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Tapas, Vino y Arte 2007 - Tickets Still Available!

Tapas, Vino y Arte 2007
Saturday, September 29
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Santa Barbara Presidio Research Center & Plaza de Alhecama
215 E. Canon Perdido Street,
Santa Barbara
$: $100 *$75 Tax-Deductible

Join us for a celebration of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation at its beautiful new Presidio Research Center with Tapas, Vino y Arte 2007. Several fine restaurants will be donating food stations, talented local artists will be donating their work for exhibition and sale (fifty percent of all sales of paintings from participating artists will go to benefit the Trust), and several wineries will be pouring samples of their finest vintages.

Featuring live music by the Laguna Blanca Jazz Band—guests will stroll, drink, eat, and bid on local art as they wander through the historic Plaza de Alhecama and explore the new Presidio Research Center. The event also includes a silent auction and a raffle drawing for an 8-day, 7-night trip for two to Spain—featuring lodging at select Spanish Paradors and round-trip airfare courtesy of Santa Barbara Travel. Raffle tickets are $10 each, 3 for $25 or 15 for $100.

For more information visit the Tapas '07 website.

Channel Coast Corporation Receives Award for
Presidio Northwest Corner Reconstruction

Caption coming...

In August, Channel Coast Corporation (CCC) received not one but two awards at the Santa Barbara Contractors Association 16th Annual Builder of the Year Award Contest for their work on the reconstruction of the Santa Barbara Presidio Northwest Corner. Winning in both the Green Building Commercial Construction and New Commercial Construction Cost up to $2,000,000 categories it was a night to remember for CCC and the Trust.

CCC's win in the Green Building Commercial Construction award category may have been a surprise to some, but to those familiar with the reconstruction efforts of the Trust and CCC the recognition is long overdo - The Presidio Northwest Corner project combined the reconstruction of two original Presidio adobe residences as well as limited new construction to enhance site facilities. The walls utilized local sandstone footings and hand-formed sun-dried adobe blocks made on site. Much of the soil for the adobe blocks and the mud plaster was obtained form onsite archaeological excavations. Roof sheathing consists of sections of giant cane harvested locally. The plaster and paints to whitewash the adobe were mixed by hand to replicate the original finish of the building. Stains for the doors and beams were made from ore dust also obtained on site. The interior flooring was made of compacted dirt from the site excavation. During the adobe cutting process, a hand made pond was made to catch water from the sawing operation which regenerated naturally the water table of the site area, and the pollution prevention plan was used successfully to capture clean out water, concrete, and adobe waste which was recycled for future adobe block manufacturing.

CCC's win in the New Commercial Construction Cost up to $2,000,000 category is equally impressive when you realize the extent of the second phase of the Northwest Corner reconstruction project - Presidio-era structures reconstructed along the western side of the adobe quadrangle included two casas de familias (houses for families). New construction included a new stairway and ADA compliant access ramp to the site. Future development includes the reconstruction of associated adobe yard walls or corrals, 170-feet of the western defense wall, and approximately 51-feet of the second outer defense wall. The adobe rooms that comprise the Visitor's Center, the associated yard wall, and the western defense wall were originally completed circa 1788 under the direction of Comandante Felipe de Goicoechea.

While not yet furnished, these two new impressive rooms are currently open to the public. The new Visitors' Center will allow the Trust to develop additional museum space for the interpretation of the Native American, Spanish, Mexican, American, Chinese, and Japanese communities in Santa Barbara. Multimedia displays, artifacts, maps, and photographs attributed to each of these Presidio neighborhood groups will help convey the rich cultural diversity represented during the 223-year occupation of the Northwest Corner Site. It will also be used for demonstrations, performances and workshops on the Presidio's history, while the new ramp and Visitors' Center offer increased access by the community, in keeping with the Trust's ongoing community outreach efforts.

Channel Coast Corporation recently completed the renovation of the new Santa Barbara Presidio Research Center which will be unveiled to the public for the first time on Saturday, September 29th as part of Tapas, Vino y Arte 2007.

The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation and Channel Coast Corporation hope to begin the third phase of reconstruction on the Presidio Northwest Corner (the reconstruction of associated adobe yard walls and corrals) in October 2007.

The Trust is currently undertaking a Northwest Corner Funding Campaign for the fourth and final phase of the Northwest Corner reconstruction. For more information visit the Northwest Corner Campaign website.

1st Thursday at the Casa de la Guerra

1st Thursday
Thursday, October 4
5:00 to 8:00 PM
Casa de la Guerra Historic House Museum
15 E. De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Free Admission
For more information (805) 965-0093

If you haven't attended 1st Thursday at the Casa de la Guerra - you're missing out! Over the past few months the Trust has opened Casa de la Guerra Historic House Museum, in collaboration with the Downtown Organization and neighboring art venues, to present 1st Thursday, an evening of art and culture in Downtown Santa Barbara. On the first Thursday of every month, participating downtown galleries stay open from 5-8 p.m. (or later) to offer free access to art in a fun and social environment. The next 1st Thursday will be Thursday, October 4th.

A photo of Cold Springs Bridge by Wm. D. Dewey. Part of "Bridges of Santa Barbara County: Spans Across Time" on display at the Casa de la Guerra for 1st Thursday on Oct. 4th.

In October at Casa de la Guerra, enjoy wine and appetizers in one of Santa Barbara's most historic settings as the Trust presents the return of “Bridges of Santa Barbara County: Spans Across Time.” Featuring historic images and contemporary photographs by photographer Wm. B. Dewey, this unique exhibit examines important bridges in Santa Barbara County, including many that are presently in-use as well as some historic bridges that have been abandoned or destroyed, including the controversial Nojoqui Bridge. “Forged in Iron: The Expressive Art of the Roof Cross Tradition in Chiapas, Mexico” is also on display, experience the art of the roof cross tradition in Chiapas, Mexico.

In addition, the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization is sponsoring a performance by Rikka Z at the Casa de la Guerra. Stop by and check out Rikka Z’s own California-girl-meets-Nashville sound that she calls “coastal country.”
For more information visit www.rikkaz.com.

In addition to visiting the Casa , be sure to explore the other participating venues. Listings of the specific programming offered at each gallery and descriptions of all public performances and interactive exhibits are available at www.santabarbaradowntown.com/go.

Remember, "Wine Gratis" for Trust Members (w/membership card) at 1st Thursday.

Gift Shop Highlight

Brand new in our museum shop is a fun and functional gift - El Presidio de Santa Barbara Wine Corks. Handmade in Santa Barbara this reinforced wine cork features a beautiful image of El Presido de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and makes a perfect gift for friends, family or even yourself. Available at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park gift shop for $10. All gift shop sales directly benefit the general operation of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.

For more information call Gift Shop Manager Joan Stewart at (805) 965-0093. Stop by and pick up your wine cork today!

Trust Members receive a discount on all museum store purchases.

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