A new book on Butterfly Wood — the Frank Lloyd Wright home built in Montecito — was the recent recipient of the Next Generation Indie Book Award for Art and Architecture.
The book, titled Butterfly Wood, was a labor of love by our recently retired Santa Barbara County architect, Robert Ooley.
He spent a good number of years studying the house and its architecture, its additions, restorations and family histories before penning his book.
The work includes a forward by acclaimed Montecito author T.C. Boyle.
Butterfly Wood was the first home Wright built in California, the only Prairie House west of the Mississippi, and in fact, the last Prairie House that Wright ever created.
Lobero Accolades
And speaking of outstanding architecture, we learn that Architectural Digest named the most beautiful theaters in the world.
You guessed it! — our local treasure — the Lobero Theatre is on the list. And just in time for its 150th anniversary.
Katherine McLaughlin writes in the current issue: “The theaters on this list are opera houses, concert halls and even movie theaters. Nonetheless, they shine through for their unique designs, creative innovations and stunning appearances.”
The other 10 remarkable venues cited were built over four different centuries:
- Teatro di San Carlo (Naples, 1737)
- Vienna State Opera (Austria, 1869)
- Opéra Garnier (Paris, 1875)
- Palau de la Música Catalana (Barcelona, 1908)
- Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City, 1934)
- Sydney Opera House (Australia, 1973)
- Raj Mandir (Jaipur, India, 1976)
- Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, 2003)
- Harbin Grand Theater (Harbin, China, 2015)
- Steinmetz Hall (Orlando, Florida, 2022)
Another interesting thing is that these theaters are at least triple the size (seat wise) of our Lobero. So — bragging rights are in order for our little gem.
Close Encounters at the Courthouse
Well, it was a grand night at the historic Santa Barbara County Courthouse as the free Summer Cinema film series opened July 7.
Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures, with special sponsor Montecito Bank & Trust, opening night featured Close Encounters of the Third Kind with K-LITE radio’s Gary & Catherine adding some fun and color commentary in the Sunken Garden before hand.
People coming early before the 1977 feature film brought dinner picnics: paper plates and sandwiches, or napkins and hot dogs, styrofoam containers of salads or tacos, and bags of popcorn, chips and cookies.
BUT! — one party decided to cook up something a bit more exciting.
Carolyn Allgeier, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, presented her posse of pals with a three-course meal, beautifully arranged on a small buffet table covered with elegant cloth.
First a gourmet salad (served on dinner plates — nooo paper or plastic for this gang). Then the main course was paella with shrimp and mussels, or salmon with dill sauce.
But wait— there’s more! Strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and handmade chocolate nougats. It was a hoot.
Among her groupies were the 2023 trombone Music Fellows of the Music Academy.
OK, these trombone guys were a blast (<— almost good pun there!) When our favorite DJs Gary & Catherine learned the Music Academy’s “Top Brass” were in attendance, they made a big announcement welcoming them, to the cheers of the audience.
You have to realize, these trombonists are considered to be THE upcoming classical musicians in their field, and arrived from the top music schools in the country.
So they brought their musicianship to the movies. If you recall in Close Encounters, the aliens and NASA were communicating through “music” — tonal expressions — as Richard Dreyfuss and his intrepid mates prepared to board the UFO at the base of Devils Tower in Wyoming.
So they all had fun with the spacecraft responding by pumping out an excruciating low tuba riff. (And naturally, extra cheers went up from the crew when John Williams’ name came up in the ending credits.)
We were coaxing them to come back to the courthouse with their trombones and provide some instrumentals to the pre-movie crowd for a future evening … so, stay “tuned”!
Something Sadly Fishy on the Coastline
You might have noticed news stories about stranded or dying sea lions, dolphins and even whales washing up on our Southern California beaches.
Apparently this is because of the domoic acid condition in the food line of marine mammals.
According to NOAA Fisheries, domoic acid is a neurotoxin produced by the algae Pseudo-nitzschia (<— hmmm doesn’t this sort of sound like a psychiatric diagnosis?).
Anyhoo, when the toxin enters the food chain, these marine mammals will get sick eating prey. (This condition caused by harmful algal blooms is sometimes referred to as “red tides.”)
Santa Barbara folk are fierce animal protectors, but all the experts say y’all should NOT approach any stranded sea lions but! you can call Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute’s rescue hotline at 805.567.1505.
The local rescuers from the Marine & Wildlife Institute are understandably stretched trying to respond to all the calls. So, let me recommend one or more of three helpful things:
- Spread the word on your social media
- Donate (https://www.gofundme.com/f/cimwi-needs-fish)
- Volunteer — If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, do visit their website: https://www.cimwi.org/ways-to-help/volunteer/. Flipper and friends will thank you!
Lotusland Loveliness
Every year the Lotusland summer gala — the extravagantly themed decor and dinner event — is hopelessly sold out.
This year’s theme is “Where the Wild Things Grow” (a playful nod to Maurice Sendak), which will put the focus on this Montecito botanical nirvana as people stroll through the park to marvel at the rare and exotic plants.
Before dinner, there are a few Extremely Cool Things up for the live auction and, believe me, people have insiders to get their bids in even if they are not attending.
So let me give you an inside scoop of one piece in the auction. (Actually, I can assure you, this will be the pièce de résistance at the event).
This honestly looks like a piece straight out of Ganna Walska’s own internationally celebrated jewelry collection, but actually it was only recently designed and hand-fabricated by those master craftsmen at Silverhorn Jewelers … just for Lotusland.
As you can see, it is the lotus flower with a rare tourmaline (10 carat, in case you are counting). The petals around it are in 18-karat white gold and individually fashioned, engraved, and then you will note it is finished with a highly polished edge.
The center of the flower is a pearl symbolizing the 30-year anniversary of Walska’s Lotusland opening to the public.
(OK, ‘fess up! How many of you guys remember jumping over the wall — illegally in your youth — and taking midnight swims in Walska’s pool when it was still a private home?)
At the bottom of the bloom are diamonds and pink sapphires.
(If that is not enough, notice the delicate chain set with diamonds).
Yowza.
Enchanting Times at El Encanto
Meanwhile, at El Encanto, a Belmont Hotel, they have been launching these very juicy programs and activities — i.e. Seasons in Bloom, a year-long program offering immersive, garden-themed activities.
And, yes, they are open to average local Santa Barbarans like you and me.
The one I have been checking out is The Literary Club and its Lunch With an Author series, I have attended several now.
The first one featured the über interesting and adorable Fanny Flagg. She could charm the venom out of a rattlesnake. And she is always a wonderful storyteller.
The last one I attended was with author Paulina Porizkova. Does that name sound vaguely familiar?
For the gals out there, recall that back in the 1980s, she was one of the first supermodels, and the “Face of Estée Lauder” and, actually, the highest paid model on the planet.
Porizkova was so deliciously down to earth, no airs, no pretenses … sweetly the real deal.
And what an interesting life!
She was a refugee from communist Czechoslovakia and made international news when her parents tried to rescue her out.
Then she was discovered at 15 by famed modeling and talent agent John Casablancas, the late founder of Elite Modeling Management, and ultimately zoomed around the globe as a supermodel.
Porizkova’s next career was as an actress. Did I mention she speaks three languages FLUENTLY?
And now she is an author, and was telling us all about her adventurous life in her new book, No Filter: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful.
Well, to finish, you have to know, there is always a fascinating Santa Barbara connection when you least expect it.
In this case, I was attending the luncheon with Anne Luther, who introduced herself to Porizkova because of their Estée Lauder connections — Porizkova as the company spokeswoman at the same time that Luther worked there.
Well, that was a little understated.
It turns out Luther was executive vice president of international corporate communications and was responsible for the public image of the brand … and ultimately Porizkova’s role as its face.
So, it was a sweet meet and greet for the two of them.