Page 304 – Good Times

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Feb 23-March 1

GT Staff

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February 23, 2022

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Feb 23-March 1

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

CIRCLE JERKS WITH ADOLESCENTS AND NEGATIVE APPROACH The iconic punk outfit recently re-released their classic 1982 record Wild in the Streets. Before forming Circle Jerks, frontman Keith Morris’ storied career began with Black Flag. In 2009, he formed OFF!, a hardcore punk supergroup; however, it’s Circle Jerks’ music, including tunes like “Live Fast Die Young,” “World Up My Ass” and a slew of others that continue to inspire a new generation of punk bands and fans. See Feb. 16 story. $29.50/$35. Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test required. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 8pm. The Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. catalystclub.com.

ALBERT CUMMINGS The longtime Massachusetts bluesman has shared stages with everyone from Buddy Guy to Johnny Winter. “Cummings effortlessly shifts from chimney subdued stylings to raucous roadhouse raunch to soaring yet stinging lead lines, driving his audience to frenzy in all the right places,” Guitar Edge Magazine wrote of the musician. $20/$24. Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test required. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 CA-9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com.

MAKAYA MCCRAVEN The drummer, producer and “sonic collagist” is a self-proclaimed “beat scientist.” McCraven’s 2016 In the Moment was dubbed “one of the most important recordings to date in the modern jazz world” by Turntable Lab. The France native’s Highly Rare is a “lo-fi free-jazz-meets-hip-hop mixtape.” The New York Times praised the record as one of the “Best Albums of 2017.” $25/$30.Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test required. Thursday, Feb. 24, 8pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com.

MOONALICE Bill Gates values Roger McNamee’s opinion. So do the core members of the Grateful Dead and U2’s Bono. As a Bay Area tech investment advisor, McNamee has a reputation for his knack to foresee technological changes before anyone else. And he’s earned a fortune. But most of the year, he’s nowhere near his office. He’s touring with his psych-rock jam band, Moonalice. $20/$24.Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test required. Friday, Feb. 25, 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 CA-9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com.

DAVY KNOWLES ALBUM RELEASE SHOW The singer-songwriter’s forthcoming record What Happens Next is a tapestry of soul, folk, rock and the blues, influenced by the likes of Fantastic Negrito, Muddy Waters, Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside. The musician calls it a “cohesive body of work rather than a collection of disparate songs.” Santa Cruz native, opener Anthony Arya, appeared on “The Voice.” $18. Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test required. Friday, Feb. 25, 8pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com.

BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR SANTA CRUZ The three-night collection of film screenings feature views from the highest peaks, skiing the steepest slopes and adventuring through vast landscapes. Proceeds go towards student scholarships for Adventure Rec student-led trips and Wilderness Orientation programs. $10-26. Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test required. Friday, Feb. 25-Sunday, Feb. 27, 7pm. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz. riotheatre.com.

‘THE ARTIFICIAL WOMAN’ The world premiere of this untraditional musical is based on the true story of Austrian artist Oskar Kokoschka’s passionate love affair with composer Alma Mahler. After they split up, the artist had a life-size doll made in his ex’s likeness. $8/$18. Friday, Feb. 25, 7:30pm-Sunday, March 6, 3pm. eXperimental Theater, UCSC, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. theater.ucsc.edu.

‘‘DA KINK IN MY HAIR’ Women tell their moving and sometimes amusing stories in a West Indian hair salon in Toronto. Told through words, music and dance, the stories explore the adversity and joy of their lives. $8/$18. Friday, Feb. 25, 7:30pm-Sunday, Feb. 27, 3pm. Mainstage at the UCSC Theater Arts Center, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. theater.ucsc.edu.

SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL: FROM HOTTETERRE TO HOTTER JAZZ Jacques-Martin Hotteterre (1674-1763), the foremost member of the great French dynasty of renowned Baroque woodwind instrument makers, players and composers, told the world his secrets of the wooden flute (France’s most popular instrument of the time). Three centuries later, Hotter Jazz applies Hotteterre’s same improvisational approach to the jazz genre. $11-28. Sunday, Feb. 27, 5pm. Peace United Church of Christ, High St., Santa Cruz. scbaroque.org.

RICHARD THOMPSON SOLO/ACOUSTIC In 2017, the former Fairport Convention member began composing 13 Rivers at his California home. The music possesses a distinct cohesion. “I wrote the songs as a group to hang together,” Thompson explained. “They belong together in some way and seem to possess a commonality since they were written in the same time and space.” $33.50. Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test required. Saturday, Feb. 26, 8pm. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. ci.ovationtix.com.

Y&T Since 1974, the Oakland hard rockers haven’t slowed down—18 records released and over four million albums sold. The band’s most recent single, “I’m Coming Home,” has garnered nearly two million views on YouTube. $26. Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test required. Saturday, Feb. 26, 8pm. The Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. catalystclub.com.

COMMUNITY

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS It’s been almost a century since the Globetrotters’ debut, but they continue to dazzle both basketball fans and non-basketball fans. The Trotters also hold the best winning percentage in basketball, with a record of 27,000 wins and only 345 games lost. $22-154. 7pm, Wednesday, Feb. 23. Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz. ticketmaster.com.

SANTA CRUZ WARRIORS VS. BIRMINGHAM SQUADRON Cheer on the most advanced players in the world outside of the NBA. $27-155. 7pm, Saturday, Feb. 26. Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz. santacruz.gleague.nba.com

CITY OF SANTA CRUZ RECYCLING BOOT CAMP Confused about recycling? You’re not alone! There have been many changes to the recycling industry since China stopped taking most material from the West a few years ago. Learn to “recycle right” —on a global scale all the way down to our local region. Virtual event. Tuesday, March 1, 6-8pm. bit.ly/32Wr1yL.

PAJARO VALLEY QUILT SHOW More than 300 quilts on display, live auctions, a “Bargain Garden,” wearable arts, featured artist Rachel Clark, special exhibits, bed turning and a whole lot more. The Quilt Show “Good Vibrations” will be live, and the “Opportunity Quilt” has been named “At the Beach.” $10. 10am-5pm, Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 27. Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville. pvqa.org.

GROUPS

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Spanish-speaking women diagnosed with cancer meet twice monthly. Free. Registration required. Friday, Feb. 25, 6pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Ste. A1, Soquel. 831-457-2273. womencaresantacruz.org.

WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM WomenCARE Arm-in-Arm Cancer support group for women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic cancer meets every Monday on Zoom. Free. Registration required. Monday, Feb. 28, 12:30pm. 831-457-2273. womencaresantacruz.org.

WOMENCARE TUESDAY SUPPORT GROUP The WomenCARE Tuesday Cancer support group currently meets on Zoom for women newly diagnosed and those undergoing treatment. Free Registration required. Tuesday March 1, 12:30-2pm. 831-457-2273. Womencaresantacruz.org.

OUTDOOR

APTOS WINE WANDER Discover local Santa Cruz Mountains wineries while strolling through Aptos Village businesses. Participating wineries will be selling bottles at the Bottle Booth. $40. Saturday, Feb. 26, 1-4pm. Aptos Village, 8032 Soquel Drive, Aptos (Registration: Mulberry Gallery at 8050 Soquel Drive). winesofthesantacruzmountains.com.

EVERGREEN VOLUNTEER DAYS All ages welcome, including high school students seeking community service hours. Tools and work gloves will be provided. Please bring a mask and bottled water. Friday, Feb. 25, 9:30am. Evergreen Cemetery, 261 Evergreen St., Santa Cruz.

SURFER’S PATH 10K/5K Enjoy beachfront views of Monterey Bay along the pristine Santa Cruz County coastline. Travel the Surfer’s Path, which features some of the world’s most famous breaks. Finish in the heart of Capitola Village, where there will be a bevy of surf music and celebrating. $65/registration fee. Sunday, Feb. 27, 8am. Capitola Village, 201 Esplanade, Capitola. cityofcapitola.org

FREE TUESDAY AT UCSC ARBORETUM Explore the biodiversity of the arboretum gardens, birdwatch or relax on a bench in the shade. Tuesday, March 1, 9am. UCSC Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. arboretum.ucsc.edu.

SUNSET BEACH BOWLS & BONFIRE Watch the sunset and experience the multi-sensory vibrations of crystal bowls and the ocean waves, creating a blissful symphony of sound. Tuesday, March 1, 5-6pm. Moran Lake Park and Beach, E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. 831-333-6736.

Letter to the Editor: Go Bus-Trail

Letters to the Editor

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February 23, 2022

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As an engineer with a patent for an All-Express Passenger Train System, I am 100% certain that the compromised Santa Cruz County version of Rail-Trail would be a mistake.

After getting educated, even the TIG group rescinded their promise to provide passenger service between Santa Cruz and Watsonville, now only promising to provide “service” between the Boardwalk and Capitola Village. While it may have looked sleek standing still, the latest demonstration from this for-profit group couldn’t even prove that their “wannabe bus” could safely move faster than the 10 mph limit. Regardless of that concern, it exposed the fact that everyone could see—the best that one would ever get with any transportation means restricted to a single railroad track (predetermined over 100 years ago) is that it cannot get closer than a quarter of a mile to key destinations.

Those passengers less fortunate than us who cannot walk that challenging last quarter of a mile down and back up a steep hill must transfer to a more flexible means of transportation (like an electric bus). Rather than dealing with inconvenient transfers, why not use common sense and replace the slice of that very limited single train track segment with a surface usable by all that could be allocated for an electric bus to actually expeditiously travel the full distance between the Boardwalk and Jade Park in Capitola, then easily travel directly into Capitola Village. (Such a strategic Bus-Trail is just one possible improvement over Rail-Trail and can be built upon the solid foundation of the flexible Trail-Only.)

While the for-profit TIG arrangement may have hooked up with the beloved twice a day Roaring Camp Tourist service in Felton, regular passengers would probably prefer two less time-consuming transfers that would be possible with something better than a compromised Rail-Trail.

Bob Fifield

Aptos

This letter does 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*****@go*******.sc.

Opinion: Burgers to Fuel a Comeback

GT Staff

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February 23, 2022

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Steve Palopoli editor good times santa cruz california

The news that Rosie McCann’s is reopening in its old space on Pacific Avenue next week has sparked a new round of conversations about the comeback of downtown Santa Cruz. There are still plenty of empty storefronts on and around our main drag, but every new addition is a step in the right direction, and Rosie’s is a special case. When it closed in the fall of 2020, the owners promised “This isn’t goodbye, just see you later.” At that dark point in the pandemic, I suspect few people thought they could deliver on that. But a year and a half later, they have.

Rosie’s return will be too late for this year’s Burger Week, which starts today and runs through March 1. But they’ve been a part of it in past years, and hopefully they’ll be back in the fold next year. After all, burgers are the perfect comeback food. They’re delicious and highly portable, which means you can find a situation to fit your current level of pandemic dining comfort—indoor, outdoor or takeout—at any of the nearly 30 restaurants participating in this year’s event. Christina Waters has the lowdown on this year’s creations in our special pullout section, and you’ll also find a complete guide to where to go and what creations they have in store for you this week.

A few other timely comebacks worth noting: After being virtual for the last two years, the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns to the Rio for in-person screenings this weekend; UCSC grad and local fave singer-songwriter John Craigie is also back at the Rio, with shows on March 2 and 3; and my favorite Santa Cruz running series, Surfer’s Path, is back with a 10k/5k on Sunday, Feb. 27. Go to runsurfersparth.com for registration details.

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ONLINE COMMENTS

Re: Michele Benson

Fabulous idea and I wish her well with it! As a 20 something year old in the early ’90s, I would head down to the Catalyst and see as many bands as possible. My favorites were Chaos Lounge, Los Lobos, They Might Be Giants, Matthew Sweet, The Lemonheads, George Thorogood, John Lee Hooker and Pearl Jam. The energy in the Catalyst back then was really a strong one as the scene was so unique & vibrant. I’ll always look back on those years as my research for my own songwriting, learning from all those great bands that have played there!

— Matthew Kenneth Gray

I admire Michele Benson’s tenacity and ability to produce such a labor intensive documentary project as: “All Access – Music In The Cruz”!

Can’t wait to view this production when it has been completed!

Anyone that has the financial ability to help Michele produce her documentary should do so today so she can release it to the public as soon as possible!

— Roy Jordan

Re: Scotts Valley Schools

Bullying has been a tradition in Scotts Valley (middle and high) schools for many years. Our daughter suffered through bullying at SV Middle School and High School in the early 2000s. Eventually, we pulled her out and moved her to Cypress High where she was welcomed and flourished. The cultural and political atmosphere in Scotts Valley is completely out of tune with the rest of Santa Cruz County. Best wishes to Mateo’s family.

— Bill

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

A heart-bubble sunset on West Cliff Drive. Photograph by Karen Jensen.

Submit to ph****@go*******.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

SPONSOR SCIENCE

Recently, GT received a handwritten letter from Bay View Elementary fifth grader Arianna, asking us to help spread the word about her class fundraiser. This March, Arianna and her classmates are attending Outdoor Science School, where the kids will learn about science outdoors. Arianna is looking forward to the “ropes course and all you can eat food,” and wants to make sure all her classmates will be able to attend. The cost is $365 per student, but any amount can be donated. Call (831) 429-3991 for more information.

GOOD WORK

ANIMAL CROSSING

Construction to build the Central Coast’s first-ever wildlife tunnel is starting on Highway 17, in an effort to give animals a safe path to cross the winding highway. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County bought 700 acres of property in 2014, with the goal of creating a safe path for wildlife to cross the busy highway, which sees more than 60,000 drivers daily. CalTrans will be working underneath Laurel Curve along Highway 17, which is the deadliest section of the 17.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives.”
Oscar Wilde

Burger Week 2022: A Complete Guide

Christina Waters

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February 22, 2022

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American comfort food still holds firmly to its core values, as embodied by the burger. Combining the softness of the buns with the satisfying umami of the patty (ground beef, or Impossible patty, or a myriad of alternatives) the burger is practically proof of the existence of some sort of divine plan.

Where did it all start, this passion for the handheld meat-in-a-bun meal? Well let’s start with the sausage. An ancient excuse for the application of mustard, sausage involves lots of ground up animal protein packed into a casing. Fast forward to either Germany or England, depending upon your choice of references. The need to speed up access to the ground-meat-plus-bread, combined with time constraints created by the workday, meant that the meat had to escape confinement. It came out of its casing closet, and loosened up. But the ease of access was non-negotiable.

Two slices of bread offered the first solution. You didn’t have to try to hold the meaty juices with your bare hands—the bread soaked them up. It was inevitable that that bread would soon be custom-shaped into the iconic shape of the patty interior, so the bread became circular—the oldest shape humans loved to create. The meal could be approached from any angle. Democratic, that’s what the first burgers were. They were a meal without fuss; just bread, meat and condiments that could be eaten quickly—during a lunch hour—and cheaply.

Still, the burger cried out for identity. The burger had to be one thing, not a composite of various animal parts, and in the beginning that meant beef. Ground beef, shaped into a roundish patty and served between the buns. But of course that wasn’t enough. More was needed—first mustard, then in rapid succession came pickle relish (or pickle slices). Then tomatoes, although probably not in the burger’s ancestral homeland of northern Europe. Then the onslaught of onions, lettuce, and finally the piece de resistance: cheese.

So perfect is the marriage of hot beef and melting cheese that the cheeseburger is, for many of us, definitive. A glorious, messy meal that requires two hands but no cutlery, the cheeseburger is the apotheosis of the burger’s identity.

American Dream Burger

The burger as we know it today got its start somewhere in the U.S. in the latter part of the 19th century. Many states claim to be home to the hamburger inventor, but outside of some pretty good cases made for Wisconsin and Texas in the 1880s, it’s probably safest to say that a lot of burger entrepreneurs were working toward kicking off this cultural obsession around the same time.

In the beginning, it was fast food. By the 20th century, many of us were weaned on Big Macs and its baroque cousin the Whopper. To get a burger, you had to go to a diner—much like Burger Week’s Santa Cruz Diner where beach-goers stop to lunch, or to nosh on a satisfying burger after the beach. Or a drive-in. In 1921, White Castle began selling burgers for a nickel each. Eventually, the runaway success of McDonalds in the 1950s put the burger on every lunch menu. Soon there was KFC (which actually sold beef burgers in the ’60s), Wendy’s (with the bacon!), In-n-Out (with special spread), Carl’s Jr. (mmm, the thousand island dressing), and so on and so on. In particular, the day bacon entered the burger scene was tantamount to a religious conversion. What could be better than juicy ground beef made even juicier with crisp and salty bacon? The answer was of course, more bacon.

And it was inevitable that burger would expand its identity to include the turkey burger, the bison burger, the lamb burger, the un-burger, the veggie burger. At Belly Goat Burger, the gamut runs from the protein redundant Seoul Surfer, with layers of beef, smoked pork belly and fried egg, to the botanically intense Forager constructed around a blackened portobello mushroom, adorned with avocado, chimichurri tomatoes, sriracha olive aioli and baby greens. All vegan, all glorious. The burger on the runway, if you will. Yes, indeed, the burger has morphed into infinite variations. At Parish Publick House, the burger has surfed itself into an island attitude with the Hawaiian Burger. This baby is complete with grilled ham, swiss cheese, teriyaki sauce and pineapple salsa. Ethnic diversity to please just about everybody.

In addition to self-replication in a new variety of modes, the burger migrated onto new menus. No longer simply the all-American staple of fast food, the burger upped its game and joined upscale menus along with truffle gnocchi, Dungeness crab salads and fresh porcinis with polenta. Starting in the late 1990s, the burger took its place on upscale menus and chefs competed to turn out the burger as a serious entree, to be joined by artisanal beers and premium wines. And cocktails. The burger with a Moscow mule? Absolutely.

At Solaire, that’s just what you can have. Solaire’s Black and Blue Burger is an extravaganza of blackened angus beef with blue cheese, blue cheese aioli, all the trimmings on a brioche bun. The upmarket burger, with atmosphere to match. Especially pampering paired with a shot of your favorite mezcal and your favorite date.

The burger also loves to boogie in the company of live music, like it does at Felton Music Hall. Even though this vintage roadhouse in the middle of Felton is famed for its many fried chicken offerings, it makes a mean smash burger—thin, juicy with a caramelized crust. Add fries and a beer and you’re styling.

The burger likes to insist on its primal origins at places like Back Nine Grill and Bar, so easy to access, with an appealing remodel to the bar and interior. Reliable burgers with all the trimmings in a feel good atmosphere, immediately off Highway 17. And at Burger, where the name says it all, there’s a multiverse of delicious burgers in just about every form you could want—and many you never thought of.

At Betty’s, the all-natural beef contains neither hormones nor antibiotics. Here the burger struts its transformations, from the Basic Betty 1/3 lb. burger patty to the Gobbler with ground turkey, green onion sauce and a whole wheat bun. My personal favorite, the Mad Mex, frosts its beef with fresh guacamole and pepper jack. At Surf City Sandwich, the burgers are as generous as the sandwiches. The Vulcan Mind Melt takes you around the galaxy with Angus beef and applewood smoked bacon. Plus two cheeses and fried onion rings on garlic ciabatta. Flavor comes at you from all sides. Even the Surf City Burger delivers the full burger experience, with choices of cheese, and the full-on lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and mayo adornments.

Great burgers are everywhere in the Santa Cruz region, even in places even more famous for their outrageous breakfasts and brunches, like Zachary’s. In fact, diehard burger heads have been known to pass up the iconic Mike’s Mess in favor of Zachary’s Breakfast Burger, in which two fried eggs, bacon, grilled onions and cheddar cheese hold down the burger, and the whole thing rides on a grilled platform of oatmeal molasses toast.

Capitola Grill ups the ante with its Surf & Turf Burger, in which eight ounces of sumptuous Wagyu Beef hangs out on a brioche bun, along with grilled prawns, roasted garlic aioli, cheddar and arugula. Plus a view of the ocean—hard to beat. But of course they offer a classic burger with half a pound of Angus beef and many, many trimmings. You can add fried eggs, bacon, even extra beef patties. There is more island thinking over at the eclectic Point Market & Eatery, where you can grab yourself a Mahi Burger slathered with grilled pineapple, mushrooms, tomatoes and a side of fries. But they’ve got a dozen burgers to choose from, including a Chipotle black bean burger as well as the mouth-spicy Pleasure Point burger with all the trimmings, plus Italian peppers and jalapeños. Yeow!

At Seabright Social, the Avocado burger with mango salsa and spicy aioli offers tons of mouthfeel and comfort flavors. At Bruno’s in Scotts Valley, award-winning burgers are part of the bar and grill action. Burgers are getting the star treatment at the Heavenly Roadside Cafe, with high-wattage condiments like grilled jalapeños, or grilled ham and an over-easy egg. Robbie’s Pizza & Subs has a mouth-watering Western Burger combo, involving a bacon burger with crispy onions, bbq sauce, plus fries and more. And Robbie’s in Capitola makes an offer you can’t refuse—a combo of burger, fries and drink for ten bucks!

Many burger lovers love their burgers with an ocean view. For that, there’s Gilda’s on the Santa Cruz Wharf, with the sights and sounds of Steamers Lane. Also on the wharf, Makai dazzles its various burgers with a sweet brioche bun and zippy pineapple-jalapeño chutney.

Crow’s Nest at the Yacht Harbor sports a wavefront view, lamb burgers with tomato onion jam, salmon burgers with Asian slaw and a full bar. At Paradise Beach Grille, you can feast on a halibut burger with monterey jack and avocado while watching the sunset on the Capitola Beach. The View at the Chaminade will make you an all-American burger, with cheese and bacon, and throw in the Monterey Bay view for free. Pono Hawaiian Kitchen has truly risen to the occasion by offering the Flying Pig on its Capitola Road digs. Yes, island devotees, there’s Kalua pork, grilled pineapple and pickled jalapeños, but there’s also grilled spam on the Hawaiian sweet roll bun. Michael’s on Main has a patio, a creek, a full bar and a quartet of tempting burgers, including the Grateful Burger made with Angus Beef, or unbeef. Neighborhood favorite Crepe Place is currently running crepe-wrapped Angus beef patties with cheddar and bacon, and a salmon crepe burger with fresh mushrooms and dill sauce. Sanderlings at the Seascape Resort is doing a trio of burgers, with the Beyond Burger plus smoked gouda, caramelized mushroom and crispy onion making vegan a luscious option.

Savor the diversity. Let them eat burgers!

Welcome to Burger Week!

For a sixth year, GT presents Santa Cruz Burger Week, happening Feb. 23 – March 1. During Burger Week, participating restaurants throughout Santa Cruz County will offer burger specials for $10, $12 or $15. With both hearty favorites and gourmet offerings, Burger Week encourages guests to try a new restaurant or rediscover a tried-and-true favorite. Below is a list of all of this year’s participants. You can find the Burger Week menu for each in this pullout and at santacruzburgerweek.com.

Back Nine Grill & Bar

555 Hwy. 17, Santa Cruz. 226-2350, backninegrill.com

Belly Goat Burgers

725 Front St., Santa Cruz. 225-0355, bellygoatburgers.com

Betty Burgers

1222 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 600-7056; 1000 41st Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-8190; 505 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-8190; 415 Trout Gulch Road, Aptos, 831-612-6668; bettyburgers.com

Bruno’s Bar and Grill

230 Mount Hermon Road, Scotts Valley. 438-2227, brunosbarandgrill.com

Burger.

7941 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 662-2811; 1520 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 425-5300; burgerlovesbeer.com

Capitola Bar & Grill

231 Esplanade, Capitola. 854-2888, capitolabarandgrill.com

Crow’s Nest

2218 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. 476-4560, crowsnest-santacruz.com

Felton Music Hall

6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. 704-7113, feltonmusichall.com

Gilda’s

37 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz. 423-2010, gildas-restaurant.com

Heavenly Roadside Cafe

1210 Mt. Hermon Road, Scotts Valley. 335-7311, heavenlyroadsidecafe.com

Makai Island Kitchen and Groggery

49A Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz. 466-9766, makaisantacruz.com

Michael’s On Main

2591 S. Main St., Soquel. 479-9777, michaelsonmain.com

Paradise Beach Grille

215 Esplanade, Capitola. 476-4900, paradisebeachgrille.com

Parish Publick House

841 Almar Ave., Santa Cruz, 421-0507; 8017 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 708-2036; theparishpublick.com

Pono Hawaiian Kitchen and Tap

3744 Capitola Road, Capitola. 476-7458, ponokitchenandtap.com

Robbie’s Pizza and Subs

841 N Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz. 426-5955

Robbie’s Sandwiches

3555 Clares St., Suite TT, Capitola. 515-7411, robbies-sandwiches.business.site

Sanderlings at Seascape Beach Resort

1 Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos. 662-7120, sanderlingsrestaurant.com

Santa Cruz Diner

909 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. 426-7151, santacruzdiner.com

Seabright Social

519 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz. 426-2739, seabrightsocial.com

Solaire Restaurant + Bar

611 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. 425-7100, hotelparadox.com/santa-cruz-restaurants

Surf City Sandwich

4101 Soquel Drive, Soquel. 346-6952, surfcitysandwich.com

The Crepe Place

1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 429-6994, thecrepeplace.com

The Point Kitchen & Bar

3326 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz. 476-2733, thepointkitchenandbar.com

The View at Chaminade Resort

1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz. 465-3449, chaminade.com/santa_cruz_restaurants

Zachary’s

819 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 427-0646, zacharyssantacruz.com

After Legislative Whirlwind, New Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Nears Goal

Todd Guild

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February 22, 2022

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After Legislative Whirlwind, New Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Nears Goal

Watsonville Community Hospital’s history of local ownership dates back to 1895, nearly three decades after its namesake city was founded.

That changed in the early 1990s, when declining revenues and low reimbursement rates from managed health care plans prompted the hospital’s board of directors to consider a corporate partnership. What followed was 30 years of rocky management by three out-of-town corporations, which came to a crux in late 2021 when the hospital announced it was facing imminent closure unless a buyer came forward.

Enter the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District (PVHD), a nonprofit created by the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Watsonville, the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley and Salud Para La Gente with the sole mission of purchasing and operating the hospital.

That group won its bid on Feb. 18, canceling a planned auction and setting the stage for a hearing on Wednesday, when the court will consider PVHD’s finances and purchase proposal to possibly give the final approval for the sale.

That group cleared its first hurdle on Feb. 4, when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 418—roughly three weeks after author Senator John Laird introduced it—officially creating PVHD.

Laird, who wrote the law along with Senator Anna Caballero and Assembly Members Robert Rivas and Mark Stone, says that bills normally take around seven months to wind their way through the legislative process. He says the speedy passage and unanimous concurrence of both the Assembly and Senate—it passed 62-0 and 34-0, respectively—was a testament to the importance of the issue.

“This was at legislative warp speed,” Laird says. “It is impossible to understand how we would respond if that hospital goes under. So I took this issue on with a lot of urgency.”

Defining a District

A board of elected leaders similar to county boards of supervisors and school trustees—and governed by the same rules—health care districts are created to oversee some aspect of local health care. Because they are public agencies, they have bylaws that require open meetings and public input when any changes are proposed.

California currently has 77 health care districts, 32 of which run hospitals.

Better still, health care districts are not bound by the profit-centric models of many hospitals, says organizer Mimi Hall, who formerly served as the Santa Cruz County Public Health Director.

Hall adds that they often serve rural communities with health care provider shortages, large populations of under-insured and uninsured people as well as those on MediCal.

“They meet a need that probably only government is going to properly meet,” she says. “The whole reason we’re forming a health care district is we want a local form of government that is directly accountable to the communities they serve. It assures open government, oversight, transparency and it’s mission-focused. Our mission is to make sure that the community’s needs are met forever.”

PVHD will be made up of five members that, because of the quick formation and need for immediate action, will be appointed by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, Hall says. In the future, members will be chosen by voters.

“I believe we had broad community support,” she says. “The only reason we took this very, very abbreviated route was because we didn’t have the luxury of time.”

The next step––and perhaps the most challenging one––is to secure the funds needed to make the purchase and then to run the hospital, Hall says.

Team Effort

Leaders throughout the Pajaro Valley have already begun to step up. The County of Santa Cruz has pledged $5.5 million, the Community Health Trust has offered $4.65 million and the Central California Alliance for Health and County of Monterey have each devoted $3 million. The City of Watsonville also chipped in $130,000.

If PVHD makes a successful bid, it still faces a $25 million operating deficit, Hall says.

Financial projections show the organization breaking even from this deficit by 2023, and going into the black by 2026. That, Hall says, would make the hospital “creditworthy” in the eyes of lenders.

Making the task more difficult is that PVHD will not have the property tax apportionment allotted to health care districts under state law, since those rules are not retroactive. But the organization has no immediate plans to ask the public to approve a special tax, Hall says.

“We didn’t think this was the time for our community to be taxed,” she says. “So going into it we knew that that would be a part of our business plan.”

This means asking local health providers such as Kaiser, Dignity and Sutter for their help, and also counting on financial support from the state, Hall says.

Still, Hall says, the challenges can be met.

“If they were insurmountable, we would not move forward,” she says. “Because it’s not responsible to expend all this energy and effort and money to do something that won’t become a reality. We believe that it’s possible.”

In all, PVHD representatives have said that they would need to raise just under $67 million to purchase the hospital and continue its operations.

Hall calls the formation of PVHD, and the efforts necessary in moving forward, a “labor of love.”

“I want the community and anyone out there to remember that we have our eyes far on the horizon,” she says. “The whole reason we’re doing this is that, after a couple of decades, we have an opportunity to truly return this hospital back to the community and serve the community in the ways that it needs.”

Hospital History

It all began in 1895, when Dr. Peter Kemp Watters bought a house on Third Street (now called Beach Street) and built the five-room Watsonville Sanitarium next door for $1,097, according to historical records. This was enlarged in 1901 and renamed Watsonville Hospital and Training School of Nurses.

For the next 90 years, Watsonville’s hospital retained its private ownership, even as it grew and moved from 311 Montecito Ave. (where Montecito Manor nursing home currently is) to 294 Green Valley Road (where Pajaro Valley Unified School District is headquartered) and then to its current location at 75 Nielsen St.

The hospital remained under local control—overseen by a board of directors made up of doctors—even as it was incorporated and as leaders sold shares to stockholders (which were later bought back.)

It became a nonprofit organization in 1950.

But in 1993, the hospital’s financial future was looking grim, and so the board of directors partnered with Community Health Systems (CHS), which took over operations, starting 30 years of shaky corporate leadership.

CHS created a spinoff company called Quorum Health Corporation in 2016, which sold the hospital to Los Angeles-based Halsen Healthcare in 2019. That company—formed exclusively to purchase the hospital (and which still officially owns it)—sold the physical building and grounds to Alabama-based Medical Properties Trust (MPT), to lease it from them in a so-called sale/leaseback.

The hospital board ousted Halsen in January 2021, stating that the company was unable to meet “financial obligations to various stakeholders.” In its place, the board installed Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings.

Watsonville Community Hospital registered nurse Roseann Farris said that she and her colleagues are “cautiously optimistic” about the new leadership, with the only concern being whether the PVHD can find enough funding to make the purchase and keep it running.

“It’s very exciting to think about the growth that could occur, and this facility could be something that not only the employees and the physicians can be proud of, but that the community is proud of,” she says.

Farris is among dozens of nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital who have multiple times during the pandemic demonstrated against hospital leadership, claiming that staffing levels and working conditions had plummeted as the hospital struggled to make ends meet.

“This is a huge thing for our community, and for health care in general,” she says. “If it does come to being a district hospital, it can be very positive for this community, and I’m hopeful that it can be something that other communities can see as a way of preserving health care for their communities.”

Inaugural ‘Cookout’ Aims to Celebrate Santa Cruz’s Black Community

Johanna Miller

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February 22, 2022

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Inaugural ‘Cookout’ Aims to Celebrate Santa Cruz’s Black Community

Community organizer and UCSC researcher Ayo Banjo was relaxing on a local beach when he began reflecting on the local Black community in Santa Cruz County. The 22-year-old alumnus of UCSC realized that aside from Juneteenth, the annual holiday commemorating the emancipation of slaves in 1865, the county did not have many other events highlighting his community.

“Blacks here make up about 1% of the county population,” Banjo says. “And those numbers are around the same within UCSC. And there’s a lack of connection between the campus and the larger community. So my question was, ‘How can I bring together those relationships that have been so fundamental to me here in Santa Cruz?’”

The first thing that came to Banjo’s mind was to host a cookout, a gathering where a meal is prepared and served outdoors with neighbors, friends and family. The tradition formed and is still popular today within the Black community in the U.S.; it is distinctive from a simple barbecue.

“A cookout is a very special event for a lot of Black people,” Banjo says. “It’s where they find a lot of healing and joy.”

Banjo’s original idea for the Cookout started small. He first reached out to the Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative, a community initiative aiming to improve the health, equity and overall quality of life for Black residents in Santa Cruz County.

Cat Willis, founder and director of Black Health Matters, says she had already been aware of Banjo’s political work at UCSC and with the Santa Cruz County Black Coalition for Justice & Racial Equity.

“He was saying how important it is to replicate the experiences he had had growing up in a Black community,” Willis says. “That feeling when you’re at a cookout, with your aunt and uncle making food, the dancing, the joy … those memories, you don’t forget. Knowing he wanted to do that here, Black Health Matters was like, ‘Oh yeah, we’re definitely supporting that.’”

Black Health Matters had recently received a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s Black Freedom Fund and offered to use some of the funds to bring in the resources and leverage needed for the Cookout.

Word quickly spread from there, and soon the London Nelson Center, the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department and others were contacting Banjo to be part of the event.

“It transformed. It went way beyond what I thought it would be,” Banjo says. “What initially started as a small cookout within our tight-knit community came to represent something larger, that could take on a life of its own.”

The Cookout will be held this Saturday from 2-5pm at Harvey West Park, 326 Evergreen St. Word of Life, one of Santa Cruz’s oldest Black churches, will prepare a meal of barbecue ribs, chicken, cornbread and greens. Two local musicians, August Lee Stevens and Alexandra the Author, will perform throughout the afternoon.

Oakland-based Negus in Nature will be on hand holding relay races and track and field events. Insight Global, a talent and staffing agency from San Jose, has agreed to donate and come to the event to recruit more Black youth into their summer internship roles. And the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce will be offering services for Black-owned businesses.

The event is open to everyone, and will be family-friendly, with activities for kids such as face painting, balloon animals and more. No alcohol will be served on the premises.

“We definitely want kids to feel safe,” Banjo says. “I want to feel a sort of Disney energy—that kind of magic is what I’m going for.”

For Banjo, bringing together his UCSC family and Santa Cruz’s Black community was a major reason why he wanted to create the cookout.

“I have had so many different people who keep me grounded, who help me navigate my space here in Santa Cruz,” he says. “Those outside community connections are crucial. My job is not only to create a cookout, but I want to create something where we’re really bringing in the actual identities of Santa Cruz.”

Willis says she was looking forward to seeing what Ayo puts together.

“He’s so incredible, so meticulous as a community organizer,” Willis says. “I’m really excited to see people show up and experience this.”

Banjo’s biggest hope is that this will become an annual event, continuing to garner more support from the rest of the greater community while giving black folks a place to feel heard and seen.

“I want people to let go of the restraints we have on ourselves,” he says. “I don’t want anyone to feel like an imposter in this community, or feel like they don’t belong. I want them to feel included, that they have a stake and role to play in Santa Cruz. I don’t want us to just tolerate diversity—I want us to encourage it, embrace it and understand that it’s actually a benefit.”

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Feb 23-March 1

Rob Brezsny

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February 22, 2022

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Free will astrology for the week of Feb. 23

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it,” wrote author G. K. Chesterton. Amen to that! Please regard his observation as the first part of your horoscope. Here’s the second part: It’s sometimes the right approach to move in harmony with the flow, to allow the momentum of elemental forces to carry you along. But now is not one of those times. I suggest you experiment with journeys against the flow. Go in quest of what the followers of easy options will never experience. Do it humbly, of course, and with your curiosity fully deployed.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “You’re never allowed to step on people to get ahead,” said TV personality and author Star Jones, “but you can step over them if they’re in your way.” I suspect the coming months will be a time when you really should step over people who are in your way. There’s no need to be mad at them, criticize them or gossip about them. That would sap your energy to follow your increasingly clear dreams. Your main task is to free yourself from influences that obstruct your ability to be the Royal Sovereign of Your Own Destiny.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini-born Gina Rowlands is retired now, but she had an award-winning six-decade career as an actor. At age 20, she decided what she wanted to do with her life, and her parents offered her their blessings. She testified: “I went home and I told my mom that I wanted to quit college and be an actress, and she said, ‘Huh, that sounds fascinating. It’s wonderful!’ And I told my father, and he literally said, ‘I don’t care if you want to be an elephant trainer if it makes you happy.'” Dear Gemini, in the coming months, I would love for you to receive similar encouragement for your budding ideas and plans. What can you do to ensure you’re surrounded by influences like Rowlands’ parents? I hope you embark on a long-term project to get all the support you need.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): As you enter an astrological phase when vast, expansive ruminations will be fun and healthy for you, I will offer you some vast, expansive thoughts. Hopefully, they will inspire your own spacious musings. First, here’s artist M. C. Escher: “Wonder is the salt of the earth.” Next, author Salman Rushdie: “What’s real and what’s true aren’t necessarily the same.” Here’s poet Allen Ginsberg: “When you notice something clearly and see it vividly, it then becomes sacred.” A proverb from the Omaha people: “Ask questions from your heart, and you will be answered from the heart.” G. K. Chesterton: “Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” Finally, playwright Tony Kushner: “I’m not religious, but I like God, and he likes me.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Out of love, you can speak with straight fury,” wrote author Eudora Welty. Here’s how I interpret that in light of the current chapter of your life story: You have an opportunity to recalibrate some misaligned energy. You have the necessary insight to fix an imbalance or dissolve an illusion or correct a flow that has gone off-course. And by far the best way to do that is by wielding the power of love. It will need to be expressed with vehemence and intense clarity, however. It will require you to be both compassionate and firm. Your homework: Figure out how to express transformative truths with kindness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo political science professor Tatah Mentan was born and raised in the African country of Cameroon, which has never fully recovered from its grueling colonization by Germany, France and England. The democratic tradition there is tenuous. When Mentan first taught at a university in the Cameroonian capital, authorities found his ideas too controversial. For the next 16 years, he attempted to be true to himself while avoiding governmental censorship, but the strain proved too stressful. Fearing for his safety, he fled to the US. I’m turning to him for advice that will serve you well in the coming weeks. He tells us, “Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Anything you do from the heart enriches you, but sometimes not till years later,” wrote author Mignon McLaughlin. I’m pleased to inform you, Libra, that you will soon receive your rewards for generous actions you accomplished in the past. On behalf of the cosmic rhythms, I apologize for how long it has taken. But at least it’s finally here. Don’t underestimate how big this is. And don’t allow sadness about your earlier deprivation to inhibit your enthusiastic embrace of compensation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): No matter how reasonable and analytical you are, Scorpio, you possess a robust attraction to magic. You yearn for the refreshing invigoration of non-rational mysteries. You nurture urges to be delighted by outbreaks of the raw, primal lust for life. According to my astrological assessment, you are especially inclined to want and need these feelings in the next few weeks. And that’s good and healthy and holy! At the same time, don’t abandon your powers of discernment. Keep them running in the background as you enjoy your rejuvenating communions with the enigmatic pleasures of the Great Unknown.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Author Diane Ackerman tells us, “In the absence of touching and being touched, people of all ages can sicken and grow touch starved. Touch seems to be as essential as sunlight.” This is always important to remember, but it will be extra crucial for you to keep in mind during the coming weeks. I advise you to be ingenious and humble and frank as you collect as much physical contact as you can. Be polite and respectful, of course. Never force yourself on anyone. Always seek permission. With those as your guidelines, be greedy for hugs and cuddling and caresses.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Education, fundamentally, is the increase of the percentage of the conscious in relation to the unconscious.” Author and educator Sylvia Ashton-Warner said that, and now I’m telling you—just in time for one of the most lesson-rich times of a year that will be full of rich lessons. In the next nine months, dear Capricorn, the proportion of your consciousness in relation to your unconsciousness should markedly increase. And the coming weeks will be a favorable phase to upgrade your educational ambitions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’re entering a phase of your cycle when your ability to boost your finances will be stronger than usual. You’ll be more likely to attract good luck with money and more apt to discover useful tips on how to generate greater abundance. To inspire your efforts, I offer you this observation by author Katharine Butler Hathaway: “To me, money is alive. It is almost human. If you treat it with real sympathy and kindness and consideration, it will be a good servant and work hard for you, and stay with you and take care of you.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Author Deb Caletti made the following observation: “You have ordinary moments and ordinary moments and more ordinary moments, and then, suddenly, there is something monumental right there. You have past and future colliding in the present, your own personal Big Bang, and nothing will ever be the same.” In my vision of your destiny in 2022, Pisces, there could be several of these personal Big Bangs, and one of them seems to be imminent. To prepare—that is, to ensure that the changes are primarily uplifting and enjoyable—I suggest you chant the following mantra at least five times every day: “I love and expect good changes.”

Homework: Give yourself a blessing. Say why you’re wonderful and name a marvelous event that’s ahead for you. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Smith & Hook Wines’ Hand-Harvested 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Josie Cowden

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February 22, 2022

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Smith & Hook Wines’ Hand-Harvested 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Smith & Hook Wines are a “sister brand” of the Hahn family’s estate. Founders Nicky Hahn and his wife Gaby Hahn first planted vineyards back in the 1970s, and thanks to them, the Santa Lucia Highlands has garnered so much respect as a wine region. They put it on the map.

Nicky Hahn, born in Switzerland, died in 2018 and left an incredible winemaking legacy. Philip Hahn, Nicky’s son, had a thriving career on Wall Street but eventually returned to his agricultural roots in Soledad to take the helm as chairman of Hahn Family Wines. He has run the business since 2007.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($45) is a premium wine made with fruit sourced from three different Paso Robles vineyards. “This Reserve wine is hand-harvested from prized, sun-drenched vineyards,” says the team at Smith & Hook. The result is an intensely flavored wine with “excellent structure and naturally balanced acidity.”

Aged in French oak, this beautiful crimson wine has aromas of cherries, cassis, cedar, warm gravel and graphite—leading to plum, leather and tobacco accents. Expressive and delicious, the wine also features blackberry, dark cherry, cassis and mocha layers. It is truly a gorgeous wine—and I’m just going to pour myself another glass!

If you visit the estate in Soledad, breathtaking views of their Santa Lucia Highlands estate vineyards and the greater Salinas Valley and Gabilan Range are yours to behold—a glass of wine in hand! Or head to their tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Hahn Family Wines, 37700 Foothill Road, Soledad. 831-678-4555. smithandhook.com.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Plaza on Ocean Avenue. 831-250-7937.

Spring Wine Walk
The Downtown Association Santa Cruz holds the next Wine Walk 3-6pm, Sunday, May 1. This fun event not only supports our local wineries but is an introduction to many shops, spas and salons whose portals you might not have entered before. downtownsantacruz.com.

Lillian’s Brings East Coast-style Italian Cuisine to Santa Cruz

Andrew Steingrube

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February 22, 2022

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Lillian’s Brings East Coast-style Italian Cuisine to Santa Cruz

Matt Moreno and his family had felt that Santa Cruz was missing something—an East Coast-style Italian restaurant. So, in 2007, they opened Lillian’s, named after the family’s Sicilian grandma who was born and raised in Yonkers, New York.

Transitioning from working in the golf industry to restaurant owner/GM was a steep learning curve, but Moreno had Grandma Lillian’s recipes to lean on. He defines the menu as “family-friendly comfort food.”

Along with Grandma’s recipes, the fresh local fish specials and housemade black truffle-stuffed gnocchi (with gorgonzola cream sauce) keep the place packed. The char-grilled filet is another staple. Traditional cannoli and tiramisu for dessert accompany authentic New York-style cheesecake.
Moreno spoke to GT about his former life in the golf world and the woman who inspired Lillian’s.

How do golf and Lillian’s intersect?

MATT MORENO: Working for local golf courses for eight years really helped me build many friendships and relationships with pillars of our community, and now I see a lot of those same faces at Lillian’s. We really pride ourselves on being a friendly, local neighborhood spot, and our staff really goes out of their way to build personal relationships with our guests. And in golf and the restaurant industry, you often fail more than you succeed, so that helps me be patient and weather the storms that come with managing a restaurant.

What is the most Italian thing about Lillian’s?

For one, the strong family ties and aspect—we are a totally family-run restaurant. I’m the general manager, my brother Chris is the chef, and my mom and dad do the rest. Mixing business and family can often tear families apart, but it’s actually made ours stronger. It’s fulfilling and enjoyable, and it is a blessing to work every day with people you love so much. And also, it’s very lively, upbeat and boisterous here in a very New York way. It’s a family-centered atmosphere filled with wine, passionate discussions and lots of moving hands.

1148 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 831-425-2288; lilliansitaliankitchen.com.

Silver Mountain Vineyards Wins Big at Chronicle Wine Competition

Christina Waters

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February 22, 2022

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Silver Mountain Vineyards Wins Big at Chronicle Wine Competition

Congratulations to vintner Jerold O’Brien, who founded Silver Mountain Vineyards 43 years ago. His wines, organically grown and consistently elegant, keep acquiring awards for their outstanding quality. In this year’s prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Silver Mountain’s 2014 Syrah took Best of Class, while the 2014 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir received a double gold. Tasting is believing, so make sure you stop by the tasting room at 402 Ingalls Street in westside Santa Cruz to sample these wines, as well as Silver Mountain’s other award-winning pinots and chardonnays. Saturday and Sunday, noon-5pm. silvermtn.com.

More Sparkle

Recently discovered Bitters & Soda, a dry, aromatic elixir made with gentian tincture from Hella Cocktails. This stuff is the bomb. Part of the expanding wave of alternatives to booze, and/or soft drinks, such as Coke, rootbeer and ginger ale. Seriously compelling, Hella offered a sophisticated blend of sparkling water and bitters (allspice, peppercorns, caraway, cinnamon sticks, cloves, wormwood, rose hips, angelica root, gentian root, star anise, chamomile), plus assorted fruit juices. We found it refreshing all by itself, but we went further, and in our taste test we drank half of the attractive 12 oz. can contents straight. Then we poured a splash of Campari into half of the other half, and Luxardo bitter vermouth into the other half. Both of these alco+ concoctions were terrific. One can only imagine how fab gin would have tasted when mixed with this stuff. They have other flavors, but my money’s on the Bitters & Soda. A 12-pack runs around $38 bucks, or $3 a can. Straight out of the can it’s an all-day tipple.

So we moved on to try another sparkling drink, a Tepache from De La Calle, based on the ubiquitous “pineapple beer” street drinks found widely in Mexico. In a bright green can, picked up at the venerable Food Bin on Mission Street, we found the delightful Tamarind Citrus flavor tepache filled with hints of fermented pineapple, turbinado sugar and the cola perfume of tamarind. Tamarind is one of the great flavors of the natural world, and in this zesty drink it mingles with agave, orange juice, rosemary, cinnamon, black pepper and various probiotic cultures. For $2.99 you’ll be on a total flavor ride. Fabulous with anything—grilled cheese, tacos, left-over steelhead, avocado, pretzels. Great discovery.

Non-Sparkle

Intrigued by the sophisticated possibilities, we moved on to sample the highly touted Seedlip, which turned out to be far less than all the hype. One of the leaders in the non-alcoholic spirits realm, this bland creation delivered nothing, unless you count the gorgeous bottle. Yes, packaging is a plus, but so is flavor. I was game enough to pop for $35 to test drive this product. The “flavor” I purchased was called, poetically enough, Garden. Great to walk in, not so much to drink. If Seedlip is viewed as a mixer—one of several ingredients you add to a cocktail which might also include soda, fruit juices, gin, bitters, herbal purees—that would be one thing. But we tried it in a glass of ice and soda. The flavor was barely detectable and not particularly pleasant. Peas, hay, thyme and spearmint do not a pleasing flavor experience make. Desperate for some flavor, we added a healthy splash of Luxardo Bitters, which clashed unpleasantly with Seedlip’s pea undertone. Maybe a glass of gin with a splash of Seedlip would work, but that utterly defeats the non-alcohol promotion of this fermented beverage. I was disappointed with Seedlip, but the discovery of the bracing and distinctive tasting Hella Bitters & Soda more than made up for it.

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