ON Culture | Fashionable Pups, Dancing Waves, Fun-Size Comedy, and Quips & Clips

This edition of ON Culture was originally emailed to subscribers on August 12, 2023. To receive Leslie Dinaberg’s arts newsletter in your inbox on Fridays, sign up at independent.com/newsletters.

ON the Catwalk DOGwalk

The competition between these two could be pretty fierce at Miramar’s Best in Show charity event. | Photo: Miramar

Get ready for a touch of furry glamour at the Miramar, when the “Best in Show” event takes place on their great lawn on Sunday, August 27. It’ll be a paw-some afternoon (sorry, I couldn’t resist!), hosted by actress Camilla Belle, along with Rosewood Miramar Managing Director Rick Fidel, in honor of National Dog Day. Proceeds from this second annual benefit — presented by STAUD, an L.A.-based brand featuring women’s fashions and a custom pet portrait collection — are going to regional shelters, Santa Barbara Humane, and Love Leo Rescue.

Competition categories include: Miramar’s Best in Show, Trick of the Day, Most Spirit, and Best Look, and Paw-garitas featuring cantaloupe, coconut milk, and mint are also on the menu. For more information, click here.

ON the (Comedy) State

Brad Williams is coming to the Lobero on January 6. | Photo: Courtesy

Relative to the size of our city, we have such an incredible full plate of cultural riches in Santa Barbara in so many ways, but comedy is one area that we’re a bit underserved in my opinion. That’s part of why I was so excited to get a note from the Lobero that Brad Williams is coming to the stage on January 6 (tickets are currently on presale here). One of my fondest stand-up memories is his Fun Size show at the LOL Comedy Festival on that very stage back in 2014, which eventually became his first comedy special, now streaming online. Robin Williams (no relation) called Brad Williams “Prozac with a head.” Trust me, if you’re a comedy fan, you don’t want to miss this one! Keep an eye out for more great comedy to be announced at the Lobero pretty soon, although sadly it doesn’t look like that fun LOL Comedy Festival is coming back to S.B. anytime soon — it’s moved to Cancun!