News-Press – Page 49

Ukulele lullabies: Local musician releases album for kids

December 15, 2010July 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

UKULELE Songs that kids -- and adults -- will enjoy — UKULELE Songs that kids — and adults — will enjoy

Last time we checked in with Jim Clark, he had headed off to San Diego’s Comic-Con to promote his Eisner Award-nominated comic book, “The Guns of Shadow Valley.” But this Santa Barbara resident who writes about cowboys and aliens is also a father of two and is exploring another creative outlet that runs closer to home. In his guise as Ukulele Jim, he has just released a homemade selection of children’s songs, called “Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus.” The 12-track CD of gentle ukulele strumming, Mr. Clark’s mellow voice, and catchy songwriting has been carefully designed to appeal to little ones without stressing out their parents.

Ukulele Jim was born out of a desire to be a good father. In 2005, Mr. Clark’s wife, Lisa, was pregnant with twins and he wanted his children to grow up in a house full of music.

Garden of Eden – Mesa church plans to turn small plot of land into community bounty

December 11, 2010July 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Randy Saake, deacon at Holy Cross Catholic Church, admires a freshly planted tree on Sunday at Mesa Harmony Garden, off Meigs Road, which will help feed those in need in the community. NIK BLASKOVICH / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS — Randy Saake, deacon at Holy Cross Catholic Church, admires a freshly planted tree on Sunday at Mesa Harmony Garden, off Meigs Road, which will help feed those in need in the community.
NIK BLASKOVICH / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Most people drive past the beginnings of the Mesa Harmony Garden on their way down or up Meigs Road, either on their way to Santa Barbara or the Mesa. A small patch of land behind the Taco Bell parking lot and before the turnoff onto Dolores Drive, it is set to become several things: a way to feed those in need, an exciting example of permaculture and a gift from a local church to the Mesa community

The garden, worked by parishioners of Holy Cross Catholic Church, neighbors, Santa Barbara City College students and volunteers, will provide food for the homeless and needy from a selection of more than 300 trees, along with other types of fruits and vegetables, say supporters. And all on less than an acre.

Double Toil and Trouble – Westmont Theater’s ‘Macbeth’ is a speedy trip into madness

December 10, 2010July 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Junior Felisha Vasquez, left, and senior Jessica Drake rehearse a scene from 'Macbeth.' Brad Elliott Photos — Junior Felisha Vasquez, left, and senior Jessica Drake rehearse a scene from ‘Macbeth.’
Brad Elliott Photos

If you’re tired already of the holiday spirit, then how about some murder, revenge, madness and bloodshed, where the only spirit is a manifestation of your guilt? Westmont’s production of “Macbeth,” whose only spirit is the manifestation of guilt, should satisfy.

Performed with a five-woman cast, this “Macbeth” strips an already speedy play — one of Shakespeare’s shortest — down to 45 or 50 minutes.

Choral Riffs – Santa Barbara Master Chorale presents annual Christmas concert

December 10, 2010July 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

For Steven Hodson, the music director and conductor of Santa Barbara Master Chorale, Christmas holds many childhood memories.

“The church I grew up in had a tremendous amount of music,” he says. “And of course I remember all the presents under the tree. But musically, I was surrounded by traditional music.”

Fishmas Comes but Once a Year – Alternative X-mas market and party is coming to Helena Avenue

December 10, 2010July 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The Christmas tree gets a makeover this weekend at Fishbon's Fishmas Bazaar. Courtesy photos — The Christmas tree gets a makeover this weekend at Fishbon’s Fishmas Bazaar.
Courtesy photos

“Christmas has become, for a lot of people, an opportunity to put pressure on themselves, a pressure to perform around their families and work,” says John Lawrence, one of the organizers of Fishbon’s Fishmas Bizarre. “It’s a stressful time.”

Well, there will be none of that this weekend in the three-day holiday event on the corner of Mason and Helena Avenue. Instead, the Fishnet Gallery will have home-made, artist-designed Christmas trees, arts-and-crafts vendors, food carts and a nighttime made of music, skits, DJs, fire spinners and aerialists. This is not your average mall-located Christmas adventure, either. It’s an artist collective run wild with yuletide fun.

Silly in your stocking: ‘The Mystery of Irma Vep’ brings belly laughs

December 6, 2010July 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Joseph Fuqua, right, and Jamie Torcellini, left, fashioned one of the umpteen wardrobe combos in Ensemble Theatre's production of "Irma Vep" over the weekend at Alhecama Theatre. DAVIDBAZEMORE.COM PHOTO — Joseph Fuqua, right, and Jamie Torcellini, left, fashioned one of the umpteen wardrobe combos in Ensemble Theatre’s production of “Irma Vep” over the weekend at Alhecama Theatre.
DAVIDBAZEMORE.COM PHOTO

Christmas shows at the Ensemble Theatre headquarters during Jonathan Fox’s tenure as artistic director have been well-meaning but slight. As an antidote to serious drama they have provided some polite laughs with plays that usually wear out their welcome by the second act. Last year’s “Tea at Five” was more successful, a Katherine Hepburn bio that worked precisely because it wasn’t about Christmas.

And now with “The Mystery of Irma Vep,” Ensemble has a great show on its hands. There’s no mistletoe to speak of, just wolfsbane to ward off lycanthropes. But it is imbued with a very silly, crazed energy, just what we need as the year comes to a close.

As the Bird Flies – Soar over Santa Barbara with a new DVD and screening at the Lobero’

December 3, 2010July 10, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

For many of us, the only chance we get to see Santa Barbara from the air is when we fly out of the airport, and even then, we usually head away from it or just barely buzz the coastline. Sam Tyler had the same limited view until Mother’s Day weekend, when a hasty set of circumstances found him above Santa Barbara for two days in a helicopter, exploring our city and beyond from a bird’s eye view. Now that footage will be screened as part of a special DVD release party at the Lobero.

“Above Santa Barbara” offers 40 minutes of smooth, relaxing landscape gazing, as one seems to float over the ground. Mansions give up their floor plans and luxurious gardens, wineries show off their extensive vineyards and the true length of our winding roads can be seen.

The Dark Side of Happiness – Passion Pit’s disco-rock hides black clouds of lyrics, but the band wants to have fun

December 3, 2010July 11, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Michael Angelakos, lead singer of Boston’s Passion Pit, is a man of his word. When asked in 2009 what the next year looked like for the band, he said “touring, touring, and touring.” Here we are in December and these overnight success indie rockers step up to play The Granada as they wind their tour down.

“Certainly 2010 has been full of lots of touring and it’s been a positive change for the band,” says Angelakos, whose voice is deep and searching and slightly tired. “We started off in 2009 as a band that hadn’t rehearsed much and didn’t take things seriously. We’ve had a reawakening. We didn’t really have time to develop outside of the limelight. So 2010 is the year we came into our own.”

Sharkeez’s Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita

November 26, 2010July 1, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

“Recession? What recession?”

So says Ryan Leeper, manager of the Santa Barbara branch of that college drinking institution Sharkeez. Some blocks of State Street may be a bit quieter these days, but not the block between Haley and Gutierrez. With the Savoy across the street, and the numerous late night food establishments popping up here and there (thank you Santa Barbara for getting a clue about our stomachs), this block is buzzing.

And as we walked in on a Thursday, we were told that in an hour it would be College Night, so brace for the crowds. Well, we thought, that gives us an hour to get our drinks in before all chaos reigns.

Forces of Nature – The team behind ‘Ruckus’ returns for a free show at CAF

November 26, 2010July 1, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Back again so soon? Some readers may remember Anaya Cullen and Marko Pinter from September’s issue, when they caused a “Ruckus” over at Center Stage Theater, where they were one-third of that evening’s show of multimedia performance. For this Thursday’s forum Lounge at Contemporary Arts Forum, the two return with their still-unnamed company for “Gravitational Forces,” a longer, more ambitious piece.

Returning to mix sound, video and dance are Kaita Lepore and Steven Jasso, who Cullen considers as much a part of the company as the two creators. For “Dichotomous” and “Ruckus,” Cullen remained behind the scenes. But for “Gravitational Forces,” she returns to the stage as a performer. Santa Barbara audiences will know Cullen from her previous performance work for SonneBlauma Danscz Theatre, though currently she is the costume designer for State Street Ballet.