My bed is next to a window. If you look close from outside, you can see me sleeping. I woke up to the window open and a guy was grabbing my legs from the window! I’m freaking out trying to call for help but nothing is coming out. I can’t talk, I can’t move. When I break out of the sleep paralysis, I see that the window is shut. It was a total dream, but it was so vivid.
Andy Berdejo, 25, Union sheet metal worker
My friend Jonah and I got into the abandoned Agnes Mental Asylum. We started opening doors down a long hallway. One door went into a dark room with padded walls and no windows. Then Jonah walked to the next door while I waited, and out of nowhere the padded cell door just goes slam. just slams shut. We ran out of there super fast, and we had such an eerie feeling. We knew we couldn’t explain it.
Elan Levine, 21, student
My cat, Trashy, had died. Then two days later, I saw her reflection in my window. It was my cat visiting me. I opened the window—and there was nothing there. It made me a little scared, because if my cat is there, then what other ghosts are out there? But I would like to live in a haunted house with friendly ghosts.
Johan Olvera, 28, Business owner
I sleep in the living room part of a mobile home. We have a little hallway going to the master bedroom, maybe 15 feet. You can hear footsteps when people are walking because it’s wooden. One time, I swear, I could hear footsteps coming toward me down the hall leading out into the living room, but they never came out. That always stuck in my head.
Lucy Medina, 23, Accountant-CPA student
When I was three or four, I talked to a little ghost girl. I had a ball that I would throw into the closet and it would bounce back to me. I would throw it, and it would take a couple of seconds, and it would throw back again. I think I stopped playing with her when we moved away.
Sarah Conrad 44 Massage therapist
In Spain, I shared a room with a friend at a plaza where a bloody Reconquista battle was fought. In the night, suddenly I felt a dark, forlorn, scary fog. I was afraid, but I thought, no, I can’t be afraid, I had to project love. Then there was a kind of orb that pushed it away. In the morning I asked my friend, “Did something happen to you last night?” She said yes, and with such a look in her eyes.
Do YOU have a memory of something strange, unsettling, supernatural, ghostly, that happened to you? Tell your story in the comments, or send it to le*****@*******es.sc — we would love to hear it!
Laith is a Texan songbird with a true country twang, and his songs run the emotional gamut, from uptempo ditties that are sure to get a linedance started to emotive barnburners. His most recent album, Lightning, features catchy drum beats and deft musical solos, and songs like “Song for Levon” that pay homage to the greats that have clearly informed Laith’s music—perhaps Levon Helm and The Band sit like saintly advisors on Laith’s shoulder. His songs are always surprising, and his playful lyrics are unexpected and intimate. JESSICA IRISH
The first thing David Cross wants people to know is that if they only know him as Tobias Fünke from the show, Arrested Development, then they definitely don’t know David Cross. While the veteran comic has made a career of playing lovable–and sometimes even wholesome–characters, his stand-up is fast, sharp and hilariously riddled with adult themes and language. On his 2022 special, I’m From The Future, religion, anti-vaxxers, politics and even the Holocaust are all fair game. But if there’s one thing Cross will want audience members to take away from his show, it’s merch, so bring some spending money. MAT WEIR
INFO: 8pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $46.62. 423-8209.
FRIDAY
DANCE
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE NUTCRACKER
For anyone already feeling burnt out on the same old holiday stories year after year, the Santa Cruz City Ballet is mixing it up. As Halloween weekend arrives, the dancers present “THE Nightmare Before Nutcracker,” a performance that asks the chilling question, “What if the rats win?” The brand new, original production reimagines Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas ballet in spooky fashion, playing out some worst-case scenarios involving a Rat Queen triumph in an inverse Land of Sweets. The story consists of dances spanning multiple genres, and audience members are encouraged to come in costume for a contest and treats—maybe even a sugar plum. The are also showtimes at 1pm and 4:30pm on Saturday. ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: 7pm, Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley. $22.50. 466-0458.
BLUEGRASS
POSSESSED BY PAUL JAMES
For 18 years Konrad Wert has been Possessed by Paul James, his American folk singer alter-ego. Possessed is the correct word, as Wert’s music sounds otherworldly although it’s firmly rooted in bluegrass, folk, country and even punk rock. Songs like “Hurricane” contain as much fire as a traveling preacher’s sermon. His 2013 album, There Will Be Nights When I’m Lonely, broke out into number 12 on Billboard’s Country/Bluegrass chart and was featured on NPR, MTV and even CMT. His 2020 documentary, When It Breaks, was an honest and raw depiction of the struggle he had choosing music over his prior career, teaching special education. With Wert’s own brand of songs about life, society and protest, it’s hard not to think he’s possessed by Woody Guthrie. MW
Start off Halloween weekend on the right foot with a night of cumbia, Afro-Latin beats and plenty of dancing. Hailing from Oakland, La Misa Negra is a seven-piece powerhouse of sound that delivers booty shaking grooves with infectious energy that will make even the shyest of dancers want to hit the floor like nobody’s watching. La Misa Negra has shared bills with everyone from Stevie Wonder to SZA, George Clinton, Ozomatli and more. Opening the night up is the Bay Area’s own emcee, Deuce Eclipse (ex-Zion I crew) who combines real life themes with party beats for timeless hip hop tracks. MW
What do you get when you cross belly dancing with dubstep? That’s one of many questions a Beats Antique show answers. Formed in 2007, the Oakland-based group puts on a live spectacle like no other, blending Middle Eastern fusion with the percussive intensity of a rave and the performative spirit of Burning Man. Zoe Jakes is known to enchant crowds for hours with her take on belly dance, which incorporates tango, Indian dance, popping, ballet and more. There is a brass section; there are aerialists; there are glitch beats, Afro-rhythms and bejeweled masks. To call this group “experimental” is only to scratch their shimmering surface. AM
INFO: 9pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, $39.50. 713-5492.
HALLOWEEN PARTY
MUSEUM OF THE MACABRE: AN EVENING OF CREATURES, CAVES, AND COCKTAILS
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is getting a makeover–a SPOOKY makeover! This All Hallow’s Eve celebration includes a costume contest (there’s a theme, so start thrifting and sewing now), a screening of the cult classic Tremors, interactive exhibits featuring the creepiest elements of the natural world, and—last but never least—curated cocktails, vegan Venezuelan noshes from Areperia 831, and delightful beers from Discretion Brewing. If it can be found in a dank and dreary cave, it will probably be a part of this night; outdoor exhibits will include fungi and fossils and small animals that crawl in the night (oh my!). JI
INFO: 6pm, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. $15-$30. 420-6115.
MONDAY
JAZZ
Miho Hazama
MIHO HAZAMA
Composer and bandleader Miho Hazama could be considered a modern practitioner of “third stream” music, the term used for combining classical music and jazz. Hazama studied classical composition in her native Japan and started her career with an eye on becoming a film composer. Then she took a fruitful detour into jazz, and moved to New York in 2010 to study at Manhattan School of Music, where she formed a 13-piece jazz-classical orchestra that was the first version of her current ensemble, m_unit. Nominated for a Grammy in 2019, she was cited by jazz bible Downbeat as one of its “25 For the Future.” DAN EMERSON
INFO: 7 pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St. $47.25/adv, $52.50/door. 427-2227.
WEDNESDAY
ROCK
MELVIN SEALS & JGB
Deadheads around the world suffered a serious gut-punch in the mid-90s when Jerry Garcia and his frequent collaborator John Kahn died within a year of each other. But the Jerry Garcia Band—one of Garcia’s many musical side projects—survived in the skillful hands of Melvin Seals, who plays in town Wednesday and Thursday. As the member of the band with the third-longest tenure, the keyboardist has carried the torch for the past 18 years. He plays his organ with irrepressible joy and one of the best smiles around, keeping the soul of one of music’s most cherished communities groovy and bright. AM
British playwright Tom Stoppard’s 1984 play-within-a-play comedy, Rough Crossing, launches the Jewel Theatre’s ultimate season with madcap flourish.
Hellbent on creating a theatrical success (a career revival perhaps?) playwrights Sandor Turai (J. Paul Boehmer) and Alex Gal (Christopher Reber) cross the Atlantic en route to New York on the SS Italian Castle, somewhere in the upscale 1930s, thanks to impeccable costuming by B. Modern and stunning set design by Tom Buderwitz.
The two colleagues plan to finish their destined-for-Broadway musical, “The Cruise of the Dodo” (and it gets funnier), accompanied by a handsome young composer Adam Adam (Tommy Beck), who is engaged to the leading lady. The glitch comes when the playwrights (and the composer) accidentally overhear leading lady Natasha Navratilova (Marcia Pizzo,) and fellow actor Ivor Fish ( David Ledingham) in flagrante delicto. (Pizzo poured into a shimmering silver evening gown is sheer glitz.)
Panic ensues as the writers brainstorm a scheme to keep their heartbroken composer from abandoning the whole project. This gathering of gifted Equity actors is reason enough to sit back, take in the Stoppardian absurdity and laugh our heads off. But there’s one more reason to put down your iPhone and get tickets for this play. And that reason is Danny Scheie.
Imagine a precision ‘30s screwball comedy in which a central character—John Cleese filtered through Burns & Allen—unleashes linguistic distortions as well as elegant solutions with the random genius of a blackjack dealer.
The voice! Quicksilver with a splash of mince. Add the speed and the nimbleness of a Charlie Chaplin. There you have Scheie’s impossibly adroit cabin steward, Dvornichek.
Always there when you need something, and always mangling the delivery of that something. Scheie’s split-second timing—shared by the entire cast—is legendary. And it’s on full display in this sprightly vehicle, even with all of its predictable jokes.
To watch Scheie’s can-do steward spinning around, retrieving and dispensing snifters of cognac (mostly to himself) is to ease back into a simpler, pre-digital era where humor was based on clever sight gags rather than irony.
In the savant steward Dvornichek, Scheie polishes one more role that flat out belongs to him. A role that must be dispatched with unerring word perfect bravura, a straight face, and a gleam in the eye.
Scheie is in good company—bravo tutti—with special praise for Boehmer, the second coming of 30s star William Powell, as the elegant woebegone Turai. Listening for Stoppard’s insider playwriting jokes is part of the treat, and the entire madcap comedy moves impeccably thanks to the smart staging by director Art Manke.
Already 40 years old, filled with Mussolini jokes and white slave trade i.e. sex trafficking allusions that are groan-making as well as un-PC, Rough Crossing is not life-changing theater.
Neither profound nor poignant, it is a piece of entertainment that lays no claim to gravity or grace. Instead it offers a steady stream of sight gags, wit, and farcical dialogue. Plus the pleasure of watching six actors exchange tongue-twisting lines, navigate improbable situations, and sing/dance their way through three brisk Andre Previn tunes.
It felt good to laugh as loudly as all of us did through opening night’s performance. The ending, led again by Scheie, was so over-the-top absurdist that it overcame the play’s few moments of lull.
Rough Crossing is a vivacious reminder of just how much the Jewel Theatre has meant to this town.
_________________________________________
Rough Crossing, written by Tom Stoppard, directed and choreographed by Art Manke, produced by the Jewel Theatre Company.
Local musicians Bonny June and Ken Kraft answered my phone call in the voices of their alter-egos, Countess June and Count Kraftula. Vampire-vaudeville is not a genre currently on any Billboard charts, but as they told me about the creepy, hilarious songs they’re working on lately, I started to think it could be.
June and Kraft along with bassist Craig Owens (or, this week, “Batman Owens”) comprise Bonny June & Bonfire, a band with Americana roots, songwriting chops and theatrical flair. Since 2018, the trio has put on one of the most creative Halloween events in town, transforming themselves into monsters and playing an entire show in their adopted identities. This year their Halloween musical returns to Kuumbwa Jazz via Ron Sandidge’s Snazzy Productions. With the full moon set to fall on the night of their performance, it promises to be their wildest show yet.
Last year’s show at Kuumbwa was a resounding success and “dream come true” for the band. “It’s the best thing I do,” says June of the Halloween show, “and it’s only once a year.”
A life-long writer and performer, June grew up in San Diego. “I’ve always sung,” she says, “but I never considered myself to be a songwriter until 2009 or so, I just started writing songs out of the blue.” Around that time, she met Kraft through the annual Mars Studios singer-songwriter contest. He added his decades of experience as a rock guitarist in Snail and other bands, and then the duo recruited Owens, who played in country singer Lacy J. Dalton’s band for over 20 years.
“All three of us sing,” says June. “We do a lot of harmonies, and we love the way that our blend sounds.” In 2012, the fire of Bonny June & Bonfire really started burning with the release of their debut album Bright Moon Pearls.
What makes June’s music distinct is its emphasis on dramatic narrative, an interest that often leads her to embody outlandish characters as she sings. “They’re story songs,” she says. “So we introduce them with little stories in between the songs.” Fans began noting that Bonny June & Bonfire shows felt like mini-musicals or vaudeville revues. The band embraced those descriptions and now proudly bills itself as an Americana-Vaudeville act.
“At first I was writing make-you-cry make-you-laugh love songs, songs about rising above adversity, inspiring songs,” June says, “but then I found that audiences like comedy, so I started trying to be funny!” This realization in addition to June’s childhood love of old-fashioned monster programs like Monster Rally and Creature Features led her to an unexpected place in her songwriting.
“I decided to write a song about a werewolf, and the werewolf was a female werewolf, so a little bit of a twist on it,” she says. “It’s a bluegrassy, folky tale, and that was our first monster song.” Called “Wolverina,” the song lives alongside Warren Zevon’s 1978 masterpiece “Werewolves of London” in the pantheon of monster music.
“It’s absurd!” June says. “It’s the perfect mix of spooky and silly.”
Bonny June & Bonfire seem to be onto something magical, because ever since they started writing character songs like this, they simply cannot stop. The theatricality of their Halloween show has grown and grown, to the point that they have incorporated a fourth performer (Cheryl Henson a.ka. “Devil Maycare”) who helps debut one of two new songs: a cover of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels’ 1966 jam “Devil with a Blue Dress.”
How big will this Halloween Bonfire get? We’d have to consult a psychic for all the details, but it’s safe to say it’s not dying down anytime soon. They are writing a full-length vampire musical called Kraftula.
Kuumbwa Jazz Center – October 28, 7:30pm – $30
Tickets at snazzyproductions.com
Bonny June & Bonfire’s Halloween Favorites
Favorite Horror Story
Bonny: We both love Poe, but I’d have to say Dracula, the book
Ken: If it’s a move, Alien 1 and, as a close second, The Exorcist
Your Best Costume
Bonny: Countess June. It’s pretty darn good, because now they have the real fangs, you know?
Ken: Count Dracula. It’s fabulous.
Best Past Costume
Bonny: I was a sea monster when I was about 20!
Ken: I never dressed up for Halloween before I became the Count. I was always playing the Good Times Ball or The Catalyst. I dressed like a rock star, I guess!
The details of an empanada can elevate what’s inside. That said, the interior ingredients from the premiere empa-empire of the area, Fonda Felix, are done with tastebud IQ—note the braised pork shoulder and purple chile, the Argentinian beef, the black bean mole-plantain, the rock cod-seaweed, and the Halloween-inspired pumpkin-brown sugar-coconut.
But details like the specific folds of the outer edge, the right baking temp to capture puffy, chewy and flaky in correct quantities, a glorious garlicky-vinegary-parsley-y chimichurri—best when authentic to the true epicenter of the empanada, Argentina—help.
Diego Felix, who hails from the greater Buenos Aires area, leads a band of benevolent pirates doing empanadas in the heart of Westside’s Swift Street Complex 8am-6pm (until 11:30am Monday-Tuesday), where a new kiosk interface adjacent to their shared commercial kitchen makes for easy-to-order indulgence.
To add other excitement, they also do pop-up-style dinners at the courtyard around the corner in front of 11th Hour Coffee, and points further afield, including a private installment at Lester Estate this Saturday, Oct. 28, flush with sandwiches from la parrilla and—sí—outstanding empanadas. Dios mio. fondafelix.com
DI-VINE DEVELOPMENT
Saison Cellar & Wine Bar opens in Scotts Valley’s Kings Village Shopping Center (by Erik’s Deli Cafe) this Friday, Oct. 27. The brainchild of Mark Bright, of celebrated San Francisco dining destination Saison and sister spot Saison Cellar in Los Gatos, SCWB works two ways. One part comes with couches, dining tables, bar seating and an outdoor area, with tastings by the flight or glass. Part two is the cellarscape, with a lounge and wine club-style lockers all designed for peak sharing and sipping.
SOLAIRE REMIX
Word of a fly facelift-tastelift is circulating—briskly—with the debut of new spot Solaire Restaurant + Bar, part of Hotel Paradox’s ambitious renovation (pool deck and lobby included). Chef Stefen Shattó’s international tapa-driven fusion stars items like “paradise” pad Thai, 72-hour short rib, cioppino and honeycomb bread with rosemary butter and wildflower honey harvested from boxes on the hotel’s roof. Open daily 7-11am and 11:30am-9pm. hotelparadox.com
MYCELIUM MOVEMENT
The family behind Far West Fungi just announced a full-sized festival to honor 40 years of partnership with the area’s ‘shroom community. The debut Santa Cruz Mountain Mushroom Festival breaks through the understory May 4-5 at Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton with cooking demos, DIY workshops, panel discussions, guided nature walks, children’s activities, curated art, musical talent and more. farwestfungi.com
GAMER CHANGERS
Two regionally relevant stories surfaced across Monterey Bay this month. First off, Woody’s at the Airport—an honest, fresh produce-focused, rustic revelation from Chef Tim Wood—was just named #1 airport restaurant in the country by a USA Today survey. Meanwhile, Monterey County is now furnishing permits for residents to serve dine-in food at their homes. An online application will be accessible soon on the Monterey County Environmental Health Bureau website.
Winemakers John Overstreet and Neil Perrelli have been involved in making wine at their Villa del Monte Winery for a very long time, and the wines get better and better. Theirs is not a big operation, and their tasting room in the Santa Cruz Mountains is a rustic and laid-back site. But all are welcome to their boutique winery, and they gladly invite you to try their well-made wines.
Their 2022 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay ($25) is particularly impressive with its lovely aromatic notes of pome fruits with some banana and pineapple. Flavors of apple, pear and smidgeons of citrus fruit and hazelnut add depth and charm to this medium-bodied white wine.
They also make Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, and an extraordinary wine called Vintner’s Select Special Blend. And the Zinfandel Dessert Wine, where grapes are left on the vine to naturally raise the sugar, is simply delicious.
Villa del Monte Winery, 23076 Summit Road, Los Gatos, 408-353-0995. Check their website for opening dates. Villadelmontewinery.com
Everything’s Coming Up Rosés
The Italian company Ponti has produced a Rosé wine vinegar that is a perfect dressing for salads – adding bright color and freshness. Ponti takes the freshest and most fragrant Rosé wines and skillfully turns them into vinegar. Voila! Something different to add to your lettuce and tomatoes. Ponti.com
Downtown Santa Cruz Fall Wine Walk
Tickets are on sale for the Downtown Santa Cruz Fall Wine Walk. This rain-or-shine wine tasting is hosted by local businesses – with a good variety of wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains to try out. At check-in you will receive a commemorative glass, map and info. The event is 2-5pm Sunday, Nov.12. Visit downtownsantacruz.com for more information.
A family-owned business for over 40 years staffed almost entirely by long-term employees, El Chino has been owned by Maria Gallardo since 2017. Her parents were the founders, and to them it was a dream come true. Maria worked in restaurants since she was a teenager. Her mom ran the kitchen, and taught her recipes and techniques to the head chef, Refugio (or “Cuco,” his sobre nombre), who has worked there for over 30 years. El Chino’s classic and traditional Mexican food is served amidst a homey, hacienda-vibed ambiance with big booths and many furtive indoor plants. The Mexican breakfasts are served all day, highlighted by the menudo,huevos rancheros and chilaquiles. The Nachos con Todo appetizer is a crowd favorite, and entrée stand-outs include the fajitas, carne asada and red mole, as well as the chili verde with beef and the Chili Colorado with pork. Their menu also has fish and shrimp options, American breakfasts, town-renowned hamburgers and a classic housemade flan for dessert. Hours are every day from 11am-8pm (close 7:30pm Sun/Mon/Tues) and Sat/Sun from 9am.
How do you honor parent’s legacy?
MARIA GALLARDO: By keeping the quality of food very high and still using my mother’s recipes like we have for 40 years. We also stay committed to a high quality of service and hospitality, knowing customer’s names and what is going on in their lives. Our servers, most of whom have been here for 15 years or more, have a close bond and friendship with our customers. Not many businesses last this long, so staying open is a big accomplishment and one day I hope to pass it on to my daughter to keep the family legacy going for another generation. I think my parents would be proud of where we are today.
Tell me about El Chino’s 40th anniversary?
MG: We started in 1983 as a taqueria storefront with only seven small tables and two small griddles. From there, we grew and expanded and we have come a long way as a restaurant. For our anniversary, we are planning an outside event in the spring with food and live music, and we are still figuring out a way to honor our many long-time regulars.
2525 Soquel Drive Suite A, Santa Cruz, 831-476-7175
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Shadow work is a psychological practice that has been deeply healing for me. It involves exploring the dark places in my soul and being in intimate contact with my unripe and wounded aspects. Engaging in this hard labor ensures that my less beautiful qualities never take control of me and never spill out into toxic interactions with people. I bring this up, Aries, because the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to do shadow work. Halloween costume suggestion: Be your shadow, demon, or unripe self.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The country where I live, the US, has banned over 2,500 books in recent years. I’m appalled by the ignorance that fuels this idiotic despotism. But there has been an amusing consequence, which I am pleased to report: Banning the books has sometimes hiked their sales. Gender Queer by Maia Kolbabe had a 130 percent increase. Art Spiegelman’s Maus I and Maus II jumped 50 percent. Let this scenario serve as an inspirational metaphor for you in the coming weeks. If any person or institution tries to repress, deny, or resist you, do what you’re doing even bigger and better. Use their opposition as a power boost. Halloween costume suggestion: rebel, dissident, or protestor.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do you ever feel you are treated unfairly at your job? Is your workplace sometimes detrimental to your health? Is it possible that a few small changes could add up to a big improvement in how you feel while you’re earning a living? There’s rarely a perfect moment to address these concerns, but the coming weeks will be a more favorable time than usual. If you decide to seek shifts, devise a strategy that’s as foolproof as possible. Resolve to be calm, poised, and unflusterable. Halloween costume suggestion: a worker doing your ideal job
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian comedian Dave Barry says that as he grows older, he looks forward to “continued immaturity.” That sentiment is probably based on the fact that his humor is often juvenile and silly. (I like it, though!) I’m guessing it’s also because he aspires to remain youthful and innocent and surprisable as he ages. I mention this, fellow Cancerian, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to celebrate and honor the parts of you that are still blooming but not yet in full blossom. Be grateful you have not become a jaded know-it-all. Would you consider revisiting joys you loved as a child and teenager? Halloween costume suggestion: your younger self.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Horseshoes have symbolized good luck in many cultures. A common usage is to hang them over front doors. But there’s disagreement about the best way to generate the good fortune. Some people say the open end of the horseshoe should point upward, since that collects the luck. Others insist it’s best for the horseshoe to point down, as that showers luck on those who enter and leave the house. If you experiment with this fun myth, I advise you to point the open end up. It’s time for you to gather blessings, help, and fortuity. Halloween costume accessories: good luck charms like a four-leaf clover, acorn, cat’s eye gemstone, ankh, dragon, laughing Buddha, Ganesh statue, and horseshoe.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): There would be no life on earth if it weren’t for the sun. Our home star’s energy is the central force at work in the creation and sustenance of all humans, animals, and plants. Yet we must be sure not to get extravagant amounts of our good thing. An overabundance of solar heat and radiance can cause failed crops, dehydration, droughts, skin cancer, and wildfires. Are other factors at work in your sphere that are also nourishing in moderate amounts but unhealthy in excess? And do you know when just right becomes too much? Now is a favorable time to ruminate on these matters. Halloween costume suggestion: Goldilocks, Lady Justice with her scales, or a body suit adorned with a giant yin and yang symbol.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The earliest known human settlement is Göbekli Tepe, in what’s now the country of Turkey. When archaeologists first excavated it in 1994, they realized it was built over 11,000 years ago. This was shocking news, since it dramatically contradicted previous estimates of how long people have lived in villages. I’m predicting a comparable shift in your understanding of your own past, Libra. The full effect may not be apparent for months, but there will be interesting jolts soon. Halloween costume suggestion: archaeologist, time traveler, or yourself in a past life.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio author Ófeigur Sigurðsson writes, “You should never do what’s expected of you; there’s always another path through life than the one before you.” I wouldn’t recommend his approach to any other zodiac sign but Scorpio. And I would only advocate it for maybe 40 percent of Scorpios 10 percent of the time. The coming weeks will be one of those 10-percent times. So if you are among the 40 percent who would thrive on this demanding but potentially exhilarating counsel, get ready to be as original and imaginative in living your life as you have ever been. Halloween costume suggestion: unicorn, dragon, or phoenix.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Only two items appear more often in the world’s landfills than disposable diapers. They seem to be among the least ecologically sound products. Or maybe not. Japanese researchers at the University of Kitakyushu have made building materials out of them in combination with gravel, sand, and cement. (Read more: tinyurl.com/BetterWaste). In the spirit of this potentially glorious alchemical transmutation, and in accordance with astrological omens, I encourage you to ruminate on how you might convert wasted stuff into usable valuables in your own sphere. Halloween costume suggestion: A janitor or maid wearing a gold crown and pearls.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Of all the ideas propounded by major religions, the saddest is the Christian assertion that all of us are born sinful—that we come into this world with a corruption that renders us fundamentally flawed: tainted, soiled, guilty, foul. I reject this stupid nonsense. In my spiritual philosophy, we are all born gorgeous, loving geniuses. Tough experiences may diminish our radiance and make it a challenge to be our best, but we never lose the gorgeous, loving genius at our core. In accordance with astrological mandates, your task in the coming weeks is to get into close touch with this pure source. Halloween costume suggestion: your gorgeous, loving genius.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): According to my meticulous analysis of the astrological omens, you now have a sacred right to expand your ego at least one full size. Even two sizes will probably be fine. Your guardian angel is lobbying for you to strut and swagger, and so are your muses, your ancestors, and God Herself. I hope you will overcome any shyness you feel about expressing your talents, your intelligence, and your unique understanding of the world. Halloween costume suggestion: a charming braggart, charismatic egomaniac, or beautiful narcissist.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “The secret for harvesting the greatest fruitfulness and enjoyment is to live dangerously!” Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said that. “Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius!” he added. “Send your ships into uncharted seas!” As for you in the coming weeks, Pisces, I don’t recommend you live dangerously, but I do suggest you live adventurously. Surpass your limits, if you dare! Transcend your expectations and explore the frontiers. Those activities will be a good use of your life energy and are likely to be rewarded. Halloween costume suggestions: daredevil, swashbuckler, gambler, fortune-hunter, or knight-errant.
Homework: Scare yourself with how beautiful you are. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
I care deeply about our environment and am proud of California’s efforts to develop a cleaner and more affordable energy grid. That is why I am so troubled that the legislature gave the green light to California’s Monopoly Utilities and are letting them impose a utility tax on all of us. It will make climate change worse! I am so disappointed in Gavin Newson and his policies to basically make all his constituents who bought solar are now having to pay PGE a yearly tax of 1600. 00 which some say they didn’t even pay that when they were on the grid! These people are being penalized for being efficient and making an investment in our children’s future. I have to ask Gavin, are you getting funding for re-election from PGE because you seem to be bending over to keep all the money in their pockets instead of ours. Solar is no longer advantageous for a low middle class homeowner.
Energy conservation is a cornerstone of tackling climate change. Not only does a fixed rate utility tax increase bills for millions of Californians, it also rewards energy hogs and hurts those of us dedicated to energy conservation.
2023 will be the hottest year ever recorded in human history. We have run out of time. The continued use of fossils to power our grid is no longer sustainable. Neither are policies, like a fixed-rate Utility Tax, that rewards energy hogs at the expense of everyone else.
We don’t have a lot of time but we can still turn this around. I am writing to you today to urge you to please shine a light on this issue to help educate the public and potentially save folks thousands of dollars in utility bills.
Sincerely,
Patricia Burgdorf
SUGGESTIONS FOR MORE GT COVERAGE
How about a story on the food truck “scene”? It seems very limited to me. Not much variety. Why? Ask some food truck owners if they think local regulations make it difficult to operate. What could be done to have a more “robust” food truck scene, and attract maybe some from over the hill, where there is a wider range of “ethnic” cuisine (Korean, Burmese, Oaxacan, Vietnamese, etc.)
What I’ve been wanting for years is for the Good Times to not just publicize local concerts at local venues ahead of time, but to publish REVIEWS of the shows.
It would be great if the review was honest. If the show was disappointing, say so! If it was great, people may be more likely to buy a ticket next time the act comes around.
How about a “post-Covid downtown” issue, with updates on whether the Nickelodeon is ever going to reopen. Why the city still thinks it needs a new garage when there are hundreds of available parking spaces in the existing garages.
I met our cover story subject, Chris Zephro, appropriately enough, at a downtown zombie walk more than a decade ago.
He had gathered hundreds of bloody Halloween lovers to march and celebrate the scariest holiday. I was a reporter and I was looking for the person in charge. Someone told me to find the guy in the cool mask.
And there he was, all 5-foot 4-inches of him, short in stature but giant in personality. He is to Halloween what Elf is to Christmas. This is his element.
He was just starting his business making high-quality, graphic masks, elevating the products from mass produced rubber throwaways to masterpieces of design and gruesomely wonderful detail. They aren’t cheap, but if you want the best, they are worth the price.
Chris is an example of how you can succeed by following your bliss. A UCSC grad, he was a successful numbers and business geek with a Silicon Valley career, but he loved horror movies and followed his passion, risking his savings and growing a business from thousands to millions of dollars.
He’s known internationally, making costumes for the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie and outfitting some of the most famous horror movies. But, like some of our other huge success stories here, he’s almost unknown in our town.
People drive by his warehouse complex on 17th Avenue and wonder why there are always Halloween decorations year round. Read this story and you’ll know more about one of our great characters.
It’s funny how many great international businesses are based here, many under the radar. The camera phone was invented in Santa Cruz and so was Auto-Tune, Crossfit, Plantronics headsets, pitching machines and Loganberries, to name a few.
One of my goals as editor is to show you the things you might be missing in our county and to celebrate the great people who make them. We have one of the most dynamic small communities in the U.S. and I want to share it all with you. Please send your ideas for local heroes and businesses to ed****@*******es.sc and we’ll do our best to get them in print and online.
PHOTO CONTEST
MUSIC IS LIFE Here’s a transcendent take on a Cabrillo Music Festival rehearsal. Like the festival, it’s nothing like you’d expect and totally visionary. PHOTO: Don Eggers
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be.”
― Patrick Rothfuss ― The Name of the Wind
GOOD WORKS
Where better to celebrate the Day of the Dead than a cemetery?
Día de los Muertos has its origins in the rituals of indigenous peoples of the Americas. It honors those who are no longer with us and remember that death is an integral part of the human experience.
The nonprofit Senderos joins Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History for an unforgettable Day of the Dead 12-4pm Saturday at Evergreen Cemetery with dance, food and music. Free!
GOOD NEWS
Poaching and logging, as well as ecological changes, pose a major threat to the world’s rainforests. Tasked with safeguarding rainforests that equal the equivalent of nearly 760,000 football fields, Rainforest Connection faced challenges based on the scale of their mission.
With the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning, RFCx uses audio technologies to monitor sounds in the rainforest, respond quickly to illegal activity, and eliminate the need for constant human patrolling on the ground. For more info: https://rfcx.org/
My bed is next to a window. If you look close from outside, you can see me sleeping. I woke up to the window open and a guy was grabbing my legs from the window! I’m freaking out trying to call for help but nothing is coming out. I can’t talk, I can’t move. When I break out of...
British playwright Tom Stoppard's 1984 play-within-a-play comedy, Rough Crossing, launches the Jewel Theatre's ultimate season with madcap flourish.
Hellbent on creating a theatrical success (a career revival perhaps?) playwrights Sandor Turai (J. Paul Boehmer) and Alex Gal (Christopher Reber) cross the Atlantic en route to New York on the SS Italian Castle, somewhere in the upscale 1930s, thanks to...
Local musicians Bonny June and Ken Kraft answered my phone call in the voices of their alter-egos, Countess June and Count Kraftula. Vampire-vaudeville is not a genre currently on any Billboard charts, but as they told me about the creepy, hilarious songs they’re working on lately, I started to think it could be.
The details of an empanada can elevate what’s inside. That said, the interior ingredients from the premiere empa-empire of the area, Fonda Felix, are done with tastebud IQ
Winemakers John Overstreet and Neil Perrelli have been involved in making wine at their Villa del Monte Winery for a very long time, and the wines get better and better.
A family-owned business for over 40 years staffed almost entirely by long-term employees, El Chino has been owned by Maria Gallardo since 2017. Her parents were the founders, and to them it was a dream come true. Maria worked in restaurants since she was a teenager. Her mom ran the kitchen, and taught her recipes and techniques to the...
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Shadow work is a psychological practice that has been deeply healing for me. It involves exploring the dark places in my soul and being in intimate contact with my unripe and wounded aspects. Engaging in this hard labor ensures that my less beautiful qualities never take control of me and never spill out into toxic...
— I care deeply about our environment and am proud of California’s efforts to develop a cleaner and more affordable energy grid. That is why I am so troubled that the legislature gave the green light to California’s Monopoly Utilities and are letting them impose a utility tax on all of us.
— I met our cover story subject, Chris Zephro, appropriately enough, at a downtown zombie walk more than a decade ago. He had gathered hundreds of bloody Halloween lovers to march and celebrate the scariest holiday.
