Page 770 – Good Times

Our Country in Crisis—Help Us To Know and Do Our Part

Risa D’Angeles

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September 13, 2017

Our Country in Crisis—Help Us To Know and Do Our Part

For those who have been reading my Facebook pages and my website, you are aware of the weather wars occurring in our country and why they are occurring, the Geomagnetic storms, solar flares, the magma flow creating earthquakes (in six states), Southern Mexico’s 8.1 (largest in a century) earthquake. Aware, also, of the continued West Coast drought and three western states ablaze with fire.

As we see and experience the devastating events occurring in our country, many want to respond. Last week I wrote about giving (a liberating process). Our giving needs to continue in all areas of our country in need.

The resources needed (quickly depleted as crisis follows crisis) must come from each of us. So, we are asked to give and give and give some more. We are always given to, so we can then give more.

There is also another response. And that is to “stand in prayer with massed intent” (calmly, poised, observing). Prayer and safeguarding for our brothers and sisters in all of the kingdoms (human, animal, plant, mineral). The world prayer called the Great Invocation (given to humanity by Christ at the 1945 June solar festival) is a potent protective prayer. Here is the last stanza that we can recite together: “From the center which we call the race of men (thinking ones). Let the Plan of Love and Light work out. And may it seal the door where evil dwells. Let Power attend to the efforts of the Great One. So let it be, and help us to know and to do our part for the world.” Standing together with massed intent.

ARIES: Below that risky and sometimes precarious behavior, there’s a very generous spirit within you that emerges more and more in the coming year. It’s the spirit of sharing, of comforting, loving and nurturing others. This is different for you. You will sense the undercurrents in everyone’s heart and also in the world. You will understand vulnerability more. You begin to heal others. You remember.

TAURUS: More and more ideas and information come your way. You find yourself, for hours, absorbing data needed for health and well-being of self and others. You store it away for future use, sometimes considering attending naturopathic, herb and natural healing school. You already bring in much from previous lives. You reshape the information learned. You write and teach to those in need. You become the Messenger.

GEMINI: You are always Mercury, the swift-footed courier. With Jupiter in Libra you feel your sense of Right Human Relations expanded. Your senses feel on solid ground, secure with knowledge. Now you need natural settings (nature, gardens, holy waters, temples), more comfort than usual, things artistic, too, that tell you always that spirit (life force) is within matter … everywhere, always, all the time. Introduce yourself to the devas.

CANCER: Many people admire your courage. Perhaps you don’t think you’re courageous. But you are. After circling tentatively to see if it’s safe, you often reach out to the edges of new experience. You love all things new; yet seek all that’s traditional to surround the new. Sometimes you’re a trailblazer. Your cardinal energy enables you to bring knowledge forth that changes the course of life.

LEO: Do you know the definition of empathy? Do you sometimes feel compassion for others? Do you feel like your creative abilities are part of your daily work? In the months to come you will feel a greater depth of faith. What is faith? Esoterically defined, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Many people have faith in you and in your leadership. The other kingdoms (animal, plant, mineral) do, too. They love you.

VIRGO: You have an inner call that guides, guards and directs your life. You respect the many paths to God, knowing each one leads to God. You never allow your beliefs to shine brighter than others’. Stepping out into the unknown lets you disengage from what’s acceptable into new, unusual, innovative and creative ways that bring forth the new world. The new ideals gestate within you, preparing you for winter solstice.

LIBRA: You know exactly what you want and how to get it. You work hard, and you are wise, practical and resourceful. You seem to be creating permanent structures. What are your choices based upon? What principles? Do you know the definition of the word “principle”? This is an important word for the new Aquarian age. You seek tradition along with many alternatives. In all of your success, seek understanding of others. Offer loving kindness always.

SCORPIO: You seek to place yourself where great knowledge and deep spiritual concepts and philosophies can be experienced. You will go slowly at first, and then leap into a new reality! It’s important to travel to places with new languages, depths of color and the many arts. Study mountain climbing, horses, religions, archeology, endurance sports. Begin a spiritual journey, a pilgrimage, across mountains and countries. They offer new states of possibility.

SAGITTARIUS: You will see more deeply into all things hidden, sensing the inner essence of life. Use this for the good, the beautiful, and for deeper compassion. Realize you will have to handle in the upcoming year extreme energies, intense and forceful, around you and from within. You must call upon your wisdom to handle, and not misuse, them. You seek mysteries, things sacred, expressions mystical and occult (heart and mind). Your original faith returns. You help others.

CAPRICORN: You seek all things stable and steady, moving toward balancing your experiences, creativity, family, friends, partnership, responsibilities. You weigh all options, poised in the middle of all realities. You create harmony and beauty in your home. You turn your gifts into a profession. You seek to right wrongs. You are an artist. Do you know the original definition of yoga? And its many paths? Yoga is a path, a journey, a yoke of goodness. You are “yoga” itself.

AQUARIUS: It’s important to maintain daily, weekly, monthly routines and rhythms so that you can feel efficient, effective and productive. These virtues actually reflect life standards. They allow you to expand your ability to help others without forgetting to care for self. Your heart always asks, “How can I help?”
You offer deep insights into already accepted systems, by adding the more spiritual approach. You are a server of humanity.

PISCES: You seek to understand royalty these days and well into the future. You recognize royalty’s responsibilities, the hope they must instill into humanity who relies on them. You realize the need for cultivation of thought, compassion and confidence—leadership qualities. You also know the need for play, celebration, art, theater and politics and right rhythms to renew your spirit. You see many paths on the road ahead. You choose the highest and brightest. Star filled.

5 Things to Do in Santa Cruz Sept 13 – 19

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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September 13, 2017

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5 Things to Do in Santa Cruz Sept 13 – 19

Event highlights for the week of September 13, 2017.

Art Seen

‘The Quality of Life’

Picture this: a religious, conservative couple comes to Berkeley to visit their progressive leftist family. They have completely different political, social and spiritual values, and don’t exactly see eye to eye. Sound a bit like your extended family holidays? Then this may be the play for you. Brought together by family tragedy, the characters are forced to think outside of their moral boxes and question their own values in order to move forward.

INFO: Friday 9/8-Saturday 9/23. Broadway Playhouse, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz. brownpapertickets.com. $23.

Green Fix

Save Our Shores Annual Clean up Day

The largest coastal cleanup day of the year along the Central Coast is underway this weekend, with 80 beach, river and inland cleanup sites from Waddell Creek Beach to Big Sur. Last year, more than 3,000 turned out to clean up 10.5 tons of pollution—for context, that’s about as heavy as two elephants. Cleanup supplies are first-come, first-serve, so make sure to get there early or bring your own clean-up supplies. Free lunch and prizes follow.

INFO: 9 a.m.-Noon on Saturday, 9/16. saveourshores.org. Registration recommended. Free.

Friday 9/15-Sunday 9/17

60th Monterey Jazz Festival

The Monterey Jazz Festival isn’t just an event, it’s a renowned historical experience.

Following a rich history of jazz and originating with some of the great jazz legends from Louis Armstrong to John Coltrane, celebrate the particularly spectacular 60th anniversary of the festival surrounded by jazz-fanatics. This year, featuring more than 500 artists—including names like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Common, and Angelique Kidjo—it’s sure to be one for the books.

INFO: Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2000 Fairground Road, Monterey. montereyjazzfestival.org. $45 and up.

Wednesday 9/13-Sunday 9/17

Santa Cruz County Fair

Come for the rides, stay for the funnel cake. This is the only time all year you’ll see racing pigs, camels and monster trucks all under one roof—so to speak—and there is a little something for everyone. The fairgrounds are quite large, so make sure you grab a map and remember where you parked.

INFO: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E Lake Ave, Watsonville. santacruzcountyfair.com. $11 admission.

Thursday 9/14

Second Harvest Chefs Dinner

Featuring six courses and local wine pairings from top Santa Cruz County chefs at Assembly, Cafe Cruz and more, this annual dinner celebrates the 20th anniversary of Second Harvest’s Food for Children program. The program feeds 5,000 children monthly across the county, and all proceeds will benefit Food for Children. Champagne reception and silent auction follow.

INFO: 6-9 p.m. Holy Cross Church Annex, 126 High St., Santa Cruz. thefoodbank.org. Advance registration required. $275.

What’s your favorite local business?

Columns

Matthew Cole Scott

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September 13, 2017

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“Shoppers Corner, because they have the most local veggies, and Parish, because it’s just like home.”

Lorren Bomhoff

Nanny/Volleyball Coach

Santa Cruz

“This summer, I frequented the Brew Cruz with friends. They really know their beer and every spot we stopped at was a good time.”

Neil Walendy

Sales

Santa Cruz

“The Bagelry. It’s good, it’s inexpensive, and it’s always nice when you go to the same place and the people know you.”

Donna Robbins

Retired RN

Santa Cruz

“Rumble Fish and Cutsie Cupcakes.”

Andrea Gerwig

Teacher Assistant

Scotts Valley

“Valero gas station. I do a comedy show, I get some money, and I give it to Exxon.”

Reverend Dicky Bob

Santa Cruz

Buddhist Priests Teach Communication in Polarized Age

Local News

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September 13, 2017

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Buddhist Priests Teach Communication in Polarized Age

Jaku Kinst, a Buddhist priest at Ocean Gate Center on 41st Avenue, recently had what has become a typically treacherous conversation with a family member—which, if handled differently, could have easily gotten out of hand. Kinst doesn’t want to say who she voted for in the 2016 presidential election, but suffice it to say, her candidate did not win. Still, Kinst wanted to talk politics with a loved one she knew had voted for Donald Trump, in the hope that they might both reach a deeper sense of understanding of one another’s views.

She approached it with an awareness of the one element in any discussion between two individuals with clashing viewpoints that she considers more important than all of the rest: the mindset going into the dialogue.

“The primary focus that I had going into the conversation was to remember that I love this person, to remember that I wanted to be gentle and kind and not judgmental, and to be open to listening to their point of view,” says Kinst, who will be co-teaching classes this fall on communicating peacefully in our fierce political climate.

After Kinst made herself open to listening to what he had to say, she realized she could then share something about her own point of view. And her family member was very receptive to her thoughts. “We had a good conversation,” Kinst says, laughing.

Kinst will be leading the workshop series alongside her partner and fellow priest at the Ocean Gate Center, Shinshu Roberts. Together they’re trying to start discussions in an era that, according to poll data, is as polarized as ever.

There’s an unfortunate perception, according to Kinst, that Buddhism is something practiced up on a hill—its teachings only applicable “outside of time or outside of ordinary life,” she says. “And just the opposite is true. As we say, we’re not liberated from the world, we’re liberated to the world. So our whole lives are oriented toward being kind and respectful, and to alleviating suffering in ourselves and others.”

Kinst and Roberts’ new four-class series starts Monday, Sept. 18 and runs through Oct. 9. During each workshop, the two will pick and choose from the 10 Buddhist precepts and apply them to everyday lives, as part of a bigger discussion about fostering meaningful conversations. People who develop these skills, they feel, learn to overcome feelings of anger and fear along the way.

Roberts says that in order to have a good dialogue about a contentious politicized subject, it’s important for each individual to “stay in one’s body,” stay grounded and keep breathing evenly. Because if anyone gets too excited, things can get ugly.

“It’s a physical act when you get riled up. We need to be able to tackle our own bodily sensations and find calmness,” says Roberts, whose book Being-Time will be published this spring.

Kinst also advises that people should give up on any need to be right or to convince other people of one’s viewpoint. Sure, that might all require someone to make themselves a little vulnerable, but the payoff in the long run, she suggests, is something much more powerful.

“Along the way, we have to let go of our agenda. If our agenda is to be right, we have to let go and have our agenda [instead] be to connect to one another,” Kinst says. “That’s a really difficult thing to do. And so doing these practices are not easy, but they’re very worthwhile, and they make a huge difference in our lives and the lives of others, throughout our day—not just in difficult conversations, but when you go to the supermarket or drive your car—whatever.”

As it pertains to tough discussions, Kinst says, both sides in this process usually reach a sense of understanding that makes everyone happy.

And these skills apply to people of all left-leaning and right-wing persuasions, Roberts explains—beyond traditional breakdowns of Republican and Democrat. Kinst says it can take an enormous amount of bravery to get into honest discussions about important topics like racism or global warming. But when individuals get it right, it also shows great kindness.

“People think that kindness means being always soft and never being vigorous,” Kinst explains. “And part of what we want to talk about is that you can have a very strong, vigorous, heartfelt response to circumstances—and have it be kind.”

The four-week series of classes on creating dialogue in difficult times runs Mondays from Sept. 18 to Oct. 9 in the Ocean Gate Zen Center, at 920F 41st Ave., Santa Cruz. A $10 donation is suggested for each class, but organizers will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. For more information, email sh*****@cr****.com.

Incorporating Seaweed Into Your Diet Just Got Easier, and More Delicious

Maria Grusauskas

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September 13, 2017

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Incorporating Seaweed Into Your Diet Just Got Easier, and More Delicious

Light brown blades of wakame seaweed turn a brilliant green when submerged in hot water and then plunged into an ice bath. Though wakame is one of many seaweeds that can be eaten raw, the blanching process tenderizes it, and the color change, perhaps, amplifies its culinary appeal.

“If somebody doesn’t love seaweed already, they’re not usually attached to getting it on their menus,” says Ian O’Hollaren, founder of the new Santa Cruz-based Seaquoia Wild Seaweeds. But that could be about to change, as consumers catch on to the abundant supply of nutrients and minerals this ancient superfood provides the body and learn ways to incorporate it into their diets.

Wakame is one of several varieties of briny sea vegetables O’Hollaren harvests—with a wet suit, a knife and a kayak—north of Santa Cruz. In waters pristine from an absence of ag runoff, O’Hollaren has become familiar with at least 14 different “gardens” of seaweeds, including sea palm, nori, kombu, cat’s tongue, and the succulent and delicate tendrils of mermaid’s hair, or ogo. Cold calls and emails aside, O’Hollaren plucks from his secret gardens regularly to fill orders for three high-end restaurants in Venice Beach, as well as consumer orders on an as-needed basis. He will also soon sell his fresh, raw, wild seaweed in the produce section of New Leaf markets.
“Seaweed contains the broadest range of minerals of any food, and it contains pretty much every mineral found in the ocean, which are the same minerals in human blood,” says Madia Jamgochian, nutritional consultant and classroom education coordinator at New Leaf. Jamgochian calls the often-overlooked seaweed a “booster food” because, similar to spirulina and nutritional yeast, its benefits can be reaped in as little as a tablespoon. Up to 36 percent of its dry mass is made up of mineral elements drawn from the sea, including calcium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, cobalt, iron, zinc, potassium, B vitamins, iodine, copper, selenium, and a large proportion of iodine—important for thyroid health. Proteins, amino acids, antioxidants and omega-3s are also abundant, and studies have shown seaweed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, detoxify and boost the immune system.

But what I like most about O’Hollaren’s operation is that although he’s capable of piling 150 pounds of superfood into his kayak, he’s not out for quantity. At the core of his ethics is a conscious choice to keep his harvest sustainable.

“The plant is held by a holdfast,” he explains. “It doesn’t have roots … So what I do is be very gentle about cutting it from the plant, and making sure I don’t rip it off the holdfast so that it regrows. So I’ll just pull from one garden and then let that rest for however long it needs.” He’s also conscious of what time of year each variety shoots out spores, which settle and grow into new fronds. “I don’t go out and have a bunch in my fridge, and if I have excess I compost it or eat it or give it away. There should never be any waste,” says O’Hollaren.

In a world where much of the seaweed we eat is imported from seaweed farms overseas—many of which dump fertilizers directly into the ocean—it’s refreshing to now have a local, wild source.

After completing his degree in tropical horticulture at the University of Hawaii, O’Hollaren spent six years living off the grid on a sustainable farmstead. “I quickly learned that Mother Nature provides everything for us if we only take what we need, give back, and understand the impact we have on our environment,” he says. In Hawaii, his love for plants blended into a love for seaweed, or “limu,” which he used both in his diet and to replenish soils and fertilize plants. In addition to harvesting the highest quality seaweeds he can find for consumption, he also makes a liquid kelp fertilizer that he supplies to local farms.

From 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 28, Jamgochian and O’Hollaren will lead the first-ever seaweed cooking class at New Leaf, where participants can taste a variety of brown, red and green seaweeds (a combination of these three types is recommended for a full nutritional profile), as well as learn how to turn them into salads, dips, hearty soup stocks and more. Tickets are $15 on eventbrite.com.

For more information on O’Hollaren’s wild edible seaweeds or liquid fertilizer, call 805-766-8403 or email him at se**************@gm***.com.

Music Picks Sept 13 – 19

GT Staff

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September 13, 2017

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Live music highlights for the week of September 13, 2017.

WEDNESDAY 9/13

ALTERNATIVE

THE CHURCH

New Wave hit hard at the beginning of the ’80s. But in no time, all the bands that defined the genre splintered off into all sorts of interesting new directions. Australian band the Church had a catchy New Wave-y hit (“Unguarded Moment”) off their first album. But it was on their second, Blurred Crusade, that they really found their sound as a dreamy psych-pop band. If you talk to any Church fan, chances are they’ll proclaim this lush, ethereal record the best the band ever did. At this show, the Church will be playing Blurred Crusade in its entirety. A second set will feature cuts off their new record, and other songs from their catalog. AC

INFO: 8 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $27.50/adv, $30/door. 429-4135.

WEDNESDAY 9/13

GUITAR

RAUL MIDON

Ever since shedding his career as a sought-after studio artist in 2005, flamenco/jazz guitarist and soul-powered vocalist Raul Midón has steadily evolved into one of the most dynamic and consistently rousing solo acts in American music. He can thrive in formidable company, like his featured spot on last year’s extensive tour with trumpeter Nicholas Payton and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane in the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Star Band. But he soars highest and most fearlessly when he’s alone, as on his recent release Bad Ass and Blind, a thrown-down gauntlet of an album that Midón backs up with guts, style and jaw-dropping technique. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $27/adv, $32/door. 427-2227.

THURSDAY 9/14

INDIE

SNOWBALL II

Snowball II just released its third album. Oh wait, that sounds totally normal. Let me start over—Snowball II just released its third album in a single year. Producer and bandleader Jackson Wargo recorded almost all of the parts himself, and mixes in every subgenre of ’80s and ’90s indie rock that ever existed. Everything from shoegaze to power-pop, though the band tends to keep things on the catchier side. I’m guessing that Wargo has a Merlin-sized beard, ’cause I don’t know how he’d have time to tend to any basic hygiene tasks while writing and recording so much damn music. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.

THURSDAY 9/14

AFROPEAN

LES NUBIANS

When Les Nubians hit the international music scene in 1998 with their debut album Princesses Nubiennes, the duo instantly established itself as a groundbreaking, genre-defying, multi-cultural and talented outfit. Comprising sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris France, the Grammy-nominated band has been based in Paris and Bordeaux, France; Chad, Africa; and now, Brooklyn, New York. With roots in slam poetry, a cappella singing and backup vocals for other artists, the Faussart sisters remain one of the most exciting and well-respected French-language, Afropean groups around. CJ

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.

THURSDAY 9/14

CAJUN

LEE BENOIT FAMILY BAND

What kind of music do you think of when someone says, “New Orleans?” That’s a trick question—as in, there’s literally a hundred correct answers to that question. One that might have popped into your head is “Cajun music,” which sounds like a mix of hyper country, R&B and swinging jazz. If someone says you need to check out a Cajun artist, you should do yourself a solid and check out Lee Benoit. His Family Band is one of the most active touring Cajun bands riding around the country right now. And man, can they rip up a dance floor. AC

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $12/adv, $15/door. 335-2800.

FRIDAY 9/15

NEW ORLEANS

LOUISIANA LOVE ACT

This Friday get ready for an all-star line-up of world class musicians, battered and spiced with the flavor of Nola. The Louisiana Love Act features the writing of Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, with the musicianship of Melvin Seals, Pete Sears (Hot Tuna), Jimmy Vivino (The Levon Helm Band), Greg Anton (Zero) and Phil Colombatto (Sono-Mama) with a blazing Cajun horn section. Part funk, part jazz, part blue and all booty-shaking fun, the Louisiana Love Act is the jam band you never knew you needed. Isn’t it time to put a little love in your life? MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.

FRIDAY 9/15

FUNK

TURKUAZ

A “power funk” nine-piece out of Brooklyn, Turkuaz brings deep funk to mainstream audiences by blending driving horns, floor-rattling bass grooves, spot-on drumming and catchy vocals with pop and soul sensibilities. Putting on what’s been described as “bombastic live performances,” the outfit has made a name for itself as one of the standouts of the dance/funk scene across the country. Add to the mix an attention-grabbing stage show that includes colorful outfits and choreographed dance moves, and you’ve got a dance party extraordinaire. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $18/adv, $22/door. 423-1338.

FRIDAY 9/15

INDIE

DAGMAR

Hailing from San Francisco, by way of the Iowa prairie, Dagmar is a delicate balance of styles and influences that absolutely works—the type of band that makes you stop what you’re doing and tune in to its music. The duo pulls inspiration from contemporary classical artists like Philip Glass; indie-folk outfit Fleet Foxes; the soul-baring songwriting of heartland folk and soul music; and, perhaps most appealingly, the tight, complex harmonies of the Medieval era. Described as a “vulnerable vocal-driven exposition,” Dagmar is a group to keep your eyes and ears on. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Lille Aeske, 13160 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek. $10-$20. 703-4183.

IN THE QUEUE

DANIELLE NICOLE

Award-winning blues singer/bassist/songwriter. Wednesday at Moe’s Alley

DAVE KING TRUCKING COMPANY

New York-based jazz outfit led by drummer Dave King. Thursday at Kuumbwa

HANK & ELLA WITH THE FINE COUNTRY BAND

Local classic country duo and their ace band. Saturday at Crepe Place

JOHN CRUZ

Hawaiian music standout from Palolo Valley on Oahu. Tuesday at Don Quixote’s

LVL UP

Lo-fi rock band out of Purchase, New York. Tuesday at Catalyst

Giveaway: FashionART Santa Cruz

A&E
Art

Cat Johnson

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September 13, 2017

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Once a year, art and fashion collide in Santa Cruz with FashionART. The multimedia runway show, featuring what can safely be described as wearable art pieces from local and Bay Area designers, is a local highlight and a showcase of outrageous, extraordinary, and absolutely fabulous fashion. This year’s event features visionary artists including the Great Morgani, Charlotte Kruk, Kathleen Crocetti, and event founder Angelo Grova; designers Hill Tribe, Cosmo Chic (Sonia Le), Elizabeth Palmer, the Academy of Art; and much more. Prepare to be wowed.

INFO: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. $20-$35.50. 426-6966. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

Love Your Local Band: Sol Nova

A&E
Music

Aaron Carnes

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September 13, 2017

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You might be forgiven if you assumed Sol Nova was a Latin band. The core members, wanting to branch out from the reggae they’ve played most of their lives, didn’t want a name that gave away too much.

“We liked to have a name that kept them guessing,” says founder and bassist Aaron Webb.

He describes their sound as “funky rockin’ rootsy soul”—in other words, a whole lot of styles. The members come from reggae groups like Cornerstone and Killah Natives, as well as non-reggae bands Vincent’s Ear, and El Quarto Verde. There is a reggae vibe, and also a bit of funk, soul, jam band and Eastern European music.

Whatever the combination of influences, it all boils down to music that feels good to dance to.

“What we really try to do is harness the dance vibe, and bring rhythmic remedies to the people,” Webb says.

There is one member for whom Sol Nova is her first band ever. Much younger than the band veterans, Mariah Martel is actually a friend of guitarist Steve Belick’s daughter. But when the other band members heard her sing, they were completely taken with her voice and asked her to join.

“I’m hoping that she’s able to stay with us, because someone’s going to hear her voice and go, “Uh, why don’t you come with me.’ She’s got this really haunting voice,” Webb says.

INFO: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $10. 335-2800.

Film Review: ‘Dolores’

A&E
Film

Georgia Johnson

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September 13, 2017

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A long-overdue look at a pioneering activist, the new documentary Dolores is first and foremost an homage to Dolores Huerta, who at the ripe age of 87 seems just as vivacious as she was at 25. But it is also, says director Peter Bratt, a political act.

“Film controls the narrative, which ones are pushed and which are left out,” says Bratt, a UCSC alum. “That’s one reason why I was inspired to be a content creator as a person of color, was to challenge media in that way. It’s these critical, important and beautiful voices and stories that make up this country’s complex history, and as far as I’m concerned, there is room for them all.”

Huerta is a co-founder of the first successful farm workers union, United Farm Workers (UFW). She was a chief organizer and negotiator of the 1965 Delano grape strike—the first time workers successfully negotiated a contract with an agricultural enterprise. She popularized the slogan “Si, Se Puede” and was a pioneering advocate for farmworkers rights at a time when many aimed to keep women and people of color out of politics.

Dolores follows Huerta’s journey as an activist from her late teens to her split from the UFW. It pits the voices of her supporters, Barack Obama and Bobby Kennedy among them, against Richard Nixon, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly.

Like Huerta, Dolores has something to prove. It’s Bratt’s first go-round at a documentary about a woman that he has a deeply rooted respect for, and who was an icon in the Latino community he grew up in. No pressure, right? He admits it was daunting in more ways than one, not only because she is considered a living legend, but also because of the surprising lack of knowledge and perspective that younger generations have of her achievements. The question, he says, became: “How do we engage an entire generation and introduce them to Dolores and her work, especially when you are competing with so many other platforms like social media?”

Co-produced and backed by Carlos Santana, the film is an unintentionally timely response to the current political climate. Dolores first screened at the Sundance Film Festival on President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day—where, Bratt recalls, the energy was less than effervescent, despite its ensuing 20-minute standing ovation.

“A lot of people are down. They feel like, ‘What’s the use? My voice doesn’t matter, my votes don’t count,’” he says. “Being around Dolores made me remember that people still have power. People can come together and create change, no matter how bad it gets.”

Dolores is the result of months of archive-combing for clips and photographs spanning seven decades. Though it is celebratory of her life, it doesn’t put her on a pedestal. It follows the hardships of her children, who were scarred from the years their mother spent away following her own path. It acknowledges that to this day, Cesar Chavez often gets more credit than she does for co-creating the UFW, and in spite of her accomplishments, she often still isn’t taken seriously.

Bratt says he was also inspired by Huerta’s love of music and dance—she wanted to be a professional dancer. In the film, Angela Davis poetically points out that in a way, she was a dancer “on the stage of justice.”

In retrospect, Dolores begins the same way it ends—with a story of hope followed by a modern take on injustices still happening today, framed by some really fantastic music. She was a figure beyond her time facing a society that was not ready for female leadership, or really women outside of the traditional boundaries of home.

If she prevailed, in spite of everything, then maybe we will, too.

Dolores will screen at the Del Mar beginning 9/16. Tickets available at landmarktheatres.com.

Don Quixote’s Pending New Identity

Aaron Carnes

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September 13, 2017

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For live music fans around here, Don Quixote’s in Felton is an important space, where many cool bands across the entire musical spectrum have graced the stage. Local real estate agent Bradd Barkan has recently taken over the place, and has big plans.

For starters, he’s changing the name to Flynn’s Cabaret and Steakhouse, a transition that will likely take place in mid-October. Fret not, he plans to continue bringing great music to the stage. The menu is where he plans to make the biggest changes, and he was kind enough to give us a preview of the venue’s new direction.

Why are you changing the name?

BRADD BARKAN: That’s a big question that a lot of people have. There’s a reality to why I’m doing that. Flynn is a friend of mine that passed away about a year ago. He had a shop in Scotts Valley called Cali Style. It was a skate shop/clothing store. It was right next to Nob Hill. There’s a couple of quotes that are going to be on the menu, that he gave. The biggest thing that he didn’t want was to be forgotten. You know how people put out those bumper stickers, never forget this person or that person. For a lot of people, it’s their biggest fear, that no one will remember them anymore. I’m taking away the Don Quixote’s. I’m turning it into a memory for him that I’m hoping will become very well known in the neighborhood.

Tell me a little about the new concept of the restaurant.

I think a lot of people knew the place needed fresh blood. People eat the food there because they go there for the music, but no one goes there for the food. A higher-end steakhouse with crab legs and lobster and lamb is something that’s going to be a base theme. It’s going to be organic. It’s going to be sustainable. It’s going to be farm-to-table. It’s very important to me. I have a vegetarian and vegan half of the menu that’s not going to be just one or two dishes. It’s going to be half the restaurant. I’m looking to cater to a good chunk of the vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian Santa Cruz crowd in addition to the sustainable farm-to-table concept. You put those two together, I’m trying to satisfy bigger groups of people with more diverse tastes. I grew up with a vegan sister, and we fought about places to eat our whole lives. She was never happy with my choice and I was never happy with hers. It seems like a natural thing that’s occurring these days. I think we’re going to step it up as far as the music that comes to the venue, and the service that comes along with it.

6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. 335-2800.

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