Everybody talks about what Santa Cruz should be. Mark Primack decided to build it Santa Cruz architect Mark Primack has spent the past 30 years avoiding style cliches and obvious historical influences. Instead, he has gradually visualized and shaped something recognizable as our collective sense of place, our unique “mixed use” Santa Cruz. Our Town, if...

I helped my friend update and replace his plumbing in a low-ceiling, nasty old basement.Thomas RadetzkGermany  |  Beekeeper           The nicest thing I did for someone, I did for a duck. It might seem like a little thing, but to the duck it meant everything … I saved its life! Jen Smith...

The string band scene has exploded in Santa Cruz. But before there was any sign of a bluegrass or Americana revival, there were a handful of finger-plucking folky bands in town building a noticeable following, like Mylo Jenkins. They have been on hiatus the past three years, but on Friday August 29th, they return to play...

Engaging actors, wry script distinguish lightweight rom-com ‘What If’ In romantic comedy, only one thing matters: the romantic couple. It doesn’t matter how lame the plot is (and lameness is practically a staple of the genre). Conversely, it doesn’t matter how brilliant the writing is (less common in your typical rom-com these days). An audience will...

Chef Purna Regmi on the secrets of Nepalese cooking Nepal is a small country, but it has an interesting, unique cuisine that encompasses elements of surrounding India and China. Nepalese restaurants in the states are few and far between—and in Santa Cruz, they were non-existent until a month ago, with the opening of Himalayan Kitchen. The...

Why does acupuncture work? I didn’t expect to slip into a state of blissed-out repose after having thirteen needles stuck into various parts of my body, but that is exactly what happened. Two of the surgical steel needles (in ancient times, the Chinese used bone and stone) induced a slight itch, and the one near my...

I first tasted Villa del Monte’s 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon at a Fourth of July party, where the hosts had bought a case of it because they love it and didn’t want to run out. It’s one of those wines that will grab you—in the best way—with its full body and rich fruit characteristics. And, as with...

Slow Ride As the fog burned off on a warm Saturday morning around the Oakwood Chapel on Paul Sweet Road, friends gathered to remember an actor and activist no longer with them. “He was so enthusiastic and full of life,” said Sue Brenner, longtime friend of Paul McGrath, at the Aug. 23 memorial. Brenner met McGrath...

The upcoming bodybuilding championship spurs questions about steroid use Because of the physical size and superhero-like proportions of its competitors, bodybuilding has long been dogged by the stigma of steroids. According to Kelvin Fountano, founder of the World Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (WBFA) Championships—which returns to the Rio next month—bodybuilding still “has an issue with anabolic...

The next Mole and Mariachi Festival, Grazing on the Green and a review of Route 1 Farms last dinner If you missed it last year, (and especially if you went last year) here is your advanced notice for the next Mole & Mariachi Festival to be hosted by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. Mark your...