Page 261 | Good Times

A Flavorful Journey in Santa Cruz Through Time and Culture

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April 11, 2023

A Flavorful Journey in Santa Cruz Through Time and Culture

Picture this: A local legend extracts poetic verse from chicken entrails. Meanwhile, another local legend eats poetry.

The man dissecting the bird—and delivering the accompanying oracular divination—was Jozseph Schultz of the late and great Front Street institution India Joze, which lives on through special events.

The individual digesting refrains written on rice paper is cover-story protagonist Rob Brezsny (see story, and his Free Will Astrology column).

The endeavor was called “Poetry Eating and Poultry Reading.” Even for Santa Cruz in the late ’70s, the “food event” was out there.

The pairing, meanwhile, was organic: Schultz, like Brezsny, is a creative force and a theatrical performer. And they knew each other well because—pre-astrology stardom—Brezsny worked as a janitor at Schultz’s restaurant.

Like he has at every stop on his intergalactic arc, Brezsny extracted tasty crumbs for his writings, in this case, his memoir-ish 2000 novel The Televisionary Oracle. This passage comes at 1:30am on his third night on the job.

“I’m living the dream of any egomaniac who has ever loved the Buddha: to be as empty as the moment between the ticks of the clock….”

“Tonight I wept with unironic joy as I scraped away years-old gunk with a putty knife from a corner behind the bread table….”

“[F]or once in my life I was wildly free of all lust for results. I had lived, if only for an instant, outside of karma.”

I can identify. The most Zen job I’ve enjoyed on this plane was washing dishes at the restaurant of a haunted hotel.

Maybe I was channeling Anthony Bourdain. He once told The Splendid Kitchen: “Had I not become a dishwasher and then a cook, to be perfectly honest, I’m sure I would have slipped into a life of petty criminality, imprisonment and death. Dishwashing saved my life. It was the first time that I went home respecting myself, respecting others, with anything to feel proud of.”

Brezsny observes how emotionally intuitive his fellow Cancerian (Bourdain) proved in connecting with sources and readers through food—often humble, thoughtful and international—much like the pan-Asian fare at India Joze.

“Bourdain was so present, providing a global perspective from local voices,” Brezsny says, “being right here, right now.”

Perhaps this type of talk doesn’t feed your soul as much as India Joze’s “dragon chicken” with its Vietnamese bamboo-shoot-shiitake-mint glaze.

For the more calorically inclined, my three favorite island/fusion/East-leaning local institutions in Santa Cruz, all of which deliver solid values, are below.

AKIRA SUSHI: Here, the creativity—and a robust happy hour—help transcend classic Japanese via items like the deep-fried and sushi-stuffed avocado named Gem of Akira. akirasantacruz.com, akiraaptos.com

CHARLIE HONG KONG: CHK seduces by way of smart salads, rice dishes and noodle bowls like Spicy Dan’s Peanut Delight, Gado Gado and Charlie’s Chow Mein for less than $10. charliehongkong.com

HULA’S ISLAND GRILL: A guaranteed path to order envy. Give me all the seared ahi wontons, abalone-style calamari, blackened wasabi barramundi and spicy tofu tacos. Oh My Goddess, it’s good. hulastiki.com

Why Balletto Vineyards 2021 Gewurztraminer is a Must for Wine Lovers

Josie Cowden

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April 11, 2023

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Why Balletto Vineyards 2021 Gewurztraminer is a Must for Wine Lovers

Gewurztraminer is an anytime kind of wine. And it goes with a variety of foods.
I made a Greek dish of stuffed eggplant and a Greek salad with feta cheese and olives for dinner with friends. Balletto Vineyards’ 2021 Russian River Valley Gewurztraminer pairs perfectly with olive oil-rich food. And this often-overlooked crisp white wine makes such a nice change.

Grown, produced and bottled by Balletto Vineyards in Santa Rosa, the Gewurztraminer ($24) is perfumed with the classic aromas of lychee nut and ripe pear. “Under the fresh fruit,” the Balletto family says, “is an intoxicating splash of spice and lightly nutty aromas that add complexity and interest.”

Balletto Vineyards’ large property has a regulation-sized baseball field. John Balletto was asked by his staff to sponsor their league baseball team, so he set aside four acres and donated all the materials for a field to be built.

Balletto Vineyards, 5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa, 707-568-2455; ballettovineyards.com

Winemaker’s Dinner at Martin Ranch Winery

Owners of Martin Ranch Winery, Dan and Thérèse Martin, are doing a Soulmate dinner at their beautiful winery in Gilroy—highlighting their Soulmate wines. A reception will be held outdoors, followed by five courses in the barrel room.

Winemaker’s Dinner at Martin Ranch Winery, 6675 Redwood Retreat Road, Gilroy. Friday, April 14, 6:30-9:30pm. $265 plus tax; martinranchwinery.com

Regan Vineyards Winery

John Bargetto, director of winemaking for both Bargetto Winery and Regan Vineyards, invites you to taste the extraordinary wines of Regan Vineyards every Sunday from May 7 through Nov. 5.

Regan Vineyards, 1600 Green Valley Road, Corralitos; reganwinery.com

Soquel’s Buzzo Pizza Puts a Spin on Classic Wood-Fired Pies

Andrew Steingrube

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April 11, 2023

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Soquel’s Buzzo Pizza Puts a Spin on Classic Wood-Fired Pies

Buzzo—pronounced boot-zo—is Italian slang for “big belly.” A fitting name for the new Soquel pizza joint. Owner and Santa Cruz native Indy Todd moved back to the area to run Carpo’s—a longtime eatery owned by him and his father—after attending culinary school in San Francisco. But their dream has always been to open a wood-fired pizza spot next to Carpo’s.

The full-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating with a heated patio has a modern industrial vibe, defined by exposed ducts and anchored by an open kitchen.

Apps include salads like arugula and radicchio Caesar and meatballs with ricotta and parmesan cheese. Favorite pizzas include wild mushrooms; cream and chives; sweet Italian sausage and oven-roasted onions; and pancetta pie with leeks and red onions. Housemade gelato is offered for dessert—they also serve refreshing Meyer lemon sorbet.

Buzzo is open every other day from 5-9pm (closed Mondays) with plans to extend the hours and menu. GT asked Indy how Buzzo came to be and what sets their pizzas apart.

What inspired Buzzo?

INDY TODD: A friend of my dad would host parties that I would cater using a wood-burning pizza oven. The guests would always rave about the pizzas and tell us we should open our own spot and sell them. We knew that if we ever found a good location, we would do it.

What makes your pizza different?

For one, we cook them in a wood-fired oven, which isn’t uncommon around here. And we’re not so strict about the pizzas—they don’t need to fit into a traditional Italian style. If we want to put curry on a pizza or use Asian-inspired ingredients, we can do it. It’s nice because I can go to the farmers market and have the freedom to put whatever is tasty and fresh on our pizzas.

Buzzo Pizza, 2510 South Main St., Soquel, 831-316-7336; buzzopizza.com

‘Santa Cruz Waves’ Magazine Announces Last Issue

Aiyana Moya

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April 7, 2023

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‘Santa Cruz Waves’ Magazine Announces Last Issue

On Friday evening, CEO and founder of the magazine Santa Cruz Waves Tyler Fox announced in an Instagram post that the magazine will pause indefinitely.

The magazine, which has published six issues a year for the past nine years, was a guide to all things surfing in Santa Cruz for locals and tourists. Boasting advertisements from local businesses, the magazine also covered environmental issues with its most recent issue dedicated to climate change.

“It has been a joy, it has been an honor working with all of our advertisers, the community, the artists, the photographers, everyone involved,” Fox said. “I want to thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”

The news comes amidst significant cuts across the media industry for local news and media giants alike. Most recently, Disney announced cuts at its news department, letting go of 50 people at ABC News on March 30.

FEMA Center Opens in Watsonville

Erik Chalhoub

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April 7, 2023

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Today, a disaster recovery center opened in downtown Watsonville to help Pajaro flood victims navigate federal relief programs.

President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for seven counties on Monday, freeing up federal money for people whose lives were upended by the storms and flooding.

Also, storm and flood victims can call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (800-621-3362) or visit disasterassistance.gov to file a claim for funds to help with rebuilding and living expenses incurred during the evacuation.

FEMA representatives and those from other agencies are on hand at the center to help register people for assistance.

The center replaces the Local Assistance Center at the Veterans Memorial Building in Watsonville, operated by the County of Monterey Department of Emergency Management, which opened on March 29. Those services will transition to the FEMA site.

Daniel Gonzalez of the Department of Emergency Management said the site at the Veterans Memorial Building served a little more than 1,000 families since it opened and saw an uptick in activity since Biden signed the declaration.

Tiana Suber of FEMA said storm victims seeking assistance at the newly opened center should come ready with documentation, such as proof of residency and insurance information, if available.

As of the afternoon of Friday, April 7, the Old City Hall site has seen 103 visitors and registered 55 for assistance, according to Suber.

“We’re letting everybody know we’re here and ready to help,” she said. “If you need to come to the disaster recovery center and need that one-on-one help, please do not hesitate.”

Suber noted that the center had received many inquiries from visitors regarding immigration status, adding that FEMA does not share that information.

Non-citizens may qualify for financial assistance if they are green card holders, have been granted asylum, or meet other requirements. Those not meeting citizenship or immigration requirements may be eligible for additional services, such as crisis counseling assistance, legal help, case management, etc.

Undocumented immigrants can also apply for assistance for their minor children if they are U.S. citizens and live in the same household.

For information, visit bit.ly/3nUgHS6.

During a press briefing, Don Rosa, general manager of the Pajaro Sunny Mesa Community Services District, said Pajaro remains under a do not drink order due to possible contaminated water from the floods.

He said the state Division of Drinking Water is still analyzing water samples and is waiting to release a final report before rescinding the order. According to Rosa, such a decision could come in the next two to three weeks.

Laura Emmons of the County of Monterey Department of Emergency Management said crews had made progress on removing flood-damaged debris from Pajaro, intending to complete the first phase by the end of the month. Residents are advised to move damaged goods to the curb by April 24.

The FEMA Center is open daily (except April 9), 9am-7pm, at Old City Hall, 250 Main St., Watsonville.

Monica Martinez Announces Board of Supervisors Candidacy

Breaking News

Drew Penner

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April 7, 2023

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Monica Martinez Announces Board of Supervisors Candidacy

The head of Santa Cruz County’s largest health and human services nonprofit announced she is vying to replace Fifth District Supervisor Bruce McPherson on the Board of Supervisors’ next election.

Monica Martinez, 41, currently the CEO of Encompass Community Services, says the constituency—Felton, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Scotts Valley and part of Santa Cruz—would benefit if represented by a woman from SLV.

“I think it’s time that the Fifth District gets the resources it deserves,” Martinez says. “It’s overlooked.”

The Felton resident, an LGBTQ+ person of color, chairs the Santa Cruz County Parks and Recreation Commission and is on Santa Cruz County Health Improvement Partnership’s executive committee.

But dislodging McPherson, currently serving his third term on the board, won’t be easy, should he decide to run again.

He was unopposed in the 2020 election and is a frequent fixture at library and health facility openings.

McPherson was nominated to become California’s secretary of state by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 200 and helped establish Monterey Bay Community Power after getting elected to Santa Cruz County’s administrative board.

But Martinez says it’s time for new leadership.

“I think our community is ready for a fresh voice,” she says. “I believe that diverse voices and diverse representation lead to better decision-making.”

Martinez hopes to be the first woman in the political body since Ellen Pirie stepped down in 2012. Pirie, a lawyer, had represented the Second District where she lived (in the Aptos-La Selva Beach area) while pushing the Aptos Village Plan forward and advocating for the purchase of the Branch Rail Line.

The composition of the Board of Supervisors already looks quite different than it did just a few months back.

In November, Justin Cummings became the first Black man to ever serve on the board, beating out Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson by about 3% of the vote tally to take the reins of the Third District, which includes Bonny Doon and borders the Fifth District.

And Felipe Hernandez became Fourth District supervisor, garnering 1,483 more votes than Jimmy Dutra, and was installed in Greg Caput’s old South County seat.

Hernandez, a weightlifter and mid-century-modern furniture aficionado, previously served as the mayor of Watsonville and on the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees.

Martinez, who was the executive director nonprofit Housing Matters, says housing people—and helping people stay housed—is one of her political priority areas.

It’s an issue that resonates in the North County, which has dealt with consecutive storm-damage blows this year and is still struggling to recover from 2020’s CZU Lighting Complex fire.

“I think that the County should be doing more to help people who have lost their homes to the CZU fire or the winter storms,” she says. “We lost 911 homes during the CZU fire, and only 24 have been rebuilt. That’s not a success. We should do whatever it takes to rebuild and help people get home as soon as possible.”

Working to stabilize the housing stock in the San Lorenzo Valley, she adds, will allow firefighters and teachers to live right in the community where they work.

“What we’ve seen is the San Lorenzo Valley has been hit by these unprecedented disasters,” Martinez says. “And it feels really important that somebody who is experiencing these disasters firsthand is advocating for this community to receive the public resources that they deserve to rebuild and recover.”

April in Santa Cruz Contemporary Music Festival

Music

Christina Waters

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April 6, 2023

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April in Santa Cruz Contemporary Music Festival

How about two weeks of exciting new music from some of the most talented artists in the world? I thought you’d be intrigued. It’s time again for the ever-innovative April in Santa Cruz Festival of New Music concert series at UCSC’s Music Center.

Starting on Thursday, April 13, the festival opens with a sonic feast of styles performed in the intimate space of Performance Studio 131. Violinist Kate Stenberg, percussionist Willie Winant, clarinetist John Sackett, pianist Ben Leeds Carson and others will work through some tasty pieces by David Evan Jones, Hi Kyung Kim and Jeffrey Treviño, a line-up of UCSC music faculty all-stars.

The following evening April 14, San Francisco’s Del Sol Quartet will be on hand to present A Dust in Time by celebrated Chinese-American composer Huang Ruo, plus a half dozen world premieres. On April 17, New York Philharmonic pianist Eric Huebner performs new works from Pulitzer Prize-winner Roger Reynolds, among other tasty offerings.

On April 21, sound composer Anna Friz—a member of UCSC’s Film & Digital Media department—joins legendary percussionist William Winant and the UCSC Percussion Ensemble in a concert of Friz’s new works.

Get ready for some bold sonic experiments with whirly tubes—indeterminacy, and Persian rhythm, by Christopher Everingham, Michael Fleming, Vahid Jahandari and others.

You can now see how this April in Santa Cruz Festival works. The festival is a feast of experimental, pioneering, frequently-outrageous ear candy loaded with swing, sophistication and sonic space odysseys.

These stunning new pieces will be performed in the newly re-opened UCSC Music Center Recital Hall (except for the first concert). Not boring. Not beige.

For those who enjoy field trips, Bay Area music luminary Peter Josheff and composer and pianist James Gordon Williams—a new UCSC faculty member—will perform world premieres by emerging composer Ben Dorfan and renowned composer Missy Mazzoli at The Lab (2948 16th St., San Francisco).

April in Santa Cruz Festival of New Musichas beena showcase for invention and experimentation for decades, bringing energy and collaborative vision to the stage.

This one-of-a-kind festival sparkles with the work of UCSC doctoral composers from China, Iran, Israel, Mexico and the United States; over the last year, eight fearless artists collaborated on pieces that evolved along the way. The result will be showcased over these two weeks of performances.

This series is for anyone who enjoys contemporary sound experiments and live music that pushes and challenges every boundary of what music should be. These shows will move you out of your comfort zone into aural unpredictability.

A dazzling array of instruments, some you know, some you don’t, played by professional masters. Did I mention that all these concerts are FREE—and open to the public?

April in Santa Cruz Contemporary Music Festival runs Thursday, April 13, through Sunday, April 30, at the UCSC Music Center. Free (Arts Parking Lot #126; $5 or by permit). arts.ucsc.edu/news_events/april-santa-cruz-festival-new-music

Opinion: Ocean Man

Adam Joseph

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April 5, 2023

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EDITOR’S NOTE

It’s a big deal for Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Body Surfing Association and bodysurfers worldwide that Steamer Lane is hosting its first-ever USA Bodysurfing (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) event. The fact that it’s North America’s inaugural International Bodysurfing Association (IBSA) World Tour Qualifying Series contest adds more glitter to the occasion.

Nobody is more qualified to detail the importance of this landmark competition to bodysurfers than Ryan Masters. It’s evident from how he speaks and writes about it—plus the assortment of battle scars on his body—that his connection to the sport runs deep. Masters has experienced so many otherworldly moments out there in the water sans surfboard; sometimes, the beauty of the moment overshadows the risks.

In 2016, Masters’ bodysurfing expertise was tested at Mavericks, one of the most infamous big-wave spots in the world. He plunged into the dark waters in late February, usually around when El Nino is or has hit and the waves are breaking exceptionally high and falling with intense impact. After winter storms in the northern Pacific, the waves routinely crest at 25-plus feet—and up to 60 feet. But Masters caught a couple of waves, and everything seemed to be going well—until it wasn’t.

“What Lies Beneath: Bodysurfing in the Key of Heavy” is Ryan’s first-person account of what he describes in The Surfer’s Journal as a “near-fatal mauling” at Mavericks. That third wave Masters went for dropped him into a barrel headfirst, shooting him into the reefs with enormous power.

The Santa Cruz renaissance man was airlifted to Stanford Medical Center. He suffered seven broken ribs, a broken scapula, a punctured lung and a fractured neck. During Masters’ recovery, he concluded—with a “catheter jammed up my urethra”—that “bodysurfing Mavericks is an exercise with marginal returns. It is far too ferocious and unforgiving an animal to ride unsuccessfully at any size.” Also, his wife forbade him from ever tackling that beast again. While Mavericks is off-limits, there are plenty of gnarly breaks that Masters has bodysurfed—without injury—since, including Waimea, the Wedge and Steamer Lane. There are still infinite waves for the 50-year-old to connect with.

“I will never be done bodysurfing big, deep waves,” Master says. “There are plenty of them out there, each one a new note in the key of heavy.”

Adam Joseph | Editor

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

A lone lifeguard station on Manresa State Beach. Photograph by Nanda Currant.

Submit to ph****@*******es.sc. Include information (location, etc.) and your name. Photos may be cropped. Preferably, photos should be 4 inches by 4 inches and minimum 250dpi.

GOOD IDEA

K-12 students throughout Santa Cruz can now enter the annual poster contest to support recycling and reduce the city’s litter. Students can creatively express the importance of recycling and litter abatement through artwork. The winning posters will be displayed on city recycling and refuse trucks and downtown big-belly trash bins over the next year. cityofsantacruz.com/postercontest

GOOD WORK

Last week, the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) announced Rancho San Andres Castro Adobe in Watsonville as a winner of a Preservation Design Award this year for work on the adobe’s restoration. Over the past 15 years, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and the community came together to repair and restore the historic adobe to preserve the only remaining building of the Rancho era in Santa Cruz County. The project is one of 16 that is being honored by the CPF. californiapreservation.org/awards

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“It’s one of the most extreme things I’ve ever seen. It’s so extreme it’s like hanging from the wing of an airplane while everyone is sitting inside.”
—Pro surfer Nic von Rupp (on bodysurfers who ride big waves)

Letter to the Editor: Stop Texting Me!

Adam Joseph

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April 5, 2023

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For decades, students have struggled financially while questioning whether they can afford the textbooks they need to attend classes. Since 1977, the price of textbooks has risen by 1041%, three times the rate of inflation.

In my experience, one textbook can cost as much as a month’s supply of groceries. College itself is very expensive; there is a risk of putting students in a financially insecure environment to ensure their own future when textbooks are added to the cost.

Thankfully, organizations like the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) are working on ways to create more options for textbook affordability, such as moving toward open access and Open Educational Resources (OER).

Despite the challenging impact of Covid, CALPIRG is still working with the grassroots organization to collect a large number of petition signatures from all campus communities to demonstrate student support.

CALPIRG aims to ensure that UC Regents’ funding goes towards students’ futures and not their debt.

This issue will be heard, and eventually, students do not have to choose between spending money to support themselves or textbooks needed for class.

These letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.To submit a letter to the editor of Good Times: Letters should be originals—not copies of letters sent to other publications. Please include your name and email address to help us verify your submission (email address will not be published). Please be brief. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Send letters to le*****@*******es.sc

Things to Do in Santa Cruz: April 5-11

Adam Joseph

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April 4, 2023

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ARTS AND MUSIC

THE BASTARD SONS OF JOHNNY CASH WITH NASHVILLE HONEYMOON Mark Stuart was personally permitted to use the band’s name by Johnny Cash himself and was also honored by the Man in Black with an invitation to record songs at Cash’s home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard were also early believers who were instrumental in helping Stuart get his start. With the release of their critically acclaimed 1999 debut, Walk Alone, the Bastard Sons quickly proved they weren’t another “wedding band” performing straightforward covers. With solid songwriting and musicianship, the outfit jumped to the forefront of the growing alt-country music scene. Their constant touring has resulted in a loyal fanbase in the States and overseas. Meanwhile, songwriting duo Hank Maninger and Lynne Maes’ shared love of country music blossomed into an inspired partnership, onstage and off. Nashville Honeymoon’s original tunes are inspired by a cornucopia of country, rockabilly and honky tonk. $15/$20 plus fees. Wednesday, April 5, 8pm (two-step lesson at 7:30pm). Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com

CREED BRATTON WITH RORY LYNCH “I am not offended by homosexuality. In the ’60s, I made love to many women, often outdoors in the mud and rain. It’s possible a man could’ve slipped in there. There’d be no way of knowing.” If you’re a fan of The Office, you likely know which character said this. Creed Bratton, who played Creed Bratton on The Office during its nine-season lifespan, took what was initially intended to be a background character without any dialogue and created a fan favorite. Creed’s wonderfully cryptic—and somewhat shady—backstory oozed out more and more with each season. Creed is THE quality assurance department; he might have been a cult leader, he enjoys dining at soup kitchens, enjoys mind-altering substances, has four toes, and “the only difference between me and a homeless man is this job. I will do whatever it takes to survive—like I did when I was a homeless man.” The now 80-year-old Bratton’s unexpected stardom revealed another side of the actor: He’s a musician and played lead guitar for the mildly successful psych-rock group the Grass Roots in the late ’60s. In 2018, Bratton released a well-received solo record, While The Young Punks Dance. His live shows are a mix of comedy and music, and Office fans should not miss them. $25/$29 plus fees. Friday, April 7, 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com

TAYLOR RAE WITH MOKILI WA Santa Cruz Mountains’ singer-songwriter Taylor Rae has consistently released music since she was a sophomore in high school. Now at 27, Rae has modernized her ’70s-inspired sound with a blend of jazz, psych-folk and blues-rock that she calls “Soul and Roll.” Now living in Austin, Rae has immersed herself in the live music scene while performing an average of 200 shows yearly, playing in 28 cities across America in 2022, and hit some major festivals, including the Rochester International Jazz Festival and NPR’s Mountain Stage. Rae’s Top 20 Americana Music Album Chart debut, Mad Twenties, is the culmination of a mildly frenzied decade lived with courageous grit. A new-found maturity resonates throughout her acclaimed recent LP, Mad Twenties. The single “Home on the Road” was on the Top 10 Americana Music Singles Chart for five consecutive weeks. $15/$20 plus fees. Friday, April 7, 9pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com

STINKFOOT ORCHESTRA FEATURING NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK The debut of Mountain Music Productions’ Santa Cruz Veterans Hall concert series features Napoleon Murphy Brock, iconic frontman for Frank Zappa’s 1970s ensemble. Brock is known for helping breathe life into many of Zappa’s most enduring tunes throughout four albums, including what many consider his best live release, Roxy and Elsewhere. Decades later, Brock’s Grammy Award-winning voice is as strong as ever. The San Jose native still boasts a four-octave range, bringing an immediate sense of familiarity to the music of the Stinkfoot Orchestra. Using a 6-piece horn section, four vocalists and a trio of percussionists, the ensemble delivers the intricacies and eccentricities of Frank’s music with power, authenticity and musical prowess. Founded by a 35-year veteran of the South Bay music scene, Nick Chargin, the Stinkfoot Orchestra spent most of the pandemic honing their craft and transcribing horn charts, finally bringing their show to the stage in September of 2021. Boosted by a few articles that got international attention, the band hit the road with multiple trips to the Pacific Northwest in 2022, exposing new audiences to Zappa’s music and wowing the most devout Zappa heads. $25/$30. Friday, April 7, 8pm. Veterans Memorial Hall, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz. mountainmusicproductions.com

PAINTED MANDOLIN: A BENEFIT FOR THE LAND TRUST OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY From 1991-94, Joe Craven was a member of the Garcia/Grisman Band, and from 1989-2004, he was part of the David Grisman Quintet. So, with the multi-instrumentalist Craven (mandolin, fiddle, vocals and percussion) at the helm, Painted Mandolin has an ideal frontman to carry on Jerry Garcia’s music, touching on most of the Grateful Dead frontman’s musical journey. The quartet performs tunes from Garcia’s early jug band days, his bluegrass-saturated Old and In the Way era, and many of the Dead acoustic songs most famously showcased on their beloved album Reckoning. Proceeds from Painted Mandolin’s show will go to the Santa Cruz Land Trust, a foundation dedicated to preserving the open spaces around Santa Cruz. $27-32. Saturday, April 8, 7:30pm. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. kuumbwajazz.org

BILL AND JILIAN NERSHI WITH JASON HANN The String Cheese Incident guitarist and co-founder Bill Nershi and his wife, Jilian, unleash harmonies and powerful acoustic guitar, immediately drawing in the listener. An inspired journey through various styles and influences, a throwback to the roots of American music, the Nershis have a relaxed way of connecting with the audience through the stories in their songs. Constantly finding ways to make the music sound complete as a duo, unique arrangements and an extensive catalog of original songs highlight the couple’s dedication to their craft. $36 plus fees. Saturday, April 8, 7pm. Big Basin Vineyards, 830 Memory Lane, Boulder Creek. bigbasinvineyards.com

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Balletto Vineyards, 5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa, 707-568-2455; ballettovineyards.com

Winemaker’s Dinner at Martin Ranch Winery

Winemaker’s Dinner at Martin Ranch Winery, 6675 Redwood Retreat Road, Gilroy. Friday, April 14, 6:30-9:30pm. $265 plus tax; martinranchwinery.com

Regan Vineyards Winery

Regan Vineyards, 1600 Green Valley Road, Corralitos; reganwinery.com

Buzzo Pizza, 2510 South Main St., Soquel, 831-316-7336; buzzopizza.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

ARTS AND MUSIC