As I sit writing this, somewhere in the space between Memorial Day weekend and Santa Cruz Pride, I’m reflecting on what a strange trip the last few weeks has been in the fight to repeal the law known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). We’ve made a significant leap forward but still have much to do. Here’s a bit about what’s happened, and what to watch for over the next weeks and months.

Every Thursday night this summer is Good Times Thursdays at Cabrillo Stage!
Enter for a chance to win two tickets to Cabrillo Stage’s hot summer line-up of shows!

To enter Register for a Good Times online account.  With your account you can log in to GoodTimesSantaCruz.com for web-exclusive content, post community Calendar events and receive the Tomorrow’s Good Times Today events preview email every wednesday. (you can unsubscribe any time).

It’s not like this company needs any more advertising, but there’s a good reason why Bare Escentuals is such a hot standard in the beauty industry. As the forerunners of the mineral powder bonanza, this line has never ceased to impress. And they just keep getting better with a new Matte Foundation that keeps the shine away. In the past, we had to schlep over treacherous Highway 17 and log in miles to find a store in San Jose to buy our favorite mineral foundation. But for those who aren’t aware, you no longer have to do that. Here in Santa Cruz, there are numerous destinations that sell Bare Escentuals, including one that we frequent, Bubble Lounge in downtown Santa Cruz off Pacific Avenue. Tucked away in a quiet shopping alley, Bubble Lounge offers every shade of the powder blog_beauty3-2(Bare Minerals) that we’re obsessed with. A few application tips: Use a good mineral powder brush (we suggest one by Bare Escentuals or Sephora brand), and as the infomercials suggest, swirl, tap, buff. And only put a small amount on. It goes a long way. In the world of mineral powders, we’ve tried them all, and this one by far is the winner.

Bubble Lounge, 110 Cooper Street, No. 100, Santa Cruz, 427-3600, bubbleloungesc.com.

Fine acting shines in an impeccable, but bloodless literary adaptation of ‘City of Your Final Destination’
Social upheaval, exile, literary reputation, academic politics, eccentric lifestyles of the semi-rich and infamous, celebrity and its unsavory underbelly—all are under consideration in The City Of Your Final Destination. Beneath this somewhat lugubrious title (based on the Peter Cameron novel) is a most decorous and well-behaved literary adaption, a bit precious at times in its novelistic symmetry and philosophical debates, but entertaining and well-acted—particularly in a showpiece performance by the marvelous Laura Linney.

Hero channels inner ogre in fun, fizzy ‘Shrek Forever After’
It’s a wonderful life for everybody’s favorite green ogre in Shrek Forever After. Until he screws things up and gets a taste of what life would have been like for his loved ones if he’d never been born in this fourth installment of the fractured fairy tale franchise. Directed by Mike Mitchell, this entertaining chapter in the series is also the first one to be shot and processed in 3-D (although you might wonder if effects like projectile baby drool are worth all the bother).

Business is looking good for two UCSC students
Fingers were crossed, breaths held in, and nervous smiles exchanged in a silence that seemed to swallow the room. After months of rigorous preparation, seconds separated two UC Santa Cruz students from their $12,000 grand prize.

On Friday evening, May 21, students, faculty and community supporters congregated at Terra Fresca for the final round of UCSC’s second annual Business Plan Competition. Founded last year by a group of students in collaboration with faculty members, the competition aims to promote and fund innovative entrepreneurship among UCSC students. This year, the competition began in March with more than 30 submissions of executive summaries.

A friend of mine gave me a heads up to some serious geekery that took place on an episode of “Fringe” a few nights ago (a television series that I’d never seen or heard of). Apparently the plot centered around some sort of alternate universe where even the most iconic comic book events of the last thirty years are slightly altered from what we’ve all grown up on. DC even chipped in and took it to the next level by commissioning mock up artwork depicting pretty cool takes on classic events like the death of Superman back in Supes #75, only now sporting a bloody bat-symbol on the cover instead of the classic S-shield. Incredibly cool stuff.

All of the covers can be viewed by clicking here (along with a serious tease by our old pal Geoff Johns) and to see what comics you can find in OUR universe this week, check out that full release list right here (Return of Bruce Wayne #2, woohoo!).

I heated up the kitchari today and savored the warm spices infused into the lentils, brown rice, barley and quinoa. Cumin, garlic, ginger, turmeric and curry combined to warm my insides through this cool spring rain.  A number of weeks ago, Shasta Tierra held a gathering at Village Yoga explaining benefits of the kitchari cleanse.  I was unable to attend, but was lucky enough to snag the recipe and a little information.   This Indian comfort food is now part of my diet, as I experimented with the recipe, spicing it up to suit my palette. The combination of grains and rice are sweet and cooling, creating a balanced Ayurvedic meal, and cleansing! The idea is to have a cup of this great stuff every day for 30 days. It is solid nourishment Sure, you can have other healthy food, but the 30 days of Kitchari is the base. Throughout Indian philosophy, food is considered a high principle, and is defined as divine material.  Food is the source and substance of all things  “I am the first-born of the divine essence.” (Upanisads) .

Check out this Kitchari recipe, and try this 30 day cleanse. ayurvedahealthretreat.com/recipes.html

My mom has been gone a couple of months now, but I still feel her presence in my life every day. And not just metaphorically. As we speak, my spare room is full of stuff, random bits and pieces of my mom’s 89 years on this planet, souvenirs of a long, full, and exuberant life.

Back in March, when the wildflowers were popping out to dazzling effect all over Highway 46, Art Boy and I drove down to Hermosa Beach to help my brothers excavate the house Mom lived in for over 50 years. I’ve always joked that my mom was a packrat who never threw anything away, but even I never realized how literally true that was.

Films This Week
Check out the movies playing around town.
With reviews and trailers.