Santa Barbara

Channel Islands HeliTours

kwanberg — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:10:15 +0000

Check out the sights of the Central Coast and the lush Channel Islands with a bird’s eye view of the landscape on a Channel Islands Helicopter tour (from $250 for three passengers). Based out of Oxnard airport, heli-tours by chief pilot Daniel Casey take off for flights from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, and over the Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary—including Santa Barbara Island, Anacapa Island, Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island, and San Miguel Island. The whale and dolphin watching tour, Malibu Surf Tour, and the Two Islands Tour are popular flight options, and on Saturday, May 21, Channel Islands Helicopter is coming to Santa Barbara, offering 30-minute flights over local beaches, Stearns Wharf, State Street, the Old Mission, Santa Ynez vineyards, and under the Cold Springs Arch bridge. They even throw in some bubbly for the ride. For more information and to book a tour, click here.

Style Your Sole

kwanberg — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 22:27:47 +0000

Head to Santa Barbara’s prAna at Santa Barbara Outfitters, 1200 State St., Santa Barbara, tomorrow for a SOLE-ful Sunday of live music and artful footwear. If you purchase a pair of TOMS shoes, one of eight local artists will be available to customize your kicks for free. Each artist has donated a pair of TOMS for a silent auction, with proceeds from the auction as well as 10 percent of the day’s profits going toward our local foodbank. Peruse prAna’s hip threads and enjoy live tunes from Santa Barbara talent—including Walking West and Oriana and Eric from Soul Majestic—from 12 until 6 pm.

Cinco de Mayo

kwanberg — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:13:46 +0000

Celebrate the fifth of May and Santa Barbara’s rich cultural heritage at the 20th annual Cinco de Mayo Festival on May 7th and 8th, from 11 am until 10 pm. Head to Plaza de la Guerra and at the historic Casa de la Guerra to enjoy live music, tasty Mexican fare, craft booths, frosty drinks, and activities for the kiddies. Crack cascarones (confetti-filled eggs) and imbibe in icy margaritas and homemade chips and guacamole at El Paseo Restaurant, located at 813 Anacapa Street in the historic El Paseo, built in the 1920s. A favorite local Mexican restaurant located a short walk from the event festivities, El Paseo fills up with boisterous crowds on this margarita-favoring holiday, so get there early if you want a table. !Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Party with the Chefs: Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert

kwanberg — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:05:02 +0000

If you appreciate spicy demeanor along with your spicy food, you’ll love rubbing elbows with outspoken chef, writer, and host of Travel Channel’s No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain, who hosts a rousing lecture and conversation with the charming Eric Ripert—of Bravo’s Top Chef and the renowned Le Bernardin restaurant in New York City—at the Arlington Theater on Sunday, May 1 at 4 pm. Following the lecture, Bourdain and Ripert will head over the historic—and decidedly hip—Joe’s Café to party with locals over hors d’oeuvres and libations prepared by the chefs of Lucky’s Steakhouse, Cafe Luck, Tre Lune, Bucatini, D’Angelo’s Bakery, and Joe’s Café. For more information and to purchase tickets to the lecture ($18-$63) or to the after party ($250), click here.

Ventura’s Summer Soirees

kwanberg — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:19:05 +0000

The summer months are quickly approaching, and now’s the time to mark your calendar for some good, old fashioned fun on Central Coast shores. First stop, Ventura:

MUSIC:

Indie West Fest: 30 national Indie bands at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 4, from 11 am to 6 pm.

The Johnny Cash Music Festival: Musicians play tunes by “the man in black,” fans dress up for a “pin-up” pageant, and vintage automobiles are on display at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 18 from 11 am to 7 pm. Admission: from $15 per person, $25 per couple.

Music Under the Stars: The historic Olivas Adobe is the setting for outdoor concerts of all genres every Saturday at 7:30 pm from July 9 to September 3. Admission: $20 each.

Sunday Summer Concert Series: Live music at the Ventura Harbor every Sunday from June 19to September 4, from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Carousel Stage in the Ventura Harbor Village.

FOOD + LIBATIONS:

18th Annual Pier Under the Stars: A food and wine tasting festival—which benefits the 139-year-old Ventura Pier—offers nibbles and libations by more than 50 local Ventura businesses. Admission: from $60.

California Beer Festival: Held at Mission Park on September 17th from 12 to 5 pm and the 18th from 12 to 6 pm, the event offers more than 100 brews on tap from more than 70 different breweries, tasty eats, and live music. Proceeds benefit the Dyslexia Awareness and Resource Center (DARC) and the Gen Giammanco Foundation, which supports student athletes. Admission: $40.

FUN

The Ventura County Fair: Held by the beach at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, the event is held daily from August 3-14, 11 am until 10 pm, and includes live music, carnival rides, tasty bites, and more. Admission: from $9.

Aloha Beach Festival: Located at Promenade Park (Surfer’s Point), the event is held September 10 and 11 starting at 9 am, and features Polynesian dance, music, and food, as well as a beer garden and beach activities like the Aloha Longboard Classic, hula dancing, and a Frisbee contest with the grand prize of a hybrid car.

Santa Barbara Flashback: Cinema Vérité

kwanberg — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:31:50 +0000

An American Family, a groundbreaking, 12-part PBS documentary series set in Santa Barbara in the 1970s featured Pat and Bill Loud and their five teens. The series was the first-ever foray into the genre of reality television, and the Loud family rose to fame—revealing their personal family drama along the way and putting Santa Barbara on the map. HBO recently aired a fictionalized account of the Louds and their ’70s Santa Barbara lifestyle in Cinema Vérité, starring Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, and James Gandolfini. Check out the trailer for the film, now playing on HBO:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq1zIry1se8&NR=1[/youtube]

An Evening of Stories by David Sedaris

kwanberg — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:43:15 +0000

King of witty prose and self-deprecating snark, author and humorist David Sedaris graces the stage April 29 at 8 pm Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theater. The sardonic writer will keep fans laughing with excerpts from his candid essays and books—including Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and his latest work, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. Click here for tickets (from $21) and more information about the literary evening brought to us by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures.

Feeling Lucky?

kwanberg — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:39:56 +0000

Did you know the Central Coast has a casino smack dab in the middle of Santa Ynez wine country? The Chumash Casino Resort is not only the spot for slots, table games, and Bingo, but it hosts a lineup of entertainers and boxing champions in its Samala Showroom. This spring, the 1,400-seat theater welcomes musicians including Yanni (May 12, tickets from $35), Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt (June 2, tickets from $45), The Monkees’ 45th anniversary show (July 14, tickets from $35), and more. If you’re looking for action, check out professional boxers duke it out in ESPN Boxing at 5 pm on May 13 and the Shobox Boxing event on June 10. After an evening of shows and nickel slots, head to The Spa at the Chumash Casino Resort Hotel, where you can indulge in everything from massages, scrubs, mani/pedis, and facials. To find show times, ticket prices, and more information about The Chumash Casino Resort, click here.

St. Patty’s Day in Santa Barbara

kwanberg — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 23:54:05 +0000

If rollicking Celtic tunes get your feet moving and beer happens to be your libation of choice, holy Guinness, St. Patrick’s Day is YOUR holiday! There’s no denying that Dargan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant is the place to be on this green-hued, blurry-eyed evening. The watering hole is best known for live tunes, traditional fare—think bangers and mash and fish and chips—and frothy ales on tap. Tonight, head to Dargan’s for live Irish music by Dannsair, but get there soon because this place fills up before you can say, “Top of the mornin’ to ya.”

Santa Barbara’s equally Irish minded pub the James Joyce promises music, beer, and boisterous crowds tonight. If Irish car bombs are a little to rich for your taste, ask for a local and delightfully wheaty Santa Barbara Blonde.

For something a little different, don green duds and head to SOhO Restaurant and Music Club ($5 at the door) to imbibe in celebratory food and drink specials, and move and sing along to not-so-traditional Irish/Mexican/pirate tunes by Spencer and the Worried Lads.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Feature image by imcool in flickr/Flickr.

All Hail the County Bowl: This Spring’s Lineup

kwanberg — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:48:13 +0000

Spring is right around the corner, and with it comes coveted concerts at The Santa Barbara Bowl. Built in 1936, the county amphitheater was originally constructed to host the town’s annual Fiesta performances. Located in the area of town known as the Riviera, the outdoor 4,565-seat venue has ocean views, tasty eats, frosty brews and local wine. The recently renovated stage has hosted everyone from Bob Marley and Bob Dylan, to Radiohead and Jack Johnson. This year, the following performers will kick off the 2011 season at the Bowl:

Janet Jackson on April 9 and 10, 7 pm (tickets from $47.50)

Mumford & Sons on April 18, 7 pm (tickets from $39.50)

Robert Plant & The Band of Joy on April 25, 7 pm (tickets from $47.50)

Katie Perry on August 13 and 14, 7 pm (tickets from $33.50)

With pop, classic rock, and indie folk-rock, the lineup already has a little something for everyone. (Click here to purchase tickets.) Performances will continue to be announced here throughout the season, but I’ll keep you in the loop as I hear of new shows and ticket sales. Let the music begin!

Feature image courtesy of the Santa Barbara Bowl