Sunday, December 10, 2023
We started our busy Sunday attending a small Christmas Market at Camarillo's Institution Ale Company.
This was right in Laurie's wheelhouse as they say.
This duo's soothing music
was a nice touch
Let the shopping begin!
And so it started . . .
As for me, as usual, I was much
more into the food that was on sale
As it turned out, in a major upset, we did not buy too many can't-live-without things.
We were then off to beautiful Santa Barbara for sight seeing, lunch and a concert.
The Santa Barbara Courthouse
A beautiful government building that just begged to be explored today.
Santa Barbara in general and this
building in particular is proud of
the area's Spanish Colonial roots
A lovely fountain greeted us
Over the now 53 years that we have lived in Ventura County, we have made several trips to Santa Barbara and had admired the Courthouse from outside.
Truth be told, I had never been inside of this bold structure until today.
Beautiful tile work is found
throughout the Courthouse
Laurie, on the other hand, had worked in a Santa Barbara law office for years and had been inside the Courthouse often.
As we started walking up the stairs Laurie said . . .
. . . "Look up"
An artsy stairwell ceiling to say the least.
We were headed to what was billed as the Mural Room for some reason.
Oh, now I get it
The Mural Room was gorgeous
Rich colors combined with
lots of . . .
. . . local history
The back wall of the Mural Room
More historical notes
Father Junipero Serra and a
Spanish Conquistador
I'll bet that's just what the indigenous people wanted to see on a Sunday 250 years ago.
The Santa Barbara Mission is
237 years old according to this note
What exactly is the the definition of
"most Enlightened?"
Lots of interesting paintings are
found in the Courthouse's hallways
Long hallways indeed
Laurie spent many a day in the
offices behind those doors
Who doesn't love a spiral staircase?
Especially an ornate one
The Courthouse lawns are a
perfect setting for wedding photos
More Spanish Colonial
themed hallway paintings
Hard to read but that sign says
"Public Telephones"
What the heck is a public telephone?
I guess that's one but how
do you make it work?
Excellent wood carving on this bench
Laurie said that she always liked the
shine on the tile floors of the Courthouse
I can't say that I blame her.
Hedonism in Santa Barbara?
AHA!
The Courthouse has stood here since 1927.
One final look at the bougainvillea
growing up the front of the Courthouse
Laurie was near fainting due to a severe lack of sustenance so we headed to one of our favorite Santa Barbara dining spots to remedy the situation.
Pasta at The Chase was the answer!
Nothing like eggplant parmesan and meat lasagna to bolster your waning spirits.
After our late lunch we continued to stroll along State Street, Santa Barbara's main shopping drag.
It was definitely a Christmas
scene throughout the city
Lokum Turkish Delights & Baklava
What could possibly go wrong?
GOD HELP US ALL!
We shared two of these amazing Turkish desserts/delights and I had a necessarily small cup of thick, mud-like Turkish coffee.
Excellent.
I really liked the Turkish lamps
that lit up this Turkish dining spot
Another beautiful Christmas tree this
time in the Paseo Nuevo shopping area
After more window shopping it was finally time for the Main Event . . .
. . . held at Santa Barbara's always
impressive Granada Theater
We were here for the benefit concert
billed on the left
The Gracie Fisher Foundation
was the music showcases presenter
Gracie Fisher is the talented, artistic young lady seated in the photo above.
At the age of 17, she developed a rare neurological disease, Acute Flaccid Myelitis, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down.
Following Grace's diagnosis, she discovered mouth painting and music composition. She graduated from UCSB with a BA in music composition.
She is now an award-winning composer and artist passionate about bringing the arts to other individuals with disabilities.
Her physical limitations demand a different approach, but she has embraced a new mantra, "My only limitation is my imagination."
One of Grace's beautiful paintings
Grace has learned to paint using only a brush held in her mouth.
AMAZING!
The benefit concert tonight was a fund-
raiser for the Grace Fisher Foundation
The Grace Fisher Foundation (GFF) was created in 2016 with the mission to connect people living with disabilities to music, art and dance.
In 2023, the GFF opened the Inclusive Arts Clubhouse as a place for people of ALL abilities to create, connect and find community support.
Tonight's concert was simply wonderful with dancers and musicians definitely getting us all into the proper Holiday Spirit as was their goal.
If anyone would like to consider making a gift to the GFF, mail a check to:
Grace Fisher Foundation
1111 Chapala St., #200
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
With Grace's Dad,
Bill Fisher
Bill was an excellent WR/DB for us at Westlake H.S. in the mid-1980s.
He was as a very good high school football player for us, but I know that he has become a much better man since those long ago days.
After the concert, Laurie simply
could not stop herself from
flirting with Ben Franklin
What was he doing in Santa Barbara?
In other news today . . .
The Rams (6-7) lost to the
Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
The Ravens had 76 yard Punt Return for the winning TD in overtime.
Nuts.
The Rams effort continues to be a surprise this season at least to me.
Tuesday is now only TWO days away!
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