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Celebrating the 4th at Santa Barbara’s Sunken Gardens

July 5, 2012 by Charron's Chatter 8 Comments

There are so many fun options to celebrate Fourth of July in Santa Barbara, me and my SO-CO. were hard put to center in on any one excursion this fine if foggy Wednesday past. From the Spirit of 76 Parade running the same route as the Solstice pageant, to West Beach’s Sparkle Celebration at Stearn’s Wharf, to the rivaling display of pyrotechnics at Goleta’s Girsh Park–for a small slice of beachfront, Santa Barbara County sure does pull out all the stops.

Old Glory

Even SB can’t stop the calendar, though, and something about the holiday falling on a Wednesday called for a more low-key type of entertainment, at least to my mind, and the day’s continuing overcast at 3 pm decided it. The open air concert slated for a 4 pm kickoff at Santa Barbara’s Courthouse Sunken Gardens would be perfect. Not as chilly as the beach, and the cloud cover couldn’t cover our ears, as it was bound to compromise our view of the firecrackers later on, so grabbing blankets and beach chairs, we headed out for a semi punctual arrival. Continue reading →…

SB BEAUTIFUL

Santa Barbara’s Summer Solstice Celebration & Festival: 2012

June 25, 2012 by Charron's Chatter 3 Comments

This Saturday is the second day of Solstice Celebration in Santa Barbara. Probably elsewhere, too, I imagine, but SB’s the best place to celebrate the sun’s extended summertime schedule, and I’m not just barking at the moon. Tens of thousands agree.

Art imitating sun initiates fun

Noontime finds a crowd some 100K strong coursing through the heart of downtown, gathering along sidewalks, storefronts, fence posts and balconies lining the parade’s imminent path. The theme this year is ostensibly: “Fantasy”, and though it isn’t officially noted on the event’s website, a few tank-mates from “Finding Nemo” have found their way into the mix. A nod to our coastally situated community, no doubt.

Fantastically Sunny–

–but Squid-tastic, too!

The cited 100K figure only accounts for the audience. More than 1000 will participate in the parade itself, while hundreds of artisans, craftsman, vendors and musicians festoon nearby Alameda Park. An arc of balloons crests the park’s northeast corner, while bunting, bandstands and booths line its in-between borders, and it’s a good thing. The bowers lend shade to the appropriately named: Alameda Park Festival, the parade’s ipso facto “after-party”, and the diversity of vendors on hand guarantees treats for of all ages. Continue reading →…

SB BEAUTIFUL

Rite Moves at Nite Moves

June 14, 2012 by Charron's Chatter 8 Comments

Run Santa Barbara’s Summer Sunset Series: Nite Moves

Aquathon & 5K Run

5:30 is the time of day most folks are winding down for the night. Belts are loosened, stockings discarded and pleats and collars are exchanged for fuzzier, more forgiving ensembles. Generally, I’m all about knocking off right now, too, inclined to be inclined at this hour, and beating most to the punch in premature pajama attire, but not tonight. Tonight I’m taking part in Santa Barbara’s long-running (pun intended) Nite Moves, a 5K run with optional 1 mile swim that’s staged every Wednesday night at Leadbetter Beach.

Better still, you’re coming with me, so we best gets to stepping, then, and go get my number for the race.

25 bone buy-in includes souvenir Tee shirt and catered refreshments later.

I’m excited to participate, but a little nervous, too. I haven’t competed in years, and racing’s definitely a young man’s sport, making me 0 for 2 right from the get go, and though I say that last in jest, the competitor in me is none too happy at the prospect of getting spanked in such a public forum. So it’s with self-conscious reservation I start the trek up the ¼ mile slope to the start line, rubbing my arms to lessen the bite of chill in the air. Continue reading →…

WEEKENDER

Duffer’s Day on the Green

June 2, 2012 by Charron's Chatter 2 Comments

Links u Love 2 Hate

We’re hitting the links today. The kind you walk between, instead of clicking. The back problem that’s kept me from teeing off this last year is finally recovered enough to withstand my maniacal thrashing of iron into turf, and Jim’s ready to come out of the clubhouse, too. So grab your quiver, and get ready to fudge your score along with us as we visit our hidden gem of a (slightly bigger than) Putt-Putt golf course: SB’s Hidden Oaks.

Number 9…number 9…number 9…

Right away I notice the economy’s hit the quaint course where it hurts. On its greens. Though manicured and maintained the usually lush links are as brown as I ever seen them, and as quiet, too. Only the burble of doves and rat-a-tat of woodpeckers underscore my customary war whoop as I slice hard off the 1st Tee with my go-to 9 iron…and Mulligan–again–and again– Continue reading →…

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As the Crow Flies…

May 27, 2012 by Charron's Chatter 3 Comments

You know it’s windy when beachgoers pitch tents on the sand instead of towels.

Super-sized Windbreaker

…and while that campground’s yet to be discovered, right from the word ‘go’ I know I’m in for a wind whipped bike ride along Santa Barbara’s beach boardwalk. My first clue was the drive over, buffeted on the high plains of highway as if Mustang Sally weighed closer to an equine Mustang than a car, and my second is the 25 mph blasts I’m stepping into now, complete with bracing 50 mph gusts as a to-my-bones extra… Continue reading →…

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1000 Words

May 20, 2012 by Charron's Chatter 18 Comments

You ready 4 a run? (And I do mean 4 a run.)That digit’s no funky space-saver. Stretch out those hammies and crack out those creaks, because it’s time to lace up for a looping 4 mile lope through the Santa Barbara foothills, and as the blog title suggests, we’ll be snapping a few pictures along the way to Rebus in the blanks of this blog later.

Did I say a few? Make that a few dozen, because my Ipod’s on the fritz, more stuck on Adele than I am, and I can’t go completely gadget free out into public. You either. We might have to communicate without a digital screen between us and that simply wouldn’t do. It would be both unnatural and uncomfortable, so TIA for that.

Spins too much torch…

Besides. My pocket cam’s got enough memory to capture both the Kodak moment and that tired slogan, so before we fade completely into obsolescence, let’s hit the road. Our model slash runway is ready. More than ready–Mama Earth’s layered a fuzzy sweater of fresh flora atop the soft shoulders of this particular paved way, and even dabbed perfumed blooms behind embowered ears to get us in the mood. (Putting the hoochie before Mama, I suspect, but you gotta love springtime’s splashiness)

Let’s go!

Continue reading →…

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