Party in the Ladies’ Room

Ladies: The Santa Barbara Bowl feels your pain. When nature calls, you won’t have to stand in line for hours or hold the men’s room hostage.

As part of a $22-million renovation campaign, management at the 66-year-old amphitheater has created what it calls the largest ladies’ room in Santa Barbara County--a 45-stall affair that eliminates porta-potties and puts the old six-stall facility to shame. It’s a boon to women constantly checking their watches during all-too-short intermissions.

To celebrate, the arena has organized a July 13 cocktail party ($50 a ticket) to be held backstage and in the 1,700-square-foot ladies’ room--for women only. “Babes at the Bowl” will include tarot readings, handwriting analysis and makeovers--and vodka concoctions such as “The Royal Flush” and “The Tidy Bowl” served by male board members. Reservations: (805) 560-0895.

“The biggest complaint at the Bowl was the lack of bathrooms,” said publicist Mo McFadden. “Sam Scranton, executive director of the facility, says this will help us. Now we can serve more beer.”