On Aug. 11, a short message posted on the Facebook page of a popular Solvang restaurant sent shockwaves through Santa Barbara County’s foodie community. Bacon and Brine, an eatery featured in national publications and television programs, announced the restaurant would close permanently the following day. “It is with the heaviest hearts and most disappointments that […]
REBECCA ROSE
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Cypress Gallery presents the work of Neil Andersson
The Lompoc Valley Art Association presents painter Neil Andersson as August’s featured artist. “For me the landscape is a source of incredible beauty—a place of rest, of escape, of harmony rather than dissonance,” Andersson said in a statement from the gallery. “My paintings and drawings are a record of things that interest me—sometimes simply the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Wildling Museum hosts creative arts workshops
The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature announced two arts workshops available in September. Exploring Color with Cynthia DeVine happens Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. and features an exploration of color. DeVine, an artist and art teacher with years of experience teaching both children and adults at schools and workshops throughout Santa Ynez Valley, will […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria Civic Theatre realizes ‘Hairspray’ with heart and soul
In 1988, John Waters unveiled one of his finest films, Hairspray. It was hailed as a masterpiece, an oddball romp through Baltimore’s proudly unfit and unwanted, tackling issues such as fat shaming and racism through a funhouse mirror of retro kitchyness. At the center of Water’s weird world was a warm heart that celebrated being […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Ynez Valley artists make moves in juried show Motion
Think about the word “motion.” Does it bring forth memories of driving in a car? Throwing a ball? Watching the waves crash on the beach? Dancing? The question was posed to a group of Central Coast artists for a recent juried show. The Santa Ynez Valley Arts Association currently features an exhibit based on the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA hosts young performer auditions for ‘Freaky Friday’
The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) plans to hold auditions Aug. 20 for young male performers for Disney’s Freaky Friday the Musical. The theater seeks a boy to play Fletcher Blake; the character is about 10 years old. Auditions are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at PCPA’s rehearsal studios. Rehearsals for the play are […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Chef Drew Terp celebrates a year and beyond at Los Alamos’ Pico
It takes a certain kind of confidence to get yelled at by one of the world’s greatest chefs and come away feeling the better for it. When Chef Drew Terp recalls the first time acclaimed restaurateur and chef José Andrés yelled at him, he does so with fond laughter. I had asked Terp what it […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Teen Queens
Rebecca gets schooled by teenage beauty vloggers
If you ever happen to look around the mall and wonder where America’s teenage girls are, don’t worry. I found them. They’re all on YouTube doing makeup tutorials. I’m not kidding. Judging by what I’ve seen in the past week, I now firmly believe that every American teenage girl (and some guys) between the ages […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Solvang Theaterfest gets new executive director
Santa Ynez Valley resident Mary Ann Norbom was appointed the new executive director for the Solvang Theaterfest. “We believe [Norbom] can lead Theaterfest in meeting its strategic goals, while expanding relationships in the community,” board co-chair Dr. Bob Baehner said in an email. According to a press release from the organization, Norbom is an entertainment […]
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Allan Hancock College receives Makerspace grant
Allan Hancock College was one of 24 colleges to receive a CCC Maker Implementation Grant from the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office. The college was awarded $350,000 to build an inclusive makerspace community in collaboration with the Santa Maria Public Library and the Santa Maria Discovery Museum. In January, CCC Maker awarded Hancock an […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria Public Library awarded bilingual book grant
The California State Library’s Immigrant Alliance Project gave the Santa Maria Public Library System a $7,500 grant to purchase bilingual children’s books for the main library and all branch library locations. The books will feature printed text in both Spanish and English, to help meet the needs of families in various local communities. The library […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The great eBay war of 2015
Rebecca shares her story of an epic online battle for cheap designer shoes
They say “war is hell.” I understand that intimately, for I am an eBay shopper. Here is my harrowing tale of survival. The year was 2015. Some young upstart named Kenny G released an album called Brazilian Nights, which shook American pop culture to its core, skyrocketing all the way to No. 86 on the […]