Cabrillo Stage Kicks Off Season With ‘Addams Family’

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The summer theater season gets off to a boisterous start with The Addams Family, the first of this year’s musical productions from Cabrillo Stage. Although it seems odd to apply words like “lively” and “exuberant” to characters so famous for their morbidity and ghoulishness, you can expect to have an, er, spirited time at this handsomely produced, enormously good-hearted, family-friendly show.

This is a relatively new property that opened on Broadway in 2010 and ran through the end of 2011. Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, it is, of course, inspired by the macabre, darkly funny single-panel cartoons by Charles Addams that ran in The New Yorker for decades. The classic TV sitcom from the 1960s, and a couple of more recent theatrical films have kept these characters in the public eye since then, but the writers here cook up an original storyline that mostly takes its cues from the cartoons.

Director Bobby Marchessault sets the mood right off, inviting us to feast our eyes on William “Skip” Epperson’s splendid proscenium arch decorated with skulls, dagger-shaped supports, and cobwebs above a row of headstones. Fittingly enough, the show begins in a graveyard, where the entire Addams clan—led by proud patriarch Gomez (Adam Saucedo) and his slinky wife, Morticia (a seductively deadpan Danielle Crook)—arrives for its annual celebration of the dear departed.

Calling forth various ghosts of Addamses past, from different eras (a flapper, a conquistador, etc.) they all sing a very funny paean to their ghoulish life in “When You’re An Addams.” (These silvery-grey ghosts, in cheeky but elaborate historical costumes by Chiara Cola, serve a dual purpose as both chorus line and stagehands throughout the rest of the show.)

The plot kicks in with the show’s biggest departure from the source material: little daughter Wednesday, usually portrayed as a middle-grade moppet, is now a teenager (Gabrielle Filloux) in the throes of her first love. A dynamic singer, Filloux makes droll teen angst out of her struggle to reconcile the joys of love with the family credo of gloom. The problem is, her boyfriend Lucas (Ryland Gordon) is “normal.” And he and his straight-arrow parents, controlling Mal (Benjamin Canant) and dutiful but neglected Alice (Jessica Ellithorpe) are coming to dinner.

Wednesday confides to papa Gomez that she and Lucas want to marry. But she doesn’t want her mom to know until they announce it after dinner. This is a huge conflict of loyalties for Gomez, who has never, ever kept a secret from his beloved Morticia.

But, of course, the plot is the merest hook on which to hang the main business of observing the Addamses at play. And that’s where this production excels. John G. Bridges all but steals the show as a delightfully sweet and goofy Uncle Fester. (Fasten your seatbelts for the funky, yet utterly beguiling bit of stagecraft when he flies up to cavort with the moon.)

It’s a running gag that Wednesday routinely tortures kid brother Pugsley (Michael Navarro) on a rack—and how much he loves it. Deborah McArthur plays witchy Grandma with screechy sass, while David Murphy’s zombified butler Lurch, always in slo-mo, provides the show’s biggest, best surprise. Lippa’s songs are consistently clever, and the book is very funny. (“Wednesday’s growing up,” sighs Gomez. “She’ll be Thursday before you know it!”)

I’m pretty sure the concept of Gomez as a Latin lover originated with the delightful John Astin in the TV show; it continued with Raul Julia in the movies. In Addams’ cartoons, the characters are unnamed—and if the patriarch, as drawn, resembles anybody, it’s Peter Lorre, or possibly the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

But whatever the character’s origins, Saucedo plays Gomez with gusto, geniality, and a terrific singing voice. He couldn’t be any better. His long-awaited tango with Morticia concludes the show on a note of rollicking high spirits.


The Cabrillo Stage production of ‘The Addams Family’ plays through July 9 at the Crocker Theatre, Cabrillo College. Call 479-6154, or visit cabrillostage.com.

Preview: Zander Schloss to Play the Catalyst

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Of all the of strange twists and turns in musician Zander Schloss’ life, the weirdest has to be inspiring one of modern film’s most memorable cult characters, Napoleon Dynamite.

OK, technically it’s unclear if filmmakers Jared and Jerusha Hess were inspired by Schloss to create their 2004 hit indie-comedy. But Schloss is certain his role as Kevin the Nerd in the 1984 cult film Repo Man was the basis of this character.

And since he based his portrayal of Kevin the Nerd on himself, it means that he inspired Napoleon Dynamite—or at least that’s what he assumed when he saw the movie.  

“It was like looking in a mirror. It was unbearable for me. I couldn’t fucking believe it,” Schloss says. “I had the same hairdo. The same glasses. I probably wore the same suit to my graduation. Had the same attitude, the same mannerisms.”

Acting in underground films is only a small part of Schloss’ odd career. Around that same time, he played bass in seminal first wave L.A. punk bands the Circle Jerks and the Weirdos. Later, he played guitar and collaborated with a ton of musicians, most notably the Clash’s Joe Strummer.

Now, for the first time, he’s working on a solo record. He swings by Santa Cruz on his first solo U.S. tour, which follows a successful solo European tour. Despite such a long career, his biggest challenge is connecting with people that have been fans of his various other projects, but are likely unaware that he was part of them.  

“I don’t think anyone really knows who I am,” Schloss says. “I jump around with genres. I do film scores. I act. I pop up in the strangest places. Maybe it’s to my detriment to not pigeonhole myself. I’m just a 55-year-old dude with 35 years of experience touring in bands and making records. Who’s interested?”

If people do know who he is, most likely it’s from his early ’80s punk bands, which are pretty far removed from the vulnerable acoustic music he’s playing nowadays as a singer-songwriter.

“It’s a terrifying concept. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but was always too scared to do. It’s personally coming from my heart, and if you don’t like me, I’ll just fucking die,” Schloss says.

It’s not entirely uncommon for aging punk rockers to go acoustic, but the ones that do tend to bring a raw, aggressive element to the stripped-down sound. Schloss’ music sounds like that of a weathered storyteller raised on roots music, which is essentially the case. His early bands were not punk. He grew up in St. Louis, and his first idols were Bob Dylan, Doc Watson and Neil Young.

“I’ve gone full circle back to the beginning,” he says.

He got involved with the punk scene after moving to LA to try to score films. He landed an acting role in Alex Cox’s Repo Man, and also got connected with the punk community. His roots may have not been punk, but it shaped his attitude from then on.

“The most punk rock thing I can do is be fragile,” he says. “It’s no longer about turning people into a frenzy and getting them to beat one another up. It’s mainly about, ‘Hey man, let’s connect. Let’s heal for a moment. Transcend this shitty world, just for a moment.’”

It was Strummer that encouraged him to give the guitar and songwriting a shot. The two worked together on Sid and Nancy and Straight To Hell—“he said to me, ‘What are you doing playing bass in a hardcore band?’”

The two worked on four albums together in the late ’80s, and Schloss has collaborated with several other people since. Now, with his solo debut in the works, he can’t help but focus on the stranger contributions he’s made to the larger culture. His Kevin the Nerd character, for instance, introduced the fauxhawk to mainstream America, and he happily takes credit for that.

“I believe in my crazy own mind that I created the fauxhawk,” he says, laughing maniacally. “You never saw the fauxhawk before that.”


INFO: 9 p.m., Friday, June 30, Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $8/adv, $10/door. 429-4135.

Kickin Chicken Opens Kitchen at Motiv

After a 16-month run in the upstairs kitchen of the downtown club Motiv, Ulterior chef Zachary Mazi and business partner Tighe Melville of LionFish Supper Club have decided to pursue other passions. Ulterior closed at the end of May, and on July 12 the beloved fried chicken delivery service and self-proclaimed “lords of late night” Kickin Chicken will take over the space. After a long residency at the Food Lounge, this is owners Justin Williams’ and Daniel Mendoza’s first full-service restaurant—an upgrade they’ve been pursuing for their successful delivery-only venture for at least a year.

And really, is there a pairing more apropos? What could be more satisfying after a couple of Motiv’s well-crafted cocktails than fried chicken? Williams and Mendoza plan on sticking to their tried and true menu of tender, crispy fowl, and are looking forward to adding their offbeat yet undeniably delicious comfort food. Williams reports that miso butterscotch ribs are likely to be on the menu, as will their “Trash Salad,” a mélange of repurposed vegetable odds and edds that would have otherwise ended up in the compost bin. It’s served in a tiny trashcan in order to really drive their point home—and maybe put a smile (or a grimace) on customers’ faces.

“We’re almost going back to our Midtown pop-up roots,” says Williams, referring to the popular pop-ups they threw in 2015 at the now-shuttered Midtown Café on Soquel Avenue. “That felt like the most ‘Kickin Chicken.’ Our menu was playful, and a little bit low art.”

I remember ordering offbeat creations like macaroni and cheese with Flamin’ Hot Cheeto breadcrumbs, or incendiary hot chicken, which arrived between two pieces of white bread that did nothing to deter the addicting fiery flavor. After tossing out menu ideas like housemade American cheese and giant dill pickles, Williams offers a revealing declaration about their playful menu: “Forget farm to table; we’re fryer to couch.” If you prefer to enjoy Kickin Chicken in the comfort of your home, don’t worry, their delivery service will continue uninterrupted.


FOOD TRUCK EVENT

With all of the lovely warm weather we’ve been having, doesn’t a picnic in the park sound nice? The first Food Truck Event is coming to San Lorenzo Park on Friday, June 30. Food truck event company Food Trucks A Go Go is putting on the event, which will feature six local food trucks including Saucey’z, G’s Mexican Tacos, Ate3One, Lindsey’s Palate Pleasures, Aunt LaLi’s Mobile Cafe and Drunk Monkey’s, plus a beer and wine garden with Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing and Bargetto Winery.


BREW CRUZ PARTY

Brew Cruz, the local brewery tour bus and brainchild of Annie Wolff-Pautsch, is celebrating its third anniversary from noon to 9 p.m. on the Fourth of July at Shanty Shack Brewing. The Brew Cruz Session IPA, a special collaboration beer brewed for the event, will be on tap and Gordo Gustavo’s BBQ will serve up pork products lovingly coaxed to smoky, tender perfection by Austin Towne. The lovely and infamous Betty Jane, Wolff-Pautsch’s converted 1989 Thomas International school bus, will be converted into a photo booth and SLV rockers the Coffis Brothers will play a show at 5 p.m. Even if the upcoming holiday feels marred by our current political climate, I’m looking forward to celebrating two things to which my loyalty has never swayed—our community and beer.

Santa Cruz Compost Company Turns Waste Into Garden Gold

As I prepare kale for dinner, I guide my knife along the long, tough stem, separating it from the tender leaves. Once I finish the bunch, I gather the undesirable odds and ends and move toward the trash. I think, as I have a thousand times before, that there must be a better way to dispose of my kitchen scraps, but lacking the time and tools to compost, I swallow my misgivings and throw it all in the garbage.

This was my daily routine until I discovered Santa Cruz Composting Co., the bicycle-powered residential compost collection service serving the city of Santa Cruz from Shaffer Road and Delaware Avenue to Capitola’s Jewel Box. Now that I’ve subscribed to their $5 weekly service, I fill the five-gallon bucket they provide with my organic trash, which is collected weekly and transformed into rich garden gold.

The Compost Fairy behind this ingenious system is Ivy Young, a local woman who became an entrepreneur when she realized the dearth of composting services in the community. “The city is trying to get something together, but they have to go through a lot of red tape,” says Young. “It made me really sad because I knew how much food was being thrown away without other options.” Now, each week she and her team collect waste from more than 300 households and bring it to the Homeless Garden Project’s Westside farm to become garden fertilizer. Food waste makes up a large percentage of landfill, but can easily be transformed into a valuable resource via programs like Young’s, which is modeled after the Compost Pedallers, a similar program in Austin. Since she started in 2014, Santa Cruz Composting Co. has diverted more than 200,000 pounds of waste from the landfill. Says Young, “We’re grabbing a drop in the bucket of the waste in the community.”

You can also have your compost returned to you to use in your own garden. Young keeps meticulous notes on the waste produced by each household and awards each one via a point system per pound. “The way I see it, it’s an extra monthly bill, so we want people to feel like they get something back,” says Young. For every 20 pounds of waste, the household receives five pounds of compost, or other gifts and rewards from her Compost Rewards Program. Whatever’s leftover goes to the Homeless Garden Project in exchange for the space.


santacruzcompost.com.

A Spanish Wine from Casa Del Herrero

Does Tempranillo go with paella? Yes, it does. Both Tempranillo and paella hail from Spain, and they pair up like a matador and his cape. This easy-drinking red also pairs very nicely with beef stew. These were our two entrees at Au Midi a couple of weeks ago. My husband and I headed there on a Wednesday because I had a craving for paella, and Chef Muriel Loubiere makes an excellent one. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays only, she prepares this traditional Spanish dish, and it’s always bursting with succulent shellfish and a variety of meats.

I had bought the Casa del Herrero Tempranillo 2013 ($30) at an event at Stockwell Cellars, and I took it along to Au Midi to have with paella. Casa del Herrero is another label of Stockwell Cellars and means “house of the blacksmith.” Don’t miss the anvil in their Westside tasting room—a cool industrial addition to Stockwell’s rustic wine cellar piled high with barrels. Winemaker (and steelworker) Eric Stockwell is turning out some splendid wines, the Tempranillo being one of them.

Michel Loubiere, the other half of Au Midi Restaurant’s husband and wife team, uncorked the Tempranillo for us and I took a sip. It’s an excellent wine, for sure, but with its high acidity levels, it needs a little time to breathe—and then its earthy aromas become more prevalent, and the flavors more mellow. If anything, the wine’s rather tart flavors of raspberries, cherries, rhubarb and pluots paired beautifully with the creamy Arborio rice and sauce of the paella, and the richness of the beef and gravy. Every time I drink a full-bodied Tempranillo, this wine—from Spain’s Rioja region—grows on me a little more.

Head to Stockwell Cellars to try it—you’re guaranteed to have fun in the tasting room most Friday nights, when his place becomes a music venue with an upbeat vibe.


Stockwell Cellars, 1100 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz, 818-9075. (Entrance on the Ingalls Street side of the building). stockwellcellars.com.

Au Midi Restaurant & Bistro is at 7960 Soquel Drive, Aptos (in Aptos Village Square next to The True Olive Connection), 685-2600. aumidi.com.

 

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology June 28 – 29

 

ARIES (March 21-April 19): This is a perfect moment to create a new tradition, Aries. You intuitively know how to turn one of your recent breakthroughs into a good habit that will provide continuity and stability for a long time to come. You can make a permanent upgrade in your life by capitalizing on an accidental discovery you made during a spontaneous episode. It’s time, in other words, to convert the temporary assistance you received into a long-term asset; to use a stroke of luck to foster a lasting pleasure.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Physicist Freeman Dyson told Wired magazine how crucial it is to learn from failures. As an example, he described the invention of the bicycle. “There were thousands of weird models built and tried before they found the one that really worked,” he said. “You could never design a bicycle theoretically. Even now, it’s difficult to understand why a bicycle works. But just by trial and error, we found out how to do it, and the error was essential.” I hope you will keep that in mind, Taurus. It’s the Success-Through-Failure Phase of your astrological cycle.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you should lease a chauffeured stretch limousine with nine TVs and a hot tub inside. You’d also be smart to accessorize your smooth ride with a $5,000-bottle of Château Le Pin Pomerol Red Bordeaux wine and servings of the Golden Opulence Sundae, which features a topping of 24-karat edible gold and sprinkles of Amedei Porcelana, the most expensive chocolate in the world. If none of that is possible, do the next best thing, which is to mastermind a long-term plan to bring more money into your life. From an astrological perspective, wealth-building activities will be favored in the coming weeks.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): When Leos rise above their habit selves and seize the authority to be rigorously authentic, I refer to them as Sun Queens or Sun Kings. When you Cancerians do the same — triumph over your conditioning and become masters of your own destiny—I call you Moon Queens or Moon Kings. In the coming weeks, I suspect that many of you will make big strides towards earning this title. Why? Because you’re on the verge of claiming more of the “soft power,” the potent sensitivity, that enables you to feel at home no matter what you’re doing or where you are on this planet.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You may not realize it, but you now have a remarkable power to perform magic tricks. I’m not talking about Houdini-style hocus-pocus. I’m referring to practical wizardry that will enable you to make relatively efficient transformations in your daily life. Here are some of the possibilities: wiggling out of a tight spot without offending anyone; conjuring up a new opportunity for yourself out of thin air; doing well on a test even though you don’t feel prepared for it; converting a seemingly tough twist of fate into a fertile date with destiny. How else would you like to use your magic?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Feminist pioneer and author Gloria Steinem said, “Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” Is there such an activity for you, Virgo? If not, now is a favorable time to identify what it is. And if there is indeed such a passionate pursuit, you should do it as much as possible in the coming weeks. You’re primed for a breakthrough in your relationship with this life-giving joy. To evolve to the next phase of its power to inspire you, it needs as much of your love and intelligence as you can spare.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): One of the 21st century’s most entertaining archaeological events was the discovery of King Richard III’s bones. The English monarch died in 1485, but his burial site had long been a mystery. It wasn’t an archaeologist who tracked down his remains, but a screenwriter named Philippa Langley. She did extensive historical research, narrowing down the possibilities to a car park in Leicester. As she wandered around there, she got a psychic impression at one point that she was walking directly over Richard’s grave. Her feeling later turned out to be right. I suspect your near future will have resemblances to her adventure. You’ll have success in a mode that’s not your official area of expertise. Sharp analytical thinking will lead you to the brink, and a less rational twist of intelligence will take you the rest of the way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The tides of destiny are no longer just whispering their message for you. They are shouting. And what they are shouting is that your brave quest must begin soon. There can be no further excuses for postponement. What’s that you say? You don’t have the luxury of embarking on a brave quest? You’re too bogged down in the thousand and one details of managing the day-to-day hubbub? Well, in case you need reminding, the tides of destiny are not in the habit of making things convenient. And if you don’t cooperate willingly, they will ultimately compel you to do so. But now here’s the really good news, Scorpio: The tides of destiny will make available at least one burst of assistance that you can’t imagine right now.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In my dream, I used the non-itchy wool of the queen’s special Merino sheep to weave an enchanted blanket for you. I wanted this blanket to be a good luck charm you could use in your crusade to achieve deeper levels of romantic intimacy. In its tapestry I spun scenes depicting the most love-filled events from your past. It was beautiful and perfect. But after I finished it, I had second thoughts about giving it to you. Wasn’t it a mistake to make it so flawless? Shouldn’t it also embody the messier aspects of togetherness? To turn it into a better symbol and therefore a more dynamic talisman, I spilled wine on one corner of it and unraveled some threads in another corner. Now here’s my interpretation of my dream: You’re ready to regard messiness as an essential ingredient in your quest for deeper intimacy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your word of power is “supplication”—the act of asking earnestly and humbly for what you want. When practiced correctly, “supplication” is indeed a sign of potency, not of weakness. It means you are totally united with your desire, feel no guilt or shyness about it, and intend to express it with liberated abandon. Supplication makes you supple, poised to be flexible as you do what’s necessary to get the blessing you yearn for. Being a supplicant also makes you smarter, because it helps you realize that you can’t get what you want on the strength of your willful ego alone. You need grace, luck, and help from sources beyond your control.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the coming weeks, your relationships with painkillers will be extra sweet and intense. Please note that I’m not talking about ibuprofen or acetaminophen or aspirin. My reference to painkillers is metaphorical. What I’m predicting is that you will have a knack for finding experiences that reduce your suffering. You’ll have a sixth sense about where to go to get the most meaningful kinds of healing and relief. Your intuition will guide you to initiate acts of atonement and forgiveness, which will in turn ameliorate your wounds.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t wait around passively as you fantasize about becoming the “Chosen One” of some person or group or institution. Be your own Chosen One. And don’t wander around aimlessly, biding your time in the hope of eventually being awarded some prize or boon by a prestigious source. Give yourself a prize or boon. Here’s one further piece of advice, Pisces: Don’t postpone your practical and proactive intentions until the mythical “perfect moment” arrives. Create your own perfect moment.

Homework: Name your greatest unnecessary taboo and how you would violate it if doing so didn’t hurt anyone. FreeWillAstrology.com.

Chiron Stations and the Birthday of the United States

Wednesday we talk a lot and do a lot. Then we feel we’ve done and said too much. So we pull back into a Saturn shadow. But we still keep talking (Virgo moon).

Thursday, Virgo moon continues and we are still talking. Why does Virgo talk so much? Because that’s how they integrate their experiences and understand their lives. We listen with patience. Thursday, we feel we’ve had enough talk, and so we thrust ourselves into a mystery. And stay there awhile—Mercury opposes Pluto.

Friday, Libra moon, we seek balance from the last two days. It’s the second quarter moon, rising at sunset, growing from crescent to full. We, too, are developing and growing toward a fruition.

Saturday, Chiron (the wound, the healing) retrogrades (till Dec. 5). Chiron helps us feel and be aware of our deepest wounds. Later we are able to recognize the same wound in others. As our compassion comes forth for others, a wholeness and healing occurs within us.

Sunday is Mars opposite Pluto. A day to be very careful of self, family and all others. Not a good day to climb mountains. Monday, our wounds heal.

Tuesday, July 4, Independence Day, is the 241st birthday of the United States, a country created by the Hierarchy (inner spiritual government) as an experiment in freedom. Externally, the U.S. was formed in order to liberate itself from England (freedom from the old ways). The United States of America is called to do a “great work.” That of “standing within the Light and leading humanity within and towards that Light.” The United States, in these days of crisis, is in need of new enlightened servers—the New Group of World Servers.

On July 4 under Cancer’s light, let us each become a Light for the World, a light that “nurtures and nourishes the little ones” (humanity). As we dedicate ourselves in service, we recite the ancient Mantram of Service together. “Help us, O Lord, to know and to do our part in the world.”


ARIES: The month ahead sees you working toward all that you value. If you don’t actually know what your values are, then be a keen observer of yourself—your thoughts, actions, friends, focus, communications. You may be slower than usual, tending what you love (and value) with extra care. You see your ambition, the acquiring of possessions, your impatience or impulsiveness. Your senses are more alive. You may eat more. Everything changes.

TAURUS: You have the Vulcan volcanic ability to make gold out of lead. You have so many abilities, you can share a few. Notice reactions to events and people. You’re more communicative, energetic, active, forceful and sometimes, a bit aggressive (shocking!). For a moment or two it’s OK for you to be overly assertive. Rarely do you do such things. Each day there’s more and more to do in your life. Do all that you can to achieve poise and equilibrium. And rest more.

GEMINI: Venus slipped into your house of Pisces. You become more spiritual, perhaps religious, more sensitive, reluctant to push the river. Confidence has taken a different path than you’ve taken. Working a bit more in secret, you can be blamed for things you didn’t do. Gradually a sense of instinct becomes intuition and the past merges with the present and life becomes more valuable. Dreams (day and night) appear, imagination is creative. Music of the spheres is a must.

CANCER: It is most important to think about efforts at cooperation that impact a group. With all of your thoughts and ideas, you may be inclined to talk more. It’s just a stage, as you continue to redefine yourself and your ever-changing values. You find yourself participating in a team effort, toward a humanitarian goal. It’s most important to have daily agendas, schedules, plans and goals mapped out. They become your order, context and protection.

LEO: You are a valued leader, the one everyone looks to, hopes to be, emulates and learns from. You’re recognized for your accomplishments. This pleases you, though you hide it. A Leo, to evolve, must be seen, recognized, praised and applauded for their efforts, gifts, talents, creative abilities. Praise is how (especially) Leos can more fully identify themselves. Praise helps Leos say, “I am because of what I create (and you see it).” Eventually you will turn to others and praise them, too.

VIRGO: There is a need, hope, wish and hunger for adventure far away from daily life. There’s a restlessness that can’t take no for an answer. Your mind and heart actually do need expansion through travel and new experiences. All of the energy you’re feeling will propel you into travel, new studies, new interests, new books and new learning. Stay away from overt opinions, disagreements, arguments and anything illegal. If traveling, travel with a group.

LIBRA: Careful with projecting any sort of anger from long ago toward others, especially intimates. You may be unaware of doing this. Are there issues with joint money and resources? Are there conflicts and crisis concerning different values? Sometimes you just want to act and be on your own. This is both subtle and overt. Careful of consequences. Begin with knowing your true needs. Then step forward and love more. Out of conflict comes great harmony.

SCORPIO: Everything may be changing or challenging, both professionally or intimately. Should you encounter conflict, attempt to see if it’s a reflection of your internal conflicts. This is how and why conflicts occur. They also appear after great struggle so that a new level of harmony will emerge. Everything will be conflictual, then it resolves, then there’s rapprochement. Help someone, in the meantime. Be as kind as you can be. And pray more.

SAGITTARIUS: Interesting new (and more) energy appears in the groups, daily routines, work schedules and workloads. Focus on health matters—exercise, diet, walking, running, yoga, etc. A daily regime of physical activity is important, otherwise depression, anger, frustration, restlessness, mental and emotional distortions can result. Be cooperative when working with others. Be on time. Respond. Don’t dispute anything. Recite silent Ohms. “Laughter is the best meditation,” said Alan Watts.

CAPRICORN: You might feel you have lots of energy out in the world. But really there’s a great need to rest, reflect and contemplate yourself. You have become like Persephone. Pluto has taken you underground. All you can do is drink pomegranate juice now, things red, orange, yellow, deep blue. At times Pluto had a jealousy issue. Do you see that in your life with those around you? Tend to close loved ones. Speak words of love. Is communication difficult at times? Is there a wound occurring? Is your home changing? So many questions!

AQUARIUS: Take special care of money and resources, or they will float away someday. Be more protective and defensive with yourself in order to have more security. Are you concerned about your family? You will be more moody, restless at home with possible family conflict or disputes. If previous issues from the past emerge, it’s time to talk with someone about them. Perhaps you’re asking “where is my true home?”

PISCES: Work efficiently on order and organization each day. Allow yourself to consider future aspirations. Talk about your ideas, plans, hopes, wishes, dreams and aspirations. Communications may become tense and heated, with disagreements emerging. Allow this to occur, step back, observe any impatience and/or impulsiveness. This is Mars at work. Tend to hands and feet with care. Sew, journal, draw and paint. Use your mind (visualization) and hands to create the needed order and beauty.

Opinion June 21, 2017

EDITOR’S NOTE

A couple of months ago, Steve Kettmann wrote a cover story for GT about the resurgent popularity of George Orwell’s 1984, and what it means for our times. In many ways, his cover story this week feels like a follow-up to that story. It turns out 1984 is not the only book benefitting from our real-life dystopia. Look at sales numbers and you will find some very surprising trends. Sinclair Lewis’ 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here was mostly forgotten until last November, at which time it became one of the hottest-selling books on Amazon. What’s it about, you ask? Oh, NBD, just the hypothetical rise of a fascist leader in the U.S. Same for John Steinbeck’s last book, The Winter of Our Discontent, published in 1961. Apparently its plot about a grocery-store clerk who executes a string of immoral ploys to increase his wealth and power—including turning an immigrant in to the feds to gain ownership of the man’s store—is considered by some to have some relevance to our current socio-political climate.

Kettmann’s article, however, is focused on the rise of contemporary fiction, as exemplified by the splash that Nathan Hill’s The Nix made last year. The Huffington Post called it “the satirical election novel that Trump’s America deserves.” Which is particularly interesting considering that the Donaldesque character many critics referenced was actually conceived long before Trump ran for office. Kettmann talks to Hill not only about these details of the book, but also about the writing process, and I for one found his insights illuminating.

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF


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Read the latest letters to the editor here.

My Feet Sing of Thee

Re: “Sea Changer” (GT, 6/7): I remember moving to Santa Cruz in 1977, fresh out of high school, from Corona del Mar. My first job was working for O’Neill at his wetsuit factory on 41st Avenue, gluing wetsuits together. I remember Mike, his son, going into the back of the factory to work on booties. Soon he gave me a pair to try out. At first, they were hard to get used to, but my feet said, “I love these things.” I then got promoted to sewing up the suits, which included the animal skin. Jack would drop by occasionally to check things out, and everyone was in awe. He was a great man with lots of love who will be missed dearly. Aloha from Kauai.

Brian Rall

Kauai, Hawaii

Shopper’s Poet Corner

Thank you for your article on Peter McLaughlin and his poetry. I did not know his poetry. I knew his face from seeing him at Shopper’s Corner, the kind of recognition that is common in a town the size of Santa Cruz. I am richer now for having read his poems. They are brilliant, and I wanted you to know you had reached another reader.

Victoria Tatum

Santa Cruz

Violence and Accountability

In the aftermath of the recent shooting of a Republican congressional representative by an irate Bernie Sanders supporter, I want to unequivocally condemn all acts of political violence by all people, whether on the left or the right. I also believe it is high time that all people involved in politics become more introspective and learn to deal with their own personal, emotional and psychological problems instead of just simply focusing their self-righteous rage on others. My own brother Wayne was shot and killed by the San Diego police in 1985 after waving a knife and threatening suicide, and although I still condemn police violence, my family was obviously severely dysfunctional despite being active in politics. Learning to confront one’s own flaws, vulnerabilities and unhealed grief and work on oneself is a courageous and responsible act. Politically apathetic people who are learning to be more compassionate and accountable in their personal lives and dealing mindfully with their pain and anger ironically are doing more to heal themselves and the world than the blamers and shamers involved in politics.

Erich J. Holden

Santa Cruz

Online Comments

Re: Dog Park Patrols

Let’s travel to Mitchell’s Cove after four o’clock from mid-county and see if the traffic allows you to cross this county in any reasonable amount of time to enjoy off-leash recreation with your dog. Santa Cruz County has a terrible ratio of dog parks to population for any city of this size in the nation.

Why are dog owners the bad guys? Why is off-leash dog recreation working in Carmel, Santa Barbara, Huntington Beach, Long Beach? Why is Santa Cruz County so regressive on this issue? Dog owners have less than 1 percent of that 29 miles of pristine coastline. Why does this article not explore solutions instead of repeating the same old story?

— Karen Simmons

It is not true that “Santa Cruz County has a terrible ratio of dog parks to population for any city of this size in the nation.” There are 260,000 people in Santa Cruz County, and 13 existing off-leash dog parks. That’s a level of service of five off-leash dog parks per 100,000 residents. According to the 2010 Trust for Public Lands Survey, that is the highest level of service for any jurisdiction in the United States other than Portland, Oregon, which has 5.8 dog parks per 100,000 people.

— Michael A. Lewis


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GOOD IDEA

HEAD WEST
Montell Jordan once proclaimed, “The party’s here on the Westside,” which is certainly the case this weekend. Event Santa Cruz is throwing a Big Westside Block Party at Allterra Solar on McPherson Street at 5 p.m. on Friday. At 7 p.m., Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing is having its Rail Trail IPA Release Party to benefit the Land Trust for Santa Cruz County. And that same Swift Street Courtyard is having a Dinner Market to benefit Ecology Action Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for $5 admission.


GOOD WORK

TEACHER VET
On Saturday night at Aptos High School, the school’s theater arts department is hosting a reunion concert at 7 p.m. Celebrating teacher/director Stacy Aronovici’s 20th year, the show will feature the vocal talents of both students and alumni. Over the last couple decades, Aronovici has directed and produced more than 60 shows. Musicians will include pianist Meri Pezzoni, the director of the award-winning Aptos High Choral Department from 1987 to 2008. Tickets are $10.


QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.”

-P.J. O’Rourke

5 Things to Do in Santa Cruz This Week

Event highlights for the week of June 21, 2017

Green Fix

Dinosaurs in Big Basin?

popouts1725-green-fixImagine a flourishing Jurassic Park in the gorgeous redwoods we call home—towering T-Rexes, lumbering sauropods, and feisty velociraptors … or, something like that. Could dinosaurs have thrived here? That’s what docent Micki Downs and Maura McNamara will explore with a flat one-mile walk to teach about animal survival through the ages.

Info: Noon, Sunday, June 25. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek. Free.

 

Art Seen

Cabrillo Stage’s ‘The Addams Family’

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky, the Addams Family! That’s right, get ready for a stage interpretation of America’s favorite slightly less-than-normal family next door. The Addams family offers up a series of hilarious situations and interactions as they navigate their more “normal” neighbors. This Thursday, June 22, the Cabrillo theater takes on the classic TV series, which began in the 1940s as a series of magazine cartoons by Charles Addams.

Info: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 22. Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. cabrillostage.com. $22.

 

Saturday 6/24

Pleasure Point Street Fair

popouts1725-pleasurepointstfairIt’s that time of year again—good weather, good friends, and a great reason to take the family to Pleasure Point for the most anticipated event of the summer. The area will be buzzing this Saturday, June 24, with seven local bands on two stages playing Americana, folk, funk, reggae and more. Kids get their own kids zone with face painting and crafts, while adults can indulge in a beer and wine garden from New Bohemia Brewing Company. The Santa Cruz Boardroom will hold a skateboard contest in addition to more than 90 vendors selling crafts, food, beverages and more. This year’s beneficiary is the Jay Moriarity Foundation, honoring the spirit of legendary waterman Jay Moriarity and supporting local programs that improve the quality of life for the community and environment.

Info: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 41st & 38th Avenues, Santa Cruz. pleasurepointstreetfair.com. Free.

 

Saturday 6/24

Author Nathan Hill with Michelle Richmond

popouts1725-AuthorNathanHillSamuel Anddresen-Anderson hasn’t seen his mother, Faye, since she abandoned his family when he was just a boy. Now it’s 2011 and she’s made a reappearance, being accused of an absurd crime that takes the news by force in a divided political climate. Is she the radical hippie that the media paints her as or the average girl who married her high school sweetie as Samuel remembers? Nathan Hill’s The Nix has been named Notable Book of 2016 by The New York Times and The Washington Post. Hill will be at the Wellstone Center in conversation with Michelle Richmond on Saturday, June 24.

Info: 2 p.m. Wellstone Center, 858 Amigo Road, Soquel. wellstoneredwoods.org/nathanhillmichellerichmond.

 

Saturday 6/24

Dinner Market

popouts1725-DinnerMarketSummer is finally here, and after all those months of the bitter California cold, we can finally enjoy Santa Cruz’s best seasonal offerings—like strolling through the Dinner Market on a balmy Saturday evening with friends, family, and community members. This Saturday, June 24, sample the best in local cuisine with a food market featuring 10 local vendors, including Kelly’s French Bakery, Hanloh, Ate3One Food Truck, Kickin’ Chicken and more. Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery and Beauregard Vineyards will provide libations while the Rhythm Street Rangellers, Doug Hopkins, and the Surfing Magicians will provide the entertainment.

Info: 5:30-9 p.m. Swift Street Courtyard, 402 Ingalls St., Santa Cruz. $5 admission benefits Ecology Action.  

How do you define success?

“Finding what you love and being able to do that every day in a sustainable way.”

Daniel Corrales

Santa Cruz
Woodworker

“Living with an open heart, being present, and helping others.”

Kory Snider

Aptos
Sales

“Having more than what you need.”

William Mays

Santa Cruz
Graphic Artist

“If you’re happy with your life at the end of it.”

Karen Miga

Santa Cruz
Post Doc

“Making it through dinner without screaming.”

Ed Miga

Santa Cruz
Project Manager

Cabrillo Stage Kicks Off Season With ‘Addams Family’

Addams Family Cabrillo Stage
Funny, inventive ‘Addams Family’ Runs Through July 8

Preview: Zander Schloss to Play the Catalyst

Zander Schloss
L.A. punk veteran—and Napoleon Dynamite inspiration?—Zander Schloss goes solo

Kickin Chicken Opens Kitchen at Motiv

Kickin Chicken Danny Mendoza Matt “Chicken Mitts” Ruhland Justin Williams upstairs Motiv Santa Cruz
Upstairs kitchen at Motiv changes hands, plus two must-go events

Santa Cruz Compost Company Turns Waste Into Garden Gold

Santa Cruz Compost composting Ivy Young
Residential bicycle-powered service collects kitchen waste

A Spanish Wine from Casa Del Herrero

Stockwell Cellars Casa Del Herrero Tempranillo
Stockwell Cellar label Tempranillo is a perfect match for paella

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology June 28 – 29

Astrology, Horoscope, Stars, Zodiac Signs
  ARIES (March 21-April 19): This is a perfect moment to create a new tradition, Aries. You intuitively know how to turn one of your recent breakthroughs into a good habit that will provide continuity and stability for a long time to come. You can make a permanent upgrade in your life by capitalizing on an accidental discovery you made...

Chiron Stations and the Birthday of the United States

risa d'angeles
Esoteric Astrology as news for week of June 28, 2017

Opinion June 21, 2017

Plus Letters to the Editor

5 Things to Do in Santa Cruz This Week

Event highlights for the week of June 21, 2017

How do you define success?

Local Talk for the week of June 21, 2017
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