Saturday, December 31, 2011

Celebrate with the SB Symphony

Annual Pops Concert
December 31st
8:30-10:30 pm

Box office:  805-899-2222
Granada Theater




Sunday, December 25, 2011

The Monarchs are Back!!!

A Picture Perfect Day in Santa Barbara
and The Goleta Valley

After a wonderful traditional
Dutch pancake brunch
we decided
to go for a walk....


husband and son on the trail to the Ellwood Monarch Preserve


best time to see the clusters of Monarchs is mid-day
we were a bit late
(picture from Ellwood Website)
....to see the Monarchs who
are wintering in the Ellwood Grove

Our Son, visiting from Montana
was aching for a hike in the sunshine
and a peek at the Ocean...
all available at the Ellwood Grove....

there were many people of all
ages with the same idea....

a wonderful afternoon surrounded with
the gorgeous gifts Mother Nature bestowed on our
lucky Community!

Ellwood Grove is located at the north westerly end of
Hollister Avenue, just before the Sandpiper Golf Course.
Parking is free and plenty. 
Weekends there are Docents at the site to explain
the mystery and wonder of these gorgeous
insects.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, a jacket and bring
your camera!



Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas in Santa Barbara

Wishing You and Yours


a Magical Christmas
from
Beautiful Santa Barbara

(photo ofthe SB Mission
viewed through the bough
of a flowering Century Plant
taken by Eva Kirkpatrick)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Santa Claus taking a beach break....

Observed at the Beach



Santa and one of his Elfs taking a quiet
walk along the surf

A Santa Barbara Picture Postcard Day
in December!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

State Street Ballet Company's Nutcracker Production

The State Street Ballet will
present
Tchaikovsky's magical 
Nutcracker again this year in
Santa Barbara

Saturday, December 17th
2 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 18th
2 pm
at the Elegant Granada Theatre
805 899-2222
for more information www.granadasb.org

An amazing production at
the magnificently restored historical Granada Theater

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Santa Barbara Silver Follies - December 13th


Center State Theater
(upstairs at the Paseo Nuevo)
Tuesday, 12/13/2011 - 8 pm
$30

"You Can't Stop The Christmas Beat"
 
featuring local performers ages 7-77,
the show is an eclectic mix of traditional holiday fun
with a Broadway musical twist

963-0408 or for more information, click here

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

2011 Parade of Lights - Sunday, December 11th

2011 Parade of Lights

3 pm ~ Santa's Village on the Pier
 5:30 pm ~ Boat Parade

Fireworks immediately following
the Boat Parade

Best viewing is from the Pier - free admission
for more information
www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/ParadeOfLights




Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Folk and Tribal Arts December 2, 3 and 4

Shop, Eat and Dance
Around the World
at the
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Admission and parking are free
Friday 10 am - 7 pm
Sat and Sun 10am to 5 pm
2599 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara


The Market comes alive with the flair of international dance, music, food
and vendors from more than 50 countries. 
Proceeds from the fold art show benefit the Museum's
exhibits and educational programs

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Mozart Candlelight Concert

Friday, November 25th at 8 pm
25th Annual Thanksgiving Concert
Mozart by Candlelight


Trinity Espiscopal Church
State at Micheltorena

West Coast Chamber Orchestra
Christopher Story VI, Music Director
Michael Shasberger, Guest Conductor
Featuring Tamsen Beseke, Violin

Tickets 805 963-4408 and at the door
INFO 962-6609

Carpinteria Holiday Faire

Saturday, November 26th
10 am - 3 pm
Carpinteria Historical Museum
950 Maple Ave


The Monthly Carpinteria Flea Market
becomes the
Annual Holiday Faire
over 80 Artisans
Arts, Crafts, Old Fashion Toys,
Baked Goods
Santa Visiting
Live Folk Music
Food Booths & Refreshments
Free Admission
for more information call 805 684-3112

Saturday, November 19, 2011

December 4th - Snow At The Zoo!

Snow Leopard Festival
December 4th
10-5 pm
At the Beautiful Santa Barbara Zoo
The Zoo's new male snow leopard will be on view
along with the zoo's female.

The event will feature an iceless skating rink,
sledding and a snow play area.

Snow access and sledding is available only 
to children up to age 12 and will cost $3.
Skating is for all ages and costs $5.

The Zoo will provide sleds and skates.
Early admission at 9 am for Zoo members.



Holiday Market Place

18th Annual Holiday Marketplace
Saturday and Sunday
November 19th & 20th, 10am - 4 pm

Over 30 local artisans with one-of-a-kind, handcrafted creations
Whimsical pieces from the Garden Guild
Live music, kid's crafts and refreshments

call 682-4726 or visit

Friday, November 11, 2011

Honor our Veterans Today!


Thank YOU Veterans
for your service to our Country!


Veterans Day Parade
11 am
State Street, starting at Sola

Veterans Day Concert
2 pm
First United Methodist Church 

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Opera Santa Barbara Presents...

La boheme
by Puccini

"the light of one small candle ignites opera's most touching and poignant love story.
Christmas Eve in Paris.  An icy garret.  Four young Bohemians living in
idealistic poverty.  There's a knock at the door...."

"And, so begins Giacomo Puccini's La boheme, the quintessential portrait of
romance, high spirited friendship, and the pursuit of love, and art. 
La boheme is Puccini at his most tender and sympathetic, his music piercing our
hearts with its beauty and directness."

Presented at the beautifully restored Santa Barbara gem,
The Granada Theater

1214 State Street, Santa Barbara
information and tickets: 
Box Office:  805 899-2222

information & photos from the Granada Theater Website

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Quote for the Day!

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."
~George S. Patton
Dolphin fountain at the base of Stearn's Wharf

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra


Santa Barbara Symphony
has begun a new season



Maestro Nir Kabaretti performs seven great
symphonic concerts annually at
The Granada Theater
individual tickets available

Santa Barbara Youth Symphony Programs
includes $10/student tickets available for any concert

Friday, October 21, 2011

Boo at the Zoo

Magic Carpet Ride
at the
Santa Barbara Zoo
October 21-23rd

The Zoo transforms for three nights of safe, traffic-free trick-or-treating!
Featuring Monter-ous Thrills and Chills including a Trick-or-Treat Trail,
Boo-Choo-Choo train rides, Creepy Crawly animal encounters,
Spooky Storytelling, Goblin Games, Nightly Costume Parades,
Ghoulish Goodies, and much more!

Children ages 2-12 accompanied by an adult. 
Cost:  Adults $12, Children (2-12) $10
$1/off for Zoo members. 
Choo-Choo-Choo tickets limited $4/adults, $3.50 children

phone 805 962-5339

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Preserving Mother Nature's Bounty

The Art of Canning and Preserving Local

Santa Barbara's semi-tropical climate and numerous micro-climates provides the perfect
temperature for bountiful produce, fruit and vegetables of an amazing variety! 
And although Mother Nature continues to provideall year around, we have all become
more interested in having our foods remain in a less processed state.


The best way to insure that our food isn't processed with unpronouncable ingredients,
and to leave a smaller carbon footprint is by becoming a Locavore (one who consumes
 local foods as much as possible).

We have numerous fruit trees and quite a large vegetable garden.  And then there
are our amazing Farmers' Markets...7 days a week! We can only
consume a limited amount of this goodness, so I have rediscovered the Art of
Putting Up our bounty. For the last three summers I have been making jams,
vegetable sauces, canning peaches and apricots and even making liqeuers
with our fruits. 

I saw an article in our local Newspress about Cindy Shipp who has taken the
Art of  Canning and Preserving to a higher level.  Mentioned was a demonstration
Cindy was giving at the Whole Foods Store. Cindy's demo was incredibly
well attended.  Are we all Martha Stewart wannabees? 

a peek into Cindy's pantry

Cindy's Blog:  SBCanning.com has several thousand followers from all over
the country! It got so big that she took her blog to facebook!  The tips and recipes
that are shared are worth checking.  Hers is one of the most comprehensive Blogs
I have ever seen!  Oh did I mention that Cindy's day job is as an IT manager!!! 


cranberry pear lemon jam made in Cindy's kitchen

 I am one of the fortunate 8 ladies who were invited to attend
a canning class in Cindy's kitchen!  If you think shopping for shoes is fun...
you have no idea how fun an afternoon in Cindy's kitchen can be!


cranberry Chutney

For Cindy's Blog SBCanning.com:  click here
To see Cindy's class schedule at Fairview Gardens click here

Friday, October 14, 2011

Goleta Lemon Festival October 15 & 16

The 20th Annual California Lemon Festival
Girsh Park is between Santa Felica Drive and Helps Road
behind the Market Place Shopping Center 

Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
free admission and parking

 wonderful food, pie eating contests
(lemon meringue pie??)

 fantastic family atmosphere, variety of entertainment
and activities such as arts & crafts vendors

including the Goleta Fall Classic Car and Street Rod Show
and
the ever-popular "Safety Street".

click here for more information and directions

Thursday, October 13, 2011

CALM'S ANTIQUE SHOW October 14-16, 2011

CALM's
Antiques and Decorative Vintage Arts
Show and Sale
.....is here again with 80 quality dealers
and Montano's Antique Glass Repair


CHINA BLUES............
18th c. Chinese Export, 19th c. English Brushstroke Ironstone,
Venetian Murano Goblets, 19th c. Russian Samovars
Lena By Design
 (CALM Website Photos)

located at Earl Warren Show Grounds (Hwy 101 at Las Positas)
Friday 11-6pm
Saturday 11-6pm
Sunday 11-5pm

FREE PARKING
$6 Adults, $5 Senior (62+) / Child (under 12)
includes return privileges

This show is amazing and not to be missed!

Antique Rug Connection - sales , repair, cleaning


Dianne and Margo of the CALM Ausiliary at the Ticket Desk

Char's Antique and Vintage Jewelry

Cynthia Belliveau Design

Charity benefit for Child Abuse Listening & Mediation (CALM)
Note:  This is a partial repost as the show visits Santa Barbara 3x per year. Dates are current and correct
to see photos of the past antique show go to Archives - CALM Antique Show
for more information:  http://www.calmantiqueshow.com/

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Remnants of the Past Vintage Show

Best Vintage Show Ever!
On a gorgeous fall day, Saturday, October 8th, my friend Marilyn and I drove 100 miles up the coast to San Louis Obispo to attend the much anticipated bi-annual Remnants of the Past Vintage Show created by a very talented Judy Watkins.  This is the third year that I have attended this wonderful event.  I really didn't think it could get any better....it did!  After several magazine features on the show, the wonderful Barn in Nipomo could no longer contain the show, so this was the first year of the SLO show at the Madonna Expo Center...and what a show it was!

After attending the show at the wonderful farm in Nipomo, we were sure some of the big barn charm would be lost. Not even a bit!  Extremely well organized in every detail, from parking to shuttle to the actual organization of the event.  Lots of easily accessible bathrooms, designated eating areas, and great flow to the Vendor set-up.  There was even a "Man-Cave" to accomodate husbands, children and tired shoppers.  A special room with comfortable chairs, a coffee a snack bar and a large screen tv playing the vintage "Marbury" sitcom.

What a fun day of talent, treasures and creativity on display!  Put this website in your address book or follow Judy's blog so that you know the date of the Spring show! See link below.

Wonder whoooo this wise owl went home with...


These charming Vendors got our vote for the #1 Designed Booth


I LOVE birdcages...especially with these birds...


very clever ideas


 Wish that was moi! A Diva, I mean.

 A Yule Tree made out of curly willow, burlap ribbons and stuff


 creative displays
 love the boat with the curley willow



 a wonderful statue

 vintage ledger sheets could tell a story or two


While enjoying a delicious lunch, we met a couple who had come from Northern CA to SLO for the weekend to enjoy the area's wine country, and discovered the Remnants Show.  This is a two-day event, so if you are coming from out of the area, plan to make it a full get-a-way. 
Judy will have information for accomodations on her website.  The SLO area has become well known for their wonderful Edna Valley wines and the town of SLO has recently been named the "Happiest Place in the USA" by National Geographic author Dan Buettner (as featured on Oprah).