Community Calendar

Join us for a transformative Spiritual Day Retreat at the serene Drishti House in Montecito, where you'll reconnect with your soul, community, and the timeless teachings of the East. This immersive day includes mantra meditation, breathwork, sound healing, tea ceremony, conscious connection, and a soul-nourishing, plant-based dinner prepared by Chef Florida of Casa De Las Floras.

Explore the essence of true spirituality and cultivate inner virtues that empower you to live with greater peace, purpose, and connection. The evening will close with music, poetry, and a tea lounge, offering space for reflection and heartfelt community.

All are welcome—no matter your background—to experience a day of insight, elevation, and genuine connection.

1PM May 10th at Drishti House in Montecito, CA

RSVP
https://dryshtea.eventcalendarapp.com/u/53529/369887

Please register in advance.

Join us for a virtual lecture by the 2024 Kenneth Karmiole Research Fellow, Pete Johnson, who used primary sources materials from the Library's Special Research Collections in support of his dissertation research at University of Texas, Austin.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, independent television producers pioneered financial and production models that laid the foundation for the industry’s economic structure, despite being overshadowed by major studios and networks. Johnson's lecture examines their financial struggles and innovations, using archival materials and case studies like Rudy Vallée’s short-lived Vallée-Video to reveal how these early entrepreneurs shaped television’s speculative culture. Though many failed, their efforts influenced the long-term development of television economics, leaving a lasting impact on the media industry.

This lecture is generously supported by the Kenneth Karmiole Endowed Research Fellowship.

About the Speaker
Peter Arne Johnson is a PhD Candidate in Media Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where his research focuses on media industries, business history, and television studies. His doctoral dissertation traces television’s financial model from the early network era in the 1940s to the streaming era from the perspective of television production companies. Pete’s work has been published in Media Industries Journal, New Review of Film & Television, and Democratic Communiqué.

Join Our Monthly Sewing & Mending Club!

Discover the joy of creating and repairing with our welcoming community at the Explore Ecology Makerspace. Whether you're a seasoned seamstress or just beginning your sewing journey, our monthly club is the perfect place to bring your projects to life.

Every month, we invite you to drop in with your sewing ideas, projects, or mending needs. Our Makerspace is equipped with nine sewing machines and a wide array of materials to fuel your creativity. Plus, our knowledgeable staff is always on hand to offer guidance, tips, and tricks to help you bring your vision to reality.

Join us for a night of creativity, camaraderie, and crafting excellence. Your next sewing adventure awaits at the Explore Ecology Makerspace. See you there!"

Join us on a beautifully paired wine and chocolate experience. This guided tour walks you through the chocolate making process, from bean to bar! Taste the cacao every step of the way and finish with a chocolate and beverage tasting that excitingly pairs three truffles with three sustainably-made, small production wines, selected and poured by our local wine partner, WINECULT.

The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum will offer special tours as part of the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience's "Day On the Farm," Friday, May 16, from noon to 5 p.m.

Visitors can explore the museum, including the historic Parks-Janeway Carriage House, while learning about the agricultural heritage of the Santa Ynez Valley. The event includes a tasting of Rancho Olivos olive oil in the open-air courtyard and an opportunity to sample and take home a free assortment of locally grown produce from a Babé Farms pop-up market.

Rancho Olivos farmers John Copeland and Shannon Casey, plus representatives from Babé Farms, will share stories about their farms and provide information about their agricultural and production practices.

For those interested in a more comprehensive experience, the museum will conduct "History of Agriculture" tours at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online at the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience website, https://sbce.events/day-on-the-farm. Select the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum Tour option.

Attendees will enjoy a welcome drink while we give a brief introduction to our bean-to-bar, dark chocolate making process. Ingredients for decorating will abound and inspire, and you'll learn a few tidbits about how we invent flavor combinations for new delicious, sweet products at our chocolate factory. We will fill chocolate bar molds with luscious 75% dark chocolate, and you will get to decorate chocolate bars with local ingredients, like flowers, salt and fruit. While bars are setting up, we will lead a 20-30 minute chocolate tasting experience while you sip on perfectly paired wines to enhance the flavors. We are happy to provide a non-alcoholic tasting experience for anyone in the group who might require that. Your custom chocolate bars will go home with you in beautiful, resealable Twenty-Four Blackbirds pouches. Don't miss out on this delicious experience!

Tasty treats have a strawberry twist at the 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival, Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001). Strawberry-themed nachos, chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry kabobs, popcorn, and margaritas are just a few of the choices. The festival also features 150 artists and crafters, a Strawberryland for kids, live entertainment on three stages, carnival rides, and a "build-your-own" strawberry shortcake experience.

Trays of freshly picked, vine-ripened strawberries are available at the festival and used in festival strawberry-themed foods. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days. General admission is $15, active military with ID and family and seniors 62 and over, $10, youth ages 5 to 12, $8 and children 4 and under are free. Limited parking onsite. Visitors are encouraged to use the free shuttle service nearby or take advantage of the Ventura Amtrak Station across the street. For more information, go to www.CAStrawberryFestival.org.

You are invited to Ellwood Mesa’s 20th Anniversary!

Bring your friends and family and join us on Saturday, May 17 for a day full of fun, nature, and connection! Enjoy live classical music in the eucalyptus grove, a scavenger hunt, a scenic fun run, a family bike ride along the bluffs, kite-flying, nature journaling, bubbles, and more!

Whether you helped save Ellwood years ago or are discovering its magic for the first time, you’re invited to be part of the celebration. All activities are free! You can also sign up to volunteer.

Get tickets at ellwoodfriends.org/anniversary.

The Santa Barbara City College Foundation's 6th annual Spring Forward! Gala will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the beautiful Great Meadow of SBCC’s West Campus, overlooking the ocean. Please join us in celebrating SBCC and supporting student success!

Sponsorship opportunities are available — visit the Spring Forward! Gala website for more information. (https://www.sbccfoundation.org/spring-forward-gala/ )

We look forward to celebrating and raising funds to support the SBCC Promise, student support programs, scholarships, book grants, emergency funds, and more.

The Good Good Show is a stand up comedy show featuring the hottest comedians working today that you've seen or heard on Comedy Central, Conan, HBO, Netflix, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel, TruTV, SiriusXM and more.

FEATURING: Aparna Nancherla, Shane Bianchi, Julie Weidmann and Brian Jacobovitz.

Come have some laughs with us and enjoy a delicious craft beer (wine available too)!

7:30 p.m. $10

Show is 21+