Winter of Culture

Our discerning picks for the winter 2024 arts season.

WORDS Ninette Paloma

What is it about a fresh new year that awakens a thirst for uncharted experiences? Flora may be lying dormant just below our feet but thanks to a host of both homegrown and visiting artists this season, beauty is sprouting all around the Central Coast. With longer nights and blustery days, there is no better time to sink into a theatre seat or slip into a serene gallery for winter discovery and inspiration. 
Spanning the genres of movement, music, and culinary delights that will keep you energized until the first daffodils blossom, we have compiled a streamlined selection of our don't-miss favorites. Grab a friend or two and snag your tickets early, these events promise to attract a raucous crowd.

Sound & Smoke 01/12-14
Center Stage Theatre Santa Barbara
Now in its tenth season, Selah Dance Collective under the direction of Meredith Ventura continues to evolve with thought-provoking, contemporary dance steeped in historical and literary undertones. Their latest evening-length works Sound & Smoke explores Weimar-era cabaret and the ritual of "dancing deaths" in what promises to be a stimulating evening of genre-bending movement.   
 
Portal 01/13
East Beach Santa Barbara
A record release experience like no other, certified sound healing therapist Danielle Elese will unveil her first EP Portal with a plein-air listening party on the shores of the Pacific. Pack a blanket and picnic to this enchanting afternoon of percussion and melody. Headsets will be provided.

What an Owl Knows 01/16
Museum of Natural History Santa Barbara 
Award-winning science writer Jennifer Ackerman has dedicated her career to the de-mystification of our winged friends, and her latest book What an Owl Knows has everyone flocking to the Morro Bay Bird Festival where she will be spotlighting the culture and habits of this mythical creature. Thanks to the Santa Barbara Audubon Society she'll also be making a pit stop in Mission Canyon for an evening of owl talk that ornithophiles won't want to miss. 

SYV Restaurant Week 01/21-02/03
Multiple locations Santa Ynez Valley
If you need a reason to visit the Valley this winter, then let the area's annual Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Week be your catalyst for an unforgettable culinary experience in the land of rolling hills and ranch life. From tucked-away private dining rooms to Michelin-guide fixtures, these pre-fixe menus are the perfect way to celebrate the winter harvest and earthy wines of Santa Barbara County.  

Say She She 02/09
SOHO Santa Barbara
Weren’t you just remarking to your friends that you need a little more disco-delic soul in your life? On the heels of their sophomore release Silver, New York City music trio Say She She is grooving into town for a don't miss performance at SOHO - the honey-drenched vocals of this all-female band will have you hitting the dance floor before the first track lays bare. 

Janna Ireland 02/11
SBMA and MCASB Santa Barbara
One of the most highly-anticipated collaborations of the season, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara are banding together to bring you the sublime and still photography of Los Angeles-based artist and scholar Janna Ireland. Curated by Charlie Wylie and Fred Janka and spread across both museums, the exhibition titled True Story Index will include newly commissioned works alongside Ireland's expansive catalogue of images reflecting on home, family, and the Black experience.  

At Her Table 03/01-03/10
Multiple Locations San Luis Obispo/Paso Robles
Shining a spotlight on the culinary contributions of female chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, and artisans on the northern tip of the Central Coast, At Her Table's two-week celebration will include winemaker dinners, farm visits, culinary workshops, and lively parties that will have you zig-zagging between Paso Robles, Atascadero, and one of our favorite destinations as-of-late: San Luis Obispo. 

Meow Meow 03/07
Lobero Theater Santa Barbara
Transporting us back to the Weimar Republic and sultry nights of French chanson, cabaret artist Melissa Madden Gray - stage name Meow Meow- will join the UCSB Arts & Lectures roster with an unforgettable evening of sequins and satire in her one-woman show at the Lobero Theatre celebrating the art of the diva. Don your highest stilettos and brightest lipstick and join the Frou-Frou revolution.