Turn photos into paintings Linda Blevins will lead a demonstration titled “Photos to Paintings, the Process of Translation” at the Los Padres Artist Guild monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 at the Luis Oasis Senior Center, 420 Soares Ave. in Orcutt. Blevins will discuss evaluating photos to determine what to paint […]
Arts Briefs
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Crossing borders
No matter what side of the border it comes from, there’s one language anyone can understand: art. Though cultural differences and experiences may skew a viewer’s perspective, a piece’s meaning generally comes through, proving just how very small the world can be. Shepard Hall Gallery will reach below the equator in January to show […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A tap and a tune
Some people can do amazing things with a guitar, and Vicki Genfan is one of them. Using her guitar and her bare hands, she coaxes sounds, rhythms, and tunes that have drawn listeners’ attention around the country. Her style caught the ear of guitar idols like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Elliot Easton of the […]
Posted inOpinion
Israel needs to learn some schoolyard truths
Regarding the Israel/Hamas fiasco, when the schoolyard bully beats up on the skinny kid, his friends will come to the underdog’s aid, even if he deserves a beating. Israel, the bully in this case, has not learned this fundamental truth.
Posted inOpinion
Don’t forget what is really important
Take a deep breath, America, as we look at the number of foreclosures, the stock market dive, and the percent of unemployment. What is the reverse of those numbers? Ninety percent of people are still in their homes, a large population of people are still working, and a lot of people weren’t in the […]
Posted inOpinion
I stand by my original opinion
A couple of weeks ago, I gave an opinion about Tom Knepher’s commentary in the Sun, and it attracted a juvenile response from a Michael Smith (“Get it straight: Take a history class,” Dec. 18), who felt that I was wrong about most every opinion. I reread my submission (“History and another point of view,” […]
Posted inOpinion
End the recession by bailing out the states
Once again, our bumbling president and his cohorts have proved they know nothing about our economy or how to fix it. To top it off, this crew single-handedly brought about a worldwide recession. What a legacy! Their ineptness and hindsight saw fit to bail out our financial institutions and the auto industry with billions of […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Special athletes need stellar volunteers
When athletes test their bodies and wills at Northern Santa Barbara County Special Olympics’ area games at Vandenberg Air Force Base in April, the base will provide its own volunteers to make sure the track and field events run smoothly. When competitors need help with drills at their weekly basketball practice, or tips […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Join up for flags, sand, and football
The local Women’s Beach Flag Football League is looking for players and teams. Games (five-on-five, no-contact) will be played on Pismo Beach starting March 8, but sign ups are open now. For more information, call 489-1340.
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Jonathan Ramirez
His jersey says he’s No. 1, and so does his coach. Jonathan Ramirez plays for the Allan Hancock College men’s basketball team, and Head Coach Ralph Gorton can’t say enough good things about him: Ramirez has the “kind of maturity all coaches would like to have.” “He’s a coach’s dream.” “He’s our best player.” […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Warm up with port
During the sun-drenched days of summer, fans root for their favorite golfers and baseball teams, and when winter rolls around, they pile into football stadiums and basketball arenas, ready to cheer the action. Just as sports have their seasons, so, too, do many wines. Searing hot days call for crisp white wines that cool […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Word problems
After a long, hard day at work (checking my personal e-mail, trading fantasy football players, and watching old Saturday Night Live skits on YouTube), I like to have a relaxing evening at home away from all of the stresses of my job (like my fantasy players being put on injured reserve). I like to sit […]