Stage 3 Guide AMGEN heads into town. Meanwhile, local cyclist Shelley Olds Evans preps for the 2012 Olympics When the AMGEN Tour of California, the biggest and most prestigious bike race in the United States, returns to Santa Cruz for Stage 3 on May 18, the city, the cycling community and its stars will enter the international spotlight. Santa Cruz can expect greater worldwide exposure this year because race organizer AEG will deliver increased media coverage of the eight-day, 800-plus mile road bike race that travels from Nevada City to Thousand Oaks, from May 16 to 23. This is the second year in a row that Santa Cruz was selected to take part in the Amgen Tour of California (TOC). One major change is that this year’s event was moved from February to May.
“I think it’s going to make a huge difference to have the race in sunny weather,” predicted Matt Twisselman, the chairman of TOC’s Local Organizing Committee and the one who spearheaded the years-long effort to put Santa Cruz on the TOC route. “We will have an even bigger turn-out.”
Plus Letters to Good Times May Day Riots: The Aftermath From The Hub … City Council Too Reactionary The Mayor Says … Knowing SubRosa Better The race is on. Well, almost. The much heralded AMGEN Tour of California kicks off this week and heads right into Santa Cruz Tuesday, May 18. Once again, GT has a great deal of information about the prestigious cycling race, which came through town for the first time last year. (And we’re so glad they’re heading back.) Thousands of people are expected to attend. This year’s Stage 3 finish line is right in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Some things to know: take note of this week’s AMGEN tour pullout. It has specific information on the event, including road closures, where to watch, the whole schedule and so much more. (You may even learn a few biking tips, too.) There’s plenty there, so dive in. In the meantime, with cycling fever in the air, we searched for inspiring locals making an impression on the cycling scene. You can find our star in this week’s cover story where Karen Kefauver explores the unique nature of cyclist Shelley Olds Evans. The woman is a dynamo and has her sights set on the 2012 Olympic Games. Here’s to her bright vision and many miles of cycling ahead. See you at the race.
Capitola’s culinary hobbit continues to thrive with style and excellence
Available men, unavailable men, women’s lib 2010 and Bernee Mountain Dogs became the hot topics of conversation recently as four of us revisted Shadowbrook Restaurant for what would be become a wicked Wednesday night. Wicked because we hardworking folk—try shoving commas, apostrophes and periods together in the minivan of literature and see how tricky it can be—never shy away from wine, so Shadowbrook’s Winemaker Wednesdays stand out.
So there we were, in the well-known restaurant’s Rock Room Lounge, about to be detoured from reality by Mount Eden Vineyards, when one of us confessed of several crushes they had formed on several men that were, well, not on the market. “Move on,” we quickly advised. “You’re the prize—and if that person cannot see that, then your answer is: “NEXT!”
It was a tasty conversation to accompany the wine flights that suddenly arrived at the bar where we were seated.
First came the 2008 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard, whose grapes were harvested in October in the Edna Valley. This jewel was firm with a citrus zest that clearly showed off its fine flavor after nine months of aging. (One of us secretly wished that very thing were true in their personal relationships, but what can you do?) We each nibbled on the tasty cucumber salad that accompanied the wine and soon, the second offering was in our orbit—a 2006 Chardonnay, Saratoga Cuveé, certainly an attention-grabber for the palate with its bright pear appeal and the anise flavor. Paired nicely with a prosciutto dish, some of us moved on to better emotional territory: Available men.
“This is the perfect place for a date with ‘him,’” somebody commented about their honey. I looked around. Well, indeed it was. The Rock Room, with its enormous fireplace, cozy seating, attractive aquarium, is the perfect lounge. But this isn’t really news. For more than 60 years now, Shadowbrook has spoiled the county with its savory meals and marvelous ambiance. (It nabbed the 2010 GT Readers’ Poll for Best Ambiance, in fact.) Truth is, it’s challenging to write about this place because you often sound as if you’re gushing, but excellence is excellence, and my two recent visits seem to prove that. Hold that thought—the third wine, a 2005 Cabernet, Saratoga Cuveé and its pal—a duck confit—are worth mentioning. There was a notable red rasberryness to the wine, with plenty of currant flavor. A winner, sure, but it was the middle selection, the Jan Brady of the girls, the 2006 Chardonnay, that won us over. There was something distinctly original about it. But this is Mount Eden we’re dealing with here, so all of the wines were noteworthy in my book. Truth is, Mount Eden is still one of the best vineyards in the area. (Vinocruz, by the way, in Downtown Santa Cruz, is a great host to many of its wines.)
Take note: If you haven’t delved into Shadowbrook’s Winemaker Wednesdays, it’s time you do before it comes to a close after this month. You can’t beat the ambitious selection of wines that are presented each week—each month, really—but beyond that, the prices are unmatchable. Glasses of wine from $3.75-$4.50; bottles of wine more than half off, often within the $15-$18 arena. Dive in.
Onward. We descended to a lower level of Shadowbrook’s multi-layered lair and were welcomed to a wonderful corner table—the best, I think—overlooking the tranquil Soquel Creek. Our conversation had begun to Ping-Pong—from the restaurant’s own herb garden to the venue’s staff (many of them there for many, many years)—before we found ourselves quickly surmising that the women’s liberation movement, while having traveled far over the course of four decades, could use another boost. Was it true? We couldn’t expound upon why—not in detail, anyway—because decisions had to be made.
We ordered more wine.
TASTE AND STYLE Owner Ted Burke and Chef Ashley Hosmer show off a tempting Mahi Mahi dish. A David Bruce 2006 Central Coast Petite Syrah comes along for the ride.
Moments later the most available man of the evening—finally—arrived: A David Bruce 2006 Central Coast Petite Syrah. Handsome and downright dashing, the wine was full of deep, dark, berry flavors, had a rich body—admit it ladies, deep down, in real life, don’t we all long for this?—and soft tannins. It was the perfect companion for our appetizers.
We all shared a Maryland Quattro Crostini ($8.95)—grilled francese bread with fire-roasted peppers and wild arugula—and Soft Shell Crab Tempura ($12.95), which was an impressive ensemble of Ponzu, wasabi, pickled ginger and shisu.
While we were waiting for our entrees, overseen by Executive Chef Ross McKee this evening, we took in the ambiance and the view. The sun had set and the lights on the patio were suddenly sparkling. Once our main dishes arrived we toasted our great luck and picked up the forks.
The Mahi Mahi ($24.95) was beautifully presented. A char-grilled gem that was basted with sake, the sautee of shimeji mushroom and an accompaniment of bok choy and wasabi mashed potatoes, could not have been better prepared. Tender and a truly impressive array of flavors.
The Prime Kansas City Steak ($34.95) was hearty. This char-grilled one-pound steak—what a meal—arrived topped with oven-roasted cipollini onions and pancetta. It’s also served with potato gratin. The steak was cooked medium rare. “Mouthwatering,” somebody mused.
But the Swordfish ($28.95) was also a powerful dish. The fish was pan-seared with roasted baby vegetables and the combination fingerling potatoes and meyer lemon beurre blanc created a sensational collaboration. You simply wanted more, even when you became satiated.
Then there was the Blackened Lamb ($31.95). In a word: Precious. A mix of Cajun spices and roasted garlic-beurre rouge, it came with a curious shimeji mushroom bread pudding that was, quite simply, dynamite. When you order this dish, take note of its textures and, also, how light its sauce actually is when you would think the opposite would be true.
Somewhere during this memorable feast, we ordered another bottle of David Bruce before merging briefly onto why Bernese Mountain Dogs may be the best dogs on the planet. (No, it wasn’t the wine talking, they’re fine dogs—pet one; hug one.)
In the meantime, the top dogs of the night were Shadowbrook owners Ted Burke and Bob Munsey. The duo, who have been business partners and owned this impressive culinary hobbit since 1978, continue to impressive us with a festive variety of cuisine that is as luscious as it is inventive—two ingredients that aren’t that simple to combine, but they manage to do it with aplomb.
Cheers to longevity—a most delicious thing.
This article is one in a series of Editors’ Dinners designed to illuminate the art of conversation and meals. Visit Shadowbrook Restaurant, 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola, 475-1511; shadowbrook-capitola.com.
Local jewelry designer’s work is a treasure chest of inspiration Denise Peacock peers through a window, tracing with her finger the curves of a blossoming cherry tree outside. She locks her eyes with the bark, as if she and the tree sit in joined meditation. She describes how her jewelry design is largely inspired by things like this tree: twisting branches and erratic color schemes, the way things blossom, how the light passes through leaves and petals, and the muted shadows that juxtapose the hues.
Peacock is an artist of two aesthetic worlds: nature and city. During her youth in England, she moved between London and the bordering countryside in Kent where she would romp free with her siblings in the open fields and woods. After attending university in London, she moved to New York City with her husband and two daughters, taking photography classes and visiting galleries. And now she and her family live in Santa Cruz.
Los Angeles-based artist Robbie Conal brings his unique artistic vision to Santa Cruz Longtime artist and political activist Robbie Conal prefers to create the kind of art that makes people do a double take. Since graduating from Stanford University with a master of fine arts degree in the late ’70s, Conal has focused his talent on political satire, creating humorous yet thought-provoking posters that have papered the streets of cities such as New York, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. But for his upcoming Santa Cruz show at the A.L. Walters Gallery, Conal has chosen to show a softer side of his personality. Entitled with the same moniker as his new book, “Not Your Typical Political Animal,” the month-long gallery show will feature drawings of animals that Conal does as a way to reconnect with the planet. “For 23 years I’ve been doing satirical portraits of people who have a lot of power and abuse it,” Conal says. “This builds up a certain level of cosmic residue that isn’t necessarily always positive. As a break to flush my system and reconnect with some positive vibes from the climate and other living creatures … I did drawings of dogs and cats and other animals as an antidote that helps me reconnect on a more positive level,” the artist explains.
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars survived war and bring the spotlight home It’s a peculiar thing how it’s often those in positions of the greatest suffering who find the means to extol higher spiritual powers, radiate the brightest light, and dance as though there lies no problem at their feet. Take for example the spiritual songs of slaves, the hymns and folk songs of America during segregation and the anti-war era, or the political songs of South Africa during Apartheid. Music doesn’t just move, it can bolster a movement. So while you might be modest in your socio-economic standing, you can always remain brazenly rich when it comes to melody. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars know this well.
The beautiful thing about music is its versatility. A song can be a story, a dance party or a soapbox for the band; a couple of minutes mixed with various instruments to communicate a smorgasbord of ideas. Nobody understands this better than the members of Blackbird Raum. By fusing harmonizing vocals singing allegorical lyrics with accordions, banjos, washboards, mandolins, a washtub bass and even saw blades, the quintet creates pure, fast-paced Americana. The origins of the ensemble started around 2003, when accordion player Zack and banjoist Caspian met while drifting on the open highway and bonded over their similar anarchist ideology and love of punk music. “A lot of the music we’re playing is about a time in our life when we were traveling around riding trains and squatting,” Caspian explains. “We couldn’t play traditional punk, so we took random instruments and taught ourselves how to play them.” The founding duo went on to play streets and house parties wherever they went, later adding Mars on mandolin/saw, David on washtub bass, and a then 15-year-old named K.C. on washboard. Since then, Blackbird Raum has continued traveling the dusty roads, playing for anyone who will listen, whether it’s a huge show like the Northwest Folklife Festival or passers-by on Pacific Avenue. Last year saw the release of their second full-length, Under the Starling Host, a compilation of songs channeling ideas of environmentalism, community and fighting for your beliefs. Taking their name from the Hermetic demon, Raum (a crow that adopts human form in order to steal from the rich), with antiquated instruments in hand, these vagabonds create something entirely new out of the ancient. “I feel there’s truth to us calling this demon when we play,” says K.C. “Our music promotes ‘out with the old and in with the reality,’” Zack chimes in. “There’s more to this world than what our society has to offer. The truth is out there.”
A Q&A with Linnaea Holgers James, owner of Artisan’s Gallery, one of the 18 businesses vandalized during the May 1 riots
Last week we heard from Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Ryan Coonerty and City Coucilmember Lynn Robinson on what the council is doing to address the recent acts of violence in town and what residents can do to help keep the community safe. Since then, Coonerty, Robinson and Councilmember Cynthia Mathews announced several further actions the city is taking to address the destruction, including allocating $5,000 from the council’s special project fund to create a reward fund for gathering information about the recent gang-related shootings and downtown violence. They also held a special meeting for Downtown Association members on Wednesday, May 5 at the Santa Cruz Police Department.
This week we sit down with business owner Linnaea Holgers James, owner of Artisan’s Gallery on Pacific Avenue, for the first of a three part series that profiles the experiences of business owners as they deal with the aftermath.
Good Times: How long have you owned Artisan’s?
I’ve worked here 17 and a half years, and I bought the business last February. It was quite a year to take over ownership between the recession and all of the issues that have been happening downtown.
What was your experience like working at a downtown business before this?
I started working here right after the [1989] earthquake, so in some ways I feel like nothing can surprise me. Artisan’s had its windows broken when there was violence after New Years in the early ’90s—we were located next door but the same window was broken [that was broken this time]. In terms of safety and the way I feel down here, I’m pretty tough about it—not much rattles me. But this definitely did rattle me.
Walk me through your experience on the night of the riots. How did you find out? What did you do?
My alarm company called me at 11:07 and told me there were glass detections on the window and that there was rioting and the police had told First Alarm and business owners not to come downtown. So, of course, immediately my husband and I came downtown. When we got to Artisan’s we parked right out front. There was no sign of police or people, so we got to cleaning up and trying to figure out where the police were.
What was your interaction with the police?
There was a group of them congregating in front of Cinema 9 and I walked up to them and said, “Hey, is anyone going to come and check on my business or protect the stores down here?” At that point I didn’t see any other business owners, I didn’t see anyone looking out for the stores. Urban Outfitters was wide open, so was Dell Williams. They said, “Lives first, property second. We’re not going to come to you.”
I was very discouraged at how the information was getting relayed. It seemed like everyone I talked to had a different answer. I asked for caution tape to put up because I was worried about the glass cutting someone, and nobody knew where to get anything. It didn’t have an organized feel, or that anyone knew the right thing to do.
What were your feelings in the following days?
I was really surprised because I knew I was one of the first people down here, but I didn’t realize how much so. A lot of people didn’t know until the next morning. I have to say thank you to First Alarm, which got the word out because it wasn’t getting out otherwise. The police were too overwhelmed to contact everyone.
Did you feel unfairly targeted?
This store is about as small as you get. That was the most disturbing part to me: not that I would want this destruction for any business, but I felt overly sensitive because we are such a small, locally owned store. We carry things from local artists and everything is American made, and I feel like the message of our business is a positive one. There’s no “corporate” here. That was a lot of my initial upset feelings—that it was like we were kicked when we were already down. I’ve since realized that they weren’t targeting us.
What has the response been from customers?
Everyone really wanted to find someone to blame this on, and not having an answer to tell them—and still not having an answer to tell them—is what’s hard for people. There’s no specific person to blame. That is what’s making me ready to move on.
Also, I had a display of pottery in the window that all broke, so I took the broken pieces and arranged it around a vase of sunflowers. I got a very positive response both on Facebook and from customers coming into the store saying it was a nice artistic expression of doing something positive with the negative. That was very helpful for me.
Looking ahead, what would you like to see done to curb these sorts of problems?
We’ve gone through the earthquake; we’ve gone through violence like this before in the ’90s; we’re going to have to go through it in some form or another again. It’s about keeping everyone alert and prepared. I think that’s why I was so disappointed in how it turned out—I felt like ‘we’ve been through this before, we should have done better.’
I don’t envy the situation the police have been in, it’s a really rough road they’ve had with staffing. But we [business owners] struggle with the perception of safety and making people feel comfortable down here, and I really encourage the police to work on the perception of their presence down here—of having officers walk the street, and letting people know they are there.
A proposed Santa Cruz County Rodeo has some saddling up, and others up in arms
At last year’s Santa Cruz County Fair, County Sheriff Sgt. Michael MacDonald conducted an informal survey of attendees. He asked them, “If a rodeo were brought to the Santa Cruz County Fairground for the purpose of raising money to support our local schools and children’s organizations, would you attend?” One hundred percent said yes.
As the vice president of the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA) and the founder of its newborn fundraising branch, Stars of Justice, Inc., MacDonald spent the following months busily planning a proposal for just that: a Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA)-sanctioned rodeo, hosted by the DSA, to be held at the county fairgrounds this October. It would raise money for after-school programs and youth services.
“The DSA and its members are frustrated with what we’ve seen happen with the youth in Santa Cruz County,” says MacDonald. “The programs that help them have been hurt by the budgets and we find ourselves arresting more and more juveniles for activities they are involved in.” A list of benefactors for the rodeo fundraiser is in the works—in addition to many local schools, some proceeds will also go toward the DSA’s annual Children’s Holiday Party and youth Halloween event.
MacDonald’s plan for a rodeo fundraiser was, in part, inspired by his own history of working as a rodeo grunt, and also draws from the popularity of the Salinas Rodeo, which reportedly drew a crowd of 10,000 on its opening night last year.
The proposal now sits in the hands of the Fairgrounds Board of Directors, which will decide whether or not to approve the rodeo contract at their May 18 meeting. But as the date of the hearing draws near, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: far from 100 percent of Santa Cruz residents are in favor of bringing a rodeo to town. Saddle Sore
Rodeo did not register on the radar of popular sports in the 2006, 2007 or 2008 Gallup Poll surveys (the last time it did was in 2005, when 1 percent of respondents cited it as their favorite sport to follow). Whether or not one would be a hit in Santa Cruz … no one can know. (The DSA used to host one at the fairgrounds, but it dissolved several decades ago.) But when a small handful of animal rights activists recently heard about the little-known plan for a rodeo in Santa Cruz, they immediately plunged into trying to stop it from becoming a reality.
The opposition started off small (four disapprovers attended the April 20 Fairground Board of Directors meeting to share their concerns) but in the weeks since, numerous animal welfare and advocacy groups have taken a stand—even the Santa Cruz Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The organization stated the following in an open letter to the Fairground Board of Directors: “By the feedback we have already received, it is clear that creating a new rodeo would only anger Santa Cruz County residents and would most likely result in diminished attendance to the annual Santa Cruz County Fair … We ask on behalf of our organization and our 29,000-plus local supporters that you please deny the request to hold this new rodeo at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.”
The opposition has organized as Stop the Rodeo, a group led by Gary Travers, a Santa Cruz animal rights activist and vegan for 30 years, who has asked to go by a pseudonym in order to preserve his ability to do undercover work in the future. He says that even if the rodeo is an American tradition—which he claims it isn’t—it is one worth ditching.
“If it were an American tradition, would that make it right?” he asks. “Slavery was an American tradition. Only white landowners voting was a tradition. There are a lot of traditions we have chosen to leave behind. Something being a tradition doesn’t make it right.”
He pulls out a stack of glossy rodeo photos: one shows an emaciated calf being jerked back while running at top speed; another shows a horse bucking, its body twisted and contorted.
“I look at the way the animals are treated, and it seems quite obvious to me that it is abuse,” he says. “I’m not sure how the rodeo people can see otherwise, but people tend to be able to deceive themselves when they want to.”
The Santa Cruz County Rodeo will include six PRCA events—bareback and saddle bronco riding, bull riding, tie-down and team-roping, and steer wrestling—as well as barrel racing and a children’s calf chasing event.
Stop the Rodeo is also worried the event will set a violent example for children. With 30 years of animal protection work under her belt, JP Novic, founder of Santa Cruz-based nonprofit Center for Animal Protection and Education (CAPE), says rodeos send the wrong message to children. “Our community feels it is important to educate our children about kindness,” she says. “When families bring their children to the rodeo under the veil of entertainment, children don’t make the connection that these animals are being hurt.” CAPE is working on an online TV show to educate people “on why this is a bad idea,” according to Novic.
Cowboy Blues
MacDonald says that the overall response has been “really great.” The number of volunteers is quickly growing as more supporters hear of the event, and national and local businesses are also saddling up—they’ve garnered sponsorship from Wrangler and Montana Silversmiths, a $25,000 in-kind advertising donation from Entravision, and much more. He expects the event to draw a big crowd, filling the fundraising coffer. “I’m hoping for 5,000 a day, but there is potential for more than that if we get the outpour that Salinas [rodeo] gets,” he says.
Still, he is aware that an opposition is brewing.
“There are people in Santa Cruz County that oppose it for obvious reasons—they support animal rights and believe rodeos are not favorable to animals,” says MacDonald. “I respect their opinion.” He says that SOJ will ensure that the rodeo complies with state rodeo laws and PRCA guidelines, which includes having a veterinarian on site or on call. The San Benito County Large Animal Rescue Team and Felton Large Animal Rescue Company have offered their services. He also vouches for the planned stock contractor, Diamond G Rodeo, which will be providing the “rough stock” (rodeo speak for animals).
“Neither Diamond G nor the DSA has anything to hide in regard to these animals,” he says. MacDonald extends an offer to Stop the Rodeo to pick a representative to attend the rodeo behind the scenes. “They can come with me personally and I will escort them behind the chutes and introduce them to the Diamond G owner,” he says.
Peggy Koteen has been working on rodeo issues in the Central Coast for more than 15 years. She currently runs the San Luis Obispo chapter of Animal Emancipation. Although she says “it would be an act of good will on their part to allow us behind the scenes to video document,” she claims there is no such thing as a humane rodeo—whether or not the guidelines are followed. ”They could put on a humane rodeo if they didn’t use live animals,” she says. “Let them use a mechanical bull. That’s how they could put on a humane rodeo.” Travers is also less than enthusiastic about the offer, calling it “pretty useless.” “We already have solid video documentation that time and time again the rodeo industry violates both the law and their own rules—useless as those rules are—and nothing is done,” he says. “How would it help to have more such documentation?”
Fairground Manger Michael Bethke, who helped analyze the proposal before the staff made his recommendation to the board, says that public comment is encouraged during the decision process. “We welcome comments from everybody in the public, both in writing and they are more than welcome to appear at that hearing date, as well,” he says. The DSA foresees potential for the rodeo to be “one of the biggest public events in Santa Cruz County and hopefully someday one of the best rodeos offered in the State of California” (as stated on the SOJ website). Stop the Rodeo hopes it never happens, but is prepared to continue fighting even if it does.
“Everyone who has [fought] this sort of thing before says I’m not going to succeed,” says Travers. “They say the board will vote for this—that this is what fairgrounds are all about, this is what they do—so the thing is to try, fight it, and make sure that even if it passes, it doesn’t happen again.
“I hope they’re wrong,” he adds. “But the thing is to try.”
For more information about the Santa Cruz County Rodeo, visit santacruzrodeo.com. For more about Stop the Rodeo, visit stoptherodeo.com.
Race organizers, city officials hope the high cost of being an AMGEN host pays off On a rainy afternoon last February, nearly 15,000 people gathered in Downtown Santa Cruz to watch as bicycle superstar Lance Armstrong streaked into town, one blur of a jersey among many, as part of the Amgen Tour of California, the grueling nine-day, 750-mile bike race along the length of the state.
The city spent close to $80,000 to host the Stage 2 finish line, hoping that it would act as an immediate boon for local business and tourism. They were disappointed. City reports concluded that the overall revenue from sales tax was minimal and that hotel occupancy numbers didn’t experience a significant rise, although some downtown businesses—mainly coffee shops and restaurants—did see substantially increased profits the day of the race.
Stage 3 GuideAMGEN heads into town. Meanwhile, local cyclist Shelley Olds Evans preps for the 2012 OlympicsWhen the AMGEN Tour of California, the biggest and most prestigious bike race in the United States, returns to Santa Cruz for Stage 3 on May 18, the city, the cycling community and its stars will enter the international spotlight. Santa Cruz can...
Plus Letters to Good TimesMay Day Riots: The AftermathFrom The Hub ... City Council Too ReactionaryThe Mayor Says ...Knowing SubRosa BetterThe race is on. Well, almost. The much heralded AMGEN Tour of California kicks off this week and heads right into Santa Cruz Tuesday, May 18. Once again, GT has a great deal of information about the prestigious cycling...
Local jewelry designer’s work is a treasure chest of inspirationDenise Peacock peers through a window, tracing with her finger the curves of a blossoming cherry tree outside. She locks her eyes with the bark, as if she and the tree sit in joined meditation. She describes how her jewelry design is largely inspired by things like this tree: twisting...
Los Angeles-based artist Robbie Conal brings his unique artistic vision to Santa CruzLongtime artist and political activist Robbie Conal prefers to create the kind of art that makes people do a double take. Since graduating from Stanford University with a master of fine arts degree in the late ’70s, Conal has focused his talent on political satire, creating humorous...
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars survived war and bring the spotlight homeIt’s a peculiar thing how it’s often those in positions of the greatest suffering who find the means to extol higher spiritual powers, radiate the brightest light, and dance as though there lies no problem at their feet. Take for example the spiritual songs of slaves, the hymns...
The beautiful thing about music is its versatility. A song can be a story, a dance party or a soapbox for the band; a couple of minutes mixed with various instruments to communicate a smorgasbord of ideas. Nobody understands this better than the members of Blackbird Raum. By fusing harmonizing vocals singing allegorical lyrics with accordions, banjos, washboards, mandolins,...
Race organizers, city officials hope the high cost of being an AMGEN host pays offOn a rainy afternoon last February, nearly 15,000 people gathered in Downtown Santa Cruz to watch as bicycle superstar Lance Armstrong streaked into town, one blur of a jersey among many, as part of the Amgen Tour of California, the grueling nine-day, 750-mile bike race...
Stage 3 Guide
Onward. We descended to a lower level of Shadowbrook’s multi-layered lair and were welcomed to a wonderful corner table—the best, I think—overlooking the tranquil Soquel Creek. Our conversation had begun to Ping-Pong—from the restaurant’s own herb garden to the venue’s staff (many of them there for many, many years)—before we found ourselves quickly surmising that the women’s liberation movement, while having traveled far over the course of four decades, could use another boost. Was it true? We couldn’t expound upon why—not in detail, anyway—because decisions had to be made.
Local jewelry designer’s work is a treasure chest of inspiration
Los Angeles-based artist Robbie Conal brings his unique artistic vision to Santa Cruz
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars survived war and bring the spotlight home
The beautiful thing about music is its versatility. A song can be a story, a dance party or a soapbox for the band; a couple of minutes mixed with various instruments to communicate a smorgasbord of ideas. Nobody understands this better than the members of Blackbird Raum. By fusing harmonizing vocals singing allegorical lyrics with accordions, banjos, washboards, mandolins, a washtub bass and even saw blades, the quintet creates pure, fast-paced Americana. The origins of the ensemble started around 2003, when accordion player Zack and banjoist Caspian met while drifting on the open highway and bonded over their similar anarchist ideology and love of punk music. “A lot of the music we’re playing is about a time in our life when we were traveling around riding trains and squatting,” Caspian explains. “We couldn’t play traditional punk, so we took random instruments and taught ourselves how to play them.” The founding duo went on to play streets and house parties wherever they went, later adding Mars on mandolin/saw, David on washtub bass, and a then 15-year-old named K.C. on washboard. Since then, Blackbird Raum has continued traveling the dusty roads, playing for anyone who will listen, whether it’s a huge show like the Northwest Folklife Festival or passers-by on Pacific Avenue. Last year saw the release of their second full-length, Under the Starling Host, a compilation of songs channeling ideas of environmentalism, community and fighting for your beliefs. Taking their name from the Hermetic demon, Raum (a crow that adopts human form in order to steal from the rich), with antiquated instruments in hand, these vagabonds create something entirely new out of the ancient. “I feel there’s truth to us calling this demon when we play,” says K.C. “Our music promotes ‘out with the old and in with the reality,’” Zack chimes in. “There’s more to this world than what our society has to offer. The truth is out there.” 
A Q&A with Linnaea Holgers James, owner of Artisan’s Gallery, one of the 18 businesses vandalized during the May 1 riots
A proposed Santa Cruz County Rodeo has some saddling up, and others up in arms
Race organizers, city officials hope the high cost of being an AMGEN host pays off
