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Activities *
Socials and Lifestyles
Lifestyles and Socials are held several times each month and are very popular events.  They provide an opportunity to visit some of the area's most beautiful homes, while permitting us to enjoy the companionship of others also new to Santa Barbara.
Lifestyles hosts a two-hour party once a month at a home with unusual or interesting features. The homeowner may conduct a tour of the home to answer questions about the construction, furnishings, and décor.  Hors d’oeuvres and wine are provided by the committee members, and there are usually 35 to 60 people in attendance. Socials committees find a charming venue and host an informal party for 30 to 50 people. All guests bring hors d’oeuvres for 10, while the committee members provide drinks and dessert, coordinate all of the arrangements, and perform the setup and cleanup for the event. Three socials are currently held each month, on a Tuesday, a Wednesday, and a Friday.
Holiday Parties.  An annual Holiday Dinner-Dance is held in December and is organized by the Activity Chair at Large, with help from various committees. In the past this event has been held at the beautiful Montecito Country Club. The Socials Committees also host a more informal Combined Holiday Social, held this year at the Santa Barbara University Club
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Breakfast Club
Santa Barbara folks love to eat breakfast out.  A new restaurant is picked each month and meets on a weekday morning.

Dining Out organizes a dinner each month at a local restaurant. The committee usually arranges a fixed price menu with several selections, with or without beverages. The venues alternate between less expensive casual cafes and more expensive fine dining restaurants.

Music Around Town selects a local nightclub, free outdoor concert, or other music venue or event and identifies a time for members to gather informally to listen and consume beverages and food of their choice.

Nibbles & Bites finds interesting local purveyors of food, from bakeries to barbecues, and arranges a tour or presentation and tasting, which often turns into a full meal.
 

 Cheers arranges an informal gathering at a bar, often at a restaurant or hotel, each month. The venues range from casual to upscale. Those in attendance pay for what they consume.

The Young Ones is similar to Cheers but is aimed at the younger Newcomers.

Gourmet Cooking 
plans a demonstration with a professional chef at a restaurant or a member's kitchen. These often include participation and always include eating the creations.  Past events have included chefs from some of the very best restaurants in Santa Barbara.
 

Dining In
picks a theme each month and organizes potluck dinners at members’ homes. Recipes are provided if needed, and the cost is shared among participants.
Wine Appreciation arranges wine tastings around a theme in members’ homes or at a commercial winery or tasting room. These may be blind tastings or structured with a presentation. The wine is accompanied by snacks or a full meal, depending on the venue.

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*The activities, illustrated here and on other activities pages, are snapshots of activities at a given time.  Activities offered depend on the interests and desires of the members. As such they are dynamic.  New activities are regularly formed and existing activities sometimes abandoned.  Any member may start a new activity by contacting the VP-Activities and volunteering to be part of a new committee.