Celebrate Family Holiday Movie Weekend at the Granada Theatre

Posted on by

Granada Holiday Movie Weekend

Enjoy the magic of the holidays at The Granada Theatre’s Family Holiday Movie Weekend on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14!  In addition to screening holiday movie favorites with the only 4K cinema projection system in the region, Santa Claus will make a special visit to The Granada Theatre to greet children, and there will be special seasonal musical performances by local school and musical groups including Montecito Union Elementary, La Colina Junior High, San Marcos High School, Santa Barbara High School and local public elementary school students from the Incredible Children’s Art Network (iCAN) program.

Here’s the schedule:

Saturday, December 13

11 a.m. Music by Montecito Union Elementary

Movies: Merry Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda

noon to 1:30 p.m.   Meet Santa Claus!

3 p.m. Music by San Marcos High School Madcappella Choir

Movie: White Christmas

7 p.m. Music by La Colina Junior High Outburst Choir

Movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Sunday, December 14

11 a.m. to noon Meet Santa Claus!

noon Music by Incredible Children’s Art Network (iCAN) group Pacific Choir

Movie: Miracle On 34th Street

5 p.m. Music by Santa Barbara High School Madrigals Choir

Movie: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas

General Admission tickets are just $5 and include open seating. Reserved seating in the Loge is available for $10 per ticket. Click here to purchase tickets for each music and movie performance, or by calling The Granada Theatre’s Box Office at 805/899-2222.  The Granada is located at 1214 State St.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on December 10, 2014.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Posted on by
David Melville, courtesy photo

David Melville, courtesy photo

The Granada Theatre presents the holiday classic, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, performed by actor David Melville as a one man show on Friday, December 12 at 8 p.m. in the McCune Founders Room.

Recapture the spirit of an old-fashioned 19th century Christmas with this timeless classic, with nearly all of your favorite characters performed by Melville as Charles Dickens.

In his lifetime, Dickens was famous for performing dramatic interpretations of his own work. In what has become a holiday tradition, the Independent Shakespeare Company (ISC) re-creates, with a great deal of artistic license, the experience. A young actress joins Melville, and what follows is an evening of wry humor, romance and redemption.

Click here to purchase tickets for what is sure to be a lively performance, or by calling The Granada Theatre’s Box Office at 805/899-2222. The Granada is located at 1214 State St.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on December 10, 2014.

Cocktail Corner: Celebrate Prohibition Repeal Day

Posted on by
Photo Courtesy Repeal Day SB Facebook Page

Photo Courtesy Repeal Day SB Facebook Page

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

Prohibition Repeal Day returns to Santa Barbara this week (Friday, December 5) to celebrate the end of Prohibition in 1933, more than 80 years ago! This year the event coincides with the annual Downtown Holiday Parade on State Street, which sounds like a winning combination to me.

Joe Andrieu and Ted Mills, two Santa Barbarians who both love cocktails and Constitutional history, turned this unsung moment in history into a lively gathering of history buffs and cocktail aficionados.

Here’s the scoop from the organizers:

This year, on Friday, December 5, Repeal Day Santa Barbara hosts a multiple location celebration in downtown Santa Barbara from 5 p.m. to late in the evening. Revelers in vintage garb can expect to find fellow celebrants at all locations, all of which will be offering deals to those dressed to the nines. Hosts Andrieu and Mills will be touring all locations to raise a glass and honor the passing of the 21st amendment to the Constitution, ending 13 years of Prohibiiton.

Photo Courtesy Repeal Day SB Facebook Page

Photo Courtesy Repeal Day SB Facebook Page

Repeal Day Santa Barbara is organized as a self-guided tour, with maps provided at each of the featured bars: Milk & Honey (30 W. Anapamu St.), Finch & Fork (31. W. Carrillo St.), Pickle Room (126 E. Canon Perdido St.), Blue Agave (20 E. Cota St.), Roy (7 W. Carrillo St.), La Arcada Bistro (1112 State St.)  and Wildcat Lounge (15 W. Ortega St.). Each bar will offer deals for those in vintage costume, specialty cocktails, and more.  Hat shop Goorin Bros. (802 State St.), the event’s sponsor, also will provide an evening of fun.

Other events this evening include an Prohibition-themed Art Show, curated by Michael Long, at Roy; a Romantic Rock fashion show at Wildcat; special tastings of Amaro at Milk & Honey and Irish Whiskey at La Arcada,

A ticketed afterparty will also be held at the latter location at 10 p.m.

Mills and Andrieu designed the event so anyone can join in at any time with real-time updates and special deals through Twitter and Facebook, and at repealdaysb.com.

Photo Courtesy Repeal Day SB Facebook Page

Photo Courtesy Repeal Day SB Facebook Page

“Prohibition was a constitutional mistake that created thirteen years of widespread lawlessness,” explains Andrieu. “We celebrate the anniversary of its repeal to help us all remember both the errors and the corrections our country is capable of.” The two organizers believe that such an important event relating to our freedoms should be recognized and celebrated.

Nationwide prohibition began on January 16, 1920 with the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which outlawed the manufacture, sale, transportation, import and export of intoxicating liquors. It lasted until its repeal with the ratification of the 21st amendment on December 5, 1933.

Santa Barbara played a special role during the dry years of Prohibition. Its long coastline and various inlets—plus numerous caves on the Channel Islands—made it one of the top areas on the West Coast for rum runners importing illegal spirits.

Tickets for all tastings and the after party are available online at repealdaysb.com.

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns. Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on December 5, 2014.

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.”

AGORAPHOBIA: PORTRAITS OF AMERICAN INTERIORS at Sullivan Goss Gallery

Posted on by
Painting by Patssi Valdez, courtesy Sullivan Goss

Painting by Patssi Valdez, courtesy Sullivan Goss

Sullivan Goss presents AGORAPHOBIA: Portraits of American Interiors.  One of four new exhibitions scheduled to open this month, AGORAPHOBIA examines the idea of interior architectural space as portraiture, featuring paintings, photographs, and sculpture by a variety of mostly contemporary artists.

Artists included in this exhibition are: Anders Aldrin, Patricia Chidlaw, Pamela Enticknap, Robert Frame, Kimberly Hahn, Mark Lozano, Zack Paul, Richard Ross, Julius Shulman, Patssi Valdez and Mark Christian Wethli.

This will be the Sullivan Goss Gallery debut for Valdez, Ross and Hahn.

The exhibit opens on December 4 (1st Thursday) and runs through March 1, 2015. Sullivan Goss is located at 7 E. Anapamu St. in downtown Santa Barbara.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on December 2, 2014.

100 GRAND, 2014: (100 WORKS FOR $1,000 OR LESS)

Posted on by

Sullivan Goss 100 GrandIt’s that time of the year again: the sixth annual 100 GRAND exhibition at Sullivan Goss.Featuring 100 quality works of art for $1,000 or less, the exhibition has become an incubator of emerging talent, an entryway for beginning collectors and a holiday celebration in the art community.

Last year, almost a thousand people attended over the course of the evening.  December’s 1st Thursday at Sullivan Goss has become one of the area’s must-attend events of the year- a chance for artists and collectors to get together, network, and celebrate the accomplishments of another year in art.

The exhibition runs from December 4 to February 1, 2015, and 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.  For this year’s exhibition, Contemporary Curator Susan Bush was able to secure work from many of last year’s best-selling artists, but there are also more than 20 new artists who have never before shown with Sullivan Goss.

Since its first come first serve, buyers are encouraged to arrive early and to act fast.

ARTISTS INCLUDED:  Meredith Brooks Abbott, Benjamin Anderson, Scott Anderson, Ken Bortolazzo, Aron Bothman, Liz Brady, Lisabette Brinkman, Phoebe Brunner, Pat Calonne, Chris Chapman, Dorothy Churchill-Johnson, Connie Connally, Jeanne Dentzel, Mehosh Dziadzio, Naneki Elliott, Kathleen Elsey, Pamela Enticknap, Peggy Ferris, Kee Flynn, Jon Francis, Valori Fussell, Nancy Gifford, Dane Goodman, Robin Gowen, Amanda Grandfield, James Taylor Gray, Ruthy Green, Bay Hallowell, Holli Harmon, Tracey Sylvester Harris, Derrek Harrison, Wyllis Heaton, Cynthia James, Jow, Scott Kahn, Philip Koplin, Mary-Austin Klein, Marilee Krause, Elizabeth Ladacki, Dan Levin, Mark Lozano, Laurie Macmillan, Larry Mcadams, Virginia McCracken, Susan McDonnell, Svetlana Meritt, David Molesky, Zoe Nathan, Lisa Pederson, Angela Perko, Chris Peters, Hank Pitcher, Ian Putnam, Erik Reel, Maria Rendon, Brad Reyes, Joan Rosenberg-Dent, Blakeney Sanford, Caren Satterfield, Susan Savage, Marie Schoeff, Susan Shapiro, Lanny Sherwin, Elena Siff, Leslie Lewis Sigler, David Skinner, Nicole Strasburg, James David Thomas, Susan Tibbles, Dug Uyesaka, Taj Vaccarella, Sarah Vedder, Deborah Veldkamp, Tom de Walt, Nina Warner, Vani Winick, Roe Ann White, Monica Wiesblott, Abigail Zimmerman and Michele Zuzalek.

The opening artist reception is 1st Thursday, December 4 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Sullivan Goss Gallery, 7 E. Anapamu St. in downtown Santa Barbara. To see a video about the exhibition click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on December 2, 2014.

David Starkey Reads “Like a Soprano” at Antioch

Posted on by

Like a SopranoYou never know where the muse will strike. Santa Barbara Seasons’ contributing poetry editor David Starkey binge-watched the entire six-season 86-episode story arc of The Sopranos, then turned the dark, violent mobster underworld into a mordantly humorous collection of 86 prose poems. Like a Soprano (Serving House Books) is, like The Sopranos, a darkly entertaining, disturbing and touching piece of art.

Starkey will read from his work on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. at Antioch University Santa Barbara, 602 Anacapa St.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on December 1, 2014.

Don’t Miss Small Business Saturday in Downtown Santa Barbara

Posted on by

Small Business SaturdayKicking off the holiday season this is a relatively new retail holiday: Small Business Saturday (November 29). Nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

This year, Downtown Santa Barbara is promoting Small Business Saturday as a way to kick off the Holiday season.

 A complete list of participating locations are listed on the Downtown Santa Barbara website (DowntownSB.org). As of press time, participants included: 33 Jewels at El Paseo (814 State), Aveda (304 Paseo Nuveo), Bella Rosa Galleries (1103-A State), The Book Den (15 E. Anapamu), Churchill Jewelers (1015 State),The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (811 State, #A), Crazy Good Bread Co. (38 W. Victoria), Culture Counter (38 W. Victoria), Distinctive Framing ‘N’ Art (1333 State), Flagstone Pantry (38 W. Victoria, #108), Foragers Pantry (38 W. Victoria) and  Green Star Coffee (38 W. Victoria).

Courtesy Downtown Santa Barbara

Courtesy Downtown Santa Barbara

Also participating are Hampstead Village (1100 State), Harlequin’s Theatrical Supply (17 W. Gutierrez), Imagine (11. W. Canon Perdido), Indigo Interiors (1321 State), Industry Home (4 E. de la Guerra), Italian Pottery Outlet (929 State), Kernohan’s Toys (18 W. Anapamu), Kitson (651 Paseo Nuevo, #101), Oliver & Espig (1108 State), Plum Goods (909 State), Salt  Cave Santa Barbara (740 State), Salt Boutique (1-A W. Canon Perdido) and Samy’s Camera (530 State).

Additional participants include:  Santa Barbara Arts (1114 State, #24), Santa Barbara Public Market (38 W. Victoria), Santa Monica Seafood (38 W. Victoria), Sojourner Cafe (134 E. Canon Perdido), State & Fig (1114 State, #18), The Pasta Shoppe (38 W. Victoria, #122), Viva Oliva (651 Paseo Nuevo, #207), Wendy Foster State Street (833 State), Whistle Club (819 State. Suites A + B) and Wine + Beer (38 W. Victoria)

DSB staff will be on hand at Marshalls Patio (900 State), giving out Shop Small tote bags, balloons and dog bandanas. “We’re encouraging Shop Small customers to post or tweet where they are shopping or dining throughout the day, using #shopsmall and #DowntownSB,” says Kate Schwab, Downtown Santa Barbara Marketing & Communication Director.

“We have such a diverse and unique blend of small businesses downtown. It is a pleasure to support our many small business in Downtown Santa Barbara and give them an opportunity to show off great places to shop, eat or visit.”

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on November 26, 2014.

Local Lowdown | Everybody’s Doing the Localmotion!

Posted on by
The Land Shark, photo by Mercedes Lowe

The Land Shark, photo by Mercedes Lowe

By Leslie Dinaberg

Planes, trains and automobiles may bring people to town, but when you get here, Santa Barbara has loads of ways to locomote your way around. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, it’s easy to step off the gas and take a vacation from your car with Santa Barbara Car Free’s (santabarbaracarfree.org) discounts and tips. If it’s a guided tour you’re after, here are some fun ways to get around.

 

The Land Shark, photo by Mercedes Lowe

The Land Shark, photo by Mercedes Lowe

The Land Shark, photo by Mercedes Lowe

The Land Shark, photo by Mercedes Lowe

1   From See to Sea

Finally, a shark that doesn’t bite! The Land Shark amphibious tour vehicle is a fun-for-all-ages way to tour the town both by land and sea. The journey begins at Stearns Wharf and winds its way through an amusing narrative of the streets of Santa Barbara’s historic landmarks and attractions. Then—in what’s clearly the money shot of the day—you splash into the blue Pacific waters of the harbor to hear maritime legends and discover the abundant marine mammals and sea life that inhabit the ocean. Land and Sea Tours, 805/683-7600, out2seesb.com.

Santa Barbara Trolley Company, courtesy photo

Santa Barbara Trolley Company, courtesy photo

2   Trolley Tours

Whether you want a 90-minute narrated tour of Santa Barbara or prefer to hop around town all the livelong day, boarding the Santa Barbara Trolley is a great option. The trolley—which has toured Santa Barbara for more than 25 years—runs throughout the city from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, departing from Stearns Wharf, where the purchase of a single ticket gets you all-day on/off privileges. Points of interest include Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Old Mission Santa Barbara and more, all fully narrated by knowledgeable tour guides. Santa Barbara Trolley Company, 805/ 965-0353, sbtrolley.com.

 

Segway of Santa Barbara, photo by Mercedes Lowe

Segway of Santa Barbara, photo by Mercedes Lowe

3     Segway Scene

Hop on a two-wheeled Segway and see the sights in a whole new way. Guided tour options include the Santa Barbara Beach Run, from West Beach to Andree Clark Bird Refuge; a Butterfly Beach Tour, from Stearns Wharf to the historic Four Seasons Biltmore and Coral Casino; Old Santa Barbara, from Stearns Wharf to the courthouse; or the Mission Tour, which takes you from the pier to Old Mission Santa Barbara. Play your cards right and Josh, the flamenco guitar-playing guide, may even serenade you. Segway of Santa Barbara, 805/963-7672, segwayofsb.com.

Segway of Santa Barbara, photo by Mercedes Lowe

Segway of Santa Barbara, photo by Mercedes Lowe

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

EXPLORE: Comedy Hideaway | Laugh it Up

Posted on by

By Leslie Dinaberg

COMEDY

Maz Jobrani at Santa Barbara Comedy Hideaway, photo by Mercedes Lowe

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the comedy club, of course! Chickens know how to cluck it up, and now you can, too, at the Comedy Hideaway. Andrey Belikov launched the venture in 2012, with a single show per week in Goleta. Now the entrepreneurial comic and promoter puts on six comedy shows a week in Goleta and Santa Barbara, and has additional venues in Ventura and Oakland.

“We’ll frequently book comics to all three places together,” says Belikov. The reception in Santa Barbara has been really good. “People love our shows; they give them 4.5 or 5 on Yelp,” he says. “A lot of clubs in other places are really dated with a two drink minimum, long lines and bouncers—it’s not the best experience. Here in Santa Barbara, we’re more laid back.”

That laid-back vibe attracts top-notch talent. Recent performers include Iliza Shlesinger (winner of Last Comic Standing), Taylor Williamson (second place winner of America’s Got Talent), Carlos Alazraqui (Officer James Garcia on Comedy Central’s Reno 911) and Bryan Callen (comedic actor in The Hangover 1 & 2, Mad TV, Ride Along and Old School).

“A lot of our headliners will use Santa Barbara as a place to try out material when they know they’re going to appear on Letterman,” says Belikov. “They’ll do seven shows just to get ready for a five-minute appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman, which is great for us.” The lineups are usually announced on Sunday night before the Thursday shows and typically include four to six comics: a host, special guests and a headliner—and a lot of special guests are also headliners.

Goleta Comedy Hideaway is every Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. (inside Petrini’s, 5711 Calle Real, Goleta). Santa Barbara Comedy Hideaway is every Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. (upstairs at Apero, 532 State St.). “The later shows tend to attract a younger crowd (guests must be at least 18), while the earlier 7:30 p.m. shows get all ages,” says Belikov. “It really depends upon the headliner. It just keeps growing and growing. It’s been great.” No joke! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit sbcomedy.com. 

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

An Evening with John Cleese

Posted on by
John Cleese, photo by Andy Gotts

John Cleese, photo by Andy Gotts

Comic legend John Cleese is beloved the world over for his hilarious antics and physical comedy in cult films and TV shows, including Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda. From the Minister of Silly Walks to Sir Lancelot, to bumbling hotel manager Basil Fawlty, his many madcap characters have kept audiences roaring with laughter.

Cleese returns to Santa Barbara for an evening of wonderfully entertaining anecdotes and amusements just after the release of his new autobiography, So, Anyway. An Evening with John Cleese takes place Wed., Nov. 19 at The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., in Santa Barbara.

For tickets or more information, call 805/893-3535 or purchase online at ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on November 14, 2014.