Following two sold-out screenings at the Watsonville Film Festival, an encore showing of the 1989 documentary Watsonville On Strike, about the Watsonville Cannery Strike of the 1980s, is set for April 30 at 7pm at the Del Mar Theater in Santa Cruz. The screening, which includes the newly released short film Daughters of the Strike, is part of the Reel Work May Day Labor Film Festival.
Watsonville on Strike delves into one of the most significant struggles for economic and social justice in the history of Santa Cruz County. Following the screenings, filmmaker Jon Silver of Migrant Media Productions will be joined by several former strikers, along with Daughters of the Strike co-stars Blanca Baltazar-Sabbah and Wendy Baltazar, for a Q&A session facilitated by Consuelo Alba, Watsonville Film Festival executive director.
The Reel Work festival continues with a screening May 1 at 10am at Cal State University Monterey Bay of The Pickers, a 2024 German documentary about European migrant workers.
Closer to home—at the SEIU Union Hall, 517 Mission St., Santa Cruz—there will be three nights of screenings on May 2, May 7 and May 9 of various films that focus on recent actions by workers. All three are hybrid events that begin at 7pm and can also be viewed on Zoom.
On May 10 at 4pm, the film American Agitators—which focuses on the achievements of labor organizer Fred Ross Sr.—will screen at the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. It will be followed at 7pm by a showing of Delano Manongs, which tells the story of Larry Itliong and the Filipino farmworkers who helped start the United Farm Workers.
Other films are scheduled through May 19. The festival is centered around May Day, which will be marked locally by an International Workers Day of Action Rally at 5pm on May 1 at Ocean Street and Dakota Avenue, followed at 6pm by May Day Singing for Justice, Peace & Freedom at the Resource Center for Nonviolence.
Admission is free. For details, visit reelwork.org.
Under normal circumstances, if one is invited to go surfing with a clown from over the hill, the answer is no.
But this particular invitation wasn’t coming from just any clown. It was issued by Clement Malin, a French circus artist who currently stars in Cirque du Soleil’s Echo, performing under the big top at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds through May 11.
I recently saw Echo and had the distinct privilege of watching Malin and fellow clown Thomas Gaskin perform their awe-inspiring “Double Trouble” act, which involves a humorous and precarious attempt to stack an ever-growing, towering pile of cardboard boxes, captivating audiences with its blend of slapstick and skillful coordination.
I will admit to not having a deep love of clowns in general, but this performance, which is woven throughout the entire Echo show—keeping the audience engaged and entertained as costumes are changed, rigging is adjusted and sets are reconfigured—is among the most charming and delightful I’ve ever seen. It’s also mind-blowing in its own way once they stack 24 boxes, which each weigh about 2 pounds (53 pounds total), to a height of 32 feet, toying with the audience, pretending it will fall, heightening the tension and bringing everyone to the edge of their seats. I won’t spoil the ending, but let’s just say it all results in peals of unbridled laughter.
Originally trained as an acrobat, Malin incorporates a mind-boggling ladder trick into the Double Trouble act and this is when his skill as a comedic, acrobatic performer becomes profound. This isn’t your basic tripod ladder for household chores. This is a balance ladder (also called a free-standing ladder) with two legs—basically stilts—that must be precisely balanced to stay upright, all while Malin climbs atop it.
When Malin climbs to the very top and by some miracle stays perched there, still delivering his clown shtick as if he’s on solid ground, the crowd gives a collective, amazed “Whoa!” Like in most Cirque du Soleil performances, we’re all thinking, “how the @#$%^ do they do THAT?!” The insane things these performers make look simple, easy and everyday would be utterly impossible for the rest of us and it is that recognition that gets the crowd up and onto its feet in rousing applause.
In each city that the Cirque du Soleil performers visit, they find ways to take a break on their off days to rest, rejuvenate and check out the local culture. The legendary Santa Cruz surf scene appealed to Malin, who is relatively new to the sport, so he, his wife and their 1-year-old daughter, who all travel together during the show’s tour, came over to Pleasure Point for the day.
In addition to getting some fresh air, enjoying the ocean and experiencing our marine life, Malin was interested in exploring the parallels between surfing and the work he does as a clown. Both look deceptively easy to the untrained eye, but require skill, intuition, balance, strength, impeccable timing, flexibility and taking calculated risks. You also can’t take yourself too seriously because Mother Nature will show you a thing or two!
BALANCING ACT Clement Malin tests his skills on a small wave at Pleasure Point. PHOTO: Tarmo Hannula
Upon first meeting Malin, his demeanor surprises me. Naturally I wasn’t expecting him to have fuzzy hair, big shoes and a red nose. But I also didn’t imagine he’d be so pensive. As we engage in conversation, he listens intently and responds with deeply philosophical, sometimes poetic phrases. He strikes me as a Serious Person.
Since this is just my first impression, and he’s the only clown I’ve ever met, I ask him about it—I’m curious to know if he thinks of himself as funny. He ponders this, makes a shy face, looks down at his feet and says “I can be funny…” His voice trails off. It’s clear that there are a lot of layers to this individual. He performs as a clown, but that is not his sole persona. While I ponder the fine line between comedy and tragedy, our conversation moves on.
Asked about what it takes to be successful as a clown, he offers another unexpected response. “You have to become as empty as possible so you can receive,” he says. “To make the moment possible.”
To what “moment” is he referring, I ask. “There is love as a single thing. Then there is this greater collective love when the audience gathers together. Almost like communion. It’s a beautiful feeling.” And then his inner jester comes out: “This is why I do not need therapy,” he smiles broadly and his eyes light up.
For someone who teeters atop a stilt-ladder for a living, it’s not surprising that Malin makes repeated references to striking the right balance. “You first have to fully master what you are doing, then decide to make it look easy or make it look hard. To play with the audience. The path in between is where you find the freedom to act.”
From yoga to surfing to other forms of wellness and stress reduction, we often hear how important it is to “be in the now” or “stay in the present moment.” For Malin, these things are not optional. “It’s a mental game,” he says. “There is inherent, intense risk. And there is mental presence. You have to be 100% there and present. In my world, the answer to non-presence is falling. You cannot fake it.”
For Malin, who greatly enjoys improvisation, the most challenging part of his work is the repetition. Cirque du Soleil strives to create the exact same show, the same experience, over and over for each and every performance. He applies his mental presence to this challenge as well. “When I step onto the stage, I switch on. When I leave the stage, I switch off.” To keep things fresh, he says, “I try to find a new challenge every day. I find some new thing to focus on.”
Paradoxically perhaps, the way Malin learned and ultimately mastered his ladder act is by training to fall. He started on a much shorter version of the ladder used in the Cirque du Soleil performances, steadily increased the height and learned exactly how to fall. Then he focused on not falling.
“It was early on in my career when I saw another performer using the ladder,” Malin recalls. “I was performing and building my own act, but I did not have a specialty yet. When I saw this other guy using the ladder, I didn’t believe it was possible. But he showed me. I saw that it was possible. I went out and bought my own ladder the very next day.”
Eager to get a taste of the waves, Malin zips up his wetsuit, attaches his leash and plunges eagerly through the small waves at Jack’s and paddles out to the line-up. (He was very impressed to be surfing in front of the legendary Jack O’Neill’s former home.)
Not his first time on a board, he catches a number of waves fairly quickly, displaying a level of form, ease and grace that’s fitting for someone so, well, fit. He is diminutive in height, but muscular and strong. No pudgy clown here. More like zero percent body fat. He is a natural at surfing.
He paddles back in and when I ask how it was, his first response is “cold!” but it’s said with a hearty laugh and oodles of French gusto. He glances up to smile at his wife and their daughter, who is playing eagerly in the sand and sporting the cutest little sunglasses.
“I don’t know enough about surfing yet to tell you the parallels with being a clown or an acrobat,” he admits. But we discuss it further and ultimately agree that great timing, starting small, staying present, not being too strict, adapting, learning how to fall and knowing when to improvise are all things that surfing and clowning have in common.
How does Malin measure his success as a clown? By the laughs, perhaps? Nope. Now that I’ve gotten to know him a bit I’m not surprised to hear from Malin another contemplative, deep response. “If I can get the audience to trust me, then they will trust each other. If those things happen, then I’ve achieved my goal.”
Editor’s note: On April 30, name spellings in first photo and the name of Clement Malin’s partner in Double Trouble were corrected.
For decades, Santa Cruz local Lee Holden has been a calming presence in living rooms across the country, thanks to his long-running PBS series The Fountain of Youth, which introduced tens of thousands to the transformative power of Eastern mindful movement. Through his down-to-earth, easy-to-follow videos, Holden has taken the mystery out of Qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”)—an ancient Chinese practice that combines mindful breathwork, gentle movement and meditation into one deeply calming experience.
Today, Holden is focused on bringing the benefits of Qigong to an even wider audience. “It’s a fitness practice that’s been around for thousands of years,” he says, “We just don’t see it all that much in the West.” Qigong emphasizes the power of “Qi,” the body’s vital energy, which, according to traditional Chinese medicine, supports physical and mental well-being.
Through an engaging blend of charisma and inclusivity, Holden transforms this ancient wisdom into a safe and effective practice that he says “delivers strength, flexibility, and improved emotional health.” And he’s built a thriving global community around it, from digital video platforms to in-person retreats—all rooted in the same core belief: your body already knows how to heal. You just need to give it space.
Truth be told, I’d been attempting to interview Lee for a while. A chance encounter with his parents at SoulCare Studios in Aptos gave me the perfect excuse. They’re possibly the most enlightened parents I’ve ever met—and it turns out his mom has been teaching a slew of mindful movement practices for more than four decades, while his dad, Lee Sr. remains a dedicated participant.
Fast forward to the morning of our scheduled call. My nerves were already frayed following a drama-filled holiday weekend. As I scrolled through Lee’s resource-rich website, I was tempted by the array of stress-relief videos—just a few minutes long, most under ten. But time was ticking, so I focused on preparing. I dialed in two minutes early. Voicemail. Maybe he’s super punctual? Ten minutes passed. I texted. Did he need to reschedule? I could feel my tension creeping back.
So I did the logical thing: clicked “play” on the first stress relief video. And just like that, my introduction to Qigong was no longer theoretical. When we finally spoke, I felt calm and centered—thanks to Holden’s online teachings.
I asked him if growing up in a home where his mom taught yoga and movement had set him on this path. After all, most people don’t head straight to a Qigong studio when they’re injured.
“You know, one of my first experiences was when my mom and even my dad were learning hypnosis back in the mid-80s,” he told me. “They were doing hypnosis with us kids, and I would feel energy moving in my body and started to figure out the power of the mind.”
Holden’s mission now is to keep the practice relevant for modern life. “How can we use it for stress management, sleeping better, getting ourselves out of pain, solving health challenges—from simple ones like insomnia to difficult ones, like cancer?”
When I asked why he thinks Qigong is more important now than ever, he didn’t hesitate.
“We are living in an age where technology is moving more rapidly, and so we are pulled out of ourselves. We’ve created a distance from nature. Qigong started by men and women observing nature and getting in tune with it—both their own inner nature and the natural world around us.”
He continued: “One reason our children are experiencing more anxiety and depression is that they’re just not in touch with themselves or with the natural world. That creates a big disconnect. So it’s about bringing it back to that inner awareness.”
What’s the difference between Qigong and other Eastern practices like Tai Chi?
“Well, Qigong is the mother of Tai Chi,” he explains. “It’s similar but more accessible because you don’t have to memorize a whole sequence of movements.”
Finally, I asked for his go-to move for everyday stress.
“If you’re sitting in traffic, come back to your slow, steady breathing. But I really love the shaking exercise. Just stand up and shake your body—start at the legs, then shake out your arms, wrists, and shoulders. Inhale and exhale through the nose for 30 seconds to a minute. It completely transforms the stress held in your body.”
I tried it after our interview and taught it in yoga class that night. It worked. We shook off the stress of Highway 1 traffic and watched that stress melt away.
Lee Holden’s newest book is Ready, Set, Slow; find out more at HoldenQigong.com. Lee Holden Sr. and Karen Holden teach Spa Day for the Soul on May 17, 1–2:30pm, and Hypnosis for Manifestation on May 31, 1–2:30pm, at SoulCare Studios, 8035 Soquel Drive, Suite 35, Aptos. soulcarestudios.com.
Origin stories are fun, because you can see how wildly unrelated events become the foundation of a dream. In the case of the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, which is celebrating 50 years this year, for co-founder Tim Jackson the auspicious tale began as a lark.
“I moved to Santa Cruz right out of high school in 1972. And in those days, I surfed more than I played, or listened to music,” says Jackson who recently stepped back into the well-worn shoes of artistic director of the venerated jazz club.
In 1972, Santa Cruz had a sweet little jazz scene percolating. Cabrillo College had the magnificent music director Lile O. Cruse. The Cooper House was THE place to be, with “music in the cafes at night and revolution in the air,” to quote Bob Dylan.
Living the life of a vagabond, Jackson drove his VW bus up and down the coast. “By the summer of 1973, I was in Half Moon Bay, and ran into Pete Douglas. He was running a jazz club out of his house called the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, and he invited me in,” Jackson says. “I had no idea that spot even existed. And it’s a pretty magical place.
“So Pete let me live there,” he recalls, “and instead of paying rent, I worked. I was the janitor, and I took the money at the door for the shows. It was actually my first taste of the music business.”
BUILDING THE DREAM The interior of Kuumbwa Jazz Center comes into being. Photo: Contributed
Let’s Dance
Fifty years later, Jackson and the Kuumbwa crew are planning multiple celebratory events throughout the year. On May 2 at 5pm, as part of Santa Cruz’s First Friday celebration, Kuumbwa will premiere the exhibit Celebrating Creativity, which showcases 50 years of Kuumbwa posters, photos and archival material. At 6pm, Jackson and Bay Area vocalist Kim Nalley will talk about Kuumbwa’s role in the greater Bay Area and Central Coast jazz and music scene. The event will be live-streamed as well; visit kuumbwajazz.org to register.
While all of the events are worthy, there is one that is going to take flight and soar, and possibly quack.
On Sunday, May 18 at the newly renovated Duck Island Stage in San Lorenzo Park, the Kuumbwa Jazz Center is hosting a free, supremely special afternoon of music, in celebration of their 50th anniversary. This epically danceable event will include the much loved Brazilian beats of SambaDa, and, out of Oakland, the improvisational sounds of the West Grand Brass Band, funkifying numbers from traditional New Orleans jazz to Stevie Wonder, while even sprinkling in some Ariana Grande. The point of this celebration is to move your body and your soul, and to recognize achievement.
Teach Your Children Well
Besides entertainment, The Kuumbwa has always kept an eye (and ear) on education to help keep the legacy of jazz alive throughout the generations. Thus, this free afternoon event will also feature the Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band, composed of the most talented high school students from several counties.
Executive Director Chanel Enriquez is clear and concise on what fostering young musicians means to jazz. “Our education programs have always been a core pillar of our organization. Since our founding, we have fostered the next generation of artists, audience members and jazz lovers here in the Santa Cruz community,” she says.
Besides the education programs and honor band, Kuumbwa also runs a jazz camp and free master classes, and half-priced student tickets are available to every show. “We work very hard to encourage younger members in our community to come and experience the joy and creativity in jazz,” says Enriquez.
One Cool Cat
Certainly, the biggest name on the poster for the May 18 event is singer Tony Lindsay, who will be backed by the Joint Chiefs. “The Joint Chiefs are the real deal, man. They’re heavy cats,” says Lindsay from his home in the Bay Area. Lindsay is famously known, for a quarter of a century, as the lead singer of Santana, whose prestigious work earned 11 Grammy awards. He might be a big name, but Lindsay is down-home and gracious when he talks about the early days with Tim Jackson. Lindsay also talks like the perfect jazz man.
“Tim? He just got that magic, man. Great cat. He knows what he’s doing, man. Tim transformed the Monterey Jazz Festival. I think it’s because a lot of people have the type of relationship that he and I have. Tim works on a professional level and that’s the major difference right there. This show we’re doing, that’s gonna be a dance party, man. There’s gonna be some bad dudes, man,” Lindsay says.
It Takes a Team
The Kuumbwa team has been working for more than a year to plan the 50th anniversary celebration. “So we’ve got a number of different events going on, throughout the year, but we are really excited about the concert in the park on the Duck Island Stage. It was actually the location of the Kumbwa’s very first concert presentation back in 1975,” Enriquez says.
Before Kuumbwa settled into its current location, co-founder Jackson—not to be confused with his son, Kuumbwa creative director Bennett Jackson—would hold concerts in “pop-up” locations. “The very first concert was actually supposed to be at the Duck Pond, but it got rained out. So we moved it to what is now known as London Nelson,” Jackson says. Call it kismet or coming full circle, but this show, back at the Duck Island Stage, is not to be missed.
Just in case history repeats, there is a contingency plan. “But the Kuumbwa has had multiple shows there over the years. So, it’s an important part of our history. And, we will be working with our community partners, like Woodhouse Blending & Brewing, who will be hosting the beer garden, along with Alfaro Family winery. We have food from Roux Dat Cajun Creole and Pana Food Truck. And, Bike Santa Cruz County, who will be providing a free bike valet for attendees,” Enriquez concludes.
With dancing, music and a crew of mallards, this is going to be a really fun day—and a great chance to support a local venue and local musicians.
The Celebrate Creativity exhibit opens May 2 at 5pm at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. The 50th anniversary concert will take place May 18 at 1pm on the Duck Pond Stage in San Lorenzo Park, 137 Dakota Ave., Santa Cruz. Both events are all ages, and free. For more, call 831-427-2227 or visit kuumbwajazz.org.
To create microgardens, you plant vegetables and herbs in small containers placed on your porch, balcony, window sills and kitchen counter. Lettuce, peas, spinach and basil might be among your small bounties. I encourage you to use this practice as a main metaphor in the coming weeks. In other words, gravitate away from huge, expansive visions, and instead work creatively within existing constraints. For now, at least, “less is more” should be your operative motto. Meditate on how apparent limitations might lead to inviting innovations. Seek out abundance in unlikely places.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Taurus author Nellie Bly (1864–1922) was a daring trailblazer. It was almost impossible for a woman to be a journalist in the 19th century, but she did it anyway. One of her sensational groundbreaking stories came when she did an undercover assignment in New York’s Women’s Lunatic Asylum. Her reporting on the neglect and brutality there prompted major reforms. I nominate Bly as your role model for the foreseeable future. You are, I believe, poised for epic, even heroic adventures, in service to a greater good. (PS: Bly also made a solo trip around the world and wrote 15 books.)
GEMINI May 21-June 20
Gemini painter Henri Rousseau (1844–1910) never saw a jungle in person. In fact, he never left his native country of France. But he painted some of modern art’s most vivid jungle scenes. How did that happen? Well, he visited zoos and botanical gardens, perused images of tropical forests in books, and heard stories from soldiers who had visited jungles abroad. But mostly, he had a flourishing imagination that he treated with reverent respect. I urge you to follow his lead, Gemini. Through the joyful, extravagant power of your imagination, get the inspiration and education you need. The next three weeks will be prime time to do so.
CANCER June 21-July 22
No, ruby-throated hummingbirds don’t hitch rides on airplanes or the backs of geese. They make their epic migrations completely under their own power. To get to their wintering grounds, many fly alone from the southern United States to the Yucatan Peninsula, crossing the 500-mile expanse of the Gulf of Mexico in 20 hours. I don’t recommend you attempt heroic feats like theirs in the coming weeks, Cancerian. More than usual, you need and deserve to call on support and help. Don’t be shy about getting the exact boosts you require. It’s time to harvest the favors you are owed and to be specific in articulating your wishes.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
The golden pheasant is dazzling. Among the bright colors that appear in its plumage are gold, red, orange, yellow, blue, black, green, cinnamon and chestnut. In accordance with astrological omens, I name this charismatic bird to be your spirit creature for the coming weeks. Feel free to embrace your inner golden pheasant and express it vividly wherever you go. This is a perfect time to boldly showcase your beauty and magnificence, even as you fully display your talents and assets. I brazenly predict that your enthusiastic expression of self-love will be a good influence on almost everyone you encounter.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Virgo poet and visual artist Dorothea Tanning (1910–2012) had a few mottoes that endlessly nurtured her abundant creative output. Here’s one: “Keep your eye on your inner world and keep away from ads, idiots and movie stars.” As excellent as that advice is, it’s a challenge to follow it all the time. If we want to function effectively, we can’t always be focused on our inner worlds. However, I do believe you are now in a phase when you’re wise to heed her counsel more than usual. Your soul’s depths have a lot to teach you. Your deep intuition is full of useful revelations. Don’t get distracted from them by listening too much to ads, idiots and celebrities.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is essential for the functioning of your body and every other animal’s. It carries instructions about how to build proteins, and your cells are full of it. We humans can’t edit this magic substance, but octopuses can. They do it on the fly, enabling them to adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions. Even though you Libras can’t match their amazing power with RNA, you do have a substantial capacity to rewrite your plans and adjust your mindset. And this talent of yours will be especially available to you in the coming weeks. Your flexibility and adaptability will not only help you navigate surprises but may also open up exciting new opportunities.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Is there a sanctuary you can retreat to? A relaxing oasis where you can slip away from the world’s colorful madness? I would love for you to be bold enough to seek the precise healing you need. You have every right to escape the rotting status quo and give yourself full permission to hide from pressure, demands and expectations. Is there music that brings you deep consolation? Are there books and teachers that activate your profound soul wisdom? Keep that good stuff nearby. It’s time for focused relief and regeneration.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
The chemical element known as arsenic is notoriously toxic for humans, but has long been useful in small amounts. Ancient Chinese metallurgists discovered that blending it with copper and tin made the finest, strongest bronze. In modern times, arsenic fortifies the lead in car batteries. People in the 19th century sometimes ingested tiny doses as a stimulant. In this spirit, Sagittarius, I invite you to transform potentially challenging elements in your life into sources of strength. Can you find ways to incorporate iffy factors instead of eliminating them? I assure you that you have the power to recognize value in things others may neglect or reject.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Renowned Capricorn author Henry Miller (1891–1980) had to wait far too long before getting readers in his home country, the United States. American censors regarded his explosive texts as too racy and sexy. They forbade the publication of his books until he was 69 years old! His spirit was forever resolute and uncrushable, though. In accordance with astrological omens, Capricorn, I recommend you adopt his counsel on the subject of wonders and marvels. Miller wrote, “The miracle is that the honey is always there, right under your nose, only you were too busy searching elsewhere to realize it.” Here’s another gem from Miller: He advised us “to make the miracle more and more miraculous, to swear allegiance to nothing, but live only miraculously, think only miraculously, die miraculously.”
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
For now, everything depends on your foundation, your roots and your support system. If I were you, I would devote myself to nurturing them. Please note that you’re not in any jeopardy. I don’t foresee strains or tremors. But your graduation to your next set of interesting challenges will require you to be snugly stable, secure and steady. This is one time when being thoroughly ensconced in your comfort zone is a beautiful asset, not a detriment to be transcended.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
The coming weeks are a favorable time for you to build symbolic bridges. I hope you will link resources that aren’t yet linked. I hope you will work to connect people whose merger would help you, and I hope you will begin planning to move from where you are now to the next chapter of your life. I advise you to not model your metaphorical bridges after modern steel suspension bridges, though. Instead, be inspired by the flexible, natural and intimate bridges made by the ancient Incas. Woven from ichu grass via community efforts, they were strong enough to span rivers and canyons in the Andes mountains.
Across three-plus decades and thousands of miles, the reggae-infused band 880 South has weathered twists, turns, successes, breakups and reformations. But even though the band members are far-flung across the map, 880 South is more focused than ever. In support of their new album, Origins, the group comes home to the Bay Area for a May 8 show at Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz.
880 South grew out of Floppy Rods, a Bay Area funk band featuring Luigi Casarettoand Greg Medeiros. That band lasted from 1998 to 2002, but guitarist Casaretto had been feeling restless. “It wasn’t really ‘scratching the itch,’” he explains.
After leaving the band, he began working on songs alone in his home studio. “It was really bad,” he says with a laugh. But there was something of value within that reggae- and soul-flavored material. So when he bumped into some of his former band mates at a party, he told them about his new songs. The musicians soon reconvened as 880 South, asserting their Campbell and San Jose roots.
The group released its debut album, Beware, in 2006 and toured in support of the release, playing with various bands, including Fishbone, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution and the Expendables. In 2010, 880 South played the very first California Roots Festival in Monterey.
The band continued to gig and tour but eventually drifted apart. Lead guitarist Steve Shyshka relocated to San Francisco, and bassist Medeiros moved to Rocklin, near Sacramento. In 2015 Casaretto left the Bay Area altogether, settling in Denver. “Life gets in the way,” Casaretto explains. “Some of us are dads; we’ve all got a lot going on.”
By the early 2020s, was recording and releasing music under his stage name, Weege. A run of singles led to his 2023 solo album All Fixed Up. One of its tracks, “Just a Moment,” featured his old band. And in 2024 the semi-inactive group began releasing a few new tracks. “Those songs didn’t have super-high quality production,” Weege admits. “They were experimental, demo-type recordings.” He says that the collective attitude of all involved was, “Let’s just get these off our shelves.”
Listeners reacted positively. “I started to see trends on Spotify and Pandora,” Casaretto says. Tunes from 880 South’s back catalog began to pick up steam as well. “Some of our older stuff was starting to connect with a younger audience, which really blew our minds,” he says. “We hadn’t done any marketing, and we hadn’t toured in almost a decade.”
With that momentum, the members of 880 South re-dedicated themselves to the group. “We were motivated to get back together and push even harder,” Casaretto says. Modern technology meant that while they were spread out across the western half of the U.S., 880 South could still record music.
The band got busy on new material, recording remotely and sharing files. The core of Casaretto, Medeiros and Shyshka enlisted additional new members. “Our drummer, Roy Camello lives in Aurora, about 20 miles from me,” Casaretto says. Pueblo-based saxophonist/flautist/trombonist Shyshka joined 880 South as well. That group wrote and recorded an album of all new material, Origins, released April 25.
Casaretto’s skilled networking and guerrilla marketing efforts helped bring a tour together, but practicing when members live far apart posed a challenge. Yet Casaretto had a clever solution: he created custom mixes of all of the Origins tracks. For Camello, the mix featured everything but drums; for Medeiros, the bass tracks were left off. Each member could rehearse by playing along to a tailor-made mix.
Technology isn’t a total substitute for playing together, so the entire band convened for three days of intensive practice in Denver a few days ahead of the album release show. They played the following night in Colorado Springs.
Casaretto was confident it would all go smoothly. “We’re all in our 40s,” he says. “The experience of playing together—we did over 100 shows early on—means that we can just look at each other while we’re playing and know what’s coming.”
And what’s also coming is even more music from a reinvigorated 880 South. “These days,” Casaretto says, “we’re doing it for the art, for the love of the music.” The group’s newest addition is Montana-based vocalist and percussionist Cole Thorne. “She’s joining us for the tour,” he says, “and we’ll be working on the next album with her.” Because wherever the band members might be, all roads lead to 880 South.
880 South and opening act Pacific Grown plays May 8 at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. Doors open at 7pm; the show starts at 8pm. Tickets: $15/adv, $20/door. 21+. moesalley.com
Editor’s note: List of bands that 880 South toured was changed on 4/30/25 to correct a factual error.
On most days, Santa Cruz Weird finds me. On some days, I go in search of it—and there’s no better place to look than in a corner or cubbyhole of a Santa Cruz antique shop.
I’ve collected odd furnishings of unknown origins and questionable designs from curio shops to auction barns over the years, and there’s one thing I’ve learned. Weird can be wonderful.
My very first vintage lamp proved that and became like a cherished friend—a sculpted figure of a young boy, a Renaissance scholar, gazing thoughtfully, leaning on a stack of books.
When my friends and I discovered it, the original shade had been lost—they were sure that when a new one was added, the boy would look like “the life of the party” with a lampshade on his head. To them it was odd, weird, maybe even creepy to have a lamp always watching you from the corner of the room.
Over their protests I bid on the lamp and won the auction. And my instincts were spot on. It was priceless—at least to me.
NOT WATCHING, THINKING A rare find once thought weird can become family. PHOTO: Theresa Rose Koenig
I’ve also learned that weirdness is fun, and often found—or lost—in the space an item inhabits. A set of surgical steel rib-pullers in an operating room? Not weird. But on your coffee table? Weird. And they could be yours!
Santa Cruz’s antique stores offer a trove of treasures that can turn a living space into a conversation piece. Things await that you never imagined could exist, and never knew you would desperately want. But that is where the delight is, especially for those with an insatiable curiosity. These shops are like a local, low-fi Smithsonian of the Strange.
From exquisitely crafted lamps rescued from Victorian parlors to rare rosewood armoires that whisper tales of faraway lands, the town’s antique and curiosity shops offer more than furnishings—they offer soul, often with a hint of the quirky.
And sometimes it’s more than just a hint. Two phrases you’re likely to overhear in a local antique shop: “Wow, that’s amazing!” and “What were they thinking?”
A painting of a giant, hairless sphynx cat in a suit holding a brandy snifter? Check! A gorgeous surrealist original by a gifted local painter, dearly departed? Got it!
Light fixtures provide endless opportunities for furniture designers to express their eccentric and sometimes loony ideas. Anything can serve as a lamp base, as the infamous Leg Lamp from A Christmas Story proves, and anything is what you’re likely to find among Santa Cruz’s antique collections. Is that a Nubian prince trimmed in gold with outstretched arms to hold a pair of lightbulbs? It’s certain he’ll spark conversation and conjecture if he stands next to your sofa.
Carved, sculpted or cast, head-scratching items abound, from a tiny bust of Bela Lugosi to a wooden carousel horse with a real horsehair tail. Amid gorgeous English roses newly in bloom and elegant French décor, there’s a life-size bull head sculpture to mount in a room in need of that je ne sais quoi. No bull, Wisteria Antiques has one!
Speaking of je ne sais quoi, expect the unexpected and the hard to categorize. For example, who thought it would be funny to design a countertop knife holder with the blades piercing a stylized human figure?
A miniature diving helmet may remind some of Jacques Cousteau, but others may feel a shiver thinking of Mister Bubbles from the video game Bioshock. (You gamers know what I’m talking about!)
DIVING IN Santa Cruz antique shops offer a plethora of oddball curios. Photo: John Koenig
Find all this or more, including a real alligator skull, an ancient barber chair that looks like where Billy the Kid got his last shave, and a pair of awesome, bronze “brutalist” candle holders. Who knew “brutalist” could be applied to candlesticks?
Weird can cross over into spooky when one is on a foray through these halls of wonder—and never more so than when looking over vintage doll collections. Dolls have a strange fascination for young and old, and as endearing some may be, some were born and raised in Uncanny Valley.
Or you may have a fond memory of a childhood doll, whether a Raggedy Ann or a G.I. Joe, and you may find one on a foray through the Santa Cruz halls of wonder.
But rather than finding a high-priced collectible, you’re more likely to find escapees from the Island of Misfit Toys. They have character to spare, and a look in their eyes that you’ll have to interpret for yourself. Maybe one of them will speak to you—though hopefully not literally—and find a place in your heart, home, backpack or Halloween collection.
Speaking of Halloween, the crossroads of weird and spooky do often meet in Santa Cruz, and nowhere more than among the creepy curios in these curious collections. Few, if any of the your finds on an antique hunt will actually be haunted — but more than a few will look like they should be. An ancient looking steamer trunk for example, or a rusty lamp that once graced Disneyland that looks like it might have been held by Charles Dickens’ ghostly Signalman.
Return in the Autumnal season, and you may find a Halloween harvest of potential decorations and year-round keepsakes. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll find that very rare piece that carries the spirit—a spirit—of the past.
At Shen’s Gallery, where unique treasures from Asia are imbued with stateliness and serenity, April Shen tells the tale of an after-hours mystery in the dark of night when suddenly, from the back room of the shop, came the unmistakable creak and groan of a door opening on ancient hinges.
Was there an intruder hiding there? An inspection found nothing—except a historic old cabinet whose doors were always closed, now sitting silently with doors wide open.
In Santa Cruz, where the bohemian spirit lives on in every mosaic mailbox and sun-dappled porch, home décor is more than a style—it’s a story.
If you haven’t found your story yet, I can guarantee it’s out there—something so nostalgic, or so comical, or so personal that you just need to possess it.
You never forget the day you acquire a must-have oddity. The time and place will remain as vivid and cherished as the object you found… once upon a time in Santa Cruz.
Scroll down for more pictures from an expedition and a list of suggestions for your own adventure.
PRINCELY. Invent your own story to explain this extraordinary figure, last seen at Attilia’s Antiques. Photo: John Koenig
Where to Shop
Santa Cruz County is blessed with a wealth of locally-owned shops that stock antiques, collectibles and pre-owned oddities. Here are a few places to get started on a hunt for something weird and wonderful.
Abbot’s Thrift—6164 Highway 9, Felton. This big red barn on the way to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has new deals posted daily on a board by the entrance. The whole back right of the store is dedicated to porcelain, ceramic and glass items, which is the best hunting ground for oddities. The majority of the barn is filled with clothing, books, CDs, DVDs and a technology section with antique rotaries, stereo systems and tape recorders.
Attilia’s Antiques—2630 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz. A sprawling cooperative featuring over 40 vendor booths, this building originally served as a poultry barn, a nod to the area’s agricultural past. Visitors can explore a labyrinth of rooms filled with vintage jewelry, pottery, furniture and home décor. The back garden area showcases outdoor knickknacks, creating a whimsical shopping experience that sends shoppers on a nostalgic journey through various eras.
Center Street Antiques—3010 Center St., Soquel. The largest antique co-op in Santa Cruz County, this 5,000-square-foot space hosts 25 dealers. The store offers a diverse array of styles, from French country to mid-century modern, including home and garden furniture, tableware, ornate frames, globes, vintage books, and artwork. Open daily, it provides a comprehensive antique shopping experience.
Miss Jessie May’s Antiques & Collectibles—1533 Pacific Ave., downtown Santa Cruz. This charming, woman-owned boutique has been delighting treasure hunters for over a decade. Founded by Tyra and her mother, the shop reflects their shared passion for antiques.
Nicely—103 Locust St., Santa Cruz. Founded by Michelle Nicely, a seasoned designer and muralist with over three decades of experience in movie set decorating, the shop offers a curated collection of antiques, fine art and home furnishings. At Nicely, visitors can explore a variety of items, from hand-blown glassware and antique Japanese teapots to custom murals and fine art pieces. Beyond retail, Nicely offers interior design services and private art classes—and its owner’s passion for design and storytelling is evident in every corner of the shop.
Shen’s Gallery—1521 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. A downtown cornerstone since 1984, Shen’s offers a curated journey through centuries of Chinese artistry. Founded by April Shen, the gallery opened in the Santa Cruz Art Center. After the 1989 earthquake, Shen’s Gallery relocated to the Pacific Garden Mall, eventually settling at its current location. April’s extensive travels across China and Japan have enriched the gallery’s collection, which includes antique furniture, architectural relics, and decorative arts spanning from the 16th to the 20th century. Shen’s also offers new, decorative ceramic bowls and tea sets from Japan and China in a gift section.
Tumbleweed Found—1025 Center St., downtown Santa Cruz. This distinctive consignment boutique opened its doors on Jan. 17, 2024, offering a curated selection of vintage, antique and collectible items. Tumbleweed Found also serves as a community hub, with First Friday art receptions and weekly “Elevenses” sessions featuring activities like collage, upcycling and small art projects. The store’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement serves both locals and visitors seeking one-of-a-kind treasures and creative inspiration.
Trader’s Emporium—4940 Soquel Dr, Soquel. A sister store to Attilia’s Antiques, Trader’s Emporium offers an eclectic range of antiques and collectibles. The shop features a variety of vendor booths, each with its own distinct style.
Wisteria Antiques and Design—5870 Soquel Dr, Soquel. This shop occupies a century-old farmhouse in Soquel that now serves as a tranquil setting for a curated collection of French country antiques, decorative accessories and gifts. Multiple themed showrooms spread across the main house and outbuildings, surrounded by lush gardens adorned with arbors, statuary and fountains. Visit now to experience the yearly arrival of English roses in bloom, and remember to ask about Wisteria’s truly unique floral arrangements.
MERRILY GO ROUND. A carousel pony at Trader’s Emporium would make a nice conversation piece. Photo: John KoenigYIN AND YANG. A bold and brazen bull or a charming chandelier? Endless possibilities await. Photo: John KoenigHERE’S LOOKING AT YOU, KID. These little people would love a new home with you! Photo: John KoenigBRUTAL. The candle holders’ style is the rare and raw “brutalist” if it suits you. PHOTO: John KoenigDIVINE DECOR Express your inner cherub with an antique angel. PHOTO: John KoenigDARK HUMOR No joke, dangerous finds like this are kept behind the counter at Attilia’s Antiques PHOTO: John Koenig
What amazing thing would you love to find at an antique shop?
JORDAN
It’s funny because I did find something just two days ago, but not in a shop. I love antiques, particularly Buddhist antiques. I happened to be online looking for something entirely different, and I found someone who was selling a life-size Buddha statue.
Jordan Scharnhorst, 28, Physics PhD Candidate @ UCSC
NINA
A big, cool table made out a polished driftwood.
Nina G., 16, Student
LUIS
I’d love to find a comically large gem, like an emerald. In Sonic the Hedgehog there’s The Master Emerald, a huge green gem. I would put it in an iron frame and have it on display in the front of the house, like the eye of the house. I’d love to find jewels that have power and a meaning in history.
Luis Sedano, 20, Accounting Major @ CSU Monterey
SAGE
The futuristic Batmobile from the movies.
Sage W., 15, Student
ROBERT
It would be super cool to find an antique typewriter that clicks when you type it, the way super old-fashioned typewriters worked. It’s a magic typewriter that only writes best seller novels for me—but it has a catch about it, like it only works once a year.
Robert Palma, 21, Gym Trainer
JENNIFER
A Tiffany lamp, you don’t find those every day anymore. I found one in an antique store one time, and I still have it. Maybe I would find a magic Tiffany lamp that grants wishes with a genie inside when you rub it.
A local farm is being modified to serve as a learning center for young students about progressive farming methods.
Headed up by local farmer Sam Earnshaw, a crew of workers recently spread out across the seven-acre Hikari Farm on Freedom Boulevard, where organic Fuji apples grow.
Started back in the 1970s, the farm—which has fallen into disrepair—is now getting brought up to speed with modern farming techniques. This includes regenerative methods and new hedgerows that attract pollinating insects and provide habitat and food for beneficial birds.
Another goal is to invite school children to the farm to learn about how regenerative agriculture incorporates nature without the need for chemicals.
“We’re bringing habitat and biodiversity to the farm,” Earnshaw says. “Nature provides the correct habitat without the need for pesticides and fumigation. In England they were planting hedgerows in the Bronze Age.”
Nick Filannino, one of the workers helping out, said the farm received a call from Wild Farm Alliance about helping Hikari Farm.
“The owner wanted to rehabilitate the land and create a community center for growing traditional Japanese vegetables, as well as providing farm fresh organic apples and produce for local schools,” Filannino said. “So we said okay. And we started looking at possibilities on how to integrate nature into this farm.”
Filannino then worked on getting some grants to help pay for the project.
Hedgerows are rows of trees and shrubs planted with crops as protective barriers.
According to Wild Farm Alliance, hedgerows also provide habitat for butterflies and moths, as well as habitat and food for beneficial birds.
Sacha Lozano of Resource Conservation District said he has worked with Earnshaw on several hedgerow projects.
“If you take care of these rows—once they get established—they will take care of themselves and provide great benefits for the farms,” he said. “They are drought tolerant, will flower at different times of the year, attract birds, and promote pollination.”
Two weekend events this spring will interest lovers of tiny trees—one next weekend, and the second in the month of May.
First up, the Watsonville Bonsai Club hosts its 48th annual bonsai exhibition at Watsonville Buddhist Temple on April 27 from 11am to 4pm. In addition to a 1:30pm demonstration by club member Michael Nelson, there will be door prizes, tea and cookies, and plenty of plants and pots for sale. Admission is free, and the address is 423 Bridge St. in Watsonville.
And speaking of Nelson, he hosts a bonsai workshop on the last Saturday of each month at Alladin Nursery at 1pm, 2905 Freedom Blvd. in Corralitos.
Following the weekend after that, the Santa Cruz Orchid Society will join forces with Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai to stage the 37th annual Bonsai and Orchid Show and Sale at the Capitola Mall on May 3 and 4.
Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai is a nonprofit club whose objectives are to promote interest in, and expand knowledge of, the art of bonsai through continuous study and education.
More than 60 bonsai will be on display, along with activities for kids, raffle prizes, vendors, personal help and advice and an education display.
At 1pm each day there will be an expert demonstration on how to create a bonsai from ordinary potted plants, using a Shimpaku juniper on Saturday and a spruce living Christmas tree on Sunday—both of which will be raffled after their transformation.
Sales include bonsai, pre-bonsai plants, pots, books, companion plants and display stands.
Meanwhile, Santa Cruz Orchid Society will stage their show at the same time and place. Demonstrations and information will be part of the fun.
Longtime bonsai expert Gareth Shepherd will be one of several members on hand to demonstrate bonsai techniques, answer questions and show their trees. Shepherd was one of the 12 founding members who joined the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai in late 1988 and helped organize their first annual bonsai exhibit.
The shows run May 3 from 10am to 5pm and May 4 from 10am to 4pm at 1855 41st Ave., in the former Sears store. All events are free.
Following two sold-out screenings at the Watsonville Film Festival, an encore showing of the 1989 documentary Watsonville On Strike, about the Watsonville Cannery Strike of the 1980s, is set for April 30
For decades, Santa Cruz local Lee Holden has been a calming presence in living rooms across the country, thanks to his long-running PBS series The Fountain of Youth.
Headed up by local farmer Sam Earnshaw, a crew of workers recently spread out across the seven-acre Hikari Farm on Freedom Boulevard, where organic Fuji apples grow.
Gareth Shepherd was one of the 12 founding members who joined the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai in late 1988 and helped organize their first annual bonsai exhibit.
