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

Monster Movies Summer Fridays in the SB Courthouse Sunken Gardens

Frightening Fridays

8 FREE Classic Horror Films from Universal Pictures

Presented by the Arts and Lectures Department of UCSB

Friday Evenings at 8:30 p.m.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse's

beautiful Sunken Gardens

Bring your friends, beach chair or blanket, popcorn or whatever and whomever

(4 legged pals and small children are preferred to be left at home )

Parking available at the surrounding City Parking Lots

Night View of  Count Dracula on the Big Screen

Day-light view of Big Screen

these movies will also be presented at UCSB's Campbell Hall on

WEIRD WEDESDAYS @ 7:30 pm

for more information:  http://www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/

Santa Barbara French Festival

Oh La La!

Come celebrate Bastille Day

at the Santa Barbara Fench Festival

Saturday and Sunday July 17 & 18, 2010

11-7 pm

Oak Park - Santa Barbara

Free admission and parking

Delicious Food & Wine

Free Drawing

Over 40 stage acts

Poodle Parade

for more information:  www.frenchfestival.com/

30th Annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show

the 30th annual

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

International

ORCHID

FAIR

July 9th - 11th, 2010

9am to 5pm Friday & Saturday ~ 10 to 4 Sunday

at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara

Admission is Free ~ Parking $5

Alice's Garden

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens

Alice Keck Park donated this gorgeous property to the City Santa Barbara to be used as a public garden.

I remember it originally as the site of the El Mirasol Hotel where I attended several weddings many years ago.  The Park takes up an entire block from Michetorena to Santa Barbara Streets from Garden to Arrellaga Streets.

 the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens acts as landscape consultant for this beautiful park.

 Grant Castleberg, A.S.I.A. was selected to design the Park in 1976. Grant is a well known local Landscape Architect who also designed the City's gorgeous Shoreline Park.

Alice's Garden offers many nooks and crannies, including this lovely display of water lillies. Alice "intended for her garden to be a place for ordinary people  to take a nature-break for the soul, a brown bag picnic lunch, or a few moments of solitude."*

 "This enchanting garden has no playgrounds, no athletic fields, and none of the busyness of most city parks, yet year after year it is voted Santa Barbara's favorite".*

The landscape of Alice's Garden includes a Demonstration Garden for low-water using plants

There are wonderful pathways to explore the many secrets of Alice's Garden

Plants are labeled and there is a free 'take away' list on the property of over 250 species as a field guide for the casual visitor and a valuable tool for gardeners and horticulturalists 

A bench under a shade tree offers a respite from busy days...

a waterfall adds a magical element to the gardens bucolic pond...

The Pond filled with large Koi is an amazing magnet for birds, turtles, toddlers, and children of all ages...

Large tree specimens provide shelter for all....

can you just hear the frogs....?

Magical...

Lucky Ducks....!

The Garden offers a master plan along with a "take one" plant list and brochure outlining the many low water using plants which thrive at Alice's Garden.  Whenever we need to do some replanting in our garden...we take a walk in Alice's garden for inspiration.  Thank YOU Alice, Grant and the City of Santa Barbara for this Magical place!

By the way...many a birthday party, wedding and graduation photo op has taken place in this wonderful park.  Contact the City of Santa Barbara Parks Department for more information.

Alice's Garden, a gorgeous book written by Ann Castleberg, wife of the Landscape Architect, explores the Garden's History featuring Ralph Clevenger's magical photography of the Garden. Available at bookstores or http://www.sbbg.org/

Favorite Santa Barbara IN TOWN Boutiques

Retail Therapy in Santa Barbara

Oooooh how we love to shop!  Property is very expensive in the Santa Barbara area... consequently so are the leases for retail stores.  It is therefore delightful to still find some local and charming boutiques!  Come shopping with me....!

Soccoro

1106 State Street

Named after the proprietress, Socorro.  This delightful boutique carries lovely Santa Barbara style fashion...typically for the more mature fashion conscious customer!  Located next to Anderson's Danish Bakery and Patisserie which offers a delightful stop for lunch or coffee and pastry before or after you visit Socorro's.

You will love Socorro's excellent taste in clothing, jewelry and accessories

Lewis and Clark

1116 State Street

Just like the name suggests...this shop is filled with trove of  treasures from all over the world...

including Santa Barbara.  Antiques, unusual books, jewelry, dishware, sterling, linens, giftware and more...I love this shop!

Renaissance Consignment

1118 State Street

fabulous collection of classic vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories including Channel, Louis Vuitton and all the designer delights of the present and past.  Plan to spend some time here! 

Nathasha's

1231 State Street

another favorite boutique!  Natasha caters to the fashion conscious customer of all ages.  She and her staff are very customer friendly and helpful. A fun, upbeat stmosphere!  It is difficult to leave her fabulous shop without a terrific purchase!

Purrmission Lingerie

18 West Calle Laureles

(off the 3000 block of State Street-across CVS Pharmacy)

Proprietress Melody (aka Miss Kitty) carries the most scrumpitous lingerie you will ever own!

This truly elegant shop with its luxurious dressing rooms is a great stop for a "girls night out!"

Be sure to check the archives for some of my earlier posts of fabulous local vintage and antique shops!

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!