Like adult fiction, children’s books divide nicely into two groups: the books we read to stimulate our brains, and those that help us go to sleep at night. The biggest mistake made with this film is trying to bring a bedtime story to life.
In a strange case of Hollywood pre-release hype gone wrong, Steve Martin’s anxiously awaited role as the loveably bumbling Inspector Clouseau first appeared lamely, in that annoying “turn off your cell phones” trailer featuring the nouveau Clouseau as a disruptive, joy-buzzered moviegoer. Happily, early fears are unfounded, and Martin’s Clouseau bumbles beautifully in the fairly laugh-riotous 21st version of The Pink Panther.
Are we good or evil? Do we go through life as sinners or as saints? Whether we personally are one or the other, we all seem to need to identify and categorize our icons according to this dichotomy. Every day, the news bombards us with characters to revile or heroes to emulate, and very little exists in between.
Thu., Feb. 16
Larry Crandell Roast: The Public Education Foundation hosts dinner and cocktails to salute and roast “Mr. Santa Barbara.” $45/person. 5-7:30pm. Cabrillo Arts Center. Call 963-4331.
Dems Under 35: Inaugural meeting of the S.B. County Young Democrats. 6:30-8:30pm. MLK Room, Eastside Library. Email dsc@sbdsc.org.
“Marriage. True love. : That blessed arrangement, that dream within a dream :,” lisps Impressive Clergyman in the film The Princess Bride. All weddings have that sentiment at their core even though the details vary. Inside is a collection of stories that reflect a variety of Big Day celebrations. Georgia Freedman discovers that it takes a village to create the perfect hometown wedding; Molly Freedenberg learns what a wedding shouldn’t be about by attending 25 ceremonies in two years; Tyler Blue sees beauty in his rabbi brother’s orthodox nuptials-complete with matchmaker; and Josh Brayer finds bliss in a marriage that makes him a stepdad. Also find out how one couple got sponsors to help defray the costs of their wedding, and what Queen Victoria has to do with why brides wear white.
At the Corridan Gallery, through February 26. It’s unlikely that the photographers of the late-19th-century American West, who braved uncharted
The Opera Santa Barbara Puccini Festival begins with Tosca on Saturday, February 18 and runs through March 5 at the Lobero Theatre. To get a feel for what to expect, we shot five important questions to Tosca director James Marvel (JM) and to Cindy Sadler (CS), who is making her OSB debut in Gianni Schicchi. For more info, call 898-3890.
The best way to see Soledadeez is at a live show, where the audience can really get a feel for the music. However, their soon-to-be-released, self-recorded album is lyrically enjoyable and chock-full of positive messages.
Cruising past the inconspicuous shop on De la Vina, it’s hard to imagine the wine-lover’s sanctuary within: Sean Larkins’s Vino Divino is a mini-universe of wine nirvana.
Steelhead trout are returning to Santa Barbara. Granted, the ones most immediately returning will be eight six-foot trout sculptures painted by S.B. artists, but these mark the first annual migration of the Santa Barbara Steelhead Festival.
