The owner of a Harvey West Park medical marijuana business who was arrested on four counts of attempted murder after he allegedly fired a gun at several suspected burglars was released Friday.
Dep. Chief Jon Bush of Santa Cruz police said Derek Hubbard, 36, was arrested on Nov. 13 based on surveillance footage at the scene on Encinal Street and witness statements.
The incident started when Santa Cruz Police said that an alarm was tripped around 4:30am at Decibel Gardens. Police believe that at least eight masked people were involved in the robbery—no arrests have been reported.
Hubbard managed to get to the scene before police. Armed with a handgun, Hubbard reportedly fired around eight rounds at the suspects and then gave chase with his car.
Bush said police believe Hubbard fired at the suspects first and it appears that the suspects fired back at Hubbard at least once.
Hubbard then reportedly rammed into a white sedan that was later found through an allied law agency on Highway 17. When police ran the license plate, they learned it had been stolen out of the Bay Area.
“This is typical with these incidents, that people will use a stolen car or stolen plates to commit such crimes,” Bush said.
On Friday Hubbard was released from jail and put on house arrest, as ruled by Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Syda Cogliati. Hubbard’s court proceedings continue to develop.
Bush also said that marijuana dispensaries and growing business crimes occur more frequently than other commercial businesses due to high product value.
“The owner in this case, when he arrived on the scene, used lethal force, or deadly force to try and stop a property crime occurring,” Bush said. “Not only was it a property crime, but these suspects were exiting his business and did not pose a threat of violence or harm to anybody.”
ARIES (March 21-April 19) When we experience authentic awe, our humility deepens. This is turn tends to make us kinder, smarter, and more positive. So how can we stimulate awe? Among the many possible ways are gazing at magnificent art, hiking in a natural wonderland, or being in the presence of a beautiful human soul. In accordance with astrological omens, I recommend that you go in quest of awe and related feelings like reverence, amazement, adoration, and veneration. Your mental, physical, and spiritual health will flourish in response.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) It’s the Season for Cherishing and Smoking Out Secrets. So let’s talk about the subject. 1. Some secrets are sad, haunting, even risky—and worth keeping secret. 2. Other secrets can be beautiful, healing, and potentially life-changing if they are revealed gracefully. 3. Some secrets are buried so deeply that only very persistent seekers dig them up. 4. Some secrets are “hidden” in plain view, and only visible to people who are clear and brave enough to identify them. I suspect you Tauruses will have a special knack for managing all types of secrets in the coming weeks, including those I mentioned.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) I hope you won’t fill yourself up with appetizers and hors d’oeuvres in the coming weeks, Gemini. My soul will be at peace if I see you save your hunger for the main courses. Your motto should be “Feasts, not snacks!” or “The Real Deal, not the pretenders!” or “The jubilee, not the distractions!” If you ever find yourself feeling halfhearted or inattentive, you’re probably not in the right situation. Here’s an affirmation to go with your mottoes: “I am liberating my divine appetite!”
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Playwright Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) is regarded as one of history’s great writers. That does not mean everything he said was wise, useful, or worthy of our attention. For example, he was once asked to give his opinion about ballet. “During the intermissions, the ballerinas stink like horses,” he replied. I hesitate to bring up such a vulgar reference, but I wanted to make a vivid point. In the coming weeks, I hope you will ignore the advice of people who don’t know what they are talking about, no matter how smart or charismatic they may be. I hope you will not attribute expertise to those who have no such expertise. I hope that as much as possible, you will rely on first-hand information, rigorous research, and reliable influences.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Researchers have determined that there are two basic dispositions among tigers. One is what they call “majesty.” Creatures with this orientation tend to be dignified, imposing, and agile. The other type of tiger personality revolves around “steadiness.” This is the opposite of neuroticism, and includes the qualities of being affable, easy to get along with, and well-adjusted. I know many astrologers associate lions with you Leos, but I prefer to link you with tigers. If you agree with me, here’s my prediction: You are beginning a phase when you will be more majestic than steady—but with plenty of steadiness also available if you want it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) “It is better to entertain an idea than to take it home to live with you for the rest of your life,” wrote author Randall Jarrell. That’s decent advice, though I will add a caveat. If you entertain an idea for a while and it turns out that you love it, and you also love the beneficent effect it has on you, you may be smart to take it home to live with you. I’m guessing you Virgos are at a pivotal point in this regard. Not yet, but soon, you will know whether it will be wise to get cozier with certain influences you have been flirting with—or else decide they are not ones you want to keep.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) If I could give an award for Most Curious Genius in the World, it would be to Libran author and naturalist Diane Ackerman. She would also get my prize for Most Voracious Learner and Best Questioner and Most Exuberant Seeker and Searcher. “To hear the melody,” she writes, “we must hear all the notes.” In response to the question, “What is life?” she offers this answer: “corsages and dust mites and alligator skin and tree-frog serenades and foreskins and blue hydrangeas and banana slugs and war dances and cedar chips and bombardier beetles.” In accordance with current astrological omens, I encourage you to be like Diane Ackerman in the coming weeks.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Have you located any of your soul twins? If not, is that an interesting prospect for you? Please note that soul twins are not necessarily the same as dream lovers. They may simply be people with whom you share deep values and perspectives. They might aspire to influence the world in ways similar to you. With a soul twin, you feel at home in the world and extra happy to be yourself. I bring these meditations to your attention, Scorpio, because the coming months will be an especially likely time for you to encounter and engage with soul twins. Be on the alert!
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was charismatic and forceful, but also hot-tempered and prone to rude behavior. The writer Goethe, his contemporary, said “his talent amazed me,” and described him as an “utterly untamed personality.” Beethoven seldom lived in one home for very long and loved to sing at the top of his lungs as he washed himself. Although he played piano with exquisite skill, he was quite clumsy as he moved through the world. Can you guess what astrological sign he was? Same as you! Sagittarius! I’m not saying you are exactly like this wild, unruly genius, but you do have tendencies in that direction. And in the coming weeks, I expect you’ll be inclined to be more Beethoven-esque than usual. Please work on emphasizing the winsome aspects.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) I hope you have developed good boundaries, Capricorn. I hope you are so skilled at taking care of yourself that you steadfastly refuse to let people manipulate you or hurt you. Just to make sure your discernment is working at peak levels, though, I will offer you a tip. In the English language, we have the idiom “to rub salt in a wound,” which refers to the fact that daubing salt in an open gash in the skin makes the pain even worse. But did you know that smearing sugar in a wound is equally distressing? The metaphorical lesson is that you should be vigilant for seemingly nice, sweet people who might also violate your boundaries to hurt or manipulate you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) I estimate this horoscope is worth $22,225. It has been made possible by my many years of disciplined meditations, extensive reading of holy texts, and an ever-growing devotion to astrology and my readers. But here’s the fun part: You can read these words for free! No cost at all! I will, however, ask you to do something for me in return. First, give your gifts joyously and generously in the coming weeks, holding nothing back. Second, don’t be in the least concerned about whether you will receive benefits in return for your gifts. Find the sweet spot where you love bestowing blessings for no other reason except this one: You are expressing your gratitude for the miraculous life you have been given.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Do you possess gambits, tactics, and knacks that we might refer to as your “bag of tricks”? I hope so, because such an asset will be extra valuable during the coming weeks. You will be wise to employ every cagey move you can imagine and call on every favor that’s owed to you and cash in on every advantage you have accrued. I don’t want you to engage in outright cheating, but I encourage you to use ploys and stratagems that have full integrity. Be on the lookout for secret shortcuts, magic cookies, and wild cards.
Homework: What’s the best thing you could do to heal yourself right now?
The King Street Giants lept from the stage with their tuba, trombone and trumpet, leading a parade through the crowd.
Farm tours guided by organic trailblazer Paul Muller included deep cuts on pesticide-free practices and the chance to harvest all the cherry tomatoes, sweet bell peppers and watermelons you could.
Two thousand attendees—swelling the size of tiny Guinda, population 113—delighted in everything from a fiendish corn maze to intricate jack-o-lanterns to comforting Rocko’s Ice Cream Tacos.
In other words, it was a helluva heehaw.
Best of all, Full Belly Farm’s annual Hoes Down—part campout, part cookout, part concert, all harvest party—did more than throw an epic outdoor party. It raised $13,433 to support farmer scholarships to the EcoFarm Conference.
EcoFarm, the oldest and wisest organic farming convention in the country (the world?), is coming up quick, happening Jan. 17-20 at Asilomar Conference Grounds.
While it digs deep on big-picture policy and in-the-dirt practicum, it also involves a lot of fun for the casual organic soul, like beer and kombucha tastings and an Expo Center blooming with cool books, products and tools.
Longtime organic activist and EcoFarm sponsorship manager Dina Izzo encourages locals to come for, say, the wine and cider sampling and stay for the keynotes and seminars.
“It’s an amazing event based on farmer-to-farmer education, and there are a lot of gardeners too,” she says, noting the picturesque grounds merit a pilgrimage by themselves. “More than anything it’s people who grow food and care about how it’s grown, who want to learn something and who want to meet like-minded folks and enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch and dinners specifically created for the conference.”
Balefire Brewing is alive and well in Live Oak. I popped in on its one-month anniversary and tried a few of their flagship beers—a tasty Leeloo American IPA, smooth Moped red ale and a chocolatey house porter among them. The thing that distinguishes the handiwork of brewers Leslie Buchanan and Nate Murphy is subtle but mighty: The beers are all balanced and weighty—without being heavy—which Murphy attributes to a slow brewing process that prioritizes depth of flavor and smooth mouthfeel. Now they’re adding programming with things like live music (check the website) and pub trivia (next appearing Tuesday, Nov. 28) and inviting over food trucks regularly (a drippy queso birria from Espadin Cocina made my afternoon). balefirebrewing.com
NATIVE REVELATION
November is Native American Heritage Month and a reminder that the erased history Thanksgiving sits on can and should be reanimated. To that end, this fall I visited the closest Indigenous restaurant for a few hundred miles, Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Oakland. I loved the art and epicurean elements Kickapoo nation chef Crystal Wahpepah and her team do, from the colorful murals to the heirloom corn bread to the smoked salmon-berry salad to the sweet potato-hibiscus “taquitos.” It felt like a grace to get to enjoy such a thoughtful and thought-provoking meal, and for that I give thanks.
Looking for a fab celebratory sparkling wine? Look no further than Equinox!
Tasting their bubblies recently, I fell in love with a Central Coast 2019 Sparkling Riesling ($49). Equinox owner and winemaker Barry Jackson has triumphed again!
Made in the méthode champenoise style, this amazing sparkler is perfect for any special occasion. This beautiful handcrafted wine has dry flavors and a pleasurable cascade of bubbles. There’s nothing like cracking open a bottle of good wine when you have a special meal to go with it.
Jackson also makes Merlot, Petit Verdot and more under his Bartolo Wines label.
The Equinox tasting room is in the Swift Street Courtyard complex – opposite Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing. It is a terrific spot to hang out and try some superb wines. Equinox has food on many occasions such as Parker Presents with fresh oysters; the popular Adorable French Bakery on the first and third Saturday of the month; and the occasional in-house curated cheese plates.
Equinox Wines, 427-B Swift St., Santa Cruz, 831-471-8608. Equinoxwine.com
Aptos Wine Wander – Aptos Village
This Wine Wander is a partnership with the Capitola-Aptos Rotary, Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Aptos Village businesses. Upbeat and fun, this event is an opportunity to try many local wines within easy walking distance. Local wineries participating include Aptos Vineyard, which recently moved to a good spot in the heart of Aptos Village in the old Armitage tasting room next to Starbucks. Enjoy an afternoon of strolling around from business to business in Aptos Village – glass and map in hand. Tickets are $45 in advance, $50 at the door. The event is 1-4pm on Saturday, Dec.9. Visit scmwa.com for more info.
“What is something about Santa Cruz that you are thankful for?”
Curtis Reliford, humanitarian
“I’m grateful to be alive and wake up every day in a paradise island of a town that is full of gratitude. More grateful people here than I have met in my life. And I’m a black man talking about white people. That’s where I’m at with Santa Cruz.”
Hadley Long, 19, UCSC student
“I’m still exploring the area, and I’m thankful that it’s not too big, but there’s lots to explore and see. I love being close to the beach and downtown. I can walk around and find new things every time I go there.”
Desmond Driver, 18, UCSC student
“I’m thankful for the environment, and the wildlife, especially living closer to campus, the wildlife is pretty crazy. We see deer and raccoons. There are wild turkeys all over campus, that’s a Thanksgiving thing!”
Mira Warner, 21, Volunteer for Housing Matters
“I’m thankful for the amount of resources we have, in terms of social services and prevention. I’m in a Human Services class, so I’m learning about how many we actually have. We definitely need more, but it’s a good start.”
Rob Abundis, 56, Medical Device Sales
“I’m thankful that Santa Cruz is so diverse and eclectic. It’s unique. Its unique nature gives it what everybody loves. That’s why people stay here. And we’ve got the beach!”
Kylie O’Connor, 21, Pacific Wave
“I’m thankful for Bookshop Santa Cruz, because I love reading and I always love going there. It’s a sweet little spot .”
Local literary heavyweights are coming together for Pajaro Rising, a fundraiser that puts the spotlight on those still dealing with the aftermath of the Pajaro floods. The event will take place Nov. 30 at the Cowell Hay Barn on the UCSC campus and all proceeds will go to Community Bridges, one of the main nonprofits helping with relief and recovery.
It has been eight months since the floods devastated the South County region and as the community rebuilds these writers are hoping to draw attention to the ongoing problems.
The all-star panel features essayist and climate activist Rebecca Solnit; renowned author Ingrid Rojas Contreras and KQED’s Voice of the Bay Alexis Madrigal. Also participating are the Watsonville short story writer Jaime Cortez and Pajaro’s own up and coming poet, Claudia Ramirez Flores. The panelists will read selected works at the event, with some works inspired by the reality of people in the Pajaro area.
Pajaro Rising will not only draw attention to the tribulations of flood victims, but will also highlight the literary talent that has risen out of an often neglected community.
Jaime Cortez’s breakthrough 2021 short story collection “Gordo” breathes life into the experience of growing up in a Watsonville migrant camp in the 1970’s. The tender coming of age tales give an emotive backdrop to the geography of the area. The characters were molded out of the many farmworker families that still make up the demographic of Pajaro. The book has garnered wide acclaim and Cortez is an ascending voice in the California literary tradition.
Soon after the Pajaro floods, Rebecca Solnit—who runs a writer’s group with Cortez— floated the idea of a fundraiser for the victims and they got to work. Solnit has written extensively about climate disasters and the event will underline long-term effects of the Pajaro floods.
“We hope that it helps to build compassion for the fact that disasters have long tails and there’s a long recuperation period after a disaster,” Cortez says.
Cortez hopes that the event will help reach a new audience that may not know about the situation in Pajaro but will come to it through a rich literary experience.While searching for a selection to read at Pajaro Rising, Cortez stumbled upon a forgotten, unpublished story he wrote years ago set in Pajaro.
The story follows the journey of a religious figurine from its birth in a Chinese factory, through Mexico, and all the way to Watsonville where it gets swept away when the Pajaro River floods. The uncanny parallel between the story and the topic of the upcoming event struck Cortez.
“It was remarkable that I had actually written about that years before the flood happened,” Cortez says.
Like Cortez, Claudia Ramirez Flores takes inspiration from the working-class, predominantly Mexican immigrant community of Pajaro. She grew up in the area and her poetry is inspired by experiences of immigrant farmworkers and the heartache of being separated from loved ones by the southern border. Her work has been published in Xinachtli Journal—also known as Journal X— a bilingual literary journal focusing on social justice issues.
After getting her BA in political science from UC Berkeley as a transfer student from Cabrillo College, Ramirez Flores rediscovered her love of creative writing. She applied for a spot at the prestigious Yale Writer’s Workshop and got in. It was there that she was encouraged to find her voice through bilingual/spanglish poetry.
Ramirez Flores works with Writers of Color Santa Cruz County and through that group she met Cortez. When the Pajaro Rising event began to take shape, Cortez invited her to participate. Encouraged by one of her college mentors, Ramirez Flores made the leap.
“I just thought that this was a really life changing and important opportunity for me to be in the event,” Ramirez Flores says.
When the Pajaro River flooded, her family was evacuated and had to go to a local shelter. In the midst of the fear and confusion, Ramirez Flores says she witnessed acts of kindness that inspired her poetry. For Pajaro Rising, she will be reading a poem titled “Mi Querido Abuelito Chepe”, a bittersweet work remembering her beloved grandfather who passed away while waiting to return to the United States.
When asked how she feels sharing the stage with the likes of Ingrid Rojas Contreras—whom she’s a fan of—her voice rises with excitement.
“I feel like sharing the stage with them is mind blowing and I feel really empowered.”
For attendees, the event will offer one of a kind commemorative screen printings made on-site. Tickets range from $50-$100 and include signed copies of the authors’ works provided by Bookshop Santa Cruz. For large donors, a $5,000 donation will get them a private reading by Solnit and Cortez, while a $10,000 donation gets them a catered event with multiple authors at their home
There was a meeting last night (Nov 16th) about the rail trail. The big developers who want a “skyline” for Santa Cruz in the form 6-17 story buildings (that I wouldn’t’ wish upon anyone to have to live in) as well the $100 million ‘trail next to rail’ project are literally ‘getting away with murder’ of hundreds of legally protected trees out of the thousands they plan to take out, that ordinarily a regular developer or landowner would not be allowed to trim more than 30% of.
They are able to buy loopholes in the permit process and destroy the greenbelt riparian corridor running throughout the heart of live oak. The time is now to speak up or forever hold your peace. For when you see holes in the sky where there used to be trees, and a skyscraper shading the block it will be too late.
Gene Wood
UCSC is irresponsible about housing
I am writing to express my profound dismay and disappointment regarding the current housing crisis students face at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). As a concerned student witnessing the distress of countless friends and colleagues, it is distressing to observe the university’s apparent indifference to the plight of its student population.
The housing situation in Santa Cruz has reached an alarming state, with students grappling to secure accommodation in an excessively competitive and inflated market. The desperation has led to a frantic scramble among undergraduates, hastily signing leases for inadequate, overpriced residences merely to secure a roof over their heads. Even on-campus housing options are severely lacking, forcing students into cramped living quarters designed for one individual but housing multiple occupants, turning dormitories into tiny, overcrowded spaces reminiscent of shoeboxes.
It is troubling that UCSC seems to overlook its responsibility to provide adequate housing for its students. The decision to over-admit students without corresponding plans for accommodating their housing needs has exacerbated an already dire situation. Consequently, students find themselves in a distressing predicament, competing for scarce housing options in a city where unaffordable accommodation has sadly become the norm.
It is crucial to emphasize that housing is a basic human right and that every member of the UCSC community, whether local or student, deserves fair and accessible housing options. The university’s failure to address this pressing issue is unacceptable and requires immediate attention.
Now’s the time to count our blessings in a world that sometimes feels like it’s tottering over the edge.
One small thing I am grateful for are the little community libraries that have sprung up all over neighborhoods, giving away free books. At a time when everything seems transactional, it’s such a relief to see people helping each other with nothing expected in return.
Another thing I’m thankful for is living in such a rich and diverse artistic community. There is more music and art here than I can take in. This weekend alone I saw Alejandro Escovedo at Moe’s Alley perform a show that could have sold out an arena. The songwriting and performing were stellar. But the same weekend, I missed Bruce Cockburn and Built to Spill, lesser-known but largely talented performers in small places a short distance away.
I’m so thankful for our community’s teachers and schools. While we pay ungodly amounts of money to entertainers and athletes, the people who do our most important work–schooling our kids–get paid peanuts. It makes me sick, but I appreciate all you have done for our children. I wish I could do more than say thanks.
And I’m super thankful to the readers of Good Times and my other magazine, Growing Up in Santa Cruz. You all have given so much feedback, suggestions and ideas for articles, showing how valuable community journalism still is and always will be. There’s so much bad information and bad intentions out there, that local journalism is one of the last bastions for truth, justice…and you know the rest.
Lastly, I’m thankful for Dan Pulcrano, who publishes Good Times and 16 other weeklies and magazines. No one should work that hard or take on that much responsibility, but he’s bucking all trends, bailing out what can seem like a sinking industry, keeping the printed word alive and doing what he can to bring light into the world. Like all bosses, he can be difficult, but I have mad respect for his efforts and intentions, including donating all the labor and space for the charity, Santa Cruz Gives.
Brad Kava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
OLD FRIENDS Spotted this pair enjoying the sunrise the beautiful morning of July 25 by the Bay. Photo: Kathy Isonio.
GOOD NEWS
Santa Cruz schools are moving to electric buses, big news for the environment. The Live Oak School District, which is phasing out diesel buses, unveiled its first electric bus last week. The acquisition of the new bus is in partnership with Blue Bird, North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District, and A-Z Bus Sales. The 72-passenger electric bus features lithium-ion passenger car batteries with 125 kWh total capacity, independent battery control that improves reliability and performance, the industry’s largest view-out window that reduces blind spots and enhances visibility, an innovative structural design that provides unparalleled safety, and more.
GOOD WORK
Two inmates at the Rountree Rehabilitation and Re-Entry Facility have graduated from the Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Brian Sidwell and Kevin Allee finished courses in nine weeks involving skills in construction, plumbing and electrical trades.
“I feel comfortable now that I can get out and get a regular job to support my family,” said Sidwell. Sidwell and Allee earned MC3, OSHA 10 Construction Safety and CPR/First Aid certifications.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The opposite for courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. – Jim Hightower –
Born and raised locally, Josh Fisher worked for over 20 years in the restaurant industry, doing everything from dishwashing to cooking. Seven years ago he opened Left Coast Sausage Worx in the heart of the Capitola Village. Also a member of the local skate punk band 3upFront, Fisher says Left Coast is all about local sausages and hot dogs.
With the tagline of “Nice buns and huge weens since 2016,” they offer grab-and-go as well as on-site outdoor dining on their newly constructed beachfront deck. Their most popular dog is the Cheesy Bavarian: a cheddar, pork and beef sausage dressed with “The Worx” (ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, jalapeño, pepperoncini and mayo). Other delicious dogs include the Polish and the Hot Link, and for the more exotically inclined, they have wild game sausages like venison, boar, elk and lamb.
An original Chicago Dog, veggie dogs and all-beef “no-nonsense” footlongs round out the menu, and they also have specialized condiments like pepper bacon jam, spicy local mustard and raw sauerkraut. Current hours are Friday-Monday from 12-5pm (or until sold out).
How does your music inspire your food and vice-versa?
JOSH FISHER: Our band’s music is fun and crazy just like one of our hot dogs in your mouth. When I play shows at venues all over California, it just makes sense that good food and good music go hand-in-hand. We always have music playing here that is of a wide and eclectic variety, just like our band plays. And music helps fuel the chaos of a big lunch or dinner rush like nothing else can, other than a cold beer and a hot hot dog.
Tell me about your new deck?
JF: Our temporary Covid outdoor dining deck was destroyed during the storms earlier this year. We worked diligently with the city and helped establish a prototype, which we were the first ones to complete, and other local businesses are following suit. Our new deck has a great ocean view and is only a hot dog’s throw away from the sand. It’s a great place to bring the family for some fun in the sun.107 San Jose Avenue, Capitola, 831-295-1194; leftcoastsausageworx.com
Lyrics Born is a legend. Born in Tokyo, the Japanese and Jewish American rapper made a name for himself in the Bay as half of Latyrx (with Lateef the Truthspeaker) in the early ’90s. A decade later he dropped his debut, Later That Day, which peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard charts. In 2022, Rolling Stone named it one of the “200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time.” Earlier this year, the same publication called his song “Callin’ Out” one of the “100 Greatest West Coast Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.” Lyrics Born also has a passion for food, and fans can catch him on his online cooking show, Dinner In Place. MAT WEIR
The First Annual Ghostland Music Festival rocks the Historic Brookdale Lodge on Friday and Saturday. The event offers 3 stages devoted to Indie, Rock/Punk and Hardcore/Metal. The music will rock from 5pm until after Midnight on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s Indie stage presents Cowboy Starr, Star 69, Cement Ship, 7 Come 11, The Bassment, Joe Kaplow and two more TBA, while the Rock/Punk stage unleashes Fulminante, Enemy of My Enemy,The Scalps, and 6 more. Friday’s Hardcore/Metal lineup includes Crossed, Sepsis, Placate, FUX, Curb Creeps, and 3 more TBA. The festival is “birthed by musicians for musicians and music lovers.” JOHN KOENIG
INFO: First bands at 5pm, Historic Brookdale Lodge, 11570 Highway 9, Brookdale. Presale tickets $15 1-Day, $25 2-Day. At the door $20 1-Day, $30 2-Day. www.brookdalelodge.com/events/ghostland-music-festival
FOLK
CHISELED
Before the pandemic, Tom Gewecke and Stefan Frazier played together at open mics around the Bay Area. When the shelter in place was called, and there was nowhere to play, they decided it was finally time to drop their debut album. Friend Kai Frazier grabbed his guitar, and just like that, Chiseled became a three-piece. Last June, they released the new lineup’s five-song debut EP, Naked in a Dream. As their name implies, the trio plays a very defined version of folk music with bits of country and indie rock carved into it. MW
It’s never too early to start looking for the perfect bespoke gift for those special loved ones, and what’s more Santa Cruz than a gift made by local artists? Stroll around Abbott Square and check out the wares of 20 unique makers, from paintings and wood burnings to crocheted goods, soaps, jewelry and much more. There’s something for everyone, and the warm feeling of knowing the money spent goes directly to supporting the creative community is a bonus. Savory beverages and tasty treats abound, so nobody has to shop hangry. MW
INFO: 11am, Abbott Square Market, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz. Free.
SATURDAY
ROCK
Pete Floyd
It’s been almost 30 years since British psychedelic trail blazers Pink Floyd played their final concert. But their influence on music and listeners lives on, and the tribute band Pete Floyd brings that influence to Felton Music Hall. Since guitarists and vocalists Pete Delaney and Pete Hale started their traveling tribute three years ago, they’ve been steadily building a following. In the sensory-saturating tradition of their role models, the show also features an immersive laser light show. Other members of the eight-piece band include guitarist-vocalist Teal Collins, keyboardist Bob McBain, drummer Sean England, vocalist Paige Clem and Alex Garcia on sax and keys. DAN EMERSON
Traveling with an all-star band and singing songs by the man who wrote many of the greatest of all time? Kinda seems like Chuck Prophet has a great life figured out for himself. This tour features musicians from Phil Lesh & Friends, the Mother Hips, and Casual Coalition. They’ll be playing from Bob Dylan and the Band’s “The Basement Tapes” lexicon—not from beginning to end, but covering the songs that live most insistently in their souls. Is there a better way to shift into the holiday season than shaking it to “Mighty Quinn?” Doubtful. JESSICA IRISH
Ghostland Music Festival rocks Historic Brookdale Lodge for a second day beginning at 5pm with three stages and 20+ bands. JK
INFO: Visit brookdalelodge.com/events/ghostland-music-festival for lineup and tickets.
SUNDAY
HIP HOP
THE PHARCYDE
What would hip-hop be without “Passin’ Me By” by the Pharcyde? It’s a thought too upsetting to contemplate. The group created some of the greatest sounds of the ’90s, and their legacy is still felt in the world of hip-hop and rap today (and played from the speakers of every specialty coffee shop with impeccable vibes and perfect playlists). Their music lights up a room with undeniable choruses, funky beats and head-spinning bars highlighting language’s expansive possibilities. This is one of those tours that is too amazing to pass up because these guys are living legends! JI
French guitarist-violinist Dorado Schmitt can stand on his own as an accomplished composer and bandleader. He’s also made bolstering the gypsy music of the late, great Django Reinhardt part of his life’s mission. His long-running Django Festival Allstars is an unstoppable swing machine that includes his two sons, Samson and Amati, on lead guitar. The Allstars blend bossa nova, flamenco and modern jazz with the traditional fusion of American hot jazz and French chanson to create original compositions and arrangements. They’re playing a vital role in the evolution of gypsy jazz, with swing as the common denominator. DAN EMERSON
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St. $52.50/adv, $57.75/door. 427-2227
TUESDAY
LITERARY
TEMPLE GRANDIN
Renowned professor Temple Grandin comes to Santa Cruz this week to celebrate Different Kinds of Minds, the Young Readers Edition of her 2022 bestseller Visual Thinking. Now adapted for children, this landmark text advocates for those who learn best through pictures and patterns—a group of thinkers, Grandin argues, modern society has woefully underserved. Dr. Grandin has made a career of making science accessible to broad audiences and is a beloved defender of people with autism and neurodiversity in all its forms. The Los Angeles Times puts it perfectly: “Temple Grandin may well think in pictures, but she has mastered the written word.” ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: 6pm, London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz. $22. 420-6177.
WEDNESDAY
JAZZ
PAUL CHERRY
Paul Cherry dramatically changed after On Top, his 2014 garage rock EP. Pop and jazz fusion called to him, and he answered. The Chicago-born musician found his voice with 2018’s Flavour and has hit his stride with his latest record, Pure Grooves Vol.1. Fresh off a tour of Asia, Cherry takes on the West Coast with a new collection of smooth, jazzy and often funny songs—and hopefully his cherry print three-piece suit. For a taste of his millennial-meets-yacht-rock sensibilities, the breezy tune “OBO” is worth a listen. Who here hasn’t considered dating the person selling them a used car? AM
ARIES (March 21-April 19)When we experience authentic awe, our humility deepens. This is turn tends to make us kinder, smarter, and more positive. So how can we stimulate awe? Among the many possible ways are gazing at magnificent art, hiking in a natural wonderland, or being in the presence of a beautiful human soul. In accordance with astrological omens,...
EcoFarm, the oldest and wisest organic farming convention in the country (the world?), is coming up quick, happening Jan. 17-20 at Asilomar Conference Grounds. While it digs deep on big-picture policy and in-the-dirt practicum, it also involves...
Looking for a fab celebratory sparkling wine? Look no further than Equinox! Made in the méthode champenoise style, this amazing sparkler is perfect for any special occasion. This beautiful handcrafted wine has dry flavors and a pleasurable cascade of bubbles. There’s nothing like cracking open a bottle of good wine when you have a special meal to go with it.
“What is something about Santa Cruz that you are thankful for?”
“I’m grateful to be alive and wake up every day in a paradise island of a town that is full of gratitude. More grateful people here than I have met in my life. And I’m a black man talking about white people. That’s where I’m at with Santa Cruz.”
“I’m...
Local literary heavyweights are coming together for Pajaro Rising, a fundraiser that puts the spotlight on those still dealing with the aftermath of the Pajaro floods. The event will take place Nov. 30 at the Cowell Hay Barn on the UCSC campus...
here was a meeting last night (Nov 16th) about the rail trail. The big developers who want a “skyline” for Santa Cruz in the form 6-17 story buildings (that I wouldn't’ wish upon anyone to have to live in) as well the $100 million ‘trail next to rail’ project are literally ‘getting away with murder’ of hundreds of legally protected trees...
Now’s the time to count our blessings in a world that sometimes feels like it’s tottering over the edge. One small thing I am grateful for are the little community libraries that have sprung up all over neighborhoods, giving away free books. At a time when everything seems transactional...
Born and raised locally, Josh Fisher worked for over 20 years in the restaurant industry, doing everything from dishwashing to cooking. Seven years ago he opened Left Coast Sausage Worx in the heart of the Capitola Village.
FRIDAY
HIP HOP
LYRICS BORN
Lyrics Born is a legend. Born in Tokyo, the Japanese and Jewish American rapper made a name for himself in the Bay as half of Latyrx (with Lateef the Truthspeaker) in the early ’90s. A decade later he dropped his debut, Later That Day, which peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard charts. In 2022, Rolling...
