Category: Entertainment

Ventura Port District Inks Deal with Aarmark Beer Gardens, Inc. for New Ventura Harbor Village Entertainment & Restaurant Venue

A state-of-the-art family entertainment venue, managed by Aarmark Beer Gardens, Inc., will join the seaside attraction mix at the Ventura Harbor Village with the approval of a multi-year lease on January 19, 2022 by the Ventura Port District Board of Port Commissioners.  The 5,736 square foot venue, with plans to open in 2023 and its official name still to be announced, will specialize in artisan food, top-rated international beers, a legendary wine list, and multitude of entertainment activities. 

New three-year Arnhold A&L Education Initiative fosters education, entertainment and inspiration

The major gift to UCSB Arts & Lectures from UCSB alumnus John and his wife Jody Arnhold will support residencies with world-renowned artists, which in the 2021-2022 season include Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and more

Ventura County Arts Council — Employee Art Show Winners, Free Online Trainings, Art in the Community

Greetings! A new year has begun, and though we collectively find ourselves facing new challenges and closures due to the pandemic, there are still many arts opportunities to enjoy in our community. Below you’ll find various events, news, grants and educational resources for artists, arts organizations and arts supporters. We hope you are continuing to make, enjoy and support art!

OPAC receives prestigious Nat’l Endowment for the Arts grant

OPAC has been approved for a $35,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support OPAC Studios, a new initiative that provides a creative space for underserved Oxnard teens, including BIPOC, indigenous, at-promise, and those experiencing homelessness. Under the framework of Creative Youth Development, this program offers ongoing free classes that are well-rounded, in-depth experiences in a variety of visual artistic mediums including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, textile arts, and more. 

Teatro de las Américas — Casting Call- High Street Arts Center in Moorpark

The High Street Arts Center in Moorpark
Click Here
is currently looking to cast several roles in their production of
In the Heights
Kevin Rosario – Baritone (to E4) – Late 30’s to early 50’s.
Abuela Claudia – Alto belter (F#3 to C5) In her late 60’s to 70’s, but can be played by a younger actor in 40s-50s and aged up to look older.
Also casting, Men’s dancing ensemble ages 18-30s.

Take To The Great Outdoors With Island Packers Winter Whale Watching & Excursions To the Channel Islands National Park 

Island Packers, the official boat concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, has daily departures to the Channel Islands National Park from Ventura Harbor Village and is now offering Winter Whale Watching excursions.  Book your spot today to view these magnificent mammals at www.islandpackers.com. 

A winter Whale Watch is a perfect way to gather with family and friends to view Pacific Gray whales migrating through the Santa Barbara Channel from their feeding grounds in Alaska to their breeding grounds in Baja. Pacific Gray Whales are normally sighted in the National Marine Sanctuary near Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island continues through April 23, 2022. Thismammoth migration of over 20,000 whales and 6,000 miles twice a year remains a major attraction in Southern California. 

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Rosha Yaghmai: Drifters | Final Days

There are only four days remaining to view Rosha Yaghmai: Drifters at MCASB before it’s gone.  Join us for the final days of this exhibition! 

It has been an honor to host Rosha Yaghmai at MCASB and we are so grateful to our community for welcoming this exhibition. Thank you to all who have visited in person; your continued support makes it all possible. Click here to view our hours >>>  

We are looking forward to seeing you at our next exhibition!

Museum of Ventura County — New Year, New Museum Happenings

MVC Insider Season 3
Episode 3: Lucy Hicks Anderson
Friday, January 7, 2022 @ 10am
On Facebook Live

Get to know your local trans icon and trailblazer Lucy Hicks Anderson! Lucy was the first trans woman in history to fight for marriage equality in court, was an award winning baker, and ran a bordello here in Ventura County. That’s just in a nutshell– you won’t want to miss this MVC Insider! Mark your calendars and tune-in on Facebook for the next five Fridays at 10am. Check out all upcoming MVC Insiders here.

Kaiser Permanente makes changes to ‘A Healthier Future’ Rose Parade float participation due to rising COVID-19 positivity rate

Taking into consideration that our Southern California region is experiencing a 26% COVID-19 positivity rate, and Los Angeles County currently has a 17.6% positivity rate and in consultation with our infectious disease experts, we have decided to continue to have our “A Healthier Future” float participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade.?Unfortunately, we will not feature our 20 front-line medical heroes as float riders and “out-walkers.” We must prioritize the health and safety of our front-line medical staff and ensure we are able to treat patients during this recent surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant.  

Jan. 26 — ‘Coffee With A Black Guy’ presents ‘Processing Loss: A conversation on mental health and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 deaths on BIPOC communities’

“Coffee With A Black Guy” presents “Processing Loss: A conversation on mental health and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 deaths on BIPOC communities” via Zoom at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26.

CWABG founder James Joyce III, will be joined in conversation by Michael Cruse, Bereavement Services Manager for Hospice of Santa Barbara who will offer a “Human” perspective and the role of “Culture” on the subject of bereavement and mourning.  That couple with the impacts of several highly visible cultural losses and the processing of loss throughout our history – think Strange Fruit, provides context for an engaging and enlightening conversation about processing loss and grief. 

March 6 — Wildling Museum to host conversation with author Florencia Ramirez and biodynamic wine tasting with Beckmen Vineyards

The Wildling is thrilled to host Florencia Ramirez, author of Eat Less Water, for a special presentation and conversation with Steve Beckmen, the winemaker behind Beckmen Vineyards, at the Museum on Sunday, March 6, 2022, 3 p.m. as the Wildling Museum kicks off a year of climate-focused exhibitions and programming.

By 2030, experts predict two-thirds of people living on this planet will not have enough water, a situation expected to result in the deaths of millions and an unprecedented rise in military conflicts. Can we as individuals hope to reverse these dire predictions? Award-winning author and water activist, Florencia Ramirez, believes we can if our conservation efforts focus on the 70 percent of freshwater flowing to the fields and ranches that grow our food. Eat Less Water takes the reader on a journey to meet America’s food producers growing food with less water. Florencia exposes the seldom- seen connection between dwindling water resources and the choices we make when shopping for groceries for our families and offers us the solution that begins in the kitchen.

March 31 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Parallel Stories ‘On Freedom: A Conversation with Author Maggie Nelson’

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present Parallel Stories “On Freedom: A Conversation with Author Maggie Nelson” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31.

Author Maggie Nelson returns to SBMA’s Parallel Stories with a reading and discussion of On Freedom: Four Songs of Care and Constraint, a boundary-pushing, provocative work that explores the notion of freedom through four lenses: art, sex, drugs, and the climate. In this highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning The Argonauts, Nelson continues to astound as “one of the most electrifying writers at work in America today, among the sharpest and most supple thinkers of her generation” (The Guardian).

March 31 — Annual Cesar Chavez Memorial March Committee to present ‘The Legacy of Cesar Chavez the Farm workers and Dolores Huerta’ online and in Oxnard

The Annual Cesar Chavez Memorial March Committee will present “The Legacy of Cesar Chavez the Farm workers and Dolores Huerta” celebration online and from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at the Open Door Art Studio, 329 N. 5th St., Oxnard.

April 29 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Ballet Hispánico Noche de Oro: A Celebration of 50 Years

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Ballet Hispánico Noche de Oro: A Celebration of 50 Years, Friday, Friday, April 29th at 8:00 p.m. at The Granada Theatre.

Named one of America’s Cultural Treasures by the Ford Foundation, Ballet Hispánico celebrates Latinx cultures through innovative performances that elevate diverse artists and ignite cultural pride. This 50th anniversary program from the pioneering, New York-based company features Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s biting, West Side Story-inspired Tiburones. The award-winning Lopez Ochoa, a sought-after choreographer who excels at narrative ballet, has created works for 68 dance companies worldwide. Noche de Oro also includes Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s 18+1 and Vicente Nebrada’s Arabesque.

Through May 8 — Bilingual report — Teatro de las Américas to present ‘Obras de un Acto’ (One Acts)

Esta obra reflexiona sobre la interacción entre las relaciones humanas, la burocracia y el significado de la vida y la muerte. Un hombre se embarca en el último viaje de su vida, solo para ser confrontado por una enfermera que desafía su existencia y cómo tener equipaje nunca ha sido más importante.

Aug. 4 — MICOP celebrates Night in Oaxaca 2022

On Thursday, August 4th, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) will hold its eleventh annual Night in Oaxaca. Night in Oaxaca is a celebration of the indigenous migrant community of California’s Central Coast and MICOP’s largest and most-sought after fundraiser. After two years of virtual programming, we are proud to bring our supporters a hybrid experience, in-person at Olivas Adobe in Ventura and online.

This year we are gathering around the theme of “Fortaleciendo Nuestras Raíces” or “Strengthening our Roots.” Reflecting on the pandemic and our recent growth, Night in Oaxaca will celebrate our indigenous community’s resiliency and rooted connection to our organization. The evening welcomes a diverse crowd of supporters and leaders from across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. All proceeds fund MICOP’s work of supporting, organizing and empowering indigenous migrant communities of the Central Coast.

Aug. 27 — Oxnard’s Los Mixos to Live Stream Concert

Los Mixos, one of Oxnard’s newest music bands, in collaboration with Red Sky Productions and HOPE Social Skills for Teens with Autism, will be performing live for a multi-camera, internet-streamed studio concert called Downtown Window (DTW), to promote their original 5-song music EP.  The concert will be performed and streamed on the internet at www.DowntownWindow.com on Saturday, August 27th at 4pm at the Red Sky Productions studio in downtown Oxnard.  Through the livestream, fans will see and hear Los Mixos’ newly released songs filmed in a music video type set with lighting, set design and props with the help of a crew of camera operators, sound engineers, a cinematographer and television director.   

Sept. 17 — Santa Paula Art Museum Presents John Galan’s ‘Remedios (Remedies)’

The Santa Paula Art Museum presents “Remedios (Remedies),” a solo exhibition by Conejo Valley artist John Galan. With artworks rich in symbolism and vibrant hues inspired by his Mexican heritage, Galan’s exhibit explores the connections between mind, body, nature, and healing. Meet Galan at the show’s premiere on Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the premiere is $5 for SPAM members, and $10 for non-members. Wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. “Remedios (Remedies)” will be on view at the Santa Paula Art Museum from September 17, 2022, to January 8, 2023.

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. 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.

Tickets on sale for the WAR New Year’s Eve concert on Dec. 31 at Oxnard Performing Arts Center

Tickets are now on sale for the WAR New Year’s Eve concert at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31 at the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard.

Click here for tickets.

Hosted by Steve Perez of KRUZ 103.3, with an opening set by Dr. T and The Blues Criminals, doors open at 6 p.m.

Multi-platinum selling WAR, the original street band, has been sharing its timeless music and message of brotherhood and harmony for over four decades before millions across the globe. The long list of hits includes “Low Rider,” “The World Is A Ghetto,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “The Cisco Kid,” and many more.

Museum of Ventura County — Last chance as we move into 2022…

Dear Friend of the Museum,

If you have already made a contribution to the Museum of Ventura County –

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your support!

If you haven’t, please consider that a gift can help us serve this community with:

Virtual and in-person school tours
Free events
Virtual and in-person discussions and interviews
Historical articles, lectures and videos
Exhibits
Support programs
Free admission to both sites
and much much more!

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

Ventura County Arts Council — Call to Artists! Recharge | Online Entry Deadline Dec. 31

RECHARGE
Rejuvenate | Renew
Exhibition dates: Friday, January 12th to Tuesday, February 22nd

We are back to in-person art-on-walls exhibitions

Juried Competition, CASH PRIZES

Your opportunity to have your artwork in one of the largest and most visible art venues in Ventura County!

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.

Museum of Ventura County — Stuff. Those. Stockings

We are so excited to present our fun new Museum gift shop items, including one of a kind puzzles with rare historical images from the Research Library! If you’re a fan of Arte Para la Gente: The Collected Works of Margaret Garcia come get your own magnet with her beautiful artwork on it. Popular as ever are our MVC paintbrush pens, collect all four! Find these special items at the Museum of Ventura County or the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula, while supplies last. Both Museums are open from Thursday-Sunday 11am-5pm.

Museum of Ventura County — Santa came early to Ventura County!

MVC Gallery Marketplace & Gift Shops
Where you get to bring the Museum home!
Online, at the Museum of Ventura County, and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula

10% off for Museum Members!

We are so excited to present our updated online MVC Gallery Marketplace collection! Browse and purchase artworks by local artists Charlene Spiller, Ed Terpening, Gail Faulkner, Jacqueline Woods, Nash Rightmer, and Scott Gordon. The MVC Gallery Marketplace was created to help regional artists sell their works to collectors. The Museum has selected notable artists working in many media, who represent some of the finest work in our county.

Museum of Ventura County — How do you bring your Museum home, you ask?

We are so excited to present our updated MVC Gallery Marketplace collection! Browse and purchase artworks by local artists Charlene Spiller, Ed Terpening, Gail Faulkner, Jacqueline Woods, Nash Rightmer, and Scott Gordon. The MVC Gallery Marketplace was created to help regional artists sell their works to collectors. The Museum has selected notable artists working in many media, who represent some of the finest work in our county.

To receive your new artwork we offer convenient “Pick-Up” or “UPS shipping” options. After you have made your order, a Museum staff member will contact you the next business day to make arrangements for either option. If you need the piece shipped, we will generate a shipping quote for you after receiving your mailing details.

Thank you for choosing to support the Museum of Ventura County and the talented artists of Ventura County!

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Gift Studio 2021 | Holiday Pop-Up Market

Shop for unique holiday gifts crafted by artists and designers at MCASB’s Gift Studio Pop-Up Holiday Market.

This two-day event will feature FREE hands-on holiday craft workshops for the whole family, hot cocoa, and a guided tour of Rosha Yaghmai: Drifters. Don’t miss Happy Hour from 4:00-6:00 PM when you can shop with spiked festive drinks in hand, accompanied by a curated DJ set.

FEATURING: Augie’s Tequila – Camille K Jewelry – Demi Boelsterli – Monica Epstein – Madeleine Ignon – SlingShot Art Studio – SWEETZER Gourmet Popcorn – Yellow Rat – Rhys Zemeckis Read more >>

UCSB Arts & Lectures presented A Very She & Him Christmas Party featuring Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward

UCSB Arts & Lectures proudly presented She & Him: A Very She & Him Christmas Party on Thursday, December 2nd at 8:00 p.m. Pacific at Arlington Theatre. The performance is part of the 2021-2022 CREATING HOPE programming initiative.

Drawing inspiration from a shared love of vintage pop, “subtle and sophisticated” (Pitchfork) super-duo She & Him pairs indie-folk artist M. Ward and actress/singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel. Usher in the holiday season with the twosome’s “old-school studio-pop sensibility” (NPR) and Deschanel’s “perfectly airy and retro vocals” (Paste) as they celebrate the tenth anniversary of their 2011 album A Very She & Him Christmas.

Kaiser Permanente’s 2022 Rose Parade® Float Celebrates ‘A Healthier Future’

 Kaiser Permanente’s 2022 Rose Parade® float theme, “A Healthier Future,” celebrates the dedication and talents of our health care heroes and the possibilities that exist when passionate people come together to use their expertise for the greater good. The float embodies the 2022 Tournament of Roses® parade theme, “Dream. Believe. Achieve.,” a celebration that childhood dreams become careers that make the world a better place. 

Kaiser Permanente has a total of 39 hospitals and 730 medical offices across its eight operating markets, including Market Street Medical Offices in Ventura, California.

United Way of Santa Barbara County Partners with She & Him and UCSB Arts & Lectures to launch United Way’s 2021 Holiday Gift Drive

United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) partners with She & Him and UCSB Arts & Lectures to launch United Way’s 2021 Holiday Gift Drive on Thursday, December 2nd at 8:00 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre.  

Each year, UWSBC partners with community members and organizations to provide gifts to local children and families during the holidays. This year, they will be partnering with She & Him, a music duo that consists of holiday songs from indie-folk artist M. Ward and actress/singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel and UCSB Arts & Lectures.