An Epicurean Adventure in Santa Barbara

30th annual Taste of the Town

Sunday, September 11, 12 - 3 pm

Riviera Park Gardens

2030 Alameda Padre Serra

Santa Barbara

ABOUT THE EVENT

An epicurean adventure!

The Taste of the Town is Santa Barbara's original tasting event,

 featuring savory samples from many of Santa Barbara's

 finest restaurants and premiere wineries.

All proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

for more information click here

or contact Jeanne David at 805-563-4685

(information and photo from Taste of the Town website)

Santa Barbara Kite Festival

April is Kite Month in Santa Barbara

Sunday, April 10th 11am-4pm
free admission and free parking

The 26 annual Santa Barbara Kite Festival
will take flight from the West Campus of Santa BarbaraCity College in the "Great Meadow".
The blufftop lawn overlooks the beautiful Santa Barbara harbor and breakwater
and is a perfect location for kite flying
.

Flyers of all abilities are welcome.  Competitions range from "kite flying" and "sport flying" for skilled flyers to more accessible categories such as "most beautiful", "highest flying, and "largest kites".
 "Tail Chaise" is a popular event for children in various age groups. 
Kites will be available for purchase at the festival.
 
Santa Barbara City College's West Campus is located next to the college's main campus at 721 Cliff Drive.

information and photo obtained from the Kitefestival website

 for more information, call 805 637-6202, or 805 963-2964; or log on to  http://www.sbkitefest.com/

Celebrity Authors' Luncheon

25th Annual CALM

Celebrity Authors' Luncheon

Saturday, March 19th

2011 Fess Parker's Double Tree Resort

633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Join CALM and celebrate 25 years of world famous authors & unforgettable stories.

Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He shares his insights in his book The Success Principle:  How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. Mr. Canfield is a Harvard graduate with a Master's Degree in phychological education.

Jean-Michel Cousteau, is an explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer, and author.  Mr. Cousteau has spent most of life nurturing the work of his famous father and now in his newest book, My Father, the Captain, he gives us an intensely personal look into the lives of the Cousteau family.

Sue Grafton, New York Times bestselling author, is published in twenty-eight countries and twenty-six languages.  Her alphabetical series, began in 1982.  She has been named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.  Ms. Grafton is currently working on "V" having completed U is for Undertow.

Jane Hamilton, lives, works, and writes in an orchard farmhouse in Wisconsin.  Her short stories have appeared in Harper's Magazine.  Her first novel, The Book of Ruth, won the PEN/Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award for best first novel and was a selection of the Oprah Book Club. Her second novel, A Map of the World, was an international bestseller.  Her newest book, Laura Rider's Masterpiece, is not only funny but sexy and provocative as well!

Susan Straight's newest novel, Take One Candle Light a Room, portrays the forces that tear families apart and the ties that bind them together.  Ms. Straight has written for The New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times and Harper's Magazine.  She has won an Edgar Award, a O.Henry Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Award.

These five authors will be Interviewed by Debby Davidson and Williamn Hermann

10 am - Meet the Authors

Books available for purchase and signing

11:45 am - Lunch is served

12:45 pm Author's Interview Program

2 pm Additional Book Purchasing and Signing

Tickets $125 each

Reservations 682-3925

all monies from this event remain in Santa Barbara

to support CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation)

http://www.calm4kids.org/

Santa Barbara International Orchid Show

66th Annual

Santa Barbara International Orchid Show

March 11, 12, 13; 9 am - 5 pm

General admission $12

Senior (65+), students with ID $10

Children under 12 with adults FREE

tickets at the door or Ticketmaster

Earl Warren Show Grounds
 Highway 101 and Las Positas Rd, Santa Barbara  93105

Earl Warren Showgrounds becomes a magical Paradise of Orchids and Exotic Plants by exhibitors from North & South America, the South Pacific, Australia and Asia.


~Vast selection of bloming orchid plants, corsages, art works and orchid supplies for sale
~Free workshops on orchid care led by experts
~Santa Barbara area orchid nursery growers' open houses

http://www.sborchidshow.org/

Huell Houser's Road Trip

Take an excursion back to the 2010 Santa Barbara International Orchid Show on a special episode of Road Trip with Huell Howser! The Show is proud to be featured as part of an exciting program about "The Orchid Trail" that aired on television stations in California in the Fall of 2010. If you missed the program, you have another opportunity to see it this month. Then take your own road trip to see the Show in person! The 66th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show promises to be a spectacular journey into the beautiful world of orchids!


The Spring programming schedule for the "The Orchid Trail" episode of Road Trip with Huell Howser is as follows:
PBS SOCAL (formerly KOCE), serving all of Southern California
Sunday, February 13 at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 24 at 8:00 p.m.

Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara

Viva La Fiesta!

A Gathering of Friends

for more details:  www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org

August 4-8, 2010

every year there is a contest for the official Fiesta Poster

Wednesday of Fiesta Week 8 p.m.

Fiesta Pequena

Fiesta officially begins with Fiesta Pequena, "Little Fiesta", on the steps of Santa Barbara's historic Old Mission, featuring Fiesta's traditional songs and dances.  Food is available from local vendors

open to the public and free

Thursday August 5th

El Presidente's Prayer Service

10 a.m.-FREE

Non-denominational prayer service for all held at the Old Mission followed by a Garden Reception. 

information 805-6824713.  Prayer Service open to public.

Celebracion De Los Dignatorios

5pm - 10 pm-$$

Held at the SB Zoo, $85/per person in advance or $100 at the gate.  Tickets available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/114478.

Appetizers and wines presented by local restaurants and winesries.  Dance to the sounds of Soul City Survivors.  Park at the DoubleTree and catch the Dignatatious shuttle inthe parking lot.  Or, ride MTSD's Downtown Waterfront Electric Shuttle at MTD stop.

Friday, August 6th

El Desfile Historico / Parade

12:00 noon - FREE

The Fiesta Historical Parade is one of the largest equestrian parades in the U.S. The Parade starts at the west end of Cabrillo Blvd., proceeeds east along the beach, to State St, then up State St. to Sola St. 

 

Many of the beautiful old carriages and buggys seen in the parade are stored at the Carriage Museum, and were in actual use in local ranches years ago.

Flor y Canto

7 p.m. FREE

Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the show int he Courthouse Sunken Garden.  Original Spanish California dances and songs from the 19th century performed by local residents in authentic costumes much as they would have been 150 years ago.

Saturday, August 7th

80th ANNUAL EL DESFILE DE LOS NINOS

10 a.m. FREE

This is a not to be missed parade.  Organized by the City Parks and Recreation Department, young people of Santa Baqrbara, their parents and other parade participants don traditional costumes and celebrate the rich culture of their Santa Barbara heritage.

 

Parade proceeds down State Street, from Victoria to Ortega Streets.

1:00 - 5:00 p.m. FREE

Tardes De Ronda

Children's Variety Show.  Wearing colorful costomes children from the Santa Barbara area demonstrate their talents and multi-cultural heritage.  In the beautiful Sunken Gardens at the County Court House.

Sunday, August 8th

West Coast Symphony 44th Annual Fiesta Concert

3:30 P.M. -FREE

Bring the family, snacks and lawn chairs for an afternoon of beautiful music conducted by Christopher Story VI.

Recurring Events

Mercado de la Guerra

11 a.m - 11 p.m. FREE attendance

Located at De La Guerra Plaza, across from City Hall.

Locals and visitors alike have an opportunity to feast  on Spanish and Mexican-American foods, shop for crafts, souvenirs and enjoy live entertainment all day and into the early evening.  All vendors are local non-profits.

Mercado Del Norte

11 a.m.-11 p.m. -FREE attendance

MacKenzie Park at State and Las Positas in San Roque area.

This mercado caters to famililes with lots of Kiddie Carnival Rides and activities for toddlers and teens. Food for young and old ranges from the typical Fiesta foods, to the Fiesta Crazy Horse Cantina for icy cold beer margaritas and live entertainments  into the evening. Mercado Cercado offers  Fiesta souvenirs.

August 7th - 8th - FREE

Fiesta Art & Crafts Show

10 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Cabrillo Boulevard west of Stearns Wharf

a statewide gathering of artisans and crafts people displaying a wide variety of paintings, carvings, pottery, and other handcrafted wares.

Competition de los Vaqueros

August 5 - August 8th

Fiesta 2010 brings professional Rodeo Cowboy Association athletes from all over the West to compete in contests of daring that have their roots in Santa Barbara's rancho era.  Bull and bronc riding and barrel racing, plus unique events like mutton bustin' for cowkids, and team penning guarantee "one of a kind" family entertainment.  Catch the action at Earl Warren Showgrounds at Las Positas and Calle Real of Hiway 101 where there is plenty of partking and vendors to tempt you with food, beverages and western-style souvenirs.

Professional Bull Riding- $$  Thursday Night, August 5th only at 7:30 p.m. General admission $45, tickets available at Earl Warren Show Grounds, or call Jedlicka's at 805.687.0747. 

Stock Horse Show and Competencia de los Vaqueros: Free Daily Performances.  See Events Calendar for specifics or the Rodeo Website:  http://www.sbfiestarodeo.com/

(information and photographs obtained from Old Spanish Days Fiesta)

for more details:  http://www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org/

Santa Barbara Greek Festival -July 31-August 1

37th Annual Santa Barbara Greek Festival

11 am - 7 pm Saturday July 31 and Sunday August 1

located in Santa Barbara's beautiful Oak Park

Listen to the distinct sounds of the bouzouki and other exotic instruments by authentic Greek musicians who perform traditional and popular songs.  Delight in the beauty of the elaborate costumes worn by performers as they share their carefully practiced steps and intricate dances along with the enthusiastic audience.

you may even see a modern day Zorba perform!

Enjoy delectable festival favorites like gyros and moussaka. No Greek village would be complete without home made pastries from Yiayia's traditional recipes:  baklava, melomakarona, and kataifi are just a few of the sweet treats to tempt you.

Oak Park is the site of many of Santa Barbara's popular festivals with lots of street parking available.

 Shirley Valentine would have loved a visit to this Greek Village!

(information and photographs excerpted from the Greek Festival website)

for more information:  http://santabarbaragreekfestival.com/home/

for a video of past festival activities:  http://www.newspress.tv/main.jsp?category=Newseid=286

Santa Barbara - FIRST THURSDAYS - June 3rd

Santa Barbara - The most beautiful downtown in California

June 3, 2010

be sure to visit The Canary Hotel on Carrillo Street

for a fabulous wine tasting event

The Canary Hotel

First Thursdays in Downtown Santa Barbara

1st Thursday is an award winning program highlighting downtown arts, culture and entertainment on the first Thursday of every month. All 1st Thursday attractions are free from 5-8 pm.
The next 1st Thursday event is Thursday, June 3rd.
In the meantime, be sure to check out all of the other great Featured Events happening in Downtown Santa Barbara:  http://www.santabarbaradowntown.com/

ABOUT 1st THURSDAY

1st Thursday is an evening of art and culture in downtown Santa Barbara. On the first Thursday of each month, participating galleries and art-related venues offer free access to visual and performing art in a fun and social environment from 5-8 p.m. 1st Thursday venues feature attractions, such as art openings, live music, artists' receptions, lectures, wine tastings and hands-on activities. In addition, State Street comes alive on 1st Thursday with performances and interactive exhibits. Look for previews of forthcoming plays, symphony performances, concerts and dance productions, as well as local up-and-coming performers. The Downtown Organization also partners with Santa Barbara cultural groups for one-time 1st Thursday attractions.

1st Thursday is for locals and visitors alike. It provides an opportunity for residents to indulge in local culture, mingle with neighbors and participate in the arts community. The program also offers visitors the chance to experience, in one evening, the diversity of downtown Santa Barbara’s visual and performing arts scene. 1st Thursday is aimed at developing a lively atmosphere downtown as well as showcasing the cultural variety that Santa Barbara has to offer.
The 1st Thursday Passport is a printed guide and map to all of the 1st Thursday attractions and are available at participating galleries and venues, MTD shuttles, The Visitors’ Center, and hotel concierge desks. OR you can download a printable version above.

Expect something special in art and culture on the first Thursday of every month!

Classic Car and Hot Rod Show May 15 and 16th

11th Annual Classic Car and Hot Rod Show

Downtown Santa Barbara

picture of one of the 2008 hot rod entries

2010 Honorary Grand Marshall

Andy Granatelli

2010 Honorary Judges, Sam Foose, Chip Foose


400 Hot Rods and Classics from across America

will be on display for one day only. There will be

live music, great food & beverages. Judging of

cars will be done by jury.
View Photos of 2008
http://www.wheelsandwaves.com/

For more information call: (805) 964-0639


Saturday, May 15th Sunday, May 16th

State Street Cruise 3:30 PM 129 Castillo Street (Pershing Park)

Car Owner Party 4:30 PM Barbecue at The Carriage Museum. 129 Castillo St.($15/Person)


Auto Registration 6-9 AM

Judging Time 9 AM-2 PM
Awards and Trophies 3 PM

Sunday Arts and Crafts Show at East Beach

Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show on Cabrillo Boulevard

Since 1965 local artists have assembled on Cabrillo Boulevard East of State Street to set up and sell their art. The colorful canopies and umbrellas used to shield the artists and their wares from the sun creates a visual delight in itself. Santa Barbara is an artists' haven (or should I say heaven) as there is no such thing as too much art.  The gorgeous gifts of nature Mother Earth has bestowed upon our community makes for a great subjects to paint, draw, photograph or just be inspired by. For you historians, the show originated in the courtyard by City Hall off De La Guerra Street, known as De La Guerra Plaza until  it outgrew that space and moved to it's current location. 

This article will be limited to visual arts because of course all the arts thrive in Santa Barbara. In addition to the many art exhibits, galleries, museums and private art collections, the Sabado Domingo Art Show is part of our culture and history. Any one who has tried to move the show, modify it, or mess with it in any way has heard thundering objections from the natives. This truly is one of Santa Barbara's sacred cows!

Paintings of all media, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, leather works, all kinds of crafts and handmade toys are available each and every Sunday unless totally rained out!

On Fiesta Sunday, (first week of August) the show is twice as long as it also includes Cabrillo Boulevard West of State Street.

The participants are juried and carry a City Business License, so you will be sure to find this show an excellent source of quality art.  For more information, telephone 805 897-1982; http://www.sbaacs.com/

Believe it or not, there is a real Skate Board Park located between the Art Show and the Beach area, called Skater's Point. Featuring Ledges, quarter pipes and rails throughout the 14,600 square foot park. The Park is free, bring your own skate board and protective gear is a must requirement.

Across from the Chase Palm Park is the Children's Park featuring an old fashioned carousel. This is also the side where the Summer Concerts are held in Fess Parker's Park.  See my post on Summer Concerts in the Park.

If you get tired or need to rest a while, you will find the grass area along the beach a great resting and picnic spot.  There are numerous restaurants along Cabrillo Blvd, from casual to elegant. There is often community "join in the fun" folk dancing going on the grass in the same vicinity. And the bike path between the sand and the grass is shared with bikers and joggers alike. There are several parking lots (fee) along the beach.  You can also park in one of the downtown lots and ride the Trolly to the bottom of State Street at Stearns Wharf.

Stearns Wharf is located right at Cabrillo Blvd and State Street.  The kids can visit the Natural History Museum's Ty Warner Sea Center with it's wonderful "touch tank." The Great Pacific Ice Cream Company and Mother Stearns Candy Company offer yummy treats for all ages.  For more information see my post on Stearns Wharf.

Nearby on Cabrillo Blvd there are rentals available for surreys, bikes, and more....If you'd like to stay overnight in SB or plan to make a longer return trip, the Santa Barbara Visitors' Center is across the street from all this action...filled with good information. 

Have fun!

Huell Howser's Road Show at the 65th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show

Can Your Believe It??

Famous TV Personality Huell Howser came to our gorgeous Orchid Show to film it for his Television Program, "Road Trip".  

His show will also feature several of our local growers of orchids.  Our semi-tropical climate can grow and sustain many varieties of orchids. I  can just hear Huell exclaim, "amazing...!  And so it was a truly amazing and magical show! 

This year's theme:  Nature in Harmony

Here are some of my photos of the fantasy land created by our local Orchid Society and Societies from neighboring communities; as well as local and visiting professional growers.

Awards were earned by amateurs and professionals

a riot of Phalaenopsis also called 'moth' orchids 

a fantastic display of white Phalaenospsis with the longest sprays of blooms I've ever seen!

gorgeous easy to grow Cymbidiums..

my garden is full of them as I adopt them from my clients who are moving.

amazing Australian Dendrobiums are stunning and give out a deliciously exotic scent!

I couldn't resist taking home a couple of small pink versions

The central display was a Tea House surrounded by a small running brook and a waterfall cascading over the roof into the babbling brook which was lined with a stunning array of orchids and ferns of ever color and sort

display around Tea House

this side of the Tea House shows the large Staghorn ferns hanging over and against the walls

I have adopted several of these lovely plants also

Not sure, but this stunning orchid may be a Laelia

a view of the brook and a showing of a periwinkel colored Vandas

The redish/brown (or yellow Oncidums), also called Dancing Dolls, have a slight chocolate scent 

Beautiful pink Cattleya Orchids

Thank you Santa Barbara for putting on an amazing show!

Next Show July 9-11, 2010

The 30th Annual Santa Barbara Orchid Fair

over 30 Orchid vendors from around the owrld

http://www.orchidfair.com/

Local growers

Cal-Orchid Inc

1251 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara

winner of the Grand Champion and Best Orchid in Show 2009

http://www.calorchid.com/

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

1250 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara

1000 species and hybrids

http://www.sborchid.com/

Westerlay Orchids

3504 Via Real, Capinteria

http://www.westerlayorchids.com/

Gallup and Stribling Orchids, Inc.

3450 Via Real, Carpinteria

805 684-9842

Orchid Society of Santa Barbara

http://www.orchidsb.net/

These growers are open to the public

The Santa Barbara Film Festival and the Canary

The 25th Santa Barbara International Film Festival kicked off Thursday evening with the arrival of the Montecito Honor Recipient, Julianne Moore.  Sandra Bullock received the American Riviera Award on Friday evening.  Both Awards were presented at the Arlington Theater.  The actresses spent time on the Red Carpet greeting fans who came out in large numbers in the rain to greet these beloved actresses.
Tonight, Saturday, James Cameron of Titanic and recently Avatar fame will be presented the Modern Masters Award.  James Cameron is a local resident.

Sandra Bulllock, America's "Miss Congeniality" in The Blind Side

The film festival runs for 10 Amazing Days and 11 Starry Nights with venues at numerous Santa Barbara Theaters.

I was on duty today in the Village Properties Real Estate Concierge Office at the Canary Hotel http://www.canarysantabarbara.com/, which was booked solid with Film attendees.  The restaurant said they were busy from dawn to dusk with Hotel Guests and locals.  The Canary is a fabulous newer hotel in the heart of down-town Santa Barbara.  Below is a view of the Pool deck.

http://www.canarysantabarbara.com/

Congratulations to the SBIFF 2010 for another successful run.

For more information on Festival Events and tickets, go to:  http://www.sbfilmfestival.org/ 

Lazy Hazy Days of Santa Barbara Summer

September is always the best month for beach activities in beautiful Santa Barbara. Other parts of the country are singing "Autumn Leaves" while we are getting our beach toys out! My son's birthday is at the end of September and he will always be remembered by his classmates for having the best birthday parties...they were always at one of our gorgeous beaches. A great time for bonding with back to school mates. The fun part about beach parties is that you can invite the entire class (there's plenty of room), set out the toys, make sure the kids have a buddy system, invite some of the moms to help watch them, lay out the beach blankets and umbrellas and settle down for a lazy late summer afternoon. Our coolers filled with drinks, bags of chips and goodies; and Pizza delivered. What could be better! Through the years the kids always had a fabulous afternoon and thought we were 'cool'! What a no-brainer!

The last great beach party was during our son's Senior year in high school. Christmas Unity's fundraiser held annually at the Association of Realtors featured a Beach Party & BBQ at Hope Ranch Beach for 50 of your favorite friends. Offered up for bid by one of my Real Estate Associates and her husband, I was the successful bidder and decided to use it for our son's final Birthday Beach Party the following September. What a fun event! It was the last days of September...a gorgeous day. We started setting up around 11 am and didn't leave the beach until after sundown.

Come have your own lazy day of summer. Here is a suggestion for a single, couple, group of friends or the whole family:

Saturday, September 12 is a Sandcastle Building Workshop, (free) to be held from 11 am to 1 pm, at East Beach by the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion (across from the Mar Monte Hotel). Open to all, it is a great fun day to learn tips and techniques for building sandcastles and sand sculptures. People of all ages are welcome (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult).

Bring: a couple of buckets, few pieces of plasticware, and any other tools you think might be helpful.

Saturday, September 19 is the Santa Barbara Sand Castle Festival, located at East Beach, presented by the Citizens Planning Association. Admission to this fun filled festival is free. Entry fees to participate in the Sand Castle Contest are nominal with special rates for sancastle contest teams for kids 6th grade and under (no adult help, please) and nonprofits.

Festival time is 11 am to 6 pm

10:30 - 11:45 am Contestant Sign-in and Team Registration

12:00 - 3:00 pm Contest (Building San Creations)

3:00 - 3:45 pm Judging & People's Choice Voting

4:00 pm Surf-a-Duck Race

4:30 pm Sandcastle Awards Ceremony

Take the MTD Waterfront Shuttle to or from the festival for only 25c

Additional fun events: 60's surf and sun era music with DJ Jerry DeWitt, The KELP Surf Band will be performing classics from the surf scene's heyday; Sweet harmonic fingerstyle guitar played by Bruce Foldfish.

for more information: http://www.sbsandcastlefestival.com/index.htm for information by telephone contact Naomi Kovacs at 805 (or 877) 966-3979

Enjoy the last lazy days of summer!