Page 709 | Good Times

The Bird Chirps of the Future: Risa’s Star’s Dec. 26- Jan. 1

Risa D’Angeles

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December 25, 2018

The Bird Chirps of the Future: Risa’s Star’s Dec. 26- Jan. 1

In sacred liturgy, Dec. 26–Jan. 8 is referred to as the “12 days of Christmas,” a time in which we walk with the three astrologer kings carrying gifts to the holy child (soul). Each of the days also represents one of the upcoming astrological signs, from Aries to Pisces, and on each we contemplate upon the characteristics, talents, gifts, abilities and tasks of a different sign. As we do, the signs begin to communicate with us. From beginning to end, from the Alpha to the Omega, in the silence of winter, in the quietness of the Earth, the signs tell us new life and new livingness is to come.

Each sign also signifies a different light, like the new light of winter solstice. So we consider Aries, the light of beginnings. Taurus, the light of illumination. Gemini, the light of duality. Cancer, the light of life hidden in the womb of matter. Leo, the light of our creative self. Virgo, the hidden light. And Libra, the Light of “I and Thou” (relationships).

During these 12 days and into the new year, we stand with five words: recreation, regeneration, reorientation, renunciation, and recapitulation. Each year, we begin anew. And the rod of justice rules. The Ark reaches the shore. The past reaches the future in each of us. And, direction, sign by sign, is given.

ARIES: A new phase of reality begins. Great aspirations push you forward into dedication and hard work. Your self-identity, sense of family and home, intimate relationships and professional career will change and expand. Work with others cooperatively. All that you aspire to do will come forth only if cooperation is foremost. Tend carefully to moods. Use them imaginatively to create all things new.

TAURUS: Your religion and spirituality, your mind (thinking, study, ideas), daily life, health, teaching and travel are all divinely influenced. Life will seem to be rather dreamy. You might not like this much as it feels impractical. However, it’s a time of rest and healing. Dreams help manifest long-held visions. Be in the Sun as much as possible. Write down plans and ideas. A new phase of life begins. Try not to be too distant with those you love.

GEMINI: We work in between incarnations. Each lifetime, we attempt to discover our place in the Sun. When we die, it’s our last thought that determines where we go. In this lifetime, we are to train our minds in all ways. Planning and strategy are important in the coming year. We can also plan consciously for when we die. This is only an exercise of preparation—begin training your mind on what you will think about at the time of death.

CANCER: The New Year brings great promise of happiness. You won’t feel distracted. Your mind will be clear, harmonious and challenged to move toward what you’ve always wanted. You will be creative. When there are differences you will step aside (like the crab you are) circumventing disharmony. See each day as an opportunity to do your very best.

LEO: The New Year is golden for you in terms of work, confidence and growth, both subtle and steady. You want will to make changes concerning health and healing. Become a member of a spa, begin an exercise and diet regime with yoga, tai chi, biking, swimming, etc. Continued focus on health is most important. You will seek the Diamond Light. Compassion and altruism become your newest psychological orientations.

VIRGO: Allow constancy of effort into your life, not turning back when difficulties arise. Stand at the middle point. You may feel your life is not moving forward. However, many things are occurring within. New realities, resources, and things social rise to the surface offering satisfaction and intimacy. Tend to partners and those who love you with care and nourishment. Let your mind be at ease.

LIBRA: You will work very hard this coming year. When in doubt, call upon your angels to flood your life with light, information and assistance. It will happen immediately. You felt challenged this past year. The upcoming year offers greater progress and power. Avoid controversial decisions. Allow time for Right Decisions leading to Right Action. Don’t show dissatisfaction in relationships. Love is not a feeling. It’s a willingness to love more.

SCORPIO: You will look back on the past year and see that it was good. There was (and will be) exceptional growth, support, gains and progress with creativity rewarded. You might be too impulsive, leading to expectations that are unreasonable to others. Provide affection and attention to everyone, especially friends and loved ones. You will be busy socially for a while. Then your temperament becomes serious and internal. Spending time alone is part of your destiny.

SAGITTARIUS: You will feel quite dynamic as the New Year unfolds. There will be a fire within burning brighter and fuller. You may need to control that fire a bit lest conflicts with others are created. Use that inner fire for creativity, achieving greater goals, greater focus and direction. You will rise in stature through new ways of thinking. This has already begun. You’re more positive, bright like the Sun eliminating obstacles and hurdles. Do not compete. Share instead.

CAPRICORN: Saturn is your ruler, the planet helping you in all endeavors, especially climbing the mountain, which means the ladder of success. Success in whatever way you see success for yourself. Saturn helps you choose good shoes, too. I wish you a happy birthday for your new year. Remember to speak with your angels. They stand by waiting for instructions. They are to help you with all that you need and want in the coming year. Make your list. Check it twice, three times.

AQUARIUS: The New Year focuses upon relationships, love, friendship and romance. Avoid any major changes at the first half of the year. Instead focus on building a firmer foundation of security and creativity. New realities can emerge in the last half of the year. Travel when you can. It brings you pleasure, excitement, friendships and relaxation. Have pride in your accomplishments, in yourself, and in the important social role you play in the world.

PISCES: Rest more in the coming year. Focus, stamina and vitality return gradually. Remain conscious of fluctuating finances. You want Right Use of money and resources. Past friends and lovers continue to occupy your mind. Send them on their way with love and blessings. Or invite them along the Path. Not many will be able to absorb the fiery field of the Path. You will be called to leadership. Step into this with confidence. The many years of the past struggles have prepared you.

Our Top 10 Films of 2018

Lisa Jensen

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December 25, 2018

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We may crave escapism more than ever these days, but some of the most effective movies of 2018 were documentaries—four of which made my list of top 10 favorites. I can’t claim these are the year’s best movies, but they’re the ones I found most arresting, admirable, and/or entertaining!

BLINDSPOTTING

Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal write themselves terrific roles in this love letter to the diverse culture and community of Oakland, turning in virtuoso performances as buds confronting issues of race, class, identity, and their own volatile, longtime friendship. Rookie director Carlos López Estrada makes bold, stylistic choices, and while the story can be intense, it’s told with plenty of sharp humor.

RBG

The superhero movie of the year, this documentary by Julie Cohen and Betsy West celebrates legendary Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As cunning as Loki, she wields her opinion with the precision of Thor’s hammer, and achieves actual change, fighting for gender equality under the law as she has for five decades of groundbreaking decisions.

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

This Queen biopic, directed by Bryan Singer (later replaced by Dexter Fletcher) is a nonstop joyride for Queen fans. Central is the dynamic performance of Rami Malek, unorthodox enough to embody Freddie Mercury’s outsider persona, yet soulful enough to engage us in the singer’s lifelong quest to become himself.

TEA WITH THE DAMES

In Roger Michell’s irresistible documentary, four great British actresses (Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, and Eileen Atkins, each of them honored with the title of Dame and all longtime friends) get together for an afternoon of tea and conversation—always trenchant, often hilarious—about life, love, friendship, and the craft of acting.

THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS

Tim Wardle’s engrossing documentary follows the true story of three young men who met by chance and discovered they were triplets, separated from each other and their birth mother as infants. None of them had any idea that the other two existed. How this happened—and the darker question of why—makes Wardle’s movie as gripping as any thriller.

THE HAPPY PRINCE

Rupert Everett wrote, directed and stars in this remarkable portrait of ruined nobility, disturbing in its intensity as it digs beneath both the surface glitz of Oscar Wilde’s fizzy celebrity as a dramatist, and his blackened reputation as an infamous sodomite, to explore the complex personality within.

HEARTS BEAT LOUD

Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons are wholly engaging in Brett Haley’s gently-calibrated story about a middle-aged father and his teenage daughter who bond over a shared love of songwriting and playing music together. A simple scenario brought to life by nuanced performances and a light and easy directorial touch.

EIGHTH GRADE

The excruciating angst of being 13 is captured to poignant comic perfection in this first feature film from Bo Burnham. Most remarkable is Burnham’s insight into young female psychology, and the eggshell-strewn minefield of parent-child relationships. Elsie Fisher is galvanizing as an eighth-grader enduring her last week of middle school.

JULIET, NAKED

Based on an acerbic Nick Hornby novel, this story of a middle-aged music fan obsessed with a has-been rocker is a wry divertimento for three voices: the obsessed fan (Chris O’Dowd), his neglected, fed-up girlfriend (Rose Byrne), and the reclusive rocker himself (Ethan Hawke), the fantasy figure whose unexpected appearance in real life throws all of their worlds into comic turmoil.

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

Filmmaker Morgan Neville shows us the radical side of Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood), not only in the way he tapped into the darkest parts of the cultural zeitgeist to help kids cope with them, but also insisting that every child is unique, valid and deserving of respect.

Honorable Mention: Monsters and Men, Isle Of Dogs, Black Panther, Leaning Into the Wind, We the Animals.

Full Spektrum: The Best Local Art of 2018

Georgia Johnson

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December 25, 2018

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Full Spektrum: The Best Local Art of 2018

This seems to be a year that everyone is happy to forget, thanks to Brett Kavanaugh’s weird flexes, crazy Kanye and an Ambien-induced Elon Musk. So long Yanny…or is it Laurel?

But saying goodbye to a year of arts is more bittersweet. I’m not sure how many times I announced to our entire office that, “Oh my god, you have to go see this” in the last 12 months—the most recent being the Radius Gallery’s “Imagine Peace Now” show centered around gun violence.

When thinking about the Santa Cruz arts scene this year, what stood out was not only the magnitude of local events, artists and creators, but the determination for progress and optimism in spite of this year’s madness. There was the Introducing the Super Stoked Surf Mamas of Pleasure Point film debut, featuring five local mamas hangin’ ten in all of their preggo glory.

Profiles of local artists like Dana Richardson, Sarah Zentz, FJ Anderson and the Wenger family proved everyone has a story worth telling, especially those who almost got swept off of a Big Sur cliff. There were several of down-and-dirty stories, like when I went fishing for the first time (okay, not technically arts) or my intimate encounter with local wildlife while plein air painting. My backpack is clean now, thanks for asking.

The year began with a Resource Center for Nonviolence exhibit on black experiences and stories in Santa Cruz, which led to not only one of our most popular cover stories of the year, but more importantly, conversations about representation on a larger scale. Next was Tom Killion’s exhibit, “California’s Wild Edge,” at the Museum of Art and History (MAH), which celebrated the best landscapes of the California coast.

Alongside the Killion exhibit was the countywide, 11-venue Spoken/Unspoken series.

The first countywide collaboration was a testament to the strength of the arts community, but also the originality that each arts space adds to the mix. The theme of Spoken/Unspoken was open to interpretation, and with such a vague topic, it’s no surprise that the exhibits varied wildly. While the MAH hosted discussions around death and reflection, the Cabrillo Gallery interpreted the theme more ambiguously with their surreal “Cyphers” exhibit that forced people to slow down and interpret artistic encrypted messages.

As the year went on, we celebrated identity with the Louden Nelson’s new mural about queer-youth history and visibility, then covered some pretty great parties, including Motion Pacific’s new dance and drag show. We honored longtime legacies like UCSC’s Rainbow Theatre’s 25th anniversary and the public library’s 150th birthday, and said a few too-early goodbyes to Cabrillo Stage Founder Lile Cruse and renowned local artist James Aschbacher.

There were shows that made me think (sometimes more than I wanted to) like lille æske’s “Spektrum” show, which prompted our staff, and seemingly half of Santa Cruz, to head up to Boulder Creek and see what all the hubbub was about. The exhibit was capped at 12 people a night (it was in a little wooden box, after all), and although the show was extended due to popular demand, there were many people that couldn’t get in—despite begging. But a little bird told us that there’s more in store for 2019 based on the Spektrum experience, so be on the lookout for that.

Santa Cruz did a fantastic job with holiday madness—between the Nutcracker, Tandy Beal’s Joy! and Mountain Community Theater’s Miracle on 34th Street, I’ve seen enough poinsettias and holiday lights to last until the cows come home.

On a personal note, I crossed off a few bucket list items this year, like throwing a fiery flaming Skee-Ball, thoroughly embarrassing myself in an interview with Michael Pollan, and simultaneously eating pizza and deep fried oreos in a kind of pizza-oreo taco. I also stupidly revealed my favorite diet-breaking New Leaf snack. No I won’t tell you what it is since New Leaf is always out of it now, you fiends!

On the horizon, we are looking to a new season of Santa Cruz Baroque and UCSC’s new Hunter S. Thompson collection, plus the unveiling of a new mural in Watsonville. But for now, farewell to another successful, vibrant year of local arts and cheers to the new year.

Preview: Ring In 2019 With the Mother Hips

DNA

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December 25, 2018

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Preview: Ring In 2019 With the Mother Hips

While humanity trudges ever-westward through the rise and fall of empires—cloaked in bearskins, then togas, then Birkenstocks—a small group of modern troubadours have spent their time penning songs for the ages: the Mother Hips.

Their story can be found in documentaries like Patrick Murphree’s Stories We Could Tell and Bill DeBlonk’s This is the Sound, plus a coffee table book by Jay Blakesberg, as well as thousands of articles and interviews. In essence, it goes like this: in 1990, Chico State students Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono met, partied and found their voices to be two sides of a precious coin. Their landmark freshman album, 1993’s Back to the Grotto—which also featured bassist Isaac Parsons and drummer Mike Wofchuck—combined with their electrifying live performances, bound them heart and soul to the Chico scene.

The Mother Hips were adamantly not a hippie band, and not a jam band. They were searching for something new to be heard. The band’s look and attitude shaped the image, but it was their craftsmanship and dedication to songs that got the Mother Hips the attention of American Records, which released Part-Timer Goes Full (1995) and Shootout (1996).

In the last 27 years, the Mother Hips have not only released 10 must-hear albums that have redefined the contours of the American Dream, they’ve also carved a path allowing in their wake a wave of bands who see them as the pioneers of a sound dubbed California Soul. From the Dead Winter Carpenters to the Infamous Stringdusters, there is a legion of bands trekking the road the Mother Hips carved.

This year has found the band revolving their extensive catalogue into ever-changing set lists to appease old and new fans alike. Their latest album Chorus fits perfectly in line with their past releases; in fact, it is a representation of everything that has come before. It is also their most stripped-down effort, a straightforward exploration of the decade’s worth of sounds the band has mined, harvested and tumbled. This album is the work of rugged individualists—something John Muir might have listened to if he had an iPod with him as he traversed the redwoods, jagged coastline and snowy peaks of Northern California.

These days, co-founders Bluhm and Loiacono are the core of the band, along with longtime drummer (since 1997) John Hofer. Bassist Scott Thunes, who brought a spark of energy to the band over the last few years, is gone. While the band emulates a version of Spinal Tap Lite, the position of bass guitar is now in the hands of Brian Rashap.

Rashap has been one of the house bassists at Terrapin Crossroads in Marin since 2013. From his early work in a Southern California Grateful Dead cover band called Station EXP to becoming Phil Lesh’s production manager and bass tech on tour, it’s been nothing short of a long, strange trip.

Steely-eyed Loiacono is philosophical when it comes to the changes the band has been through. “I enjoy playing with different configurations and seeing what new people bring to our songs,” he says.

For the Mother Hips, the journey is ever forward, further and beyond.

The Mother Hips perform at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 30 and Monday, Dec. 31 at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. Tickets $28 adv/$30 door on Sunday, and $50 adv/$55 door on Monday.

Burgers to Thai, Santa Cruz’s Best Meals of 2018

Christina Waters

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December 25, 2018

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Burgers to Thai, Santa Cruz’s Best Meals of 2018

My top meal of the year is one that I have enjoyed more than once at Pizzeria Avanti. Sharing the dinner menu with those great house pizzas is a truly righteous lamb burger, served on a brioche bun with sauteed mushrooms and a side of roast potatoes almost too good to be true. Crisp, comforting, loaded with flavor. A small salad, and of course, a glass of Chianti Classico completes this delicious, simple and always-satisfying meal. It just never disappoints. Kudos, Hugo!

This year, Jozseph Schultz outdid himself with a gorgeous spread of dish after delicious dish prepared for a sit-down dinner honoring top music organizations. From pappadams and salmon flatbread to feta Greek salad and Spanish-marinated mushrooms, the India Joze founder and 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 brussel sprouts, quince chutney, eggs with sumac and Egyptian dukka spices, and a fiery fennel and tomato salad.

La Posta provided another top meal this year, starting with an astonishing salad of rose-tinted chicories, burrata, nectarines and a dusting of toasted pistachios. With our salad, we consumed vast quantities of the spectacular house breads, especially the addictive walnut variety. An entree of Fogline Farms chicken breast came stuffed with spinach and ricotta, sliced into plump cylinders on a bed of leeks and crispy roast brussel sprouts. Another star entree was the evening’s special chitarra pasta. Piled high in a bowl, the spaghetti had been well-tossed with housemade Italian fennel sausage, Early Girl tomatoes and spicy red chilis. Dessert was a rustic apple cornmeal cake on a pool of fennel crema, topped with quince mousse. Outrageous.

Oswald delivered on several fronts. One was a major burger topped with melted cheese, aioli and sliced late-harvest tomatoes. Incredible french fries and a butter lettuce salad completed the wonderful lunch. But equally stunning was Oswald’s seared ahi and avocado crostini appetizer, which I like to pair with either a bone-dry Venus No. 1 martini or a Campari and soda.

From Sabieng Thai Cuisine came one of the year’s top meals, starting with spicy green curry. A salad of bean thread noodles laced with fat prawns, ground pork, lime juice, cilantro, red peppers and whole cashews—bite for bite, I’d have to say that this is my all-time favorite Thai specialty. A third dish of roast duck nestled on a very crunchy bed of wok’d cabbage and spinach added plenty of textural excitement. A container of memorable pickled peppers in a haunting black bean vinegar accompanied the roast duck. Everything soared with a crisp, white wine and Sabieng’s outrageous brown rice, which has to be the chewiest, most appealing rice on the planet.

Gabriella delivered a sensational gnocchi in eggplant ragu, perfectly paired with Prosecco. And on another occasion, a lunch of rainbow trout over creamy polenta, followed by a classic version of affogato. Espresso, vanilla ice cream and a big, chewy chocolate cookie. Lunch the way it was intended to be.

Beyond Santa Cruz, the Modern in NYC gave me its full two-star Michelin treatment. I’ll never forget a prix-fixe dinner that began with seared prawns and toasted pistachios, along with one of three distinctive breads. The first entreé of tender lobster with shelling beans in fennel sauce was perfection. But so was the second main course of rare duck breast with tiny chanterelles and glazed cherries. Dessert of strawberry bavarian cream ornamented with sorrel cream and nasturtium ice cream completed this terrific meal, accompanied by a racy French Burgundy and some exceptionally well-dressed Manhattanites.

Here’s to a 2019 filled with vibrant culinary experiences. Salut!

A Pinot Primed For a Christmas Feast

Josie Cowden

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December 19, 2018

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The Summit Store on Summit Road in Los Gatos carries an abundance of local wines.

It’s close to some of the best wineries in that area–including Burrell School, Wrights Station, Loma Prieta, Villa del Monte, MJA Vineyards, Silver Mountain, and Regale–all terrific places to visit, and just a stone’s throw from one another.

And consider yourself fortunate if Curtis Cooke is on hand at the Summit Store to help with your purchase. Cooke is wine, spirits and craft beer buyer and is always more than happy to talk about the fermented grape!

Summit Store often has good sale prices and great deals on wine. I found a Sante Arcangeli 2016 Integrato Pinot Noir for $25, which I have seen for way more in other places.

John Benedetti, winemaker and owner of Sante Arcangeli Family Wines, says of his Integrato, “The idea was to create a party in a bottle that showcases the complexity, variety and nuance of our appellation. This is an all-star barrel selection from our single-vineyard lots that focuses on food-friendliness, structure and that elusive term, ‘pinosity.’ It’s a barrel selection that’s chosen to showcase minerality, structure and vivid red fruit. This wine is built for food.” Sounds ideal for your Christmas table!

Sante Arcangeli Family Wines, 216-A Stage Rd., Pescadero. 406-1262, santewinery.com

Roudon-Smith Winery at Artisans Gallery

Al Drewke will be pouring his Roudon-Smith wines from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 23 at Artisans Gallery in downtown Santa Cruz—a wonderful opportunity to sip and shop as you look for last-minute Christmas gifts, and maybe buy a bottle of wine for a stocking stuffer.

Visit roudonsmith.com for more info.

Lokahi Juices

Lokahi Juices is a local company based in Santa Cruz. They make delicious, organic, GMO-free, vegan-friendly juices and cleansers. The Golden-Milk Elixir with turmeric, black pepper, blackstrap molasses, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and coconut oil is terrific. And the Energizing Superfood Latte with coconut milk tastes very nourishing.

Available in Aptos Natural Foods and other health-driven food stores. Visit LokahiSantaCruz.com for more information.

5 Great Last-Minute Gifts From The Grocery Store

Lily Stoicheff

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December 19, 2018

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5 Great Last-Minute Gifts From The Grocery Store

Whether the result of a full schedule or procrastination, we’ve all felt that panic at the eleventh hour of holiday shopping when we still have multiple gifts to buy and time has run out.

Instead of relaxing with friends and family, we’re frantically scanning shops, praying we find a passable gift before the time on our parking meter runs out.

Reader, allow me to take some of that stress off of your shoulders with this lifehack: you can buy plenty of great gifts at the grocery store. There are delicious treats hiding in plain sight on the shelves that anyone in your life would love to receive, whether they’re a foodie or just someone who likes to eat, and they don’t require visiting a specialty shop or paying out the nose for overnight delivery.

Here are a few gifts from local producers available at your preferred local market. Don’t forget to pick up a bottle of wine for yourself—you’ve earned it.

Pinot Cherries by Friend in Cheeses Jam Co.: These dried cherries soaked in Pinot Noir and spices make the perfect festive cocktail garnish for your friend who loves a great Manhattan. ($10 for 8 oz.)

Belle Farms Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Made from five Tuscan olive varieties harvested in Santa Cruz County, this EVOO is delicate and well-balanced, with a peppery finish. ($14 for 250 ml.)

Burn Hot Sauce: The colors of this probiotic, Santa Cruz-produced hot sauce pop out of the refrigerated section. Made with single-variety heirloom peppers, grab a single sauce for a stocking stuffer or several to taste the rainbow. ($9 for 4 fl. oz.)

CaCoco Drinking Chocolate: Who doesn’t love cozying up with a cup of delicious, creamy hot chocolate? Now imagine that it’s dairy-free, low in sugar, made with fair-trade cocoa and boosted with natural ingredients like turmeric, maca and reishi mushrooms. Oh, and it comes in a package shaped like a Mayan temple. ($13 for 7 oz.)

Meeks California Buckwheat Honey: This dark, malty honey is delicious on its own, and will certainly come in handy when the inevitable seasonal cold necessitates many, many cups of tea. (Prices vary)

5 Things to Do in Santa Cruz: Dec. 19-25

GT Staff

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December 19, 2018

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5 Things to Do in Santa Cruz: Dec. 19-25

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

Green Fix

Photo Hike for Beginners

Anyone can take a selfie, but this guided photography class is more about capturing nature than double-chinned angles. The class is four hours long and focuses on capturing different lighting, camera skills and becoming more familiar with the park. Make sure to bring your camera, water and comfortable recreational shoes.

INFO: 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, 101 N Big Trees Park Rd., Felton. 335-7077. Free.

Art Seen

Transport of Delight

There’s something about the holidays and trains. Maybe it’s Roaring Camp’s train rides, or the perennial demand for new train sets under the tree, but trains and Christmas go hand in hand. With this in mind, the folks at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum have put together an exhibit of transportation through the ages featuring 50 transportation models. From trains and cars to balloons and ships, anything and everything that goes from A to B will be there. Many of the models shown belong to local residents. There’s also an interactive play area for younger visitors.

INFO: Show runs through Sunday, Jan. 6. Museum open Wednesday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m. San Lorenzo Valley Museum, 12547 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek. 338-8382, slvmuseum.com. Free, donations accepted.

Saturday 12/22

‘Oberufer Shepherds Play’

The shepherds from the nativity story never get any credit. No one ever asks what they thought about going to see the birth of Jesus, or of an angel sporadically appearing out of thin air. Plus, the trip to Bethlehem couldn’t have been easy without lights, cars or GPS. At least now we can all know and appreciate how they felt, thanks to the Oberufer Shepherds Play. The sweet, heartwarming play tells Christmas stories from the perspective of shepherds. The cast and crew are all local, with professional and amateur actors and musicians from the Santa Cruz Waldorf School, Anthroposophical Branch and Camphill Communities California.

INFO: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz. 301-325-1566. Adults $15/Children $8.

Friday 12/21

An ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show

Even people who don’t think they know ABBA know ABBA. From “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo,” “SOS” and “Take a Chance on Me” to “Voulez-Vous,” “Super Trouper” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight),” these songs are some of the most ubiquitous in pop music history. In an intermingling of ABBA’s greatest hits with some holiday music, the ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show guarantees some—probably many—smiles.

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 423-8209, riotheatre.com. $40-$60.

Wednesday 12/19- Sunday 12/23

Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Can’t get a ride on Santa’s sleigh? Don’t worry, get a lift to the North Pole the next best way. And by “North Pole,” we mean the amazing Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train, with spiced cider and holiday carols to spark up the cheer. Kids, neighbors, grandmas, friends, friends we haven’t met yet—all aboard!

INFO: 5 and 6:30 p.m. Roaring Camp. 5401 Graham Hill Rd., Felton. roaringcamp.com. Adults $33 general/Children $27.

Opinion: December 19, 2018

Steve Palopoli

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December 19, 2018

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Sure, Hanukkah (all done), Christmas (this week!) and Kwanzaa (takin’ us into the new year) are all great, but one of the best presents we get at the GT office in December is the chance to roast everything about this year that bummed us out, killed our buzz, harshed our mellow, pissed us off, made us laugh, made us cry or made us laugh-cry. If you didn’t hear about some of the local news stories we not-so-fondly reminisce about in this week’s cover story, take a moment to cherish these last precious seconds of blissful ignorance, ’cause you’re about to experience just how ridiculous Santa Cruz can be. But there was some weird and good stuff, too, and we didn’t leave that out. (I won’t spoil who comes out the winner of deer vs. shark.) It’s all part of a “year in review” tradition that’s always cathartic—and, OK, pretty fun—for us. Hopefully it is for you, too.

Also, I really hope you’ll take a look at Hugh McCormick’s story this week on the Conflict Resolution Center, one of the groups you can donate to through Santa Cruz Gives. I think it’s a great example how many Santa Cruz Gives participants are doing things that are truly “outside the box” of what we typically expect from local nonprofits. They’re doing great work, and you can help by going to santacruzgives.org and donating.

Lastly, just a quick reminder that the ballot for the 2019 Best of Santa Cruz Awards is up. Go to goodtimes.sc now to pick your favorites!

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Re: “Push Track” (GT, 11/21):

This letter is to thank and congratulate the Watsonville City Council for their public support for the Unified Corridor Study’s “Scenario B,” the rail and trail option with some adjustments to address Watsonville’s specific interests. It was a long and late council meeting that went from Tuesday into Wednesday. Council members surfaced reasonable and diverse questions and points of view. But in the end, they all came together—Hurst, Hernandez, Gonzalez, Dutra, Garcia, Coffman-Gomez, and Bilicich—to vote unanimously in support of rail and trail.

The Council-supported adjustments included allowing freight service on the rail line, reallocating funding from certain Mission Street improvements to areas with greater need and, adding HOV lanes to sections of Highway 1.

While the Watsonville City Council doesn’t make the final decision, they’ve taken an admirable step to weigh in on what will be best for their constituents. Thank you, Watsonville!

David van Brink
Santa Cruz

Cultural Dark Side

I would like to respond to the letter from “Gary” (Letters, Nov. 28) that incorrectly described the reason Santa Cruz attracts homeless people more than other local cities. What he cited is incorrect. I corrected him when he posted in the Facebook group “The Santa Cruz Community,” and I will correct him again so people know facts from fiction.

Many homeless folks who come from other areas don’t come for services, because they are a non-existent myth. They come to Santa Cruz for the easy score of drugs that you can get on almost every corner. This why we attract certain tourists as well: drugs, prostitution, sex trafficking, swinger sex rings, etc. Santa Cruz after dark, especially around downtown bars like Red Room, goes unchecked by SCPD. The horrendous drug/surf culture (dealing, using) that is destroying Santa Cruz is neither an unhoused or housed problem. It crosses all classes, races and social standing. We have many rich citizens who live double lives. Why do you think the Google executive died in the Santa Cruz Harbor? Until Santa Cruz leaders/police attack the real crime problems plaguing the city, SC will continue to spiral into a deeper cesspool attracting unsavory characters. Demand the police stop protecting and making confidential informants out of the criminal white majority.

Pat Colby
Santa Cruz

Re: Jonathan Franzen

Why are his peers only men? “…his literary peers such as George Saunders, Michael Chabon, Dave Eggers and the late David Foster Wallace.” Just noticing…

— Shannon

Re: CEQA

As a local design and land-use professional, congratulations on a very well-written article. A dispute like this, CEQA lawsuit and all, is not easy to understand or understand. Your article is one of the best I’ve read at explaining this process for regular folks.

— Wm. C. Casey

Re: RTC’s Gary Preston

I’m very hopeful that Mr. Preston will not stake our future on antiquated rail technology. As he said, “Have the routes going to where the trips are going to be generated.” A 19th-century abandoned rail line does not go to education, government or employment centers in Santa Cruz County. Put the transportation solution right in the line of sight of the congestion, and that is with Bus Rapid Transit/bus on shoulder. Commuters will be able to easily see the busses passing them, and they are easy to adjust based on where people want to go. Rail simply cannot do that, and will be a huge mistake for Santa Cruz.

— Jack Brown

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

The Third Annual Christmas at the MAH will serve a delicious free meal at the Museum of Art and History on Dec. 25 from 12-3 p.m. Organizers are looking for volunteers for the 8:30 a.m. food prep shift at India Joze. Interested volunteers may email ch***************@***il.com. To donate, visit gofundme.com and type in “Christmas at the MAH.” The United Nations Store, located at 903 Pacific Ave., is accepting donations of winter clothing donations to distribute. Call Steve Pleich at 831-466-6078 to arrange a drop-off time.

GOOD WORK

Efforts to protect the area’s ocean waters now have yet another defender. The Monterey Bay chapter of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation has announced its first-ever executive director, who will help lead the way forward on ocean conservation issues. The group’s hire is Ginaia Kelly, who has years of nonprofit administrative experience—at Save Our Shores, Save the Waves, American Red Cross and Goodwill. Our local federally protected marine sanctuary stretches from Marin County to Big Sur. For more information, visit montereybayfoundation.org.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Bad news isn’t wine. It doesn’t improve with age.”
-Colin Powell

Love Your Local Band: Harpin and Clark

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December 18, 2018

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When John Troutner (aka “Harpin Jonny”) and Peter Clark get up on stage, people expect blues songs. But in reality, the duo Harpin and Clark plays many different styles of music.

For instance, they have a song in their repertoire that’s a medley of Dave Brubeck’s jazz classic “Take Five” and The Sound of Music’s “My Favorite Things.” It works surprisingly well.

“People are not used to hearing that. I think it’s ear candy for them,” says Troutner. “We both have been musicians a long time, and we like to mix it up. So we don’t get bored, basically.”

But the duo isn’t a jazz band either. You’ll also hear country, blues, Django-Reinhardt-style tunes, bluegrass and a lot more.

“We both just like the duo aspect of guitar and harmonica, and the versatility we can do in terms of just a big, wide range of music,” says Troutner.

The project, which is roughly five years old, gives the longtime local musicians a new experience with music. Both have been friends for a long time, and have even collaborated from time to time, but with this downtempo project, they get to focus less on getting people up on the dance floor.

“As I get older, I prefer to not play at the Crow’s Nest ’til 1 in the morning, and have to be leading a rock band on my feet all night,” says Troutner. “This is a different kind of energy. We can both play back and forth to each other. The venues are more like wineries or happy hours or private parties. People listen more. I tend to sell more CDs.”

The duo is currently working on their first CD together, which they hope to release next summer. It should have originals and some unique renditions of songs they like to cover.

INFO: 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Michael’s on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. Free. 479-9777.

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

BLINDSPOTTING

RBG

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

TEA WITH THE DAMES

THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS

THE HAPPY PRINCE

HEARTS BEAT LOUD

EIGHTH GRADE

JULIET, NAKED

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

Roudon-Smith Winery at Artisans Gallery

Lokahi Juices

Green Fix

Art Seen

Saturday 12/22

Friday 12/21

Wednesday 12/19- Sunday 12/23

EDITOR’S NOTE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK