Page 167 | Good Times

Things to Do in Santa Cruz

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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April 24, 2024

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THURSDAY

AUTHOR TALK | RAINN WILSON

A treatise on the importance of spirituality might not be the first thing that comes to mind when most people picture Rainn Wilson; they will more likely remember a man obsessed with beet farms who once accidentally recreated a famous speech by Mussolini. Wilson had infinite memorable moments as Dwight Schrute on The Office, but he’s moved on from Scranton. His new book, Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution, incorporates humor and pop culture into his exploration of the spiritual practices that might save the human race. Not bad for an assistant [to the] regional manager. JESSICA IRISH

INFO: 7pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $27. 423-1854.

FRIDAY

METAL | ASEPTIC

When the pandemic hit, the vibrant, diverse metal scene that had risen in the Central Coast like an army of the damned was quickly eviscerated. Some bands disbanded, while others moved out of the area or state. Then there were the vicious ones who stayed, survived and continued to rain audio hellfire on starving ears. San Jose’s death metal duo Aseptic was one of those bands. Aseptic delivers old-school, extreme death metal for fans who like their metal brutal and their imagery delightfully disgusting. This Friday, prepare for an all-night cavernous showcase with the unholy assault of Sakrificer, Trencher, Phantasmal Abyss and Celestial Force. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8pm, Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15. 423-7117.

POETRY | IN CELEBRATION OF THE MUSE

Poetry enthusiasts won’t want to miss In Celebration of the Muse for a rare encounter with outstanding new poems created by regional poets. They’re guaranteed to be blown away or at least emotionally intrigued by the annual no-holds-barred reading produced by The Hive Poetry Collective this year. Eighteen women readers—each selected under blind jury conditions—will offer musings on the deep and delightful aspects of life, the Bardo, eternity, love, death, rites of passage, past heartache, present epiphanies, animal guardian spirits, the whole nine yards and beyond. CHRISTINA WATERS

INFO: 6:30pm, Cabrillo College HORT Building 5005, Aptos. Free.

BLUEGRASS | BROTHERS COMATOSE

It’s unclear whether the Brothers Comatose ever leaves the road. Legend has it they’ve even shown up at gigs on horseback. As far as string groups go, however, these guys really bring the rock ‘n’ roll. Brothers Ben and Alex Morrison grew up in Petaluma, jamming nonstop with friends and family in their living room to ’60s and ’70s rock favorites. They have continued covering those songs and performing originals throughout the country well into adulthood. Guitar Magazine calls their style an “upbeat brand of Americana with lots of twang, a dash of wit and a splash of surrealism.” ADDIE MAHMASSANI

INFO: 9pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 479-1854.

SATURDAY

ELECTRONIC | THE POLISH AMBASSADOR

The Polish Ambassador has nothing to do with piroshki or diplomatic embassies; he’s an artist building beats and creating danceable tracks to keep his audience moving. Hailing from San Francisco, the Polish Ambassador blends hip-hop, electrofunk and chill soundscapes that create dreamlike visions in the heads of those who listen. Songs like “Skiff Rider” start with an ’80s-inspired, Tron-like track that transports its listeners to a neon-lit past, while other songs evoke the sounds of the best eras of hip-hop. Polish or American, the Polish Ambassador is a man of many talents. JI

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $37/adv, $42/door. 704-7113.

The Polish Ambassador crafts chill soundscapes at the Felton Music Hall.

FOLK | THE LILAC AND THE APPLE

Maya McNeil and Ben Pearl comprise the Lilac and the Apple. As a folk artist, McNeil fuses her songcraft, medicine and holistic health background to bring out music’s healing power, like a contemporary bard. The music conveys specific moments of Maya’s life as well as ancient, universal experiences of humans. Ben Pearl is the talented multi-instrumentalist backing Maya. Together, they play folk music inspired by the genre’s connection to social movement and the human experience—connections that foster a healing environment for the audience. Joshua Lowe and Patti Maxine are supporting acts for the Lilac and the Apple. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE

INFO: 7pm, Lille Aeske Arthouse, 13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. $25/adv, $30/door. 703-4183.

Maya McNeil and Ben Pearl play in Boulder Creek.

SUNDAY

MUSICAL | KAREN WITH A K – A MUSICAL TEMPER TANTRUM

Karen with a K is a satirical garage-rock musical (named after a certain viral Internet meme) created by Santa Cruz-based singer-songwriter Laura February Strange. According to the creator, the protagonist Karen is stumbling through a terrible day, and her various tribulations are spelled out in about a dozen songs written by Strange and performed by Strange Bedfellows. The group comprises veteran local musicians Strange, Scott Kail, Jojo Fox, Jack Hanson and Orbrad Darbro, and vocalists Stephanie Madrigal, Bonny June and Judy Appleby. One local critic says the show should be on Broadway and he meant it. DAN EMERSON

INFO: 5pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $35-$45. 427-2227.

SCREENING | STRANGER AT THE GATE

The year is only four months in, and the world’s Doomsday Clock looms at 90 seconds till midnight. People now need love, understanding, and a way to see the humanity in each other by sharing common feelings, dreams and goals across seemingly different cultures. And that’s precisely one of the themes thread throughout the 2022 film Stranger at the Gate. This amazing documentary follows Afghan refugee Bibi Bahrami and her mosque when they discover Richard “Mac” McKinney—an ex-Marine with severe PTSD—has a secret plot to blow up their community center. Through kindness, grace and communication, this would-be tragedy transforms into a powerful message of hope. Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month after the screening and join a live stream discussion with Bahrami and McKinney. While this event is free, attendees are encouraged to register on the library’s website. MW

INFO: 2:30pm, Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Rd., Capitola. Free. 427-7705.

WEDNESDAY

ALTERNATIVE | MARIACHI EL BRONX

There’s no better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a bunch of punks-turned-mariachi musicians. The alter-ego of LA-based rock band the Bronx, Mariachi El Bronx periodically surfaces for a night of traditional Mexican tunes with punk infusion. Their transformation is near total, with sombreros, a glorious horn section and colorful charro suits taking center stage. Since recording their first album under the name in 2009, Mariachi El Bronx has evolved into a force just about as powerful as the Bronx, even performing between segments on the El Rey Network wrestling program Lucha Underground. AM

INFO: 7pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $27/adv, $32/door. 713-5492.

Rainn Wilson’s ‘Soul Boom’ Explores Radical Compassion

DNA

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April 24, 2024

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Rainn Wilson’s ‘Soul Boom’ Explores Radical Compassion

You probably know Rainn Wilson as the dim but hilarious Dwight Schrute on NBC’s The Office. So you might be surprised to learn that Wilson has a long-standing obsession with world religions and sussing out god in the strangest of places. Wilson’s newest book, Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution, dives into Wilson’s upbringing, and his vision for the future. Rainn Wilson, in conjunction with Bookshop Santa Cruz, will be at the Rio Theatre on April 25 at 7pm.

Wilson grew up in the Baha’i faith, in Seattle. Both of his parents welcomed all denominations into his house, which was always a hub of deep discussion, but with little personal emotional support for young Rainn. So, early on, Wilson began searching for something more, a deeper reason of why we are here, and a more comprehensive belief system.

Like most disaffected youth of the 1980s, Wilson fell into drug and alcohol use. “Because you can’t fix internal imbalance with alcohol or chocolate chip cookies or video games or weed or sex or Instagram, Candy Crush and Amazon shopping sprees,” says Wilson in Soul Boom.

This descent into avoidance strategies and addiction parlayed into serious mental health issues and depression and debilitating anxiety attacks that continue to this day. Which to say, the real Rainn has been dealing with much deeper issues than his TV counterpart ever did.

The eclectic actor found sobriety in his 20s. And Wilson’s one saving grace was a natural curiosity, or obsession, about world religions, humanities, cosmologies and what makes humans tick. Over the last 30 years this passion culminated in Wilson’s organization, SoulPancake. Founded in 2008, SoulPancake was created to encourage open-hearted dialogue about what it means to be human. One of its most recent forays is an incredible biopic about Shirley Chisholm, which strikes hope in the heart of anyone who watches it.

Wilson also stars in Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss, a show on Peacock in which the intrepid actor travels the globe, searching for the secrets of the happiest societies on earth. Dwayne would never have had the follow-through, but Wilson is on a roll, systematically sifting through the sands of time for secrets that have been left unnoticed.

Soul Boom takes us through the fundamental building blocks of Wilson’s early years, namely TV and Star Trek. “The idea of understanding the other—finding empathy with species different from your own—was a recurring theme in the show. Wherever they go in the galaxy, the crew of the Enterprise is called on to deepen their compassion and understanding of the ‘alien,’” Wilson says.

And Soul Boom is about looking through as many windows as possible. The book is chock full of quotes. From Joseph Campbell to Jesus, and Muhammad to the Beatles, Wilson is thorough on turning over every leaf and stone, looking for inspiration and signs that the universe is not a mechanistic set of happenstance, but a deliberate function of beauty. “We are watching the birth, more than the death, of a world,” according to Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

Wilson doesn’t have blinders on. Think less woo-woo and more activism. Wilson doesn’t avoid tackling all the conflicts and unresolved dilemmas of the world. He lays them out and examines them. From immigration policies, to the housing crisis and the unhoused population, to the staggering tuition and student debt that young people face, Wilson understands our moment in history.

Yet, he has a core belief that things can work out. And the path forward is Radical Compassion. “It’s somewhere between the divine and the practical. It’s a pragmatic and commonsensical way to build emotional bridges between parties that normally wouldn’t intersect,” Wilson says.

America is too obsessed with celebrity culture. Take a chance and see the human behind the character. Rainn Wilson has some valuable insights and just might bring a smile to your face.

Rainn Wilson will appear at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., April 25 at 7pm. Wilson will sign copies of Soul Boom, available from Bookshop Santa Cruz, at the sold-out event. Info: riotheatre.com.

Rob Brezsny’s Free Will Astrology for the Week of 4.25.24-5.1.24

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

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April 24, 2024

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Rob Brezsny’s Free Will Astrology for the Week of 4.25.24-5.1.24

Author Rob Brezsny offers insights for all signs of the horoscope in his weekly Free Will Astrology column.

ARIES March 21-April 19
Have you ever gotten your mind, heart and soul in sweet alignment with the spiritual beauty of money? An opportunity to do that is available. During the next four weeks, you can cultivate an almost mystical communion with the archetype of well-earned wealth. What does that mean? Well, you could be the beneficiary of novel insights and hot tips about how best to conduct your finances. You might get intuitions about actions you could take to bring more riches into your life. Be alert for help from unexpected sources. You may notice that the more generous you are, the more the world’s generosity will flow your way.

TAURUS April 20-May 20
Bordering the Pacific Ocean for a thousand miles, Chile’s Atacama Desert is a place of stark and startling beauty. Unfortunately, its pristine landscape is also a dumping ground for vast amounts of discarded clothes that people bought cheaply, wore out quickly, and didn’t want anymore. Is there any other place on earth that more poignantly symbolizes the overlap of sacred and profane? In the coming weeks, Taurus, you will possess a special aptitude for succeeding in situations with metaphorical resemblances to the Atacama. You will have an enhanced power to inject ingenious changes wherever messiness is mixed with elegance, wherever blemished beauty requires redemption, and wherever lyrical truths need to be rescued from careless duplicity or pretense.

GEMINI May 21-June 20
My Gemini friend Alicia thrives on having a quick, acute, whirling-dervish-like intelligence. It’s one of her strong points now, but it wasn’t always. She says she used to be hyperactive. She thought of serenity as boring—“like some wan, bland floral tea.” But after years of therapy, she is joyous to have discovered “a kind of serenity that’s like sweet, frothy hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.” I’m guessing that many of you Geminis have been evolving in a similar direction in recent months—and will climax this excellent period of relaxing growth in the coming weeks.

CANCER June 21-July 22
All Cancerians who read this oracle are automatically included on the Primal Prayer Power List. During the next 13 days, my team of 13 Prayer Warriors and I will sing incantations to nurture your vigor, sovereignty and clarity of purpose. We will envision your dormant potentials ripening. We will call on both human and divine allies to guide you in receiving and bestowing the love that gives your life supreme meaning. How should you prepare for this flood of blessings? Start by having a long talk with yourself in which you describe exactly why you deserve these gifts.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22
A meme on Instagram said, “The day I stopped worrying about what other people think of me was the day I became free.” This sentiment provokes mixed feelings in me. I agree it’s liberating not to be obsessed with what people think of us. On the other hand, I believe we should indeed care about how we affect others. We are wise to learn from them about how we can be our best selves. Our “freedom” includes the discernment to know which ideas people have about us are worth paying attention to and which are best forgotten and ignored. In my opinion, Leo, these are important themes for you to ruminate on right now.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
The city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia is a holy place for Islam. Jerusalem is the equivalent for Judaism, and the Vatican is for Catholicism. Other spiritual traditions regard natural areas as numinous and exalting. For instance, the Yoruba people of Nigeria cherish Osun-Osogbo, a sacred grove of trees along the Osun River. I’d love it if there were equivalent sanctuaries for you, Virgo—where you could go to heal and recharge whenever you need to. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to identify power spots like these. If there are no such havens for you, find or create some.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
In my astrological opinion, you are entering a period when you can turn any potential breakdown into a breakthrough. If a spiritual emergency arises, I predict you will use it to rouse wisdom that sparks your emergence from numbness and apathy. Darkness will be your ally because it will be the best place to access hidden strength and untapped resources. And here’s the best news of all: Unripe and wounded parts of your psyche will get healing upgrades as you navigate your way through the intriguing mysteries.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
According to my astrological perspective, you are entering a phase when you could dramatically refine how relationships function in your life. To capitalize on the potential, you must figure out how to have fun while doing the hard work that such an effort will take. Here are three questions to get you started. 1 What can you do to foster a graceful balance between being too self-centered and giving too much of yourself? 2. Are there any stale patterns in your deep psyche that tend to undermine your love life? If so, how could you transform or dissolve them? 3. Given the fact that any close relationship inevitably provokes the dark sides of both allies, how can you cultivate healthy ways to deal with that?

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
I feel sad when I see my friends tangling with mediocre problems. The uninspiring dilemmas aren’t very interesting and don’t provoke much personal growth. They use up psychic energy that could be better allocated. Thankfully, I don’t expect you to suffer this bland fate in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. You will entertain high-quality quandaries. They will call forth the best in you. They will stimulate your creativity and make you smarter and kinder and wilder. Congratulations on working diligently to drum up such rich challenges!

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
In 1894, a modest Agave ferox plant began its life at a botanical garden in Oxford, England. By 1994, a hundred years later, it had grown to be six feet tall but had never bloomed. Then one December day, the greenhouse temperature accidentally climbed above 68 degrees F. During the next two weeks, the plant grew twice as tall. Six months later, it bloomed bright yellow flowers for the first time. I suspect metaphorically comparable events will soon occur for you, Capricorn. They may already be underway.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Have you felt a longing to be nurtured? Have you fantasized about asking for support and encouragement and mentoring? If so, wonderful! Your intuition is working well! My astrological analysis suggests you would dramatically benefit from basking in the care and influence of people who can elevate and champion you; who can cherish and exalt you; who can feed and inspire you. My advice is to pursue the blessings of such helpers without inhibition or apology. You need and deserve to be treated like a vibrant treasure.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
In his book Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception, Thom Hartmann theorizes that distractibility may have been an asset for our ancestors. Having a short attention span meant they were ever alert for possible dangers and opportunities in their environment. If they were out walking at night, being lost in thought could prevent them from tuning into warning signals from the bushes. Likewise, while hunting, they would benefit from being ultra-receptive to fleeting phenomena and ready to make snap decisions. I encourage you to be like a hunter in the coming weeks, Pisces. Not for wild animals, but for wild clues, wild signs and wild help.

Homework: Is there any important situation where you’re not giving your best? Fix that, please. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Best of Santa Cruz County 2024: Editors’ Picks

Best of Santa Cruz County

GT Staff

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April 17, 2024

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Best of Santa Cruz County 2024: Editors’ Picks

Most Popular Place Not to Find a Table on Trivia Night

11th Hour Coffee
Despite the name, do not plan on showing up to this trivia night at the eleventh hour if you want to find a table for your group. This has quickly become the hottest trivia spot in Santa Cruz, with staff urging trivia-goers to arrive at least an hour early to snag a seat. The crowd is a mix of students—millennials looking to make new friends and the ever-growing tech population looking properly Santa Cruz-clad in Patagonia and Blundstone Boots. Topics range, but having a penchant for history and geography could come in clutch. The best part of the overly crowded 11th Hour Trivia Night: the food, featuring a Szechuan inspired menu and dumplings served by Full Steam Dumpling. Thursday nights at 7pm (get there by 3pm for a seat! Better yet, just take the day off work and arrive when they open at 7am). Elizabeth Borelli

Humble Sea Brewing
The best part about this trivia night is that the staff takes to social media ahead of time to tell everyone the topics being featured that evening—architecture, pop culture and weather systems, to name a few. That way, you can rally a group of people with knowledge in those specialties, giving you a chance to finally take home the gold. The patio seating at this trivia night gets packed early, and many attendees are shivering by the night’s end due to not properly layering, instead, wearing thin jackets and sleeveless vests. Wednesday nights at 6 pm. Elizabeth Borelli

Best Place to Recover From a Hangover

Steamer Lane Supply
Let’s say you had a great time touring local wineries with an out-of-town friend. After more wine with dinner things get a little fuzzy, the next morning arrives a few hours too soon. In this purely made up scenario, where could you go to clear your head with beautiful views, an ocean breeze, strong coffee and replenishing eats? Steamer Lane Supply might just hit the mark. With nourishing options like kimchi, pickles and seaweed for garnishing a tasty variety of breakfast and lunch offerings. Although portions aren’t huge, neither are the prices for ocean view dining! Elizabeth Borelli

Cheapest Place to Meet Single Vegans Over 40

Eat For the Earth free Potluck series
Get your veg on at one of Eat for the Earth’s free potluck events! Expect to meet a cross-section of people ranging from young to old and single to coupled, but for sure you’ll enjoy an abundance of tasty eats in the pleasure of good company. Eat for the Earth is the Santa Cruz-based not-for-profit dedicated to sharing the benefits of a plant-strong diet. Their regularly scheduled potlucks are a great way to try new recipes, share and enjoy delicious food and meet great people, single or not! Elizabeth Borelli

Best Place to Drink a Cup of Old Tea

Hidden Peak Teahouse
In the world of wine and cheese, age equates to value. Tea, not so much. Wouldn’t old tea leaves begin to lose flavor? While most tea varieties go through a process of oxidation, rare others, such as pu-erh tea, undergo a unique multistep process that includes aging and fermentation. Aged pu-erh, like wine, gains depth and rarity and the results are worth the wait. If you’re looking for the perfect place to enjoy an old cup of tea, Hidden Peak Teahouse, a digital-free sanctuary in downtown Santa Cruz, is a delightful, rare find. Elizabeth Borelli

Best Place to Get High Without Drugs

MeloMelo Kava Bar
Looking for a high without a hangover? Kava—a traditional beverage from the South Pacific made from plant roots—is a mild psychoactive and a safe alternative. While the drink is an acquired taste, the ceremony that accompanies it is an instant hit. The friendly bartender explained that each time your carved wooden cup is refilled, everyone at the bar joins in to clap once, shout the word “bula!” and clap twice to seal the cheer. Chugging is said to enhance the effects, but slow drinkers (like me) get the benefits too. Elizabeth Borelli

Best Breakfast Sandwich Ever

Lulu Carpenter’s
Melted sharp cheddar cheese over a perfectly folded omelet cooked on the plancha, with crispy bacon (choice of applewood smoked or regular) and their signature sauces. The sriracha aioli is to die for. Served in between a fluffy flaky biscuit or on a croissant. With several coffee houses throughout town, quality food and pastries from a longtime local staple coffeehouse and roaster is a welcome trend. (No to Starbucks). Lulu Carpenter’s full kitchen and bakery is at their downtown flagship store. Make sure to go early as sometimes they run out before the 1pm cut-off time for brunch. Lucile Tepperman

Weirdest Landmark in Santa Cruz

Hippo Tree
There’s a hippo poking out of a tree near New Brighton State Beach. Yep, you heard me, a burned branch resembling the famous 4,000-pound semi-aquatic African mammal juts outwardly from a eucalyptus tree on Park Avenue in Capitola. Its painted eyes and Santa hat during the holiday season makes this “hippo” one of Santa Cruz’s weirdest landmarks. Mathew Chipman

Best Coffee Shop Run by a Church

Shrine Coffee
Have you ever been walking down Westcliff Drive and wanted a delicious pastry and great coffee? You’re in luck! Tucked away at the Shrine of St Joseph with a beautiful Monterey cypress paneled interior and lush garden exterior, Shrine Coffee is the best church-run coffee shop on Westcliff Drive. If you’re looking for a great place to stop when you’re walking your dog or need a post-surf dirty chai, here’s your spot. Mathew Chipman

Most Stylish Uni-Sex Hat

The Hat Company of Santa Cruz
Want a houndstooth messenger cap? A trucker hat with a chicken on it? Do you need a visor with the Golden Girls plastered all over it? The Hat Company has got everything one needs and more. At 1346 Pacific Ave, presenting the window display of the craziest hat-centered dreams, The Hat Company has stood for 35 years. Friendly staff with a knowledgeable owner make for a stellar shopping experience. There is no hat concept too outlandish for this store to supply, so come get a knit owl beanie or a fur bucket hat and accessorize with the headwear of your fancy. Morgan Guerra

Most Affordable Vintage Clothing Store

Angel Aura Vintage
Most find this gem while waiting for a table at Walnut Ave Cafe because right next to the well-loved breakfast joint is the affordable vintage collective Angel Aura. Whether jamming with 90’s band tees, early 2000’s corset tops, or 70’s long flowing skirts, the Angel Aura vendors have it covered without breaking the bank. College budget-friendly, Angel Aura does the digging for patrons to find the cream of the crop in the secondhand market. It’s no thrift store, but you can find some great pieces in this vintage shop without the hefty price tag some others present. Morgan Guerra

Hiking Location with the Most Shock Value

Loma Prieta Earthquake Epicenter Trail
When we look at what’s to blame for the Loma Prieta earthquake, it seems to be the San Andreas Mountain’s fault. This trail in the Forest of Nisene Marks starts at the end of Aptos Creek Road and takes hikers to the mainshock epicenter of the Oct. 17, 1989 quake. The epicenter went six feet sideways and 11 miles deep. Loma Prieta Peak towers over rugged country, and on the trail there’s a climb or descent four miles out-and-back. Richard Stockton

Best Dive Bar with a Jukebox

Brady’s Yacht Club
No one who owns a yacht has ever been inside Brady’s Yacht Club (413 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz). Brady’s is the most revered and reviled dive bar in Santa Cruz, depending on where in someone’s alcoholic arc they are questioned. From the opening bell at 10am, Brady’s stays packed all day. It is famous for heavy pours and friendly people. Brady’s is the place to be when last call comes around. Once, the menu favorite was something called Ass Juice, which came with a warning not to drink it. Richard Stockton

Oyster Bar with the Most Santa Cruz Vibes

Cabrillo College Farmers Market
There’s nothing like strolling down a Cabrillo College hill on a Saturday to the farmers market while catching some rays of late fall sun. With veggies in the basket, shoppers can head down to the lower market for some renewed energy at La Marea of the Sea. The price is a fair $10 for four oysters on the half-shell, locally sourced from Tomales Bay and with an exciting array of homemade sauces. Let the oyster fun begin! They offer everything from a subtle cilantro, green onion mignonette to a traditional lovers’ go-to—their in-house cocktail sauce with fresh horseradish—to their serrano salsa for those who like a bit more kick. If diners like it rustic and nonchalant, this is that SC vibe. Call it over-the-top, but they have a prepared oyster they call “the best of both worlds.” Raw oysters, topped with fresh ceviche and prawns, what!? Lucille Tepperman

Best Gluten-Free Vegan Dessert

Melinda’s Bakery
Wondering how baked goods can taste good without critical ingredients like butter, eggs and flour? Turns out that question was harder to answer than expected! But the extra effort finally paid off with just one bite of an almond bear claw from Melinda’s gluten-free bakery: a perfectly crisp layer covered oven-fresh dough encasing a rich almond filling. If breakfast is too early for decadence, this treat makes a perfect dessert option too. Or sample one of the many options changing daily at this cozy Capitola café. Elizabeth Borelli

Best TikTok Dances IRL

Joy Smith Dance
Ever seen the dances on TikTok showing friends doing fun routines together? This inspired local choreographer Joy Smith (3707 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz) to offer a couple’s dance class, teaching partners user-friendly routines to bring adventure and laughter to their date night. “It’s one partner comfortable taking dance classes and a nervous but willing partner not knowing what to expect,” she says. In the 1.5-hour class, Smith teaches two to three short routines. The outcome has been better than she imagined. “The men, having discovered a new love, are begging for the next class so they can show off their new skills!” Cost is $45; email jo*****************@***il.com. June Smith

Best of Santa Cruz: Shopping and Services

Best of Santa Cruz County

BAY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Silver Medal

BREZSNY ASSOCIATES

Bronze Medal

Literature

Mat Weir

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April 17, 2024

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Talk Nerdy to Me: Surf City Comic Con Debuts April 20

Growing up, I was often ostracized by my peers for being a nerd. Comic books, action figures and collectibles fueled the flames of isolation but provided escape. The asthma, glasses and failure at any sport involving running, a ball or the sun didn’t help.

Fast forward to today, and society has finally caught up with the nerds.

Entertainment studios create entire cinematic universes around extraordinary humans in capes and spandex. Long-running franchises like Star Wars and Doctor Who have millions of fans around the world, with new content constantly pumping out of the studios. In the United States alone there are more than 1,000 different comic conventions a year.

And this weekend the Central Coast will host one of its own.

On April 20, the inaugural Surf City Comic Con takes over the old 38,000-square-foot Sears building at the Capitola Mall from 10am to 6pm. Admission is $10, but children under 10 get in for free. And collectors who want first dibs can pay $15 for an early entrance of 9am.

“Art is a central theme, be it comics, toys or video games,” George Tegenkamp says.

In addition to owning and operating Hadbro Toys—the collectibles store in the Capitola Mall—Tegenkamp is known to attendees of the 2022 Capitola Collectacon. But organizers want to make one thing clear: This is a whole new convention and not affiliated with the past.

For starters, Tegenkamp—a Soquel native—has teamed up with Aaron Alden, Aptos born and raised. Owner of a catering company by day, Alden is an avid comic collector and seller with a staggering personal collection of around 85,000 books.

“I’ve been going to Joe Ferrara at Atlantis Fantasy World since 1978, and I’ve had a pull box [a box comic shops keep for customers with weekly or monthly subscriptions] since I was 12,” Alden exclaims.

Friends for over a decade, Tegenkamp and Alden first met—where else—at a flea market scouring to find hidden gems. After five years of talking about starting their own convention, the two decided now was the time.

“San Diego, L.A., San Jose, Bay Area—they all have their own,” Tegenkamp says. “We wanted to bring something to the Central Coast.”

Of like mind is Thomas Brookins, a photographer, Hadbro Toys customer and avid Star Wars collector who converted his garage into what he calls a “Star Wars Museum.”

“There’s nothing from Santa Cruz all the way down to Santa Barbara,” Brookins says. “Collectors can’t find squat.”

This weekend, however, fans of all ages will find plenty to buy, salivate over and do.

The Surf City Comic Con features 120 different vendors from across the state selling everything from comics, toys and video games to tabletop games, art and more. Hadbro Toys will have a special G.I. Joe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles display for sale.

Local horror collectible company Trick or Treat Studios, which is also one of this year’s sponsors, will be present with plenty of goodies. Other sponsors with booths include retro video game sellers Game Vault and tabletop board game shop Sword and Board Games, both located in the Capitola Mall.

Alden hints he’lll be selling a cache of Golden Age and pre-code horror comics at the Surf City Comics booth. Pre-codes—comics printed before the creation of the Comics Code Authority in 1954—might look tame by today’s standards, but they shocked and startled early-20th-century fans with images of ghouls and killers in titles like Haunted Tales, Shock SuspenStories and Chamber of Chills.

Attendees who purchase from the Surf City Comics booth will automatically be entered into a raffle to win a mystery comic, graded and slabbed (in a protective plastic casing), with a $250 value.

“We’re also really pushing local artists,” Alden says.

Tegenkamp agrees.

“Abraham Roman—who is just a fabulous artist—will be there with his work along with Milo Halperin, who did our banner. We’ll also have Leah [Smith] from Altered Panels, who does a lot of collage work, and Randomize, a store here [in the mall] that makes things like their own stuffies.”

Guests will include Glenn Cotter, creator of the hit board game Fickle, as well as a digital and visual effects artist whose résumé includes Super 8, Pacific Rim, and the original X-Men from the 2000s.

Attendees are welcome to cosplay. Golden Gate stormtrooper garrison—the 501st Legion—will be scouring the halls, but rebel scum can hide out with local Steve Mead. Also known as “R2-Steve,” Mead builds life-size, exact and working models of famous droids from a galaxy far far away, which he has named Artoosc (R2-SC) and ChopperBC (for Boulder Creek) to avoid copyright infringement.

Despite all the treasures that will be for sale, the push to represent the Surf City community extends beyond commercialism.

“We wanted to make it more interactive and not just about buying things but about community,” Tegenkamp explains. “And why is it a community? Because we all love this shit.”

With that mantra in mind, Sword & Board will host a Warhammer 40k tournament with Game Vault hosting a Super Smash Brothers tournament. There will also be card game tournaments during the day and a lounge area for attendees to kick back, relax and play various games with friends as well.

As an added bonus, the first 50 general-admission customers through the door will receive a free, “good” comic from Alden’s personal collection.

“Also, all kids will be able to come to my table, Surf City Comics, and get to pick a free, kid-appropriate comic,” he states.

No convention or festival is complete without something tasty to nosh on, so Surf City Comic Con has invited a smorgasbord of different food trucks. Gooey cheese melts will be provided by Epoch-Eats along with tacos by Taquezas Gabriel and mouth-watering meat from House of Smoke BBQ. And there will be sweet pick-me-ups from Kona Ice and Sugar Bakery.

And on top of all this, Surf City Comic Con will have one of the rarest goods in town: free parking.

“We’lll have something for everybody and you don’t have to spend any money except to come in,” Alden says. “So if you just want to check something out, you’ll have a lot of fun.”

’Nuff said!

Surf City Comic Con takes place April 20, 10am-6pm, at 1855 41st Ave, Capitola. $10 general/$15 early bird admission/kids under 10 free. Tickets through Eventbrite.

Fall Creek Hike

Take a Hike with Richard Stockton

Jeanette Prather

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April 17, 2024

0

It’s dawn and I’m the first to park in the Henry Cowell State Park parking lot up Felton-Empire Grade Road. I had to use my phone alarm to wake up. I hope hiking will get my circadian rhythm in alignment with the sun and moon, but for now my circadian rhythm is in alignment with Netflix and my bladder. My left knee cramps and my phone says its 40 degrees. I thought hell would be warmer.

From damaged to managed

If you are a beginning or casual hiker, this column may be for you. If I can walk these trails, you can too. I hike every week, but I am not good at it. I have knee issues, I have endurance issues, I have mental issues. That’s why I hike. Does this hiking column have the legs to find an audience? Do I have the legs? At my age I don’t have time not to hike. I plan to open a store called Forever 71. It will sell trekking poles and shoes.

**TIMBER** Fallen trees on the Fall Creek Hike Fall Creek Hike to the Limestone Kiln. **PHOTO: Richard Stockton**

Two years ago, I wanted to get in the best shape of my life. And I wanted to do it quickly (I hope you are enjoying the coming train wreck.) I started running. My first time I was a wheezing mess in two minutes, four months later I was doing thirty minutes at a stretch.

I became a master of how slow you can go and technically still be jogging. I ran like I was playing soccer underwater. One afternoon I did my thirty-minute jog and felt like my feet were not even touching the ground. I stopped listening to my body and sped up. At 44 minutes I heard a pop in my left knee and limped home. I tried to fix it with more exercise but overdid that and hurt both knees. I walked with crutches all winter. I had to rest, and backed off all leg work to let my menisci heal. It took months for the pain to subside. I started working with a physical therapist and began to recover. Toe lifts, squats, lunges… but what really got my legs strong was riding a stationary bike. Rode it all spring. Never got far.

Leonard Cohen says that we are but “a brief elaboration of a tube.” I will take care not to spring a leak. Two years ago, I tried running. Now, I will try walking. Every day I exercise… caution.

I stand at the trail head with my staff, water bottle, with a Go Pro video camera attached to my chest harness and my left knee cramps hard. I’m standing here in the parking lot staring at the trail head feeling the damn knee throb. Am I making this pain happen psychosomatically? Did I come this far just to come this far? I stand on my right leg and stretch my left. The pain backs off and the only thing to do is to take the next step.

The Fall Creek trail head begins with a gentle descent. Maybe my left knee will warm up.

I’m hiking alone this morning; it is so still even the trail becomes thoughtful. The morning fog covers this land that was once under water, part of an ancient ocean, uplifted to form the Santa Cruz Mountains about three million years ago. The silt, sand, and mud that had been deposited in that shallow sea compressed into the shale, sandstone, and mudstone that make up the Santa Cruz mountains today. We’re headed to the stone remains of the Limestone Kiln. “Limestone is a sedimentary rock commonly composed of tiny fossils.” (scparks.com)

I’m a mile or so in. It’s seven-thirty and a shaft of light breaks through and mist rises over the trees to clear a path for more sunrays to stream into the forest making more moisture airborne. Spiraling dewdrops swirl upwards, and the sunlight breaks into a million promises.

My left knee is tender descending. Ah, the joy of hiking uphill. But as the heat from the rising sun burns the midst off, the trail burns off the tightness in my leg. By keeping my muscles fired from toes to nose like we learn to do in yoga, my body forms a union of support, and I can take the next step. If you walk in nature up and down hills, your legs will get stronger and you will get a rock-hard derriere.

“I’m gonna search and find a better way to walk…” Billy Joe Shaver
I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be A Diamond Someday).

Long time hikers seem to gravitate towards trekking poles. Poles can give you an upper body workout, even with a single staff. Got a trick left knee? Try the staff in your right hand. Physical therapist Dr. Morgan Fielder says, “If you’re like me, your knees can hurt on the downhills. Trekking poles may help you tackle the downhills with more confidence and reduce the forces on lower body joints.” I need to heed the good doctor and get into poles.

The Fall Creek Trail feels like it was created by J.R.R. Tolkien. Surely, I am in Middle Earth.

You’ve got a lot of choices to go shorter or longer. I’ve discovered that since I became unemployed, anywhere on earth is within walking distance.

Made it! My heavy legs made it back out. I am in an altered state… this parking lot looks familiar. Think Richard, think. Did I bring my wife’s car or mine? When I find my car, I use my hands to pull my legs up under the wheel like they’re carry-ons. If I do yoga tonight, tomorrow I will move like a dancer. Did my journey answer the question, “Will hiking keep me alive?” Maybe it will keep you alive. Did we come this far just to come this far? It’s all about the next step.

I invite you to join me here https://youtu.be/1LBhF3vN2GY to take a two-minute time-lapse video of the trail, or by phone.

How To Get There: the day-use area of Fall Creek State Park Trail is in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of downtown Felton on Highway 9. From Highway 17, take the Mt. Hermon Road exit. Follow Mt. Hermon Road until it ends at Graham Hill Road. Or take Graham Hill Road up to Felton Highway 9, go across the intersection and up the Felton-Empire Grade Road for a mile and the Henry Cowell State Park lot is on your right.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: with 20 miles of trails and skyscraping, old growth redwoods that are accessible from the day-use side of the park. There is grassland, river, sandhills as well. You’ll see banana slugs, black-tailed deer, coyotes, bobcats, and now at the Felton Fish Ladder, steelhead trout and coho salmon.

COMING SOON: The Felton Fish Ladder Hike

Special thanks to my contributing editor Julie Flannery.

Letters

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

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April 17, 2024

2

RESPONSE TO DON’T BLAME THE DEMS LETTER

I’m a longtime SC resident of 25 yrs. A main reason I worked so hard to get here was because SC was so “liberal“ and free thinking, out of the box and so very unique, like I was.

I am mostly not political, but consider myself proud to have been what used to be traditional basic liberal values– NO war, freedom of speech, press, sovereign individuality, freedom of religion, the individual above corporations…a few biggies like that.

It’s been a long slow process, but I have watched what once were “Liberal” values, morph over to being conservative. Believe me, no one could be more surprised. (I don’t label myself either party now)

Big tech, big corporations, censorship and new laws daily are curtailing and giving over our freedoms. Most of my old “Liberal” friends (and sorry to say) and most liberals in general, have not kept up with these insidious changes over time.

I don’t treat politics like a sport, or cling to it like a religion…

Maybe that’s why my eyes have been able to be open to new changes of reality.

MARKUS MAC

NO MORE KARENS, PLEASE

Reading Richard Stockton’s new column, I was pleasantly surprised at the level of depth he has gone into about the very local politics of his featured hike.

However I choked on my tuna fish sandwich when he twice called a confrontational woman a “Karen.” Aren’t we past using gross stereotypes to convey meaning?

While the woman in question appears to be acting in an entitled and aggressive manner, name calling instead of describing the specifics of her behavior fails to inform the reader. Please try to do better.

Thank you for considering my point of view, or at least letting your eyeballs get to this part of my email.

KRISTEN PRESTRIDGE

CLOCKTOWER PROPOSAL

Tim Gordin of Workbench, spokesperson for the proposed 18-story “Clock Tower” development project, neither understands nor appreciates the culture, history, and ambiance that makes Santa Cruz the place people are drawn to. In fact, he seems to scorn our small-town ethos.

The proposed project does not fit in style or scope with the surrounding neighborhood, and will bring hundreds of new residents to an intersection already heavily impacted by traffic. The Town Clock, the centerpiece of the area, will be virtually invisible.

The opponents of Measure M (financed in great part by real estate interests including Workbench) did not focus on the height issue, for good reason. They focused their disinformation campaign on the 25% affordability requirement. Had that not been part of Measure M I believe it would have passed. It appears the opponents of Measure M believed that too.

People don’t want to come here just to live in a box in the sky. They can do that where they are now. People come here because Santa Cruz has a decidedly different look and vibe than other cities. Housing projects should complement existing surroundings, and reflect our history, culture and charm. Instead, they seem intent on wiping it out and turning us into another Any City USA.

Shelly D’Amour | Downtown Santa Cruz Resident

The Editor’s Desk

Letters to the Editor

Brad Kava

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April 17, 2024

0

Santa Cruz California editor of good times news media print and web — **Brad Kava** | Good Times Editor

What do Earth Day and 4/20 have in common? Well, they both celebrate plants, for one thing.

We juggled both this issue with Richard Stockton’s cover story about the surprising history of growing cannabis in Santa Cruz, starting back in the dark ages (not that long ago, really) when it was illegal.

Richard writes about our own “Johnny Appleweed,” who spread seeds of a high potency strain of weed that you can still find today.

So how do you water your weed? Gardening expert Jillian Steinberger lets us know about greywater and how to use it safely.

The ebb and flow of California life is constant. We go from floods to droughts and too often manage to forget the one we’re not in. Saving water even when you’ve had a wet winter is still a great thing.

We lost a great alternative market and gain a midtown restaurant open on Mondays. Check Mark Anderson’s dining column for details.

Feeling musical? We’ve got Johnny Copeland’s daughter in town, Shemekia and Christina Waters previewing a Dance of the Living Composers to name two local concerts.

Our former county clerk and now state representative Gail Pellerin is pushing a bill to make the banana slug our state slug. Who knew we had a state slug? It’s a way to get kids interested in government and the environment, she says.

And, no, Blossoms Farmacy isn’t spelled incorrectly. It’s a play on the fact that these growers use herbs for wellness. Read it in Elizabeth Borelli’s weekly Health and Wellness column.

The teen fashion show is a teen now. It shows this weekend. Check out Morgan Guerra’s story about the latest version.

Should West Cliff be one way? Apparently not, according to the city council. Check Josué Monroy’s story for details.

Next week we will take on the elephant in the room, the giant proposed complex planned by the clock tower, which could be the county’s tallest building. Our mailbag is already filled with people who hate it. You’ll get the full story here.

Thanks for reading.

BRAD KAVA | EDITOR

PHOTO CONTEST

ROLLIN’ ON Behind the scenes, S.C. Boardwalk Ferris wheel gets refurbished for its seasonal performance. Photograph by Ali Eppy

GOOD WORK

On April 17, Watsonville Prep, a Navigator School, will open its doors to the community to host its inaugural Mental Health Fair. “A Walk Towards Mental Health,” which will spotlight mental health resources and services in the Watsonville community. The event is open to the public and will feature raffles, prizes and fun for the whole family. The event is 4- 5:30 p.m, 407 Main St Floor 2, Watsonville.

GOOD IDEA

If you are sad that San Jose’s Comicon shut down, there’s good news. We have a local Surf City Comic Con Saturday at Capitola Mall 10am-6pm with 70 booths and all the comic stuff you love. Great to see that giant empty block of the old Sears building being used for something. Tickets are $10 at Eventbrite.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.”
—ROBIN SHARMA

Food as Medicine

Wellness

Jeanette Prather

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April 17, 2024

1

Master gardener Delmar McComb’s first job out of college changed the course of his life forever. While working with a former apprentice of the legendary horticulturist Alan Chadwick, he learned the dirty secrets of conventional gardening.

Traditional agriculture relies heavily on a non-renewable and finite energy source for crop cultivation, leading to soil depletion and nutrient loss in food over time.

Searching for answers McCombs turned to a book, Thomkins and Bird’s Secrets of the Soil that completely shifted his thinking. He learned about a method developed one hundred years ago in Germany by Dr. Rudolf Steiner, the founder of the modern biodynamic movement.

Turns out even then, industrial farming was on the rise and organic methods were being replaced in the name of science, efficiency, and technology.

Biodynamic farming represents an alternative, a regenerative approach that honors the interconnectedness of all life, and it sparked a redirect Delmar knew he had to follow.

Meanwhile in a small village in Switzerland, Carin Fortin packed up to leave her family of naturopaths, including her grandmother, who founded a hydrocolonic wellness spa in 1928 in the Swiss pre-alps. Her exposure to spa guests from all over the world had sparked a travel bug.

Fortin found her way to New York City where she went to school and worked as a designer. A decade later a midlife crisis sent her packing again, this time across the country to Esalen in Big Sur where she found her way back to her roots as an herbalist and teacher.

This set the stage for the founders of Blossom’s Farm Shop to meet and bond over a shared belief in farming as a sacred act, and growers as stewards of the land. That was 14 years ago in Bonny Doon, when they built their first homestead.

Sustaining the business model led to three moves over the past 10 years, each to a farm they “cultivated” to biodynamic practice. Eventually with help of angel investors and a farm link they found their home in Aromas. What started on a quarter acre has eventually grown to 45 acres of biodynamically grown medicinal plants and herbs cultivated and served up as Blossom’s signature product line.

At first glance product names like Inner Balance and Inner Light sounded windy, but then a bright green sign caught my eye. It had the word Ashitaba splashed across the top. For a seasoned wellness geek, it’s unusual to find an unfamiliar herb. After hearing the benefits, it sounded amazing but pricey enough to require a bit more research.

I learned 95% of the herbs used in Blossom’s products are biodynamically grown on their farm. And that Ashitaba is an herb to watch. Native to the Japanese Pacific region where it’s been cultured for centuries for its healing properties, both the leaves and stems are associated with health benefits.

Indeed there are over 450 studies posted on Google Scholar examining every aspect of this herb, most too complicated to easily sink your teeth into.

Carin described an herb known as a beautiful vine with heart shaped leaves and a teardrop root. Dioscera Batatas, also known as the Chinese Yam or Lightyam, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to impart light to the body. Even Rudolf Steiner called it “uniquely beneficial to modern humans”.

The following week I returned to the market to treat myself to some ashitaba. I bought a small bag I’ve already started adding to my green tea. It certainly tastes nutritious.

As Carin says, “Food is medicine”. By working in harmony with nature, biodynamic farmers produce foods and herbal medicines imbued with vitality, flavor, and nutritional value.

Look for Bloom Farm store’s open house every Friday and Saturday 9am-noon, www.blossomsfarm.com

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Good TimesGood Times

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