Pinot Noir 2010
I first tasted Comanche Cellars Pinot when a friend brought a bottle to share over lunch at Center Street Grill in Santa Cruz. Upon trying it, I knew I had to find out more about it.
The first thing a new listener might notice about Desmadre is its high-pitched lead rock guitar licks. But it’s the complex rhythms that make it stand out in Santa Cruz’s music scene.
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Comanche Cellars
Foodie File: Yan Flower
Yan Belleville has owned Yan Flower, an affordable Chinese restaurant in Downtown Santa Cruz, with her husband Raymond for eight years, and it’s a family affair. Her brother, sister, sister-in-law, and cousins work there too. Locals know the joint for its massive lunch specials starting at $4.
How Great Thou Artisans
A whirlwind tour of the latest from Santa Cruz’s culinary crafters
Artisanal update! Once I finally turned my attention away from the pumpkin tea cake and almond biscotti, I discovered the baguette sandwiches ($6) at Companion Bakeshop. Long slender baguettes perfect enough to make a Francophile weep are topped with various temptations all week long. There’s a sensuous veggie version, and another for us carnivores, such as last week’s model packed with Brie and el Salchichero’s divinely authentic salami.
What They Do
The Shook Twins showcase adventurous side on new album
Despite being based out of Portland, the Shook Twins’ Laurie Shook says Santa Cruz holds a very special place in their hearts.
Dressing Hedwig
Two Santa Cruz teenage friends reunite under the bright lights of Broadway
When Arianne Phillips and Valerie Marcus Ramshur were teenage friends in Santa Cruz, they spent their days cutting and re-sewing clothing bought from weekend trips to the Bargain Barn. Now, 30 years later, the duo is still designing clothes, but their skills are on display on a much larger stage—Broadway.
What are the most important issues to you in the upcoming local elections?
What I’m concerned about right now is water. I don’t know how that’s going to be resolved as far as the election, but I was told we have to cut back on water. I’m really into my plants, so that’s my latest concern.
James Svendsen
Santa Cruz | Contractor/Carpenter
The Eyes and Ears of Pacific Avenue
A new survey explores public perceptions of the City of Santa Cruz’s Hospitality Guide Program
Whether she is dealing with an intoxicated man spewing insults, a business owner saying hello, or a tourist looking for the best place to buy an umbrella, 16-year veteran of the Hospitality Guide Program Gina Ramirez rarely loses her smile.
The Cost of War
Kathy Kelly’s eyewitness reports from the U.S. War in Afghanistan
As a longtime Christian-based peace activist, Kathy Kelly visits places on Earth where violence is the norm and war is all around. She recently returned from her twelfth trip to Afghanistan, where the United States’ war has displaced 400 people per day, according to Amnesty International.
News briefs: Backyard Bedrooms, Tracking Offenses
SC Planning Commission mulls “granny units.” New partnership addresses recidivism in the county
Comanche Cellars
Pinot Noir 2010 I first tasted Comanche Cellars Pinot when a friend brought a bottle to share over lunch at Center Street Grill in Santa Cruz. Upon trying it, I knew I had to find out more about it. It turns out that winemaker Michael Simons not only loves making wine, especially Pinot Noir, but he...
Foodie File: Yan Flower
Yan Belleville has owned Yan Flower, an affordable Chinese restaurant in Downtown Santa Cruz, with her husband Raymond for eight years, and it’s a family affair. Her brother, sister, sister-in-law, and cousins work there too. Locals know the joint for its massive lunch specials starting at $4. GT: How did you and Raymond meet?YAN BELLEVILLE: We...
How Great Thou Artisans
A whirlwind tour of the latest from Santa Cruz’s culinary crafters Artisanal update! Once I finally turned my attention away from the pumpkin tea cake and almond biscotti, I discovered the baguette sandwiches ($6) at Companion Bakeshop. Long slender baguettes perfect enough to make a Francophile weep are topped with various temptations all week long. There’s a sensuous veggie...
Desmadre
The first thing a new listener might notice about Desmadre is its high-pitched lead rock guitar licks. But it’s the complex rhythms that make it stand out in Santa Cruz’s music scene. Desmadre started in 2012 as a Spaghetti Western-surf rock band playing instrumentals before morphing into something a little darker and funkier. “We’re all very...
What They Do
The Shook Twins showcase adventurous side on new album Despite being based out of Portland, the Shook Twins’ Laurie Shook says Santa Cruz holds a very special place in their hearts. “For our previous two albums, we came down to Santa Cruz and recorded at Indigital Recording Studios with Brody Bergholz,” she says. “It’s an awesome...
Dressing Hedwig
Two Santa Cruz teenage friends reunite under the bright lights of Broadway When Arianne Phillips and Valerie Marcus Ramshur were teenage friends in Santa Cruz, they spent their days cutting and re-sewing clothing bought from weekend trips to the Bargain Barn. Now, 30 years later, the duo is still designing clothes, but their skills are on display on a...
What are the most important issues to you in the upcoming local elections?
What I'm concerned about right now is water. I don’t know how that’s going to be resolved as far as the election, but I was told we have to cut back on water. I'm really into my plants, so that’s my latest concern. James SvendsenSanta Cruz | Contractor/Carpenter I would say job...
The Eyes and Ears of Pacific Avenue
A new survey explores public perceptions of the City of Santa Cruz’s Hospitality Guide Program Whether she is dealing with an intoxicated man spewing insults, a business owner saying hello, or a tourist looking for the best place to buy an umbrella, 16-year veteran of the Hospitality Guide Program Gina Ramirez rarely loses her smile. Coupled...
The Cost of War
Kathy Kelly’s eyewitness reports from the U.S. War in Afghanistan As a longtime Christian-based peace activist, Kathy Kelly visits places on Earth where violence is the norm and war is all around. She recently returned from her twelfth trip to Afghanistan, where the United States’ war has displaced 400 people per day, according to Amnesty International. ...
News briefs: Backyard Bedrooms, Tracking Offenses
SC Planning Commission mulls "granny units." New partnership addresses recidivism in the county Backyard Bedrooms Depending on how you look at it, a converted garage might be a progressive step in the right direction or a slap in the face for a quiet neighborhood. Some say Santa Cruz needs more accessory dwelling units (ADUs), sometimes called...