Santa Barbara Family Concerts in October at UCSB

2 Fun Filled Family Shows

October 10,  3 pm Campbell Hall at UCSB - family show

tickets $10 each

Full length show October 10, 7pm at Arlington Theater
tickets $33-$53

Ziggy Marley

"Instantly winning, the music is rich with reggae rythms and melodies you and your children will be singing together with joy..." (The Wall Street Journal)

October 24, 2010, 3pm
Campbell Hall-UCSB
Tickets $10 each

Dan Zanes and Friends

Dan Zanes and Friends returns with exhuberance, handmade rock music for kids and parents alike.  The New York Times calls it "true children's music, but executed with sweet and un-gooey humor, casual multiculturalism, and shambling groove that you can call it your own."

Balloons, food, face-painting and family fun just before the show.

information from the Arts & Lectures Program by the University of California at Santa Barbara
http://www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/

Dinner Theater in Santa Barbara

through October 31st, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 pm and Sundays at 1 pm

Circle Bar B Dinner Theatre

presents

The Cocktail Hour

written by A.R. Gurney, Directed by Jim Sirianni

starring Leesa Beck, Matt Cooper, Don Margolin and Kathy Marden

Recriminations and revelations both funny and poignant reveal themselves during the traditional cocktail hour in this dramatic comedy about family and the power of love.

general admission tickets $45/person for dinner and the theatre. 

Senior rates $37/person Friday nights and Sundays only

http://www.circlebarbtheatre.com/

Tucked away in a secluded country canyon just 20 minutes from Santa Barbara lies the Circle Bar B Guest Ranch.  This country retreat offers a taste of the old west with authentic trail rides, home cooked meals and even live comedy dinner theatre.
The theatre, a small intimate converted barn and bunkhouse has presented comedies and musicals for over 36 years. Dinner features tri-tip barbequed to perfection by owner Jim Brown.  David and Susie Couch are the theatre's producers and will personally welcome you to the dinner and theater.

22nd Annual Art Festival at Santa Barbara Natural History Museum

Santa Barbara ARTwalk

SantaBarbara Museum of Natural History

September 25 and 26

Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

2010 Featured Artist - The Oak Group

Begun 24 years ago, The Oak Group publicizes the disappearance of precious open space by holding exhibitions of their paintings.  More than 65 exhibitions later, The Oak Group has established itself as a powerful philanthropic organization whose mission is to raise public awareness of endangered landscapes in and around Santa Barbara County. 

Carpinteria Bluffs by Ann Sanders

Chris Chapman, Creeksong

 Marcia Burtt, Cattle Above the Creek

Additionally, you will find more than 200 works of art by local children along with works by 200 other fine artists, including jewelry, fabric art, pottery and mixed media art. All art (except the childrens' art) will be for sale.

Enjoy live music, artist demonstrations and great food along the oak-shaded banks of Mission Creek.  Lunch is available daily from Noon to 3 pm.

Admission:  Members $9; Non-members $10; Reception Passholders and children under 12 free.

For tickets to the Artists and Patrons' Reception on Friday, September 24, or for more information, call 805 682-4711 ext. 181; http://www.sbnature.org/about/496.html  

An Epicurean Adventure!

29th Annual Santa Barbara Taste of the Town

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Riviera Park Garden

2030 Alameda Padre Serra, Santa Barbara

This Epicurean Adventure combines conviviality with elegant eating.  The Taste of the Town is Santa Barbara's original tasting event, featuring savory samples from 40 of Santa Barbara's finest restaurants and 41 premiere wineries.  All proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

Suzanne Goin will be this year's Celebrity Chef.  Suzanne is know for  LA's fine restaurants, Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern. Suzanne and her husband David Lentz recently opened The Hungry Cat in Santa Barbara.

Friend and fellow superstar Cat Cora (who lives in Santa Barbara) introduced Suzanne to the Santa Barbara Taste of the Town Benefit. $100/advance purchase; $125/at the door
Limited Opportunity Drawing
2010 Vespa
100 tickets available at $100/each
to make your reservation, log on to http://www.tasteofthetownsantabarbara.com/

call 805 563-4685, Arthritis Foundation

PS  The Riviera Park is the original location of the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB)

We Remember....

911

 We Shall Never Forget!

....and our flag was still there....
God Bless America

Santa Barbara Art and Architecture

In the Heart of downtown Santa Barbara....

(photo by Gotfish@Santacruz.com from Flikr)

stands The Ablitt House...aka The Happy House...

the creation of Santa Barbara Architect Jeff Shelton, executed by Dan Upton Construction along with a merry band of local artisans and artists commissioned by owners Neil and Sue Ablitt. 

The Ablitts own Ablitts Fine Cleaners and Launderers which is located on Haley Street just west of State Street, next to a tiny 20x20' parcel which now occupies the Ablitt House surrounded by hotels, restaurants and shops. 

Upon returning from a long sabatical in Mexico where Neil and Sue lived on their 37-foot sailboat the Ablitts approached architect Jeff Shelton (known for his whimsical architecture) about developing a home on the parcel. And so the impossible task was begun.  Four years of endless negotiations with the Planning Commission and City Council finally brought approval! (my architect husband, Doug Reeves, said this was no small task to get approved!)

The result: 699 square feet of delightful living space in four stories. The ground floor houses a garage, stairs connect the upper three floors consisting of a master bedroom suite, gourmet kitchen and multi-use living room and a rooftop patio.

A 108-foot continuous black walnut handrail, created by David Moseley, follows the entire stairwell's Italian marble steps to the top. More than 10,000 custom decorative tiles are featured throughtout the house  as statement of art itself. Add to that paintings, sculpture, ironwork lampshades and even the specially built bed in the Master (and only) bedroom... all artistic creations specifically for the Ablit House.

Dr. Seus would love this house!

Interior photos and rendering from Jeff Shelton's website:  http://www.jeffsheltonarchitect.com/
Information paraphrased from a feature story by Cheryl Crabtree on the Ablitt House in the current issue of
Santa Barbara Seasons a fabulous magazine (available on newstands now) celebrating local life and culture.  http://www.sbseasons.com/
for a video tour of Ablit House visit:  http://www.youtube.com/ enter "Ablitt House"

Baubles, Beads and Bangles

The Gem Show is Back in Santa Barbara!

September 3, 4, 5

Friday noon-7pm; Saturday 10 am-6pm; Sunday 10am-5pm

Whether you love wearing, giving or owning bling or you are creative and like making jewelry, a professional jeweler; or are just curious ...attending to a Gem Faire is an amazing experience.

 

Earl Warren Show Grounds become one great big candy store...eye candy!  It is a must see experience!  Rows and rows of strands of every imaginable bead, gem and bauble imaginable is laid out to view, touch, haggle over...leave behind or own.  If you are a rock hound, there are dealers for you; if you are interested in fine jewelry you will find fabulous buys.
There is something for all ages, although this is not a happy place for todlers.

Santa Barbara's show does not rival the week show in Arizona, or even the one in Las Vegas...but it is pretty special.  Buyers, artists, jewelers and lookie-loos come from the tri-counties to join in this wonderful event. Classes and demonstrations in bead stringing, wire wrapping, cab making and lapidary arts are being held during the 3-day event.

for more information:  http://www.gemfaire.com/