35th Annual Boat Parade of Lights

Pure ‘Magic’

Parade of Lights power boat Yabsolutely with owner Howard Kootstra (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

The annual beloved boat parade was back in the harbor for live viewing with social distancing and masks along Cabrillo Boulevard and Stearns Wharf. The theme for this year’s parade was “Magic Under the Moonlight.”

A double-bell salute rang out to City of Santa Barbara’s Christopher Bell, the Waterfront Department’s administrative analyst and public information officer, who rallied more than 60 entrants for the parade, half of which were in the Human Power category. Chris Bell and David Bacon (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

“The Parade of Lights is one of those quintessential Santa Barbara events that brings the community together to celebrate the best aspects of the holiday season: friends, family, and fun,” Bell said. “The Waterfront Department would like to thank all the volunteers and businesses that donated their time and money to make this event really special. We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.”

Starting off the parade at 4 pm were the Human Power entrants with SUPs, kayaks, and rowboats, followed by the holiday tree lighting next to the Sea Center, with Mayor Cathy Murillo delivering a few season’s greetings.

By 5:30 pm, the Coast Guard had navigated approximately 27 lit and decorated boats in the power, sail, commercial fishing, and commercial other categories from Leadbetter Beach, along the coast southbound to the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion, and circling back to Stearns Wharf to be announced over the intercom by Captain David Bacon and to have their photograph taken for the “best of” online voting by Santa Barbara residents. The event concluded with a five-minute fireworks show.

There are first, second, and third place winners in each boat category, complete with trophies, gifts, and cash prizes. The winners will be announced online next week.

Donations for prizes from local businesses include Avalon Rafts, Blue Water Hunter, Boat Launch Mini Mart, Char West, Deep Sea Winery, Endless Summer/Chucks, Fish House, Hotel Milo, Marine Services, Salty at the Beach, Salty Dog Dive Service, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Sea Center, Seacoast

Commercial fishing boat Perseverance with owner Bernard Friedman (Photo by Joanne A Calitri) Parade of Lights Human Power entries (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Power boat entrant by the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Yachts, The Great Pacific Ice Cream Co., and Waterfront Parking.

The Santa Barbara City Waterfront also thanks this year’s sponsors: the 2021 Parade of Lights Committee, City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department, Santa Barbara Harbor Merchants Association, Stearns Wharf Business Association, and Santa Barbara Yacht Club. •MJ

Saori Yamashita and Zhan Mishel Panchuk

Tchaikovsky’s classic again.

There’s no doubt on which side State Street Ballet founder Rodney Gustafson resides.

“I’ve seen our production so many times,” said Gustafson, who just returned to town with the 24-yearold company after three weeks of out-of-town touring. “But it just made me feel so happy watching it again. I really felt that old saying that you never know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. We’ve all been sheltered in place for so long, on this edge of constant fear of COVID that we can’t seem to shake, and [the ballet] gives people a chance to sit in the theater and feel good about that whole experience once again. After missing it for a year, there is a sense of rejuvenation and refreshment.”

Gustafson said he tweaked the choreography a bit for the 2021 version that winds up the holiday season at the Granada on December 18-19, moving even further away from the original Hollywood Nutcracker angle he’d created decades ago to something more traditional if extra upbeat.

“I still have that Art Deco look, but I really tried to pump up the humor of the choreography and the interactions,” he said. “It’s transformed into a very joyful event, something that’s fun so people can remember what love and giving are all about and what we mean to each other. Appreciating the holidays and the joy is some of what makes life worthwhile.”

Visit www.statestreetballet.com.

Yes, Virginia, Santa Survived Commercialism (and COVID)

The Alcazar Theatre in Carpinteria puts its accent on the holidays with a weekend-long live theatrical production of a true Christmas classic. Miracle on 34th Street, based on the three-time Academy Award-winning film, tells the heartwarming tale of 16 – 23 December 2021 an old man who goes by the name of Kris Kringle. Jolly ol’ Kris finds himself filling in for an intoxicated department store Santa in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade and proves to be such a hit that he is soon appearing regularly at the chain’s flagship store in midtown Manhattan, which, unlike Macy’s Paseo Nuevo store, is still in business after 120 years. But this is no ordinary store Santa — Kris shares good will with Macy’s customers and the commercial world of New York City by referring parents to other stores to find exactly the toy their child has asked for, and then claims that he really is Santa Claus. Seen as deluded and dangerous by Macy’s vocational counselor, who plots to have Kris shanghaied to Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, Kringle ends up in a court competency hearing, putting in jeopardy both himself and a belief system that love and decency and generosity of spirit are their own rewards.

Alcazar’s version is based on the original story by Valentine Davies, adapted by longtime Carpinteria resident and theater veteran Asa Olsson, who helms a cast of local actors for five performances Thursday-Sunday, December 16-19. Tickets cost $15-$20. Info at (805) 684-6380 or www.theal cazar.org. •MJ

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Mary and Keith Hudson with Rick Oshay (Photo by Priscilla)

Dancers from La Boheme (Photo by Veronica Slavin) Darla Bea, as well as further music performances provided by the tony triumvirate of Bobby, Finn & Dave, and the jazz trio Alison Tuma.

Ubiquitous KEYT-TV reporter John Palminteri and seasoned announcer Drew Wakefield acted as emcees as guests noshed on chicken and steak while quaffing on red and white wine provided by Fred Brander’s vineyard.

Among the heavenly host of local luminaries were Riley and Dacia Harwood, Chris and Mindy Denson, Jeremy Lindaman, Stephanie Petlow, Keith and Mary Hudson, David Bolton, Lisa Osborn, Arlene Larsen,

A Beautiful Night

Santa Barbara Beautiful celebrated Christmas with a boffo beano for 90 guests at the Mesa estate of new board member Santa Barbara County architect Robert Ooley.

The 56-year-old organization gives out grants between $50,000 and $100,000 annually to help beautify our Eden by the Beach.

“We are thrilled to be doing this,”

Rodney Baker, Susan Bradley, and Robert Ooley (Photo by Priscilla)

Penny Haberman, Mary Love Thralls, Eric Friedman, and Deborah Schwartz (Photo by Priscilla)

The Elements played for guests, which included Kelly and Yolanda Yturralde with Oscar Gullen, Denise and Rick Ornelas, Luis Corona, Mary Louise Days, and Anne Petersen (Photo by Veronica Slavin)

Stephen Meyer, Erin Graffy, and Rick Oshay (Photo by Veronica Slavin)

gushed president Deborah Schwartz. “It has obviously been a challenge, but now we have a newly bonded board that is looking to the future.”

The band Together Again entertained, with DJ Delusa.

Among those noshing on the Lorraine Lim-catered comestibles were Gregg Hart, Carole Ann Bottoms, Kim Hunter, Lauren Trujillo, Nicole Hernandez, and Cassandra Ensberg.

A beautiful bunch, indeed.

History Made

Santa Barbara Historical Museum hosted its annual Yuletide bash for 250 guests, with the Westmont Chamber Singers warbling traditional carols and the band, Element, providing some high velocity contemporary sound.

“We are all so glad to be back meeting each other face to face after the pandemic restrictions,” says Dacia Harwood, museum director.

Pizzas and tacos were provided by Santa Barbara Woodfire Catering, while Anna’s Bakery in Goleta took care of the individually wrapped plated desserts.

Among the tony throng turning out to celebrate were George Leis, Gretchen Lieff and Miles Hartfeld, Rick Oshay, Jeremy Lindaman, Kathi Brewster, Bill Burtness, Luke Swetland, Diane Dodds Reichert, fun-loving Franciscan friar Larry Gosselin, Bill and Kristin Reynolds, Kevin and Sheila Snow, Carol Wathen, and Evie Sullivan.

A Home of Legends

The Beverly Hills home owned by legendary actor Kirk Douglas and his wife, Ann, is on the market for $7,495,000.

The tony twosome, who died within months of each other in 2020 and 2021, both aged more than 100, split their time between their 4,468-square-foot, four-bedroom, five-bath Big Orange estate and their home in Montecito, just a tiara’s toss from the Upper Village.

The Los Angeles home boasts a personal Hollywood Walk of Fame in the garden with steppingstones personally signed by a host of iconic films stars, including President Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra, Roger Moore, Jane Fonda, and Robert Taylor.

The one-story traditional residence was built in 1921. The 15,503-squarefoot lot also includes a two-story detached guest house, pool, and spa.

On the Market

The Washington, D.C. home of culinary goddess Julia Child, where she whipped up some of her most famous dishes that appeared in her classic book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, has hit the market for $3.5 million.

The 3,150-square-foot clapboard house in the exclusive suburb of Georgetown was Julia’s home from 1948 to 1959. During that time, she also lived with her husband, Paul, in Paris, where she began her legendary journey to culinary fame.

The three-bedroom, three-and-ahalf bath property has been restored and renovated by its current owner, who bought the two-story home in 2015 for $935,000.

Julia spent the last chapter of her colorful life at Casa Dorinda in Montecito until her death in 2004 at age 91.

A pioneer of TV culinary shows, her program The French Chef debuted in 1963.

Supersized

Superyacht construction is at an alltime high.

This year saw a 25% increase in mega yacht orders with a record 1,200 boats commissioned, smashing the prior record of 1,000 commissions in 2009, according to the latest edition of Global Order Book.

Orders of smaller boats — 78 feet to 98 feet — have driven the surge with more than 400 commissions, a rise of 30.5% year on year.

Commissions for superyachts — described as leisure boats with an average length of 98 feet to 148 feet — were also up by 28% and 10.5% for boats over 328 feet.

Italy topped the table with 523 orders.

Don’t Be Silly

Former Montecito funnyman John Cleese, 82, whose “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch in Monty Python in 1969 is the stuff of comic legend, says it would be impossible for him now.

Speaking on BBC Radio’s “Private Passions,” John, who now has two artificial hips, an artificial knee, and a badly infected left big toe, says a reprise is out of the question.

RIP, Charlotte

On a personal note, I mark the move to more heavenly pastures of Charlotte Mailliard, the long reigning chief of San Francisco protocol and unofficial aide to 10 mayors, who has died aged 88 at her Stanford University home.

I first met Charlotte, a Texan, when he was deputy chief of protocol under Cyril Magnin, whose family founded the Joseph Magnin department store chain, when she married real estate developer Melvin Swig, owner of Nob Hill’s Fairmont Hotel, where I used to bunk when I was regular on the ABC affiliate, KGO’s new a.m. show Good Morning Bay Area, flying out from my Manhattan home every ten days.

In February, Charlotte lost her third husband, former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, who died at the age of 100.

One of my abiding memories is the time she threw a charity fundraising lunch in the park in Union Square in front of the Westin St. Francis hotel. The vagrants hanging out did not take kindly to the city’s swells invading their locale and started throwing old soda cans and anything else they could get their hands on.

The likes of legendary Chronicle columnist Herb Caen and I had to flee the scene to avoid injury.

Charlotte was a gracious and delightful lady who did innumerable things for Baghdad by the Bay, her adopted home.

Sightings

Beach Boy Bruce Johnston at the Montecito Country Mart... New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton at the Rosewood Miramar... Winemaker Fred Brander getting his Java jolt at the Pierre Lafond.

Pip! Pip! Be safe, wear a mask when needed, and get vaccinated. •MJ MONTECITO JOURNAL 51