Page 75 | Good Times

Santa Cruz County History Fair set for May 17

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May 14, 2025

Santa Cruz County History Fair set for May 17

In the late 1800s, Claus Spreckels ran a mill that processed locally grown sugar beets, a thriving industry that is generally credited with seeing Santa Cruz County through troubled economic times.

But when Spreckels tried to underpay the Japanese community—cutting their wages in half—they walked, and took up strawberry farming they learned from Chinese immigrants that came before them.

The ripple effect from that decision had an enormous impact on Santa Cruz County, catalyzing the agriculture industry that would follow.

“The rest is history, so to speak,” says Bill Beecher, a volunteer with Pajaro Valley Historical Association (PVHA). “There are just unbelievable histories here.”

That is just a tiny sliver of Santa Cruz County’s history, a tapestry of people, places and events that tell the story of the region.

On May 17, local organizations that preserve the county’s history for the public will come together for the Santa Cruz County History Fair, held this year at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple.

“It’s a one-stop-shop to come find out about all of the history-related organizations in the entire county, what their focuses are, and what they can see if they visit that location,” PVHA volunteer Georg Romero explains.

PHOTO HISTORY Workers take in an iceberg lettuce harvest at the Eaton Lettuce Packing Shed in Watsonville in 1952. photo courtesy Pajaro Valley Historical Association

This year’s event will be co-hosted by Watsonville Library, Santa Cruz Public Library, UC Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, among others.

This research can be as simple as curiosity about the people who have attended local schools, Romero says, pointing to a shelf full of old Watsonville High School yearbooks: “We have Manzanitas going back to 1907.”

For its part in the history fair, PVHA will have old photos, artifacts, posters, books and selections of vintage clothing, among other things.

Also on board at the festival will be an early 1900s fire engine thanks to the Watsonville Fire Department’s Chief Gene Friend Museum.

Past events held in other parts of the county have drawn hundreds of people—from families with children to people curious about their ancestors.

And that knowledge is essential for anyone, Romero said.

“You can’t know who you are without knowing where you came from, and where you’re living,” he said.

The Santa Cruz County History Fair is scheduled for May 17 from noon to 4pm at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple at 423 Bridge St. For information, visit santacruzhistoryfair.wordpress.com.

Street Talk

Street Talk

John Koenig

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May 14, 2025

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How are you celebrating Mother’s Day?

We’re from Monterey, but this is our go-to. We like to shop and eat. Kianti’s is our traditional place, regardless of what time it is, that’s where we go.

Mariah Drain, 30, with Paisley, 10

We come together and visit Santa Cruz. We go to the beach, to the coffee shop—a little of everything. We went to the antique show today for the first time.

Wendy Drain, 55

Sleeping in! You sleep in and then you text, “I’m awake” and you get breakfast in bed, with flowers and a card, and coffee. Then we went to Davenport and sat on the beach and ate pastries, and then we took a bike ride, and then some quiet time, and then we took another bike ride. And now we’re doing a barbecue tonight.

Chelsea Schultz, 34, Sales

I make it my daughter’s day, because without her I wouldn’t be a mother. We’re going to the movies, and she gets to choose the movie. She’s seen Sinners already and wants to see it with me, so this is my first time.

Trish Beckwith, 61, CPA, with Gwen, 21, Cook

Sadly my first-born adult child passed away. I have his ashes with me today, and I’m having some quiet time. I had two sons, so I enjoy time with my living adult child. A tradition from my husband’s grampa is cooking breakfast outdoors—eggs and Portuguese linguiça sausage—and that’s part of our Mother’s Day tradition.

Arianna Bunting, 49, Jewelry Artist / Metal Detecting Treasure Hunter

Coming to Santa Cruz. First we went to the ice cream place, then we went to the toy store, and then we ate, and now we’re going to the candy store.

Tia Fechter, 42, Psychometrician, with Thea, 8, Expert Slime Maker

Well-Composed Pride

Music

Christina Waters

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May 14, 2025

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New Music Works’ final concert of the season, 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride in Santa Cruz, is special for several reasons. First, it’s part of a much bigger month-long celebration (visit santacruzpride.org for details). Second, it showcases a new work commissioned by Tom Ellison—Here to there, then to now—with music composed by Michael McGushin. The piece for choral ensemble came about through an alliance between Ellison’s poetic text and McGushin’s original music.

Good Times: When did your involvement with New Music Works begin?

Tom Ellison: Back in the mid ’90s my husband Larry and I ran into a small orchestra ensemble busking in Santa Cruz. They were quirky and interesting. Turns out it was Phil Collins (not the rock star with the same name) with some of the members of New Music Works ensemble. Knowing my love for contemporary music, Larry encouraged me to connect with Phil. I did, and joined the board in 1995.

Why is this gay pride anniversary personally significant?

TE: When I arrived in Santa Cruz in 1973, I still had one foot inside and one foot outside of the closet. That didn’t last for very long in Santa Cruz. Attending my first Pride in Santa Cruz was a significant milestone in my journey to self-acceptance.

The inspiration for my commission comes from my love for our arts community in Santa Cruz and my rich connection to our dynamic queer community. Two years ago, with the upcoming 50th Anniversary Pride in Santa Cruz, my thought was, how can I bring these two loves of my life closer together? Commissioning a work in celebration of this 50th anniversary was my first thought, and Mickey was the reason I thought this was possible.

Michael McGushin for A+E — **MUSIC VOX** Michael McGushin says the piece he’s writing tells him where to go. Photo: Contributed

How did you approach composing for Tom’s commission?

Michael McGushin: I started by looking at some of Lou Harrison’s poetry, and talking with Ellen Bass about her work, but somehow nothing seemed right. At some point, Tom sent me in an email something he had put together, sort of thinking about the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride. Not because he wanted me to choose it, but I looked at it and it just fit.

Describe your process from words to music.

MM: I actually have a very long preliminary process where all I do is just read. I read the words out loud, over and over, think about the rhythms in the text, what the text is saying, what things I’ll want to sort of highlight. And so there is a long process before I ever put any music on paper, which is me just living with the poem and thinking the poem. Of course, musical ideas are also percolating.

As I read I start hearing some notes, maybe melodies, but it feels more like sonic architecture, and so in that process of reading, for example, Tom’s text, it has—this is going to be overly simplified—but it’s about emotion from outside in a place that doesn’t feel like home, toward Santa Cruz being a place that feels like home. And so that set a sort of architecture for the piece that is about a journey.

And once that insight occurred?

MM: It began slowly and starts picking up the pace the closer we get to the arrival at the home, so that was the big architecture. I felt like there was this whole thing about moving further and further west and then finding the place where you were going to land.

In this case it was text first before the music emerged?

MM: It’s an age-old question, is it music first or or text first? I tend to be in the text first camp. And I hope that in my musical setting, I’m enriching or creating an environment where that text can be experienced.

How did you choose McGushin for this commission?

TE: I’ve known Mickey since the early ’90s and fortunately got to sing one of the compositions he wrote for the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus back then. Even today this piece sits in my heart. I’ve known for decades, first hand—through New Music Works, Ensemble Monterey, Cabrillo Stage, the UCSC Chamber Singers, and Ariose Singers—that Mickey is an extraordinarily talented conductor, pianist and composer. So when I decided to move forward with this project, this was an easy choice. My big question when I approached him last year was, would he say yes?

A commission is an honor, but it comes with lots of pressure, doesn’t it?

MM: I’m a recovering perfectionist. So I feel the pressure in the pit of my stomach. [Laughter.] The piece will have a certain visibility. I want to make Tom happy. I want to create something that fits the occasion. Phil [Collins] has placed this piece at the end of the program. I want it to be worth sitting there. So yes, there is also that element of wanting to please the people involved and worrying that somehow I’ll fail.

How do you know when it’s finished?

MM: The piece tells me where it needs to go. People tell me I write good endings, and I think that’s often difficult for people, but I know it’s done when I’ve gone on the whole journey with the text and where the music is taking me, and I come up with a final gesture that feels like it wraps all that up in an effective and meaningful way.

Is this what you were destined to do?

MM: Yes. This is exactly where I wanted to be. My true calling. And it’s been a struggle for me to clear other things that I had to do to make a living. But now it’s all here.

New Music Works, 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride in Santa Cruz also includes pieces by Pauline Oliveros, Anthony R. Green, Henry Cowell, Lou Harrison, Sufjan Stevens and D. Riley Nicholson. The concert begins at 7pm on May 18 at Peace United Church, 900 High St. Santa Cruz, 831-345-9475. $20–$40. newmusicworks.org

Comedy Connoisseur

Comedy

DNA

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May 14, 2025

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Comedy is its own world. From the outside there is a frenetic 24/7 stan culture of ingesting stand-up comedy, where countless hours are spent watching a few minutes of hundreds of comics. Not to mention the sometimes extremely lucrative industry of stand-up-adjacent industry gigs like podcasts, creating content and becoming an online edge lord.

But inside stand-up comedy, it’s a totally different vibe. There are certain ways of doing things, unspoken traditions and a rich culture that is built on the love of comedy, laughter and performing. And every comic has their origin story, but for headliner Brad Williams, who will be performing at the Santa Cruz Civic on May 18, his path to the stage was a singular adventure.

“It’s pretty nuts, man,” says Williams from the backstage of a show in Austin, Texas. “When people say, how did you get into, or how do I break into, stand-up comedy? I go. Well, I don’t know. I can’t tell you to use my path, because that’s never happening ever again.”

The story is legendary in, and outside, the comedy world. Williams was just a regular Joe audience member at a show where Carlos Mencia was headlining. When Mencia told a joke about dwarves, the crowd around Williams, who was born with achondroplasia (a type of dwarfism), went silent. Mencia noticed and invited Williams onstage. “I was working at Disneyland, and I joked that ‘I was not one of the seven.’ And I got laughs,” Williams recalls. He was a natural, and Mencia, ridiculously quickly, invited the human dynamo onto the world stage.

Williams is clear that he is not a political comic. “My father told me that ‘Truly intelligent people know what they don’t know.’ And when it comes to politics. I don’t know what’s happening. I have opinions, sure, but I don’t know. I’m not a college graduate. So you shouldn’t be taking my political advice. I’m just trying to tell my story. I’ll try to cover my point of view and if you like it, great. And you don’t like a joke, just wait 30 seconds and I got another one coming.”

Personally, Williams appreciates all kinds of comedy, no matter the context, and makes sure his opening acts reflect his appreciation of diversity. “Jamie Ball is one of my opening acts. He’s out of Florida and we worked together in Knoxville [Tennessee]. We spent the weekend with each other. Really funny, really smart comedy and just a great guy to hang out with. So we’re like, ‘Oh, OK, let’s just keep doing this.’ But he and I are so different in terms of our styles of comedy. Some comedians have an opener that’s exactly like them, with the same brand. It’s like you hear two hours of the same style of jokes. No. I want you to have a whole show. I want you to go through the whole thing. So whether it be TJ—or another great comic named Quincy Weekley, who’s gonna be hosting that night—you’re going to see three different comics, three different points of view, and three really good comedians, but they’re all talking about different things.”

Williams carefully crafts jokes; like a master carpenter, he takes his time. “You slowly build. Whenever I have a new bit that I want to try out, I’ll try it up front, knowing I have an hour and half of material that works. Then maybe slide something into the middle. You just keep working it, you just keep massaging it. You can’t just wake up and be like, ‘I’d like to have an hour now.’ You have to slowly build it brick by brick. You know, three to five minutes at a time. Every now and then you’ll strike gold on a bit. It’ll be like, wow, that’s like 10 minutes and it’ll just roll right off your head. But for the most part, it’s slow going,” Williams says.

That’s the wonderful equalizer about stand-up comedy. There is no one shortcut and there’s no piece of advice that’ll make you a good comedian. You just have to do it. It’s trial and error.

“You throw it out there to a live audience. Friends and other comics will lie to you, but an audience laughing? That’s the only real test,” Williams laughs.

Brad Williams performs at 7pm on May 18 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St, Santa Cruz. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets: $20-$68. santacruztickets.com

Shining a Light

Literature

John Koenig

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May 14, 2025

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The idea that “trans people just showed up” is a lie that keeps getting pushed—not only by the right wing, but also by voices in the media. And author Caro De Robertis is pushing back.

“Trans and genderqueer people have always existed throughout time and in every culture,” De Robertis says. “We have always been here, even if our voices have often been systematically silenced. These stories have not been acknowledged as part of our collective cultural inheritance, but they are here.”

In 2022, MacArthur Fellow Jacqueline Woodson launched I See My Light Shining: The Baldwin-Emerson Elders Project, which records the oral stories of hundreds of elders of color from various regions who’ve “witnessed and shaped great change in American life.” Ten writers were chosen as Baldwin-Emerson Elders Fellows, including De Robertis, a creative writing professor at San Francisco State University and author of six books.

De Robertis, who lives in Oakland and uses they/them pronouns, interviewed 30 mostly Bay Area LGBTQ + people of color over the age of 50 for the project. Some of them appear in their new book, So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color, which they discuss May 15 at Bookshop Santa Cruz.

Next year, De Robertis will co-curate with Tina Valentin Aguirre an exhibit at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, featuring art, mixed media and audio interviews based on the book.

“The title of the book comes from my interview with longtime activist and artist Crystal Mason,” De Robertis says. “They said, ‘when you’re in the countryside and you look up at the night sky, you see a sky full of stars, and the more stars there are, the more possibilities there are.’ And that’s what I believe we are doing when we create new language and new words for our experiences.

“What Crystal is advocating for is ongoing, evolving realms of possibilities. I thought that was a really powerful vision, and I wanted the title to hold some of that spirit,” De Robertis explains. “The more stars in the sky, the more we can witness the different ways of being and the more room there can be for all of us to be safe and free.”

The book’s narrators are Black, Latinx, Asian and Native American, and hail from different cities, countries and religions. They’re artists, activists, drag performers, business owners, musicians and tango dancers. They include Ms. Billie Cooper, a transgender woman who ran for supervisor of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district in 2022; Andres Ozzuna, an Argentine-born transgender man who owns the Wooden Table Baking Company; Donna Personna, a 78-year-old drag performer and transgender woman who served as Grand Marshal of 2019’s San Francisco Pride Parade; and KB Boyce, a trangender man who played in the New York punk band Nasty Facts.

De Robertis writes about America’s “gender revolution,” organizing the first-person accounts into chapters that cover family, coming out, defining gender, art and the younger generation.

“I really wanted to create a narrative that wasn’t just about any particular person’s individual story, but a broader story, a symphony or tapestry of narratives, and really convey the prismatic richness of the stories of our communities,” De Robertis says. “So there’s an arc starting with emergence and moving into elderhood, looking back and then looking forward into the future.”

But these elders dig deeper into their personal—sometimes harrowing—lives, discussing such topics as being an immigrant, child abuse, serving in the military, religion, drugs, transitioning, living with HIV and the AIDS crisis.

Bamby Salcedo, for example, a transgender woman originally from Mexico, recalls surviving gangs, addiction, sex work and incarceration before becoming an activist and founder of the L.A.-based TransLatin@ Coalition. She’s even spoken at the White House and starred in a 2016 HBO documentary, The Trans List, which also featured Caitlyn Jenner and actress Laverne Cox.

Since Trump’s reelection last year, De Robertis says they’ve spoken to their subjects about the administration’s policies targeting transgender and non-binary people.

“Like in many communities, especially in marginalized communities, there’s a lot of pain and sorrow, and some fear,” De Robertis says of the new administration. “There’s also seeds of hope and possibility, and ongoing commitment to a better future, even if it seems against the odds. We have so many tools in our communities. We know how to advocate for each other, protect each other’s safety and advocate for social change. And we have those tools because they were hard won by previous generations. As horrifying and terrifying as these times are, it’s incredibly important to remember that and remember that we are still here.”

Caro De Robertis will be in conversation with author Jaime Cortez (Gordo) at 7pm on May 15 at Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. RSVP at bookshopsantacruz.com.

Mountain Time

Stage

John Koenig

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May 14, 2025

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In the current political climate, “diversity” has become a hot potato—but it’s a word that’s still heartily embraced by local theater companies. And this weekend Mountain Community Theater takes on one very specific angle.

“At a time when the very concept of diversity is being undermined in some places, recognizing the challenges and potential of a person who would now be labelled as “neurodiverse” is important to us,” the Mountain Community Theater states in its press release for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Curious Incident—which opens May 16 and runs through June 8—was written by Simon Stephens, based on the novel by Mark Haddon. The production, directed by Simon Hayward, embraces this inspiring and challenging story of an autistic teenage boy learning about the complexities of life.

The play was first produced by the National Theater in the United Kingdom; on Broadway, it won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play. Curious Incident focuses on 15-year-old Christopher, who has an extraordinary brain: He is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers.

Christopher’s discovery of the neighbor’s dog, Wellington, speared with a garden fork, sets him on a journey of “detecting” that goes well beyond who killed Wellington. He uncovers his family history, learns his strengths in surprising ways, and also reveals how difficult it can be to live with someone who doesn’t fit our expectations of “normal” behavior.

And there’s more than one reason for curious culture mavens to head to the hills this weekend. On both Saturday and Sunday, the San Lorenzo Valley Art Tour will provide entertainment during the day, showcasing the work of 27 artists.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time runs May 16–June 8 with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm in Park Hall, 9400 Mill St, Ben Lomond. Tickets: $20–$20. mctshows.org

The San Lorenzo Valley Art Tour takes place 11am–5pm on May 17–18. Free. For details, visit slvarttour.org.

Free Will Astrology

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

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May 14, 2025

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ARIES March 21-April 19

What may appear to be slow or static is actually moving. The developing changes are imperceptible from day to day, but incrementally substantial. So please maintain your faith in the diligent, determined approach. Give yourself pep talks that renew your deeply felt motivation. Ignore the judgments and criticism of people who have no inkling of how hard you have been working. In the long run, you will prove that gradual progress can be the most enduring.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

The most successful people aren’t those who merely follow their passion, but those who follow their curiosity. Honoring the guidance of our passions motivates us, but it can also narrow our focus. Heeding the call of our curiosity emboldens our adaptability, exploration and maximum openness to new possibilities. In that spirit, Taurus, I invite you to celebrate your yearning to know and discover. Instead of aching for total clarity about your life’s mission, investigate the subtle threads of what piques your curiosity. Experiment with being an intrigued adventurer.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Gemini author Huston Smith was a religious scholar who wrote 13 books. But he was dedicated to experiencing religions from the inside rather than simply studying them academically. Smith danced with Whirling Dervishes, practiced Zen meditation with a master and ingested peyote with Native Americans, embodying his view that real understanding requires participation, not just observation. In the spirit of his disciplined devotion, I invite you to seek out opportunities to learn through experience as much as theory. Leave your safety zone, if necessary, to engage with unfamiliar experiences that expand your soul. Be inspired by how Smith immersed himself in wisdom that couldn’t come from books alone.

CANCER June 21-July 22

More than 2,000 years ago, people living in what’s now the Peruvian desert began etching huge designs of animals and plants in the earth. The makers moved a lot of dirt! Here’s the mystery: Some of the gigantic images of birds, spiders and other creatures are still visible today, but can only be deciphered from high above. And there were, of course, no airplanes in ancient times to aid in depicting the figures. Let’s use this as a metaphor for one of your upcoming tasks, Cancerian. I invite you to initiate or intensify work on a labor of love that will motivate you to survey your life from the vantage point of a bird or plane or mountaintop.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

You now have extra power to detect previously veiled patterns and hidden agendas. That’s why I urge you to be alert for zesty revelations that may seem to arrive out of nowhere. They could even arise from situations you have assumed were thoroughly explored and understood. These are blessings, in my opinion. You should expect and welcome the full emergence of truths that have been ripening below the surface of your awareness. Even if they are initially surprising or daunting, you will ultimately be glad they have finally appeared.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Renowned Virgo author Nassim Nicholas Taleb has called for the discontinuation of the Nobel Prize in Economics. He says it rewards economists who express bad ideas that cause great damage. He also delivers ringing critiques of other economists widely regarded as top luminaries. Taleb has a lot of credibility. His book The Black Swan was named one of the most influential books since World War II. I propose we make him your inspirational role model for now, Virgo. May he incite you to question authority to the max. May he rouse you to bypass so-called experts, alleged mavens and supposed wizards. Be your own masterful authority.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

I predict that your usual mental agility will be even more robust than usual in the coming weeks. Although this could possibly lead you to overthink everything, I don’t believe that’s what will happen. Instead, I suspect your extra cognitive flexibility will be highly practical and useful. It will enable you to approach problems from multiple angles simultaneously—and come up with hybrid solutions that are quite ingenious. A possibility that initially seems improbable may become feasible when you reconfigure its elements. PS: Your natural curiosity will serve you best when directed toward making connections between seemingly unrelated people and fields.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

You’re ready to go to the next evolutionary stage of a close alliance. Although you may not feel entirely prepared for the challenge, I believe you will be guided by your deeper wisdom to do what’s necessary. One way I can help is to provide exhilarating words that boost your daring spirit. With that in mind, I offer you a passage from poet William Blake. Say them to your special friend if that feels right, or find other words appropriate to your style. Blake wrote, “You are the fierce angel that carves my soul into brightness, the eternal fire that burns away my dross. You are the golden thread spun by the hand of heaven, weaving me into the fabric of infinite delight. Your love is a furnace of stars, a vision that consumes my mortal sight, leaving me radiant and undone. In your embrace, I find the gates of paradise thrown wide.”

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

In ancient Egypt, mirrors were composed of polished copper. To remain properly reflective, they required continual maintenance. Let’s take that as a metaphor for one of your key tasks in the coming weeks. It’s high time to do creative upkeep on your relationships with influences that provide you with feedback on how you’re doing. Are your intended effects pretty close to your actual effects? Does your self-image match the way you are perceived by others? Are you getting the right kind of input to help you stay on course?

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Chances to initiate creative transformations will come from unexpected sources in the coming days. I guarantee it. But will you be sufficiently receptive to take maximum advantage? The purpose of this horoscope is to nudge you to shed your expectations so you will be tenderly, curiously open to surprising help and inspiration. What sweet interruptions and graceful detours will flow your way if you are willing to depart from your usual script? I predict that your leadership qualities will generate the greatest good for all concerned if you are willing to relinquish full control and be flexibly eager to entertain intuitive breakthroughs.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

For many Indigenous people of California, acorns were part of every meal. Nuts from oak trees were used to create bread, soups, dumplings, pancakes, gravy and porridge. But making them edible required strenuous work. In their natural state, they taste bitter and require multiple soakings to leach out the astringent ingredient. Is there a metaphorical equivalent for you, Aquarius? An element that can be important, but needs a lot of work, refinement and preparation? If so, now is a good time to develop new approaches to making it fully available.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

When Pisces-born Jane Hirshfield was a young poet, she mostly stopped writing poetry for eight years. During that time, she was a full-time student of Zen Buddhism and lived for three years at a monastery. When she resumed her craft, it was infused with what she had learned. Her meditative practice had honed her observational skills, her appreciation of the rich details of daily life, and her understanding that silence could be a form of communication. In the spirit of the wealth she gathered from stillness, calm and discipline, I invite you to enjoy your own spiritual sabbatical, dear Pisces. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to relax into the most intriguing mysteries.Homework: What do you want more than anything else but fear you’re not worthy of? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Things to do in Santa Cruz

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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May 14, 2025

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THURSDAY 5/15

INDIE-FOLK

DEVENDRA BANHART

Devendra Banhart has lived all over the globe. That might be why he has the unique ability to be rootsy, with roots in many different soils, and other worldly all at once. Guitar, shakers, and other sounds you expect to hear in Americana and folk slide up against bells and drones that one would expect to hear in a tantric chill playlist, like Tom Waits if he drank less and meditated more. His background in visual arts—he’s an SF Art Institute dropout—comes into play and his live shows are an experience for all the senses. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN

INFO: 8pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $37. 423-8209.

FRIDAY 5/16

AWARDS

2025 NEXTIES

May is here and that means it’s time to celebrate the best of Santa Cruz. Presented by Event Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Vibes Magazine, and Woodhouse Brewery, the 2025 NEXTies is this year’s hottest ticket to who’s who in the world of local movers and shakers. Past winners included Jesse Daniel, Double Meat Please, Alwa Gordon, Martijn Stiphout, and Coffee Zombie Collective. This year is bigger and better than ever, which is only appropriate to commemorate the likes of Gabi Bravo, The Neighbor’s Pub, Ryan Coonerty, Wendy Frances, and the Emerald Mallard. Be a part of Santa Cruz’s biggest party of the year. MAT WEIR

INFO: 5:30pm, Woodhouse Brewery, 119 Madrone Way, Santa Cruz. $33-$53. 313-9461.

JAZZ

BILL FRISELL

Nominally a jazz musician and composer, guitarist and Grammy winner Bill Frisell boasts a body of work that spans multiple genres. He moves from style to style with seeming effortlessness, and his work is characterized in equal parts by its taste and authenticity. A prolific artist, Frisell has recorded acclaimed and influential albums for Blue Note, Okeh, Savoy, Nonesuch, and ECM. For these performances, Frisell leads his Good Dog quintet, featuring pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz, drummer Kenny Wollesen and bassist Tony Scherr. BILL KOPP

INFO: 7 & 9pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $47-$58. 427-2227.

SATURDAY 5/17

CHOIR

CHORALE SINGS PALESTRINA

Time travel back to the epicenter of the Italian Renaissance with the Santa Cruz Chorale and Palestrina’s Mass for Pope Marcellus. This masterpiece, by the composer who perfected polyphonic music, is sculpted by the rich interplay of six-part vocals. Sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses enter and exit the complex architecture of sound and text, building chord structures that repeat, echo, and vanish. The effect is stunning, with each line threading through the deepest voices, crowned by the high sopranos at the top. Palestrina’s 500-year-old music is interspersed with haunting works by modern composers, including two compositions by Randall Thompson and a mesmerizing Gregorian chant variation by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Come be refreshed by beautiful a cappella music in the superb acoustics of Holy Cross Church. It is also on Sunday at 4pm. CHRISTINA WATERS

INFO: 8pm, Holy Cross Church, 210 High St., Santa Cruz. $5-$30. 427-8023

CLASSICAL

PATTERNS IN A CHROMATIC FIELD

Cellist Tyler Borden and pianist Mari Kawamura come together to present a rare performance of Morton Feldman’s Patterns in a Chromatic Field. A prime example of his late work, this piece is characterized by unpredictable repetition, lengthy pieces, complex melodies, and vagueness. Feldman intentionally made parts ambiguous to force the performers to decide how to interpret the music. Borden specializes in modern, experimental music, while also examining the strengths and failures of his instrument and himself. Kawamura is an agile pianist who gives explosive and expressive performances. Her curiosity draws her to pieces that utilize the full potential of the piano. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE

INFO: 7:30pm. Indexical, 1050 River St. #119, Santa Cruz. $20. (509) 627-9491.

ROCK

THE LOVED ONES

On their original run, Oakland’s The Loved Ones burned brightly and quickly, lasting only a few years. During that time, they turned out two well-regarded albums, 1993’s The Price for Love and Better Do Right (1994). Their group’s style drew from ’60s R&B, using vintage gear. That age-old bane of musicians—creative differences—spelled an early end for the group, but their music left a lasting impression on the Bay Area. They reunited briefly a decade ago, and are doing it again, this time with a handful of U.S. and European dates, and a new album to come. Lunchbox opens. BK

INFO: 9pm, Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $25. 429-6994.

SUNDAY 1/18

PUNK

COCKNEY REJECTS

Oi! Oi! Oi! The Cockney Rejects are still at it, or at least a version of them put together last year by lead reject Jeff Geggus, aka Stinky Turner. This current lineup includes Olga from The Toy Dolls bashing the strings. Starting with the inaugural class of British punks in ’78, The Cockney Rejects gave Oi! its name, showed that punks could pen football anthems as well as anyone, and reflected the urban and suburban blight that was the reality for UK working-class youth heading into Thatcher’s ’80s. Their gleeful defiance is just as relevant in 2025 America. KLJ

INFO: 5pm, Vets Memorial Building, Santa Cruz, $29-$41. 454-0478.

POP

BROOKE ALEXX

A vocal powerhouse with girl-next-door charm, Brooke Alexx brings “The Big(ger) Mouth Tour” to the Catalyst.With candid lyrics that feel like sneaking a peek into the intimate and embarrassing details of someone’s diary, Brooke offers a blunt look at her 20s. Her angsty earworms and summery riffs tell stories of vacation breakups, catching up with exes’ moms, and the not-so-secret wish to be thought of as hot, not just cute. Jump around to Brooke’s rich, resonant voice and her fierce, all-female band with songs to make you laugh and cry, and maybe feel a little less alone. SHELLY NOVO

INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $23. 713-5492

TUESDAY 5/20

R&B

ANNA MOSS

When it comes to music, it doesn’t get more American than multi-instrumentalist Anna Moss. Born in the Ozarks, Moss mixes the soul of New Orleans with the music of R&B and folk for a sound that defies the boundaries of genre. Her success began as one half of pop-folk duo Handmade Moment with partner Joel Ludford. However, when the 2020 pandemic kept everyone in lockdown, Moss found herself in a funk. She got out of it the only way she knew how, by writing music for what would be her first solo act, Anna Moss and the Nightshades. Last year she released her album Amnesty, featuring the track she recorded for NPR’s Tiny Desk, “Slow Down Kamikaze.” MW

INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.

Upper Level

Dining Reviews

John Koenig

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May 14, 2025

1

The faux bookcase door that adds to the speakeasy feel of the pocket-sized gem that is Ulterior bar, tucked upstairs at 110 Pearl Alley, won’t be enough to keep this revelation quiet.

The things chef Donnie Suesens is doing in its modest kitchen are simply too fun and flavorful.

The former owner-operator of popular Cafe Sparrow in Aptos, which shuttered in April 2024, is drawing praise for his indulgent burger, loaded with bacon-cherry jam, Gruyère, smoked onion and (in an Australian twist) local beet, but there’s more going on here, namely a lot of crave for a super short menu.

Other whoa-level items (all $11-$17): an “elote dawg” with a cheesy Bavarian frank, corn, Japanese aioli and Tajín; a pork sausage wrapped Scotch egg; Nashville hot honey cheese sticks; and an inspired “crunchwrap supreme” with multiple cheeses.

Given his tagline, the fact his limited menu is generating a lot of buzz makes sense. That motto: “remember to break bread and let the food talk!”

AWAY WE GO

One of the area’s better restaurants has a baby sister on the way. Chef Brad Briske and his partner Linda Ritten are adding a casual spinoff of their acclaimed Soquel restaurant Home with Home Away, in the former VinoCruz/Adorable French Bakery location (4901 Soquel Drive, Soquel). The working blueprint: Open doors by the end of June, with a strong to-go section, lunch like soup, salad and cheesy focaccia, then wine and housemade charcuterie, patés, pickles, cheeses and sausages, plus crudo and ceviches prepared at the raw bar—and even some creative empanadas from Briske brother-in-law Diego Felix of Fonda Felix—with hours midday to 8pm Wednesday to Sunday, homesoquel.com.

HUMBLE RUMBLE

The burgeoning dynasty that is Humble Sea Brewing just launched its newest chapter: HSB San Francisco opened last Friday on iconic Pier 39. As Surf City takes over the big city, more pier beer cracks open closer to home, as HSB’s Wharf Beer Garden is back open for summer, with new hours 3-9pm Monday-Thursday and noon-9pm Friday-Sunday. GOAT sunset rides also return 5:30pm and 6:30pm Wednesdays. And Cococ Food Truck rolls up Tuesday-Sunday dishing tacos and bowls with concinita pibil, chicken mole, carnitas rancheras and rajas con elote and five fresh salsas, humblesea.com, cococthefoodtruck.com.

READY FOR MARKET

“So much anticipation. A million conversations, ideas, visions built and scratched.” So reads an exuberant statement from Nicole Zahm, comms and programs manager of Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets, announcing the May 21 debut of the new location of the Downtown Farmers Market at the corner of Cedar and Church, ahead of its eventual permanent home in the Civic District of the downtown corridor. From 1-5pm Wednesday, May 21, she adds, “We will be staffed up and bolstered, rolling out a festive first day for you,” with bike-blender smoothies, Santa Cruz Public Libraries activities, fun zone, Annie Rye and the Wild Flour String Band, free short-term parking for market-goers and more, santacruzfarmersmarket.org. [Editor’s note: Market reopening delayed to June 4.]

LIFE FORCE

Staff of Life celebrates 56 years as a locally owned natural foods store Friday-Sunday, May 16-18, by stoking its client base with a weekend’s worth of demos and tastings. Friday 11am-2pm the activity includes their famous cheeseburgers, sausage sandwiches and hand-cut fries, followed by SmartChicken teaching and tasting, plus noon-6pm wine and beer sampling. Saturday means more wine-and-beer tasting noon-4pm, more food demos, deals on hot and salad bars, and $2 off smoothies and juices. Sunday piles on more demos, discounts, wine-beer sips and $4 gelatos. “What started as a small local organic bakery has grown into a community hub rooted in sustainability, wellness and trust,” owner Gary Bascou says. “This anniversary is not just about looking back, it’s about celebrating the people, farmers and customers who’ve supported us every step of the way.” staffoflifemarket.com.

Spore Lore

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

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May 14, 2025

0

Growing up in Point Reyes, Elena Laughlin always had a passion for the wilderness and specifically mushrooms, intrigued especially by how the fantasy-inspiring Amanita contributed to the magical quality of nature.

Attending college in Santa Cruz, her first experiences at Far West Fungi were as a customer, where she fell in love with the food and vibe of the place. She found herself deeply drawn to work there, not only to learn more about mushrooms but also to educate, and has now been a cook/server/café attendant for two years.

Laughlin says the family-owned Far West Fungi’s motto is “there’s a mushroom for everyone” and the store’s aura is relaxing with “obscure nice music” playing amid well-lit rustic earth tones, plenty of mushroom-themed décor and a growing community of houseplants. The retail side of the store features gifts, cooking items and mushroom swag, complementing the all-vegetarian mushroom-centric menu, handmade and prepared in-store to order with eclectic multicultural influence.

Popular small plates include a mushroom and cheese empanada and a mushroom chowder with lobster, oyster and clamshell mushrooms. Laughlin’s personal favorite is the vegan Nashville hot fried lion’s mane sandwich featuring a crispy mushroom cutlet between a brioche or sesame bun with red cabbage slaw, housemade pickles and vegan mayo.

Tell me about the incredible staff.

ELENA LAUGHLIN: We all have similar interests and passions, and all get along really well. We love to socialize and make connections with people in the community, and share a deep appreciation for nature, music and art. And, I should say that we are all very fashionable but also down-to-earth, funny and don’t take life too seriously.

Do you have an all-time favorite mushroom?

Yes, I do. It’s the black trumpet mushroom nicknamed the “poor man’s truffle.” It’s a super flavorful mushroom that is perfect for people who say they don’t like mushrooms because of their spongy and gummy texture. These, in contrast, are thinner and not squishy, and add a wonderful flavor profile to dishes like pasta, rice bowls and Asian stir frys. I add these mushrooms to everything.

224 Laurel St., Santa Cruz, 831-226-2626; farwestfungi.com

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