Category: News-Press

DRINK OF THE WEEK: Alison Reide’s Two of Hearts

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Two of Hearts NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS
Two of Hearts
NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS

Chocolate and strawberries. Strawberries and chocolate. Is there a better traditional combo for Valentine’s Day?

We softies at Drink of the Week say no, precisely because even if our hearts are broken at least we have chocolate to eat and maybe some strawberries to blend into pancakes. So when we got to talking to Alison Reide, host of the cupcake and champagne tastings at Corks & Crowns, about her plans for V-Day, we had to have her design a cocktail. Last year, she made us the Valentini, but this time we challenged her to top that.

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SBIFF: A star quartet: Despite cancellations, SBIFF’s Virtuosos celebrates 2013’s breakout roles

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Tuesday night’s Virtuosos awards at the Arlington Theatre celebrated seven of the breakout roles in this past year of films.

Fans of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Virtuosos evening, which honors several actors for one particular role instead of one actor for a career, have noticed the increasing number of honorees. In 2011 there were five actors, in 2013 six, and now seven.

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SBIFF: Heavy hitters: Producers and women’s panels give insight to the industry

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The Santa Barbara International Film Festival hosted discussion panels Saturday at the Lobero Theatre.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival hosted discussion panels Saturday at the Lobero Theatre.

The industry panels are some of the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s most popular events for the cinephile.

While the movie stars attract the most, the two panels Saturday at the Lobero offered much more insight into the day-to-day machinations of the movie business: the search for funding, the challenges of getting films made, and the often convoluted ways of attaining a career.

The panels had some guest overlap, but both provided interest during their hour-long chats.

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SBIFF: Catherine the Great: Cate Blanchett honored for her role in ‘Blue Jasmine’

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Ms. Blanchett signs autographs before walking the red carpet Saturday at the Arlington Theatre.MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Ms. Blanchett signs autographs before walking the red carpet Saturday at the Arlington Theatre.

MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Cate Blanchett sat down with Deadline Hollywood’s Pete Hammond on Saturday night for a conversation about the craft of acting.

This was the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s evening for the Outstanding Performer of the Year, honoring Ms. Blanchett for her starring (and Oscar-nominated) role in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.”

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Lust for poetry : Diana Raab pens a tender — and naughty — volume

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Montecito resident Diana Raab has released a revealing new work of erotic poetry.
Montecito resident Diana Raab has released a revealing new work of erotic poetry.

Diana Raab took some 15 years to put her fourth collection of poems together, not because she takes time writing, but because of the subject.

“Lust” (CW Books, $19) features a naked woman lying on a bed in a fetal position, her hair obscuring her face. These are private moments, it seems to say … come read what they are.
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SBIFF: Director David O. Russell receives SBIFF’s first award

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Mr. Russell speaks with Roger Durling during Friday's program.
Mr. Russell speaks with Roger Durling during Friday’s program.

Director David O. Russell returned to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday night after a year’s absence to accept the Outstanding Directing Award.

Last year he arrived first as a panelist, one of six directors talking about their work, his being “Silver Linings Playbook.” Then he was an award giver, descending into the maelstrom of Jennifer Lawrence fandom to present her with an award for her young but stunning career.

This year it’s Mr. Russell’s turn to be in the spotlight and sit down for a career overview. His latest, “American Hustle,” is a clever romp with a cast of hilarious characters in New Jersey with the backdrop of the very real ABSCAM sting operation of the ’70s.

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Director David O. Russell receives SBIFF’s first award

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Director David O. Russell returned to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday night after a year’s absence to accept the Outstanding Directing Award.

Last year he arrived first as a panelist, one of six directors talking about their work, his being “Silver Linings Playbook.” Then he was an award giver, descending into the maelstrom of Jennifer Lawrence fandom to present her with an award for her young but stunning career.
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Russell’s Hustle – SBIFF HONORS THE DIRECTOR OF ‘AMERICAN HUSTLE,’ ‘SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK,’ AND MORE

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Jordan Strauss photo

The comedian Louis C.K. recently compared David O. Russell’s directing method to playing soccer: no time-outs, no huddles, you just keep moving. “Go big or go home” is often heard on a Russell set. And interviewing Mr. Russell is like that, too. He’s all energy, running here and there from anecdote to anecdote, and even though he’s probably been telling these tales since the very first junket, he sounds absolutely in the moment, like he’s just walked off set and can’t wait to tell you about it all.

Santa Barbara will get a full evening of Mr. Russell tonight in the first of SBIFF’s celebrity tributes, as he sits down for a career retrospective and the Outstanding Director Award.

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SBIFF: Top Pix for Flix – WHAT TO SEE DURING SANTA BARBARA FILM FESTIVAL’S FIRST WEEK

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"No No"Santa Barbara International Film Festival photos
“No No”

Santa Barbara International Film Festival photos


You can’t take movie watching lightly at SBIFF. If you’re a newbie, bear in mind that attending a film at the Film Festival is not like your usual night out at the multiplex. There are lines. And not only are there lines, there are lines to stand in other lines. And there are passes and ticket booklets and — in the case of films at the Metro — four films going on at the same time. Oh my! So choosing a film is a careful proposition.

Every film festival has surprises, and the films that get the buzz are sometimes the ones that don’t jump off the schedule page. But here are 14 must-see events for your first week of cinema going at the Fest.

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