Free Will Astrology

Astrology

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October 9, 2024

ARIES March 21-April 19

In the coming weeks, you may be tempted to spar and argue more than usual. You could get sucked into the fantasy that it would make sense to wrangle, feud and bicker. But I hope you sublimate those tendencies. The same hot energy that might lead to excessive skirmishing could just as well become a driving force to create robust harmony and resilient unity. If you simply dig further into your psyche’s resourceful depths, you will discover the inspiration to bargain, mediate and negotiate with élan. Here’s a bold prediction: Healing compromises hammered out now could last a long time.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

Question #1: “What subjects do you talk about to enchant and uplift a person who’s important to you?” Answer #1: “You talk about the feelings and yearnings of the person you hope to enchant and uplift.” Question #2: “How do you express your love with maximum intelligence?” Answer #2: “Before you ask your allies to alter themselves to enhance your relationship, you ask yourself how you might alter yourself to enhance your relationship.” Question #3: “What skill are you destined to master, even though it’s challenging for you to learn?” Answer #3: “Understanding the difference between supple passion and manic obsession.”

GEMINI May 21-June 20

In 1819, Gemini entrepreneur Francois-Louis Cailler became the first chocolatier to manufacture chocolate bars. His innovation didn’t save any lives, cure any disease or fix any injustice. But it was a wonderful addition to humanity’s supply of delights. It enhanced our collective joy and pleasure. In the coming months, dear Gemini, I invite you to seek a comparable addition to your own personal world. What novel blessing might you generate or discover? What splendid resource can you add to your repertoire?

CANCER June 21-July 22

Ayurnamat is a word used by the Inuit people. It refers to when you long for the relaxed tranquility that comes from not worrying about what can’t be changed. You wish you could accept or even welcome the truth about provocative situations with equanimity. Now here’s some very good news, Cancerian. In the coming weeks, you will not just yearn for this state of calm, but will also have a heightened ability to achieve it. Congratulations! It’s a liberating, saint-like accomplishment.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

Healing will be more available to you than usual. You’re extra likely to attract the help and insight you need to revive and restore your mind, soul and body. To get started, identify two wounds or discomforts you would love to alleviate. Then consider the following actions: 1. Ruminate about what helpers and professionals might be best able to assist you. Make appointments with them. 2. Perform a ritual in which you seek blessings from your liveliest spirit guides and sympathetic ancestors. 3. Make a list of three actions you will take to make yourself feel better. 4. Treat this process not a somber struggle, but as a celebration of your mounting vitality.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

The Beatles were the best-selling band of all time and among the most influential, too. Their fame and fortune were well-earned. Many of the 186 songs they composed and recorded were beautiful, interesting and entertaining. Yet none of the four members of the band could read music. Their brilliance was intuitive and instinctual. Is there a comparable situation in your life, Virgo? A task or skill that you do well despite not being formally trained? If so, the coming months will be a good time to get better grounded. I invite you to fill in the gaps in your education.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

In 2010, Edurne Pasaban became the first woman to climb the world’s tallest 14 mountains, reaching the top of Shishapangma in China. In 2018, Taylor Demonbreun arrived in Toronto, Canada, completing a quest in which she visited every sovereign nation on the planet in 18 months. In 1924, explorer Alexandra David-Néel pulled off the seemingly impossible feat of visiting Lhasa, Tibet, when that place was still forbidden to foreigners. Be inspired by these heroes as you ruminate about what frontier adventures you will dare to enjoy during the next six months. Design a plan to get all the educational and experimental fun you need.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Alnwick Garden is an unusual network of formal gardens in northeast England. Among its many entertaining features is the Poison Garden, which hosts 100 species of toxic and harmful plants like hemlock, strychnine and deadly nightshade. It’s the most popular feature by far. Visitors enjoy finding out and investigating what’s not good for them. In accordance with astrological omens, Scorpio, I invite you to use this as an inspirational metaphor as you take inventory of influences that are not good for you. Every now and then, it’s healthy to acknowledge what you don’t need and shouldn’t engage with.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Sagittarian Tom Rath is an inspirational author who at age 49 has managed to stay alive even though he has wrangled with a rare disease since he was 16. He writes, “This is what I believe we should all aim for: to make contributions to others’ lives that will grow infinitely in our absence. A great commonality we all share is that we only have today to invest in what could outlive us.” That’s always good advice for everyone, but it’s especially rich counsel for you Sagittarians in the coming months. I believe you will have a special capacity to dispense your best gifts to those who need and want them.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Capricorn writer Susan Sontag was a public intellectual. She was an academic with a scholarly focus and an entertaining commentator on the gritty hubbub of popular culture. One of my favorite quotes by her is this one: “I like to feel dumb. That’s how I know there’s more in the world than me.” In other words, she made sure her curiosity and open-mindedness flourished by always assuming she had much more to learn. I especially recommend this perspective to you in the coming weeks.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

The Salem Witch Trials took place in Massachusetts from 1692 to 1693. They were ignorant, superstitious prosecutions of people accused of practicing witchcraft. The modern holiday known as Freethought Day happens every Oct. 12, the anniversary of the last witch trial. The purpose of this jubilee is to encourage us to treasure objective facts, to love using logic and reason, and to honor the value of critical thinking. It’s only observed in America now, but I propose we make it a global festival. You Aquarians are my choice to host this year’s revelries in celebration of Freethought Day. You are at the peak of your ability to generate clear, astute, liberating thoughts. Show us what it looks like to be a lucid, unbiased observer of reality.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

A YouTube presenter named Andy George decided to make a chicken sandwich. But he didn’t buy the ingredients in a store. He wanted to make the sandwich from scratch. Over the next six months, he grew wheat, ground it into flour and used it to bake bread. He milked a cow to make cheese and butter. He got sea salt from ocean water and grew a garden of lettuce, cucumber, tomato and dill for toppings. Finally, he went to a farm, bought a chicken, and did all that was necessary to turn the live bird into meat for the sandwich. In describing his process, I’m not suggesting you do something similar. Rather, I’m encouraging you to be thorough as you solidify your foundations in the coming months. Gather resources you will need for long-term projects. Be a connoisseur of the raw materials that will assure future success in whatever way you define success.

Homework: What have you denied yourself even though it would be good for you? Write a note giving yourself permission. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Green New Meal

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

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October 9, 2024

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Like the food he proudly serves at Emerald Mallard, chef/owner Lance Ebert’s culinary career is made from scratch with passion, discipline and unmitigated grind. He has cooked his whole life, learning on every job and methodically working his way through the ranks.

After moving to the Santa Cruz area 10 years ago, he aspired to open his own restaurant, desiring a close-knit, community-oriented spot with an abundance of local proteins and produce. That manifested less than a year ago with Emerald Mallard, a pop-up turned permanent in the former Cremer House in downtown Felton.

Ebert and his team continue to rebuild and remodel the space, which he says has an old-timey continental European feel, casual yet elegant with hunting lodge vibes set off by prominent taxidermy and dark greens.

Most of the menu rotates and changes biweekly based on what Ebert and his sous chef, Jerry Rodriguez, find at the farmer’s market, and they also feature a house bread program curated by head baker Isabella Kantek. Their classic, Old World–style French cuisine is fancy yet familiar, well exemplified by menu staples like the smash burger basted with Waygu tallow and finished with bordelaise sauce, and the spicy fried chicken sandwich brined and then cured in seasoned flour so that “the dredge becomes its new skin.” They also always have a duck and steak option, hand-rolled pasta and dessert favorites like pistachio tiramisu and classic Italian cannolis.

What is Emerald Mallard all about?

LANCE EBERT: We’re just cooks trying to do the best food we can with the best ingredients we can find. We want to expand our guests’ culinary horizons, be high-end and technique-driven, yet approachable and reachable for the masses. We think of it as highbrow/lowbrow, fine dining in a casual setting. We really want to blow Santa Cruzans’ minds and bring Michelin-level food to the community table.

Tell me your philosophy on chef mentoring.

We’re all about learning and teaching new cooks because this kind of cuisine takes a lot of time, technique, drive and patience. We have a lot of passion for not only executing it, but also teaching it, and everything we know, we love, and are happy to pass along. It’s about the journey, always pushing the envelope and getting better collectively. I was mentored by great chefs, and I want to pay that forward.

6256 Hwy. 9, Felton, 831-704-7654; emerald mallard.com

**RAISING THE BAR** Patrons start to fill Emerald Mallard in the early evening. PHOTO: Tarmo Hannula

Cool Company

Dining Reviews

Mark C. Anderson

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October 9, 2024

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There’s a baaaaaaaad-ass antidote to the heat wave that’s been stalking Santa Cruz: sheep’s milk popsicles by Garden Variety Cheese, available at Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market 1-6pm Wednesdays.

GVC owner-operator Rebecca King reports the pops have gone from nice treat to non-negotiable necessity.

Flavors include strawberry, vanilla-maple and orange.

Those are on offer alongside year-round cheeses like the mild, buttery and fruity Black Eyed Susan and seasonal cheeses like a young, sharp Tomme-style sheep cheese that’s washed with juice from Santa Cruz Cider Company, which brings post-press apple pulp to King’s pigs.

Local cheese is on my mind after something unprecedented happened last month: I tapped out on great cheese. Such was the intensity, diversity, depth and deliciousness of the goods on hand at the ninth annual San Francisco Cheese Festival at the Ferry Building Marketplace.

The event didn’t include any Santa Cruz makers, but it did flex a lot of incredible producers with Surf City presences at places like Shopper’s Corner, Staff of Life and New Leaf (see below)—Cypress Grove, Stepladder Creamery, Clover Sonoma, Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. among them.

It did remind me that Garden Variety Cheese is the rare area purveyor. (Schoch Cheese of Salinas would be another.)

Next week marks Garden Variety’s Fall Open House (1481 San Miguel Canyon Rd., Royal Oaks) noon-4pm Saturday, Oct. 19.

The interactive afternoon (free, $10 parking) includes tours of the milking parlor and creamery, cheese tasting, sandwiches, salads and snacks for sale featuring their Monkeyflower Ranch meats and GV cheeses, plus beer and wine, and BYO picnicking is also welcome. (Meat, cheese, yogurt and eggs will also be on sale, so a cooler is advisable.) Pop-up tie-dye T-shirt action too, with logo shirts for $25, tie-dye ink included. gardenvarietycheese.com

GREEN GROWTH

New Leaf Community Markets’ downtown Santa Cruz location closes Oct. 15, after nearly two decades at 1134 Pacific Ave. The plan from there is to reopen in a larger space at Gateway Plaza on River Street in 2025. The new location will allow NLCM—which first hatched in 1985 as Westside Community Market, a modest natural foods shop—to offer a wider range of prepared foods, organic products, and bigger produce, meat, and seafood sections. Meanwhile, the New Leaf branch in Capitola will be moving to a larger location in the King’s Plaza Shopping Center on 41st Avenue, in the former Lucky Supermarket.

SPEED SLICES

Open Farm Tours, a Community Alliance with Family Farmers collaboration, swoops through 13 organic family-owned farms this weekend, Oct. 12-13, with activities like apple juicing, olive curing and U-picks, openfarmtours.com…More openness awaits: The Arts Council Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour taps painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, printmakers, glass blowers, jewelry designers and more—18 artistic mediums—and 300-plus artists for self-guided visits Oct. 12-13 (for South County artists, SC Yacht Harbor and below) and Oct. 19-20 (all county), santacruzopenstudios.com…UC Santa Cruz Farm’s 2024 Harvest Festival plugs in live music, an apple pie bake-off, kids’ activities, a pumpkin patch, delicious food, and more 11:30am-2pm Oct. 19 ($5, free/under 12 and students with ID), calendar.ucsc.edu/event/harvest-festival…El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (El Pájaro CDC, 412 E. Riverside Drive, Watsonville) celebrates its 45th Anniversary with a Tacos & Tapas Fundraising Party, 6-9pm Oct. 17 ($75), with an insane lineup of businesses prepping food to go with local beer, wine and cider, elpajarocdc.org.

Et Tu, Brut?

Vine & Dine

Josie Cowden

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October 9, 2024

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Heading out of town for a weekend away is always like a breath of fresh air. My husband and I drove to Mendocino for a few days of relaxation as summer changed into fall.

A stop at Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley was a delicious treat. These sparkling wines are amazing. A cheese plate we ordered with some drizzled lavender honey was a splendid pairing with our flight of bubblies. Roederer’s Brut Estate Bottled Sparkling Wine (about $30) is crisp and fresh with a lovely mineral finish. Roederer makes a variety of sparkling wines, and only from their estate-grown grapes.

Sitting on their patio and delighting in a flight of sparklers was an exceptional experience. And don’t miss the pale-pink Brut Rosé with its dried raspberry and orange blossom flavors.

The Anderson Valley has an abundance of tasting rooms to visit, including the two sister wineries of Roederer—Scharffenberger Cellars and Domaine Anderson.

Roederer Estate, 4501 Hwy. 128, Philo, 707-895-2288, roedererestate.com. Open daily from 11am to 5pm (excluding major holidays). Reservations needed, but walk-ins accepted if available. Tours of the estate can also be booked.

Victorian Welcome

We stayed at the MacCallum House on this trip, a beautiful Victorian hotel known for its warmth, hospitality and exceptional food. The restaurant is rated “best on the coast as one of California’s original farm-to-table and chef-driven dining experiences.” We had most of our meals in the hotel’s atrium, an ideal spot for catching early-morning rays and sunset’s glow. At the end of the day, a soak in our patio’s private hot tub was heavenly. This boutique hotel in the heart of Mendocino is simply a glorious place to stay.

MacCallum House & Restaurant, 45020 Albion St., Mendocino, 800-609-0492. Maccallumhouse.com

Full-Throated Rock

Music

Bill Kopp

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October 9, 2024

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Bringing traditional music to the masses without losing what makes it special is no easy task. But a group of Mongolian musicians has succeeded on that score, in part by combining the music of their ancestors with a modern form: heavy metal. The Hu come to The Catalyst on Oct. 12.

Members of the Hu are all formally trained musicians, deeply immersed in the historic music of their native Mongolia. Formed in 2016, the group features Galbadrakh “Gala” Tsendbaatar and Enkhsaikhan “Enkush” Batjargal, both of whom play the morin khuur, an ancient bowed fiddle instrument with historical designation from UNESCO.

Nyamjantsan “Jaya” Galsanjamts plays a Mongolian instrument known as the tumur hhuur; Western listeners might call the instrument a Jew’s harp or jaw harp. The fourth member of the group, Temuulen “Temka” Naranbaatar, plays the tovshuur, a handmade plucked instrument similar to a lute. All four musicians sing, often in the traditional and distinctive Tuvan throat singing style. Also known as khoomei, that vocal tradition is known for its creation of overtones, an effect that creates a kind of auditory illusion of multiple singers.

If the Hu’s music went only as far as what those details suggest, it would likely be a kind of fascinating Eastern/Asian folk, rooted in tradition and somewhat foreign- and exotic-sounding to Western ears. Their releases might be stocked in a music store’s “world music” section with artists largely outside of Western musical traditions.

But the Hu stand apart because the group really, really rocks. The Hu seamlessly meld their traditional instrumentation with electric guitar, electric bass and a full drum kit. The result, as heard on a pair of albums (2019’s The Gereg and 2022’s Rumble of Thunder), is Mongolian heavy metal.

Producer and songwriter Bayarmagnai “Dashka” Dashdondog put the group together, selecting top students from the Mongolian State Music and Dance Conservatory in the country’s capital city, Ulaanbaatar. “We were hand-selected by Dashka,” Enkush explains through a translator. “He has 40 years of experience in the music industry.”

As revolutionary and groundbreaking as the idea of Mongolian metal might seem, the Hu aren’t the first group to combine the two disparate styles. Enkush says that he and his band mates grew up listening to Egschiglen and Altan Urag, pioneers in the hybrid form. But neither of those groups had their music distributed in the U.S.

Music is often called the universal language, and the Hu are a testament to the truth of that axiom. While Western listeners won’t understand any of the Hu’s lyrics, the thoughts and emotions at the songs’ core still get through. “I personally don’t think that you guys are missing out on anything,” Enkush says. “Every fan I talk with says that they get the feeling of what we’re trying to say. They understand that we’re singing about inner power and strength as well as the history of our ancestors.”

The group’s live show brings tradition and modernity together. Augmented by four additional Mongolian musicians handling the modern metal firepower, the Hu is currently touring major and mid-sized markets across the U.S. and Canada. And Enkush says that he is constantly surprised by the enthusiastic reaction his band receives. “In every corner of the world, we find people who are passionate about the music that we perform,” he says. Noting that many fans discover the Hu’s music on YouTube, Enkush says that listeners then come to concerts familiar with their catalog, often chanting along with the songs. “Everywhere we go, they chant, and that really fascinates me,” he says.

The music of the Mongolian metallers is proving its appeal even beyond albums and concerts: The Hu has been featured in two popular Star Wars Jedi action-adventure video games. “Our music has no limits,” Enkush says with pride. “We can even create something extraterrestrial.”

The Hu play with the Funeral Portrait at 8pm Oct. 12 at the Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz; 831-713-5492. Tickets: $48.22+. catalystclub.com

Into the Woods

Film

Elizabeth Borelli

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October 9, 2024

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Marin-based writer and director Lisa Landers—whose award-winning documentary, Giants Rising, has been on tour and is screening Oct. 14 at the Rio Theatre—is eager to share her excitement about how well the redwoods “play” far beyond California.

“It’s been really cool to see how these trees resonate with people in places where redwoods don’t even exist,” she says.

Originally from New York, Landers has been across the globe in her filmmaking career. Today, however, she finds herself living in a small Northern California redwood grove, where the towering trees inspire her work and daily life.

Landers has always felt a deep connection to redwoods, one that dates back to her childhood. A visit to Muir Woods when she was just 12 years old left an impression she would never forget. “I always knew I’d make a documentary about redwoods,” she reflects.

That early spark of curiosity was fanned into a flame during a pivotal assignment when she was tasked with covering the story of Julia Butterfly Hill. The famous environmental activist made headlines when she lived in a redwood tree for an astounding 738 days, from Dec. 10, 1997, to Dec. 18, 1999.

Hill’s bold act of civil disobedience was a stand against the Pacific Lumber Company’s plan to cut down the tree and the surrounding forest. Her “home” during this protest was a 6-by-8-foot platform, 180 feet above the forest floor. Hill’s activism led to a landmark agreement with the Pacific Lumber Company to protect her beloved tree, Luna, and the surrounding area. As part of the deal, the company paid $50,000 to Humboldt State University for forestry research and established a 200-foot buffer zone around the tree to ensure its protection.

Landers recalls climbing into the canopy to interview Hill. “It really drove home just how much these trees move people on a deep level,” she says. “From leaving your home state to live among them, to dedicating years of your life and taking incredible risks, it’s amazing to witness how far people are willing to go to protect these giants.”

Hill’s story ignited a passion in Landers, pushing her to explore the long history of redwood activism. “People have been putting their lives on the line for these trees since logging first began in the redwoods,” she adds.

By 2018, after covering various facets of the redwood story for years, Landers was ready to weave the pieces together into a single, cohesive narrative. She saw the bigger picture: the redwoods, their profound relationship with humans, and the ongoing movement to protect them. Central to Giants Rising is California’s Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the state’s oldest park and, in many ways, the birthplace of the movement to save the redwoods.

A key storyline in the film is told through the voice of Susan Blake, a state park interpreter who spent 16 years at Big Basin. Blake was living there when the devastating fire of 2020 swept through the park, destroying everything in its path. “She lost her home, her habitat, everything,” Landers says. “We chronicle her story, and it became a centerpiece of the film.” At the time, Landers was working on a short film about the endangered marbled murrelet, a bird species that lives in the redwoods, for the park’s visitor center. Halfway through shooting, she received the call that Big Basin was burning.

Landers and her team returned to the park just a month after the fire, and the documentary took an unexpected turn. “It was one of those moments where you think, ‘This wasn’t the plan, but here we go.’ It became such an important story to tell.”

The film also features a redwood geneticist who grew up exploring Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, where he now studies the rare and mysterious albino redwoods. Giants Rising highlights not only the majesty of these ancient trees but also their remarkable “superpowers”—from their ability to capture carbon and transport water to their resilience to fire and their intricate underground networks that allow them to share resources.

But the filmgoes beyond showcasing the redwoods’ natural wonders. It delves into the profound connections between redwoods and humans, offering insights into how these giants can enhance physical and emotional well-being while providing clues about resilience and longevity.

“I hope viewers leave the film feeling more connected—not just to redwoods, but to forests everywhere,” says Landers. “And I hope that connection leads to more support for conservation efforts.”

She passionately believes that forests hold tremendous benefits for human well-being. “Spending time in the woods impacts our mental, physical, and emotional health—and even our collective well-being. We’re nicer to each other after we’ve been in the forest. We’re more collaborative and compassionate.”

In Giants Rising, Landers speaks with a social psychologist who explains these very effects. “The forest has a way of grounding us

Giants Rising is screening at 7pm on Oct. 14 at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz, narrated by Michael Franti, co-hosted by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, and followed by a discussion with writer and director Lisa Landers.

Watching the Detective

Stage

Mathew Chipman

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October 9, 2024

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When I arrived at the 418 Project on my e-bike I wasn’t expecting to be put in a suit and asked to be an extra in a film. So I was pleasantly surprised when Laura Bishop, artistic director of the 418 Project, fitted me in my Humphrey Bogart best and found a spot for me in front of the camera on the 1940s Hollywood red carpet for a filmed version of a noir mystery.

I was transported to a version of Santa Cruz only seen in the black-and-white photographs that fill Abbott Square hallways and the Boardwalk Casino. A jazzy, colorful world of long cigarettes, swanky swing music and the romanticized vibrance of the pre-plastic age.

Who Killed Simon Braggart?—the 418 Project’s fall offering—is an inclusive, funny and thought-provoking 1940s noir. It follows hard-boiled detective Jo Gumption as they find out who killed Hollywood’s most obnoxious film producer, Simon Braggart.

Was it the movie star? The gangster? The madam?

Described by its production team as “a million-dollar project on a shoestring budget,” Who Killed Simon Braggart? opens with an immersive cocktail party and red carpet in the 418’s lobby, then invites the audience into the renovated movie theater for Act One. Utilizing the screen to project a series of short films detailing each suspect’s backstory, writer/director Aaron Stoetzel finds unique and inventive ways to play with theater and the audience.

“Simon Braggart is based on a real person. We can’t tell you who; I tend to write for space, so I use its confines and they give our team an impetus to create. We have no backstage space in this theater, so we just chose that; the actors aren’t going to go backstage during the films—the actors are on stage the whole time,” Stoetzel says.

During pre-production, a great effort was made to reach out to marginalized communities and tell a 1940s-style story through a 21st-century lens, including actors from communities that would not have been represented in that era.

“We’ve been doing active inclusivity for the stage, reaching out for public participation, and saying to our audiences, every time we do a show, you can be in the show. We go a little further. We reach diverse communities. And all of our audition calls say BIPOC and queer and introverts are invited to audition, to make sure that people know that there’s room for them,” explains Laura Bishop, director of the 418 Project.

One of Stoetzel’s goals in writing and directing Simon Braggart was to introduce and captivate new audiences while connecting the worlds of movie theater popcorn and an evening of live theater.

“We have this dream that people that aren’t theatergoers will come out to our shows, whether it’s the guys at the game shop across the street or people who do cosplay. Theater used to be for everybody. Before movies, Americans went to theaters; that was the entertainment people just went nuts for. I like movies—everyone likes movies—but theater is different,” Stoetzel says.

After a pandemic that starved us of human connection and decimated small theaters, as well as raised prices in what is already one of the most expensive places to live, what has emerged is artists and everyday people inspired to find the connection and support they need. Museoffire and the 418 Project are coming out swinging and bringing forth experimental offerings to bring a creative approach to the community and heal the wounds still left behind.

“The last five years have been unlike anything I’ve ever lived through. Especially for theater. We feel like it’s our opportunity now. We own this building and the sky’s the limit. We’re playing and experimenting, and we hope that Santa Cruz comes out to play. This is the first of many shows. We won’t be a conventional theater company. It won’t be conventionally cast. We’re going to take risks and experiment and see what happens,” Bishop says.

So get your bow tie and pinstripes ready for a night of laughs, all original music, cigarette girls and political commentary, because this October you too can be transported, in your Bogart best, to a new take on Hollywood’s golden age.

Who Killed Simon Braggart runs Oct. 18–19 and 25–26 at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7:15pm. Tickets are $30. the418project.org

Things To Do In Santa Cruz

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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October 9, 2024

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WEDNESDAY

FILM PREMIERE

Daytime Revolution

Will we still need him—when he’s 84? Oct. 9, on John Lennon’s 84th birthday, KSQD presents the special Santa Cruz premiere of Daytime Revolution, a film that documents the week when John and Yoko Lennon hijacked America’s most popular talk show—The Mike Douglas Show—in the apocalyptic election year of 1972. John and Yoko, along with George Carlin, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale and Ralph Nader, conquered the airwaves and presented their radical and utopian vision of what America could be. Followed by a Q&A with the film’s director, Erik Nelson, and local writer Wallace Baine. BRAD KAVA.

INFO: 7pm, Del Mar Theatre, 1124 Pacific Ave., #4415, Santa Cruz. landmarktheatres.com

THURSDAY

COMEDY

IAN IRA ROUSSO

Self-described as “curmudgeonly, yet charismatically loud,” New York City native Rousso has built a sustained career as a stand-up comic, scoring high-profile opportunities and building upon them. Rousso launched a podcast, The Ian Ira Rousso Show, in 2022. The show’s format includes his stand-up and conversations with fellow creative/entertainment figures. He also self-released his debut album, Sorry Again, in 2023. This current run of live dates is Rousso’s second national tour; his stand-up has been featured in clubs nationwide. BILL KOPP

INFO: 9pm, Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. $17.85. 431-8666.

FRIDAY

JAZZ

JAY SI PROOF

As the four-piece Portlander band Jay Si Proof states, “Don’t stop, let it vibe, let it breath[e], and just dance!” Eccentric and wildly entertaining, Jay Si Proof’s performances are as unique as they are boisterous and lively. Trombonist-vocalist Jeff Chilton leads drummer Lucas James, guitarist Corey Heppner and JD Erickson on the sax and flute in producing some seriously fun contemporary indie-jazz music, as showcased on tracks like “Irl” and “Motion Picture.” Fearless, funky and refreshingly weird, Jay Si Proof is one-hundred-percent DIY, having independently published their first two EPs and 12-track LP, Care About It, a more indie-leaning record with plenty of moments of the jazz improvisation they’re notorious for. MELISA YURIAR

INFO: 8pm, Woodhouse Brewing, 119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz. Free. 313-9461.

EVENT

FESTIVAL OF MONSTERS

The 2024 Festival of Monsters opens with a night of free events for all ages. There’s a reading at 5 p.m. at the Museum of Art & HIstory by Kiersten White, the author of the best-selling Hide. She will read from her new book Lucy Undying about vampires. At 6pm one of the most famous mask makers in the world, Chris Zephro will talk about his Santa Cruz company, Trick or Treat Studios and display his masks. At 7pm Circus of the Moon will perform Pluto’s Labryinth, a twisted journey of shadow and demons featuring aerialists, acrobats and ensemble dance. BRAD KAVA

INFO: 5pm on at the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. Free admission.

SATURDAY

ROCK

BEN OTTEWELL & IAN BALL (OF GOMEZ)

Sometimes, fate has a funny way of intervening. They didn’t have a name when Ian Ball, Ben Ottewell, Tom Gray, Paul Blackburn and Olly Peacock played their first gig in ’96 at the Hyde Park Social Groove in Leeds, England. But they did have a mutual friend going to the gig whose family name was Gomez. So, to make sure he didn’t miss it, they left a sign out front with an arrow that read “Gomez in here.” People assumed it was the band’s name, and the rest is history. This weekend, Ottewell and Ball celebrate the 25th anniversary of Gomez’s sophomoric LP, Liquid Skin, with a special North American tour. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $27/adv, $30/door. 760-1387.

HARDCORE

UNITYTX

PinUp Presents is bringing the heat with UnityTX, Mugshot, Silly Goose and Parasite on a night that promises to leave fans sore the next day. The curse of Covid struck UnityTX when they released an album—2019’s Madboy—right when the pandemic reset the world. But like the best bands in today’s scene, they channeled their energy and rage into 2023’s Ferality and haven’t looked back, cranking up the gas and dropping not one but two EPs this year (Playing Favorites and Masticate). Unlike other bands in the hardcore scene, UnityTX blends hardcore, industrial, rap and metal into an all-out assault on the senses. MW

INFO: 6pm, Vets Hall, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 454-0478.

MONDAY

DOCUMENTARY

GIANTS RISING

Despite humans exploring the world for eons, much remains to learn. The giant redwood trees on the East Coast are one such area. The redwoods are over 3,000 years old, and the documentary Giants Rising discusses uncovered mysteries and newly discovered information about the ecosystem, including our relationship with the forest and the dangers and challenges of preserving it. Compelled to make the documentary by her deep connection with the forest, director Lisa Landers will hold an onstage discussion after the screening of Giants Rising. Attend the screening and learn how the trees can communicate not only with each other but also with us and the rest of their environment. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE

INFO: 7pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 423-8209.
See the Arts feature by … in this issue.

TUESDAY

BLUES-ROCK

ETRAN DE L’AÏR

Etran de L’Aïr (stars of the Aïr region) is a family band composed of brothers and cousins hailing from Agadez, Niger, where guitar bands are an integral component of the city’s social fabric, playing at occasions as joyful as weddings and serious as political rallies. Drawing elements from cultural influences like Northern Malian blues-rock and  high-energy Congolese soukous, Etran’s desert rock is dynamic, engaging and rooted in celebration, evoking the jubilation felt at an Agadez wedding. Current band leader Moussa “Abindi” Ibra was only nine years old when he formed the band in 1995, and today, Etran de L’Aïr continues expanding musical palettes and stirring delight at venues worldwide. MY

INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $26.50/adv, $30/door. 479-1854.

TUESDAY

SKA

LESS THAN JAKE

Born in the early ’90s, Less Than Jake was right on time to surf the “third wave” of ska sweeping the US. They found a following quickly, growing with each album until Anthem, their fifth, absolutely exploded with singles “She’s Gonna Break Soon” and “The Science of Selling Yourself Short” getting heavy radio and MTV airplay. The Jakes have impressively managed to keep the show on the road as they’ve transitioned successfully from the majors to an indie label, back to a major, and finally to their own label. There’ve been bumps and some lineup changes, but they’ve stayed true to their vision and are bringing the pop-punk ska goodness to service all your skanking needs. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN

INFO: 7:30pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $36/door. 713-5492.

The Editor’s Desk

Letters to the Editor

Brad Kava

-

October 9, 2024

1

Santa Cruz California editor of good times news media print and web — **Brad Kava | Good Times Editor**

A decade ago Santa Cruz was caught up in Durbin Mania. Restaurants and bars were packed with people watching our local heavy metal kid rising through the ranks of television’s American Idol season 10. A former cupcake shop handed out Durbin cakes to crowds at Pizza Hut on 41st Ave as fans cheered his performances of Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and Muse’s’ “Uprising.”

He placed fourth in the TV contest, but was a winner here.

His homecoming concert at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk drew 30,000 fans, the largest concert ever held in Santa Cruz.

Writer Kristen McLaughlin set out to find out where he is now for our cover story. And the answers are surprising, from making soundtracks for an exercise bike to playing in eight bands, to working with one of the top music producers in the business, Alan Parsons, who engineered Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

He’s returned home to our county and in a great success for a musician—particularly one whose career started by selling pizzas at Domino’s—he’s bought a house in Watsonville.

“I love finding new ways to make music a career,” he says. “My entire philosophy ever since I knew I wanted to do music for a living, I knew I didn’t want to live on tour. I want to be a working musician, supporting my family and doing what I love.”

.Looking for a green new meal in Felton? You’ll want to read Andrew Steingrube’s Foodie File about Emerald Mallard, a French-accented high crust dining establishment gunning for some Michelin stars.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more exotic blend of music than that served up by the Hu, Mongolian musicians adapting their traditional sounds to heavy metal. If you check out Bill Kopp’s story you might wonder if they should enter American Idol. Why not?

Where do the Monarch butterflies go in the summer and why do they come to Santa Cruz, aside from all the dispensaries and home brews? You will get the answers in Richard Stockton’s article about the upcoming Monarch celebration at Natural Bridges State Park. You’ll also get good news on the new bridge that restores the plural to the park’s name.

You can not only see the 1940s history of Santa Cruz come to life, but you can travel back in time to be a part of it, when you see Who Killed Simon Braggart?—the 418 Project’s fall offering, written about by Mathew Chipman.

Check it out and be a star, which we know you already are.

Thanks for reading.

Brad Kava | Editor

PHOTO CONTEST

ON THE FENCE Four amigas hanging out at Arana Gulch. Photograph by Maria Choy.

GOOD IDEA

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a two-year pilot program to permit Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) to operate in Santa Cruz County. MEHKOs are small-scale food service operations that can serve and deliver food from a home after meeting certain requirements and obtaining a Health Permit.

MEHKO accepts applications starting Jan. 1.

“This is an exciting opportunity to support our residents in their efforts to earn additional income and share their culinary talents with the community,” said Supervisor Bruce McPherson.

GOOD WORK

Cabrillo College will host Hostile Terrain 94, a free exhibit focusing on the humanitarian crisis at the border. Participants can share stories about how they have been impacted by U.S. border enforcement policies and migration. It has been exhibited in more than 120 locations across five continents.

Dr. Jason de León, UCLA professor and director of the Undocumented Migration Project, will speak. He has written two books, The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail and Soldiers and Kings.

Cabrillo will feature the exhibit at its Aptos campus Oct. 14–Dec. 6. A reception and artist’s talk will take place Oct. 16 followed by a book signing and viewing of the exhibit. Free and open to all.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I don’t understand why saying unhoused
is better than saying homeless.”
—comedian Josef Anolin

LETTERS

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

-

October 9, 2024

0

CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATION

We in the San Lorenzo Valley deserve a leader like Monica Martinez. Monica has run complex, grant-funded nonprofits while developing extensive partnerships. She can navigate the complex bureaucracies of the County and Sacramento to deliver lasting value for our community.

She will leverage her decade + of managing large, complex nonprofits, where she dealt with similar challenges. Our water infrastructure is outdated and one disaster after another has damaged them further: drought, fire, windstorm, flood and landslides. Water outages mean kids miss school or businesses cannot serve customers.

We need to build partnerships and bring resources into our community. Monica knows how.

We are not ready for the next big fire: Most of our fire hydrants lack adequate pressure. We need to upgrade 25 miles of waterlines and several tanks to be fire-ready. We need to rebuild a major supply line to be ready for the next drought.

Large state and federal grants will be key to this work. Monica has done that for years. We must help our neighbors who still cannot rebuild after the 2020 CZU Fire. Customers of private companies like Big Basin Water and nonprofits like Forest Springs Mutual need our help. Without formally connecting to San Lorenzo Valley Water, families cannot demonstrate they have the water supply needed to rebuild.

Consolidating will require complex legal agreements and partnerships. Monica has done that, too. Bringing our infrastructure up to date and rebuilding our communities will require expertise navigating issues across the local, state and federal levels of government. Let’s elect Monica to get it done.

Bryan Largay | Director San Lorenzo Valley Water District

(Views are my own and not necessarily the District’s)

CUT NEW GROWTH TREES

I have been to National Parks across the entire state of California with my family. We have enjoyed the natural beauties of Yosemite, Pinnacles, and Redwood National Park, whose beauty is all due to the long-standing and ancient trees that reside in these parks. I would hate to see the places that I cherish so deeply be destroyed due to the logging of old growth trees.

These trees create the vibrant ecosystem of much of California and provide a home for a diverse array of wildlife. Not only will getting rid of old-growth trees be detrimental to the wildlife the trees support but they also have a great effect on the absorption of carbon waste. So how can the logging of these ancient plants be prevented? Instead of cutting down old trees, cut down the new ones. The Forest Service policy must apply to all old-growth and mature trees and forests on federal forest lands and completely end the sale of old-growth to timber mills. As a voice for CALPIRG, I urge the Biden administration to take action to preserve the beauty of California’s forests and slow the rise of carbon emissions.

Sebastian Fernandez y Garcia

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