The Santa Maria Civic Theatre kicked off its 55th season with a suspenseful tour de force, Dial M for Murder by Frederick Knox. The production is a reminder that the Civic Theatre—while powered entirely by volunteer effort—can provide live, professional-level theater with plenty of drama. Dial M for Murder is a classic tale of intrigue […]
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre starts its 55th season with a Hitchcockian classic
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA’s Clybourne Park reveals that things don’t change
BIG MOUTH: Watch an excerpt from PCPA Theaterfest’s ‘Clybourne Park’ Sitting in the audience for PCPA Theaterfest’s newly opened play is slightly uncomfortable and definitely awkward. And that’s exactly the way it’s supposed to be for anyone watching Clybourne Park, a contemporary play written by Bruce Norris about racism, real estate, and sociological constructs. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Lompoc Concert Association welcomes organist Angela Kraft Cross
The organ has been called the “King of Instruments” because it gives the musician access to more sounds, range, and power than all other instruments. One must also remember that, before the age of electronics and synthesizers, the organ was the only instrument that could emulate scores of instruments, just with the flick of a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The three sisters who check off all the boxes
My mother has two younger sisters to whom I have often referred on this page as Aunts 1 and 2 in order to protect the guilty. However, I have openly written about Mom using her name, Donna. It is high time that I out my aunts, whose names are Lorna, the oldest of the two, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Enjoy a unique meal and benefit your neighbors at Empty Bowls and Dinner in the Dark
Two Santa Barbara County fundraisers this October give the dining public the opportunity to fill more than their tummies—they’ll also help replenish the coffers of a local service club and a nonprofit organization. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Vandenberg Village Lions Club hosts a first-of-its-kind event in the area, Dinner in the Dark. That evening, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Melanie Johnson
Ernest Righetti High School’s four-year varsity golf veteran, Melanie Johnson, practiced chipping balls from the sand onto the green at Rancho Maria Golf Course on a recent Friday after school. Johnson hit golf balls with her father at the age of 7, so she’s been working on her game for about 10 years. Since her […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
What’s on Deck? 9/19-9/25
Thursday, Sept. 19 Girls’ Volleyball St. Joseph vs. Arroyo Grande @ SJHS, 6 p.m. Lompoc vs. Cabrillo @ CHS, 5:30 p.m. Nipomo vs. Santa Ynez @ NHS, 5:30 p.m. Righetti vs. Paso Robles @ RHS, 6 p.m. Boys’ Waterpolo St. Joseph vs. Santa Maria @ SMHS, 3 p.m. Nipomo […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Grow older actively
Annual Active Aging Week, Sept. 22 through 28, got its start with the International Council on Active Aging. The weeklong event emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle for older adults while providing safe and diverse community activities. Come join the kick-off celebration Sept. 22 at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center from 11 a.m. to […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Rockin’ and Rollin’ at the Rec ‘n’ Roll roller skate/blade event
Join the Buellton Parks and Recreation Department for the annual Rec ’n’ Roll roller skate/blade event Sept. 21. The event will be filled with music, food, and exciting games. Beverages and pizza will be available for sale at the event. Families with kids ages 10 and under are invited to skate from 5:30 to 6:30 […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Keep it clean, Santa Barbara
Here on the Central Coast, the beautiful beaches are a wonderful place for those who love to be active. While they provide a beautiful venue for everything from beach volleyball to a brisk jog, all the traffic makes for some dirty sand. In honor of the annual Coastal Cleanup event on Sept. 21, Santa Barbara […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Benchwarmer’s Hopes for the 2013 NFL Season
The days are growing shorter and the air is growing chillier. From my cozy spot on the bench, I can see the scattering of brown and yellow leaves and smell fall—by far the best time of the year—in the air. For some of us, fall signifies the much-awaited return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at […]
Posted inNews
What Kids are Reading: Frog Trouble … and Eleven Other Pretty Serious Songs
“There’s only one thing gets a Cowboy down. It’s the kind of trouble that we’ve got in this town—Frog Trouble.” The moment I saw the cover of this book, showing three burly, green frogs, one sporting a 10-gallon hat, I knew Frog Trouble was going to be a fun read. Author, cartoonist, and songwriter Sandra […]
