Page 677 – Good Times

Rob Brezny’s Astrology Nov. 21-27

Rob Brezsny

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November 20, 2018

Free will astrology for the week of Nov. 21, 2018

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In his autobiography On the Move, neurologist Oliver Sacks praised his friend Jerry’s curiosity and knowledge. “Jerry has one of the most spacious, thoughtful minds I have ever encountered, with a vast base of knowledge of every sort,” wrote Sacks, “but it is a base under continual questioning and scrutiny.” So willing was Jerry to question and re-evaluate his own assumptions that Sacks said he had “seen his friend suddenly stop in mid-sentence and say, ‘I no longer believe what I was about to say.’” That’s the gold standard to which I hope you will aspire in the coming weeks, Aries. As bright and articulate as you’ll be, you will have an even higher calling to expand your mind through continual questioning.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In recent years, a few pioneers have gotten microchips implanted under their skin. These technological marvels enable them to open doors and turn on lights with merely a wave of their hands, or receive up-to-the-minute readings on what’s transpiring inside their bodies. Now an additional frontier has arisen: people using do-it-yourself kits to experiment on their own DNA. For example, some have tweaked their genes so their bodies create more muscle than is natural. I would love for you to change yourself around in the coming weeks, Taurus, but not in these particular ways. I’d rather see you do subtle psychological and spiritual work. The astrological omens suggest it’s a favorable time for focused self-transformation.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Are you smart enough to take advantage of the fact that your best relationships would benefit from bursts of innovative energy in the coming weeks? Are you brave enough to banish the ghost that still haunts your romantic life? Do you have the moxie to explore frontiers with collaborators who play fair and know how to have fun? Will you summon the curiosity and initiative to learn new strategies about how to enhance your approach to intimacy? I’ll answer those questions in your behalf: yes, yes, yes, and yes.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Would you agree with me that there are both boring, tiresome problems and fun, interesting problems? If so, read on. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you’re at a fork in your path where you could either get further involved with a boring, tiresome problem or else a fun, interesting one. (I think you’ll have to engage with one or the other.) Of course, I’m rooting for you to proactively wrangle with the fun, interesting one. Here’s timely inspiration from Cancerian author John W. Gardner: “We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Jharia Coalfield in eastern India is a 110-square-mile reserve of underground coal. In some places, it’s on fire, and has been burning for over a hundred years. This isn’t a good thing. It’s wasteful and causes pollution. But now I’ll ask you to put aside that scenario, and imagine a more benevolent kind of steadily burning fire: a splendor in your soul that never stops radiating warmth and light; that draws from an inexhaustible source of fuel; that is a constant source of strength and courage and power. I’m happy to tell you that the coming months will be a favorable time to establish and nurture this eternal flame.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Marilyn Monroe, Georgia O’Keeffe, and President Franklin Roosevelt were direct descendants of the pilgrims who sailed from England to the New World on the famous Mayflower ship in 1620. I, on the other hand, am a direct descendant of a 19th-century Slovakian coal miner who toiled in the underground darkness. What about you, Virgo? Now would be a rich and provocative time to reconnect with your roots; to remember where your people originated; to explore the heritage that served as the matrix from which you sprouted.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): According to researchers who study animal behavior at two Italian universities, chickens can do arithmetic. The birds don’t even need to be trained; the skill seems to be innate. (Read details here: tinyurl.com/ChickensDoMath.) I’m wondering whether chickens born under the sign of Libra might even be able to do algebra in the coming weeks. According to my assessment of the astrological omens, the mental acuity of many Libran creatures will be at a peak. How will you use your enhanced intelligence?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In March 2005, far more people than usual won big money in a regional Powerball lottery in the U.S. The average for each draw is four winners, but on this special occasion, 110 players were awarded at least $100,000 and as much as $500,000. The reason for the anomaly seemed to have been an oracle that appeared in a number of widely distributed fortune cookies. It provided five of the six winning numbers. Inspired by this crazy stroke of good fortune, and in accordance with the favorable financial omens now coming to bear on you, I hereby offer you six numbers to use as your lucky charms. Will they help you win a game of chance? I can’t be sure. At the very least, they will titillate and massage the part of your psyche that is magnetic to wealth. Here they are: 37. 16. 58. 62. 82. 91.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “You have two ways to live your life,” writes spiritual teacher Joseph Vitale, “from memory or inspiration.” In other words, you can take your cues about how to live your life from what happened in the past, or else you can make your decisions based on what you’re excited to do and become in the future. According to my analysis, the next 10 months will be an excellent time for you to fully embrace the latter approach. And it all starts now.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ve always got more help available than you imagine, and that’s especially true these days. Both people you know and people you don’t know may come to your assistance and offer extra support—especially if you meet two conditions: 1. You sincerely believe you deserve their assistance and support; 2. You clearly ask for their assistance and support. Now here’s more good news about the help that’s available. Whether or not you believe in spiritual beings, they, too, are primed to offer blessings and resources. If you don’t believe in their existence, I invite you to pretend you do and see what happens. If you do believe in them, formulate clear requests for what you’d like them to offer you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In one of his poems, Arthur Rimbaud extolled the exquisite evenings when the mist soaked his face as he strolled, and he sipped that heavenly dew till he was drunk. Was he speaking literally or metaphorically? Probably both, if I know Rimbaud. Anyway, Aquarius, I’d love for you to engage in similar exploits. What are some natural adventures that might intoxicate you? What simple pleasures may alter your consciousness, nudging you free of its habits? Meditate with sweet abandon on how to free yourself through the power of play and the imagination.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It’s illegal to hunt animals in Kenya. But members of the Dorobo tribe circumvent the law to provide food for their families. As three or more Dorobo men wander out on the savanna, they wait for hungry lions to kill a wildebeest or other creature. Then they stride toward the feasting beasts in a calm show of force until the predators run away in confusion. The brave scavengers swoop in and swiftly remove a portion of the wildebeest, then coolly walk away, leaving plenty for the lions when they return to their meal. I bring this scene to your attention, Pisces, because I suspect that in the coming weeks you will have similar levels of courage and poise as you go after what you want.

Homework: How could you change yourself in order to get more of the love you want? Go to FreeWillAstrology.com; click on “Email Rob.”

Husband-Wife Duo Birds of Chicago Bring the Folk to Moe’s Alley

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November 20, 2018

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Husband-Wife Duo Birds of Chicago Bring the Folk to Moe’s Alley

The day President Trump was sworn into office was a dark day for a lot of Americans. But husband-and-wife duo Birds of Chicago spent that day in the studio recording Love in Wartime, an uplifting and emotive album that drifts beyond the traditional folk they’re known for into rock ’n’ roll and gospel territory.

“That was a relief, to be able to do something that felt joyful and something good that we could control on a day that felt very much the opposite,” says singer/guitarist JT Nero. “It felt like cheating to have our own personal little bubble for a while. It was nice to shut the doors.”

But the record wasn’t meant to exist in a vacuum. It very much deals with the process of finding joy and expressing love in the midst of difficult times. The title track in particular is a touching ballad that reminds the listener of the humanity all around us that’s easy to ignore, but powerful to focus on.

“It’s that kind of basic recognition of someone else’s soul. That’s the crucial DNA for a more loving culture in general,” Nero says. “It starts with those basic little covenants between people. ‘I see you, I got you.’ Wartime being a metaphor for any condition that negates love. The antimatter to love.”

The album’s title and general mood suggests the duality of trying to find joy and peace in our turbulent political times. But at the same time, it’s about something much more than the Trump era. In fact, the duo was writing the songs before Trump got the nomination.

“Political realities are emblematic of deeper wounds,” Nero says. “While initially, they didn’t feel explicitly political, certainly not partisan, I would say the need for a suite of songs that dealt with love in all its kind of practical and celestial applications felt pretty crucial. It felt like we’ve been operating at a love-and-empathy deficit in a way that has felt particularly urgent as of late.”

Much of this realization is something came to Nero well after recording the songs. As he and partner Allison Russell were writing the songs, they had no idea why.

“As a matter of course, I almost try to never be clear about what I’m writing,” Nero says. “You’re out with your guitar trying to catch butterflies, and you see what you come up with. A phrase will pop out, and I will be singing it a certain way. Then it’s more like a detective: Why does that phrase not want to let go?”

They wrote some songs during the initial songwriting process that had a melancholy folksy sound to them, but set those aside for an EP called American Flowers, which they released a few months prior to Love in Wartime. The title track from that EP has become a show closer for the duo. It’s a front-porch sing-along that acknowledges the sadness and strife of the country, but pairs it with a message of hope. (“I have seen American flowers all across this land/From the banks of the Shenandoah, along the Rio Grande/Do not fear the winter blowing in the hearts of men/I have seen American flowers they will bloom again.”)

“That song I wrote to remind myself that good people in this country are the rule, and not the exception to the rule,” Nero says. “No matter how up in arms any of us are about what is going on politically, deep down we know we’re going to have to figure out a way to talk to each other and not demonize the other side. The only way you talk to each other is if you remember that we’re all humans.”

Birds of Chicago plays at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.

Film Review: ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’

Lisa Jensen

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November 20, 2018

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Most movies about writers revolve around someone glamorous or outrageous whose oversized personality spills over into their body of work. (Like the recent biopics about Oscar Wilde and Colette.) Lee Israel was not the glamorous kind of writer. But her largely unexceptional writing career took one detour interesting enough to attract filmmaker Marielle Heller, whose film Can You Ever Forgive Me? is based on Israel’s autobiographical memoir, published in 2008.

And who is Lee Israel? A longtime staff writer a The New Yorker, toiling away for long hours in complete anonymity, she had published a few biographies of bygone celebrities like Katharine Hepburn and Tallulah Bankhead, and cosmetics icon Estée Lauder. Her books were never successful enough for her to quit her day job, but when she was fired, she found a more lucrative career in literary forgery—specifically, forging letters from famous authors and selling them to unwary dealers.

The movie begins in 1991, with Lee (Melissa McCarthy) fired from her job for her foul mouth. Worried about her ailing cat, and prodded for back-rent owed to her landlord, she’s drowning her sorrows in scotch and soda when she meets Jack (Richard E. Grant) in a bar. With no known address or employment, but plenty of style, Jack gets by on wits alone, and the occasional tumble with a handsome young waiter. He becomes Lee’s drinking buddy and confessor.

Advised by her agent (a nifty cameo by Jane Curtin) that nobody cares about the once-famous people she writes about and to find a new line of work, Lee is stubbornly researching her next biography subject—vaudeville comedian Fanny Brice—when an authentic letter from Brice falls out of the dusty pages of a library book. Lee takes the letter to rare book dealer, Anna (Dolly Wells). Anna is interested, but the content is a little bland, so Lee goes home, jazzes it up with a snappy P.S., and brings it back to Anna, who buys it on the spot.

Soon, Lee is buying vintage typewriters at junk stores and fabricating completely fake letters from famous wits like Dorothy Parker and Noel Coward, copying their signatures in pen over a lightbox. Memorabilia dealers eat them up. At last, Lee has discovered a lucrative market for her work.

Annoying little details sometimes trip up the story. When Anna buys that first Brice letter, wouldn’t she recognize it as the same letter she rejected before, with a suspicious addition? For that matter, wouldn’t all the three or four dealers to whom Lee routinely sells her forgeries be more suspicious of where she was getting them? In real life, she might have widened her pool of buyers (I don’t know if she did), but in the movie, she just keeps taking her bogus letters to the same eager dealers—until the FBI intervenes.

While the real-life Israel was a middle-aged Jewish woman, Lee in the movie is robbed of any ethnicity. (She doesn’t even talk with a particularly New York accent.) She’s been turned into a vehicle for McCarthy, a generic frump in a bad haircut and shapeless clothes. Yet McCarthy is quietly affecting in the role, broadening her range beyond the madhouse comedies for which she’s best known.

But the movie may depend too much on McCarthy’s underdog popularity to sell the character’s less pleasant aspects. (At a swanky literary party, Lee steals a warm coat from the cloak room, and she plays phone pranks worthy of Bart Simpson.) We begin to see why her life is so solitary, although it’s revealed she once had a relationship with another woman (Anna Deavere Smith, in another cameo), who left because she felt the prickly Lee was pushing her away.

Still, the movie’s epiphanies work well—as in the moment Lee realizes she’s done the best work of her career in other authors’ voices. And McCarthy’s curmudgeonly Lee and Grant’s fizzy Jack make a delicious odd couple. Their friendship is the emotional lodestone by which the viewer can navigate this often twisted and cynical tale.

CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?

**1/2

With Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant. Written by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty. From the book by Lee Israel. Directed by Marielle Heller. Rated R 106 minutes

Hearty Entrees Shine at Lillian’s Italian Kitchen

Christina Waters

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November 20, 2018

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Hearty Entrees Shine at Lillian’s Italian Kitchen

Entrees were the stars at our recent dinner at Lillian’s Italian Kitchen.

Along with glasses of rich Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 ($12) and an excellent Bonny Doon Vineyard Cigare Volant 2012 ($13), we shared a salad of roasted beets, arugula and candied walnuts tossed in a vinaigrette with gorgonzola ($12). Sweeter than most antipasti salads, it made us wish we’d ordered the Caesar. My robust penne Margherita ($14) came tossed with marinara, fresh basil, gooey mozzarella and an addition of fat grilled Tiger prawns ($9). This was an absolutely fulfilling and generous bowl of pasta.

My companion’s entree of pan roasted salmon arrived on a bed of smashed potatoes ($27). The wedge of beautifully cooked salmon filet was joined by plump asparagus spears, everything strewn with diced fresh tomatoes and sauced with lemon and capers. Both entrees showed off the kitchen’s sure hand with Italian-American classics, and a take-no-prisoners devotion to garlic. The dessert of cannoli ($5.50) studded with chocolate chips was unlike the cannoli made by my companion’s grandmother. But then, what isn’t? The glass of Bele Casel Prosecco ($10), however, was fine.

Lillian’s Italian Kitchen. 1148 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Open from 4 p.m; closed Monday. lilliansitaliankitchen.com.

Well Wok’d Music Party

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of both New Music Works and the Santa Cruz Chamber Players last week, world cuisine master Jozseph Schultz outdid himself with a gorgeous spread of dish after delicious dish for the sit-down dinner crowd of arts glitterati.

From pappadams and salmon flatbread, through feta Greek salad and Spanish marinated mushrooms, the chef wok’d up a feast of his all-star recipes. My favorites included paper-thin spiced baby kale crisps, arugula-cheese tortillas, squid in Greek seasonings, outrageous browned Brussels sprouts, chicken with walnut garlic sauce, quince chutney, amazing eggs with sumac and Egyptian dukkah spices, and a fiery fennel and tomato salad. Hibiscus cooler, chai, champagne, and a massive cake finished off the meal.

While we feasted, we were treated to memorable live music. Standouts included beautiful work from the Malans, harpist Jennifer Cass’ gossamer playing of Jon Scoville, as well as Lou Harrison’s Jahla with Phil Collins on percussion, and Stan Poplin’s smokin’ double bass walk through avant garde jazz by Joe Zawinul.

Libation of the Week

The delicate quince chamomile shrub ($5) at Ristorante Avanti. Vibrant and refreshing, this pungent infusion of vinegar-based botanical syrup in soda made a perfect partner for fresh local halibut and an addictive saute of winter veggies. Plus a creamy fresh pea risotto ($23). Alas, this will be one of my last lunches at the original Avanti. Ciao to Paul and Cindy Geise, and welcome to new chef/owners Jonathan and Tatiana Glass.

Tidbits

Hula’s Island Grill and Tiki Room at 221 Cathcart St. in Santa Cruz, takes you to the Islands this holiday season with an enticing gift certificate deal. You need only purchase a $50 gift certificate and you’ll also get a $10 certificate for yourself! Purchase $100 and you get an additional $20 gift card to treat yourself! Truly a win-win. Offer good until Dec. 24. Meanwhile, Soif Wine Shop at 105 Walnut Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz will deliver wine orders of $300 (or more) within Santa Cruz County now through the end of the year. Such a deal.

Post-Turkey Wine Dinner

In Aptos, Persephone restaurant welcomes Sante Arcangeli winemaker John Benedetti at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29 for a five-course meal ($135 non-inclusive) that begins with puntarelle salad with prosciutto and duck egg, and ends with dessert of rose meringue, pomegranate and pistachio. Each course paired with a special Sante Arcangeli wine. Almost sold out! Reservations at 831-612-6511 or email in**@******************nt.com.

Theater Review: ‘Suds’

Lisa Jensen

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November 20, 2018

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Back in the pre-digital age, before everyone’s earbuds were plugged into their own personal playlists, remember what it used to be like to hear some random oldie on the car radio that just made you grin? Going to Suds is kind of like that.

Subtitled “The Rocking ’60s Musical Soap Opera,” it’s the new Jewel Theatre Company production now playing at the Colligan Theater.

No, you don’t get to hear the original recordings, where you know every lick by heart. And, yes, the idea behind the show—to weave together nearly 50 rock classics (OK, a few are a little less than classic) into a loose narrative about a teenage girl looking for love—is an obvious attempt to create a crowd-pleaser without having to bother writing a bunch of new material. But the JTC production is full of fun anyway, thanks to a quartet of powerhouse vocalists who know how to sell the songs we love.

Conceived in San Diego by Melinda Gilb, Steve Gunderson, and Bryan Scott, this bouncy musical comedy made its off-Broadway debut in 1988, and has been a popular staple of regional theater ever since. Its only set is a laundromat, decorated here by Scenic Designer Steve Gerlach with giant, colorful murals of vintage Cheer boxes and other soap products. Shaun Carroll directs with the upbeat energy the show demands.

Employee Cindy (Brittany Law), is a fresh-faced ingenue having the worst day of her life, even though it’s her birthday. Among other things, her pen-pal boyfriend has just dumped her. She tries to end it all (wrapping a pair of capris around her neck and dangling one end into a washing machine on the spin cycle—sort of an upside-down hanging), but her plans are thwarted by a couple of guardian angels. Marge (Diana Torres Koss) is worldly and sarcastic. Dee-Dee (Lee Ann Payne) is more of a rah-rah type. But in between sniping at each other, they set out to convince Cindy, via the Tao of pop songs, that life is worth living and true love exists.

That’s about it for plot. But the always watchable Koss and Payne, both great singers, are two of JTC’s most reliable performers—and they deliver, especially in their big solos. (Koss’ “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” is epic.) Payne also staged the lively choreography. Law, too, has a big, bright voice; these three divas probably don’t even need to be miked.

Rounding out the show’s quartet is Nick Gallegos as everybody else, meaning every man the women encounter. He’s a riot in a variety of guises and personas, riffing on Elvis and Paul Lynde in walk-on bit parts like Mr. Postman, Mr. Right, and Johnny Angel. A five-person combo in matching powder-blue jackets that marches in to take its place in the upstage balcony keeps the action flowing with familiar downbeats and song cues.

And while the songs are familiar (glance down your row and see how many knees are bouncing up and down as the tunes roll out), the inventive way they’re strung together in service to the minimalist libretto gives the show its pop. “Wishing and Hoping” segues into “Tell Him” as a call to romantic action. The angels burst into “The Loco-Motion” when they mistake Cindy’s flailing away at the washing machine for a new dance craze.

The songwriters represented on the show’s hit parade are a diverse bunch, from Burt Bacharach to James Brown to Johnny Rivers to Otis Redding to Lennon and McCartney. Most of these tunesmiths are male (with Carole King and Phil Spector alumna Ellie Greenwich among the exceptions), but they were often writing for female performers like Lesley Gore, the Ronettes, Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick, and the Supremes, who made gigantic hits out of them—simple (and catchy) songs of heartbreak, yearning, hope, and swoony romance.

In other words, perfect material for this lightweight laundromat operetta.

The Jewel Theatre Company production of ‘Suds’ plays through Dec. 2 at the Colligan Theater at The Tannery. Call 425-7506, or visit JewelTheatre.net.

Opinion: November 14, 2018

Steve Palopoli

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November 14, 2018

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EDITOR’S NOTE

I just looked back at my editor’s notes in the Santa Cruz Gives issues from the last couple of years and they are by far the longest I’ve ever written.

Clearly, I can’t shut up about how much I love this program, how I think it’s the most important thing we do all year, and how I continue to marvel at how it’s helping to radicalize how we support our nonprofits in Santa Cruz County.

So this year, I promised myself I wouldn’t get so worked up about the new holiday giving drive … well, except I have to mention that we just added one of the most fantastic sponsors we could possibly ask for: Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, which for the first time will be contributing $20,000 in matching funds to your donations.

The more your favorite nonprofits raise, the more they’ll receive of this year’s matching funds, which, with the help of this new contribution, now total $27,000.

Oh, and going into our fourth year now, I have to mention what has become one of my favorite things every time: watching the hard-working local heroes behind these groups bond over things like sharing new ways of connecting to donors who care about their causes and even competing in good fun (but passionately!) for the three Santa Cruz Gives awards: Most Donors Overall, Most Donors Under 35 Years Old, and Most Innovative Program.

Those awards are made possible by Oswald, which reminds me that I want to thank them and our other partners, too—we could not do this without the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County Bank and Wynn Capital Management.

Oh no, I’m doing it again, aren’t I? OK, then let me just point you to this week’s cover story for more on who you can give to this year and how. Help us make this the most successful Santa Cruz Gives year yet!

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Re: “The Harder They Come” (GT, 11/7):

Nice recognition of a local grad who has done well for himself. I think it is important to recognize some facts in the case where he represented Hulk Hogan, Bollea v. Gawker, a lawsuit that was tossed out of federal court originally and then shopped around until a favorable judge was found who would hear it in Florida. The case was paid for in large part by billionaire Peter Thiel, a co-founder of Paypal and current Facebook board member who paid over 10 million dollars to finance lawsuits against Gawker. The case is considered by many to be fueled by right-wing money from Thiel over articles Gawker published, used to silence journalists and news media organizations.

Rob Shapero
Aptos

Truly Spooked

The other day I was walking around my neighborhood with my dog. I do that a lot. I take in the various holiday decorations. Halloween has become a bigger deal than it should be. There were skeletons, spider webs (overkill on the webs, folks), and tombstones. Witches hung from trees and pumpkins sported crooked grins. What I didn’t expect to see was a head of Barack Obama amongst the decorations on Windham Avenue. I was offended, as a person of color, but also mystified. Obama was the president for eight years. He does not hold any office and while one might put the head of, say, the Unabomber, or the Parkland shooter, (which would, by the way, be in terrible taste) this house chose to put Barack Obama. Was it meant to be amusing, scary? Was it a comment on his character? I mean, he’s only had one wife and didn’t spend his waking hours tweeting to everyone who criticized him. Let’s face it, he took a lot of crap, just for being black, but never stooped to the level of his detractors. Apparently it’s open season now on anyone who is critical of the administration, colored, female, press, American. I don’t have to agree with my compatriots, but I’m not going to demonize them. All the extremists feel they have finally been invited to the party and they are bringing their weapons. Who wouldn’t be spooked?

N. Moody
Santa Cruz

More Halloween Thoughts

In the spirit of the recent Halloween holiday and all things spooky and scary I felt compelled to respond to a recent “Local Talk” question: “What scared you as a kid, and what scares you now?”

My answer: Ironically, nothing scared me as a kid, as I had a fun and fearless childhood. However, now as an adult, I am terrified of quite a lot—poverty, cancer, irreversible pollution, rapists, murderers, creepy spy games, drug trafficking, prostitution rings, and widespread police/government corruption, to name a few!

There, how’s that for scary? Take that, Halloweenies!

Thanks for the forum.

Codi Ann Kutsch
Watsonville

Re: Lile O. Cruse

As an alum of Cabrillo Stage, and the proud husband of one of the performers mentioned here, I appreciate the research, effort and professionalism you poured into your article. Lile was a rare gem, and he will be with us always. The community and family we found under his steady hand will never be forgotten; we can only try to replicate it in our own lives. The evening celebrating his legacy was touching, and it was humbling to see how many outstanding performers and people he influenced. Best wishes and heartfelt thanks to Michele, his family, Jana, Janie and all the rest who loved and admired him.

— Mike Rhodes

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

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

Santa Cruz is still mourning the sudden and tragic passing of artist James Aschbacher. In effort to preserve Aschbacher’s work, local art restorer Robert Echols has pledged to repaint and repair Aschbacher’s wooden animals in Hestwood Park’s children’s area, which have been badly weathered and vandalized since their 2002 installation. Community members will gather for a rededication ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18 at Hestwood Park in Live Oak.

GOOD WORK

The California Office of Traffic Safety has awarded a $110,000 grant to the Santa Cruz Police Department for a year-long enforcement and public awareness program. The safety effort aims to educate about traffic laws and reduce the number of automobile injuries and deaths. Areas of focus include increased patrols at problematic intersections and a push to combat drunk driving.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“You want to be the pebble in the pond that creates the ripple for change.”
-Tim Cook

5 Things To Do in Santa Cruz Nov. 14-20

GT Staff

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November 14, 2018

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A weekly guide to what’s happening.

Green Fix

Gary Snyder and Tom Killion Reading

Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder and Bay Area artist Tom Killion go way back. They’ve published several books together and collaborated on numerous projects, including a show at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) last year. Killion is known for stunning landscape prints which utilize ancient Japanese woodblock techniques, and Snyder is known for his poetry and involvement in the Beat movement—he read at the famous Six Gallery reading alongside Allen Ginsberg. Together, Killion and Snyder have most recently been focusing on California’s coastal landscapes.

INFO: 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. UCSC Music Recital Hall is located at 402 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz. 459-1274. thi.ucsc.edu. Free event, online registration recommended. $5 parking.

Art Seen

Santa Cruz Youth Symphony Fall Concert

Sure, seeing a live orchestra is impressive, but imagine an orchestra of 12- to 20-year-olds playing music by Bizet, Schubert, Elgar, and Vaughan Williams. For parents looking to get their kids into music, this is a great opportunity for kids to see other kids performing at a high level, and is inspirational for the whole family. This year’s fall concert features 13-year-old solo-violinist Xander Lee (pictured) in a virtuoso piece called “Czardas” with the full orchestra. The concert also features the world premiere of a commissioned piece for Korean instruments and orchestra by South Korean composer Sarang Kim.

INFO: 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. UC Santa Cruz Recital Hall. 402 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz. sccys.org/concerts. Adults pay $15, seniors $10, students $5

Saturday 11/17

All About Theatre 15th Anniversary Show

Picture a mashup of “Somewhere” from West Side Story, “When I Grow Up” from Matilda and “Take a Chance on Me” from Mamma Mia—local nonprofit All About Theatre (AAT) is so excited about, well, theater, that they couldn’t pick just one musical classic. In celebration of 15 years of local actors and productions, the AAT family presents “Metamorphosis: A Musical Journey.”

INFO: 5:30 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 423-8209. riotheatre.com. $85 general for appetizers and drinks. $40 show only.

Friday 11/16-Sunday 12/9

‘Miracle on 34th Street’

Mountain Community Theater took a brief hiatus from Miracle on 34th Street, but after six years they are bringing the holiday classic back again. Directed by Peter Gelblum, it tells the heart-warming story, familiar to most from the classic 1947 film, of a gentle old man named Kris Kringle who believes he is Santa Claus and who uses kindness and generosity to convince a little girl, and then everyone else, that he is jolly old St. Nick.

INFO: 2 and 8 p.m. shows. Cast talkbacks at 2 p.m. on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. Mountain Community Theater, 9400 Mill St., Ben Lomond. 336.4777. mctshows.org. $20 general admission. Photo: Alie Ma.

Saturday 11/17

Community Storytelling

Calling all storytellers and food eaters! This special community event is basically campfire storytelling, but instead of fire there is yoga and delicious food. For those wishing to tell a story, each speaker has around five minutes to share about an issue that is relevant to our community, such as the San Lorenzo River, living in Santa Cruz, or the farm and food movement. This is a plastic-free event, and Areperia 831 will provide a vegan and gluten-free lentil coconut curry with rice and hibiscus cooler. Bring a picnic blanket and reusable silverware or a plate.

INFO: 1-3 p.m. San Lorenzo Park Duck Pond, 137 Dakota Ave., Santa Cruz. Free.

Love Your Local Band: Swirly Girls

Aaron Carnes

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November 14, 2018

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Cousins Sheila Cliff and Pam Nectar always liked swirls.

It’s a cool symbol, and seemed like an obvious choice for a band name when they started playing music together four years ago in what was a very impromptu decision.

“We were dancing around, listening to music and decided it would be fun,” says Cliff.

They only lasted a very short while as a two-piece, with Nectar on guitar and Cliff on ukulele and washboard (and both on vocals). They knew that they needed a bass player. That’s when they tapped Gary “SweetPea” Cunningham to join the group—who may be swirly, but is definitely not a girl.

“They offered to change the name for me because I’m a guy, but I think I like Swirly Girls,” Cunningham says.

The trio has never settled on a genre, though everything is acoustic, with plenty of group harmony.

“It’s like Stevie Wonder to old ’20s swing music and a little Django Reinhardt. Neil Young is in there too,” Cunningham says.

Now they’re much more confident as musicians, and have developed a pretty broad range of songs in their repertoire. They also don’t feel like they need to stay true to the original rendition.

“The music that we like is really diverse. I feel like the songs that we choose, they’re not so specific to one genre. We try to mix it up and offer more than one genre, because that’s what we listen to,” Nectar says. “I think the way we make everything our own, we kind of put our own swirl on whatever we’re doing.”

INFO: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday Nov. 21, Michael’s on Main, 2591 South Main St., Soquel. $10. 479-9777.

Music Picks: Nov. 14-20

Aaron Carnes

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November 14, 2018

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Live music highlights for the week of Nov. 14, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 11/14

COUNTRY

TISH HINOJOSA

Country singer Tish Hinojosa sings about healing. At least that’s the case for her gentle new album West, her first record in five years. The 62-year-old singer has been releasing country and Americana albums since the ’80s, with songs in English and Spanish. Leading up to this album, she returned to her home in Austin, Texas after a decade in Germany. She’s been recovering from a failed marriage and a couple of surgeries. She pours this spirit of mending and rebirth into West, which is at once rich with sadness and incredibly hopeful for the future. AARON CARNES

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. $15. 479-9777.

PSYCHEDELIC

SUGAR CANDY MOUNTAIN

Sugar Candy Mountain offers some seriously classic psychedelic vibes, slowed down and awash in lulling vocals and meandering guitar riffs. Archetypal synths team up with warm vintage drums to create a what-decade-is-it time loop effect; it would be easy to put Sugar Candy Mountain on repeat and drive off into the unknown for an indeterminable amount of time. Maybe you’ll end up in the future. Or maybe the past. Either way, it will be in amazing technicolor, and you will leave Sugar Candy Mountain feeling fabulous and wonderfully worry-free. AMY BEE

INFO: 9 p.m., Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $12/door. 429-6994.

THURSDAY 11/15

AMERICANA

TAYLOR RAE

Santa Cruz has a small town vibe, but tucked away are some of Northern California’s finest talents. Moe’s Alley highlights these local treasures with a Songwriters Showcase that features the soulful Taylor Rae, Moshe Vilozny, and David Jeremy. Last year, Rae won the Santa Cruz NEXTies “Musician of the Year” award, a glowing acknowledgment of her “Soul and Roll” sound (part R&B, part jazz, part Americana). Rae is still an up-and-coming voice in the Santa Cruz scene, but she’s already shown herself to be adept at captivating audiences. MIKE HUGUENOR

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Drive, Santa Cruz. $10. 479-1854.

GYPSY-JAZZ

BARRIO MANOUCHE

Considering that the Bay Area has nurtured and supported thriving flamenco and Gypsy jazz scenes for decades, it’s not surprising that Barrio Manouche took root here. Launched about five years ago by Madrid-born composer and master guitarist Javier Jiménez, the band has honed a virtuosic, emotionally charged sound that draws on two distinct but kindred Roma musical traditions, leavened by a love of jazz improvisation and Afro-Brazilian rhythms. A joyous collusion between the Old and New Worlds, Barrio Manouche reveals hidden currents flowing between familiar sounds. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $21/adv, $26.25/door. 427-2227.

FRIDAY 11/16

R&B

RICKY MONTIJO

Ricky Montijo is a multi-instrumentalist and a multi-genre tinkerer. He can, and does, play the guitar, percussion and keys. As far as genre, there are elements of Latin, pop, R&B, reggae, funk and blues, but it all boils down to an infectious, sassy dance-pop. Montijo is comfortable going full on with whatever genre he’s performing at the moment, whether it’s dirty, funky grooves, or a bit of ’90s electro-R&B. The California native has been dazzling the West Coast dance floors with his tunes and is currently pushing single “Toxic Tongue,” a rare example of a song that seems like it could be spun by a DJ. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret and Steakhouse, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $10. 335-2800.

HEAVY METAL

AK//47

AK//47 is not for the faint of heart. This Indonesian grindcore trio’s music is as abrasive as it is meticulously constructed, with blast beats, fast time-changes and brutal vocals. They are currently finishing the second half of their first U.S. tour, on the heels of their third LP release Loncati Pagar Berduri (Jump the Barbed Wire), and the Blue Lagoon is lucky enough to host the headbangers. They will be joined by Oakland grinders Violent Opposition, and local heshers Zombie Ritual for an evening of hell-raising fun. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, $5. 423-7117.

SATURDAY 11/17

BLACK METAL

DEAFHEAVEN

It’s not often that one record spawns an entire subgenre of music, but that’s exactly what Deafheaven’s 2013 album Sunbather did. It fused the punishing brutality of black metal with the dreamy atmospherics of shoegaze bands like My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins. Since then, Deafheaven has never settled, pushing themselves on each release to bring metal to new sonic locales. The recent Ordinary Corrupt Human Love finds the band again flirting with a melodicism previously alien to black metal, this time bringing piano and post-rock into the equation. MH

INFO: 8 p.m. The Catalyst Atrium, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25. 429-4135.

SUNDAY 11/18

FOLK

WILLIE WATSON

On his latest album, Folksinger Vol. 2, Willie Watson pays tribute to the deep Americana roots in folk music by sharing his musical interpretations of traditional folk canon tunes. From railroad songs to Appalachian music, Watson adds his gravelly voice to the legions of storytellers that have gone before him, paying homage without claiming ownership. Staying true to the essence of the tunes rather than seeking self-aggrandizement, Watson seeks out and then simply dwells in the joy of roots music, keeping the old stories alive for the folks who will come after. AB

INFO: 8 p.m., Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $18/door. 423-1338.

MONDAY 11/19

PUNK

GYMSHORTS

OK, maybe Gymshorts would traditionally be called garage rock or lo-fi, but their Facebook page self-proclaims the “stoner punk” status and you just got to love that. After all, what better moniker is there for punk tunes about getting high, sucky parents and eating burritos? This Rhode Island quartet hit the scene in 2013 and released their second EP, Wet Willy, on the holy grail of garage rock labels, Burger Records. Local teen rockers Crispy Bits complete the line-up for a show that will leave you talking about burning down the establishment. MW

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $7. 429-6994.

Odonata Wines’ Grenache 2015

Josie Cowden

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November 14, 2018

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Recently, a few hours with my Wild Wine Women group at Odonata’s tasting room was an informative and fun experience.

Denis Hoey, Odonata owner and winemaker, took us on a tour of his facility in Salinas and poured a tasting of all of the different wines he makes. A delicious and healthy lunch was prepared by Beverlie Terra, who was once executive chef at Chaminade and is now an adjunct instructor with the Cabrillo College Culinary Arts program.

Hoey recently closed his tasting room in Santa Cruz to focus solely on his tasting room and property in Salinas—with plans for expansion into an events venue—and he now sells his wines directly from there. And, thanks to Hoey’s expertise in winemaking, his top-quality wines are selling well.

Hoey’s 2015 Grenache ($32), made with grapes harvested from Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County, is a peppery spicy red with gorgeously layered aromas of orange zest, clove and red fruits.

With its full body and chewy texture—giving way to exotic flavors of “raspberry framboise” and white pepper spice—it’s an earthy solo star to enjoy on its own. Hoey suggests pairing it with lamb and roasted veggies, and I’m sure it would go well with your Thanksgiving dinner, too.

“The richness and depth of this Grenache erupts with every sip, while conveying texture and balance,” Hoey says. “This wine has serious personality and can handle a wide variety of dishes.” I bet that includes turkey and stuffing!

Odonata Wines, 645 River Road, Salinas. Open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 566-5147, odonatawines.com.

Local Wine in Maui

We recently had a first-time visit to Maui, soaking up glorious sunny weather and some terrific food and wine. I was glad to see quite a few local wine labels on supermarket shelves and in restaurants.

We enjoyed a superb seafood lunch one day in Mama’s Fish House, paired with some 2015 Chalone Estate Chardonnay. Chalone Vineyard is just a stone’s throw from Pinnacles National Park in Soledad—very handy for wine tasting after a taxing hike!

Chalone Vineyard, 32020 Stonewall Canyon Road, Soledad. 707-9333235, chalonevineyard.com.

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Libation of the Week

Tidbits

Post-Turkey Wine Dinner

EDITOR’S NOTE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Gary Snyder and Tom Killion Reading

Santa Cruz Youth Symphony Fall Concert

All About Theatre 15th Anniversary Show

‘Miracle on 34th Street’

Community Storytelling

WEDNESDAY 11/14

TISH HINOJOSA

SUGAR CANDY MOUNTAIN

THURSDAY 11/15

TAYLOR RAE

BARRIO MANOUCHE

FRIDAY 11/16

RICKY MONTIJO

AK//47

SATURDAY 11/17

DEAFHEAVEN

SUNDAY 11/18

MONDAY 11/19

GYMSHORTS

Local Wine in Maui