Category: Cultural

Sept. 28 — OC Live to present film screening ‘Signing Black in America’

Signing Black in America is the second film in the Talking Black in America documentary project. It features the pioneering research on Black ASL by Dr. Joseph Hill (Rochester Institute of Technology), who will join us by zoom to discuss the film and his work. Join us for this fascinating exploration at the cutting edge of ASL research!

Sept. 28 — CSUCI launches Healthcare Leadership Symposium Series

To help health science and nursing students gain understanding of the healthcare system from the perspective of local leaders, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is launching a symposium series featuring local health care experts who will share their knowledge and experiences.

The first CSUCI HeaLS: Healthcare Leadership Symposium Series event, “Current and Future Challenges in Healthcare,” will be held at CSUCI’s main campus on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 6 p.m. in the John Spoor Broome Library, Room 1320. The event is open to the public and features four panelists who each bring a unique perspective from the role they serve in healthcare.

Sept. 28 — Virtual Meet the Doctor in Spanish ‘Heart Disease Prevention’ Dr. Alejandro Garcia-Revilla, Cardiologist

The Cottage Heart & Vascular Center will host a free virtual Meet the Doctor event presented in Spanish on heart disease prevention featuring cardiologist Dr. Alejandro Garcia-Revilla, on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 4 -5 p.m. 

This virtual Spanish presentation will include an English interpreter. 

During his presentation Dr. Garcia-Revilla will discuss caring for your heart and vascular system, from prevention to intervention. There will be a question and answer session following the presentation. 

Sept. 29 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents a FREE screening of Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton at the Arlington Theatre

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents a free screening of Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton at the Arlington Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. 

Perhaps the greatest big wave surfer of all time, Laird Hamilton is a living legend who has tamed some of the world’s mightiest waves. Amongst the surf community, he is also one of the most controversial figures, an innovator who has revolutionized the sport often to the dismay of purists. This thrilling, up-close portrait traces Hamilton’s remarkable journey, from his rebellious childhood in Hawaii to his fearless first forays into surfing to his relentless pursuit of ever-bigger waves, a quest that ultimately led him to conquer what’s been called “the heaviest wave ever ridden.” Blending candid interviews with breathtaking action footage, Take Every Wave is a visceral, white-knuckle look at a life lived on the edge. (Rory Kennedy, 2017, 118 min.)

This screening is part of the Arts & Lectures Thematic Learning Initiative and is presented in association with The Arlington Theatre.

Sept. 30 — Flying Goat Cellars Hosts Annual Winemaker Dinner at La Purisima Mission

Flying Goat Cellars will host its fifteenth annual Winemaker Dinner at La Purísima Mission on September 30, 2022. Winemaker Norm Yost partners with Chef Clark Staub of Full of Life Flatbread for an intimate dining experience in the romantic, rustic ambiance of the historic Franciscan mission. Guests will unwind in the mission garden as Winemaker Yost pours Goat Bubbles sparkling wine served with appetizers. A four-course meal prepared by Chef Staub will be served in the California heritage dining room seating 40 guests. Three wines featured at the event are Orange County Fair Wine Competition award winners.

Sept. 30 — Art exhibit features marine debris from Channel Islands

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is presenting an exhibit of art created by students, faculty and community members from marine debris found on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands to highlight one of the most widespread pollution problems facing the world’s ocean and waterways.  

The “Channel Islands Marine Debris Art Show” will be held Friday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 10 p.m. at MadeWest Brewery at 1744 Donlon St. in Ventura. The exhibit will then be viewable by appointment throughout October at the 643 Project Space at 643 N. Ventura Ave. in Ventura. A reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 7, as part of ArtsVentura’s First Friday.  

Oct. 2 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Rising Star of American Music Charley Crockett

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Rising Star of American Music  Charley Crockett, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct.2 at the Arlington Theatre

Crockett’s concert kicks off the opening week of A&L’s 2022-2023 season of performances and special events, and is followed by Ukrainian rock band Dakha Brakha, Lindy hop sensation SW!NG OUT, CNN analyst David Gergen, and more than 40 additional events.

An authentic and prolific songwriter, Crockett has released five albums of original material since 2020, culminating with September 2022’s The Man from Waco. His latest single, “I’m Just a Clown,” blends classic country craftsmanship with the soulful sounds of Memphis-style horns and reverb-drenched blues guitar. 

Oct. 4 — The Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula to present Local History Happy Hour/ZOOM with John Krist

The Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will present Local History Happy Hour/ZOOM with John Krist from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula.

Members: $0 / $10 non-members in-person / $5 for non-members on Zoom

The Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula invites you to join us for the next installment of our popular series, Local History Happy Hour. In this series, local authors and historians will sit down with The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director Elena Brokaw to discuss their unique perspectives on our region’s history and take questions from the audience.

Oct. 5 — OC LIVE to present ‘Flamenco! Music& Dance

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Flamenco! The passionate strumming of guitars, the thundering rhythms created by dancers’ feet striking the stage – this is Flamenco in its pure essence. Bring your flowers, fans and castanets and get ready to yell Olé! as Wendy Castellanos-Wolf and the rest of Flamenco805 set the stage on fire with their entrancing movements and heart-wrenching expression. 

Oct. 6 — Larkin, a contemporary fashion designer and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the industry, has opened (IN)LARKIN

 UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is proud to present an evening of Ukrainian culture featuring DakhaBrakha. From Kyiv, DakhaBrakha creates a world of unexpected new music, weaving ancient folk melodies into a subversive musical tapestry that embraces indie rock, pop, hip hop, the avant-garde and traditional instrumentation from around the world. At the crossroads of folklore and theater, DakhaBrakha has honed an evocative musical approach that “brings a beguiling blend of music from an anguished nation” (The Boston Globe). Prepare yourself for a sonic feast that celebrates the spirit and determination of Ukraine. 

Oct. 6 — SBMA Art Matters features Jan Tichy on Lucia Moholy and Documentary Absurdities

SBMA Art Matters features Jan Tichy on Lucia Moholy and Documentary Absurdities at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Tichy, Associate Professor, Department of Photography, Art & Technology
Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, shares his work and research on the writer and photographer Lucia Moholy and discusses the place of contemporary art within historical research and preservation.

Oct. 6 — 2nd Annual Awards Event Underway for Ventura County Community Development Corp.

The Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) will be celebrating its 2nd Annual Awards Ceremony, “Leading People Home”, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 at Spanish Hills Club in Camarillo by honoring four individuals with prestigious named awards for their work in transforming lives through community partnerships, transformational leadership, and homeownership affordability and creation.

VCCDC’s impact of changing lives through homeownership for the last 21 years began as an operational venture by co-founders Rodney Fernandez and Bertha Garcia. In 2014, VCCDC was spun-off, becoming the only CDFI based nonprofit serving low-to-moderate income families with mortgages in the Ventura County. This year’s ceremony will highlight the honoring of three individuals and one organization whose commitments mirror VCCDC’s mission to strengthen and sustain vibrant communities by empowering individuals and families to build wealth through education and homeownership.

Oct. 7 — Museum of Ventura County to present ‘Story Time at the Museum’

The Museum of Ventura County will present “Story Time at the Museum” from 3 o 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at 100 E. Main St., Ventura.

The Museum of Ventura County has been partnering with the Ventura County Library to bring bilingual (in English and Spanish) in-person Story Time every first Friday of the month at 3pm. Join us for stories, then play and learn in the Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Chumash Children’s Garden, a fabulous and FREE outing for ALL!

Oct. 8 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents SW!NG OUT, a Joyce Theater Production

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents SW!NG OUT, the spectacular new Lindy Hop revue and jam session from New York’s Joyce Theater. Acclaimed choreographer Caleb Teicher brings the best of the swing dance world to the Santa Barbara stage. Accompanied by live music from Eyal Vilner’s 10-piece Big Band, 12 dance champions prove that there’s no better time to celebrate the joy, fire and fight of the Lindy Hop, America’s competitive and partnered dance form. SW!NG OUT pairs choreographic magic with stunning improvisations and ends with an on-stage jam session for performers and audience members. Don’t miss The New York Times Best of 2021 Critic’s Pick, “the contemporary swing-dance show that… gave me the most joy of any dance production in 2021.”

Oct. 9 — Love, Italian Style! A Celebration of Italian Film, Food & Fashion The Rona Barrett Foundation

We’re thrilled to bring back our major fundraiser this year with a truly magical evening. Come celebrate and support the Rona Barrett Foundation and its mission to help seniors in their time of need through advocacy and the creation of housing communities with wellness services.

Oct. 12 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Sacre by the contemporary circus troupe Circa at Campbell Hall

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Sacre by Circa on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Campbell Hall. Poetic tenderness. Raw emotion. Physical strength. Ten acrobats from the critically-acclaimed Australian ensemble Circa bring Stravinsky’s seminal Rite of Spring to the circus stage. Pulsating with tension and infused with dark humor, this distinctive production from Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz confronts humanity’s interconnectivity, our inherent sexual desire and relationship with divinity. At the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus, Circa pushes the boundaries of the art form, blurring the lines between movement, dance, theater and circus. (Recommended for ages 12 and up.)

Oct. 14 — Iconic Boots & Brews Country Music Festival Announces Its Closing Ventura Performance with Award-Winning Superstar Tim McGraw

CBF Productions, one of California’s largest traveling festival production companies for over 13 years, announced the return of its Boots & Brews Country Music Festival with dates in Ventura, Santa Clarita, and Morgan Hills. The festival season kicks off in Ventura on August 20th withCole Swindell, followed by Brad Paisley in Santa Clarita on September 3rd. Brothers Osborne will be headlining the festival in Morgan Hills on September 10th, and awarding country music star Tim McGrawends the season on October 14th with his debut Ventura performance. These family-friendly outdoor affairs will each feature tasty food vendors, local craft brews, and music from today’s most sought-after country artists with live in-person performances under the stars.

Oct. 15 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents teen punk quartet The Linda Lindas at Campbell Hall

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents The Linda Lindas on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Campbell Hall. The Linda Lindas may have broken out in 2021 with their viral video, “Racist, Sexist Boy,” an original song performed at the Los Angeles Public Library, but they have been carrying on LA’s spirit of ’70s punk, power pop and new wave since 2018, sharing the stage with indie heroes like Best Coast, Bleached, Money Mark and Bikini Kill. Ranging in age from 11 to 17, half Asian/half Latinx sisters, cousins and friends Bela, Lucia, Eloise and Mila are ascending rock’s new feminist front, coolly shredding through songs about identity, friendship, power and cats.

Oct 16 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents An Evening with big wave surf pioneer Laird Hamilton

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is thrilled to announce an evening with big wave surfer Laird Hamilton moderated by documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy on October 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre. A big-wave surfer and pioneer in the world of action water sports, Laird Hamilton is a hard-charging athlete, renowned innovator and guiding genius of crossover board sports including tow-in surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and hydrofoil boarding. He is the subject of the documentary Take Every Wave, and his bestselling book Liferider tackles human resilience, relationships, business, technology, risk-taking and the importance of respecting the natural world. Explore the courage, ambition and talent that push a person to greatness in an evening with the American icon who changed the sport of big-wave surfing forever.

Just Added – Free screening of Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton on Thursday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre. This screening is part of the Arts & Lectures Thematic Learning Initiative and is presented in association with the Arlington Theatre.

Oct. 17 — Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Honors 17 Graduates for Achievements by Housing Authority in Presidio Springs

This year, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is honoring 17 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program graduates on October 17, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. in the Presidio Springs community room located at 721 Laguna Street.

The Family Self Sufficiency Program (FSS) is a voluntary five (5) year program in which an Individual Training and Services Plan is developed with each participant to design a clear path of specific goals and objectives in order to achieve living wage employment and gain economic self-sufficiency.  It is available to families who are part of the Section 8 Housing program.

Oct. 17 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Aeolus Quartet Chamber Music Concert

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present Aeolus Quartet Chamber Music Concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17.

Formed in 2008, the Aeolus Quartet has performed in venues ranging from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Lincoln Center’s Great Performers Series to Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, to Dupont Underground, a subterranean streetcar station in DC’s Dupont Circle. They were the 2013-2015 Graduate Resident String Quartet at the Juilliard School and are currently Quartet-in-Residence at Musica Viva, NY. In addition to extensive touring throughout the United States, the 2021-22 season includes a Morgan Library performance as well as a feature on the Violin Channel.

Oct. 19 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble at Campbell Hall

 UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Campbell Hall. One of the premier Indian dance ensembles performing today, the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble has the unprecedented distinction of making The New York Times’ Best Dance of the Year list two years in a row. More than a dance company, Nrityagram was founded as a Gurukula (school) devoted to Indian dance. The all-female ensemble’s daily life of intensive training and meditation produces captivating performances that are at once sensual and lyrical. For ?huti, men and women of the Sri Lankan company Chitrasena join the women of Nrityagram’s Odissi troupe, comprising a large ensemble of dancers and musicians.

Oct. 20 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present a reading and discussion with T.C. Boyle

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art present a discussion with T.C. Boyle “I’m goin’ to mess with you” on Thursday, Oct. 20, 5:30 pm at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

In a reading and discussion of his electric, darkly humorous collection of 13 new short stories, the inimitable T.C. Boyle, Santa Barbara resident and bestselling writer of Talk to Me and Outside Looking In, ”messes with us” as the book inscription from Willie Dixon’s I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man promises.

In the title story of I Walk Between the Raindrops, a woman sits down next to a man at a bar and claims she has ESP. In “Thirteen Days,” passengers on a cruise line are quarantined, to horrifying and hilarious effect. And “Hyena” begins simply: “That was the day the hyena came for him, and never mind that there were no hyenas in the South of France, and especially not in Pont-Saint-Esprit—it was there, and it came for him.” A virtuoso of the short form, T.C. Boyle returns to share with us these inventive and masterfully told short stories characterized by his always biting satire, resonant wit, and a boundless, irrepressible imagination.

Oct. 21 — CLU Play explores all sides of Roe v. Wade

The original version of Lisa Loomer’s 2016 play “Roe” ended with the words, “As of today, Roe v. Wade still stands.” In June 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned a woman’s right to abortion, the play’s final statement was no longer true. So students at California University Lutheran, who are staging “Roe” in October, had to wait for a rewrite from Loomer.

Cal Lutheran’s Theatre Arts and Dance Department will present a staged version of “Roe” (the updated version), directed by Red Patterson and Bianca Akbiyik, at 8 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Preus-Brandt Forum on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Oct. 23 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Day of the Dead’ Free Family Day

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present its Free “Day of the Dead” Free Family Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

For the 33rd year, the Museum honors the Mexican tradition of remembering the dead with a display of altars created by students in the Museum’s school and outreach programs and local community groups, including San Marcos High School, Montecito Union School, Quilt Project Gold Coast, SBMA’s Partnership with A-OK After-School Program (multiple schools), and SBMA’s ArtReach program (multiple schools).

Through Oct. 23 — Moorpark College Theatre Arts Celebrates Latinx Heritage Month with ‘Electricidad’

“Electricidad,” an urban Chicano drama set in East Los Angeles, comes to the Moorpark College Performing Arts Center with an all-Latina/Latino student cast. The Theatre Arts department production premieres during Latinx Heritage Month and runs Oct. 13 – 23, with evening performances Thursdays through Saturdays and Sunday matinees.

The Oct. 15 performance will include a meet-and-greet with the cast after the show and free tacos from Epic Taco food truck. The special event coincides with the end of Latinx Heritage month and is sponsored by Moorpark College’s Heritage Month Committee.

“The cast and crew will take the audience on a magnificent journey where they will experience a part of Mexican-American culture that is not often discussed or portrayed,” said Jorge Herrera, C.Phil., who served as the cultural consultant for the production to ensure its cultural authenticity. Herrera is a professor of ethnic studies at California State University, Fullerton, and teaches ethnic studies courses at Oxnard and Moorpark colleges.

Oct. 26 — OC LIVE: A Celebration of Filipino-American Art and Culture

In celebration of Filipino-American History Month, renowned Filipino artist Eliseo Art Silva comes to campus for an art exhibition and lecture presentation. Mr Siilva is well known for his major public art projects, including the famed gateway and “Gintong Kasaysayan” mural in Los Angeles’s Filipinotown. His work is celebrated for establishing a new visual language for understanding the Filipino experience at home and abroad. 

Mr. Silva’s presentation in the Performing Arts Building will be accompanied by a traditional Filipino dance performance by Ventura-based dance troupe Salin Lahi. Afterwards we will walk to the McNish Gallery of Art for an opening reception hosted by the Filipino-American Council of Ventura County. 

Oct. 27 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Latin Grammy Award-winning international sensation Carla Morrison in her Santa Barbara debut

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Carla Morrison on Thursday, Oct. 27 at Campbell Hall. “One the major lyricists of her generation” (NPR), Latin Grammy Award winner and international sensation Carla Morrison makes her Santa Barbara debut. She describes her 2021 release, El Renacimiento, as her “most personal album yet.” That’s something coming from an artist renowned for her raw, emotional retellings of heartbreak and loss. In concert, Morrison delivers multi-dimensional versions of her songs in a voice saturated with genuine emotions.

Oct. 31 — Trailblazing scientist and tech executive to speak at CSUCI

A former NASA rocket scientist, tech firm executive and Girls Scouts CEO will share her experience and advice with CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students and community members during a free luncheon on Monday, Oct. 31.

The Martin V. Smith Speaker Series event featuring Sylvia Acevedo of Santa Barbara will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Grand Salon, located at the northwest corner of Camarillo Street and Rincon Drive.

“Sylvia is a true trailblazer,” said Susan Andrzejewski, Ph.D., Dean of the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics at CSUCI. “As a lifelong advocate for the transformational power of education, Sylvia’s values strongly align with those of CSU Channel Islands, and I am certain our students, faculty, staff, and community members will enjoy the luncheon event.”

Nov. 4 — Straight from Carnegie Hall, UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Jean Rondeau at Hahn Hall

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Jean Rondeau, harpsichord on Friday, November 4 at 7:00 PM at Hahn Hall, Music Academy of the West. As a solo artist and a member of the Baroque ensemble Nevermind, Jean Rondeau has expanded the boundaries of early music and earned universal acclaim for his recordings and live performances. His outstanding talent and innovative approach to keyboard repertoire will be on full display with his performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, presented in its complete form, with the indicated repeats and judicious insertion of moments of silence.

Nov. 4 — Museum of Ventura County to present Story Time at the Museum

The Museum of Ventura County will present Story Time at the Museum from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 at 100 E. Main St., Ventura.

The Museum of Ventura County has been partnering with the Ventura County Library to bring bilingual (in English and Spanish) in-person Story Time every first Friday of the month at 3pm. Join us for stories, then play and learn in the Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Chumash Children’s Garden, a fabulous and FREE outing for ALL!

Nov. 5 — Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation’s 25th Annual Military Ball

Join Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation for the Silver Anniversary 25th Annual Military Ball to honor local veterans and active duty service members. The ball will be held Saturday, November 5th from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. 

The evening will be filled with live music, dancing, a wonderful three-course meal, and stirring presentations. The Military Ball is a sell-out event each year. Enjoy mingling with old friends, dancing to a live band: The Replicas, enjoying a beautiful dinner, and the pomp and circumstance of the program. 

Nov. 5 — 10th Annual Ventura County Farm Day ‘Meet All The Hands That Feed You’

On Saturday, November 5, more than 15 Ventura County farms, ranches and agricultural organizations will invite the public to experience a day of free agricultural activities and tours during the 10th Annual Ventura County Farm Day. This year’s theme is “Meet All The Hands That Feed You.”

Visitors can map out their day by selecting locations from the Farm Day Trail Map at https://venturacountyfarmday.com/map. Each site offers tours and produce and other giveaways. Tour hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some locations require reservations.

“Agriculture is Ventura County’s largest industry. Farm Day is the opportunity to see how fruits and vegetables are grown, harvested and then shipped to stores for sale,” says Mary Maranville, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), which puts on Ventura County Farm Day each year. “You’ll come away with an appreciation of the hard work that goes into growing each piece of produce.”

Nov. 6 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Jennifer Egan in Conversation with Pico Iyer

UCSB Arts & Lectures will present Jennifer Egan in Conversation with Pico Iyer at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 at Campbell Hall, Isla Vista. …

Jennifer Egan is a novelist, short story writer and journalist whose innovative literary fiction routinely makes the New York Times bestseller list. Her works include the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit From the Goon Squad, Manhattan Beach and her latest, The Candy House. Egan’s rare combination of imaginative daring and comprehensive understanding has made her a favorite of both popular audiences and other authors. Funny, fierce and unafraid of contradiction, Egan brings wit and humor to a wide range of subjects including music, technology, memory and love. Expect fireworks as Pico takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of Egan’s colorful life and fascinating work.

Nov. 12 — CSUCI and the Ventura County Library invite everybody to dig into “Taste Makers” with ‘One County, One Book’ event

Desperation drove Mexican immigrant Elena Zelayeta and her husband to begin selling homemade Mexican and Spanish meals out of their San Francisco living room after they lost their car and their home during the Great Depression. 

Zelayeta went on to become a renowned Mexican American celebrity chef, and one of the women profiled in the 2021 book “Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America” by Mayukh Sen, an award-winning food journalist who teaches in Columbia University’s Creative Writing program.  

“Taste Makers” is this year’s selection for the Ventura County Library (VCL)’s “One County, One Book” reading program, which will culminate with a public event in the Grand Salon at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12. 

Nov. 12 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents An Evening with Nigella Lawson in conversation with KCRW Good Food host Evan Kleiman at the Granada Theatre

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents an evening with Nigella Lawson, Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. An iconic home chef, bestselling cookbook author, and star of countless television specials. Nigella Lawson has become an unstoppable and empowering force in the world of food since publishing her first cookbook, How To Eat, in 1998. She is the author of 12 bestselling books, including her latest, Cook, Eat, Repeat, and the beloved personality of TV series including Nigella Bites. She was voted Author of the Year at the British Book Awards and Best Food Personality at the Observer Food Monthly Awards. In conversation with Evan Kleiman, host of KCRW’s Good Food, the culinary powerhouse and global food icon will recount her trajectory by way of the people, food, and recipes that have shaped her unique life of cooking, eating, and repeating. 

Nov. 14 — OC LIVE presents Delia Rawdon ‘Transgender Resilience and the Path to Equality’

Delia Danae Rawdon is an out and visible transgender actress, writer, musician and performance artist. She is a lifelong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and strives to break through the social constructs and barriers that society has put upon us. Through historical information, storytelling, and comedy, we will explore raging riots, the world through Delia’s eyes, and the beauty of the transgender experience. 

Nov. 15 — Weekday Evening Cash 4 College Workshops Added at Ventura County Community Colleges

Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus are holding free evening Cash 4 College workshops to help students apply for funds to help with college costs. Funds can be used for tuition, books, housing, transportation, childcare, computers and more.  

In-person and online Zoom workshops are scheduled for Nov. 15, depending on the campus. The workshops are free and open to the community; anyone may attend a workshop on either date and can drop in at any time during the events.

Nov. 15 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company at The Granada Theatre

UCSB Arts & Lectures will present Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at The Granada Theatre.

“All of my work is in pursuit of the ‘we.’ What Problem? is the notion of ‘WE THE PEOPLE.’“ – Choreographer Bill T. Jones

This new work from Tony Award-winning MacArthur “Genius“ Bill T. Jones features a live original score and excerpts from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech.

Jones is known for his ability to visualize the human condition through choreography and dance. The recipient of the National Medal of Arts, a MacArthur Fellowship, a Kennedy Center Honors Award and multiple Tony Awards, there is little imaginative territory Jones has not attempted. His latest, highly-personal work, What Problem? is performed to live music, in part by local community members.

Nov. 16 — Bilingual report — Fallen Firefighters to be Remembered at Ventura County Memorial

The fire agencies of Ventura County will honor firefighters who lost their lives in service to our community during the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial remembrance Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m.

“We are fortunate that no new names are being added to the list of the fallen this year,” Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said. “And we continue to remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while working to keep others safe.”

The outdoor ceremony at the Ventura County Government Center recognizes all firefighters who died in the line of duty, whether from traumatic injury or job-related illness. The memorial represents all seven fire agencies serving the county, including Ventura County, Oxnard, Ventura City, Federal Fire, Fillmore City, CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service.

Nov. 19 — Museum of Ventura County — A Year Without You – Opening Reception

The Museum of Ventura County will present “A Year Without You,”  Opening Reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at 100 E. Main St., Ventura.

As a collaboration, The RAD Foundation & artist Julie Dahl-Nicolle are showcasing, for thirty days, “A Year Without You”. This collection of one hundred floral mixed media canvas paintings dives into the realization of what we have all experienced over the last two years due to COVID-19: a sense of loss.

Nov. 21 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet at 7:30 Monday, Nov. 21 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Inspiring performances, luminous sound, and exceptional musicianship are the hallmarks of the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet.

Nov. 22 — Greater Santa Barbara Area Clergy Association to present Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Our annual Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held in person on Tuesday, November 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. at the historic, downtown First United Methodist Church.

The Greater Santa Barbara Area Clergy Association, sponsor of this event, includes clergy and religious leaders from over 100 local faith communities and is dedicated to fostering mutual understanding, tolerance and appreciation among all.

Dec. 1 — SBMA’s Art Matters Lecture looks at Impressionism and Climate Change

Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Art Matters Lecture looks at Impressionism and Climate Change with Harmon Siegel, Ph.D., Junior Fellow, Harvard Society of Fellows at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Impressionism has, from the beginning, been seen as an art of nature. Today, however, in the moment we call the Anthropocene, when human projects have transformed every corner of the planet and threaten to make it uninhabitable, this commitment may seem hopelessly naive. In fact, however, impressionist paintings illuminate our condition, revealing the entanglement of nature and society. In so doing, they help us overcome nostalgia for a lost nature and recognize our responsibility for shaping the world we inhabit.

Dec. 1 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Jake Shimabukuro at The Granada Theatre

UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Jake Shimabukuro at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara.

Drawing on signature favorites, a vibrant catalog of holiday classics, and selections from his recent album, Jake Shimabukuro’s merry live show Christmas in Hawai’i is sure to make spirits bright. Get tickets for Jake Shimabukuro on Dec 1, 2022 at The Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara. Presented by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures.

Dec. 4 — 2nd Annual Holidays In The Village, A European Marketplace, Westlake Village

The 2nd Annual Holidays in the Village, A European Marketplace, which celebrates the warmth and joy of the holiday season–all with a European flair, will take place Sunday, December 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Lakeview Canyon Road and Agoura Road (adjacent to Stonehaus) in Westlake Village.

Dec. 7 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Mariachi Sol de México

CSB Arts & Lectures will present Mariachi Sol de México at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara.

“Mariachi is the heart, the soul and the passion of Mexico.” – José Hernández

One of the world’s foremost mariachi groups, Mariachi Sol de México incorporates elements of Las Posadas alongside traditional Christmas carols in this festive musical tribute to Mexico’s holiday traditions. Get tickets for Mariachi Sol de México on Dec 7, 2022 at Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. Presented by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures — artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

Through Dec. 9 — CSU Channel Islands Exhibit honors late educator and pioneering animator

A free public exhibition at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will commemorate the life and work of Art Lecturer and pioneering animator Kathleen Quaife, a longtime Oak Park resident who died unexpectedly in October 2021.

“Kathleen Quaife: A Portrait of the Artist” will run through Dec. 9, in the Napa Hall Gallery.

Dec. 20 — 31st Annual Living Nativity to be held at First United Methodist Church, Santa Barbara

For 31 years the congregation of the First United Methodist Church has offered a beautiful seasonal gift to the community by staging a re-creation of the Holy Night for three nights just before Christmas. Under a redwood tree and adjacent to the church, a grassy area is transformed into a humble wooden stable, complete with a serene Mary, Joseph and tiny baby Jesus asleep in the manger. Three majestic kings stand by with their gifts to the Holy Child, attentive angels appear nearby, and lowly shepherds tend to their flocks. Live camels, sheep, donkeys and goats surround the manger taking in the wonder of it all. It is a silent and beautiful scene to behold.

Oxnard College Named 2021 Equity Champion of Higher Education

The Campaign for College Opportunity named Oxnard College a 2021 Equity Champion of Higher Education for its Excellence in Transfer for Latino students through Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT). Oxnard College, which has a predominantly Latino student body, offers 31 ADT programs covering a wide range of subject areas. These programs meet minimum eligibility requirements for admission to a California State University and guarantee students’ acceptance. 

The college’s Latino students obtain ADTs at a rate 2.3% higher than the campus-wide average, reported the California-based nonprofit that advocates for equity in higher education.

“Oxnard College’s efforts to increase transfer rates among Latino students will help lift a generation of families into Ventura County’s middle class,” said Oscar Cobian, vice president of student development. “We’re committed to providing the transfer services and resources our students need to achieve their educational aspirations.”

The college has been a Hispanic-Serving Institution since its inception in 1975. In 2020, it received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase equitable student outcomes among Latino and low-income students as they pursue their career and transfer goals.

Bilingual report — New County Clerk-Recorder Software Provides Speed, Efficiency, Security for Public and Employees

In the 22 years that David Valenzuela has been in the County Clerk-Recorder’s office, he has seen many changes in the procedures and technology for processing Ventura County’s hundreds of thousands of vital records and property documents each year.

“When I started in 1999, we were using a system called AtPac, which was high-tech for that time. However, it was not as robust as we first thought,” Valenzuela, now the Clerk-Recorder Division Manager, said. “In 2003, we implemented a new system called AmCad, and in 2006, we had a major upgrade, and we have kept this system for the last 15 years.”

Bilingual report — Submissions now accepted for participation in March 1-31 virtual ‘Women Scream Festival’ (Grito de Mujer)

Submissions are now being accepted for participation in the March 1-31 virtual ‘Women Scream International Poetry and Arts Festival’ (Grito de Mujer), said Simi Valley resident Teresita Calderón, poet, a writer, and a volunteer coordinator for the Woman Scream International Poetry and Arts Festival.

Born in the Dominican Republic, The Woman Scream Poetry Festival is an annual international chain of cultural events during March that compiles all arts and unifies diverse voices of the world against women violence. It has been celebrating since 2011.

Santa Paula Art Museum — You’re Definitely on Our Nice List!

Happy holidays to you and yours from all of us here at the Santa Paula Art Museum. Our partners at Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley helped to get us in the spirit with their recent Christmas cactus art project! (Our museum educators teach weekly art lessons at the club’s three sites in Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru.)

Thank you for making partnerships and programs like this one possible in 2021. Here’s to a new year full of art, joy, and trips to the Museum! Speaking of, check out our upcoming classes and 2022 exhibition lineup below.

The Santa Paula Art Museum will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, but will be otherwise open as usual (face masks are required).

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — ’tis the season of giving!

You’re the reason we are looking so merry and bright!

Thank you all for supporting contemporary art and the artists whose passion compels them to create. It is you who challenges our team to bring our best selves in service to our visitors and our community.  

We were inspired by so many enthusiastic visitors and supportive collaborators this year. Looking back brings as much wonder as it does gratification. Just take a look at our very first Earth Day Mural – it still takes our breath away!

The team at Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) is working on some truly fantastic exhibitions, events, travel, and educational programs for 2022. MCASB prioritizes accessibility for all, and maintains a steadfast commitment to free admission. 

Please consider a year-end donation, which allows us to continue to bring you awe-inspiring, thought-provoking, and beautiful encounters with the art of our time. Our work is only possible because of your support.

Museum of Ventura County — There’s even more we have to give, for free!

MVC Insider Season 3
Episode 1: Erle Stanley Gardner
Starting Friday, January 24, 2022 @ 10am
Fridays @ 10am on Facebook Live

We are officially back with Season 3 of “MVC Insider”! Join us on Facebook Live for the first episode of MVC Insider this Friday, December 24, 2022 at 10am! Mark your calendars and tune-in on Facebook Live for the next five Fridays at 10am.

Krystell Jimenez, Project Archivist, uncovers relics from the John C. Orr Collection pertaining to the prolific novelist and Ventura County native Erle Stanley Gardner who wrote the popular Perry Mason series

The Expectation of Happiness and Joy are Part of the Paradox of This Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us, and for many it’s not the happiest season of all.

While celebrations can bring positive feelings like love and connection, according to the American Psychological Association, 38% of Americans say their stress actually gets worse during the holidays, bringing about negative emotions like fatigue, anger and irritability, which can lead to physical illness, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. The reasons given: lack of time, financial pressure, gift-giving, and family gatherings. And, even after the holidays, many experience a feeling of general disappointment and “let down”.

“One of the most beneficial things we can do leading into the holiday season is to reassess our expectations–our expectations of ourselves, and our expectations of others.  This will create a more realistic foundation from which to move forward through the season,” said Annmarie Cameron, CEO of the Mental Wellness Center. 

Bilingual report — Dec. 20, 2021 – COVID-19 Update

Over 900 farmworker families received close to 3,000 toys and nearly 1,200 boxes of food yesterday thanks to an amazing first-time collaboration among Ventura County Fire Department, our Farmworker Resource Program, and Food Share of Ventura County! We are so grateful for the generosity of our community! There is still time to participate in Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura Dec. 17, 2021 – COVID-19 Update

Since Wednesday, there are 329 new COVID-19 cases reported and 15,732 new tests performed. There are 75 people hospitalized, 13 in the ICU. There have been 2 additional deaths of a 41 year old male and a 96 year old male. Our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the community members who passed away. The R-effective for Ventura County is .96 which means the spread is likely stable.

Get vaccinated at a site near you: www.vaccines.gov.
Find a COVID testing site at www.vcrecovers.org/testing
The County of Ventura’s indoor mask order remains in effect

Museum of Ventura County to present Las Posadas on Dec. 17 in Santa Paula

The Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum will present Las Posadas procession starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 in Santa Paula. The celebration is in partnership with De Colores Multicultural Folk Arts.

Las Posadas, (The Inns in Spanish) is a Latinx traditional holiday that commemorates the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of lodging and a safe refuge for Mary to give birth to Jesus. After nine days of searching for lodging (Las Posadas are celebrated December 16th through 24th, representing the nine (9) days), an Innkeeper gave Mary and Joseph shelter in a stable as there was no room at the inns.