Posted by lemonjelly on: Sun 30th Jan, 2011

The night James Franco arrived late to his own tribute, the Harbor Restaurant down on Stearns Wharf was the scene for the after-party. It was a beautiful clear night, a little balmy and pleasant for a Santa Barbara winter. The tradition of having a piss-down rainstorm during the SBIFF had yet to materialize.

While many locals might avoid Wharf restaurants except when guests visit from out of town, the Harbor Restaurant has been a dependable host to SBIFF events and provided a welcome space to party-goers. What I'm saying here is that it was a treat to wine and dine on the pier amongst well-dressed filmmakers and film lovers rather than the usual crowd of pasty bedraggled tourists who pronounce the double Ls in Cabrillo.

The interior has a nautical theme with lines reminscent of sailboats - curved wooden lines, masts, and surrounding shades of blue to match the ocean and sky. The ladies preparing the cocktails and hors d'oeuvres also had a consistent theme of short skirt lines which only added to the appeal of the party scene.

Chopin Vodka provided the open bar. They've been a long-time sponsor of the SBIFF, even though company ownership changes. Tonight they offered popular vodka-based cocktails like the screwdriver or cosmpolitan. For pilsner lovers, there was Stella Artois, another sponsor. Side note: when I lived in England, the movies that played on prime time telly were often sponsored by Stella, so it's interesting to see a consistency in this brand's continual support of film.

The food provided was classic party nosh. There was a large buffet piled with hot dogs, sliders, little hamburgers, and dainty cups of fish and chips. If it's any testament to their popularity, SBIFFers descended upon the buffet like a wave of locusts, leaving empty chafing dishes in their wake. Much like I imagine the fans were when Franco finally showed up, so too was the buffet zone mobbed by the party crowd who were famished after the longer-than-usual tribute evening. Hence, I have no photos of it, other than the calm before the storm. Next time maybe I should bring a crate to stand on.

But the wandering platters of nibbles that would come by the tables, yes! I have photos of some of these tasty morsels.

Buffalo wings with blue cheese dressing passed by often, and chicken wraps, miniature ahi tostadas, and cheese bites. One of my favorite items was the shrimp cocktail. Lots of hands went grabby grabby for those.

A few other unpictured items that passed by included beef skewers and fried wontons. The Harbor Restaurant offered an vast number of nibbles, much more than I saw at the opening night party. This was not an event where people went away hungry, it was a fried food delight.

In addition to my foodspotting, I did a little local people spotting. Noted attendees: Parry Gripp and his wife Aylene. Parry originally made a name for his band Nerfherder with the themesong to the Buffy television series. More recently, I've been a long time fan of his song a week website. His past experience with the SBIFF planners did not go unnoticed this year, and his jingle about the megaphone became this year's opening credits.

Also spotted: local shorts filmmakers Ted Mills and Jason Hallows. Both of them will have their films showing at the Lobero on 3 February. I like seeing local guys at local restaurants.

Harbor Restaurant
210 Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
harborsb.com

Tags: sbiff, c2sbiff, santa barbara international film festival, photos, special coverage, witty commentary, good reviews, indie site, unusual angle, local, food, nosh, Harbor restaurant

Posted by lemonjelly on: Sun 30th Jan, 2011

Posted by lemonjelly on: Sat 29th Jan, 2011

I'm enjoying a quiet moment of solitude in the no-host bar portion of the Harbor Restaurant. No-host meaning there's nobody there, because why would you pay for a cocktail when there's an open bar on the other side of the restaurant.

Here was a chance to chat with the restaurant staff, the SBIFF event staff, and the fishes. And once again, the SBIFF folks impressed me with their friendliness and helpfulness in providing information and letting me through the party areas before they got too crowded with guests.

Tags: sbiff, c2sbiff, santa barbara international film festival, photos, special coverage, witty commentary, good reviews, indie site, unusual angle, local, food, Harbor restaurant

Posted by lemonjelly on: Sat 29th Jan, 2011

Some quotes:

"Our fat children need protection from the u.s. food supply."

"We don't have an educated public, they want a tagline of 'organic' that lets them know food is ok and doesnt make them have to think."

"When the crash come there will be a happy band out there saying this way is safety and it tastes great."

"Ninety six percent of produce consumed in sb county is imported."

...

This does not look good for homestar runner.

Tags: edible communities, foodie, local source, edible santa barbara, organic, sblifestyle

Posted by lemonjelly on: Fri 28th Jan, 2011

Opening night while dignitaries, celebs, attendees and media were stampeeding up to the Arlington for the opening film, I was engaging the friendly door guards at the site of the after party within Paseo Nuevo. Amongst the ambiance of glowing blue and red lights I found my prizes: the nibbles offered up to the party attendees.

The SBIFF restaurant sponsors have always intrigued me. What do they serve? Is the sponsorship worthwhile? Do people even eat when they're wearing flashy whisper-thin frocks and gowns? Enquiring minds want to know.

First, the scene. All the drink and nibble tables were spread out between the open spaces and the side streets of the Paseo. The lighting created some challenges because much of the side street lighting was actually not working, leaving the restaurants' tables in the shadows. The party-goers didn't seem fussed, at least, and judging by the crowds packed around the tables, everyone was famished.

The popular offering was soup! There were three soup stations put on by different restaurants. Pascucci offered a hot creamy sweet potato soup, which was all round enjoyable, and served at just the right temperature.

My favorite soup came from the Organic Soup Kitchen, a non-profit organization commited to dishing up nutritious healthy meals to the homeless. Tonight they offered a fresh coconut yam soup, based on a recipe that became a favorite of Humphrey Bogart's in the 1940s while filming Casablanca (see how they tied their dish to film?). The soup tasted clearly of fresh coconut, thin and delilcious. I had taken a pre-filled cup, which had cooled to lukewarm, and even still it was a very pleasant soup to drink. The OSK folks working there were also one of the friendliest bunch, mainly because there was enough of them at the table to dish out soup while engaging people in conversation.

The third soup I tried came from the Hob Nob folks. They've been around for ages, first as the high end Epiphany and later as the tavern lounge style drinks and nosh that Hob Nob is now. They offered a spicy artichoke soup, served piping hot. At first sip, the flavor seemed overly salty, but once the soup had cooled down a little I realized this was the spicy element.

Hob Nob also prepared meatballs for snacking. They were tasty, but the meat's coarse grind didn't make them the smooth tender meaty treats they could have been. There weren't many red meat nibbles offered at the event overall, so those were a good item to pounce on by meatlovers.

Over by the grand entrance to the party was Wahoo's, handing out slices of their Baja Roll - cream cheese, spinach, chicken and salsa rolled in a flour tortilla. I loved that they were nice bite sizes, and not that greasy on the fingers as long as the cilantro sauce didn't splatter. Wahoo's had a buffet selection of Mexican food, but these did look too complicated to carry around and I skipped sampling it. Wahoo's in particular seemed very familiar with the party-goers, I have a feeling they're the kind of people who sponsor other events and fundraisers in this town.

Marmalade Cafe and Chipotle win the award for Things Served on Big Chips. Neither are also local businesses, but both are actively engaged in lcoal community. I've seen Marmalade at other fundraiser tasting events, and Chipotle I think everyone knows by now is one of the most ethnical and green fast food companies around, and the only fast food company to garner a decent score on the Better World Shopper Guide for social and environmental responsability.

Marmalade handed out spicy ahi tuna, avocado and seaweed nibbles on top of wonton chips. I could eat more of those, except that I feared the chip falling apart on me, dropping the precious ahi into my décolletage. Oh, and I didn't have enough stomach space to sample multiples of the food available.

Chipotle served up carnitas with a creamy sauce and cilantro garnish. It was at this time I learned that wearing all-black puts me in the guise of looking like I work there. There was some confused song and dance when a matronly woman kept reaching for the dish already in my hand. Lady, perhaps a little too much Chopin Vodka? I made my escape to my photo studio aka the storefront of Baby Gap, and grabbed this last snap.

I decided the party was now far too heaving with people to safely chat with the restaurant sponsors and I pulled back to watch the whole affair. I noticed that all the plates, soup cups and cutlery were made with green-friendly recyclable materials and that bins for separating trash from paper from bottles were provided all throughout the venue. Very cool.

Also really cool was Andi, the SBIFF volunteer who helped me get the food samples, find good photography light, and clear away the leftover plates. She'd been volunteering for the event for six years now and kept an eye out for anyone needing assistance. Thanks, Andi, you rock!

Tags: sbiff, c2sbiff, santa barbara international film festival, photos, pascucci, Wahoo's, organic soup kitchen, hob nob, chipotle, marmalade cafe, special coverage, witty commentary, good reviews, indie site, unusual angle, local, food, opening night, Paseo Nuevo

Posted by lemonjelly on: Thu 27th Jan, 2011

Posted by lemonjelly on: Wed 26th Jan, 2011

This is a mulimedia presentation of luscious scenery from Lotusland, beautiful dancers and ethereal sound to become immersed in.

The project has at least 25 screens (I lost count), and 9 video projectors. In my cursory browse of the installation in progress, I particularly enjoyed the juxtaposition of geometric human manipulation with nature's organic curves. 

Contributing artists include Robin Bisio, Ted Mills, Jon Smith, Ethan Turpin, and Nik Blaskovich.

Nymphaea is installed in the Contemporary Arts Forum space on the top floor of Paseo Nuevo and will have its official opening this friday evening, January 28, 5:00pm - 8:00pm. It is free to attend.  It will run for five days. 

Tags: nymphaea, sblifestyle, sbiff, CAF

Posted by lemonjelly on: Wed 26th Jan, 2011

Spotted in a friend's apartment complex on upper Arrellaga, we're just boggling over this.

According to google maps, and assuming these came from the nearest of this town's two Ross stores, each cart has travelled 2.9 miles to reach this location. That's practically 9 collective miles someone has pushed to get them here.

We've come up with this idea that some people have a Ross shopping cart much like others may have reusable shopping bags hanging about, but each time they go to Ross they go, "shoot, I forgot my reusable cart! Oh ok, I'll get another one, just this time."

I'm kind of impressed. But the property managers of this apartment complex reportedly aren't, they've left an urgent note for all residents that this is not just inappropriate, but theft from the store. I doubt they will take the initiative to move them, though.

Tags: shopping carts, ross, abandoned, urban trekking

Posted by lemonjelly on: Sun 23rd Jan, 2011

Posted by lemonjelly on: Sun 23rd Jan, 2011

Posted by lemonjelly on: Thu 20th Jan, 2011

Ahem, looks like *someone* can't squeeze toothpaste in a straight line.

Just kidding. It was awesome. This is the view from my office building.

Tags: VAFB, rocket launch, Delta IV, rockets!!!

Posted by lemonjelly on: Mon 17th Jan, 2011

This weekend I was having brunch with friends in their back garden, and the autumn color was just lovely.

Oh wait. Let me get this straight. Autumn color...when it's winter...but it feels like summer. Yep, that's our Santa Barbara.

You know what else is so Santa Barbara? Brunch. But that's another story.

Tags: seasons, what seasons, colors, weather, sblifestyle

Posted by lemonjelly on: Sat 8th Jan, 2011

Last night was the annual fire safety demonstration at the Santa Ynez Mission.

A friend told me about this event a couple months ago, and thanks to City2's headline RSS, I saw the announcement that it would be held on 7 January.

It was a great bonfire, er, I mean, fire safety demonstration. Lots of families were there, with children excited for the education in proper fire safety concerning old christmas trees. They danced with joy upon gaining enlightenment on the staggering display of what happens when about 300 pine trees are piled up and set alight.

Don't do this at home, kids.

Tags: fire, bonfire, how to use your old christmas tree, santa ynez, Education

Posted by lemonjelly on: Wed 5th Jan, 2011

Taken on new year's day.

Happy new year!

Tags: carousel, chase palm park, cabrillo

Posted by lemonjelly on: Tue 4th Jan, 2011

What I like about Choi's is that it's run by a cute old couple, the few times I've been they've been nothing but friendly and helpful. Choi's has all the Korean basics to get you by and for a town this size, it is enough and better than driving all the way to [insert big city name here] for some chile paste, banchan goodies and kimchee.

I was most intrigued to try their bibimbap for lunch. The woman at the cashier is also the cook, so I just chilled out and browsed the aisles while she multi-tasked.

The reward: a box with rice topped with a soft-fried egg with perfect creamy oozy yolk, some slices of marinated grilled beef, and banchan-like items of mushrooms, greens, sprouts and pickled vegetables. Plus, the tub of Korean chile sauce.  And some seaweed soup on the side. About $8.

I don't have much experience with what makes bibimbap an "authentic" bibimbap but if there's a cute little old Korean lady making it, I'm pretty happy. And so seemed everyone else in the queue behind me.

Choi's Market
185 S. Patterson Ave, Suite D
805 683-1892
Hot lunch food is served only during lunch hours, monday-friday (I think!), as in, they are open Saturday, but no bibimbap.

Tags: korean food, goleta, choi's, markets, duh I know it is not as good as LA but you drive all the way to LA okay, bibimbap