March 23rd, 2015 at 1:00 pm
What:
Join the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum at its annual Seaside Soiree fundraiser, helping to support the educational and curatorial programs at the museum, a nonprofit organization. This year’s soiree will honor patrons Roger and Sarah Chrisman. The evening will begin with a VIP reception with appetizers from Omni Catering & Events, two signature cocktails prepared with The Real McCoy Rum, and tastings by Sunstone Vineyard & Winery. The main event will feature tastings of gourmet cuisine, wines, spirits, and craft beers from more than 30 local purveyors, plus live and silent auctions.
Where:
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
113 Harbor Way, Suite 190
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
When:
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March 20th, 2015 at 8:30 am
A daytrip to any of the five islands that comprise Channel Islands National Park is a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of urban life. But for some people, a day isn’t long enough.
If you’re a hardy adventurer who wants to spend more time soaking in the wonders of these close yet remote ecosystems, you can reserve an overnight campsite managed by the National Park Service.
Year-round campgrounds are on Anacapa, eastern Santa Cruz, western Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara islands. There are no entrance fees to visit the park, but the park service charges $15 per night per campsite.
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March 19th, 2015 at 10:00 am
Photo courtesy of nessa_flame / Shutterstock.com
Few things announce to the world that your city is a center of arts and culture like a first-class opera house. Spectacular buildings that are as much works of art as the performances they house are attractions everywhere from Sydney to Copenhagen to Vienna, and now Yuhang in China can add itself to this prestigious list.
Henning Larsen, the world-renowned architectural firm behind the Royal Danish Opera House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Riyadh, has turned its considerable expertise toward designing the Yuhang Chinese Opera House. Featuring a design modeled around a unique geometric façade with a sloping roof, the proposed opera house will be the centerpiece of a cultural arts district, complete with two museums and an art school.
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March 19th, 2015 at 8:00 am
You don’t need to know the difference between a monkey flower and a coyote mint to know that “wildflower season” is upon us in Southern California. From now into May, countless uncultivated varieties greet the spring with bursts of color from the desert to the sea.
Knowing when and where to visit the seasonal blooms can be a challenge due to elevation and climate. One of the best sources is the Theodore Payne Wild Flower Hotline, founded 32 years ago as a weekly phone report but now offered only online. Reports with the latest sightings, photos, and directions are published weekly as Word and PDF files.
Below is a list of some of the more reliable places to view, photograph, and revel in the beauty of our region’s wildflowers. Some are an easy walk to get to, others can be a bit of a hike. To avoid monochromatic landscapes, check ahead before you put pedal to the metal to see the petals.
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March 18th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
What:
See the night sky from a whole new angle. Bring your friends and family to the Westmont College observatory for monthly public telescope night. This event is sponsored by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Observations are weather permitting and held the third Friday of each month. The observatory is located next to the baseball field.
Where:
Westmont Observatory
955 La Paz Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
When:
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