By edhat staff
The Santa Barbara Downtown Organization, Inc (DSB) hosted the anticipated LIVE Art & Wine Walk on Thursday showcasing top restaurants, wineries, breweries, and artistic talent.
Guests started at the Arlington Theatre, trading in tickets for a wine glass, plate, wristband, and map of 12 local businesses hosting live artistic and cultural experiences. A special opening performance by La Boheme Professional Dance Group kicked off the event. This year the art walk took place in venues located above Carrillo, preventing guests from schlepping from one end of State Street to the other.
“This event has something for everyone — food and wine to try, new galleries to visit, and of course, LIVE art,” said Carrie Kelly, Downtown SB executive director. “We learned a long time ago that fans of the Art & Wine Tour are passionate about all of it.”
A fan favorite was local artist Danielle Methmann of at Fuzion Gallery & Boutique, who paints with wine. We didn't see her drink from the palette but several people offered to taste the wine/paint. “I’m very excited to do a wine-painting demo at Fuzion for my first time as part of the tour,” said Methmann.
Santa Barbara-based artist Marco Pinter used a mix of technology, live music, and dance at the Ensemble Theatre Company. His interactive art allowed people to dance and display their inner child.
10 West Gallery, Bella Rosa Galleries, Colette Cosentino Atelier + Gallery, Distinctive Framing N’ Art, Ensemble Theatre Company at the New Vic, Fuzion Gallery & Boutique, Indigo Interiors, Santa Barbara Fine Art, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, State Gallery at Youth Interactive, Sullivan Goss – An American Gallery, and Yuliya Lennon Art Studio all took part in the event.
Local wineries and breweries from Au Bon Climat, August Ridge Vineyards, Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard, E11even Wines, Good Lion Hospitality, Grassini Family Vineyards, Institution Ale, La Lieff Wines, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, M.Special Brewing Company, Sanford Winery, Santa Barbara Winery, Windrun Wine, Barden Wines, and Margerum Wine Company, were pouring sips.
A bevy of food offerings included Bar 29, Bibi Ji, bouchon Santa Barbara, Brasil Arts Café, Carlitos Café & Cantina, The Cruisery, Hoffmann Brat Haus, Lilac Patisserie, Little Kitchen, Los Arroyos Mexican Restaurant & Take Out, The Middle Child Santa Barbara, Opal Restaurant & Bar, Pascucci, Patxi’s Pizza, Roost Santa Barbara, Satellite Santa Barbara, Soul Cal Smokehouse, and Jane Restaurant.
A final party was held at the Arlington Theatre where DJ Darla Bea was spinning beats. A silent auction exhibited gifts and packages benefiting the Downtown Public Art Fund. The big ticket item was a $500 gift package from Santa Barbara Bowl, with two tickets, parking and access to the VIP Terrace for the Oct. 5 Van Morrison concert. This was only rivaled by the raffle for 52 bottles of wine, one per week for a full year.
