One of Jamie Baker’s ideas of fun is watching 20 films in the span of a week at a film festival. He and his wife “graduated” from 20-seat art house movie theaters to the big leagues like the Seattle Film Festival, in the metropolis where they once lived. “[We] saw a lot of things that […]
movies
Take a look at the creative communities that shined in 2025
I’m amazed by how locals foster so many arts communities in northern Santa Barbara County. Creative circles come to life in small towns and bigger cities, rounding up eager residents and seasonal visitors. There’s not nearly enough space to capture all the impactful work we saw in 2025. I think back to the Lompoc muralist […]
Enjoy holiday movies at the Santa Maria Public Library this month
Friends and families can see three movies during winter break in the Santa Maria Public Library’s Altrusa Theater. The showings will each last an hour and a half. To kick things off, the library will show Elf on Dec. 23 at 3:30 p.m. alongside interactive activities designed to help the audience engage with select scenes, […]
If you saw Wicked, you’re going to see Wicked: For Good
Jon M. Chu directs this second part of the film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz spinoff Broadway musical, Wicked, which explores Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her relationship with Glinda (Ariana Grande), the Good Witch of the North. (138 min.) Wicked: For GoodWhat’s it rated? PG What’s it […]

