertime thirst.

With that in mind, DeLong promises to take beer to a whole new level with the resort’s first ever Beer Pairing Dinner complementing a four-course tasting menu with hand crafted beers from Orange County’s The Bruery. The festivities take place July 26 at 7 p.m.

The Bruery CEO Patrick Rue, who founded the company six years ago, will be on hand to give a brief overview about the signature beer pairings. The Bruery is a boutique craft brewery specializing in barrel-aged and experimental ales. Founded as a small, friend and family run business in 2008, The Bruery takes its unique moniker from Rue’s family surname.

Rodney’s Grill, courtesy Fess Parker a Doubletree by Hilton Resort

Chef DeLong will share highlights from his inspired American dishes and the fresh regional produce and ingredients which complement the beers being poured.

The menu, which sounds amazing, includes:

Sea scallop, habanero-red pepper gazpacho, and kiwi-dragon fruit chutney paired with Trade Winds Tripel

Hoisin duck breast, pomegranate risotto, rainbow Swiss chard, and port jus paired with Saison Rue

Sea bass, heirloom tomato, tempura beech mushroom, and saffron-fennel broth paired with Mischief

Hawaiian sweet bread pudding, and Rori’s Artisanal Creamery vanilla bean ice cream, paired with Sucre

This dinner isn’t the first collaboration between the Parker and Bruery brands. “The Fess Parker family have a long time tradition in the wine and hospitality business in Santa Barbara County, and are delighted to be working collaboratively with the family-owned business The Bruery. The two have worked collaboratively on the release of ‘Confession,’ a sour- style beer fermented with Riesling grapes that tastes like wine, and is ranked high among beer critics,” says director of sales & business development Beth Olson of The Fess Parker – A Doubletree by Hilton Resort.

Advance reservations for the tasting event are required by calling the resort’s concierge at 805-884-8533 or via open table at Rodneyssteakhouse.com. The cost of the dinner is $79 per person (plus tax and gratuity) with discounts for The Fess Parker Winery’s Wine Club and The Bruery’s “Hoarders and Reserve Societies” members.

Seeing the World Through Bacon-Flavored Glasses, photo by Tyler Moselle

Coming up this weekend is the always delicious Santa Barbara French Festival, where great food, wine, mimosas, crepes, delicious pastries, music, dance (including the awesome Moulin Rouge dancers from the Solstice Parade!) —and, of course, the infamous Poodle Parade, all come to Oak Park July 12 and 13 to celebrate Bastille Day and all the things that make the French cultural history so rich. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Oak Park, 300 W. Alamar. Admission is free and the Festival is a non-smoking event. For more information, email frenchfestival@sbcoxmail.com or call 805/963-8198.

On Monday night (July 14), raise your glass to Babes, Books & Booze and 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 in 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.

When you’re in wine country, you can’t pass up the opportunity to taste the best wines around. Luckily, that chance comes easily at the 11th annual California Wine Festival from Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19. Celebrate with gourmet food and live music galore. Raise a glass of red, pink, or white (or all!) to a great weekend by the sea! This always fun festival has multiple events and venues. Call 866/273-4148, or visit californiawinefestival.com complete details.

What goes better than bacon and wine, bourbon and beer? Dare we say, nothing! After an incredibly successful inaugural event last year, Bacon and Barrels is back! From July 18-10, enjoy some of the most delectable bacon dishes from the Central Coast’s best, while mixologists, bacon food trucks, live music, local vendors and a piggy petting zoo make this a weekend you’ll never forget. Saarloos & Sons Field, 2971 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. 805/996-0652, baconandbarrels.com.

Fantastic fermented food will be showcased at Cultivate Events‘ 4th annual Santa Barbara Fermentation Festival on Saturday, July 19. Kimchi, kombucha, kefir, pickles, beer, sauerkraut, wine, cider, cultured vegetables, and sourdough bread galore will take over Fairview Gardens (598 N. Fairview Ave., Goleta), accompanied with talks with fermented foods experts, hands-on how-to demonstrations, artisan fermented foods samples, and the opportunity for all ages to learn about the importance of local, organic, and sustainable agriculture and the fermentation process. The festival runs from 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. For more information, call 805/722-5324, or visit sbfermentationfestival.com, where Santa Barbara Seasons’ readers can get a discount to the festival by putting in the word “SEASONS” in the promo code box when purchasing tickets.

For its fourth year, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden‘s Wine and Cheese Botanic Lecture Series is bringing together the local scientific community for talks about Santa Barbara ecology. The July 19 edition of the Lecture Series features Santa Barbara Creeks‘ Supervisor George Johnson and his update on the Mission Creek Restoration Project from 4 to 6 p.m. Johnson will highlight the importance of Southern California steelhead trout in the state’s waterways, particularly Mission Creek. Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards is the sponsoring winery. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, is located at 1212 Mission Canyon Rd. For more information click here.

Who doesn’t love sangria? The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation sure does. They are hosting the 3rd Annual Sangria Soiree in order to raise money to help families of children with cancer. It is at the Villa at Sunstone Winery at 125 Refugio Rd., Santa Ynez, CA on July 20 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. This event is quickly becoming a favorite of Santa Ynez locals, as guests enjoy sampling of paella from Viva Paella and tapas by Paloma Restaurant. Spanish style flatbreads prepared by The Chef’s Touch are served with cheese platters from Ono Catering.These foods appear alongside tequila and sangria made from wines by Sunstone Winery, Palmina Wines and D’Alfonso-Curran Wines. Radio personality Tyler Story hosts this beautiful afternoon, and music by the acoustic flamenco guitar is also present. Not to mention, several fantastic raffle tickets can be purchased, with prizes such as private cooking classes, a helicopter tour and a spa day. For more information call 805/ 962-7466. Or, buy tickets online here.

Whew! That’s a lot going and I haven’t even gotten to Fiesta yet. Viva la July! Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 11, 2014.

Leslie Dinaberg

LeslieDinaberg.com

Leslie Dinaberg Editor & Writer

Yearly Archives: 2014

Music Academy of the West Presents “Carmen” in Honor of Opera Great Marilyn Horne