Federal funding comprises just a fraction of the modest budget of the tiny Pacific Elementary School District. The Santa Cruz County district has one school. Its superintendent, Eric Gross, also serves as the school’s principal and its preschool director.
“That’s what happens in a small rural school,” Gross said in a call from his office at Pacific Elementary, total enrollment 183. The school, tucked just east of Highway 1 on a plateau above the Pacific Ocean, is described on its website as a leader in “experiential learning,” and Gross said that many of its students are transfers from nearby districts.
The district’s federal funding—about $135,000 annually—has for several years included a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that enables the district to buy food from local growers as part of its school nutrition program. It isn’t much, about $6,000 total, but the money goes directly to purchase produce from four area family farms.
In early March, the USDA canceled the grant as part of $1 billion in national school-food budget cuts, saying in part that the program “no longer effectuate[s] the goals of the agency.”
“Two of those local [farms] from whom we buy have kids that attend our school,” Gross said. “As we’re talking, I’m looking out my window at the playground, and I see one of those kids. I know that we’re going to give his parents less money, and that’s going to affect him and his parents.
“As a district, we’ll figure out how to absorb that cut. But this is local—it’s a small place,” Gross added. “So this affects our neighbors, and if the farmers have less income, then the farms struggle, and their distributors struggle. These cuts have immediate effects.”
Far removed from the riotous national conversation revolving around the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle whole sections of the federal government, life goes on in school districts like Pacific Elementary—still churning, though not untouched.
The district isn’t exactly isolated. Located in the unincorporated community of Davenport, it’s only about 10 miles north of Santa Cruz, with its 61,000 residents and University of California campus. Pacific Elementary’s families, Gross said, include farmers and farmworkers, but also professors, forest rangers, scientists, fast-food workers—“a mix of people.”
Trump administration budget cuts hit here in the same way as elsewhere, albeit on a miniature scale. But the effects are real enough, and Gross is among the educator first responders, if you will—the people whose immediate instinct is to reassure kids that things at school will be all right.
I reached out to Gross, who has taught or led schools in Santa Cruz County for 30 years, after he used the word “chaos” to describe what he was feeling as superintendent in a Lookout Santa Cruz story examining the effect of Trump budget cuts on the county’s school districts. Pacific Elementary is one of five districts that collectively would have received $213,000 from the USDA’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program this year, the Lookout reported.
Again – for Gross’s district, the hit is only $6,000. It is manageable in the sense that it doesn’t derail the entire budget. But it forces the district to decide to either buy less food or cheaper food for school nutrition.
That is the opposite of the intention of that USDA program, which was launched in 2022 by the Biden administration to strengthen the local food chain and make schools slightly less dependent on major companies for their food purchases. The USDA’s own explanation of the program, though, also mentions an emphasis “on purchasing from historically underserved producers and processors,” which may suggest why the Trump administration went after it.
‘Resources, Tools and Support’
The program’s demise is a small part of Trump’s assault on the education system in general and his dismantling of the Department of Education. Coupled with the threat of federal immigration (ICE) officers showing up on school campuses, Gross said, schoolkids everywhere—including at Pacific Elementary—have been thrown into the world of chaos that he described.
A few hundred miles across the state, administrators at the comparatively massive Visalia Unified School District decided to try to get ahead of that. The 32,000-student district serves dozens of schools across 36 square miles of Tulare County, an agricultural powerhouse whose population counts thousands of immigrant workers.
“Families don’t really know me, but they know their teacher, their counselor, their social worker or principal,” said Visalia superintendent Kirk Shrum. “So for us, it was really more about equipping our school sites and the people there with resources, tools and support.”
Particularly on the subject of immigration status, Shrum said, workers at the school sites consistently communicated the same message to families: The district by law does not collect such information and thus has nothing to share with officers; no one can roll onto a campus without first being signed in and vetted; the kids are safe at school.
A few families reached out to their schools’ principals for further reassurance, Shrum said, but none kept their children out of school for more than a day. There have been no ICE sightings, and the Visalia district’s average daily attendance is tracking at or above last school year’s levels.
“I work with our counselors, social workers and families to say that the safest place for you to be is at school,” Shrum said. “We have processes in place, and many of those processes have been in place at most schools for a long time — since Sandy Hook, honestly. We can’t say that nothing bad will ever happen, but we can assure our families that our staff is trained and knows what to do in case of an emergency or other situation.”
Visalia’s budget is also strong enough to withstand a cut. When the Trump administration recently canceled a federally funded teacher recruitment program, Visalia was “about halfway through an $8 million grant, so that impacted us to the tune of about $4 million, but we were able to absorb that impact for this year,” Shrum said. (A federal judge later blocked the cut, which eight states, including California, had sued to reinstate. The case remains in the courts.)
As for what comes next, neither Eric Gross nor Kirk Shrum is forecasting. Shrum noted that major policy shifts—say, attempts to either force or prohibit certain topics being taught—generally are drawn-out processes that often involve court challenges. They loom more on the far horizon than just outside the window.
For Gross, school goes on at Pacific Elementary. With a budget that feels every pinch, the district has to be nimble when it comes to allocating resources—but the superintendent said that, in some cases, taking a hit in federal funding could be worth it if the alternative were to stop a teaching program that works.
“Of course, because there’s so much chaos, we’re not sure what the policy changes are or what they might be,” Gross quickly added. For school districts in the Trump II era, that feels like the ultimate truth.
This article originally ran on capitalandmain.com.
Proposed cuts by the Trump administration would be devastating for new mothers, children, immigrants, seniors and lower- and middle-class community members, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-19th District), who represents much of Santa Cruz County, told a packed town hall meeting Friday.
Medicare and Medicaid are at risk of being cut by the federal government, Panetta warned. He brought up a panel of healthcare professionals to back his claims at a 9am meeting at Cabrillo College’s 270-seat Samper Recital Hall. The 90-minute talk was full and as many as 30 people were turned away.
Republicans in the House of Representatives have proposed cutting $880 billion from the federal budget and, according to Panetta, that would inevitably include cutting Medicare and Medicaid because 98% of that money goes to funding those programs.
Medicare provides insurance to people over 65 and Medicaid mainly covers disabled and low-income people. Medi-Cal is the California version of Medicaid.
Cutting those programs would hit Californians and Santa Cruz residents hard.
Anita Aguirre, CEO of Santa Cruz Community Health, said that Medi-Cal insures 15 million people in California–40% of the state’s population.
Donaldo Hernandez, a past president of the California Medical Association and physician at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, said that one in three Santa Cruz residents receive Medi-Cal coverage.
He added that 50% of childbirths in California are covered by Medi-Cal.
Aguirre estimated that if Medicare and Medicaid were rolled back, 60% of Santa Cruz Community Health patients would lose their health coverage. Community Health serves tens of thousands of patients in three county clinics, designed as a safety net for those in need.
“This policy change would significantly affect our ability to care for our patients who are the most vulnerable in our community,” she said.
This would also bring cuts to optional benefits such as dental, chiropractic and acupuncture. It would also greatly impact Santa Cruz County’s undocumented immigrant community, as many undocumented immigrants rely on Medi-Cal coverage.
Hernandez explained that if these programs are taken away, they will have to be paid for in other ways.
“Healthcare finance is not an inelastic thing,” he said, adding that people would likely see increases in out-of-pocket medical expenses, more expensive medications and higher deductibles.
“That’s not a sustainable system—for anybody,” Hernandez said. “Particularly where we live here, which is an expensive place just to live.”
Across the board, cutting Medicare and Medicaid would make patient care much harder.
“I can’t care about child health without caring about Medicaid,” said Ananta Addala, a pediatric endocrinologist and physician-scientist.
Addala, who works with children who suffer from chronic diseases, said that over half of the children in the U.S. receive some degree of medical coverage through Medicaid.
She said that people often associate Medicaid solely with low-income people, but that many of the children she works with come from middle-class families who would have to spend “well over half of their income” for access to the expensive equipment and medicines that Medicaid helps cover.
“In order to understand how far-reaching Medicaid is, it’s important to rewrite this narrative, ” Addala said.
Aguirre added that the drastic effects of cutting Medicare and Medicaid would only be worsened by the Trump Administration’s recent bans via executive order on gender-affirming care and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. She said that although those bans aren’t directly related to Medicare and Medicaid, they are “just as dangerous.”
Panetta said he is “going to hold this administration accountable” and will work to prevent the House Republicans’ proposed $880 billion in cuts from being passed.
He pointed out that many of the California residents who receive Medi-Cal coverage reside in Republican districts. One of his goals is to motivate the constituents in those districts to reach out to their representatives and try to convince them to vote against the budget reconciliation bill that would end Medicare and Medicaid.
Constituents were notified of Panetta’s town hall only the day before it was held. No demonstrations or protests took place outside of the building, and unlike such meetings across the country, there was no shouting or disturbances.
However, some attendees distributed sets of green, yellow and red paper plates to hold up while Panetta spoke. The green plates read “Good Job,” the yellow plates read “Not Enough” and the red ones said “Talk Less.” Attendees held up these plates throughout the meeting, alternately facing them toward Panetta and toward the audience.
PQ: Cutting those programs would hit Californians and Santa Cruz residents hard.
When Aptos High School Principal Alison Hanks-Sloan sent a letter on March 16 to the Pajaro Valley Unified School District community announcing she would not be returning for the 2025-26 school year—and that her last day will be June 30—district officials said only that “she resigned.”
That statement, coming via text message from PVUSD spokeswoman Alicia Jimenez, doesn’t seem to address a more nuanced truth.
In her letter to the community, Hanks-Sloan said that “serving as the principal of this incredible school has been a true honor, and I am deeply grateful for the trust and support I’ve received from our students, families, and staff throughout my time here.”
But she does not specifically say that she resigned. Hanks-Sloan declined to comment for this story, but according to her father, Rick Hanks, Hanks-Sloan received a letter on March 6 informing her that she would be reassigned to a different position within the district, and that she would be informed of her new assignment later this year.
That decision, the letter reads, was made during the closed session of the March 5 meeting of the district’s Board of Trustees.
“She did not resign,” Rick Hanks said. “When she decides to resign, she will resign and tell people that. But right now she did not.”
Whether Hanks-Sloan resigned, or if she was reassigned, the news has drawn condemnation from many, who say that the move will cause unrest at a time already roiled by financial uncertainty from local and federal sources.
Freshman Abigail Anderson said during the March 26 PVUSD Board of Trustees meeting that she was already concerned about the potential loss of the school’s seven-period schedule—and losing electives such as art—when she got the news about Hanks-Sloan.
“I and many other students are upset by what appears to be the forced resignation of our principal,” she said. “We haven’t gotten any communication from the district about what’s happened.
Anderson acknowledged that personnel matters are confidential, but said the murky details have left the community feeling suspicious.
“We like our principal, and we implore the board to change its mind,” she said. “During such difficult times having a principal in our community we can trust is very valuable to us.”
PVUSD hosted a meeting Monday night to garner community input on the qualities people would like to see in the next Aptos High School principal.
However, many who went expected to receive information on former principal Alison Hanks-Sloan’s controversial resignation.
“The meeting is a farce,” said Karell Reader, who said she went to the meeting on behalf of her friends who have children at Aptos High and PVUSD staff members she knows.
Reader said that it wasn’t fair to “make people give up their time” to attend a meeting where PVUSD “decision makers” were not present. This sentiment was echoed by others who said they had come to the meeting hoping to see board members or Superintendent Heather Contreras.
The meeting, which took place in the high school’s cafeteria, saw about 50 attendees, many of whom were concerned community members and parents of Aptos High students.
PVUSD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Michael Berman was the main speaker.
After about 30 minutes of discussion, Berman passed out pieces of poster paper and multicolored markers for people to write down attributes they want the next administrator to have. The papers were collected at the end of the meeting to be shown to the faculty members who will interview candidates for that position.
Audience members said they were displeased with the meeting’s agenda. Many wanted to know why Hanks-Sloan resigned.
Several community members wanted to know whether there was any chance of her being reinstated as principal in the future. “Is there something we can do as a community to get Sloan back?” one audience member asked.
Berman said several times throughout the meeting that he could not discuss the details of Hanks-Sloan’s resignation, causing some to say they felt “frustrated” and that the meeting was a “disrespect to us as parents.”
When asked why he had been selected to host the meeting, Berman responded “I don’t know that I recall. I might’ve volunteered.”
According to PVUSD spokeswoman Alicia Jimenez, Berman was the person responsible for this meeting because he is a cabinet member who oversees different district sites.
“The board does not get involved in the hiring of staff other than the superintendent,” Jimenez said.
Berman said that since he is a member of the community, he found everyone’s concerns important.
Although the aim of the meeting was to focus on Aptos High’s next principal, he had expected people to raise concerns about Hanks-Sloan’s resignation. “We knew we were going to have this conversation,” he said.
The meeting did little to quell people’s concerns.
Kelly Allari, an Aptos High parent, said she left the meeting “feeling frustrated, because there isn’t a clear avenue to hear community concerns.” She also felt Berman had been placed in an “unfair position” as the meeting’s host. “He had a purpose to the meeting that wasn’t what the people here were wanting to discuss,” Allari said.
She added that she has contacted two members of the Board of Trustees to inquire about Hanks-Sloan’s resignation, but they didn’t divulge any information. She also reached out to. Contreras, but did not receive a response.
An online petition calling for her reinstatement circulated by an Aptos High parent says that Hanks-Sloan communicated with her staff about ongoing talks regarding budget cuts, layoffs and schedule changes. PVUSD Superintendent Heather Contreras, the petition reads, wanted that information to come from her.
That petition had 573 signatures as of March 21.
The petition states that Contreras is therefore punishing Hanks-Sloan by removing her from the position.
Jimenez said that the petition is inaccurate, but did not say which parts she was calling into question.
PVUSD Trustee Gabe Medina says he cast the sole dissenting vote during that closed-session meeting.
“I don’t think this was done in the right way,” Medina said.
A separate petition, posted days later and signed by 238 people as of March 27, calls for a no-confidence vote against Contreras by the Board of Trustees.
I hope that many readers had a chance to experience the unbridled joy of the Santa Cruz Symphony’s family concert at the beginning of March. Children and elders and everyone in between sang and danced and connected. In this time of anxiety for our world, we had an afternoon to celebrate the joy of music, the strength of our community, and the reminder of how to feel HOPE for a couple of hours! If you haven’t tried an afternoon or evening of music to reconnect you to what is joyful, come to our Symphonic Shakespeare concerts at the end of March. We have a jewel in our midst with our dynamic maestro, Danny Stewart, and live symphonic music right here!
Deborah Bronstein | Aptos
NO BUCK, SHERLOCK
As you know, our current president is eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs that are intended to have the federal workforce represent ALL of us. He believes nonwhite men and/or females hired under these programs to be incompetent.
You may remember that during Mr. Trump’s first term, despite his claim to hire “only the best people,” his main criterion for cabinet appointments was not their competence, but their loyalty to him. This is called nepotism, a form of corruption, and resulted in numerous Department of Justice investigations and subsequent resignations. Seven of those disgraced hires come to mind: Secretaries of the Interior (Zinke), Transportation (Chao), Labor (Acosta), Energy (Perry), EPA (Pruitt), HHS (Price) and VA (Wilkie). Government scandal and corruption on this scale is unique in US history.
Mr. Trump is doing it again. The incompetence of his cabinet secretaries is becoming obvious. As usual, when they screw up, Mr. Trump first claims to know nothing about it and then vilifies and fires them. The buck stops nowhere.
Don Eggleston | Aptos
ONLINE COMMENTS
RE: Bye Bye Bezos
How about a shout-out to Staff of Life, please? Like Shopper’s too, but Staff has a lot more organic produce; that in turn supports other local businesses (farmers who are also stewarding the environment).
And where do I go for basic, everyday clothing? Sure, REI is good too, and a co-op, but what if I need a pair of sturdy jeans, and don’t have time to dig for my size and fit at Grey Bears (which is also a go-to for me)!
Ann/Farm Organic
RE: SAFE COASTERS
Whoa! What a great thing! I’m past the age of socializing in bars, but when I was younger, I used to worry about leaving my drink unattended. Even if it was just ginger ale. If I had to leave the table to dance or use the restroom, I wouldn’t touch my drink when I returned. I’d have to order another. This coaster test is a great idea, and I hope all the bars and pubs in the county take up on the practice.
Donna Maurillo
Correction: In the March 12 issue of Good Times, author Jason Isralowitz’s name was misspelled in an article about Scotts Valley’s Hitchcock Festival. We regret the error.
Self-described “Brass House” trio Too Many Zooz make manically kinetic instrumental music that combines avant-garde jazz, EDM, punk rock, and sundry other traditions into their own distinctive brand of high-energy dance music. A viral sensation since they first emerged as New York subway buskers in 2013, Too Many Zooz have evolved into a globally recognized phenomenon who tour often and produce YouTube videos that have garnered millions of views.
Felton Music Hall brings an unrivaled live music experience to the Santa Cruz mountains. Music lovers of all genres can see their favorite touring musicians and the best local talent while enjoying fresh craft food and cocktails served in-house.
Drawing Date for this Giveaway is Monday, May 5, 2025. Winners notified by email and have 48 hours to respond or forfeit. Must be 21+ to win.
Enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Spring Pops Concert: John Williams Encore by Santa Cruz Symphony at the Civic Auditorium on Saturday, June 7, 7:30pm.
Santa Cruz Symphony presents an exciting performance featuring selections from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, ET, Jurassic Park, and more!
Drawing Date for this Giveaway is Monday, May 26, 2025. Winners notified by email and have 48 hours to respond or forfeit. Must be 18+ to win.
Published in cooperation between Serpier and Good Times
The federal Department of the Interior has granted approval for a $700 million casino project proposed by The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians. Authorization permits the construction of a large casino resort featuring a gaming floor, hotel, entertainment venues, dining facilities and retail outlets. The tribe intends to use this project to enhance its economic status and support the surrounding community.
The casino will function as a tourist attraction, offering gaming and non-gaming amenities to visitors. For those who prefer online experiences, the development also aligns with growing trends in digital gaming, including the best casino options in California, offering a unique blend of both physical and virtual gaming.
While the tribe’s casino will offer a traditional in-person experience, online platforms continue to provide a convenient and accessible way to engage with gaming from home. Many tribes across the country are embracing this dual approach, offering both land-based and online casino options alongside offshore operators that cater to a broader demographic.
According to industry expert Genevieve Cruz, online casinos that are available to players in California come with a range of benefits like fast payments, a wide range of games and fewer restrictions. However, at the moment, California has no legalized iGaming industry, so the state isn’t able to directly benefit from online casinos.
This is mainly down to protecting tribal gaming interests, though the allure of this industry could soon lead to policy shifts that integrate online casinos into the existing local gambling ecosystem. Against this backdrop, the Pomo tribe’s ultimate goal is to ensure that its newest project becomes financially self-sufficient.
By investing in the casino, the tribe plans to create a sustainable revenue stream that can support vital services for its members. These services are critical for improving the quality of life within the community, including accessible healthcare, enhanced education programs and the development of affordable housing.
The proposed casino will include several components designed to attract a broad audience and generate significant revenue. These include a spacious gaming floor featuring a mix of slot machines, poker tables and other popular table games. The attached hotel will provide convenient accommodations for visitors, and a selection of dining facilities will offer diverse options. In addition, the casino will feature retail spaces for shopping and dedicated entertainment venues for live shows, unique dining experiences and events.
The resort design will incorporate indigenous cultural elements intended to reflect the tribe’s history. Meanwhile, the integration of art and cultural references into the resort’s design will educate visitors about the tribe’s traditions.
The casino project received approval following evaluations, including environmental impact assessments. The tribe’s casino would be covered by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), governing casino operations on tribal lands.
Several local, and state officials express support for the casino, acknowledging the potential to generate economic growth. Despite concerns regarding the social impact of casinos, many stakeholders view economic benefits as significant. With no online casinos available in the state, the added gaming revenue also would be welcomed. However, despite this, the local gambling operators’ environment remains strained due to ongoing legal disputes between local tribes and local cardrooms.
This $700 million casino project is projected to provide substantial economic benefits to the tribe and surrounding area. Employment opportunities will increase, with thousands of jobs anticipated. Jobs available in areas such as gaming, hospitality and retail. The construction phase of the project will create temporary jobs, providing immediate economic value.
Once operational, the casino is expected to attract visitors from various regions, generating income for local businesses and services. In addition to direct employment, resorts will increase tourism, leading to greater spending on nearby hotels, restaurants and attractions. Local governments benefit from tax revenue generated by activities, contributing to funding of public services and infrastructure.
This tribe plans to allocate a portion of the casino’s revenue to support community programs. Programs focus on healthcare, education, housing, employment training and providing essential services for tribe members. Revenue from casinos helps reduce the tribe’s reliance on external financial assistance.
Although the primary objective is economic, this tribe emphasizes the importance of cultural preservation in resort design. Its casino floor and hotel feature indigenous art, architecture and historical references reflecting the tribe’s heritage. These elements create an environment honoring traditions, appealing to a broad audience. Exhibits and events will provide opportunities for cultural exchange, enabling individuals to learn more about the history, language and local traditions.
This project is expected to benefit the broader region by providing local economic stimulation to local communities. Surrounding areas, especially rural communities, can expect to experience economic improvements due to increased demand for goods and services.
Therefore, the development is anticipated to bring long-term benefits to areas facing economic challenges. On the other hand, the casino’s construction and ongoing operations create a more diversified economy, providing sustainable income sources, helping reduce poverty and improving living standards in the region.
With the project’s approval, the tribe can commence construction on the casino, progressing toward its planned completion. Final architectural designs have been finalized, and the tribe has begun hiring workers for the construction phase with priority given to local residents, particularly from nearby communities, for employment in construction and permanent casino roles.
These jobs will contribute to the region’s economic stability, providing a reliable income source for workers. The approval of the $700 million casino project marks a significant development for this California tribe.
Just when I thought I knew everything about Santa Cruz, having lived here long enough to have had three dogs with complete life spans, I see great recommendations in this issue that I never knew. There’s a man-made waterfall near Medicine Buddha? Wow. I’ve been there a million times and didn’t know it. A massage place where you keep your clothes on? Had no idea. A shop with a major selection of beans? Bro…
The thing about Santa Cruz is we have so many newcomers, between refugees from red states and freshpersons at two colleges, there’s a constant turnover. We all need tips about what’s cool and what’s hot. That’s what we give you in the Best Of issue. A tour guide to the best things in your Santa Cruz life in one place—in print and online—that you won’t find anywhere else.
We should charge for it, but we don’t. I’ll nominate this for best guide to the best things in Santa Cruz. Read it, keep it, put it on your coffee table and start your treasure hunt for the best of the best.
I bet no matter how long you’ve been here, you’ll see some things you didn’t know.
Below, Good Times writers share some of their secret local pleasures. To see what the readers deemed the Best of Santa Cruz County, click on these links:
Best All-Access Portal to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary
Santa Cruz Wharf
It’s only natural to take something awesome for granted once you get used to it—even if that something is a natural wonder of the world. Enter the Santa Cruz Wharf, which unleashes free music, free fishing, free dance classes and local-centric happy hours to pair with what wharf supervisor Britt Hoberg reminds residents is the longest on the entire West Coast to tap the power of the Pacific Ocean. “Just having access a half mile out into the sanctuary is pretty big, given the chance to view all the wildlife out here, and being immersed in nature rather than on land looking at it,” he says. “The thing with the wharf is access unlike anywhere else.” No scuba training, sailboat or surf skills needed. Mark C. Anderson
Best Hot and Sour Soup for the Soul
Special Noodle
Soup really does speak to the soul like no other food can, and seemingly every worldly type and style of cuisine has a signature broth venerated as a cultural culinary paragon. When it comes to Chinese food, hot and sour soup is where it’s at, and Special Noodle’s reigns supreme. The dish at this Santa Cruz restaurant on Ocean Street is exactly and exceptionally what it promises to be: Hot in temperature with pleasantly assertive levels of spice, building addictively on itself. And sour, with a wonderful and welcome acidity that sings through, giving the umami-rich broth balance and complexity. Complementing these flavor notes are delightful textures: silky egg ribbons, subtly firm tofu, crisp bamboo shoots and sliced mushrooms that snap slightly at the chew. It’s soup good enough to cure, or at least temporarily ameliorate, any existential or spiritual malfunction. Happy slurping. Andrew Steingrube
Weirdest Place to Laugh
The Blue Lagoon
Comedy Night at the Blue Lagoon, downtown Santa Cruz, is the longest-running free comedy show in California. It’s a sports, goth, drag, punk, disco, comedy bar and a safe place to be you (as long as you’re over 21). Every Tuesday at Blue Lagoonies Comedy, the music starts at 7:45pm and is followed at 8:15pm by a 90-minute free comedy show. Don’t get too distracted that somebody brought their pet owl with them, and give the comics some attention. It’s a no-hate zone, and maybe besides laughing, you might just get a little bit of hope. Also, don’t touch anything. DNA
Best Place for a (Fully Clothed) Massage
China Massage & Reflexology
With eight modern massage tables in this relaxing, quiet studio in Capitola, practitioners use ancient Chinese methods to help you unwind and de-stress. If you’ve never had a massage before, it’s a good introduction since you stay clothed throughout the session. Recommended attire is a cozy T-shirt, yoga pants or sweats. Massage always begins with a warm foot bath as the experienced, certified therapists start with deep tissue work to neck and shoulders, working all joints and tissue of the body from head to toe. Starting at $45 for a one hour, full-body massage, China Massage is easy on the wallet too. Kristen McLaughlin
Best Gas Station
AJ’s Market
This market in Soquel will forever change the way you think of gas station convenience stores. Sure, it has gas and a car wash. But it also has a gourmet kitchen serving locally harvested seafood and Harris Ranch meats, including one of the best burgers in the county. It’s fast food, but unlike anything else with that name. And then it goes where no gas station has gone before: it has organic produce and tasty treats from all over the world, including English biscuits, real maple syrup and a Southeast Asian spice rack. It also stocks plenty of local wines, baked goods, ice creams and coffees. Owner Akhtar Javed, born in Pakistan, fell in love with Santa Cruz and opened the market in 1987. He garnered a big following after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake when with no electricity, he told customers to take their products free and pay him back when they could. Brad Kava
Cannellini, pinto, rare heirloom beans—find them all at Staff of Life. PHOTO: Elizabeth Borelli
Best Bean Selection
Staff of Life Natural Foods
Dried beans, a staple of Mediterranean and Blue Zone diets, are finally having their moment. As more of us experiment with cooking from scratch, legumes have a lot to offer. Packed with plant-based protein, fiber and endless possibilities, beans are the perfect combo of comfort food and sustainability. Think silky cannellini beans in a rustic Tuscan soup, smoky black beans for Taco Tuesday, or buttery cranberry beans slow-simmered to perfection. When it comes to the best local selection, Staff of Life Natural Foods tops the list, with bulk bins offering a goldmine of heirloom beans, vibrant lentils and chickpeas at competitive prices. The range of options puts hard-to-find varieties in easy reach among the long list of staples. So skip the cans and explore the world of dried beans—flavorful, affordable and endlessly versatile. Get ready to make magic, one pot of beans at a time. Elizabeth Borelli
Best Spot to Sip Tea and Read Philosophy
Lulu Carpenter’s
Located in a historic 1865 building on the corner of Pacific Avenue, Lulu Carpenter’s carries an impressive selection of 16 teas: green, black, tisanes and a wonderful oolong. And its art deco interior, bookshelf full of classical literature, and exposed brick from wall to ceiling makes one feel like sitting down with a good book. At the back of the shop, an outdoor patio sports two fire pits, palm trees and more exposed brick in the surrounding walls of taller buildings. Creating a vibe that’s an excellent mix between Brooklyn coffeehouse and Santa Cruz mainstay, this locally owned coffee shop is an excellent spot to stop, sit down with tea (or the excellent house roasted coffee) and do homework, chat with friends or read philosophy from Kant to Camus. Mathew Chipman
Best Place to Drink, Dance and Be Merry
El Vaquero Winery
Music, dancing, food trucks and wine—El Vaquero in Corralitos has it all. This upbeat winery features ever-evolving entertainment. Limited seating indoors means enjoying the great outdoors with El Vaquero’s heaters when the weather’s cool. But you’ll soon heat up as you shake a wicked hoof on the dance floor. Trivia night is every Thursday, with a chance to win a bottle of wine. Order slices from Corralitos Pizza or grab a taco from a local food truck. Music events often sell out, so make a reservation or get there early. El Vaquero bottles excellent wine, too. Try the Pinotage, Merlot and the “One-Eyed Charlie” Carignane. Josie Cowden
For a superior salad, the secret is hydroponic salad greens from Cabrillo College’s Horticulture Program. PHOTO: Elizabeth Borelli
Best Healthy Hydroponics
Cabrillo College Horticulture Program
Fresh, flavorful and sustainably grown, the hydroponic salad greens from Cabrillo College’s Horticulture Program are grown without soil in a carefully controlled environment. Available on Saturday mornings from 8am to noon at the Aptos Farmer’s Market at Cabrillo College, these vibrant greens reflect the ingenuity and dedication of students who are mastering the future of farming. Hydroponics, a method that uses nutrient-rich water to cultivate plants, offers a sustainable solution to traditional agriculture challenges, using less water and space while producing high-quality crops year-round. The result? Incredibly tender butter and green leaf lettuces, peppery arugula and herbs that are as delicious as they are environmentally conscious. Supporting Cabrillo’s hydroponic greens means supporting the next generation of growers committed to sustainability. Next time you toss a salad, make it one that’s rooted in local passion and cultivated with care. Elizabeth Borelli
Best Hash Browns Without Walls
Aldo’s Harbor Restaurant
They are a humble staple from a humble tuber, but real-deal, honest-to-Goddess, mom-and-pop professional hash browns present a balance of crispiness, oil and starch that together unlock heavenly dimensions of taste and texture unattainable alone. The A++ hash browns feel like required plating at the community standby that is Aldo’s, inarguably a community treasure and arguably its most unique restaurant logistically, as it’s entirely outdoors—sunscreen is available upon request for the unprepared—and snuggled next to the Santa Cruz Harbor and Mariner Park Lawn. Mark C. Anderson
Best Spot for a First Date
Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery
First dates are notorious for being filled with two things: awkwardness and anxiety. What’s the opposite of that? Hawaiian vibes, with that relaxed, on-vacation, pleasantly set apart from reality feel. Makai on the SC Wharf does exactly that with a truly transportive ambiance. Dining directly above water while enjoying panoramic ocean views in an immersive Hawaiian experience is sure to relax even the most nervous of first-daters. And if that doesn’t work, well, that’s what the rum is for. Classic cocktails abound, and asking for the secret drink menu is sure to increase rizz. Further, the bar slowly rotates, creating a unique and rhythmically calming experience. The food menu is delicious as it is diverse, with small and light plates to large and savory ones, offering something that schmacks for everyone. Between the food, drink and atmosphere, Makai’s environment is perfectly set for first-date success. Andrew Steingrube
Best Teeny Greens
New Natives
New Natives has been a cornerstone of Santa Cruz’s vibrant local food scene since 1982, when founders Sandra Ward and Ken Kimes turned their garage into a grow room for organic microgreens. What began as a small-scale operation is now a thriving sprout farm producing over 2,000 pounds of fresh, nutrient-packed greens each week. Committed to quality and sustainability, New Natives harvests their microgreens at the sprout stage—the peak moment for vitamins, enzymes and bold flavors. The wide range of varieties include tender sunflower shoots, peppery arugula and nutrient-rich broccoli sprouts, to name a few favorites. How to enjoy them? Uplevel your salads with a handful of sprouts, tuck into a wrap, or add a bunch to your morning smoothie for an extra boost of nutrients. Support local, eat fresh and savor every bite. Catch New Natives every week at the Aptos, Downtown Santa Cruz, Live Oak/Eastside and Westside Santa Cruz farmer’s market. Elizabeth Borelli
Best Japanese-Peruvian Poetry
Oyuki Sushi Nikkei
Discerning diners love year-and-a-half-old Oyuki for a range of reasons. The telenovela inspo behind the name. The mom-and-pop sweetness behind the service. The entertaining execution in the open kitchen. The Inka Kola rarely seen this far north. And these are all valid, even important. But the biggest key is the rarest in these parts: The intuitive expression of Nikkei—think Japanese techniques on Peruvian ingredients—in dishes like causita potato towers, aji pepper-spiced nigiri and leche de tigre-sauced sushi. Delicioso and oishī. Mark C. Anderson
Follow Rockview Drive to find the green flash. PHOTO: Mathew Chipman
Best Place to Catch the Green Flash
Rockview Drive County Park
In late February of 2020, It was a cold pink evening, I was 15, a sophomore in high school released from track practice early, and I got this feeling in my bones that if I chased the sunset I’d see something truly special. From there, I biked three miles from Soquel High on a beat-up beach cruiser, the whole time afraid the rusty chain would snap from my frantic pace. On Rockview Drive I witnessed my first green flash sunset, a rare blink-and-you’ll-miss-it phenomenon where the sun turns a dazzling emerald shade in the seconds before twilight begins. In the five years since that day in February, I have become an avid sunset chaser, with the pleasure of catching a dozen green flashes, the majority at Rockview Drive. Nestled between Moran Lake Beach and Pleasure Point Beach, its unobstructed view of a westward horizon, calm and distant, creates ample opportunities between January and April to catch the neon green trick of the light that dazzled the characters of Le Rayon-Vert, Jules Verne’s 1882 novel. Mathew Chipman
Best Scenic Sipping
Soquel Vineyards
To pair great wine and a scenic view, take the short and beautiful drive from Soquel Village up Glen Haven Road to Soquel Vineyards, where lush vines and a sweeping view of the Monterey Bay await. An airy outdoor patio is a great spot to taste the superb pinots made by twin brothers Peter and Paul Bargetto and Jon Morgan. When construction of the winery began in 2001, the three of them wanted an authentic Italian look for the tasting room, so they had handmade rooftop tiles from the 1700s imported—from Italy, of course. Josie Cowden
Best Wine and Food Pairing
Stockwell Cellars
With a passion for making wine, former metalsmith Eric Stockwell turned his metal shop into an industrial-chic tasting room complete with a plethora of events. Stockwell’s is the place for fun, food and a fabulous time. And it all comes with an upbeat vibe. Visit Stockwell Cellars for Trivia Night, Sip & Sway music nights, and Food Truck Nights—with local vendors serving up tasty nosh. Stockwell supports local artists and features their work on the popular First Friday events. There’s nothing like checking out beautiful artwork with a glass of good wine in your hand. Josie Cowden
A secret waterfall awaits explorers along Prescott Road in Soquel. PHOTO: Ella Desmond
Best Graffiti-Covered Waterfall
The Waterfall Spot
Half a mile up Prescott Road in Soquel, deep in the redwoods on a small, one-lane, ravine-hugging pass, you might stop in a turnout by a degraded wire fence, just before reaching Land of Medicine Buddha, to hear the rustling sound of water and take a gander at Santa Cruz’s most unique (probably only) man-made waterfall. Lovingly referred to by locals as “the waterfall spot”—with decades of graffiti hidden under layers of moss, crumbling stairs with a generator at the top and a shallow pool at the bottom—this defunct hydroelectric facility supplied pressurized water to Monterey Bay Golf & Country Club from the late 1920s until the area became Monterey Bay Heights, leaving the dam to rot away and become the 100-year-old landmark it is today. Mathew Chipman
Best Music Served With Mead
Bargetto Winery
In business since 1933, Bargetto Winery pulls out the stops when it comes to wine and hospitality. Bargetto has spacious indoor and outdoor areas for folks to enjoy both public and private soirees. The Music in the Cellars events are a blast—with wine by the glass, food trucks and no cover charge. Fancy a glass of mead instead of wine? Under its Chaucer’s label, Bargetto brews different kinds, including Raspberry, Pomegranate and even a sparkling mead. Josie Cowden
Best Executive Shuttle Out of Surf City
Highway 17 Express
The 17 Express is fast. (Arrival happens in under an hour.) It’s affordable. (Rate runs $7 flat, bring change.) It’s convenient. (Departures happen every hour weekends and midday weekdays, and more frequently weekday morning, afternoon and evenings.) And it’s also an all-out portal to a world of options, since it plops riders at Diridon Station in San Jose. (From there you can connect with a train or bus just about anywhere in the greater West.) Visit scmtd.com. Mark C. Anderson
Enter for a chance to win tickets to Too Many Zooz: Red Apple Gift Shop Tour at the Felton Music Hall in Felton on May 15. Drawing Date is May 5, 2025.
Published in cooperation between Serpier and Good Times
The federal Department of the Interior has granted approval for a $700 million casino project proposed by The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians. Authorization permits the construction of a large casino resort featuring a gaming floor, hotel, entertainment venues, dining facilities and retail outlets. The tribe intends to use this project...
