Be Our Guest: Dayna Stephens Liberty Trio

GT Staff

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February 11, 2020

Be Our Guest: Dayna Stephens Liberty Trio

Jazz musician Dayna Stephens loves the saxophone. In fact, on his recently released ninth album, Liberty, he plays four different saxes, really showing the listener the full range of the instrument. This is also his first record on which he’s led such a minimalistic trio. He taps into the looser, more experimental side of jazz, with each member meditating on how they can approach their instrument slightly differently than anyone before them. He brings his band (Ben Street & Eric Harland) with him to the Kuumbwa to show off the beauty of this dynamic record.

INFO: 7pm. Thursday, Feb. 27, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $26.25/adv, $31.50/door. kuumbwajazz.org.

WANT TO GO?

Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11am. on Thursday, Feb. 20 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

Music Picks: Feb. 12-18

Aaron Carnes

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February 11, 2020

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WEDNESDAY 2/12

ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS

What does it take to earn the title of “the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling?”

I’m not exactly sure, but I’m guessing it has something to do with Alasdair’s 30-plus-year resume on the instrument as both a Scottish traditionalist and an innovator of fiddle technique. For the past two decades, Fraser has been also playing with cellist Natalie Hasss, and they’ve become a favorite among fans of string dance music. The duo’s fiddle and cello pairing might seem odd for Celtic music fans, but it actually harkens to a much older tradition of Scottish dance music where cello was key. A little detail a Michael Jordan type fiddler would know. AC

INFO: 7:30pm. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $27. 427-2227.

JAZZ

MOTOSHI KOSAKO & MICHAEL MANRING

This year, pre-game your Valentine’s weekend with the sounds of jazz harpist Motoshi Kosako, and bassist Michael Manring. These two team up to play the gentle soundtrack for your romantic evening. Kosako’s origins as an electric jazz guitarist lends a unique style to the self-taught harp player’s technique, often referred to as the harpist version of Keith Jarrett. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Ask Michael Manring, since he’s played it before. Pupiled under the late, great Jaco Pastorius, Manring continued his teacher’s experimental style and evolved it for audiences worldwide. MAT WEIR

INFO: 7:30pm. Michaels on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. $15. 479-9777.

THURSDAY 2/13

AMERICANA

GREG LOIACONO

Hardcore Mother Hips fans—and there are a lot of them in Santa Cruz—have long had the pleasure of diving into guitarist/singer Tim Bluhm’s excellent solo career. Meanwhile, while other guitarist/singer Greg Loiacono was involved with other people’s projects, he never put out that quintessential solo record we’d all been waiting for. Fortunately, he finally released Songs From A Golden Dream, a tender collection of songs showing off his folksy psych-pop side. Loiacono brings his backing band the Sensie Nation Review to play these stellar tunes. AC

INFO: 8:30pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.

FRIDAY 2/14

BLUES

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS

The North Mississippi Allstars became stars in the blues scene in the early 2000s with a familiar heavy blues-rock. The group has evolved to embrace a little bit more of a laid-back, hippie vibe in their more recent tunes with easy grooves, soulful organs, lush harmonies, and lyrics about “mushroom tea” and “hippies tripping LSD.” It’s still strictly blues-based, but you won’t hear any of the clichés that make non-blues fans cringe. These are just great tunes that will get you moving, and maybe even ease you into becoming a hardcore blues fanatic. AC

INFO: 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. $27/adv, $31/door. 704-7113.

COMEDY

MADISON SINCLAIR

Not even 25 years old, this Floridian turned Californian has already been doing stand-up for four years. She’s been featured on Comedy Central and Seth Rogan’s Hilarity for Charity, has written for Tosh 2.0 and E! Television’s The Soup, has the Comedian Vs. Hottie love-and-dating-themed vlog, and continues to slay tiny clubs along her way. This Valentine’s Day, celebrate love with Sinclair and her stories about drag queens, drugged out exes stealing jokes and other dating and non-dating related topics. MW

INFO: 7 & 9:30pm. DNA’s Comedy Lab, 155 S. River St., Santa Cruz. $20adv, $25/door. 900-5123.

JAZZ

TUCK AND PATTI

If you’re feeling the need for some healing love on Valentine’s Day a soothing dose of Tuck and Patti is just what the love doctor ordered. The husband and wife team turns concerts into besotted communal celebrations of the human heart’s unlimited capacity. Tuck Andress is a phenomenal guitarist who combines rhythmic agility with a potently distilled harmonic palette. Possessing a voice full of passion and glory, Patti Cathcart delivers every note swaddled in velvet. They’ve been performing together as a duo for some three decades and still bring a sense of discovery to the bandstand. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7:30pm. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $31.50/adv, $36.75/door. 427-2227.

SATURDAY 2/15

PSYCH-ROCK

THE BLANK TAPES

If you’re into collecting obscure ’60s psych-rock records, you’ll quickly discover that there are thousands upon thousands of these records floating around in thrift shops and dusty garages. Matt Adams, the sole consistent member of the Blank Tapes, is kind of like a modern version of these obscure ’60s psych records in band form. He records as fast as he writes, which is to say really fast. He captures the delightfully strange aspects of the ’60s underbelly, with songs that can be atmospheric, drift into cosmic netherworlds, be poppy and sometimes just rock hard. It’s an all-in-one obscure ’60s grab bag. AC

INFO: 9pm. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $6. 429-6994.

TUESDAY 2/18

INDIE

ANI DIFRANCO

Once upon a time, Ani DiFranco was a DIY folk music rebel. Politically and personally fierce, she challenged people’s ideas about activism and feminism. Where she might have shocked some people was how she evolved into one of the most eclectic working musicians, experimenting with soul, jazz, hip-hop, alt-rock and spoken word. Her music has matured to the point of being so reflective, it’ll make you take a good hard look at yourself and examine your own inner workings. Speaking of deep self-reflection, last year she released her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream, a great, and thoughtful read. AC

INFO: 8pm. Rio Theater, $40. 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 423-8209.

SOUL

SON LITTLE

If you want to call it retro soul or vintage R&B, it really misses the point. Singer-songwriter Son Little is a master of taking emotions almost too big for words and distilling them down to the tiniest sounding, simplest expressions. On his latest record, Aloha, which he wrote and recorded—mostly by himself—in just eight days, he constantly sounds restrained and on the verge of exploding into a million pieces. This powerful control creates intoxicating music that will send you into deep existential tears. AC

INFO: 8pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $16/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.

Love Your Local Band: Supernaut

Aaron Carnes

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February 11, 2020

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When the members of local rock trio Supernaut drove to San Jose’s Streetlight Records to drop off some CDs, the clerk asked them the million dollar question: What genre should we file this under? There were plenty of options—stoner metal, psych, punk, blues-rock—but to commit to just one seemed an impossible task.

“We don’t really have a genre that we play to, mostly,” says drummer Sean Niemann. “We’re not trying to get into a genre. We’re just trying to do whatever feels good to us. We’re open with our writing.”

In 2014, when Sean and his brother, Oliver (bass), started the group, Sabbath was a clear influence—“Supernaut” is a an early song by the classic metal band—but the group took wide influences that created something not typically associated with today’s Sabbath-influenced doom metal bands. The songs can speed up, and often reference more direct blues elements while getting fuzzier at the same time. It makes their music hard to pigeonhole, even for promoters.

“We are happy to play with rock bands or metal bands. Whatever works at the time,” Oliver says.

The group has released two records so far: a self-titled album in 2017, followed by The Green in late 2019. With a little bit of signal boosting from popular YouTube channel Stoned Meadow Of Doom, the group have moved several of both records, and have been able to trek up and down the West Coast on several occasions. Currently, they are working on a third record, which they hope to release later in the year.

“We’re hacking away, working hard, getting in there every day and grinding. Try and keep cranking out records,” says Sean.

INFO: 8pm. Thursday, Feb. 13, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. $9/adv, $11/door. 704-7113.

Cat and Cloud’s Coffee Empire Reaches the Westside

Christina Waters

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February 11, 2020

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Cat and Cloud’s Coffee Empire Reaches the Westside

Only months behind its large-scale launch at the gleaming new Aptos Village, a new Cat and Cloud Coffee just opened last week on the Westside, in the industrial complex in front of ReStore and across the street from Kelly’s prolific Swift Street complex. According to my rough and ready calculations, that makes at least four major coffee pit stops within a one-block radius.

The very spiffy new Cat and Cloud sits across Swift Street from Kelly’s, one block from Verve and 1.5 blocks from Companion Bakeshop. And let’s not forget the excellent coffee served up at the no-frills Westside Coffee one block from Verve. Oh, and a few blocks toward the ocean sits Iveta. There is lots of serious coffee to choose from, and every one of those places do a brisk business, which tells me that coffee glamour continues to stoke our local appetites.

The new coffee house—the fourth in the mini-empire created by entrepreneurs Chris Baca, Jared Truby and Charles Jack—is a welcoming, high-ceilinged space lined with seating, filled with large tables, and ringed by a dog-friendly patio with space for post-workout hang time in the sun. Cat and Cloud’s staff is friendly, helpful, and full of information about coffee options as well as the case full of fresh pastries.

Once again Cat and Cloud has partnered with Companion Bakeshop for pastries, along with Melinda’s for a few choice gluten-free options. There’s no end to the Westside food and drink boom (waiting for the Venus Spirits Kitchen), but let’s not forget who started it all: Kelly and Mark Sanchez, who put everything on the line to dream big and make the block that now houses El Salchichero, Surf City Wineries, and countless retail spaces a booming reality. They were there first and Kelly’s French Pastries with its outdoor space and red umbrellas open wide to kids, tourists, puppies, yogistas, and the rest of us, continues to welcome us every day. They paved the way.

Cat and Cloud Coffee, Ingalls and Swift streets., Santa Cruz. 6am-6pm.

Family Vines

A major shout-out to Ryan Beauregard of Beauregard Vineyards, who just purchased the magnificent Bald Mountain Vineyard. “My family has leased it for 30 years,” the very excited winemaker says. “Now we bought it!” Planted each year and managed by Ryan’s dad, Jim Beauregard, and his grandfather Bud before him, Bald Mountain is a 40-acre plot situated at 1000 ft. elevation. It yields gorgeous mineral-intensive Chardonnays and Pinot Noir from clones of Pommard, 667 and Mt. Eden (for you varietal geeks). “Bald Mountain Vineyard has been the pillar of my winemaking career,” says Ryan Beauregard. “I’ve made 22 consecutive vintages and it has always been my favorite wine that I make. The opportunity is grand, but there is a lot of financial fear involved with the project. All I can do now is look forward and make sure I give it 150% of my energy! I have a lot of confidence.” Needless to say, fans of Beauregard’s choice varietals are thrilled that one of the most coveted Santa Cruz Mountains vineyards will be staying in the family for the indefinite future. “The vineyard is in the winery name: Beauregard Vineyards LLC,” Beauregard adds. “We are all so stoked!”

Valentine Pro-tip

You still have time to come up with something romantic. Come check out the Posy Pop-Up flowers from Bonny Doon Garden Company available at Buttercup Cakes in the heart of downtown. Great concept. Local, flower-farm raised blooms for your sweetie, partnered by edible sweets in the form of the delectable cupcakes—including sensational gluten-free varieties—from Buttercup. Don’t hesitate.

Buttercup Cakes located at 1411 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.

Film Review: ‘Birds of Prey’

Richard von Busack

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February 11, 2020

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Fear not being too old or too male for Birds of Prey, or the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn [as performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade]. Call it upcycled, repurposed or just plain ripped off, it’s made out of familiar old gaudy stuff.

A climactic battle in an abandoned fun house with slides, spinning platforms and pop art murals looks like the most expensive episode of the 1960s Batman TV show ever. The soundtrack includes tunes that could be in a dad’s record collection: Heart’s “Barracuda,” a big tortured rendition of “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and Spiderbait’s cover of Ram Jam’s cover of Ledbelly’s “Black Betty.”

Spike Lee star Rosie Perez is Lt. Montoya, whose tough-cop dialogue catalyzes the Miami Vice references just as thoroughly as the villain’s pink sports coat and French-cut t-shirt. There’s a prevalence of 1990s backassward Tarantino storytelling: “Oh, I forgot to mention this important part of the story, let’s watch everything we just saw rewinded backwards at high speed.” Most of Birds of Prey is the kind of kid’s cereal commercial, as in the (actually OK) scene when Harley storms a cop-shop carrying a “fun gun,” a beanbag bazooka with glitter, smoke bombs and confetti cartridges.

She started as a cartoon satire of the Starling/Lecter relationship in Silence of the Lambs. On TV’s Batman Adventures, Harley Quinn (played here by star and producer Margot Robbie) was once a Judy Holliday type, a shrink who fell in love with her dangerous patient “Mr. J.” The idea in this superior followup to Suicide Squad, is that Harley’s breakup with Joker removes the protection that she once had to act up anyway she liked.

Harley becomes involved with the citywide hunt for a diamond that’s currently lodged inside the digestive system of Cassandra (Ella Jay Basco), the adolescent pickpocket who swiped it and swallowed it. Crime boss Roman “Black Mask” Sionis (Ewan McGregor) and his knife-wielding hench-boyfriend Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina) are chief in the hunt for the rock. It’s been five decades or so since we’ve had a fey supervillain like this, fussing over the trophies in his headquarters—watch the cinematic cycle and eventually everything comes back.

The digitized weightless asskicking continues while the movie tries to come together. The appeal of Batstuff is nocturnal mystery, and that’s not what Robbie does with her character. Birds of Prey has a lot of broad daylight in it.

Robbie’s Harley is a version of her Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, if the skater had been at ground zero at a Party City warehouse explosion and then got some bad tattoos in the hospital (the word “Rotten” is inscribed on the curve of her jaw). Her bratty mayhem eclipses the actual vigilantes: Dinah (Jurnee Smolett-Bell) is really Black Canary, who turns out to have a superpower of her own beyond being able to kick ass in skin-tight gold pants. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the crossbow-wielding Huntress; Winstead has a startling resemblance to Blade Runner’s Sean Young, with the same kind of brown-eyed melancholy. She has a right to be sad, as she’s given little to do despite how much audiences like to see a woman with a bow and arrow (or a crossbow and quarrel, in this case).

A roller skate car chase at the end gives the movie a charge—it spins out and it’s well-built crazy fun—as does the funhouse massacre with the masked figures tumbling around. But the story seems low-stakes. Would the Joker be that het up about a hot diamond? He had bigger plans. Here, there’s no sign of that dread city that leaves its brand upon everyone who lives there. Filming in L.A., director Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs) envisions Harley’s neighborhood as one big Chinatown, with loads of aloha shirts and street grub (a greasy egg-and-bacon hangover sandwich is almost a character in this movie). Up until a finale on a decaying pier in a thick fog, lined with tortured statues like Prague’s Charles bridge, it’s a Gotham City that isn’t gothic.

BIRDS OF PREY Directed by Kathy Yan. Starring Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. (R) 109 minutes.

Music Preview: That 1 Guy Brings His Magic Pipe to Moe’s Alley

Aaron Carnes

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February 7, 2020

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Music Preview: That 1 Guy Brings His Magic Pipe to Moe’s Alley

For 20 years, Mike Silverman, aka That 1 Guy, has toured the world with his custom one-of-a-kind instrument the Magic Pipe, which looks like a scrapyard cello Tom Waits would play in a post-apocalyptic jug band.

With strums, bangs, and slaps, Silverman can make the Magic Pipe—which is rigged up to pedals, processors and drums triggers—sound like totally different instruments from one song to the next.

“I was trying to create something that had an unlimited range,” Silverman explains. “Sometimes I’m trying to be a punk rock band. Other times I’m trying to be Bootsy Collins. Other times I want to be an orchestra. This tool makes all of that possible.”

Before becoming That 1 Guy in the late ’90s, Silverman played bass with various jazz outfits, led his own prog-outfit the Fabulous Hedgehogs, and started two extremely bizarre solo projects. Frustrated that slapping a double upright bass over a drum machine was too much for most audiences, he decided he no longer cared if anyone wanted to listen to him anymore—he’d go as far out musically as he could. In order to make the music he imagined, though, he’d need a totally new instrument. With that in mind, he designed the Magic Pipe.

“I built it out of plumbing pipes from Home Depot. The electronics were a lot of found objects, just modified. Stuff that I would order from Guitar Center,” Silverman says.

His music with That 1 Guy is a bizarre conglomeration of progressive-jazz, funky-pop and twisted Americana, but its mindboggling wide range blends with Silverman’s eccentric mind and surprisingly has created music slightly more accessible—with a dazzling, eye-popping one-man-band show performance element.

After a few years on the road, indie-folk singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco caught a glimpse of his act and took him on tour with her. She even released some of his music in the mid-2000s, when DiFranco was at the height of her popularity.

“You’re probably expressing yourself more honestly when you’re not trying to make somebody else happy. Ultimately that’s what your audience wants to hear. They don’t want to see you trying to get a record deal,” Silverman says. “It was a beautiful experience. Before that, no audience bigger than 40 or 80 people would ever see it. I had been slamming away at it for years and years and years. That was a major breakthrough.”

Other random opportunities fell in his lap shortly after. A writer from Showtime’s Weeds caught one of his sets and then licensed his funny, sort-of-hip-hop song “Butt Machine” for a scene in the show. They even put a music video for the song on the season’s DVD. Experimental guitarist Buckethead later took him on tour, and made an album with him, exposing That 1 Guy to his legion of loyal weirdo fans.

Silverman has upgraded his Magic Pipe a few times with the help of an aerospace engineer friend. He’s continuously amazed at new techniques he can use; for instance, he has a song where he strums it with a credit card. It sounds like a crazed mashup of funk bass, electro-pop, and heavy metal.

“This instrument was the way to take all this freaky technical stuff I was doing on the upright bass and allow me to do more with it, the best I can as a one-man orchestra,” Silverman says. “It ends up inspiring me to do stuff I never thought or imagined would be possible.”

To add to his already strange show, Silverman recently discovered magic. He moved to Las Vegas to be near the magic community, and has been studying closeup magic from a mentor in Vegas. Now he has a VIP pre-show for a smaller audience where he performs magic for them.

“It was really fun to start something new with a master, and it totally influenced my music. His specialty is close-up magic. That stuff is only really good for 10 people at a time. But it’s kind of the most powerful version of magic. The audience is three feet away and they’re watching these miracles happen in front of their eyes,” Silverman says.

That 1 Guy performs at 8:30pm on Sunday, Feb. 9, at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $15/door. 479-1854.

A Luscious Pinot Noir 2017 from Sarah’s Vineyard

Josie Cowden

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February 5, 2020

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A Luscious Pinot Noir 2017 from Sarah’s Vineyard

“Our 2017 Santa Clara Valley Pinot Noir is a spicy fruit pie in a glass,” says Tim Slater, proprietor of Sarah’s Vineyard.

“Cherry and plum flavors jump to the nose and palate,” he says of his luscious Pinot ($30 and available at New Leaf). Rich Bing cherry, plum and herbs come together in an extravaganza that makes a warm glow run through your body when you take the first few sips. And note the earthy underlying savory current of mushroom and soy sauce in this fruit-forward wine. Slater suggests pairing this Pinot with grilled salmon, a simple roast chicken, or a pancetta-wrapped pork tenderloin.

As both grower and winemaker, Slater is very much hands-on with the whole process of turning out a good bottle of vino. Estate grown in their Dwarf Oak Vineyard, the grapes are whole-berry fermented in small lots–always using traditional techniques to craft their handmade wines. And with Valentine’s Day coming up, you can’t go wrong with a good bottle of Pinot.

Sarah’s is a lovely place to visit, complete with patio and outdoor areas for use by customers. Check the website for reservations.

Sarah’s Vineyard, 4005 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy. 877-44-PINOT. Open noon-5pm daily. sarahsvineyard.com.

Outdoor Pizza Oven

Always wanted an outdoor pizza oven? Local Aptos-based Talmadge Construction is your go-to company to do the job. Now celebrating 35 years in business, they are aces at planning, remodeling and constructing just about anything in your home.

Talmadge Construction, Inc., 8070 Soquel Drive, Aptos. 689-9133, talmadgeconstruction.com.

Stagnaro’s on the Wharf

One of my favorite spots for taking out-of-town guests is Stagnaro’s on the Municipal Wharf. Not only do you get a dazzling view of Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, but you’re also guaranteed some fresh and tasty seafood in this historic restaurant. Stagnaro’s fish tacos are tasty and filling, not to mention their famous clam chowder. And don’t miss their classic fish and chips–they are just delicious.

stagnarobrothers.com.

Monster Pot Mixes up the Soup Scene

Alisha Green

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February 5, 2020

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If you’re missing Betty’s Noodle House, which occupied a small space in the downtown Metro station, look no further than Monster Pot.

The new spot on Front Street from restaurateur Benji Mo fulfills his vision for what he had always wanted the now-closed Betty’s Noodle House to be—a gathering spot with room to sit down and enjoy a meal. Mo opened Monster Pot in August, carrying over most of the menu items from Betty’s Noodle House with a few new twists.

What inspired you to open Monster Pot as the next iteration of Betty’s Noodle House?

BENJI MO: Hot pot has become one of the very popular restaurant types in the Bay Area. What we did at Betty’s Noodle House is noodle soup. So I thought that would be a really good idea to combine them together and transfer the soup from the bowl to the hot pot. Because the people love our soup. So I think they are looking forward to something more fancy.

What’s changed in the menu?

The hot pot is the same taste as the original soup at Betty’s Noodle House. We added some appetizers and beer and wine. We are adding more stuff to the menu, too. We are thinking to have a weekly special, like during the winter we want to give the customers a chance to try pumpkin noodle soup, and in the summer maybe we will have some cold noodles.

Do you come up with all of the ideas for new dishes?

I created most of them. My mother-in-law, she was a cook in China. Once I come up with an idea I would just tell her what I want and she would make it.

What is your personal favorite dish?

I like the black pepper fried udon.

What else should people know about Monster Pot?

Don’t be scared to try the hot pot. They taste much better than the noodle soup. The broth is the same, the tastes are the same, but it turns out much better at the end if you let it sit for a while.

Monster Pot, 431 Front St., Santa Cruz. monsterpotsc.com.

Opinion: Feb. 5, 2020

Steve Palopoli

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February 5, 2020

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EDITOR’S NOTE

What makes a great Valentine’s Day Issue cover story? Usually they’re fun and offbeat looks at some of the best and worst of the romance world. We’ve run stories over the years that cover the gamut of a relationship’s lifetime, from best first dates to worst breakup stories to the two women who talked people into putting on a wedding dress and talking about their divorces.

This year’s is a little different. I don’t think we’ve ever done a music-oriented Valentine’s Day story before, but the story of married local songwriters Carolyn Sills and Gerard Egan was too good to pass up, especially considering that their new album is an exploration of Marty Robbins’ “El Paso,” one of the most famous love songs in country music. Now, when I say “love song,” I do realize that this is tale involving jealousy, murder and inevitable doom. However, Wallace Baine makes the case in this week’s cover story that despite all that (or because of it), this tragic ballad may be the quintessential American love story.

Certainly it’s long overdue for the revisitation that Sills and Egan have done, going beyond just covering the song, and actually building a narrative that explores the story further over the course of the songs on Return to El Paso.

But while the album is a perfect Valentine’s Day hook, the most important love story Baine writes about in his piece is the one between Sills and Egan themselves. They are nothing short of a local treasure, and if you haven’t discovered them yet, it’s time to meet two of our music’s scene biggest talents. In the meantime, have a great V-Day and try to stay out of gunfights in Rosa’s Cantina over a Mexican girl.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

R IS FOR RESOURCES

As a retired economic development professional, I have, for the 30 years I’ve lived in Santa Cruz, recognized the value that Cabrillo College and its wonderful programs provide to the Santa Cruz community, including its youth, employers and businesses. Cabrillo has been training our healthcare, hospitality and tech workers. With the passage of Measure R, Cabrillo will also be training our local firefighters and police, which will save taxpayer dollars by keeping training local. I have served on Cabrillo Foundation’s committees and have also learned about the programs and resources being made available to returning veterans, as well as providing students the tools to qualify them to transfer to a four-year university. With all of this in mind, I encourage voters in Santa Cruz County to invest in one of the top drivers of our local economy. Vote Yes on Measure R.

Ceil Cirillo | Santa Cruz

JET PLANE WRONG

At the Jan. 9 Mid-County Democratic Forum, Manu Koenig proved that he is inexperienced and not ready for the job of District 1 County Supervisor. He spoke of the jet noise procedure that is currently hammering our county. Mr. Koenig has no grasp of this issue, and no first-hand knowledge of the process. Manu incorrectly stated that the FAA no longer wants to work with Supervisor Leopold because the supervisor went too far in his communication to his constituents.

As one of the original founders of Save Our Skies Santa Cruz, I was offended that he thought he could get away with this statement. Does Manu think that the voters of District 1 are ignorant of the events in their own county?

Supervisor Leopold was instrumental in bringing the FAA to the table with our Congressional representatives. Through his leadership and commitment to our county, and his arduous work with the Select Committee, he has represented the needs of the 1st District and the county at large. Supervisor Leopold comes to the table with his research done and is well prepared to do the job.

Vicki Miller | Co-chair, Save Our Skies Santa Cruz

TOURIST TRAIN TRAP

I was in school here in Santa Cruz (go Cardinals!) back in the ’60s and ’70s when my father and other downtown business people promoted the Pacific Avenue Garden Mall to bring tourist dollars downtown and expand the county’s income base. That was a long time ago, and Santa Cruz no longer needs to expand its tourist industry; it seems clear that the community’s capacity for tourist infrastructure support—hotels, parking, restaurants, emergency services, bathrooms, trash pick-up, and the like—is now maxed out.

And yet, the current RTC commissioners seem to be proposing we spend county transportation money to upgrade the rail corridor tracks and promote a tourist train! While we desperately need relief from congestion on Highway 1 as well as on our other major thoroughfares, more bus service, and safer cross-town bicycle routes, they’re voting to spend county tax money from Measure D not for local transportation improvements, but to expand our tourist industry—without providing any of the services which will additionally be required to support more visitors. And in the meantime, we residents live with daily gridlock on our streets and highways.

This proposal for a tourist trolley will only make traffic–and parking—in Santa Cruz County worse. The RTC seems to be instigating a situation which is the opposite of its mandate as a transportation commission. I would urge our commissioners to carefully evaluate the implications of this project before getting caught up in the notion of showing the citizens “something” for all the time and money spent not providing any access to the rail corridor at all or any transportation improvements from it.

Nadene Thorne | Santa Cruz

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

Komatsuna greens and ohitashi in Watsonville. Photograph by Bob Gómez.

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

HAPPY TRAILS

After an extensive search, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) has welcomed Robb Woulfe as its new Executive Director. Woulfe brings to Santa Cruz his experience in arts consulting and nonprofit management out in Colorado, Utah and Michigan. He begins work Monday, Feb. 10. The MAH’s new exhibit, Trailblazers: Uncovering the Roots of Mountain Biking in Santa Cruz County opens on First Friday, Feb. 7.

GOOD WORK

BEEN A LOVELY CRUZ

Visit Santa Cruz County has released findings from a survey of LBGTQ travelers about Santa Cruz County. Community Marketing & Insights, a San Francisco-based LGBTQ research and marketing firm, collected the data from more than 1,000 self-identified members of the LGBTQ community living in California. The findings showed Santa Cruz County being the most LGBTQ-friendly destination of the regions tested by far. The top draw was the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I didn’t choose a word or anything. I just wrote the song until it stopped.”
-Marty Robbins, about writing “El Paso”

5 Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Feb. 5-11

GT Staff

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February 4, 2020

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A weekly guide to what’s happening

Art Seen

“Trailblazers: Uncovering the Roots of Mountain Biking in Santa Cruz County”

From the wild experimentation of the 1970s “klunkers” to eBikes, the MAH’s newest exhibition explores the roots and evolution of mountain biking in Santa Cruz County. Thanks to a collection of early designs from the Marin Museum of Mountain Biking (home to the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame) visitors can get up close to one-of-a-kind bikes and learn about the development of the sport. Amongst the 25 bikes on display, the exhibition also features handmade frames from the 1970s and 80s. The show opens and is free to the public on First Friday. Photo: Spencer Harding.

INFO: Exhibit runs through Sept. 20. Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. santacruzmah.org. Free/$10.

Wednesday 2/5

“How warming waters and red tides affect our oceans and us”

Many of us have gone to the beach or seen the ocean when it’s that gross, red color. Red tides are caused by an overproduction of certain types of algae, some of which can produce a toxin called domoic acid. But is domoic acid dangerous? Join experts from The Marine Mammal Center, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and UCSC in discussing how the toxin is produced and how it impacts our food webs. Experts will also discuss the implications of rising ocean temperatures on the production and persistence of this toxin. This is the first event of an Earth Day 50 Speaker Series hosted by Save Our Shores.

INFO: 6pm. The Dream Inn, 175 W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. Free.

Saturday 2/8

Green Fix

33rd Annual Migration Festival

Pack a picnic and migrate on over to Natural Bridges State Beach for a full day of activities to celebrate the migration of whales, butterflies, birds and other travelling species. The park will host migratory animal talks, active kids games, crafts, skits, live music, educational booths and displays, plus a celebratory habitat cake served at the end of the event. Picnic lunches are available for purchase for those who don’t bring their own.

INFO: 11am Saturday, Feb. 8. Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. 423-4609, thatsmypark.org. Free/$10 parking.

Sunday 2/9

Celebrate Piano Ensemble Benefit Concert

Celebrate Piano Ensemble presents its annual concert with a concert of piano duos (two pianos, four hands) and duets (one piano, four hands). This marks 18 years of their popular concerts and fundraising for scholarships for young music students in Santa Cruz County. There will be music by Mozart, Schumann, Poulenc and more. This concert benefits the Talent Bank Scholarship Fund and the Josephine Alvarado Memorial Bach Scholarship Fund.

INFO: 2pm. UCSC Recital Hall, 402 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz. Donation. For more information, call 334-1215.

Sunday 2/9

Sunny Cove Beach Clean Up

Remember those New Year’s Resolutions? More gym, less fries, more family time, less work? How is that going, by the way? Resolution or not, it’s never too late to clear up our ocean backyard. Join Save Our Shores in keeping our beaches healthy and litter-free. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers should dress in layers, wear sun protection, wear closed-toe shoes and bring a filled reusable water bottle. Restrooms and drinking fountains are available onsite. Parking is limited, so plan accordingly. No RSVPs are necessary, but print and complete an online waiver beforehand to save time. Go to saveourshores.org/waiver. Meet at the end of Johan’s Beach Drive at the main entrance to the beach.

INFO: 9-11am. Sunny Cove Beach, 101 Sunny Cove Drive, Santa Cruz. al*******@***********es.org. Free.

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

WEDNESDAY 2/12

ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS

JAZZ

MOTOSHI KOSAKO & MICHAEL MANRING

THURSDAY 2/13

AMERICANA

GREG LOIACONO

FRIDAY 2/14

BLUES

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS

COMEDY

MADISON SINCLAIR

JAZZ

TUCK AND PATTI

SATURDAY 2/15

PSYCH-ROCK

THE BLANK TAPES

TUESDAY 2/18

INDIE

ANI DIFRANCO

SOUL

SON LITTLE

Family Vines

Valentine Pro-tip

Outdoor Pizza Oven

Stagnaro’s on the Wharf

EDITOR’S NOTE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK