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16 - 23 January Vol 26 Issue 3

The Voice of the Village

S SINCE S

FINDING HER WAY BACK HOME Montecito-raised filmmaker Katharine O’Brien, stepdaughter of famed art dealer turned philanthropist Stephen Hahn, brings Lost Transmissions, her feature film debut as a writer-director, to her hometown film festival (STORY BEGINS ON P. 11)

manicapital.com DRE

SAVE THE DATE

MONDAY, JANUARY 27 | HAHN HALL

1ST DISTRICT SUPERVISOR

DEBATE

Laura Capps on why she believes she’s the one who can best represent Montecito as the 1st District Supervisor Interview on p.5

Around We Go

MBAR discusses San Ysidro Roundabout; safety concerns remain for pedestrians and bicyclists, p. 12

Four Under Eight

From a Mediterranean estate on 32 acres to a newly listed home with ocean views on Park Lane, four houses on the market for just under $8 million, p. 44

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MONTECITO JOURNAL



16 â€ 23 January

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• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 5

Guest Editorial

6

Montecito Miscellany

8

Letters to the Editor

10

This Week in and around Montecito

12

Montecito Tide Guide Village Beat

In the first of a two-part series (next week is Das Williams), Bob Hazard grills First District Supervisorial Candidate Laura Capps and comes away impressed with her candidacy A new film about the late Montecito actor Tab Hunter and his tumultuous relationship with Anthony Perkins; crowds pack the Lobero to celebrate Lutah; director Andrew Davis of Fugitive fame helms a documentary about two local photographers, Tony Vaccaro and Santi Visalli; Santa Barbara Maritime Museum enjoys its 20th anniversary with a bash; SOS California highlights oil seepage; late artist and sightings A canine correction; an invitation to TedxLagunaBlancaSchool; a call for Laura Capps; bravo to Bob Hazard; a fake roundabout flyer; MCF to the rescue; New Year’s thoughts

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Writing and sketching in the galleries at SB Museum of Art; MLK, Jr. weekend event at SBCC; beginner’s meditation in Lower Manning Park; Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra at Music Academy of the West; Connections Brain Fitness at Friendship Center; Storytime at the Library; Wine Down Wednesday at the Miramar; Casual Italian convos at the library; Farmer’s Market; Pacifica’s Alumni Weekend; and Santa Barbara Music Club at First United Methodist San Ysidro Roundabout comes to MBAR; Montecito Association holds its annual meeting, plus Upper Village store closings and the reopening of Cold Springs Trail

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16

Seen Around Town

The magic of Christmas crèches and checking out Cold Spring Tavern

Santa Barbara in a Glass

Gabe Saglie discovers three new wines from Rusack Vineyards’ unique chardonnay program

22

On Entertainment

24

Library Mojo

26

Spirituality Matters

28

A Village Voice

Montecito’s own Katharine O’Brien returns home to premiere her new film Lost Transmissions at SBIFF A free performance by Anthony and Christopher Zerbe; book club selections; poetry club update; and upcoming special events An introduction to the Buddha’s teachings at Bodhi Path Santa Barbara; mythical storytelling at Pacifica Graduate Institute, a satsang with Krishna; good vibes at Yoga Soup; breathing practice at Lower Manning; Theresa Caputo at Chumash INTRODUCING

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30 Our Town

Local residents gather at Westmont for Raising Our Light to remember those lost during the 1/9 debris flow two years ago

SUMMERLAND, CALIFORNIA

© Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

Montecito Water District’s Board President urges the town to switch to desalinated water

36 Far Flung Travel

Chuck Graham takes a break from guiding kayakers and explores California’s Serengeti, the Carrizo Plain

41

Brilliant Thoughts

42

Calendar of Events

44

Real Estate

On shedding and other methods of concealing data and destroying incriminating evidence Casey and Kevin McGarry perform at SoHO; Carl Sonny Leyland boogies at the Unitarian Society; ‘Dancing to Freedom’ at the Center State Theater; Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret brings combat storytelling to the New Vic Theater; remembering MLK; a new wave of dance arrives at UCSB’s Hatlen Theatre; Peking acrobats and hip-hop healing come to Campbell Hall Four homes for just under $8 million

45 Open House Directory 46 Classified Advertising 47 Local Business Directory

“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.



16 – 23 January

Guest Editorial 

by Bob Hazard Mr. Hazard is an Associate Editor of this paper and a former president of Birnam Wood Golf Club.

Leadership by Laura

3, PROJECTS • CLIENTS • 30 YEARS • ONE BUILDER

T

Laura Capps, her son Oscar, and their dog Sunflower (Photo by Manjari Sharma)

he hottest ticket in Montecito for the month of January is a seat at the Music Academy of the West’s Hahn Hall on Monday evening, January 27, 6 to 8 pm, for a FREE, 1st come, 1st served, debate between the Democratic incumbent, 1st District County Supervisor Das Williams, and the Democrat challenger Laura Capps, President of the Santa Barbara Unified School Board. Mark your calendars now for this unique event.

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Why a Candidate Debate?

The debate, sponsored by the Montecito Journal and public radio KCRW, may not quite match the excitement of the October 30, , “Rumble in the Jungle,” between undefeated world heavyweight champion George Foreman and challenger Muhammad Ali, the former heavyweight champion, but we can promise you that the evening will be both entertaining and informative. Debate moderators Gwyn Lurie of the Montecito Journal and KCRW radio host Jonathan Bastian will do their best to make sure that there will be “no softball questions” and “no talking point answers.” The intent is to be informative: Why should voters choose either candidate? Which candidate better understands Montecito’s needs and will proactively work with the community’s leadership? What will each candidate do to help Montecito preserve its precious semi-rural identity? Can voters expect either candidate to solve our community’s problems in innovative ways? Candidate’s answers will be time-limited to avoid posturing and boring filibusters.

The Coming Election

It is my supposition that most Montecito residents have no idea that ballots will be mailed out in just three weeks, on February 3 for a March 3 election. The 1st District County Supervisor race is the one political contest that matters most to Montecito residents because our elected supervisor represents our most powerful voice in local government. 1st District voters reside in Montecito,

HAZARD Page

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and • The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

5

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Monte ito Miscellany by Richard Mineards

Richard covered the Royal Family for Britain’s Daily Mirror and Daily Mail, and was an editor on New York Magazine. He was also a national anchor on CBS, a commentator on ABC Network News, gossip on The Joan Rivers Show and Geraldo Rivera, host on E! TV, a correspondent on the syndicated show Extra, a commentator on the KTLA Morning News and Entertainment Tonight. He moved to Montecito 12 years ago.

Tab & Tony

T

he film about the late Montecito actor Tab Hunter’s tumultuous relationship with Psycho star Anthony Perkins in s Hollywood is nearly ready for blastoff! Allan Glaser, Tab’s companion for 35 years, who is producing the Paramount project Tab & Tony with J.J. Abrams and Zachary Quinto, tells me exclusively Brit Wash Westmoreland, 53, who directed Julianne Moore to an Oscar for her performance in the film Still Alice and two years later helmed Colette with Keira Knightley, has been signed up to head the film, which is expected to start shooting this summer. Tony Award winning screenwriter Doug Wright, who won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in for his play I Am My Own Wife, has written “a bril-

Allan Glaser completing plans for Tab Hunter feature film

liant script,” says Allan. Official casting has not begun, but names being considered include Andrew Garfield and Ezra Miller to

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16 – 23 January

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• The Voice of the Village •

HALF PG MJ

MONTECITO JOURNAL

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LETTERS

TO THE EDITOR

If you have something you think Montecito should know about, or wish to respond to something you read in the Journal, we want to hear from you. Please send all such correspondence to: Montecito Journal, Letters to the Editor, Coast Village Circle, Suite H, Montecito, CA. You can also FAX such mail to: () , or E-mail to letters@manicapital.com

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have to respond to the cover story of January 2, , “LUTAH WHO?” Better fact-checking would have revealed that I purchased Los Suenos in and I continue to own Los Suenos with my wife, Susan, and we live there with our Border Collies Alamo, Creek, and Ranch. I found out about Lutah in and I supported the wonderful documentary about her. My ex-wife Gretchen lived in the house between and I only write now (never having written to any newspaper before) to support and protect my wife Susan from constant questioning regarding Gretchen’s claim to fame including buying Los Suenos, making wine in Napa, and claiming to own our Border Collies. Very truly yours, Robert L. Lieff Montecito

TEDx LagunaBlancaSchool

We have been lucky to call Montecito our home since childhood. As children, our close-knit community of families and local businesses encouraged our pursuit of intellectual learning at Montecito Union, Cold Spring, Crane Country Day, and Laguna Blanca Lower School. Our teachers, parents, and friends alike championed this community as a model of outreach and forward thinking. Now, as current Laguna Blanca High School students, we have had an opportunity to transform what our past has been into what our future can be – and we’ve done it through our school’s TEDx program. The TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool program operates as a non-profit, both organized and fundraised by a team of approximately 20 high school students. Under a license granted by the TED organization – a nonprofit devoted to sharing ideas – students work for one semester to produce a TEDx event (x = independently organized TED event) for our Santa Barbara community. TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool is a professional, annual event that features speakers and performers from around the world. With three sessions of carefully curated TEDx talks, our audience is encouraged to challenge their beliefs and explore new ideas. TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool’s success requires the collaboration of five teams: Executive Production, Business Development, Design, Curation,

“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.



Operations, and Communications. Within these individual departments, every aspect of the conference – whether it be visual or operational – is crafted by students. In , our inaugural event focused on the theme EVOLVE, exploring the growth of ourselves, our community, and our world. With influential figures like fitness guru Jenny Schatzle, firefighter Kevin Jones, and transgender sophomore student Samuel Rae Bernstein, our audience left with newfound perspectives. Last January in , TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool wowed attendees yet again with our second annual event, UNCHARTED. Hailing from Los Angeles, Hawaii, London, South Africa, and more, 20 presenters showcased their ideas and talents to a person audience. This year, attendees can look forward to an event boasting unprecedented change. Our team of 19 high schoolers, guided by faculty advisor Allison Armstrong, plans to alter every aspect of the conference in the spirit of this year’s theme, manicapital.comE. The event will take place on Wednesday, January 29, where speakers and attendees alike will be encouraged to re-think what they know, rebel against what’s been done before, and re-discover truths about society and the world around them. As producers of this event, we’ve received an unmatched project-based education and real-world experience that will forever shape the rest of our lives. Each of us has discovered hidden passions and interests, whether it be graphic design, business development, speaker coaching, or media management, as a member of the TEDx team. Perhaps the most important skill we’ve learned is collaboration. Before our TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool journey – the weekend work parties, the overflowing email inboxes, the weekly board meetings, the do-or-die hours before event start – we didn’t know the value of a dedicated and united team. TEDx taught us the importance of working on something that matters, and, more importantly, the importance of working on something together. To make our event possible and to ensure the future of our school’s TEDx program, we rely on sponsorships, ticket sales, day-of volunteers, and in-kind donations. Please let us know if you are interested in supporting

LETTERS Page 16 – 23 January

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MONTECITO JOURNAL

9

This Week in and around Montecito

FRIDAY, JANUARY

(If you have a Montecito event, or an event that concerns Montecito, please e-mail kelly@manicapital.com or call () ) THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 Writing In the Galleries Writers of all levels are invited to participate in this informal exploration of the Museum’s galleries as an impetus to writing. Each session is led by a visiting writer/facilitator who begins with a conversation and prompts, partially inspired by works on view. Participants are free to write on their own and then reconvene as a group to share and comment on each other’s work. Please bring a journal or notebook, laptop, or tablet on which to write. When: pm Where: SB Museum of Art, State St., Santa Barbara Info: Reservations only at manicapital.com Admission: Free SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 MLK Jr. Weekend Event In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, a remembrance of the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama When: 11 am-2 pm Where: Meet in Friendship Plaza outside the cafeteria on East Campus Santa Barbara City College, Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 Beginners’ Meditation and Breathwork Practice This group is dedicated to learning the basic techniques of meditation and breathwork, why we practice meditation and its benefits, and how we can incorporate meditation and its techniques into our daily lives. This class is perfect for both complete beginners and those are already practiced in meditation, for we will be leading you through a very relaxing, very approachable meditation that everyone will enjoy.

When: am Where: Lower Manning Park Area 9, San Ysidro Road Suggested donation: $ Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra Ricardo Lorenz: Fronteras Abiertas; James Primosch: Oboe Quartet; Tomeka Reid: Prospective Dwellers; Inti Figgis-Vizueta`: tea en mi casa; Johannes Brahms: Classic Quintet When: 4 pm Where: Hahn Hall at Music Academy of the West, Fairway Road Admission: Free MONDAY, JANUARY 20 Connections Brain Fitness Group Brain program for adults who wish to improve memory and cognitive skills. Fun and challenging games, puzzles, and memory-strengthening exercises are offered in a friendly and stimulating environment. When: 10 am to 2 pm Where: Friendship Center, 89 Eucalyptus Lane Cost: $50 (includes lunch) Info:

“Coming Home to Pacifica ” Alumni Weekend A roster of exceptional storytellers, including Pacifica alumni and Hollywood film and TV veterans, will participate in Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni Association’s weekend-long event titled “The Stories We Tell.” On Friday at am, join Marvel’s John Bucher for “A Creative Seminar and Lab for Mythic Storytellers of Every Medium.” At 11 am, alumnus Corinne Bourdeau will lead a roundtable discussion for Pacifica’s Film Conference and Festival slated for later this year. At pm, Pacifica alumnus Craig Titley (writer/producer of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) helms a writer’s panel with Steven Melching (Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series), Jeffrey Bell (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Mark Swift (Freddy vs. Jason). At pm, special guest speaker Alexandre O. Phillipe hosts a panel discussion of his film Memory: The Origin of Alien. More panel discussions begin on Saturday at am, while at , Kelly Carlin-McCall, daughter of the late comedian George Carlin, shares her insights in to “How to Build a Highly Profitable Business,” and at 7 pm Pacifica’s annual “Author’s Spotlight” features several alumni who have recently published books. Finally, on Sunday, Pacifica celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with an event moderated by Patricia Wilson, a five-time Daytime Emmy nominee and featuring local students, scholars, and community activists. When: Friday am-Sunday pm Where: Pacifica Graduate Institute, Ladera Lane, Santa Barbara Info: Additional information on events that are free to the public is available at manicapital.com Where: The Manor Bar, Miramar Hotel, South Jameson Lane Cost: $30 per person inclusive of tasting, cheese and charcuterie (excludes tax and service) 21 and older only Info: Miramar@manicapital.com or THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

Story Time at the Library When: to 11 am Where: Montecito Library, East Valley Road Info:

Casual Italian Conversation at Montecito Library Practice your Italian conversation among a variety of skill levels while learning about Italian culture. Fun for all and informative. When: to pm Where: East Valley Rd Info:

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

Wine Down Wednesday Enjoy delectable pours of red, white, and sparkling varietals from local wineries alongside a complimentary menu of small bites When: 5 pm to 7 pm | The Manor Bar, Miramar Hotel

Farmers Market When: 8 to am Where: south side of Coast Village Rd

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21

Wine & Cheese Tasting Complimentary wine and cheese tasting at Montecito Village Grocery

M on t e c i to Tid e G u id e Day Low Hgt High Thurs, Jan 16 AM Fri, Jan 17 AM Sat, Jan 18 AM Sun, Jan 19 AM Mon, Jan 20 AM Tues, Jan 21 AM AM Wed, Jan 22 AM AM Thurs, Jan 23 AM AM Fri, Jan 24 AM AM

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Hgt Low AM AM AM PM PM 6 PM PM PM PM

Hgt 2

High PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM

Hgt Low PM PM PM PM

“Lightning makes no sound until it strikes.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hgt 2



When: to pm Where: East Valley Rd SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 Sketching in the Galleries All skill levels are invited to experience the tradition of sketching from original works of art in current exhibitions. Museum Teaching Artists provide general guidance and all materials. Each program is open to 10 participants. When: pm Where: SB Museum of Art, State Street, Santa Barbara Info: Reservations only at manicapital.com Santa Barbara Music Club Saturday, January 25 at 3 pm the Santa Barbara Music Club will present another program in its popular series of beautiful classical-music concerts. Works on this afternoon’s program include Linda Holland’s Double Road Home with the composer on flute, Marie Hébert on violin, and Anne Weger on piano. Next, soprano Deborah Bertling and pianist Tim Accurso present a set of songs: Samuel Barber’s “Must the Winter Come So Soon?” from Vanessa; Sigurd Lie’s “Sne”; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “It Might As Well Be Spring,” from State Fair; Joseph Clokey’s “The Rose”; and Eric Thiman’s “I Love All Graceful Things.” Finally, bassoonist Paul Mori and harpist Laurie Rasmussen perform the Sonata VIII, RV 44, in A minor by Antonio Vivaldi; Poem for Bassoon and Harp by Robert Rønnes; and “Love Song” by Mathieu Lussier. When: 3 pm Where: First United Methodist Church, East Anapamu Street at Garden Admission: Free  •MJ 16 – 23 January

On Entertainment Lost and Found

by Steven Libowitz

I

t’s easy to see why Katharine O’Brien calls her Montecito upbringing “a Cinderella Story.” The future filmmaker was just nine years old when her mother, Carla, a Santa Barbara native who had moved back home after years on the East Coast following a divorce from Katharine’s father, met Stephen Hahn, the distinguished billionaire art dealer and philanthropist who passed away in “She was a single working mom when she met him and he very generously took us all in,” recalled O’Brien, who attended Mt. Carmel and Marymount schools before graduating high school from Midlands in Santa Ynez. The family lived in the estate known as Palmeira, just up the street from Lotusland, the lush gardens havens, and O’Brien spent a lot of time in nature. “Montecito is in my bones,” O’Brien said simply. “It’s just magical.” It was also her stepdad Hahn, a remarkably generous patron of the arts in Santa Barbara – he donated the bulk of the funds for the intimate con-

Katharine O’Brien returns to her hometown to premiere her film, Lost Transmissions, at SBIFF

cert hall at the Music Academy of the West that bears his name – who first exposed O’Brien to the wider world of art and music. “As a nine-year-old you’re not aware of this stuff, but he was quite a collector of post-impressionist and modern painters,” she recalled. “We grew up with works by some of the

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16 – 23 January

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

11

Village Beat by Kelly Mahan Herrick 

Kelly has been editor at large for the Journal since , reporting on news in Montecito and beyond. She is also a licensed realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, and is a member of Montecito and Santa Barbara’s top real estate team, Calcagno & Hamilton.

San Ysidro Roundabout at MBAR

L

ast Thursday, January 9, the Montecito Board of Architectural Review heard a presentation from Santa Barbara County’s Deputy Director of Transportation Chris Sneddon regarding the proposed roundabout slated for San Ysidro Road and North Jameson Lane. The hearing was for conceptual review of the project; it was the first time MBAR had formally seen the plans and renderings. Sneddon began the presentation explaining to the Board that the intersection was first identified as problematic when the Montecito Community Plan was written in ; it currently operates at a level “F” multiple times per day. The project, which will add a single lane roundabout to include San Ysidro Road, North Jameson Lane, and the Highway on and offramps, has been in the works for the last several years as part of a trio of parallel projects to improve local traffic in conjunction with the impending widening of Highway Five years ago, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments

(SBCAG) directed staff to move forward on these projects: a roundabout at Olive Mill and Coast Village roads, mitigation of the railroad bridge at the Cabrillo Blvd underpass, and assessment of traffic solutions at the San Ysidro Road freeway entrances/exits. That board direction prompted a analysis performed by Kittelson & Associates, which outlined a number of alternatives for both sides of the San Ysidro Road freeway bridge, including roundabouts at both intersections on San Ysidro (one near the Miramar and one at North Jameson), as well as alternatives showing various combinations of all-way stops, traffic lights, and roundabouts. The recommendation by that study was a combination of a roundabout at the north intersection and all-waystop control at the south intersection, as that combination was deemed the least impactful and most cost effective. The configuration meets County and Montecito Community Plan level of service requirements, addresses potential backups on the freeway off-ramps, provides continuity to the

regional frontage road system with Olive Mill and Coast Village roads, minimizes footprint and impacts, and improves pedestrian and bicycle access through the interchange, according the County. “Our goal is to have the appropriate traffic on the appropriate roads,” Sneddon said, adding that traffic on Highway increases traffic on North Jameson, which then bleeds into smaller streets like San Leandro and La Vereda, which are not suitable for such high traffic volume. Construction on Highway during the widening is expected to compound the problem, Sneddon explained. The project is tied into the widening in both funding and timing, and is expected to be built between and A Design Working Group for the project, which includes two MBAR members and two Montecito Planning Commissioners, has been busy working on the aesthetics of the roundabout, which residents have indicated is a significant sticking point to accepting the roundabout. The current intersection is an expanse of asphalt, with no aesthetic treatment and no continuous pedestrian or bicycle access. “Although we do have these roads with higher levels of traffic, we want to create that neighborhood, semi-rural ambiance feel for the project,” Sneddon said. “We want to bring back the neighborhood lane feel.” The heavily landscaped project includes pedestrian access on every leg of the intersection, including

crosswalks that connect with paved walkways through the medians or refuge areas, breaking up the expanse of asphalt into smaller sections for pedestrians to safely cross. The roundabout also promotes bicycle accessibility, giving enough space for bicycles to traverse the lane, or bicyclists can get off their bikes and walk in the pedestrian areas, Sneddon said. The center of the median will be heavily screened so that drivers cannot see through it, which will cause them to slow down to less than 25 MPH, according to the designers. The northeastern corner of the intersection will also be heavily screened with native trees – Monterey Cypress, Coast Live Oaks, and cherry trees – providing a buffer between the roundabout and the adjacent Hedgerow neighborhood. Signage will be minimal, as will lighting, to keep with the semi-rural ambiance of Montecito. Crosswalks will be clearly delineated to add to pedestrian safety, Sneddon explained while presenting the renderings. Speakers from the public included Montecito Association executive director Sharon Byrne, who shared constituent concerns including increased traffic during construction, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and potential drainage issues on Highway Byrne went on to give thanks to Sneddon for presenting the project to the MA’s Land Use Committee last week, saying that the meeting was robust and



VILLAGE BEAT Page

A rendering of the San Ysidro roundabout heading south on San Ysidro

12 MONTECITO JOURNAL

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.



16 – 23 January

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Agent

in Santa Barbara MLS

A Premier Estate Picacho Lane • Montecito • Gracious Main Residence • Detached Pool Cabaña & Studio • Re-design by Don Nulty • Approximately Acres • Pool/Spa, Tennis, Koi Pond & Horse Facilities

Of fered at $22,,

Ne w L i s t i n g. . . Sycamore Canyon Road • Montecito 2 Bed, Bath Residence • Extensively Renovated w/ Impeccable Detail • Outdoor Spaces w/ Spa & Dining Area • Approximately Acre • Distinguished Cold Spring School District •

Of fered at $1,,

Buyer Needs! We have several clients looking for their Montecito & Santa Barbara dream homes. Is your home a match? • Buyer #1: Montecito. Single level. Ocean Views. Turn-key. Up to $6Million. • Buyer #2: Montecito or SB. A project. Something w/ Architectural integrity. Up to $3Million.

Ju s t S o l d . . .

• Buyer #3: Montecito or SB. Lots of Charm. Up to $2M.

Mira Vista Avenue • Santa Barbara Riviera

If you are thinking about repositioning your Montecito or Santa Barbara Real Estate, I am here to help.

A Tom Kundig-designed Masterpiece! I was able to uncover this property for my clients before coming to market! Single Level • 3 Bed, Bath • Notable Architecture

manicapital.com • Cristal@manicapital.com

Ocean & Island Views • Approximately acre

Listed at $4,, © Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. CalDRE

16 – 23 January

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

13

Seen Around Town

Christmas Memories

_âåâÜç gÜtäxÄ

by Lynda Millner

Kim Cavalle and Gonzalo Sarmiento in front of the crèche he made

Santa Barbara Travel Presents a Luxury Travel Reception Please join us for an intimate evening with the world’s leading cruise and travel companies.

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crèche alley where all the little shops had them. We bought the basic village (about a foot wide) and then the little pieces. At home after putting it all together and adding lights, Kim stood wide eyed in wonderment at what we had created. However we didn’t have enough figures so back downtown we went. Now we didn’t remember what we had and what we didn’t, but Kim did. She told us what to buy, we did and

rcury Ball e r M

m oo

A

s the holiday season winds down it reminds me of when we lived in Naples, Italy with our four-year-old daughter Kim and baby son Dane. At Christmas time many families put up a crèche in their homes but these were extra charming. Some would be an entire Italian village with tiny houses, markets, villagers at work and animals. As soon as I saw one, I knew we had to have it. Down we went to

The

Wednesday, January 22, - PM Contact Santa Barbara Travel for venue details nrosenfeld@manicapital.com or ()

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14 MONTECITO JOURNAL

“No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they’d die for.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.



16 – 23 January

Ridley-Tree Cancer Center

Community Lectures Gonzalo’s crèche, or nacimiento Ms Millner is the author of The Magic Makeover, Tricks for Looking Thinner, Younger and More Confident – Instantly. If you have an event that belongs in this column, you are invited to call Lynda at

she was right. After many years at my home, the Italian crèche now resides at my daughter’s. It’s still as charming as ever. Fast forward to us living in Spain. We had Spanish friends who took us and our kids crèche (nacimiento) viewing. This was the sherry town of Jerez where they published a list of homes that were open for viewing their nacimientos. You just knocked on the door and the owners let you in. Usually they had taken over a whole room in their home for the crèche they made. Again it not only has the cave for the birth of Jesus but it depicts the whole village. Kim and son Dane still have memories of that evening adventure. Now that we live in Santa Barbara we have a friend, Gonzalo Sarmiento, who is from Mexico. Every Christmas he creates in his living room a large nacimiento. The figures he has collected are from all over the world. This year when Kim came to visit

with her boys we went to see it, bringing back memories of those long ago times in Spain. My husband, Don, puts a small crèche up every year. It’s a bit time worn, but is cherished because his parents, who died young, gave it to him when he was born in How did these customs begin? Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in in Greccio (central Italy). He wanted everyone to emphasize Christ at Christmas not gift giving. His scene was a living one with people and animals playing biblical roles. Within years every church in Italy was expected to have a nativity scene at Christmas. The angels, the shepherds, and the Magi and are often displayed in a nativity scene with the Holy Family. And so you all will have your memories of Christmas past. St. Francis would be pleased.

Cold Spring Tavern

Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults Assistant Professor of Preventative Medicine at USC’s Keck School of Medicine Jessica Barrington-Trimis, PhD, will share the latest research on vaping, what about vaping appeals to youth, what makes some children more susceptible to using e-cigarettes and how marketing has affected usage. Wednesday, January 29, • – pm Wolf Education & Training Center at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center W. Pueblo Street, Santa Barbara, CA Lectures are offered free-of-charge and are open to patients and the community. RSVP required, email events@manicapital.com or call ()

We needed to be tourists in our own town, so when my husband’s daughter and son-in-law came for a visit we took off. On her bucket list was to see a real stagecoach stop and away we went to Cold Spring Tavern. Leaving

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at Sansum Clinic

UPCOMING LECTURES: The front of the Cold Spring Tavern

FEBRUARY 20

Managing Taste and Smell Problems: Why Does My Food Taste Different? Sarah Washburn, MS, RDN, CSO – Ridley-Tree Cancer Center

MARCH 26

Personalized Medicine: Redefining Cancer Treatment Julie Taguchi, MD and Mukul Gupta, MD – Ridley-Tree Cancer Center

APRIL 23

Countering Chemo Brain: Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment Linda M. Ercoli, PhD – University of California (UCLA) Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

MAY 28

Advances in Melanoma and Skin Cancer Prevention Julian Davis, MD, MA – Ridley-Tree Cancer Center

16 – 23 January

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

15

SANTA BARBARA IN A GLASS by Gabe Saglie Gabe Saglie has been covering the Santa Barbara wine scene for more than 15 years through columns, TV and radio. He’s a senior editor with Travelzoo and is a leading expert on travel deals, tips and trends. Gabe and wife Renee have 3 children and one Golden Retriever named Milo

Rusack’s Chardonnay Program Delivers Three Unique Wines

Y

ou could call chardonnay Santa Barbara County’s darling grape. There’s more of it growing here than any other wine grape, blanketing more than 7, acres. Much of it is gobbled up by wine producers in Northern California – the chard here is simply better – while Santa Barbara winemakers aim each year to make Burgundy’s most famous white grape shine. Chardonnay is the star of a unique program at Rusack Vineyards, a pet project by Hope Ranch residents Geoff and Alison Rusack that began in the mids. A consistent standout among California labels ever since, the quality and focus of the wines ramped up when Steve Gerbac joined the production team in and, especially, when he was promoted to head winemaker 10 years later. “That’s the art of it,” he told me

during a conversation just before the turn of the new year, referencing a relatively new vineyard-driven program that has him producing three unique chardonnays each vintage. Same grape, and wine made the same way by the same guy – yet three totally unique bottlings that are defined by the specific place where the grapes grow. “It’s all about showcasing what embodies each vineyard,” says Gerbac, 39, “and what makes each vineyard distinct.” For wine aficionados, the three yearly releases offer a way to better appreciate the range of flavors and styles that chardonnay can deliver; even novice sippers, though, stand to learn about America’s most popular white wine simply by tasting through Gerbac’s annual three-way release. Rusack’s Santa Barbara County

Steve Gerbac, winemaker at Rusack Vineyards

Rusack Vineyards produces three unique chardonnays each vintage

16 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Chardonnay ($30) “shows off what the county has to offer: lots of acid and bright minerality,” says the winemaker. “It’s a wine that embodies our cool climate, and it’s what people expect from Santa Barbara County.” Melon, tangerine, and pear flavors feature prominently in this wine, and a lovely bracing quality makes it the perfect thirst quencher. The Rusack Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay ($40) taps one of the state’s most stories vineyards, a stalwart source for wine grapes that dates back to the early s and that, through innate qualities of soil and climate as well as deliberate farming practices, delivers some of the most sought-after chardonnay in the state. Gerbac gets dibs on 25 rows of chardonnay each year, and he harvests the fruit during six picks over several weeks throughout the autumn harvest season; the progression generates fruit with varying levels of flavor and acid maturity, eventually leading to a vintage-specific snapshot of Bien Nacido chardonnay. “This wine is aged in more new oak than the Santa Barbara County [chardonnay],” says Gerbac, “to balance off the bright acid with the richness that is characteristic of this vineyard.” The is the inaugural year for this Rusack chard, with the and vintages already aging, awaiting their eventual public release. Rusak’s Mt. Carmel Vineyard “We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.



Chardonnay ($55) hails from Sta. Rita Hills, that celebrated region between Buellton and Lompoc that’s wellknown for its world-class pinot noir and chardonnay. Diatomaceous soils and a steady influence from ocean breezes play a critical role in the caliber of the fruit here, and so does the age on many of the area’s vineyards. “I’ve been making wines with Sta. Rita Hills fruit for eighteen years now,” says Gerbac, who wasn’t a big fan of the region’s wines early on. “Time, though, has allowed vines here to better sustain themselves and to become more resilient,” and today’s resulting wines are easy to love because of it. “This wine is acid-driven but less aromatic, less fruity, and instead – more mineral,” he continues. Elegant, supple and bright at once, this is my favorite in Gerbac’s chardonnay threesome. Gerbac produces a fourth chardonnay from the Rusacks’ exclusive vineyard project on Santa Catalina Island (most of which is owned and managed by Mrs. Rusack’s family, the Wrigleys); this chard is totally different in its own way, and a deeper story into Rusack’s island wines is coming soon. The Rusack portfolio also includes pinot noir and syrah programs that are similar to their chardonnay trifecta. Buy wines online at manicapital.com or at the acre estate in Ballard Canyon. Cheers! •MJ 16 – 23 January

MORE ONLINE AT

manicapital.com

Hot Springs Rd | Santa Barbara | 5BD/10BA DRE | Offered at $12,, Patricia Griffin

Park Ln | Montecito | 6BD/8BA DRE | Offered at $6,, Riskin Partners Estate Group

Knollwood Dr | Montecito | 6BD/12BA DRE | Offered at $17,, Riskin Partners Estate Group

Picacho Ln | Montecito | 7BD/8BA DRE | Offered at $16,, Riskin Partners Estate Group

E Mountain Dr | Santa Barbara | 6BD/7BA DRE | Offered at $13,, Riskin Partners Estate Group

Riven Rock Rd | Montecito | 5BD/8BA DRE | Offered at $12,, Riskin Partners Estate Group

Mariposa Ln | Montecito | 5BD/7BA DRE / | Offered at $12,, Riskin/Griffin

El Bosque Rd | Montecito | 4BD/4BA DRE | Offered at $5,, Amy J Baird

Park Ln West | Montecito | 4BD/5BA DRE | Offered at $5,, Riskin Partners Estate Group

Olive Mill Rd | Santa Barbara | 2BD/4BA DRE / | Offered at $5,, Tim Walsh

Plaza Pacifica | Montecito | 2BD/3BA DRE | Offered at $3,, Michelle Bischoff

Arcady Rd | Montecito | 5BD/4BA DRE | Offered at $2,, Jackie Walters

E Valley Rd | Santa Barbara | 3BD/5BA DRE | Offered at $2,, Riskin Partners Estate Group

Rockbridge Rd | Santa Barbara | 3BD/3BA DRE | Offered at $2,, Tim Walsh

Meadowbrook Dr | Montecito | 3BD/3BA DRE | Offered at $2,, Patricia Griffin

Oak Grove Dr | Santa Barbara | 4BD/4BA DRE | Offered at $2,, Gregg Leach

Hidden Valley Ln | Montecito | 1BD/1BA DRE | Offered at $2,, Haden Group

Chelham Way | Montecito | 4BD/3BA DRE / | Offered at $1,, Reed/Allen

WE REACH A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE THROUGH OUR EXCLUSIVE AFFILIATES

All information provided is deemed reliable, but has not been verified and we do not guarantee it. We recommend that buyers make their own inquiries.

16 – 23 January

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

17

MISCELLANY (Continued from page 6)

play Perkins, who died in Los Angeles in aged 60 after doing three sequels to Psycho in , and , and also having relationships with the dancer Rudolf Nureyev, composer Stephen Sondheim and an old acquaintance from Andy Warhol days, artist Christopher Makos. The role of Tab, who died in July, , at the age of 86, is proving more difficult. “It may be an unknown, much like Tab was in his movie debut with Linda Darnell in Island of Desire in ,” adds Allan, who is also in the movie. “I’ll be casting that role!” he assures me.

Lauding Lutah Six years after its world premiere at the Lobero, the theater she designed, animal activist Gretchen Lieff’s award-winning documentary on Santa Barbara architect Lutah Maria Riggs, had a sold-out reprise showing as gale-force winds blew. Having attended the first event – I am even mentioned in the credits – it was nice to see such a turnout to commemorate the first licensed female architect in the city, who died in Montecito in aged Lutah worked as a draftsman for George Washington Smith, who

Christopher and Melinda Gandara, Lisa and Brent Harris, and Gretchen Lieff and Miles Hartfeld at the Lutah Maria Riggs documentary screening (photo by Priscilla)

Gretchen Lieff and Melinda Gandara between Lutah Maria Riggs’ boots (photo by Priscilla)

designed many of our rarefied enclave’s iconic estates, and later became a partner in the firm. She was also a set designer for MGM and Warner Brothers during World War II. After the showing, journalist Robert Adams interviewed architects Marc Appleton and Dawn Ziemer, and Melinda Gandara, Riggs’s archivist, on stage. Among the guests were John Woodward, Martha Gray, Miles

Selling and Designing Santa Barbara

Photographers Tony Vaccaro and Santi Visalli featured in new documentary

Nicole Hernandez, Marc Appleton, and Dawn Ziemer at the Lobero (photo by Priscilla)

Hartfeld, Betsy Craig, Gwyn Lurie, Dacia Harwood, Lisa Osborne, Ken Pfeiffer, Petra Beumer, Yvonne Michod, Marty and Wendy Holtzman, Valerie Burns, Alan Macy, Patricia Schwartz, and Grant House. Behind the Lens Santa Barbara director Andrew Davis, better known for his Hollywood action films, including The Fugitive, has returned to the world of documentaries with an intimate portrait of two renowned local photographers, Tony Vaccaro and an old friend Santi Visalli. In Mentors - Tony & Santi, Davis focuses on the warm supportive relationship between the twosome that transcends the singular images they have both captured with their cameras, including Vaccaro’s time as a combat photographer under General George S. Patton in the 83rd Infantry

Maritime Merriment Santa Barbara Maritime Museum kicked off its 20th anniversary year with a boffo bash at its depository on South Salinas Street when the Kieding Collections Chandlery was named in honor of Bob Kieding, 82, one of the founders and a premier sailboat racer. As part of the celebrations, the pop-

MEDICARE ANNUAL ELECTION PERIOD

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Mission Canyon Road Offered at $1,,

We Can Help!

Melissa Miller | manicapital.com@manicapital.com manicapital.com | DRE Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License number All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only.

18 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Division during World War II, to Santi’s Italian Jeep expedition across the globe. Vaccaro’s subjects include one-ofa-kind portraits of icons like Enzo Ferrari, Pablo Picasso and Sophia Loren, amongst hundreds of covers for Look and Life magazine, while Santi’s distinguished career saw him photograph five U.S. presidents, Federico Fellini, Louis Armstrong, Andy Warhol, Mohammed Ali and Sophia Loren, as well as provide indelible images for the covers of more than 50 magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, Newsweek, and Forbes. The minute documentary will premiere at the Lobero on Tuesday, January 21, as part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

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“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.



CA License #

16 – 23 January

Lee Fleischer, Andy Cooper, Leslie Leaney, Bob Kieding, Peter Howorth, and Don Barthelmess, all of whom were influential in the creation of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (photo by Rita Serotkin)

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum deputy director Emily Falke, executive director Greg Gorga, board member George Writer, Bob Kieding, and board president Don Barthelmess (photo by Rita Serotkin)

ular museum, which is located next to the Santa Barbara Yacht Club on the harbor, is hosting a gala on May 29, which will honor surfing legends Renny Yater and Shaun Tomson, and has applied to join the Alliance of

Price, Postel & Parma congratulates Tara Christian on her recent admission to the State Bar and welcomes her as a new associate attorney. Prior to relocating to Santa Barbara, Ms. Christian was a law clerk in the firm’s Cameron Park Office. Ms. Christian’s practice focuses primarily on public agency representation in education, employment, contract negotiation, policy formation, land use, environmental and water issues. She has worked on a wide variety of public and private matters, including property disputes, landlord-tenant issues and tort claims. While in law school, Ms. Christian earned a concentration in Environmental and Water Law. She served as President of the Real Property Club and Secretary of the Water Law Society and was a research assistant to Professor Jennifer Harder and later as legal intern for the Clean Water Action non-profit group. Ms. Christian received her J.D. (with Distinction) in from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. PP&P has a wide array of practice areas, including corporate and business law, education law, construction law, employment, environmental, family, land use and water rights, estate planning, and public agency and imminent domain. PP&P is committed to understanding its clients’ needs and successfully navigating the ever-changing legal and regulatory environment. Please look us up on the web at manicapital.com

Price, Postel & Parma LLP

American Museums, which will allow the facility to apply for larger grants and more accreditation. “The application is nearly

E. Carrillo Street, Suite Santa Barbara, CA T. | F.

MISCELLANY Page

SANTA BARBARA, CA BID FEBRUARY

AUCTION NO RESERVE Previously Offered for $M.

SELLING TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, REGARDLESS OF PRICE. In cooperation with:

Listed by Patricia Griffin (#) of Village Properties

manicapital.com | +1 This property is listed for sale by Patricia Griffin (#) of Village Properties (#) – Coast Village Road, Montecito, CA ; () Concierge Auctions, LLC is a marketing service provider for auctions, is not a licensed Real Estate broker, and possesses California Auctioneer’s Bond # — Brazos Street, Suite , Austin, TX ; +1 () Licensed Auctioneer Frank Trunzo (CA Bond #). All measurements, property corners, etc. to be verified by buyer to buyer’s full satisfaction. The services referred to herein are not available to residents of any state where prohibited by applicable state law. Concierge Auctions, LLC, its agents and affiliates, broker partners, auctioneer, and sellers do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information and shall have no liability for errors or omissions or inaccuracies under any circumstances in this or any other property listings or advertising, promotional or publicity statements and materials. This is not meant as a solicitation for listings. Brokers are protected and encouraged to participate. Equal Housing Opportunity. See Auction Terms and Conditions for full details.

16 – 23 January

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

19

A Uniquely Personal Multimedia Event

An Evening with

Itzhak Perlman

Stories of His Life and Career Join us for Itzhak Perlman’s special 75th birthday celebration, a rare autobiographical evening providing fascinating insight into one of our most revered musical masters. Through intimate anecdotes, personal photos, archival video and live music, Perlman brings to life his early dreams and inspirations; introduces us to his parents and other influential figures; and revisits life-changing events – including surviving polio and his famous performance on the Ed Sullivan Show at the age of

Tue, Jan 21 / PM (note special time) Granada Theatre Tickets start at $50 / $25 UCSB students A Granada facility fee will be added to each ticket price

Presented through the generosity of Sara Miller McCune Street Dance Innovators

Jon Boogz & Lil Buck Love Heals All Wounds

World Premiere Commission by Arts & Lectures

Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin Jay Campbell, cello “She is the great violinist who not only can, but who dares.” – Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times

“Lil Buck and Jon Boogz… share a mission: nothing less than to improve the world through dance.” The New York Times

Wed, Jan 22 / 8 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall Tickets start at $25 / $15 UCSB students Presented through the generosity of Jody & John Arnhold

The diverse program will span a millennium, from 11th century traditional music to the world premiere of a new piece commissioned by A&L.

Sat, Jan 25 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall Music Academy of the West $40 / $9 UCSB students Presented in association with the UCSB Department of Music Corporate Season Sponsor:

20 MONTECITO JOURNAL



16 – 23 January

New Album! Take the Stairs

Jon Meacham

Back by Popular Demand

Black Violin

America Then and Now: What History Tells Us About the Future

Impossible Tour

One of America’s great public intellectuals, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham helps us understand how historical events and current issues intersect to impact our lives. He will examine the present moment by looking at critical times in U.S. history when hope overcame division and fear.

“Black Violin upends cultural and musical stereotypes… An unexpected blend of classically trained musicianship and hip-hop beats and inventiveness.” The Miami Herald

Tue, Jan 28 / 7 PM / Granada Theatre Tickets start at $30 $19 UCSB students and youth (18 & under) A Granada facility fee will be added to each ticket price

Santa Barbara Debut

Hanzhi Wang,

Thu, Jan 30 / PM / Granada Theatre Tickets start at $35 / $15 UCSB students A Granada facility fee will be added to each ticket price

Presented in association with the UCSB Division of Humanities and Fine Arts and the UCSB Department of History

Presented through the generosity of Natalie Orfalea Foundation & Lou Buglioli and Stacy & Ron Pulice History Matters Series Sponsors: Loren Booth and Ellen & Peter O. Johnson

MacArthur Fellow and Multi-Grammy Award-winner An Evening with

Chris Thile

accordion

“Accordions: so hot right now.

Once considered glamorous and sexy, then forgotten, the instrument is making a comeback.” The Atlantic

Sat, Feb 1 / 4 PM / Hahn Hall Music Academy of the West $25 / $9 UCSB students Corporate Sponsor: Grafskoy Hindeloopen Up Close & Musical Series Sponsor: Dr. Bob Weinman

“Let it be known: Chris Thile is amazing… A graceful and soulful singer, relaxed raconteur, dazzling virtuoso, gifted composer and all-around charmer.” The Washington Post

A mandolin virtuoso, composer and vocalist, Chris Thile has a broad outlook that encompasses classical, rock, jazz, bluegrass and just about everything else. He is a member of Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek; he hosts the acclaimed radio program Live From Here and he has collaborated with the who’s who of musicians, including Edgar Meyer and Yo-Yo Ma.

Tue, Feb 4 / 8 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall Tickets start at $40 / $15 UCSB students Presented through the generosity of Marcia & John Mike Cohen

() | manicapital.com Granada event tickets can also be purchased at: () | manicapital.com 16 – 23 January

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

21

ENTERTAINMENT (Continued from page 11)

Katharine at her family’s Montecito estate, Palmeira

Katharine O’Brien and Lost Transmissions producer Tory Lenosky (photo by Elizabeth Kitchens)

most amazing twentieth century masters hanging on walls. That influenced me hugely.” Hahn also gave O’Brien her first taste of how moving a work of art could be, she said, recalling how sometimes after attending a classical concert with the family, he’d listen to the music on the radio on the drive home. “He would stay sitting in the car, just listening to the radio with tears streaming down his face. We’d all go into the house and he’d stay out there, listening to music for another hour.” The famous art dealer would sometimes seek out Katharine’s opinion about a piece of art he was considering acquiring, she recalled. “He would ask me what I thought about it and I’d tell him I didn’t really know how to critique or judge a painting. But he would say, ‘How does it make you feel?’… That was just a very simple but memorable lesson about trusting our gut and realizing that all we really have to go by is letting our

J ARROTT

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INVESTMENT PROPERTIES WITH NATIONAL TENANTS CALL

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22 MONTECITO JOURNAL

own feelings be a guide.” That ethos continued as O’Brien studied English at Wellesley and then film in graduate school at Columbia before moving to Los Angeles where she worked on a series of short films and wrote the script for Justin Lerner’s The Automatic Hate, which premiered at SXSW Film Festival in And she surely stayed true to her gut in making Lost Transmissions, her feature film debut as a writer-director, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last spring and has three screenings at SBIFF during its opening weekend. The story, however, comes from O’Brien’s more recent adult life, as Lost Transmissions follows Hannah, a shy songwriter who discovers that her exciting new friend who took a liking to her, a respected record producer named Theo, has lapsed on taking his medication for schizophrenia, leading to several harrowing episodes. Hannah rallies his friends to try to get Theo committed to a psychiatric facility, literally chasing him through Los Angeles poolside mansions and gritty streets as his delusions take over. “It’s based loosely on something I went through with a group of friends there,” she explained. “One of our friends went off his medications and it fell to us to try to help him. We had to go through that process of learning how hard it is to get someone help even when you’re trying as hard as you can.” That experience came into sharper relief as O’Brien saw the worsening homeless crisis in L.A. “I started to realize that the majority of those people were mentally ill and in need of help and not getting it. It was one of those moments where I was having a

very personal experience that seemed to line up with something very universal.” While the character of Theo is drawn directly from O’Brien’s producer friend – who not only gave permission for the film to be made but also acted as story consultant in the production – Hannah is an augmented composite of the group who tried to help him. “I didn’t want it to become a psychological horror film,” O’Brien explained. “It was more important to reveal what it was like dealing with someone’s mental illness. So she’s representative of how it affected all of us.” The film succeeds in large part due to the clear chemistry between Simon Pegg – known for the Shaun of the Dead trilogy, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End, as well as the recent Star Trek franchise as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott and Mission: Impossible – and actress Juno Temple. “Simon signed on very early,” O’Brien recalled. “The person it’s based on is very funny and self-aware, and makes jokes about his condition when he’s on his meds. So even in the scariest moments there’s something that’s humorous. Simon has both dramatic and comedic chips and knows how to walk between them. And Juno was just full of that caring and heart which made her perfect for Hannah.” When Los Angeles got to be too much for O’Brien while she was writing the film, she often found herself back home in Montecito. “I’d come home to get away to write and spend time with my family. For me being able to escape the quagmire of L.A. and get back to nature was essential for my existence, like my meditation or going to church. When you spend a couple of days in the rare beauty of Montecito, your senses

“A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.



start to open up, you see colors more vibrantly, and notice more smells. For me, the closest thing to the divine is coming up and spending days on end in the Montecito foothills.” Her earlier time in nature has informed the film, too, O’Brien said. “The physical space from early on does form your psyche. In my films, I love big spaces, people moving through landscapes. Scenes about that natural world are underneath the surface of what I like to write about. It shows up even in the types of shots I choose, and the framing.” O’Brien is thrilled to be bringing the film – which she hopes will help to further destigmatize mental illness and reduce the fear people face when dealing with a schizophrenic – back to her hometown film festival, which screened her first show many years ago and where she’s led workshops and other programs. The SBIFF screenings come just a couple of months before Lost Transmissions arrives in commercial theaters. “It’s very exciting to have a lot of my family and old friends coming out to the screening. It will be great to reconnect with familiar faces.” (Lost Transmissions screens at 9 pm Thursday, January 16, 6 pm Saturday, January 18, and pm Sunday, January 19, all at the Metro 4.)

In the Key of Joy

Sérgio Mendes just performed in Santa Barbara at Campbell Hall for UCSB A&L. Normally, we wouldn’t see someone of his stature – a threetime Grammy-winner whose nearly six-decades long career as a producer, composer, keyboardist and vocalist places him among the most internationally successful Brazilian artists in history – back in town just two scant months later. But this time, Mendes will be meandering down State Street on Saturday, January 18, for the world premiere of John Scheinfeld’s new documentary Sergio Mendes: In The Key of Joy, a decidedly upbeat biopic exploring the defining moments of Mendes’ life and music, whose hit single “Mas Que Nada” was the first Portuguese language song to score on Billboard’s U.S. Pop chart. Scheinfeld is best known for two widely acclaimed previous feature docs about legendary musicians: The U.S. vs. John Lennon and Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?, while his Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary, currently runs on Netflix. “My mom used to play Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 all the time when I was growing up, so I was always tapping toes and feeling energized by him for years,” Scheinfeld recalled. “His music is very joyous and uplift16 – 23 January

it all again in a movie form. It’s very rare for an artist to stay relevant for decades. Why do you think you have been able to remain popular for so long? It’s about making good choices, and I definitely have been very lucky to have worked with the people early on in my career. You do make choices, but intuition also plays a big role in my decisions. But I think my curiosity has been the most important. I love to learn and work with new people from different cultures. I’m always looking for something different in every aspect – art, music, and really all of life. Juno Temple, Katharine O’Brien, and Simon Pegg on set (photo by Elizabeth Kitchens)

ing and always makes you feel good. I hesitated all of five seconds before saying ‘Yeah, I’ll do that.’” Part of the appeal and the approach, Scheinfeld said, was that Mendes’ trajectory isn’t “a traditional one of a musician who came out of nowhere, had success, fell into the abyss of alcohol and drugs and then clawed his way back. Instead he’s just an extremely talented guy who followed his dream. He’s had ups and downs in his career, but has found a way to reinvent himself in every decade.” Mendes and a few bandmates will be on hand to perform a mini three song set during the Q&A session with the star and director following Saturday’s screening. He talked about the movie and his career over the phone last week. Q. The film feels very poignant to me. How was it for you to go back and relive these moments from your life and career? A. At first there was a little anxiety… to go back and examine your

life when you don’t know how it’s going to turn out. It’s very difficult when you embark on a project like this to talk about your life and go back to your past. You need to be in tune with the person you are working with. But John Scheinfeld, he’s such an amazing person, not just a good director, and he’s very musical and tasteful, so it was a wonderful encounter. In the film, you talk about collaborating with a variety of artists through the decade, and how you manage to mesh with them. It almost seems like with John you found another musical partner, but for making a movie. Yes. It does feel like that. We spent a wonderful two years together, and it was a pleasure after all to revisit places and talk about them. The first time I saw (the finished film) with my wife, we both had tears in our eyes. There are so many beautiful moments from our lives, and to listen to the music – it was very emotional to feel

The best little paper in America (Covering the best little community anywhere!) Executive Editor/CEO Gwyn Lurie • Publisher/COO Timothy Lennon Buckley Editor At Large Kelly Mahan Herrick • News and Feature Editor Nicholas Schou Associate Editor Bob Hazard • Copy Editor Lily Buckley Harbin Arts and Entertainment Editor Steven Libowitz

Contributors Scott Craig, Julia Rodgers, Ashleigh Brilliant, Sigrid Toye, Zach Rosen, Kim Crail Gossip Richard Mineards • History Hattie Beresford • Humor Ernie Witham Our Town Joanne A. Calitri Society Lynda Millner • Travel Jerry Dunn • Sportsman Dr. John Burk • Trail Talk Lynn P. Kirst Account Managers Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson • Bookkeeping Diane Davidson • Proofreading Helen Buckley Design/Production Trent Watanabe Published by Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC PRINTED BY NPCP INC., SANTA BARBARA, CA Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at Coast Village Circle, Suite H, Montecito, CA How to reach us: Editorial: () ; Sue Brooks: ext. 4; Christine Merrick: ext. 3; Classified: ext. 3; FAX: () ; Letters to Editor: Montecito Journal, Coast Village Circle, Suite H, Montecito, CA ; E-MAIL: tim@manicapital.com

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It seems like you float into new projects rather than force them, like it’s less a matter of reinventing but just allowing yourself to be permeated by what’s around you. Which explains how you have survived if not thrived through things like disco and new wave, and why you made such great music with someone like manicapital.com, who at first blush wouldn’t seem to be a compatible artist. Does that resonate? Absolutely. You don’t want to be trendy, but I love to take left turns, to try things that involve – what’s the word in English? – audacity, just to see if they work for me. But not to follow a fashion. My curiosity lets me look into things like when manicapital.com wants me to make a record with him. All through my career, at Atlantic, A&M, Geffen – they just told me to give them the best record I could. I can only work well if I have the freedom to indulge my curiosity and go where it takes me. Speaking of which, you are releasing an album next month to coincide with the documentary. What inspired you to compose… again so much? I haven’t written in a long time, but I composed all the songs on the album. I’ve got the new rapper as well as Common and some other guests. It’s very fresh and new, exactly what I wanted to do, continue to portray the joy of Brazilian music that still feels that way to me 60 years later. The other day I was taking an Uber, and the driver started telling me he makes beats. So I told asked him to let me hear them, and he was great, so I gave him my card and told him to call me.

Classical Corner: Dream Team of Winds

Camerata Pacifica kicks off the second half of Season 2 of its two-year “Why Beethoven?” project with a program wind program featuring flutist Jasmine Choi, oboists Nicholas Daniel and Claire Brazeau, clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester and Pascal Archer, and bassoonists Judith Farmer and William Short, who no

• The Voice of the Village •

doubt are up to the task of tackling Beethoven’s relatively rarely heard Octet for Winds in E-flat Major, Op. , and Quintet for Oboe, Three Horns, & Bassoon, Hess 19, along with Nielsen’s Wind Quintet, Op. 43, and Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds in D Minor, Op. Get blown away at pm on Friday, January 17, at Hahn Hall. Also on Camerata’s calendar for this week: a free panel discussion on Beethoven’s influence and popularity in China at 7 pm Wednesday, January 22, at Karpeles Manuscript Library. A quartet of writers and scholars – Dr. Hao Huang, Derek Katz, Sheila Melvin, and Laurence Vittes – will dive deep into the topic in examining the volatility of the Chinese relationship to Beethoven over the years even as his music continues to be a central factor in Chinese engagement with Western culture, and wondering whether that’s still true in the West. Info at () or manicapital.com

Elsewhere on the Classical Calendar

Celebrate the great IsraeliAmerican violinist Itzhak Perlman on both film and in person as UCSB A&L first presents Alison Chernick’s documentary Itzhak, which details Perlman’s struggles as a polio survivor and Jewish émigré who rises to vast artistic success, at Campbell Hall on Thursday, January 16, then lets the musician himself share the tales in an evening titled “Stories of His Life and Career” at the Granada on Tuesday, January During the multimedia event, Perlman will share intimate anecdotes, personal photos and archival video as well as live music performed with his longtime pianist, Rohan De Silva. Info at () or www. manicapital.com The Santa Barbara Symphony kicks off the second half of its season with a program anchored by Beethoven’s “Eroica.” The pair of concerts on January at the Granada Theatre begin with Michael Torke’s Ash, followed by Israeli pianists Sivan Silver and Gil Garburg performing a unique arrangement for piano fourhands and strings based on Johannes Brahms’ G minor Piano Quartet, Op. Call () or visit www. manicapital.com Up at Ojai’s Chamber On The Mountain series, Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, the accomplished Australian guitar duo, play a program that ranges from Tchaikovsky and Händel to Ralph Towner and the brothers’ originals, at the Logan House at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, at 3 pm on Sunday, January  •MJ MONTECITO JOURNAL

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Library Mojo 

by Kim Crail

Kim is the Branch Lead of the Montecito Library. Questions or comments? Contact her: kcrail@manicapital.com

Good Neighbors

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aying hello, bumping into someone in line, knowing the cashier’s name, seeing people and being seen – these are all components of social infrastructure, studied by sociologist Eric Klinenberg and fleshed out in his book Palaces for the People. These everyday affinities are part of what makes public library life so vital, keeping us civil and safe. Public places strengthen our social infrastructure, creating feelings of goodwill and mutual support. Thank you for the part you play in this process. Whatever your age, political views, or social status, you are welcome here. Yes, even you introverts and eccentrics. You are among kindred spirits at the library. Swing by anytime to experience the benefits yourself.

ter at work, flexing his stage muscles, telling the poignant story of a man recalling his childhood Christmas on a Wyoming ranch. Anthony Zerbe and guitarist Christopher Zerbe performed Lime Creek Christmas, adapted from Joe Henry’s novel Lime Creek.

While the audience surely expected something special from this Emmy winning actor (given his impressive stage and screen career) some were moved to tears and could hardly believe that they were seeing this remarkable performance for free at the library.

Montecito Library Book Club

Saturday, we discussed The River by Peter Heller, notable for its nature writing, depictions of wildfire, and the harsh realities of wilderness sur-

Normal People by Sally Rooney is Montecito Library Book Club’s February selection

Zerbe’s Performance Brings Down the House On December 21, an intimate crowd of forty-five watched a brilliant mas-

Montecito Library staff with Anthony and Christopher Zerbe

C A B R I L L O P AV I L I O N

C A B R I L L O P AV I L I O N

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vival. Some mentioned that this was not a typical choice for them, but they would highly recommend it for its suspense, beautiful male friendship, and sense of place. February’s selection, Normal People by Sally Rooney, is set in Dublin, Ireland. While we cannot promise that you will fall in love with its flawed characters, we do predict that there will be a lively discussion of the romance and competition between them.

Poetry Club

On the first Thursday of each month we invite you to attend Poetry Club. It is led by retired high school English teacher and library volunteer Carole Baral, who expertly prepares

biographical information and compiles works for each poet, leading group members in discussion. Made up of loyal members, they enthusiastically welcome new attendees, looking forward to members’ participation in reading selections and raising questions and observations about the poet and their work. February’s poet is Richard Wilbur, who lived to the ripe age of 96, was U.S. Poet Laureate, and received the Pulitzer prize twice. Feel free to bring your own selection of the poet chosen to add to the discussion. Please join us!

Upcoming Special Events Wednesday Matinees at pm 1/22 – Dora and the Lost City of Gold 1/29 – Jumanji 2/5 – The Public Poetry Club discusses Richard Wilbur Thursday, 2/6, pm Book Club discusses Normal People by Sally Rooney Saturday, 2/8, 11 am See you at the library!

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS As part of the $million building renovation of the Cabrillo Pavilion, the City of Santa Barbara seeks a successful fitness provider (partner) for the Cabrillo Pavilion, a premier oceanfront community recreation and event center located at East Beach. Due February 12, Please visit our website for further information: manicapital.com CITY OF SANTA BARBARA PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT () | PavilionRFQ@manicapital.com

August Poetry Club meeting with SB Poet Laureate Laure-Anne Bosselaar

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 Jr. “There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth.” – Martin Luther King,

16 – 23 January

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• The Voice of the Village •

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Spirituality Matters by Steven Libowitz “Spirituality Matters” highlights two or three Santa Barbara area spiritual gatherings. Unusual themes and events with that something extra, especially newer ones looking for a boost in attendance, receive special attention. For consideration for inclusion in this column, email slibowitz@manicapital.com

Demystifying Dharma

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