Parallel Stories looks at the power of memory and the family stories that are woven together in the "Homeric" epic and memoir of "In the Country of Women: A Memoir" in a reading and conversation with award-winning author Susan Straight. In this ode to what The New York Times called "the entire multiracial, transnational tribe she claims as her own,” Straight reminds us in powerful, fiercely lyrical language of the grit, hope, courage, resilience, hope, and sorrow inextricably connected to our stories—stories of women, stories of coming to, and leaving, and returning, and in the author’s case, stories written within blocks of where she was born and still lives in Riverside County. This book, addressed in large part to her daughters, is finally and most tellingly about love—transcendent, inconvenient, persistent, imperfect generations of love. Straight has published eight novels, including "Highwire Moon," finalist for the National Book Award in 2001, and "Between Heaven and Here." Her short stories have appeared in "Zoetrope," the "Ontario Review," the "Oxford American," the "Sun," "Black Clock," and many others. Her essays have appeared in "The New York Times," "Reader’s Digest," "Family Circle," "Salon," the "Los Angeles Times," "Harpers," the "Nation," and elsewhere.

Book signing to follow.

Parallel Stories looks at the power of memory and the family stories that are woven together in the "Homeric" epic and memoir of "In the Country of Women: A Memoir" in a reading and conversation with award-winning author Susan Straight. In this ode to what The New York Times called "the entire multiracial, transnational tribe she claims as her own,” Straight reminds us in powerful, fiercely lyrical language of the grit, hope, courage, resilience, hope, and sorrow inextricably connected to our stories—stories of women, stories of coming to, and leaving, and returning, and in the author’s case, stories written within blocks of where she was born and still lives in Riverside County. This book, addressed in large part to her daughters, is finally and most tellingly about love—transcendent, inconvenient, persistent, imperfect generations of love. Straight has published eight novels, including "Highwire Moon," finalist for the National Book Award in 2001, and "Between Heaven and Here." Her short stories have appeared in "Zoetrope," the "Ontario Review," the "Oxford American," the "Sun," "Black Clock," and many others. Her essays have appeared in "The New York Times," "Reader’s Digest," "Family Circle," "Salon," the "Los Angeles Times," "Harpers," the "Nation," and elsewhere.

Book signing to follow.

The 5th Annual Santa Barbara WILD! event, a benefit for Los Padres ForestWatch, takes place at the Garden Street Academy Playing Fields in the historic Upper East neighborhood in Santa Barbara.

wagingpeace.org/2019-evening-for-peace

David Krieger will receive the 2019 Distinguished Peace Leadership Award from Daniel Ellsberg on October 20th. 

A sunset boat ride on the Condor express, and group singing, featuring songleader Erin McKibben.

The Santa Barbara Sister Cities Board presents the 28th annual Sister Cities Dinner in honor of United Nations Day. Come join Santa Barbara's seven Sister Cities and Santa Barbara's United Nations group at potluck dinner filled with entertainment and good food from the Sister Cities.

A protean performer who has been a singular force in music for more than half a century, Chucho Valdés’ unprecedented synthesis of folkloric Afro-Cuban rhythms, rock, funk and jazz opened up vast new musical frontiers. His most recent project, Jazz Batá, revisits an exceptional early experiment pairing a piano jazz trio with batá drums, sacred instruments used in Santeria rituals. The influential Cuban pianist, composer and arranger revamps that formative project, leading his youthful, powerhouse band of bass, congas and batá in this upbeat night with the “founder of the definitive contemporary Cuban jazz” (Billboard).

“Valdés’ explorations of the African influences in Cuban music are so profound that he is revered by musicians who play jazz, dance music, Buena Vista styled classic Cuban son, and even the island’s hip-hop community.”NPR

Join us October 20th from noon to 5pm for the Haley Corridor Beer & Wine Crawl + MAKERS MARKET! Shop 75 makers while exploring six local breweries and wineries!

UCSB Arts & Lectures and the Department of Music will present Z.E.N. Trio’s Esther Yoo in conversation with pianist Robert Koenig, Chair and Professor at the UCSB Department of Music, on Monday, October 21st from 2-3 pm in Karl Geiringer Hall. The conversation will be moderated by UCSB Professor of Musicology, Derek Katz.

The event presentation addresses the very timely and controversial issue of vaping. It also includes an overview of processing methods to prepare vapes, formulations often used in vapes, and hardware considerations for vape users will be covered. Comparing and contrasting cannabis and nicotine vaping will also be highlighted.
This talk will be presented by Dr. Jeff Raber. (This presentation includes Q&A)

Broadway Actor and Streamy Award Winner Todrick announced his new world tour “Haus Party World Tour”. The tour will feature brand new sets and costumes and will feature the music from his three-part album “Haus Party” as well as some of his most viral online creations live onstage. Todrick rose to prominence on American Idol.