One friend commented recently that she loved Valentine’s Day when she was a kid because teachers made everyone give everyone in the class Valentine’s cards, so she got like 30. It’s not the same as a grown-up.
It’s always been a somewhat suspicious holiday, motivated more by Hallmark than genuine feelings. But what could be wrong about celebrating love? We definitely don’t do that enough.
Writer Richard Stockton found an assortment of experts to talk about love for the holiday as our cover story, and it’s a fun and informative read. What was the best or strangest thing you’ve ever done for Valentine’s Day? Drop us a line and share your story.
If you will miss celebrating on the 14th, there are some great things to do the next day, including Warren Haynes in concert. The peripatetic performer has played with the Allman Brothers, members of the Dead, his band Gov’t Mule—and now he’s doing a solo tour. That will be great and kind of historic. Check our article in the A&E section.
The same night you can see Sublime, in the new formation, the Long Beach Dub Allstars, now that lead singer Bradley Nowell is gone. They are still great.
Looking for gourmet fast food? Who isn’t? If you don’t know about La Bottega del Lago in Live Oak, you should. Home-made, authentic Italian for those in a hurry and on a budget. It’s a real plus in the neighborhood, worth driving a long way to.
On the news front, we’ve got some good and some questionable. The good is a cool new club above the Catalyst inspired by the Burning Man culture. I’ve wondered for a long time why there’s nothing like that in Santa Cruz, and now there is. All we need now is a drug store below it. And is it true that the mushroom lady is gone?
Speaking of such, there’s a great talk this Wednesday, Feb11, at Bookshop Santa Cruz by a guy who wrote an investigative book about weed growers and a murder in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Writes journalist and comedian DNA: ‘In A Killing in Cannabis, some of the characters made millions, some made billions and some are not going to be around for the sequel.”
I love when our community gets featured in a way that the whole world wants to read.
Finally, on the health and wellness front, writer Elizabeth Borelli introduces us to some naturopathic practitioners who are making a big difference and can really help you.
Thanks for reading, and happy V-Day.
Brad Kava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
SUMMER IN WINTER Dancing flames. Backyard fire pit on a cool January evening. Photograph by Craig Ferguson
GOOD IDEA
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development at UCSC has launched the CIED Studio, a new initiative developed with GetVirtual, designed to connect students with community-based projects while supporting local economic resilience. The Studio’s inaugural project is a collaboration with the City of Santa Cruz to support small businesses impacted by the Murray Street Bridge construction in the Lower Seabright and Harbor area.
As part of this effort, CIED students, working with the City of Santa Cruz, developed Explore Seabright & Harbor (exploreseabrightharbor.com), a community-focused website serving as a central hub for local businesses, events, and construction-related updates. The platform will continue to evolve throughout the project, providing an ongoing resource for residents, visitors, and business owners navigating the impacts of the construction.
GOOD WORK
This Lunar New Year, the Resource Center for Nonviolence presents an afternoon dedicated to a core tenet of nonviolent social change: building the “Beloved Community.” The event, “Enter the Year of the Fire Horse: Honoring Local Chinese American Legacies,” demonstrates how reclaiming lost histories is essential to creating a just, inclusive, and truthful world. The gathering will be held 3-5pm Saturday, Feb. 21 at 612 Ocean Street.
It’s free and open to all and will be livestreamed, featuring Stanford Professor Gordon H. Chang, Flex Kids Culture Executive Director Rui Li, and philanthropist George Ow, Jr.
