Open House – UCSB Arts & Lectures’ new film series explores the intersection of art and architecture with two local iconic abodes, P.5
Urban Magic – Gene Urban – of L.A.’s Magic Castle, innumerable globe-hopping galas, and impromptu wizardry wherever he pleases – is not here to saw you in half. P.6
CADA continues to grow, page 29
Easter Ranch – Pastel eggs, kids hopping around, and an unforgettable brunch… it’s Easter at San Ysidro Ranch, P.28
EARTH AWARENESS
EARTH… Is that thing still around? Let’s hope so…
Celebrate the greens and blues that make up our planet at the 55th Earth Day Festival (See event details on p.32)… Get to know some of the Environmental Stewards awarded by Explore Ecology (p.14)… Plus read up on a pressing California bill and how to help save rooftop solar (p.31)…
Seeing the
Big Blue
Blue Origin has been in the news of late… well, here they are again… but this time, with an opportunity to support One805 and First Responders, page 16
Let your mind be aligned with nature and inner harmony… the Illuminate Film Festival is back with 14 films spanning spiritual growth and social change, page 27
Jeanine J. Burford Senior Vice President Financial Advisor
805-695-7109
jeanine.burford@ morganstanleypwm.com The Burford Group at Morgan Stanley
jerrad.burford@ morganstanleypwm com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
On Entertainment – Architect Robin Donaldson on houses (and film), the fair returns, Earth Day Festival, and more
Beings & Doings – Gene Urban has boggled minds from L.A.’s Magic Castle to Timbuctoo. This globe-hopping tableside sorcerer has spent a lifetime sowing the wonder that joins us.
8 Montecito Miscellany – A new soap for the town, Mara Abboud’s upcoming show, Alvin Ailey’s troupe dances through, and more miscellany 10 News Bytes – Local firefighter honored, Montecito Library events, plus vote for the SB Museum of Natural History to be a TOP10 Tide Guide
Ride for One805 – The organization dedicated to first responders is auctioning off a truly unique offering – a seat on one of Blue Origin’s space flights 20 Elizabeth’s Appraisals – One generation’s toys are another generation’s collectibles – here are generational differences in art investments
22 Your Westmont – An alum creates a climbing gym in Guam, and students are awarded for servant leadership
24 Real Estate – The inventory is moving quickly and Mark has four lush listings in the over $10M market
26 Brilliant Thoughts – Between firstest & soonest, latest & steadiest, these are the grammatical punches on punctuality
28
Petite Wine Traveler – Bellinis, bunnies, and a dessert buffet… what else could you ask for at San Ysidro Ranch’s Easter celebration?
29 The Giving List – For 75 years CADA has helped counsel community members facing substance abuse issues
31 Community Voices – California’s new bill threatens to financially hurt houses that have invested in solar
34 In Passing – Remembering the life and impact of Amber Kelleher-Andrews, matchmaker to the stars
36 Calendar of Events – Sonicwonder on stage, Amplify-ing theater, harp in St. Mark’s, poetry month at Chaucer’s, plus more
38
Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads
Invites – Check out these local eco rockstars who were honored at Explore Ecology’s annual Environmental Stewardship Awards
27 Spirituality Matters – Illuminate Film Festival shines on, Dinosaurs Have Big Feelings Too, and celebrating Kvell
39 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles Local Business Directory
Photography: Spenser Bruce
On Entertainment Defining Houses
by Steven Libowitz
Famed Santa Barbara architect Robin Donaldson has traveled the world with the recent pair of documentary films – The House: 6 Points of Departure and This Is Not a House – that chronicle his immersive work on two important homes in the Montecito foothills; the Crawford House and Hill House. Donaldson, who studied painting and printmaking at UCSB before earning his Master’s in Architecture at SCI-Arc (the Southern California Institute of Architecture) – has accompanied the docs to architecture and design film festivals in Rotterdam, Canada, and elsewhere.
UCSB Arts & Lectures’ Art | Architecture on Film comes to Paseo Nuevo Cinemas on April 26-27 (courtesy photo)
Now he’s thrilled to have them presented as the centerpiece of UCSB Arts & Lectures’ Art | Architecture on Film. Over two days at Paseo Nuevo Cinemas April 26-27, that program brings nine films about the process and creations of renowned architects Eileen Gray and R.M. Schindler, as well as groundbreakers Anselm Kiefer and Nam June Paik, among others.
“Having a festival like this in Santa Barbara is really terrific,” Donaldson said. “The point is to show how the idea of architecture and art in the environment, how those different kinds of concerns, can be integrated into a built form. I think it will be eye-opening for a lot of people.”
Donaldson is the through-point for the double feature of The House / This Is Not a House, which screens for free on Saturday night and will be followed by a panel discussion. The Crawford House, which the architect worked on with his early mentor Thom Mayne, was built more than 30 years ago. By contrast, the Hill House – in whose design owners Bruce Heavin and Lynda Weinman were deeply involved – is a much more recent creation.
“They show radically different approaches to architecture that exemplify the changes over the decades,” Donaldson said. “Where the Crawford is an analog house, so to speak, the Hill House could only have been done in the 21st century because computers were a very important part of the whole design process. While they both integrate the design with the landscape, they are not only vastly different buildings, but also very different experiences. But they still have the same concerns about the environment; how we live in and relate to nature.”
The House, directed by the Crawford House’s current owner Gregg Goggin, reunited Donaldson with the dwelling’s chief architect, Thom Mayne of Morphosis, the 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize winner and Donaldson’s early mentor. The film covers not only the home, but also the two architects’ careers following their work on what is still one of the world’s most widely studied pieces of residential architecture. This is Not a House, directed by Morgan Neville (Oscar winner for 20 Feet from Stardom) with additional footage by Bruce Heavin – the festival’s co-curator with A&L’s Caitlin O’Hara – is a more lighthearted look at Hill House, the people involved, and the celebration of play.
“The Hill House is an amazing achievement that I’m very proud to be a part of, and the Crawford House is one of the masterpieces of the 20th century. Somehow I’m the consistent element between the two films,” Donaldson said. “It’s pretty cringey to see yourself up on a big screen but it’s exciting to have people experience the continuity, and that trajectory that Thom and I took in our careers.”
Donaldson said the questions confronted in Crawford – What should a house in that environment look like? How does it relate to the movement of the sun, the seasons, the views? How does the topography interact with the house, the language of the architecture, and how can it stretch beyond the language that we’re accustomed to? – we’re all a part of the Hill House design, as well – but the newer structure went further.
Entertainment Page 304
DO YOU THINK IM WORTH THE 225 MARGARTIA AT THE SPEAKEASY, BRAD?
Beings and Doings
Oh, Oh, Oh, It’s
Magic: Gene Urban
Pulls Lifelong Rabbit out of a Hat
by Jeff Wing
“So 90% of magicians are hobbyists. They don’t perform. They might for a little dinner party at home for a family member, but that’s about it.” Gene Urban is a professional magician – a card-carrying performer and habitue at the storied Magic Castle in Hollywood, and a guy who has traveled the world, his skill set producing incredulous shouts and sudden, wheezing exclamations in several exotic languages. At this moment he is explaining to a civilian (moi) what we might call magician demographics. “At the Castle, there’s probably about three or 400 performing magicians out of the approximately 1,500 magician members.”
Gene Urban is not a magician of the Doug Henning or David Copperfield species. If you have Gene over to your genteel, candlelit dinner party you won’t have to worry about a Buick materializing in the middle of the room. He’s
that scarier kind of conjurer; the closeup magician. Near enough to touch, Urban proffers cards and coins and other magical ephemera right there in the blanched, ordinary light of wherever you’ve been cornered. You stare at his act like a mad penitent, desperate to catch “the trick.” But there is no trick, there is just this laid-back Gene guy flinging figurative grape jelly on your previously pristine and freshly ironed Reality. He’s very, very good.
“So at the Castle, to be a magician member you go through an audition. Then to be a performing member, you go through multiple auditions. And so in the beginning, it’s all about the mechanics of the cards. Then it becomes more about entertainment.” I feel he’s using “entertainment” as a placeholder for something else. Here it comes now. “And at a certain point,” he says, “it becomes about connection.” Gene Urban has the kindly, dolorous eyes of Einstein or Yoda, and he aims them at me. “Because really, this – ” he affects an
insouciant flourish of the hands, “ – this doesn’t matter. Can it touch your heart? That’s really what matters.”
Twenty Swords
Magicians used to look like they’d been sent over by Central Casting; gloves, moustaches, a running soliloquy of quasi-mystical and over-rehearsed patter. Today the best magicians look like your dad’s amiably blabbing golf buddy. Gene Urban’s brand is not that of a glowing metaphysician but of an amused, tentative stranger with a bone-dry wit and the ability to teleport matter.
“That’s the power of closeup. In a stage show, they’ll put a person in a
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025, 7:30 PM
basket and put 20 swords through it. That’s nothing when you can go like THIS and put a pencil right through a quarter.” He holds up a clearly ordinary quarter, Washington’s bewigged and slightly underbitten profile thumbprint-smudged in the wan afternoon light. Urban pushes a pencil easily through it. I’m staring right at it and the metal allows the pencil through. I try not to visibly gulp but start yammering instead, which is worse. “I don’t know how you do that without being amazed yourself!” I gush idiotically.
Beings & Doings Page 334
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor Laureate Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the baton of their esteemed Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen, return for an evening of grand musical exploration with celebrated pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard. The concert marks Maestro Salonen’s sixteenth appearance conducting for CAMA over the past three decades— twelve with the LA Phil and three with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra.
DEBUSSY: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun)
BARTÓK: Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz. 119, BB 127 (1945)
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55, “Eroica”
Principal Sponsors: Bitsy & Denny Bacon and The Becton Family Foundation • Mosher Foundation
Sponsors: Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts, a field of interest fund of the Santa Barbara Foundation
Co-Sponsors: Rosalind A. Fendon & Ronald D. Fendon • Beth Gates Warren & Bob Boghosian
Christine & Robert Emmons • Sally & George Messerlian John & Ellen Pillsbury • Patricia & Nicolas Weber
Beth & George Wood • Nancy & Byron K. Wood
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Gene Urban, Lord of the manor in Santa Barbara’s Magic Castle Cabaret (courtesy photo)
Pugilist and Magician comparing notes (courtesy photo)
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Montecito Miscellany Montecito Soap
by Richard Mineards
Montecito, described as a gripping, all-new audio soap opera, premiered this week and will be bringing explosive drama, betrayals, and unforgettable characters to our ears every week.
The new show presents a dark paradise where shattered romances, hidden family secrets, and scandalous affairs hide behind manicured hedges and the shadows of towering palm trees.
Each 20-minute episode immerses listeners in a world of deception – an experience designed for today’s soap opera, podcast, and audiobook audiences.
“We are entering a new era of the American soap opera,” says series creator and Emmy-nominated producer Grant Rutter. “Soaps began 95 years ago on the radio. We’ve seen the genre expand and contract over the years, but there’s new life, the premiere of CBS’s Beyond the Gates being the first daytime drama in 25 years.
“Montecito brings the genre back to its original form as a premium audio serial. We’ve cast the show with daytime TV favorites and are proud to bring in new voices as well. What’s old is new again. However don’t expect to hear organ chords. Montecito is modernizing the soap opera across music, dialogue, and storytelling.”
Soap opera fan favorite Rick Hearst – General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful – lends his unmistakable voice as the series announcer.
The ten-episode show features performances from daytime Emmy winner Crystal Chappell from Days of Our Lives and Guiding Light as a fiercely protective matriarch, daytime Emmy winner Vincent Irizarry of All My Children and The Young and the Restless as the ageless playboy, and another daytime Emmy recipient Mike Manning from
details all of the shattered romances, hidden family secrets, and scandalous affairs the town is known for
Beyond the Gates who portrays a reckless alcoholic nepo-baby whose destructive choices threaten his family’s legacy.
Angels on the Stage
After nearly 30 years, award-winning Montecito artist Mara Abboud is set to launch her new stage show Hidden Angel and invited 100 friends to a reading at the rustic Alhecama Theatre.
The two-hour musical – a gritty production about five bag ladies on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the early-1970s infiltrated by a guardian angel – features a book and lyrics by Mara (sister of fashion designer Joseph Abboud ), a score by British musician Donald Gould, brother-in-law of actress Jane Seymour, and direction by the Ensemble Theatre Company’s Brian Shnipper
“I’ve always had a passion for writing and spent three months in Surrey, just outside London, working with Donald on the lyrics and music,” says Mara. “I hope to have the world premiere in the next 12 to 18 months at the New Vic as we hone the work.”
Miscellany Page 344
“The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot.” – Werner Herzog
Montecito
(courtesy photo)
Jon Bayan, Denise Decker, Arlene Montesano, Regina Attaya, Mara Abboud, Jim Bagley, and Martha Fling (photo by Priscilla)
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News Bytes
Jared Gamm FF/Paramedic, Montecito
Fire Department Recognized
by MJ Staff
Montecito Fire Department
Chief David Neels announced on April 16 that Firefighter/ Paramedic Jared Gamm was bestowed the Military Order of the World Wars Award for his exceptional service to the Montecito community and dedication to providing emergency medical training to both members of our department and various community groups. Presenting the award was Brigadier General Frederick Lopez, a Santa Barbara County native and Cal Poly graduate who served more than 30 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Montecito Journal shares many congratulations and thanks to Jared for all you do to keep us safe!
Vote the SB Museum of Natural History as USA TODAY
10BEST
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Garden has received a BEST in the Nation nomination for USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. Join the effort to make this happen by voting online at the link in the 411. Voting can be done daily from April 14 to May 12. The nomination by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards recognizes the Museum’s recurring exhibit, “Butterflies Alive!” and gives the public a chance to support national recognition of this local gem. Since 2018, the museum’s Director of Guest Experience Kim Zsembik has run the annual exhibit. She shared in her press release, “The nominees are chosen by experts and reviewed by USA
Jared Gamm and Brigadier General U.S. Marine Corp Frederick Lopez (courtesy photo)
TODAY 10BEST editors, but it’ll be up to the public to choose the final winners. We expect to be in the running alongside some big institutions with a lot of name recognition, and we’re excited to compete on our merits.”
Visit the Montecito Library (1469 E. Valley Rd. | 805-969-5063) for books, events, and more! Upcoming events and programs include:
Stay & Play: Tuesdays, 9-10:30am –Drop by to learn and play, sing and share stories with other young children. Enjoy the company of other caregivers. Best for children under 5.
Knit ’n’ Needle: Thursdays, 2-3:30 pm – Whether you knit, crochet, embroider, or enjoy any other fiber arts, you’re welcome to come and share your creativity.
Montecito Book Club: Meets 4th Tuesdays. Next meeting: May 27 from 2-3 pm – Join the Montecito Book Club! Book Selection TBD.
Fraud / Plaza Pacifica Monday, April 7, at 15:01 hours
Blotter 93108
Victim called to report being defrauded of approximately $10,000 by a company that went out of business but was still charging his credit card every month.
Missing Person / off Santa Cruz Island Saturday, April 12, at 22:05 hours
39 area units were advised the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) was conducting a search of Santa Cruz Island for a missing diver and requested Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office (SBSO) assistance. On April 9 the missing male left the Santa Barbara Harbor on his boat at approximately 09:00 hours. It is believed he was alone on the vessel. When he failed to appear at his place of work, colleagues contacted the USCG. The Coast Guard had been searching for him since 08:00 hours. At approximately 15:38 hours, the boat was located floating south of Santa Cruz Island, vacant. On board, Coast Guard located personal effects, his clothing was folded neatly, and one dive tank was missing. The vessel’s batteries were dead, so the boat was towed to Santa Barbara Harbor. At the harbor they recharged the batteries and per the boat’s GPS, the boat was last anchored north of Santa Cruz Island. They believe at some point the boat broke anchor and floated south with the tide. Coast Guard stated they had boats and aircraft checking the island but requested a land search by SBSO. Search and Rescue was contacted, and a team traveled to the Island on the morning of April 13 to begin the land search. A missing person’s report was authored, and he was entered into MUPS. At this time, the investigation will remain with the USCG and SBSO Search and Rescue.
Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Jessica Sutherland, Joe DeMello
Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick
Proofreading | Helen Buckley
Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz
Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Beatrice Tolan, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Tiana Molony, Houghton Hyatt, Jeff Wing
Gossip | Richard Mineards
History | Hattie Beresford
Humor | Ernie Witham
Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri
Health/Wellness | Ann Brode, Deann Zampelli
Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook
Food & Wine | Melissa Petitto, Gabe Saglie, Jamie Knee
Published by:
Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC
Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108.
How to reach us: (805) 565-1860; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; EMAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net
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Our Town
The Maximus Gallery’s 30th Anniversary Exhibit
by Joanne A Calitri
On April 27, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) will open its Maximus Gallery for a unique nature-art-science-history exhibition to celebrate the gallery’s 30th anniversary and its patrons, Peggy and John Maximus. The exhibit is titled, Drawn from Nature: The Maximus Legacy, curated by Linda Miller, Maximus Gallery Curator.
Wilson 1st Edition, Pl. 44: Passenger Pigeon, Blue-mountain Warbler, Hemlock W. (Original Hand-colored engraving from American Ornithology 1st Edition, 1808-1814)
The gallery collection holds 4,000 engravings and lithographs created by famous scientific illustrators from Europe and America during the 16th through 19th centuries. Organized thematically, the exhibit offers detailed depictions of plants, mammals, birds, marine life, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. There are species in the art works that were depicted prior to their extinction, such as the Passenger Pigeon drawn by Alexander Wilson (early 1800) and the Dodo bird (Didus ineptus) reproduced by George Edwards in his Gleanings of Natural History 1760.
On Friday I had the opportunity to interview Miller for the BTS details:
Q. How did the exhibit come about?
A. Because it is the 30th anniversary of the Maximus Gallery I decided to do a legacy tribute to our patron Peggy Maximus. She brought me to the curatorial position at the Museum 23 years ago and I knew her quite well. It is a special milestone for the gallery. The Maximus Wing was dedicated in 1995. It includes the gallery, a large office space for a Curator and Exhibit Designer, and a climate-controlled room where we store the art collection.
What was your selection criteria for the artwork in the exhibit?
I decided to show the array of subjects that make up the collection of antique natural history prints. I selected prints from each category that represent a sampling of artistic styles of illustration over the past 400 years. Our earliest prints are from an herbal illustration printed in 1547. I chose plants, mammals, birds, marine life, reptiles and amphibians and insects that showed the depth and variety of our collection. It was mainly an aesthetic choice really. Images that looked good together. None that dominated.
What are the various media on view in the exhibit?
Our collection is made up of works on paper. These are the illustrations that accompanied early natural histories. They are etchings, engravings, mezzotint, aquatint and lithographs; both hand-colored and color printed as printmaking techniques changed over the centuries.
With 57 works across seven categories of natural science, plants, mammals, birds, marine life, reptiles, amphibians, and insects – might there be a top five you would particularly recommend viewers take a longer look at, and why?
There are wonderful stories that can be told about each of the works in the gallery. The object labels tell the age of the work, the artist and title and where it was published.
I think people will be attracted to different prints for their own reasons. For the explanatory text panels, this time I tried to put in context the importance of illustration in the development of the sciences, rather than focusing on different artists as
Explore Ecology (EE) held its 1st Annual Environmental Stewardship Awards Luncheon fundraiser at the Cabrillo Pavilion on Thursday, April 17. The luncheon comes as the next level in the humble nonprofit’s work since establishing the awards in 2016. EE Executive Director Lindsay Johnson and Marketing/ Communications Director Jill Cloutier are the founders of the annual awards, which previously coincided with the annual SB Earth Day event.
EE seeks to recognize those in SB County, “who promote environmental stewardship through education and action, who initiate positive change, and inspire their peers and colleagues.” The award nominations are submitted from SB County residents for free online directly to EE. This year there were over 50 nominations, which Cloutier attributes both to increased awareness of environmental work being done locally, and an increase of that work. The award plaques were made by hand by Cloutier and her team using Art from Scrap materials.
The program commenced with Johnson welcoming the guests, thanking the sponsors and all the environmental stewards for their work. She introduced Cloutier who spoke briefly about the history and significance of the awards. Keynote speaker was Mary Kahn, PhD who is in her first year as Superintendent of the Goleta Union School District. Kahn has 25 years in education. She talked about the importance of environmental education, and expressed gratitude for “the impact of our community partners who help our students to learn about the environment and work with our teachers.” She shared the experiences of the schools in her district with EE’s programs, and the work being done – especially in creating student gardens that act as a resource of food, mental health and community – saying, “Student gardens provide a social-emotional
connection for the students; a way to choose a different recess experience by walking through the gardens, and a place to reset and process their emotions. The gardens also connect over generations. All schools in the district have composts and sustainable utensil options this year.” Following her speech, the 2025 awards were presented.
The 2025 Teacher Award honors the achievements of teachers or support staff who have made significant contributions to educating and impacting youth about the environment and who have inspired their class and school through teaching and action. The 2025 winners are:
Montecito Union School 6th Grade teachers Kim Berman and Danielle Weill for their interdisciplinary work with students on climate change and student activism with meaningful action projects, incorporating STEAM.
Monroe Elementary School teacher Nancy Morris for 25 years of programs in environmental education, garden, and watershed.
El Camino Junior High teacher Marie Chavis for the Ocean Club and partnering with MERITO Foundation where her students collected data for NOAA’s database.
La Colina Junior High teacher Chris Hamman for creating – from a patch of unused land just outside his classroom – a living nature lab where he teaches his students about ecosystems.
SB Charter School staff Wendy Kanter for 32 years teaching about birds and nature.
Canalino Elementary School teacher Martha Rugg for teaching sustainability in her after school garden.
Society Page 184
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Jill Cloutier with the Environmental Stewardship Student Awardees Bodhi Crawford, Liz Loeza, Rowan Smith, and Jackson SimmonsFurlati (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
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Ride for One805 Blue Origin and
One805 Partner for a Truly Unique Experience
by Tiana Molony
“It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth,” said Neil Armstrong shortly after the Apollo 11 Mission on July 20, 1969. “I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn’t feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.”
Armstrong and many other astronauts discuss experiencing a cognitive shift after returning from space, a phenomenon that author Frank White coined as “The Overview Effect.” Simply put, it’s that gut-level realization that we’re all in this together, living on a tiny blue dot, and it changes how people think about life, the planet, and humanity as a whole.
It’s hard to imagine that just 55 years after the moon landing, space companies like Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos, would be sending civilians to the brink of space, many of whom return claiming to have experienced “The Overview Effect.”
Now, you can experience it for yourself as Blue Origin has partnered with Santa Barbara nonprofit One805 to offer a seat on their New Shepard low orbit spacecraft. “You spend all that money going to space; why not spend it on charity?” asked One805 co-founder & COO, Richard Weston-Smith who sees the partnership as a unique opportunity to raise money for One805.
The seat winner will be announced at their annual One805 festival this September, where there will also be a New Shepard capsule. The proceeds from the seat sale will help One805 in its mission to provide mental health care to first responders. Weston-Smith says that fundraisers like this enable the organization to continue providing first responders with mental health services, as well as access to necessary equipment and advanced technology.
The partnership draws a direct link between advancements in space technology – particularly low earth orbit technology and satellites – and the
increasing dependence of first responders on this technology for tasks like predicting extreme weather and using imaging systems.
A flight aboard New Shepard lasts just 12 minutes, with roughly three of those spent past the Kármán Line – the recognized boundary between Earth and space. Powered by liquid hydrogen, New Shepard produces virtually no carbon emissions and is designed for reuse, making it a more sustainable option for space travel.
When Blue Origin approached One805 with the opportunity, WestonSmith said he viewed it as a unique way to raise money. “We’ve always, as an organization, sought big – and have been otherwise unconventional and a bit scrappy and done things differently,” he shared. “And I think this is just an example of how we can do things differently to benefit the first responders we serve.”
He said that in the past, the organization has been accused of being “exclusive” in terms of how they approach funding. “And, you know, I think that, yeah, we could do bake sales, I guess, but it would take an awful lot of bake sales to raise the sort of money that we’ve been able to raise.”
Weston-Smith said that One805 prefers to be funded “at least” three years in advance so they can promise first responders adequate access to mental
health services without worrying about their funding. “And you know, we want to create a world where all the first responders in Santa Barbara County have access to mental wellness counseling whenever they need it,” he mused.
On April 14, Blue Origin completed its 31st mission, sending its 58th passenger up with a historic all-female crew aboard. The lineup included research scientist Amanda Nguyen, pop star Katy Perry, broadcast journalist Gayle King, aerospace engineer and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and television journalist Lauren Sánchez – who is also Jeff Bezos’ fiancée.
It was a flight that stirred some controversy, primarily among those critical of the wealthy having exclusive access to this space. But WestonSmith sees it differently. To him, the participation of the rich isn’t about exclusivity – it’s about investment. He said their involvement helps fund the development of spaceflight technology, ultimately paving the way for broader access so that one day, everyone has the opportunity to experience it.
“This is a unique opportunity to do something that is extraordinary if you can afford to do that,” said Weston-Smith. “And to benefit the first responders in our hometown at the same time. So that’s really the unique opportunity here.”
“Larkin Poe are your next favorite performers.”
Forbes
Larkin
Poe with special guest Parker Millsap
Sun, Apr 27 / 7 PM / Arlington Theatre
With serious slide guitar chops and Southern rock swagger, Georgia-bred multi-instrumentalist sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell imbue their songs with equal parts soulful sensitivity and thrilling ferocity.
“Tessa Lark embodies joy in music making.” – John Corigliano, composer
Tessa
Lark, violin Amy Yang, piano
Tue, May 20 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall
At once a classical violin virtuoso and a blazing bluegrass fiddler from Kentucky, Tessa Lark performs a program exploring all sides of her prolific career, from Bartók to bluegrass and beyond.
A Silent Film with Live M usical Per formance by Wynton Marsalis and Cecile Licad
Sat, May 17 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
Wynton Marsalis leads an all-star 13-piece ensemble in live accompaniment to the 2010 silent film LOUIS, a vivid reimagining of the adventures of a young Louis Armstrong shot in the style of early Charlie Chaplin movies.
The film is rated “R” – Restricted (Some Sexual Content)
I’ve done in the past – in other words, the rise of botany or ornithology or entomology and the role illustration played.
For this specific type of artwork used to document science, are any works in the exhibit from science research done by the SBMNH?
Because our collection ranges from the 16th to 19th century, no works in the exhibit is from research done by our museum. However, any scientist today investigating a species that was first described using an illustration, must refer to the iconotype, the name given to the image on which the description of a new species is based.
Are any of the collection’s illustrations on loan to science organizations and/or universities for study and research?
No. But we just made available an online portal with a link for our website at https://maximusgallery.org that will make our collection more accessible to the public.
What do you want the viewer’s takeaway to be?
Hopefully people will be charmed by the range of how artists depicted nature and communicated in an earlier age. Some are beautiful, some quirky, some seem primitive, but all are fascinating. These works are extremely well documented, and I have a huge library of reference books in my office. As more libraries and museums are digitizing their collections, you can go to the internet and see the entire publication, page by page, scanned from the original complete work.
Is the SBMNH selling any of the works or miniature reprints?
I wish we could make reprints of our print collection available for purchase as some of the larger museums do, but not at this stage.
411: https://sbnature.org
Joanne A Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com
Society (Continued from 14)
The Student Award goes to students who have committed their time to care for the environment in a significant way. The 2025 winners are:
Bodhi Crawford , an 8-year-old who is the youngest volunteer and Site Captain for California Coastal Cleanup Day at Jalama Beach.
Liz Loeza founded her own organization, Plant the Next Tree, and led a community cleanup at SB Community Academy.
Jackson Simmons-Furlati, who created a project with the Dos Pueblos Environmental Club to spearhead the fundraising and installation of hydroponic towers to grow lettuce used in the cafeteria. He also works with a U.N. - accredited student group on single use plastic. The group is attending the 2025 U.N. Ocean Conference, where he will address growing food where it is needed, and launching a micro-grant program to help students follow his example at their schools.
Rowan Smith, leader and role model for SB Middle School’s Environmental Action Club.
The Class or Club Award honors a class or school club that has raised awareness, protected the environment, and influenced their school community. The 2025 winners are:
Ashley Griffin’s Goleta Family School Kindergarten and First Grade class, who received a $4,000 grant for creating an outdoor learning area using native plants and installed a rain barrel for watering.
The Sustainable Future Club at San Marcos High School who, among other conservation efforts aimed at shepherding and storing rainwater, restored an abandoned drainage culvert on their campus and planted 100 trees. The area now provides a habitat for birds, beneficial insects and more.
411: https://exploreecology.org
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, April 26th, 2 - 5pm
Grant Leichtfuss
805.707.4121
GrantLeichtfuss.com DRE #02118987
1401 Greenock Lane, Ventura
Spacious beachfront estate in Ventura’s Pierpont neighborhood. Sited across from Marina Park and steps from the sand, this home affords protected ocean and park views.
Environmental Stewardship Awardees MUS 6th grade teachers Danielle Weill and Kim Berman (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
On April 14th, Blue Origin launched its 58th astronaut safely into space and back. Now, through an extraordinary partnership with One805, you can have that same lifechanging experience—while supporting Santa Barbara County’s First Responders.
Fly to Space for One805
Blue Origin is making a seat available on New Shepard — a zero carbon emissions, fully reusable rocket, designed for human ight. Powered by liquid hydrogen,New Shepherd leaves only water vapor in its wake.
The proceeds will fund vital equipment, advanced technology, and life-saving mental wellness services for our First Responders. Help Blue Origin and One805 turn the nal frontier into a force for good.
To nd out more, please email communications@one805.org
One805 Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) nonpro t organization.
Elizabeth’s Appraisals Art Among the Generations
by Elizabeth Stewart
Iauthored a little book prior to the Pandemic titled No Thanks Mom: The Top Ten Objects Your Kids Do Not Want – to my surprise it went viral. The heart of the book is my generational differences chart (I cover amusing and accurate differences in homeownership, design trends, and acquisition styles between the generations). It lists 40 bullet points on what “home” means to each generation – and what home contains.
Facts: (a) the Traditionalists (1928-45), are still proud of their Persian rugs and Spode Porcelain dinnerware, (b) Baby Boomers (1946-64), desperately want to declutter but get sentimental and choked up when they think about it, (c) the Gen X’ers (1965-80), want objects that connect them to their early 20s when they were cool and good looking, and (d) the Millennials (1981-97) don’t want anything. I am working on adding (e) Gen Z’ers (1997-2012), who want digital over physical possessions – and Smart everything, and (f) Generation Alphas (2013-25), who may one day own a subscription to a modular homebase instead of homeownership. In research derived from my clients’ environments and personal interviews, I learned much about what 40-somethings to mid20-year-olds are collecting in 2025; not just fine artwork, but experiences, technology, sneakers, and conceptual bananas – yes! you read that right!
The newer generations (late year Millennials, Gen Z’ers and – soon – Gen Alphas) are poised to reshape what collectors and sellers (such as auction houses and online auctions) consider valuable. Here’s proof: in 2024, Millennials and Gen Z’ers accounted for a quarter to a third of bidders and buyers at Christie’s & Sotheby’s. The new buyers do not necessarily buy historical, period artwork, but are focused on the
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material culture of the present. Formerly underrepresented ANYTHING is being represented now. You will be surprised at the objects purchased in 2024 by the Millennials and Gen X’ers – nontraditional collectibles that you and I would never have imagined fetching millions of dollars: sneakers, comic books, and Hermès bags. A certificate of authenticity for Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian – a work of art comprised of a banana duct-taped to a wall –sold for $6.2 million at Sotheby’s November 2024 auction. The buyer? A certain 34 year-old named Justin Sun. The gentleman is founder of the Peiwo APP (2017) and Tron Blockchain, and is worth $8.5B. New money, new taste!
What are the defining characteristics of a Gen Z household? The Gen Z’ers prefer experiences over material objects; however, objects in the home are minimalist, digital, smart, and ethically sourced. You’ll find young Z couples at our thrift stores in Santa Barbara, following DIY trends. The Gen Z’ers, along with late-year Millennials (those in their mid-30s) are the “buying
public” for art and home décor. Gen Z’ers want flexibility, affordability, and sustainability with high-tech integration. Many of my Gen Z clients here in Santa Barbara are downsizing their parents’ and grandparents’ household collections. Unlike the Millennial, the Gen Z’er is not turning away from a fine porcelain dinner service and a good set of sterling flatware.
And the newer generations have money. According to Artnet, Gen X’ers will inherit $30 trillion, millennials $27 trillion, and Gen Z’ers $11 trillion (information sourced from Bank of America Report 2024). All auction houses are paying attention to what 25- to 40-year-olds are buying, noting that in a young couple’s first foray into buying at auction, they likely will spend $500-700 – creating markets in fine art prints and sports/celebrity-owned objects, as well as comic books and “old” technology in that value range.
Luxury sales at Sotheby’s included Muhammad Ali’s shorts and Kobe Bryant’s sneakers. The same auction sale (not often paired together) included vintage African masks, modern female digital artists, and rare Louis XV furniture. Christie’s “Gen One” auction in September of 2024 sold Paul Allen’s vintage computers ($16 million). Heritage Auctions sold a $32.5 million pair of Dorothy’s cinematic ruby slippers (1939, Wizard of Oz), a $24 million Babe Ruth jersey, and a $6 million Superman comic book. This is the new nostalgia.
Speaking of new avenues in collecting; two-day online sales at auctions across the country paired nostalgia with art, watches, jewelry, and handbags! It’s a new world. Cross category sales are offered as ‘pop up’ auctions by Sotheby’s. For example, MGM’s collection of Picassos was sold this past year in Las Vegas, grossing $10M. In Saudi Arabia, a pop-up auction this February offered Warhol, NBA Jerseys, Patek Philippe watches, and Hermés Birkin bags. The buyers? “Digital Natives under 40,” reports Artnet News.
The new taste for auctionable art
The up-and-coming art collectors are eyeing sports jerseys, comic books, and movie memorabilia, among other items that pair with nostalgia
BY Lauren Gunderson
Your Westmont Alum Enjoys Climbing in Paradise
by Scott Craig,
Apassionate longtime rock climber, Noah Banez (‘18) pursues his sport in an unlikely location: the isolated island of Guam. The co-founder and managing director of Guam Sports Climbing Center (Climbing Guam) in Barrigada, he also coaches the Guam National Climbing Team.
He and his wife, Olivia ‘Ozie’ Le Sage Banez, moved to Guam in 2022 for her work as a marine biologist. She serves as the coral reef policy and communications coordinator at the Guam Coral Reef Initiative, and co-leads the Communications Working Group of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force with representatives from U.S. states and territories and federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The two met at Providence School and both come from Westmont families. Noah’s parents, Joel and Lori Ann Banez, work as staff members, and Ozie’s mother, Kathy Le Sage, served as the longtime women’s tennis coach and kinesiology professor. Noah majored in kinesiology at the college to pursue his interest in human movement.
A few months after arriving on the island, Noah heard about two residents who owned a badminton gym and planned to install a rock-climbing wall despite limited exposure to the sport. With Noah’s expertise as a climber and his experience managing a rock-climbing gym in Santa Barbara, he formed a partnership with the two men. They opened Climbing Guam in January 2023. Within six months, the sport became so popular, they decided to expand.
In January 2024, Climbing Guam celebrated a second grand opening with a space triple the size of the original gym.
The additions feature open space conducive to community-building activities, something Noah feels passionate about. In a new training area, serious climbers can work on improving their skills.
Noah uses the expanded space and training area to coach members of the newly established Guam National Climbing Team. He and gym co-founder Rui Wang created the Guam National Federation of Sport Climbing so the U.S. territory can participate in international meets. In 2024, they competed in Australia, Austria, China, South Korea and Saudi Arabia (where Noah ranked 14th), and the team aspires to represent Guam in the Olympics. The federation held its first national ranking tournament in March at Climbing Guam and now belongs to the International Federation of Sport Climbing, the sport’s worldwide governing organization.
Noah and Ozie enjoy living on the small island in the middle of the Pacific. They spend their free time hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing in a tropical paradise. In addition, they
Westmont Page 334
Frances Moore
Adriana Arriaga
Teresa Kuskey
Melinda Palacio
Joanne Wasserman
photos by Brad Elliott
Climbing Guam (courtesy photo)
Alum Noah and Olivia ‘Ozie’ Le Sage Banez (courtesy photo)
DIRECTED BY Jenny Sullivan
Santa Barbara’s Professional Theatre
Real Estate
Montecito’s 1st Quarter Real Estate Review
by Mark Ashton Hunt
Montecito Real Estate Sales Continue to Impress…
It’s April and I’m not seeing any showers to bring May flowers. While we did have a nice handful of downpours this winter, my lawn is still hoping for some mid spring sprinkles. As I write, we are experiencing a week of fog with some clearing. June gloom in April is not awesome, though we have had some (read: Many) lovely days this winter and early Spring, as we always do here in Montecito.
While we all adjust to 2025, as of now there are no tariffs on Montecito Real Estate and the buyers keep on coming. The first quarter of 2025 was as solid as one might hope, with sales averaging over 20 homes and estates per month, January through March, (and April is humming along also with 13 closed sales in the first 17 days). All stats are pulled from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and include all sales within Montecito’s 93108 zip code.
With January’s massive numbers and four estates moving over $20M, the momentum was on. February delivered a better than average month of sales, however the
Please contact me directly MARK ASHTON HUNT
Call/Text Mark @ 805-698-2174 Mark@Villagesite.com www.MontecitoBestBuys.com DRE#01460852
Summer Vibes have Arrived!
kids
summer digs in stock!
over $10M market was quiet that month. March came roaring back with more than 20 sales and one closing over $10M, making it seven or more that I can count, homes in Montecito selling over $10M in the first quarter. The under $10M market continues to deliver with multiple sales each month in the high value for price paid range of $5 to $8M. Then there are always the few fixers, cottages and condos that sell for between $1.4 and $5M.
We also saw many condos, fixers and starter homes on the edges of Montecito sell in the past couple of months also, which cleaned out a lot of leftover inventory, making way for the new properties we have seen hit the market in past weeks. In the first 17 days of April, Montecito’s 93108 saw 16+ new listings hit the market, a huge number if one tracks our local housing inventory. Our broker/agent tour sheet, usually handled on two printed pages, stretched to nearly five pages of listings open for agent tour a week back, (this includes Carpinteria and Summerland). Of those listings new to market, sure, a few were re-lists, but for the most part, these are new listings in all price ranges and areas of town, filling out our available inventory nicely.
From condos to celeb-owned estates, Montecito has the abode you have been dreaming of. Here are four properties on the market in Montecito in the over $10M category. However, with demand for new inventory and strong sales continuing, who knows if they will be available by the time this hits newsstands and screens. If you are not working with an agent and are interested in touring any of the properties listed, or would like more information on the Montecito Real Estate market or a price evaluation of your own property, I’m here to help. Thanks for reading and please keep Montecito friendly.
1285 & 1297 East Mountain Drive –
$10,950,000
Where dreams take shape on East Mountain Drive, this 2+/- acre estate offers an incredible setting with sweeping ocean and mountain views. Designed for both grand entertaining and intimate everyday living, the residence showcases an abundance of natural light, expansive interiors, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. A thoughtful contemporary layout emphasizes high ceilings, elegant architectural details, spacious rooms and large windows that frame the stunning vistas.
Beyond the residence, meticulously landscaped gardens and sprawling lawns set the stage for serene morning strolls and lively gatherings alike. A picturesque pond, sculpted hedges, and vibrant native plantings enhance the estate’s natural beauty. As an added opportunity, the adjoining lot can be developed as a separate parcel, providing possibilities for expansion, a guest residence, or the creation of a private compound. House and additional lot offered together (total 2+/- acres) – $10,950,000 House only (on 1+/- acre) – $8,250,000 1+/- acre Lot purchased separately – $3,000,000
1190
Garden Lane –
$12,500,000
Welcome to this easy living, well-appointed, single level, four-bedroom, five bathroom pool home, located in the coveted and exclusive Riven Rock neighborhood of Montecito and surrounded by many impressive estates. Set on 1.4 private, level, usable acres in the Cold Spring School District, 1190 Garden Lane offers a captivating stage for all your hosting desires, seamlessly blending indoor spaces with lush outdoor retreats. Tastefully renovated, the home features a luxurious primary suite with a chic en suite bathroom. Expansive windows throughout the home capture panoramic vistas, seamlessly integrating the home with its breathtaking natural surroundings. Minutes away from the Upper and Lower villages, stunning beaches, hiking trails, and the best of Montecito, this exceptional estate makes every day feel like a getaway!
Saturday, April 26
11:00 AM: E.1027: Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea
Sunday, April 27
11:00 AM: Street Heroines
1:00 PM: Return to Reason: Four Films by Man Ray
3:30 PM: Anselm
5:30 PM: The House / This is Not a House FREE Double Feature
(Featured Guest: Filmmaker Morgan Neville)
1:00 PM: Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
3:30 PM: Robert Irwin: A Desert of Pure Feeling
5:30 PM: Schindler Space Architect
(Featured Guest: Filmmaker Valentina Ganeva)
Paseo Nuevo Cinemas, Theater #3
$50 festival pass (Individual film tickets also available)
“I’m not here to tell people how great I am. I’m here to share my story, to say, you’re no different than I am. I was able to do it, this is how I did it.” – José Hernández
José Hernández
Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farm Worker Turned Astronaut
Tue, Apr 29 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
Born into a family of migrant farmworkers, José Hernández didn’t speak English until he was 12. Yet through resilience and determination, he defied the odds – becoming an engineer, an astronaut and the first Mexican-American to travel to space.
Dr. Laurie Santos
Thriving Through Crisis: How to Foster Happiness
When the World Feels Overwhelming
Wed, May 7 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
A psychologist and an expert on human cognition, Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos discusses the tools that science provides for managing stress and building a life of happiness, even when crisis looms large.
(805) 893-3535
www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu
Brilliant Thoughts
Earliness
by Ashleigh Brilliant
No doubt you’ve heard the proverb, “It’s the early bird that catches the worm.” Those words of wisdom would have a different meaning to you, depending on whether you were a bird or a worm. Not being either, I can nevertheless vouch for the fact that it’s not always easy to get up early, especially after going to bed late. Irving Berlin, in support of army recruitment during World War I, wrote a song of sympathy with the new soldiers, who were not accustomed to one notorious feature of army life – being rudely awakened every day at an ungodly hour. This might not have applied to those with a rural background, who were traditionally accustomed to the daybreak cry of the rooster, which is customarily verbalized as “Cock a Doodle Doo.”
But for many draftees, Irving Berlin’s song told it as it was, and as it probably still is. And instead of the odiously early cry of the rooster, there was the outrageous sound of the bugler blowing “Reveille,” which seemed to echo the words “You’ve got to get up, you’ve got to get up.”
Irving Berlin himself was drafted in 1918, so the song was truly heartfelt. It began:
Oh, how I hate to get up in the morning!
Oh, how I’d like to remain in bed
But the hardest blow of all Is to hear the bugler’s call
It then became rather violent:
Some day I’m going to murder the bugler
Some day you’re going to find him dead –I’ll amputate his Reveille And step upon it heavily
Some people considered this a little too gross – especially in England, where the song was widely played. Also there was another problem – the English don’t pronounce the word “Reveille” the same
way Americans do – their version sounds more like “Re-Valley.” But this problem was solved, for both countries, when, instead of the “amputate/ Reveille” lines, someone cleverly came up with this alternative version.
“And then I’ll get that other pup, The guy who wakes the bugler up,”
And both versions happily ended with the same line:
“And spend the rest of my life in bed.”
But birds aren’t the only critters that we associate with earliness. We also sometimes speak (even of ourselves) as being “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”
It must have been squirrels who originally evoked this image.
Our proverbs are also rich with such behests as, “Early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” However, there is also the rejoinder: “Better late than never.”
Then there was the not very grammatical Civil War General, Nathan Bedford Forrest, who is supposed to have attributed his military successes to “getting there firstest with the mostest.” It should also be pointed out that he was on the losing side.
This can’t help reminding us of Aesop’s fable about the Hare and the Tortoise, with its inescapable moral that, in the long run, slow and steady wins the race.
“Sooner or later” is another common expression, which found its way into American History in an interesting way. What today we call the State of Oklahoma was originally a large territory occupied only by Native Americans who were then driven out by white settlers. Until 1889 it was officially known simply as “Unassigned Lands.”
But in that year, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation that the lands would be open for settlement on a first-arrival basis, effectively producing a
massive road race of people scrambling to claim land in the new territory. The territory’s official opening date was March 23, 1889 – and starting pistols were actually fired into the air to signal the official start of this land rush. But there was no way to address the thousands of land-hungry Americans who had already illegally crossed the border in defiance of those arrangements. These rule-breaking line jumpers were now entitled, under the 1862 Homestead Act, to stake a claim to 160 acres of federal land. The sneaky early Oklahomans became known as “Sooners” and – almost inevitably –this new political entity was nicknamed “The Sooner State.” And so their sports teams called themselves the Sooners.
But what became of “Later”? For one thing, back in the 1950s modern teenage slang – which loves silly rhymes, apparently – began saying “See you later, Alligator.” This called forth the almost inevitable response, “After a while, Crocodile.”
But way back in 1908, since other colleges already had animals representing their teams, (the Yale Bulldog, the Princeton Tiger) the University of Florida chose the Alligator for its mascot. And Florida has been the Gator State ever since.
All I can add is one of my own verbal gems:
SOONER OR LATER, I’LL BE PUNCTUAL.
Ashleigh Brilliant born England 1933, came to California in 1955, to Santa Barbara in 1973, to the Montecito Journal in 2016. Best-known for his illustrated epigrams, called “Pot-Shots,” now a series of 10,000. email: ashleigh@west. net. web: www.ash leighbrilliant.com.
Spirituality Matters
Illuminate Film Festival: Shining a Light on the Heart
by Steven Libowitz
In a town rife with special film events seemingly every fortnight if not more often, it wouldn’t be wrong to think of the Illuminate Film Festival as a series of gatherings where film is, in many ways, only incidental to the mission. Billing itself as the world’s leading showcase for conscious cinema, Illuminate launches its second year in town next week after nine festivals in Sedona, AZ. The festival will showcase 20 films about raising spirits, awareness, and actions. The 14 feature-length documentaries and a selection of micro-shorts explore human potential, spiritual growth, and social change in an effort to cultivate empathy across boundaries and imagine more heartfelt possibilities for our collective future.
“We’re providing an antidote to a lot of the media and everything else that is coming at us right now,” said Téana David, the festival’s artistic director since the move to Santa Barbara. “All of our films are very carefully curated to emphasize themes of consciousness, spirituality, health and wellness, social change and/or earth stewardship. Think of it as enlightening entertainment, or entertaining enlightenment.”
To that end, nearly all of the already illuminating screenings are followed by a panel, process or event meant to take the audience deeper into what they’ve just seen cinematically. Illuminate’s new “Reel integrations” go beyond discussions to offer experiential processes.
Wolf’s Message, which has its world premiere on May 3, tells the story of Michael “Wolf” Pasakarnis, and the evidence-based medium Suzanne Giesemann in sharing proof of consciousness beyond the physical body –which challenges our understanding of life, love, and the soul’s eternal journey. A panel discussion with the director Jim Spruell and Suzanne Giesemann will precede the latter’s leading the audience in “tuning into the frequency of love” to connect to loved ones beyond the veil.
Rescued Hearts is a film inspired by a life-changing moment when a nonverbal 7 year old boy diagnosed with autism spoke his first words while interacting with a horse – an animal widely believed to catalyze healing and transformation. Friday night’s showing includes a post-screening panel that features Sheva Carr, the architect and director of HeartMath’s HeartMastery Program. On Saturday Carr also leads an experiential and interactive
workshop sharing leading-edge neuroscience about the heart and brain. This research shows us how we, as filmmakers and audience members, can deliberately look through the lens of love – this year’s festival theme – to create movie experiences that serve as meaningful medicine for the evolution of our souls.
The multi-tiered approach is also exemplified by the Opening Night on Thursday, May 1, at our city’s grandest indoor venue, the Granada Theatre. The evening begins with live music geared toward opening the heart, offered by mantra-pop artist Donna De Lory, electric cellist Brianna Tam and Montecitoraised percussionist Joss Jaffe, along with a performance by LUME Apex, a Los Angeles-based movement collective whose practices embody ritual, reverence and radiant expression. Celebrated ocean and environmental filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau will be presented with the Illuminate Media Changemaker Lifetime Achievement Award by actor/activist Ed Begley, Jr. The keynote address comes from Lynne Twist, the bestselling visionary, activist, and Soul of Money author. Twist will share powerful insights from her latest book, Living a Committed Life, inviting the audience to remember our deeper purpose and discover the freedom and fulfillment that come from living in service to something greater than ourselves.
“Lynn is so perfectly emblematic of Illuminate because she combines inner inquiry and growth, outer service and action,” David said. “She’s both very spiritual and a real changemaker in the world… Why do inner work if not to awaken the heart and be called to greater service so that we can really help create a more caring civilization?”
Those activities lead to the Santa Barbara premiere of Wisdom of Happiness, the documentary – executive produced by Richard Gere – of a deeply intimate encounter with the Dalai Lama, who speaks directly to the camera about inner peace, happiness, and potential for a peaceful 21st century.
His Holiness is also the subject of another film basically bookending the festival on Sunday afternoon in The Dalai Lama’s Gift. The film captures his historic 1981 Kalachakra Tantra initiation in Wisconsin, which marked Tibetan Buddhism’s arrival in America. The historic occasion was captured on film, but locked away in the Smithsonian for some 40 years. David moderates a panel discussion called “Tantra: Imagining What
You Can Be” with director Ed Bastian, Tibetan scholar Losang Samten, and Vesna Wallace, UCSB professor of South Asian Religions and Inner Asian Buddhist Studies.
“With this year’s festival, we’ve curated the experience as a journey where one event amplifies the ones that came before,” David said. “Everything just builds to where, hopefully, people walk away with their hearts wide open and inspired.”
Visit https://illuminatefilmfestival.com
Collis and Her Mindful Dinosaurs Come to Tecolote
Third-generation Montecito resident Taran Collis’ passion for wellness and spiritual education runs deep in her family. Her grandmother, June Christensen, taught “Moving Consciously” at Adult Ed and Santa Barbara High School. Her grandfather, Mervin Lane, was an English professor who taught yoga and tai chi at SBCC. Before 2018, Collis, a certified Yoga Therapist and Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, led programs at La Casa de Maria and the Montecito YMCA, moving after the debris flows to teaching yoga and mindfulness in more community-based spaces – including volunteering weekly at Cold Spring School and leading yoga at the YMCA’s preschool.
It was her experience teaching kids self-regulation pocket practices that inspired Collis to pen a book series about the process – which involves employing physical items and movements as reminders and tools to support emotional regulation and impulse control –Dinosaurs Have Big Feelings Too, the first book in Collis’ “Mindful Adventures for the Family” series weaving together storytelling, emotional literacy, and self-regulation tools, aims to empower the next generation with practices rooted in mindfulness, yoga therapy and cross-cultural healing modalities. She’ll host a reading and mindfulness teaching at Tecolote Books at 3 pm on May 3 and has plans for several book readings that will incorporate the next effort in
the series, Dinosaurs Do Mindfulness Too, due this summer.
Visit www.tarancollis.com for more about the Montecito maven of mindfulness and more
Kvell at The Well
Santa Barbara-based author, motivational speaker and sports psychologist Barbara Edelston Peterson, a world champion in off-road triathlon who holds dual master’s degrees in clinical psychology and Eastern philosophy, has penned a new book based on a lesser-known Yiddish term she grew up with that might revitalize how we connect with one another by bringing positivity to the forefront. Kvell – A Word You Should Know, which publishes May 6, aims to inspire readers with its uplifting exploration of kvelling, a term that encompasses expressing pride, joy, and encouragement to others.
Kvell works to shine a spotlight on the life affirming benefits of embracing a mindset of positivity, a timeless message to aid in personal growth, culture, mental health and inspiration. Peterson will read passages from and sign copies of the book at The Well in Montecito from 5-7 pm on May 1.
Visit https://barbaraedelstonpeterson.com/kvell
Anya Consiglio MD
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Petite Wine Traveler An Enchanting Easter Affair at San Ysidro Ranch
This Easter Sunday, San Ysidro Ranch bloomed into a springtime dream, an elegant, pastel-kissed celebration that perfectly captured the magic of the season. Tucked in the hills of Montecito, the iconic property played host to a joyful Garden Celebration, delighting guests of all ages with its signature charm, culinary excellence, and whimsical holiday touches.
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From the moment you stepped onto the storied grounds, the spirit of Easter surrounded you. Giant bunny ears perched playfully atop garden archways, hand-carved chocolate eggs shimmered on display, and fresh spring florals in soft hues adorned every corner. It was as if the Easter Bunny himself had sprinkled magic across the Ranch.
Brunch was hosted in the Ranch’s Michelin-starred Stonehouse Restaurant, an enchanting setting with sun-dappled patios, historic stone walls, and views of the lush gardens. Once seated, guests were welcomed with a beautifully curated Easter basket of house-baked delights: warm croissants, artisan breads, and fluffy muffins, served alongside bottomless sparkling mimosas, TY Bellinis, and freshly pressed juices. It was the kind of start that made everyone smile and sip a little slower.
The three-course brunch menu was a true showcase of Santa Barbara’s spring bounty. To start, guests could choose from egg croquettes, Brentwood corn tortellini, or a fresh Japanese yellowtail that melted in your mouth. The shaved spring vegetable salad with Sicilian burrata was another showstopper; colorful, delicate, and bursting with flavor.
Entrées were equally decadent: butter-braised Maine lobster Benedict (yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds), crispy duck confit, flaky New Zealand Ora King salmon en croûte, and a perfectly tender Colorado rack of lamb. Each dish was thoughtfully crafted and artfully plated, a celebration of spring’s freshest ingredients with a sophisticated twist.
But the real showstopper was the dessert buffet. Picture this: a lavish spread of handmade pastries, chocolate-dipped confections, fluffy cheesecakes, pastel-hued macarons, and a flaming finale of Harry’s Berries strawberry shortcake flambéed to order. Kids and grown-ups alike were wide-eyed and grinning with each sweet discovery.
And as magical as the setting and cuisine were, it was the Ranch’s attentive staff who tied it all together with a bow. Warm, gracious, and glowing with the same springtime spirit as the guests, they made everyone feel welcome and well cared for. Their joy was contagious and you could tell that they, too, were savoring the beauty of the day and the delight of the decor.
The magic didn’t stop at the table. On the garden lawn, little ones giggled through egg hunts at 11 am and 1 pm, posed for photos with the Easter Bunny, and took turns riding miniature ponies and petting long-haired bunnies in the pop-up petting zoo. With live music wafting through the air and the Santa Barbara sunshine lighting up the day, the entire experience felt straight out of a storybook. It’s no surprise that San Ysidro Ranch continues to be one of the most beloved destinations in Santa Barbara. With its graceful hospitality, exquisite cuisine, and ability to create unforgettable memories, this Easter celebration was one that truly put a spring in everyone’s step. Until next year, San Ysidro Ranch –every bunny loved it.
Easter time at the Ranch
The lush butter-braised Maine lobster Benedict
The Giving List
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
by Steven Libowitz
For an organization that’s been around for more than three-quarters of a century, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) sure doesn’t act like a typical senior citizen. Since 1949, CADA has delivered programs and services focused on the education, prevention and treatment of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health conditions affecting youth, adults and families throughout Santa Barbara County.
But rather than slowing down and easing into retirement, CADA continues to amp up its services and grow its operations, expanding its productive partnerships with local schools, community leaders, law enforcement, health care providers, and other nonprofits and businesses, to help CADA clients get and stay healthy and lead positive, productive lives that strengthen families and our community.
Case in point, just last week, CADA moved into new digs in Santa Maria, relocating its North County Daniel Bryant Youth & Family Center to offer more help to more young people struggling with substance abuse.
“We were in a very small, very old building on Chapel Street, but we are now in a much larger building, which will allow us to serve more youth in the Santa Maria area, expand our services and have lots more treatment groups available,” said Executive Director Victoria Rightmire. “We’re excited for our official ribbon cutting at 3 pm on May 13 and to see this beautiful new building.”
The facility will allow CADA to offer even more youth and their families treatment. It is a regimen that employs evidence-based curricula providing young clients with the knowledge, structure and support to evaluate the significance of their drug and/or alcohol abuse, and transition to a place of abstinence and sustained recovery.
Meanwhile, to meet needs more immediately in its adult services, CADA is in the process of shifting its gears – building a new facility in Santa Barbara that will more than double its existing 12-bed capacity Adult Residential Treatment Center. The Center is a longtime lifeline that offers short-term housing for individuals seeking sobriety, providing up to 90 days of shelter and treatment. In recent years, the program has consistently maintained a long waitlist, which is not ideal considering that a delay in treatment can often mean the difference between recovery and relapse.
CADA is also expecting that the passage of Proposition 36 last November will increase demand for their services. The Prop 36 statute allows prosecutors to charge people convicted of various third-time drug offenses with a so-called treatment-mandated felony, offering the offender substance use disorder or mental health treatment in lieu of up to three years in jail or prison.
“We are still very committed to expanding our residential treatment program services sooner rather than later,” Rightmire said. “But we can’t wait. There’s a huge need right now. We’ve got to grab whatever opportunity we can to meet the community’s needs here. So we are currently in conversation with an
organization that may be able to provide us with an existing space to do that, adding 12 more beds for a total of 24.”
CADA also just completed its annual International Summit for Danny in New Zealand, where 20 hikers raised a record $260,000 for the nonprofit’s youth programs. Meanwhile, here in town the 14th annual Gratitude Luncheon –which benefits CADA’s mentor program – was a sold-out event.
“I don’t want to brag too much on our fundraisers again, but we’re very proud of how successful they have been, meaning what we’re doing resonates with the community,” Rightmire said.
Perhaps the most interesting news from CADA, however, has little to do with the alcohol or drug addiction that give the organization its name, but surely affects people who frequent lower State Street and other city streets with any regularity. The nonprofit’s new E-Bike Safety course, adjunct to its long existing
Teen Court program, aims to counter the mounting problem of E-bike riders ignoring traffic rules.
The two-hour long, one-time course hosted at the youth center in Santa Barbara is for young people charged with offenses such as speeding, failure to yield, riding on the sidewalk or running stop signs and red lights to avoid fines or DMV/criminal history.
“We created it in response to a community need at the request of Police Chief Kelly Gordon and (Assistant City Attorney) John Doimas, who reached out to us to see if we could help because of our experience,” Rightmire said. “Instead of receiving a citation, offending E-Bikers get an opportunity to learn about bike safety and the importance of following local laws – and hopefully avoid entry into the juvenile justice system. A parent is also required to attend some of the course.”
Making the State Street car-free zone feel safer? That’s a sobering thought. Visit www.cadasb.org
With expanded facilities and programs, CADA continues to serve the community’s need for alcohol and drug abuse services (courtesy photo)
1803 Fernald Point Lane – $28,750,000
On a private gated lane, down a beachside road, find the estates at Fernald Point. Enveloped by the ocean’s timeless beauty, this exquisite, nearly 6,000 square foot ocean front Montecito villa blends the charm of ProvenÇal design with the breathtaking allure of the California coastline.
Extensively renovated from 2020-2023 and located in the exclusive, gated Fernald Cove Point in the Montecito Union School District, the home is a tapestry, where exceptional craftsmanship and timeless functionality converge in spacious, bright living areas that open-up to expansive patios offering sweeping ocean and island views.
A spectacular great room, chef’s kitchen with La Cornue range and elegant dining room await ocean view entertainment, while two primary and three guest suites serve as secluded retreats. With 101 feet of beach frontage and set above the sand, one has an unobstructed view and an abundance of ocean front property to enjoy.
771 Garden Lane – $36,500,000
Escape to a place of luxury and timeless elegance in the heart of Montecito’s coveted Riven Rock neighborhood adjacent to other equally grand and even larger estates. Riven Rock streets are lined with hedges, stone walls and homes set on mostly larger lots. This estate rests on approximately 5.5 acres of breathtaking grounds offering views and privacy with parking for many guests.
A cobblestone motor court welcomes you to a masterfully restored and newly expanded English Country estate by renowned luxury builder Van Acker Construction. Spanning approximately 16,668 square feet, this estate sets the mark for upscale living, with seven opulent bedroom suites, 13 bathrooms, and exquisite architectural details throughout.
Designed for grand-scale entertaining and intimate retreats alike, the estate boasts a good number of amenities, some of which are listed below:
- Subterranean, 8-car auto gallery and 2-bay chauffeur’s garage.
- Private offices for security and staff.
- Two separate one-bedroom guest homes, ensuring ultimate privacy for visitors.
- Resort-level amenities include a gym, playroom, pool and poolside cabana.
- World-class secondary culinary arts kitchen for extreme entertaining.
- Primary suite featuring a bonus, 1,220 square foot attic-turned-closet.
Lush lawns, citrus orchards, verdant gardens, and picturesque pathways complete this oncein-a-lifetime offering, all within the Cold Spring School District.
WENDY GRAGG
“It’s not just how architectural homes can respond to the environment in unique ways and creative ways, but also about their being resilient; able to last for a very long time in the face of natural disasters that are a part of life in Montecito.”
This is not a House also features a soundtrack by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, who composed the music in the house in real time on devices of his own creation using a MIDI interface that triggers them. “We’re talking like duck doorbells and birds and all kinds of fascinating sounds. I was there when they filmed it, and it was amazing.”
Donaldson will be joined by Heavin, Neville and the moderator, UCSB AD&A Museum curator Silvia Perea, for the panel discussion that should illuminate issues that arise in the documentaries for a deeper dive.
Meanwhile, Donaldson is working on a project for Google involving their research campus for quantum AI, as well as designing houses that he called “cousins of the Hill House.” “My work there has taken me in a lot of directions in terms of my thinking. There are a lot of aspects of the house that can be further explored.”
Exploring how we interact with architecture is what he hopes people take away from the festival, with a greater understanding of how it affects our lives.
“We’re in architecture for most of our time,” he said. “We need to pay a lot more attention to our built environment… The films are a great way to show what architecture can be. They can open people’s minds to new possibilities for architectural expression, and just creativity and using your imagination. Your environment can be a source of great inspiration. That’s the power of architecture.”
For a full schedule, details about each of the films, and tickets to the Art | Architecture on Film series, visit https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
Further Focus on Film:
Direct Relief presents a free screening of Queen of Katwe, the 2016 Disney bio-sports drama about Phiona Mutesi, a girl living in a slum in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Phiona’s world changes when she meets Robert Katende, who teaches children to play chess at a local center. The April 30 screening at SBIFF’s Film Center will be followed by a Q&A session with Katende, who will share insights into his journey of empowering vulnerable youth in Uganda through sports, education and healthcare initiatives with his organization, Sports Outreach.
Reserve tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/direct-relief-free-community-screening-of-disneysqueen-of-katwe-tickets-1312052677879
SBIFF’s Riviera Theatre has a Cinema Society screening of the action-thriller sequel The Accountant 2, which stars Ben Affleck among others, followed by a Q&A with director Gavin O’Connor, on April 27, two days after the film opens in theaters. Visit www.sbiff.org.
All’s Fair at the Showgrounds
The Santa Barbara Fair & Expo goes totally tubular for two weekends of wonder. The annual springtime event will be bursting with entertainment, a
Entertainment Page 324
The Santa Barbara Fair & Expo is back! (courtesy photo)
Community Voices
California’s Solar Vendetta: Why We Must Stop AB 942 and
Save Rooftop Solar
by Marine Schumann
California once proudly led the nation in solar energy adoption, pioneering policies that made rooftop solar accessible and affordable to millions. Yet today Governor Gavin Newsom , his appointed California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and powerful utilities like PG&E and Southern California Edison (SCE) are engaged in what can only be described as a coordinated vendetta against solar – systematically dismantling the very industry our state once championed.
First came Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 in late 2022, the CPUC’s policy drastically reducing incentives for homeowners and businesses to install solar by reducing the compensation for surplus electricity sent back to the grid. Despite overwhelming public opposition, the CPUC used misleading arguments to justify their stance. Instead of supporting practical solutions like battery storage, they reduced solar’s value overnight, giving the industry only four months to adapt to these devastating new rules.
Then, to soften the blow of NEM 3.0, the CPUC promised Californians substantial funding for battery storage installations to support solar adoption and grid resilience. But just weeks before its scheduled launch in July 2023, Governor Newsom’s administration abruptly cut this promised funding, leaving the solar industry and consumers stranded without critical support.
Next, the Newsom administration selectively enforced prevailing wage requirements exclusively on private-sector commercial solar projects – no other trades were similarly targeted. This selective enforcement significantly inflated solar installation costs, making solar uniquely less affordable compared to other building improvements and deliberately reducing its competitiveness.
Now, California’s rooftop solar faces its most existential threat yet: Assembly Bill 942 is authored by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon – a former lobbyist for Southern California Edison (SCE) who continues to receive substantial campaign funding from the utility. AB 942 seeks to retroactively slash existing solar customers’ NEM agreements from a guaranteed 20-year term to just 10 years. If homeowners sell their property within this new 10-year window, their solar agreements would immediately terminate, drastically reducing home value and financial predictability.
AB 942 isn’t just a blow to solar – it’s a betrayal of trust. Imagine signing a 20-year fixed-rate mortgage with your bank, planning your financial future around those terms. Then, halfway through, the bank unilaterally changes the deal: now it’s only fixed for 10 years, and after that, you’re on the hook for new, unpredictable terms – or worse, you lose the agreement altogether. That’s exactly what AB 942 proposes for solar customers. It retroactively changes a 20-year agreement Californians signed in good faith, and if they sell their home within the shortened window, their NEM agreement is terminated entirely.
Proponents of AB 942 rely on yet another debunked argument – the myth of a “cost shift,” claiming solar customers unfairly raise costs for others. In reality, economic analyses demonstrate precisely the opposite: rooftop solar saved Californians
$1.5 billion in infrastructure costs in 2024 alone by reducing strain on the grid and avoiding expensive utility investments.
Rather than reward solar adopters for easing the burden on the grid and reducing statewide energy demand, California’s leaders have aligned with utilities to punish them – undermining one of the most effective climate and cost-saving tools available to working and middle-class families.
And make no mistake – California’s investor-owned utilities are not struggling to make ends meet. In fact, they are thriving. In 2024, PG&E reported record profits of $2.47 billion (+10.39% from 2023), while SCE earned $1.28 billion in net income (up from $1.2 billion). These massive earnings were driven not by improved efficiency or customer service, but by rate hikes and favorable regulatory structures.
The CPUC, appointed by Governor Newsom, played a key role in enabling these profits. In 2024 alone, the CPUC approved six separate rate hikes for PG&E. At the same time, SCE was granted a 10.75% shareholder return rate – the highest among California’s investor-owned utilities. These decisions have directly fueled revenue growth for the utilities while shifting the burden to everyday Californians.
The truth is, skyrocketing electricity rates stem directly from utilities’ out-of-control spending on grid infrastructure, which has ballooned by 130 to 260% over the past decade. These unnecessary expenses are incentivized by a guaranteed 9% profit margin on every dollar utilities spend, encouraging overspending instead of innovation. Meanwhile, overall electricity demand has remained flat, thanks in large part to the success of rooftop solar in reducing grid strain.
And what do consumers get in return? Soaring bills. In January 2025, California’s average residential electricity rate hit 30.22 cents per kilowatt-hour, making it the second highest in the nation, behind only Hawaii. That’s nearly double the national average. Families are paying more than ever for basic energy needs, while being penalized for trying to take control of their energy costs through solar.
It’s clear this sustained attack against solar – first NEM 3.0, then the sudden withdrawal of battery funding, then the selective enforcement of prevailing wages, and now AB 942 – is no coincidence. It’s a deliberate vendetta aimed at dismantling the rooftop solar industry to preserve the profits of powerful utilities at Californians’ expense. Meanwhile, California has already lost its leadership to states like Texas and Florida, which are registering strong solar growth precisely because they support –not sabotage – the solar industry.
Montecito and all Californians must speak out against this orchestrated assault. AB 942 is not just poor energy policy – it’s fundamentally anti-consumer, anti-environment, and anti-democratic.
Take action today: Call your Assemblymember and demand they vote NO on AB 942. https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
Protect California’s clean energy future, safeguard your financial security, and stand against political interference by special interests.
Marine Schumann is co-founder and CEO of Brighten Solar Co., a leading Santa Barbara-based solar and battery storage installer recognized statewide and locally. Passionate about environmental and social justice, Marine actively writes and educates the community, empowering people with knowledge to embrace sustainability and energy resilience. Originally from France, she has proudly called Santa Barbara home since 2013.
full carnival of 30-plus rides and games, fun fair food (funnel cakes!), exhibits and other favorite traditions while embracing ‘80s Flashback as its theme for 2025. Accordingly, the stages have been renamed Arcade Mania and Totally Gnarly for the April 24-27 and May 2-4 weekends – the new tradition for the formerly five-day event started last year – with other activities including visits with farm animals, agricultural and community exhibits, and a local art show. Check the website (http://earlwarren.com) for details and tickets, including special free-admission Senior Days, info on free off-site parking and trolley rides, and the new Fast Pass, a limited quantity add-on that allows guests to skip the regular ride lines.
Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival
The annual community-organized gathering to give thanks to Gaia gets going (as always) the last weekend of the month (April 26-27) at Alameda Park, marking its 55th year as one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country and largest on the West Coast. Presented by the Community Environmental Council and geared toward environmental advocacy and education, the festival features dozens of booths and Earth-friendly merchants, a non-stop mainstage of musical entertainment, a dedicated kids area, dance space, and the famous Green Car (and Bike) show, among other activities. In keeping with this year’s theme of Our Power, Our Planet, the 2025 Environmental Hero Award will be presented to Dr. Leah Stokes. The UCSB professor is focused on energy, climate, and environmental politics, is the author of several books and is co-creator of the Inflation Reduction Act, widely recognized as the most influential piece of climate legislation ever enacted. Visit www.SBEarthDay.org for all the details and schedule for the free festival
Earth-shattering Events
This weekend also marks the launch of the months-long marking of the day when the Earth wasn’t so friendly for locals – a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake, an historic disaster that intrinsically changed the city. EQ25.org gets going with the Roaring ‘20s Speakeasy Soireé on April 25 at the historic El Paseo Restaurant downtown, where guests will enjoy live 1920s-style entertainment, tasty bites, Bees’ Knees cocktails, an auction, an antique automobile show, dancing, photos and remembrances from the 1925 disaster. Upcoming events include the EQ25 Festival on State Street on June 28, a day before the actual centennial anniversary of the earthquake.
Visit www.EQ25.org
Go Gaucho: Funky Folkie in I.V.
Donavon Frankenreiter headlines the Saturday afternoon new GauchoFest at the annual All Gaucho Reunion at UCSB. Frankenreiter, a longtime associate of UCSB grad Jack (“Bubble Toes”) Johnson and a regular at SOhO over the years, will close out the 2-6 pm concert on April 26 at the UCSB Campus Green that also features DJ Orbs and Big Hungry. General admission tickets are just $10. GauchoFest is just one of dozens of events for the annual alumni gathering April 24-27, including a Kickoff Party downtown from 5-8 pm on Thursday along the 500 Block of State Street featuring The Brasscals and DJ Darla Bea (‘07).
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Solum Global; Topas Custom Upholstery, 416 Bryant Cir STE A, Ojai, CA 93023. Selan M. Reda, 416 Bryant Cir STE A, Ojai, CA 93023. This statement was filed with the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder on April 3, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Michelle Ascencion, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL). FBN No. 2025100003871.
Published April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Santa Barbara Vinyl Masters, 27 W Anapamu St 162, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Robert Appelgate, 27 W Anapamu St 162, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on April 8, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250000920. Published April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/ are doing business as: Survey Risk Solutions, 121 East Mason Street, A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. All County Surevy Risk Solutions, 121 East Mason Street, A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 20, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date
it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250000761. Published April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/ are doing business as: Peter’s Gardening Service, 1209 Quinientos St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Pedro Estrada, 1209 Quinientos St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 5, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250000600. Published April 10, 17, 24, May 1, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Modisette Construction, 606 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Bomo Design, 606 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 10, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250000629. Published April 3, 10, 17, 24, 2025
PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV02106. To all interested parties: Petitioner Caroline Byera Bwenge filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa
Barbara, for a decree changing name of child from Ty Kariuki to Ty Kariuki-Bwenge. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed April 8, 2025 by Gabriel Moreno. Published April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 2025
SECOND AMEDNED ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 24CV06442. To all interested parties: Petitioner Rosario Rossano filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to Nova Pierce The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed April 18, 2025 by Preston Frye. Hearing date: June 4, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 3, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 2025
MONTECITO GROUNDWATER BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING ON ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 2
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 9:30 A.M.*
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Agency) to be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 9:30 A.M., the Board will consider the adoption of Ordinance 2, an ordinance adopting an administrative remedies procedure for challenges to fees, charges, and assessments.
At the meeting on May 6, 2025 the public shall have an opportunity to be heard by the Board of Directors concerning the proposed ordinance.
*The meeting will be conducted in person at the Agency office located at 583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Members of the public can also participate remotely. Remote participation information will be available on the meeting agenda posted at the Agency office, on the website www.montecitogsa.com, and by calling 805.324.4207.
Published April 24, 2025 Montecito Journal
Meghan Webley, RDHAP
The Earth Day Festival is celebrating its 55th anniversary (courtesy photo)
join in local conservation efforts, educating residents and encouraging the community to participate in clean-up days on the beach.
But the location also features challenges such as extreme weather. In May 2023, they endured super typhoon Mawar, which battered Guam’s 212 square miles with sustained winds of 140 mph. The storm damaged buildings, destroyed trees and cut off electricity and water for most of the 170,500 residents. Noah and Ozie lived without power for two weeks. They appreciate living and working in a culturally diverse setting, which has challenged them to expand their view of the world. Noah and Ozie have read Erin Meyer’s book The Culture Map to better connect with people from varied cultural backgrounds who call Guam home. Noah’s parents heard Meyer speak about her work in cross-cultural communication at Westmont’s annual leadership conference, Lead Where You Stand, and recommended the book.
Learn more about Climbing Guam at climbingguam.com and about Ozie’s work at guamcoralreefs.info
Students Honored for Servant Leadership
Two Westmont students received David K. Winter Servant Leadership Awards during chapel on April 7 in Murchison Gym. Angela D’Amour, dean of student engagement and interim vice president for student life, honored Kate Robinson (‘27) of Beverly, Massachusetts, and Andreas Olvera (‘26) of Woodland, California, for demonstrating above-and-beyond commitment to serving the campus community with their exemplary servant leadership.
Kate, recognized for her roles as a resident chaplain and ministry intern, earned praised for her generosity, dedication to community service, and impact on her peers.
“In talking with a friend last week on the way back from the Rescue Mission, we agreed that outside of the friends we’ve made at Westmont, getting involved in Bread of Life has been what’s changed us the most,” she said.
“It really is all about friendship – the friends we’ve made at Westmont and the friends we’ve made with people experiencing homelessness. These people have shaped our views of the world, who God is, who we are and what the kingdom of God looks like.”
Andreas, lauded for his leadership in various roles, such as a choir leader and student newsletter manager, received commendation for his expertise, patience and commitment to supporting others.
“For me, servant leadership is about blessing others with the same love that I’ve been very blessed to receive,” he said. “I’m grateful that you think I’m doing this, but I want to let you know that I consider all of you to be the recipients of this award, as well as myself, because this campus is awesome, and I’m so glad that I get to serve it in my own small way.”
The David K. Winter Servant Leadership Award recognizes a male and female student each year who are grateful servants and faithful leaders and embody the spirit of Winter, who served as Westmont’s president from 1976-2001 and returned as interim president and chancellor in 2006-07. Both students earn $1,000 toward their academic scholarship.
“You’re right,” Urban says with a pleased grin. “The magician has to be amazed.” He reconnoiters. “Bob Fitch is a famous coach in magic. And he was a Broadway actor. He was in the original production of Annie on Broadway.
“And Bob said you have to feel the magic.” Urban describes an early session under Fitch’s tutelage. He holds up the coin again, the one recently pierced with a pencil.
“We took a coin like this,” Urban says, “and he had us look at it for three hours, until we felt the metal structure of the coin in our DNA. Because if I’m going to make this coin vanish here, I have to believe it vanished. Oh, it’s there! Oh, it’s not! If I don’t feel that, how can you feel it?”
To do something performative tens of thousands of times – “I’ve never been able to count the number of performances,” Urban says. “But individual sets? Let’s say well over 60,000...” – and still hold on to that thread of wonder, of shared metaphysical empathy? That seems like actual magic. Is that the secret sauce in all this? A delicately choreographed, authentically shared moment of human awe? “It’s what makes the better magicians as good as they are,” Urban says. “Curiosity.”
Post-Enlightenment Prestidigitation
In the 70s, Gene Urban was a student at UCSB. “I was in the second class of Environmental Studies at UCSB, when Rod Nash was leading the department. I learned transportation policy.” This academic discipline may well be magic’s diametric opposite, but you know how these things go.
A pal of Urban’s in the dorm room next door was a junior member of the Magic Castle and would periodically show his stuff. “He used to do a little magic, and it was like, oh wow. THAT’S COOL!” Gene began to dabble. “I’m not the rule,” he confesses. “I didn’t start even thinking about magic until I was 19 or 20. In my group of friends, most of the time they started when they were seven, eight years old – in their bedrooms with a little magic book and a deck of cards.”
Urban was looking for post-college work when the ongoing tax protest – both our country’s foundation and thorn in its paw – showed up to throw a wrench. “Prop 13 came in and there was a freeze with all city, state and county jobs.” In the event, Urban did the only responsible thing. “I went back home to San Diego and started working as a bar magician.” This was not an ancient vocation, but a compelling new one. There were maybe a dozen bar magicians in the known magic realm at
that time. Urban trained under one of the tradition’s founders, his present-day mien a carryover of that humor-infused and disarmingly chill miracle-doing. It could be said that few things enliven a metaphysical demonstration like a gin and tonic.
When through a friend he was afforded the opportunity to try his hand in the trade show circuit, Gene Urban began the journey he is still on today. To date he has performed in China, Thailand, Bermuda, Ireland, Italy, England, Canada, Mexico…you get the idea. There have been lamplit soireés, gilded Biltmore functions, and Thursday nights at Satellite in downtown Santa Barbara, where Urban can be found stupefying locals who thought they were only going out for a splash of cabernet. When you least expect it, Gene Urban will bend your matrix. In closeup. Urban’s travels and wonderworks have introduced him to a bevy of interesting folk. He spent time with the great Muhammad Ali – a former magic hobbyist himself – at the legendary champ’s house. One evening Urban was performing for some stargazing folks around a beach campfire. “The guy sitting at my 11 o’clock looks over to the guy who’s sitting sitting next to me and goes, ‘… so speaking of magic, Neil – what was it like walking on the moon?’”
It’s all about the Wonder. Attempts to banish our anthropological awe with 50 square feet of strenuously expressed equations on a whiteboard? Nope. To we who are not scientists, both Magic and the Wave Function of the Universe are articles of faith. We needn’t pretend otherwise. Do we need magic? It’s actually more protean than that. We want magic.
Seeing how the COVID mess had turned once energetic kids into furtive little phantoms, some years ago Urban began designing an act that lets his timorous patrons do the reveals – with each other. Seeing faces absolutely aglow in the revelation of their own magic powers – what else is there? This conjurer is all heart and couldn’t be happier. “I can see a transformation right there,” he says with some emotion, and a beatific smile. “It’s a lot more fun than fooling them.”
Kate Robinson, Angela D’Amour, and Andreas Olvera
Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College
Gene wowing beachgoers in Hua Hin, Thailand (courtesy photo)
In Passing Amber Kelleher-Andrews:
March 31, 1969 – April 13, 2025
Amber Kelleher-Andrews, a matchmaker whose luxury firm discreetly united some of the world’s wealthiest and most recognizable individuals in love and marriage, and who was known professionally as Amber Kelleher, died Sunday at her home in Montecito, California. She was 56.
The cause was cancer, said John Berg, her friend, business partner and chief executive of Kelleher International.
As the longtime chief executive of Kelleher International – and later co-chief executive with Berg – Kelleher helped reshape the business of elite matchmaking. She elevated the San Francisco-based company, founded by her mother, Jill Kelleher, in 1986, into a global enterprise with offices across the United States, Europe and Asia. Its clientele included Hollywood celebrities, Fortune 500 executives, professional athletes and members of royal families.
A former actress whose face became familiar through in-flight magazine spreads and television interviews, Kelleher brought a performer’s charisma to the world of luxury matchmaking. She joined the company in 1995, opened its Los Angeles office two years later and became chief executive in 2000.
Under her leadership, Kelleher International distinguished itself from algorithm-based dating services with a high-touch, bespoke approach rooted in personal consultation. The company grew steadily and recorded its best year on record in 2024.
“We’ve been called the world’s most exclusive club,” she once said. “We don’t just match people. We change lives.”
Amber Jannelle Van Lent was born March 31, 1969, in San Francisco and raised in both Marin County and Los Angeles. She began her professional life in the entertainment industry, with roles in Bloodsport III, Mind Rage and Lying Eyes, and appearances on television shows including Baywatch, Melrose Place, and Nash Bridges. She studied anthropology and acting before deciding to join her mother in building what would become one of the most prominent matchmaking firms in the world.
She was also a regular presence in national media, offering commentary on relationships and emotional well-being. She appeared frequently on NBC’s Today, ABC’s Good Morning America, and CNN. For several years, she hosted a syndicated radio program, The Rules of Engagement, and in 2013, she was featured as one of three match-
makers on NBC’s prime-time reality series Ready for Love
Kelleher’s vision extended beyond romance. In 2012, she launched a philanthropic division within Kelleher International to encourage a sense of purpose and social responsibility among the firm’s clientele. In 2014, she began co-hosting “Success to Significance,” a charitable retreat held on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island. The event brought together entrepreneurs and philanthropists in support of Virgin Unite, Branson’s nonprofit foundation. She later served on its board.
“Amber was a treasure to this world,” Branson said. “Her joy, love and sheer determination to make the world a better place was awe-inspiring. We feel so fortunate to have had her as part of the Virgin Unite family for over a decade. Her legacy will live on in the many people whose lives she touched through her generosity and through sparking purpose in so many others.”
Though she remained closely involved with the firm’s operations, Kelleher had scaled back her day-to-day leadership over the past two years to pursue her interests in real estate and philanthropy.
“She was not just an extraordinary business leader, but a visionary entrepreneur,” Berg said. “Her innovative thinking, unwavering determination and generosity of spirit are woven into the very fabric of our company.”
She was married to Nico Andrews, a certified horse therapist, for more than 25 years. In addition to her husband, she is survived by their three children, her brother and her mother.
In a career built on the power of human connection, Kelleher crafted more than matches – she offered the possibility of transformation.
“Connection,” she once said, “is the most powerful force we have.”
Among those turning out for an entertaining sneak peek were Jelinda DeVorzon , Hannah-Beth Jackson , Nina Terzian , Dana Newquist , Peter and Kathryn Martin , Arlene Montesano , Diana Starr Langley , and Sybil Rosen
Clearly earning its wings...
Back to the Big Apple
Meghan Markle looks like she can’t get enough of the Big Apple.
Having attended a show of Gypsy on Broadway the Duchess of Sussex, 43, is gearing up for another trip to New York to attend “The TIME100 Summit” this week.
The Riven Rock resident is expected to join the “world’s most important people” at the glittering Manhattan event, scheduled for April 23.
The fifth annual event will feature
leaders from the global TIME community to spotlight solutions and encourage action towards a better world.
In 2021 Prince Harry was named one of “The Most Influential People of 2021” months after the Sussexes bombshell sit-down with fellow Montecito resident Oprah Winfrey
The summit takes place one day before the TIME100 Gala hosted by rapper Snoop Dogg
Author Seeks Sequel
BBC journalist Tom Bower claims he will reveal further bombshells in an upcoming book.
The author released his first book about the pair Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between Windsors in 2022.
Discussing his ‘new material’ on the royal couple he alleged the duo were constantly fighting for themselves, describing them as ‘relentless’ and ‘restless.”
Detailing how King Charles ’ youngest son has never had to worry about having a job or a car, Bower claims Harry doesn’t comprehend Meghan’s perspective.
“He doesn’t understand where she’s coming from, which is that she worked phenomenally hard, struggled hard, and was constantly humiliated, and wants the security of finance and status.”
Empty Bowls Bummer
The popular Empty Bowls fundraiser is a thing of the past.
After 27 years, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is ending the event to cut costs.
Greg Mora, director of development, blames it on cuts of $1.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
ETC Director Brian Shnipper, playwright Mara Abboud, and ETC Executive Artistic Director Scott DeVine (photo by Priscilla)
Mara Abboud with composer Donald Gould and his wife Anne (photo by Priscilla)
The event was a popular annual fundraiser in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc where potters would create a ceramic bowl and sell it with a variety of soup and artisan bread.
Founder Danyel Dean started the fundraiser in our Eden by the Beach and it soon became a national event.
All too sad...
Treasured Moves
Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theater is described as “an American cultural treasure” and after two performances at the Granada, part of the popular UCSB Arts & Lectures series, one can see why, as it brought its unique blend of contemporary and classic movement to the cavernous stage.
Showcasing a dazzling range of cultural influences and choreographic styles, the energized dancers merged virtuosic
Sightings
Beach Boy Bruce Johnston celebrating his 60th anniversary with the group and friends at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club... Michael Douglas and Dennis Miller noshing at Arnoldi’s... Kevin Costner dining at Opal.
Pip! Pip!
technique, palpable passion, and quite exquisite athleticism.
The second night featured founder Ailey’s beloved masterpiece “Revelations.” Other works included “Sacred Songs” choreographed by Matthew Rushing, “Treading” by former Martha Graham principal dancer Elisa Monte, “Solo” by Hans van Manen to music by Bach, concluding with a new production, “Grace,” choreographed by Ronald K. Brown Quite the night...
Pickleball in the Danger Zone
Montecito rocker Kenny Loggins is hosting his eponymous “Pickleball in the Danger Zone” tournament for the eighth year to raise monies for the Unity Shoppe.
Formerly known as the American Riviera Classic Pickleball, the tournament has grown into what is considered the largest amateur athletic event in our Eden by the Beach, with more than 400 registered players expected.
Adding to the excitement, the occasion will include celebrity and pro exhibition matches open to the public for viewing.
Among the participants are Grammywinner Kenny, actor Duane Henry, and rocker Martin Gore, with more surprise guests expected throughout the weekend at the Santa Barbara Municipal Pickleball Center in Park Place.
The tournament will take place May 2-4. There is a $50 ticket fee to watch
the celebrity-pro matches on May 3, with the other dates being free.
Play Time
Just days after flying into space on Blue Origins rocket launched in Texas, Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry has launched a limited-edition doll.
On her Instagram site the singer, 40, is hawking the figure wearing pink and white stripes and white go-go boots she wore while playing her Las Vegas residency, the opening of which I attended with my trusty shutterbug Priscilla
There are only 1,000 available, with each being sold for $175. Katy told her 204 million followers: “These Perry Playland dolls have been waiting to PLAY and now is the time to rise and shine!”
Hopefully they’ll take off like her rocket...
Sighting Mix Up
Montecito actor Rob Lowe was not at all amused while strolling in Beverly Hills when the driver of a Hollywood tour bus mistakenly identified him as sitcom legend John Stamos
He said “What the f--k” to the camera filming him before marching up to the orange and pink bus packed with film and TV fans.
“Okay guys, am I John Stamos?” Rob asked the passengers. “No!” the crowd retorted, as they shouted “Rob” and “Rob Lowe!”
“You guys get better at your job,” he berated the driver. “Don’t listen to him,” he told the tourists.
I remember experiencing the same situation when I was regular gossip on the Joan Rivers and Geraldo Rivera TV talk shows in New York where I’d get mistaken as my former Star magazine colleague Robin Leach, who went on to host the popular syndicated show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous I even showed a fellow passenger my flight ticket with my name on it, but she still maintained I was Leach!
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Duane Henry and Kenny Loggins are ready to settle the score (courtesy photo)
ADT Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing and Dance Series Sponsor Sheila Wald at the preevent reception (photo by Grace Kathryn)
Mineards
A moving performance… in more than one way (photo by David Bazemore)
ADT has been called “an American cultural treasure” (photo by David Bazemore)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Calendar of Events
by Steven Libowitz
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
Mashing up Mozart to Metal – Jazz visionary Hiromi and her band Sonicwonder make their Santa Barbara debut with a show of wildly adventurous music that veers from Chick Corea to Frank Zappa and funk fusion as the keyboardist-composer and bandmates follow their own musical path. The New York Times called Hiromi “one of jazz piano’s most brazenly virtuosic players” for her ability to mix musical influences and meld classic jazz-rock fusion with classically-rooted virtuosity, a combo that has attracted fans of all ages across the genre continuum. The rest of the eclectic electric Sonicwonder quartet – bassist Hadrien Feraud , drummer Gene Coye , and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill – join Hiromi in creating sounds that are at once intricate, catchy and powerful, stunning audiences into rock concert rowdiness. Expect to hear surprising synth hooks, ska-tinged rhythms, revved-up disco beats, a big Black Sabbath-sounding riff, leading-edge jazz improvisation, and contemporary classical – and that’s just on one track from the ensemble’s new album called Yes! Ramen!!
WHEN: 8 pm
WHERE: Campbell Hall (also available as a livestream)
COST: $22.50-$52.50
INFO: (805) 893-3535 or https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
‘Drawn from Nature’ – A new exhibit of 57 scientific illustrations marks 30 years of celebrating the art of science in the John and Peggy Maximus Gallery at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Gallery curator Linda Miller selected the works from among the thousands of antique prints in the museum’s collection, reflecting a wide range of subjects featured by the most famous scientific illustrators of the past four centuries. Organized thematically, the presentation offers detailed depictions of plants, mammals, birds, marine life, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, along with a glimpse into the development of the arts and sciences. Adding a haunting edge, several
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
Cam Pac Commissions in Concert – Two premieres, both commissioned for Camerata Pacifica by a Pasadena fan of the ensemble, make their stateside debut alongside violin works by both Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann in the chamber music organization’s penultimate concert of the season. Both premieres are also showcases for horn player Ben Goldscheider, who has soloed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Zoë Martlew’s “Nibiru’ is an “apocalyptic space drama for horn and electronics” according to the composer, as the piece places the soloist at the center of a global apocalypse, with the horn pleading for humanity’s salvation amid sounds drawn from a variety of cultures, and ending with the song of an extinct Hawaiian bird. “Eeyore,” for horn and piano by British composer Oliver Leith, features Goldscheider with principal pianist Gilles Vonsattel in a work the composer calls “tediously, comedically, joyfully sad … a triumphantly sad duet between donkey and a piano.” Violinist Grace Park joins Vonsattel for Robert Schumann’s “Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 105,” and Clara Schumann’s “Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22,” with Brahms’ “Horn Trio in E Flat Major, Op. 40,” featuring all three artists to round out the program.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Hahn Hall, Music Academy campus, 1070 Fairway Road
COST: $75
INFO: (805) 884-8410 or www.cameratapacifica.org
FRIDAY, APRIL 25-SATURDAY, APRIL 26
Launch ‘Amplify’-ing Vital Voices – Daringly damning the dissing of DEI, the fourth annual(ish) Amplify Reading Series Festival is upon us. UCSB’s Launch Pad playwrighting program and the school’s student-led initiative Amplify – which is focused on elevating underrepresented voices via theater – bring four new works by professional playwrights to the seaside campus this weekend. That drive thru monterey by Matthew Paul Olmos finds a Mexican American woman in 1971 Los Angeles falling in love while experiencing mysterious premonitions about what lies ahead for her. Leo Cabranes-Grant’s The Crossing Party is the story of two American families – one Anglo, one Mexican – whose histories intersect in Los Angeles through the friendship of their children amidst an unwelcoming political environment. The meta-style Masters of Fine Arts, by A. Rey Pamatmat, is built on the conceit that hidden within the play with no story is the story of five MFA candidates arguing about whether or not plays always have stories... by telling each other stories. Megan Tabaque’s The Rink at the End of the World features a motley crew of figure skaters who train, complain, destroy and rebuild each other on a quest to achieve the impossible. The week of the festival provides an opportunity for students to engage with working playwrights, directors and dramaturgs as the writer makes revisions and collaborates with the performers. The Amplify festival lets everyone experience the lives of those whose stories are being told. Festival co-director Annie Torsiglieri says, “In this way, theater can change the world, opening minds and hearts and creating opportunities for greater empathy and understanding.” Three of the four productions are also available via live stream.
WHEN: 4 & 8 pm Friday, 1 & 5 pm Saturday
WHERE: UCSB Studio Theater, 552 University Rd. (Building TD East 1101)
COST: free
INFO: (805) 893-2064 or https://launchpad.theaterdance.ucsb.edu/ reading-series/amplify/festival-2025
images of birds in the collection were drawn from a living bird before the extinction of its species, including the dodo and the once prevalent Passenger Pigeon.
WHEN: Today-September 7
WHERE: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Rd.
COST: Free with museum admission
INFO: (805) 682-4711 or www.sbnature.org
SATURDAY, APRIL 26-SUNDAY, APRIL 27
Chorus Debuts with Symphony – The newly-created Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus makes its concert debut with a pair of performances with the instrumental ensemble on Brahms’ beloved A German Requiem, the composer’s humanistic approach to the genre that focuses more on comforting the living rather than a prayer for the dead. The 150 singers drawn mostly from the area’s numerous existing choirs join the 70-strong Symphony players in performing the work, into which Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti has seamlessly woven Mahler’s Three Rückert-Lieder, the trio of similarly-themed songs composed at the beginning of the 20th century. Soprano Magdalena Kuźma, a 2022 Music Academy of the West alumna, teams with baritone Daniel Scofield to handle the solo and duet singing parts.
WHEN: 7:30 pm Saturday, 3 pm Sunday
WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street
COST: $42-$192
INFO: (805) 899-2222 or www.granadasb.org
SUNDAY, APRIL 27
Poe Girls – Georgia-born multi-instrumentalist Southern blues-rock sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell have been around for 20 years, counting the first
SATURDAY, APRIL 26
Harp on it – The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series closes out its 2024-2025 season with its first ever solo harp recital, featuring Emmanuel Ceysson, principal harpist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2020. Considered one of the world’s leading harpists, Ceysson was previously principal at the Metropolitan Opera and at Opera de Paris, and has performed in such prestigious venues as Wigmore Hall, the Salle Gaveau, Carnegie Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus and the Berlin Philharmonie. Now Ceysson – the 2004 USA International Harp Competition gold medal and special performance prize winner – heads up the 101 to the Valley, where he’ll perform works by Bach, Spohr, Glinka/Balakirev, Caplet, Tournier, Debussy and Fauré in the gorgeous acoustic of St. Mark’s in-the Valley Church. A Q&A moderated by series director Dr. Robert Cassidy follows the concert.
WHEN: 7 pm
WHERE: St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos
COST: $25, students free INFO: (805) 705-0938 or www.smitv.org/2024-2025-santa-ynez-valley-concert-series.html
six as a trio with their older sister Jessica. Regrouping as a duo named for their ancestor – who was Edgar Allan Poe’s cousin – Larkin Poe showcases serious slide guitar chops and Southern rock swagger, not to mention the close harmonies only families can produce. Speaking of which, their breakthrough 2023 album Blood Harmony won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album, and last year’s Bloom dives even deeper into personal discovery. Oklahoma-bred singer-songwriter Parker Millsap opens the concert at the city’s largest indoor venue.
WHEN: 7 pm
WHERE: Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. COST: $42-$107
INFO: (805) 963-9589/www.arlingtontheatresb.com/upcoming-events or (805) 893-3535/https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
TUESDAY, APRIL 29
‘Reaching for the Stars’ – Born into a family of migrant farmworkers, José Hernández didn’t speak English until he was 12. Yet through resilience and determination, he defied the odds to become an engineer, an astronaut and the first Mexican American to travel to space. Hernández never gave up, and ultimately served as a flight engineer aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. An alumnus of UCSB and a current UC Regent, Hernández shares his extraordinary decades-long journey – from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station – proving that perseverance can turn dreams into reality.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Campbell Hall (also available as a livestream) COST: $20
INFO: (805) 893-3535 or https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
TUESDAY, APRIL 29
Poetry Month Celebration – Chaucer’s Books wraps up April with poet and artist Sharon Frances, author of Ash & Feather, an illustrated novel in verse for upper middle grade and early young adult readers. The gathering will also feature typewriter verse from street poet Simon Kiefer, plus newly installed Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin, ‘09-’11 Poet Laureate David Starkey, and poet/memoirist Diana Raab
Selected poems from the CalPoets in the Schools Young Poets Prize will be on display in the front window of Chaucer’s Books.
WHEN: 5:30-7 pm
WHERE: Chaucer’s, 3321 State St. in Loreto Plaza Shopping Center
COST: free
INFO: (805) 682-6787 or www.chaucersbooks.com
THE MAXIMUS LEGACY OPENS APRIL 25
Rare and beautiful images of plants and animals from the Museum’s antique print collection are on view in this 30th-anniversary exhibit.
See how artists and naturalists pictured nature over 400 years.
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