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.�