Page 847 – Good Times

Review: ‘Passengers’

A&E
Film

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December 28, 2016

They don’t exactly “meet cute.” But as the only two people suddenly awake in the middle of a lengthy space voyage, their destiny is more inevitable than most romantic movie couples in Passengers, a rare, thoughtful sci-fi drama in which characters and human nature are far more important than immense CGI effects.

Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game), from a script by Jon Spaihts, the movie ponders essential questions of the human condition within the minimalist context of a two-character drama. The story begins in deep space aboard the Starship Avalon, which has departed from Earth to colonize a planet designated as Homeworld II by the corporate entity in charge of colonization. The ship’s 258 crew members and 5,000 passengers are in hibernation chambers during the 120-year voyage, as the ship purrs along on automatic.

But a malfunction in the system accidentally pops passenger Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) out of his sleep pod a mere 30 years into the voyage. His awe at finding himself in deep space, and having the complete run of the ship (including access to a tethered space suit that allows him to float among the stars) soon gives way to crushing loneliness. Unable to return to hibernation, with 90 years of the voyage left to go, he faces spending the rest of his life on the ship with no one for company but holograms, and an android bartender called Arthur (Michael Sheen), programmed to mix drinks, lend a sympathetic ear, and dispense cheerful platitudes.

After a year of despair, Jim makes a moral decision that will have repercussions throughout the rest of the story. He’s soon joined by fellow passenger Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), a journalist who joined the expedition to record the story of colonization for future generations. Jim is eager to leave his possibly dodgy past. (When he first wakes up, he doesn’t even seem to know where he is, or why, suggesting he was recruited and signed up in haste.) Her motives are just the opposite: looking forward to a future she can’t even imagine.

Aurora is also horrified to have wakened too soon. Jim has a background in mechanical engineering, but they exhaust every possibility for re-hibernating. (As in most computer systems, the ship’s “Help” program is completely useless). Along the way, making use of all the high-tech recreational facilities the ship provides—jogging around the decks, swimming in the pool, taking part in a life-sized, hologrammatic dance-off game—they start to bond with each other.

Out of necessity, they begin warming up to the reality of spending the rest of their lives together. But there’s still plenty of room for romance, as Pratt’s tender-hearted Jim practices his old-fashioned wooing skills, and Lawrence’s vibrant Aurora responds with passionate gusto. Their relationship is heartfelt and frisky, until a horrible secret between them threatens to shatter everything.

The movie has the cool, antiseptic look we expect in sci-fi stories where machines are running everything. (Kudos to production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas.) Tiny robotic roombas skitter around the floors at the first trace of any disorder. The cold, empty corridors are unpopulated by any other signs of life or warmth, except for the burnished wood paneling and sparkling decanters in Arthur’s bar. Jim and Aurora are dressed mostly in black, white, and grey tones—which is why her red sheath dress has such impact when they go on their first “date.” The turquoise-blue water in the swimming pool, and the twilight purple starfield beyond the bubble that encloses it, evoke the idea of serenity within unimaginable vastness.

There are thrills as the ship continues to malfunction (like getting stuck in the pool during an episode of zero-gravity), and other surprises in the plot. But Tyldum wisely sticks to the human story at the center of this epic-looking tale of the vast, unchartered terrain of the human heart.

PASSENGERS

(***)

With Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, and Michael Sheen. Written by Jon Spaihts. Directed by Morten Tyldum. A Columbia Pictures release. Rated PG-13. 111 minutes.

Q&A: Wasabi Tapas

Aaron Carnes

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December 28, 2016

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For more than 10 years, Kae Bailes has wanted to open a Thai restaurant—ever since she moved from Thailand to the states in 2005. It was in March of this year that she was finally able to realize her dream. Well, except it’s a Thai and Japanese restaurant. That’s because she found an amazing chef in Texas with 40 years of experience preparing sushi, and the idea of letting those skills go to waste just didn’t seem right. Bailes talked to us about how it all came together.

Why Thai and Japanese?

It seems different, right? But it’s good for a family if somebody doesn’t like sushi. They can also come to my restaurant and get Thai. We don’t make too much Thai food. Only curries. We cannot keep up with so many different things. It’s more Japanese. We combine them for our lunch bento box. They have a choice of curries and sushi. They can have some sashimi in the bento box, or curry. We have a really good chef. He’s been working as a sushi chef since he was 18. It’s not easy to own a sushi restaurant, and not be Japanese or Korean. I’m lucky my sushi chef does a really good job.

How’d you open the restaurant?

When I moved, my English wasn’t good. I went to Cabrillo and took an English as a second language class. And I came here with zero. I needed to work hard until the beginning of this year; I worked two to three jobs at a time. I found the restaurant at Brown Ranch Marketplace. I thought “I can buy that restaurant.” It’s a smaller spot.

Is the unusual approach getting a good response?

It’s good. But because of the location, we have more business for lunch. I want to bring customers for dinner. I have happy hour offered every night. On Monday and Tuesday, happy hour is from 5:30 p.m. until close. Wednesday through Saturdays, it’s 7 p.m. till close. It’s for appetizers, some rolls, some sashimi, sushi and drinks.

Tell me about your signature items, the Tower and the Dynamite.

The Tower is originally from Texas. My chef brought that recipe. It’s a combination of homemade sauce, spicy mayo, and wasabi sauce. The Tower has rice, avocado, imitation crab meat, and ahi, with salmon egg on top. Everybody loves it because it’s different. The Dynamite, we bake the crab meat or scallops with spicy mayo and wasabi sauce. We mix together and bake those. When it’s done, we put a California Roll on top.

3555 Clares St., Suite M, Capitola, 464-9898.

Catching Up with Wargin Wines

Josie Cowden

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December 28, 2016

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Oh, how lucky we are that the beautiful Pinot Noir grape fares so well in our Santa Cruz Mountains. Thanks to the cooling fog that rolls in and protects the fragile skins of this varietal, the Pinot Noir grape thrives. And at harvest time, expert winemakers like Mikael Wargin roll in and pluck these ripe beauties off the vines and turn them into superb crimson nectar. Yes, how lucky we are.

Wargin’s 2014 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir ($34) is one of those grab-your-attention Pinots with its lovely light body and full-on flavors. I always have a glass of wine when I’m making dinner—and as the steaks were sizzling on the grill, I sipped on this gorgeous Pinot. What a pleasure! It’s packed with delicious red fruits—strawberry, cherry— and spicy qualities. I had another glass or two with dinner.

“Made entirely from 777 Dijon Pinot Noir grapes, this clonal-specific wine is terroir driven with subtle oak impact for a winning combination,” says Wargin on his label. It’s a winning wine, indeed.

Wargin and his wife Denise operate two tasting rooms—allowing plenty of opportunity to try their wines.

Wargin Wines, 5015 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 531-8108. Open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; 18 Hangar Way, Watsonville, open noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. warginwines.com.

Summit Store

Local wines can be found all over, but I’m always pleased to find a new reliable supply. The Summit Store carries an excellent selection, and as I was browsing the shelves recently, wine buyer Curtis Cooke offered some assistance. Cooke is really into wine and is extremely helpful. He even carried my purchases to the car for me. I’ll be back! The Summit Store, 24197 Summit Road, Los Gatos, 408-353-2186.

Nonno’s

Ralph DiTullio, owner and chef at Nonno’s Italian Café, has always prided himself on carrying an abundance of local wines—so here’s another place to find some well-made local elixirs. And the food there is terrific! Nonno’s Italian Café & Wine Bar, 21433 Broadway, Redwood Estates, 408-353-5633. nonnositalian.com.

The 20 Best Songs About Santa Cruz

Jacob Pierce

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December 28, 2016

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Who knew we were worth singing about? At least 20 people! And actually even more, but in honor of Devil Makes Three—who wrote a great Santa Cruz song and return for New Year’s Eve this week—here are our favorites

By Steve Palopoli and Jacob Pierce

Most major American cities have their own definitive anthems: “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “I Love L.A.,” “New York, New York,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”

But smaller places like Santa Cruz rarely get one. However, we apparently make a big impression for a town of our size, because there are some three dozen songs floating around out there that mention, are set in, or were otherwise known to be inspired by Santa Cruz. Not long after we started working together, the two of us began talking about which of these Santa Cruz songs are best, and how we would rank them. And it only took us four years to pull it together! It’s all about the journey, people!

Anyway, for some reason motivated by Devil Makes Three’s return to Santa Cruz this week (because they have a song in the list, see? Look, just go with it, OK?), we have chosen the best 20 of these songs, along with some honorable mentions. We were pretty lax with the standard of what constituted a “Santa Cruz song,” but we did feel there had to be some genuine intention. For instance, despite how often people here have tried to appropriate it, “Under the Boardwalk” was written by two guys from New York and never meant to be about Santa Cruz, so it’s not on our list.

Without further ado, we present the best songs about our city. We’re Santa Cruz, music world. Thanks for noticing!

UPDATE: Listen to the Songs About Santa Cruz Playlist on YouTube.

1. “Beer Run” – Todd Snider: Todd Snider wrote “Beer Run” here in Santa Cruz during his friend Robert Earl Keen’s set at the Fat Fry—a festival put on by KPIG 107.5 FM, a.k.a. “the best radio station in world,” as Snider calls it in I Never Met a Story I Didn’t Like: Mostly True Tall Tales. In the book, Snider discusses the origins and meaning of “Beer Run,” explaining, “I sing it as a love song to Santa Cruz and KPIG and Robert, not as a song about beer.” The tune is, of course, the outrageous based-on-a-true-story tale of two underaged frat guys from Texas looking for some brews, as well as the Robert Earl show. And they end up having an adventure along the way. Snider’s 2003 album Near Truths and Hotel Rooms Live features the original debut of this clever song, recorded on air in the KPIG sty, complete with DJs “Sleepy” John Sandidge and Arden Eaton—as well as the rest of the “Please Stand By” crew—doubling over loudly in uncontrollable laughter. That’s why this one’s the best, Steve. JP

2. “I’m Comin’ Home” – Robert Earl Keen: Actually, Jake, first and second are virtually interchangeable on this list, thanks to the symbiotic relationship between this song and “Beer Run.” Unlike Snider’s song, “I’m Comin’ Home” may be only tangentially about Santa Cruz, but you couldn’t have had the “Beer Run” line “They met an old hippie named Sleepy John/Who claimed to be the one from the Robert Earl song” without this. Keen’s verse about how “life is good out in Santa Cruz” has made us famous in a lot of unexpected places (especially in Texas) and similarly turned the lyric “Seems like everybody knows ol’ Sleepy John” into a self-fulfilling prophecy. But more importantly, its longingly emotional and yet still laid-back vibe captures exactly what it’s like to listen to outlaw country on a hazy afternoon in Santa Cruz, or jam to the all-night blues. “Beer Run” is funny, but this is Santa Cruz’s spiritual anthem. SP

3. “For Good Again” – Devil Makes Three: Pete Bernhard has no shame when he sings about drinking and popping pills on the steps by Santa Cruz High School, or the tiny dive he lived in on Lincoln Street: “It was low-level existence, that’s what you proper people would say/But I wrote songs in that attic that I now get paid to play/So, if you don’t like people who live in attics, now mightn’t be the time to say/’Cause everybody who’s anybody in my opinion at one time lived in somebody’s hallway.” This Devil Makes Three tune recalls a time when Santa Cruz was a little younger and a little wilder. Or maybe we were? JP

4. “Surfin’ USA” – Beach Boys: Certainly this is the most famous namecheck of Santa Cruz in any song ever. We lucked out to get it in what is arguably the all-time greatest surf tune. (With lyrics, that is. Against instrumentals it might not make the top five.) But the best thing about this song is that anytime that stupid debate about what town is really “Surf City, USA” comes up, people from Santa Cruz inevitably just point out that we’re in “Surfin’ USA,” and Huntington Beach isn’t. Mic drop. Love it. For a completely different take on this song—imagine all surfers were also the vampires from Lost Boys—check out the Jesus & Mary Chain version. SP

5. “Banana Slugs! Racing Down the Field (Proposed UC Santa Cruz Fight Song)” – Austin Lounge Lizards The only sad thing about this uproariously whimsical faux-fight song is that the 2003 track seems to have gone unnoticed up on the hill—both by the administration and the student body. We realize it sounds like the Austin Lounge Lizards might be making fun of UCSC’s slugs for having a slimy mascot… or for being more interested in drinking beer than in winning games. But the band put the track on a studio album, and it’s structured perfectly like a high-octane school song for the field, no matter how wacky the words are. Furthermore, it’s only 54 seconds long. Consider this a call to action, Sluggers. It’s time to learn this song. JP

6. “Big Dipper”/”Miss Santa Cruz County” – Cracker: Two equally great songs from Santa Cruz legend David Lowery’s post-Camper-Van-Beethoven alt-hits band. “Big Dipper” is more famous, mentions Café Zinho, and features the lines “From the top you can see Monterey/Or think about San Jose/Though I know it’s not that pleasant.” But “Miss Santa Cruz County” is more rockin,’ mentions local urban legends the Blue Ladies, and features the lines “So come on down, Miss Santa Cruz County/Won’t you come on down from your daddy’s hydroponic farm.” SP

7. “Wrecking Ball” – Gillian Welch: In this piece off her 2003 album Soul Journey, the wrecking ball symbolizes a lot for Welch. It’s a force that rips down someone’s identity in their young adult years, when they move away to college and try to find themselves. To Welch, the wrecking ball is also a marijuana grow she tended in the Pogonip city park during her UCSC days, causing her grades to slide. In the final verse, the year is 1989, and a wrecking ball is coming downtown to tear up the Pacific Garden Mall after the Loma Prieta Earthquake devastated blocks of Santa Cruz, prompting demolition crews to level much of what was left. Now that’s an identity change. JP

8. “Oxford Way” – Slow Gherkin: If you know where Oxford Way is, between the circles and West Cliff Drive, the title of this song makes sense. If you ever had to struggle to just barely hold your life together in this town in your 20s, everything else about this song makes sense, too. The upbeat, hooky melody and A.J. Marquez’s wistful vocals mask some of the pain, but the underlying truth of this one gets you where it hurts. An unheralded late-period classic from the kings of Santa Cruz’s ska era. SP

9. “Santa Cruz” – James Durbin: The former American Idol contestant’s ode to his hometown is about as hokey and upbeat as they come. Durbin’s “Santa Cruz” is so loaded with extra cheese, it almost makes you feel guilty for secretly falling in love with its catchy chord progression—that is, until you remember that both the video and song so are jam-packed with local references to everything from Pizza My Heart’s Tuesday night specials to First Night celebrations on New Year’s Eve. Then you start feeling bad for ever feeling guilty. It’s literally about how Durbin likes Santa Cruz more than any other place in the world, and how, no matter how many times the big cities pull him away for work, this is always home for him. JP

10. “Alone in Santa Cruz” – The Ataris: If you’re wondering what a pop-punk band from Indiana was doing singing about Santa Cruz, the fact that frontman Kristopher Roe relocated to Santa Barbara around the same time they released this on their debut album probably has something to do with it. It definitely has the outsider feel of someone who desperately wants to get out of Santa Cruz. But it’s also a very sweet love song, and its retro, almost doo-wop touches are a prime example of how the Ataris always seemed a little more musically adventurous and interesting than a lot of punk bands at the time. SP

11. “The Other Day (Near Santa Cruz)” – Leo Kottke

Probably the most musically impressive creation we studied, “The Other Day (Near Santa Cruz)” brims with Kottke’s trademark acoustic guitar slides, hammers, bends and bizarre chords. In it, Kottke, who normally sticks to instrumentals, sings about a man on a search for “hippie chicks”—the kind of smart, meat-hating women who he assumes abound on the Central Coast. But we get the sense Kottke himself, who sometimes plays the Rio, knows that actual Santa Cruz hippie girls would vomit on any man who thought they were this one-dimensional. That’s part of what makes it funny. JP

12. “Roller Coaster by the Sea” – Modern Lovers: When he released this song in 1977, Jonathan Richman was 26, looked 14 and acted like he was 7. And I mean all those things in the best way possible. If you don’t have fun listening to this song, you may (spoiler alert!) be dead. I mean, “Roller coaster by the water/Made me feel more as I otter?” That pun is so full of pure, blissful joie de vivre that one is actually legally exempt from pun jail for making it. (It’s known as Jonathan’s Law.) And yes, this is the second song about Boardwalk rides to make this list. SP

13. “Santa Cruzin’” – Will Ray: Like other tunes on the list, “Santa Cruzin’” is clearly written by an enchanted, wide-eyed passerby in what’s seen as a reefer-smoking, hippie-friendly, party-loving surfer town. Seriously, it’s hard not to get inspired by the upbeat blues beat and energetic licks and feel like it’s time to hit the dive bar circuit hard, Santa Cruz-style. JP

14. “Santa Cruz” – Pearl Jam: If you’re a little stunned right now to hear that Pearl Jam wrote a song about Santa Cruz, well, it wasn’t on an album or anything—it was one of their holiday single releases a few years ago. And it’s not that surprising, since Pearl Jam worship at the altar of Neil Young, who has always had a special relationship with this town. I saw at least one spontaneous secret Pearl Jam show at the Catalyst, following the Neil Young tradition. Indeed, Eddie Vedder invokes him in this song: “Got Neil Young on the stereo/He comes along everywhere I go.” But it’s actually the feeling of Vedder’s own connection to the Santa Cruz landscape that makes this song so powerful: “I need the beach to set me free/I need the wind to make me breathe/I need the water to wash my soul.” Eddie, we get what you’re saying, but they do have those things in Seattle, you know. SP

15. “Chestnut Street” – Kendra McKinley: A few years ago, Aptos native Kendra McKinley lived in a house downtown on Chestnut Street, where she wrote an album by the same name. Lyrically, its title track is not explicitly Santa Cruz-focused. Actually, the song only has one line about even living at the house. Of course, that mention is also the only line in the three-minute song, a layered looping track that warmly captures the feeling of a cozy, rainy night. JP

16. “Paddle Out” – Sublime: This 75-second blast of noise was on Sublime’s third and final record, and is basically a list of beaches Bradley Nowell liked to surf at while he was going to UCSC (he transferred to CSULB, which is where he started Sublime). Big points for not only mentioning half a dozen beloved Santa Cruz surf spots in a song that’s just over a minute long, but also showing off some Locals Only expertise. “Natural Bridges on a clean west swell/Breaks over the reef like a bat out of hell.” That is some surf punk poetry. SP

17. “I Almost Stole Some Weed From Todd Snider” – John Craigie: John Craigie was backstage at the Catalyst four years ago opening for his idol Todd Snider, but the two “didn’t really hit it off,” as Craigie mentions in this confessional and hilariously dorky song. “So with all of this clearly not meant to be,” continues Craigie, normally a straight-laced guy, “I figured, why not steal a little bit of his weed?” It’s a hilarious entry from a modern-day rambling, slightly self-conscious, folk-singing troubadour. JP

18. “Santa Cruz” – J.J. Cale: Bluesy rocker J.J. Cale, who passed away in 2013, had a great relationship with Santa Cruz—he came through a lot, and always seemed to like playing here. So it’s pretty funny that his Santa Cruz song is one of the darkest and most menacing songs on this list. “Ooh-wee, how did I lose?/Talkin’ ’bout the night in Santa Cruz.” He sings it like something terrifying went down, but it turns out it’s just a show that didn’t go that well. I have to think the sonic melodramatics were his way of having a laugh at himself, given lines like “Hey, J.J., can you play ‘Cocaine?’/Do ‘After Midnight,’ it’s all the same.” SP

19. “Drag It Out” – GLAT: GLAT, a.k.a. songwriter Brett Hydeman, captures the sense of limbo felt by those few UCSC graduates who stick around after school for a few years—all by comparing this town to an eerie game of almost post-apocalyptic Monopoly: “Around here, she says, every card has been pulled/Hotels on every corner, but the Boardwalk’s gone cold.” Hydeman’s tune begs the question: how do you know when the game’s over? JP

20. “Losers Night Out” – The Huxtables: If you watched Stranger Things and thought, “gee, I wonder if my town had any socially awkward, D&D-playing supernerds,” this song is for you. In fact, when the Huxtables appeared on the local music scene, they repped a previously unsung faction of Santa Cruz geeks who believed that going to the donut shop and dropping quarter after quarter on the Marvel Super Heroes arcade game was a perfectly fine alternative to dating (“It’s Ferrell’s time/Ferrell’s time/We’re taking Thanos down tonight”). SP

We didn’t forget…

There’s a long list of runner-ups in the race for the best song in the West

Probably the best-known track that didn’t crack our top 20 was 2002’s “Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far),” the debut single from the Thrills, Irish soft rockers who sang about a place that seemed so idyllic—and ironically very far away—in their imaginations.

One could say the song’s an exploration of loneliness, a theme that recurs in tunes about this town. The motif comes up again in San Francisco folk singer Avi Vinocur’s “Santa Cruz,” which focuses on the despair of a loved one skipping town, moving away to a beautiful new place. It also runs through the Mountain Goats’ “Someone Else’s Parking Lot in Santa Cruz,” which was eliminated from contention for the top 20 because it later became “Someone Else’s Parking Lot in Sebastopol” for John Darnielle’s side project the Extra Glenns.

The loneliness trend isn’t new, either. It also pops up in Eddie Callahan’s creepily melancholy “Santa Cruz Mountains,” released on 1975’s False Ego.

There are more rock songs as well, like Tom Petty’s slow-rocking “The Trip to Pirate’s Cove,” which includes a verse about our motel and hospitality industry. Then there’s They Might Be Giants’ postmodern, perhaps lazily written “Santa Cruz,” off their album about venues they’ve played in. Add to that two Doobie Brother songs—the instrumental “Steamer Lane Breakdown” and the Prankster-esque “Neal’s Fandango.” Lost Gonzo Band, a forgotten 1970s supergroup, gave us “Santa Cruz After the Nick of Time,” painting the laid-back feel of a coastal road trip.

Fred Eaglesmith has a lost track off Ralph’s Last Show about the house of DJ “Sleepy” John Sandidge, who has become embedded in Americana song lore.

There are plenty of local artists with Santa Cruz songs, of course, including Lonely Kings with their own “Santa Cruz” tune, as well as Ukulele Dick, who has songs like “Capitola Serenade.”

Environmentalist Peter Scott and his former mayor wife wrote the adorable “Dancing on the Brink of the World” about the San Lorenzo River, although good luck finding a recording.

Outsiders have written about how Santa Cruz is so beautiful, it feels heartbreaking—somehow making people miss their loved ones more. Locals, though, often prefer to write about the chaos, insecurity and difficulty of trying to make ends meet here—a theme that comes up again in James Rabbit’s “Ocean Street,” which songwriter Tyler Martin drafted one night during the year he spent in my living room closet, saving up money for his next tour. JACOB PIERCE

Local Nonprofits Find Innovative Ways to Meet Youth Needs

Local News

Calvin Men

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December 28, 2016

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Local Nonprofits Find Innovative Ways to Meet Youth Needs

Tricia Potts, a mother of three, knows how difficult it can be for children with physical disabilities to fit in at parks.

Oliver, her 6-year-old son, uses a wheelchair and has trouble navigating most playgrounds because they don’t offer many paths through and around them. Most jungle gyms have few options for anyone with limited mobility.

“The whole point of being able to play together is to build those bonds of friendships and reduce bias,” says Potts, who as founder of the nonprofit Santa Cruz Playground Project is working to design the first totally inclusive playground in the county. “Children learn to see each other as valued individuals through the vehicle of play.”

Playgrounds are built to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but Potts says most only meet the minimum standards. Rubberized surfaces that her son uses to roll around on are often limited to one piece of equipment, and his wheelchair cannot roll through wood chips.

Shane’s Inspiration, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles, has been working with the Playground Project to create LEO’s Haven, a jungle gym that will be at Chanticleer Park in Live Oak. It takes its moniker from the first initials of Potts’ three children: Lauren, Evelyn, and Oliver. The design features two play areas, for both big and little kids. It features multiple ramps, a cushioned ground surface and a Wee-Saw—like a seesaw, but designed for kids of all abilities.

The Playground Project is just one among a handful of groups featured in this year’s Santa Cruz Gives holiday fundraising drive, which runs through Saturday, Dec. 31. Readers can contribute to these local nonprofits at santacruzgives.org. Potts’ group is one of a dozen organizations selected to be part of Santa Cruz Gives that is focused specifically on county youth.

“There are so many great youth organizations out there, and there’s so many people in this community working so hard to do good,” says Potts. “It’s humbling to be a part of this group now, and it really takes everyone to be chipping in and it makes life easier when it happens.”

Time of Influence

Breaking down barriers on children’s playgrounds is just one of many youth issues that Santa Cruz Gives’ featured organizations are tackling.

Some groups are relatively new, like Youth N.O.W., which started in 2010 to provide after-school tutoring to South County students, as well as a safe place with positive mentors. Other more storied organizations already have a long history here. In 2017, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Santa Cruz County (CASA) celebrates its 25th anniversary of assisting children in foster care who lack a constant adult figure in their life.

“There are a lot of nonprofit organizations in this county,” said Mary Kashmar, development director for CASA. “There are a good number of them that are doing real quality work.”

Santa Cruz County has 450 children in foster care, 300 of which need an advocate. More than speaking up for the child in court, CASA advocates serve as mentors and parental figures for their appointed children. Advocates could lend money to children who need to buy a dress for prom or nudge them into a special program that would encourage growth.

Each organization participating in Santa Cruz Gives this year has a “big idea” project in need of funds. CASA’s project is its Birth to 5 program, focusing on children in their early years, when stressors from the court system or a turbulent home could leave a major impact on someone’s identity for decades to come.

Kashmar, who also volunteers as an advocate, says the children in the courts experience emotional trauma that could otherwise start them down a frightening path. She recalls one boy who never had a male figure to look up to. “He tells me he had a lot of men in his life, but all those men have hurt him,” she says. “His CASA advocate was his first [positive male role model].”

Kashmar credits that influence with stopping many children from joining gangs and living on the streets.

Positive influence is also what makes Youth N.O.W.’s tutoring program so powerful. In the heart of Watsonville, the program gives middle and high school students a place to focus after school each day. The program’s latest push is providing one-on-one guidance to high school students, helping them to find their paths to college or a career.

Development and Marketing Director Jenna Rodriguez says the organization is a social and academic hub for underserved youth.

“In the community of Watsonville and Santa Cruz County, many youths have family members who are working all the time or who haven’t gone to college or who don’t know the steps,” Rodriguez says. “With schools being overpopulated and teachers being overworked, we see ourselves in a vital role to make their dreams come true.”

Better Path

Among youth organizations, one term that comes up a lot is the word “risk”—along with ideas about how to manage or reduce it. Getting involved with at-risk youth, after all, can prevent drug use, crime, and being mixed up in any other number of bad influences down the road. That’s why Theresa Marie Cariño started Salud y Cariño, which means “health and love” in Spanish.

When Cariño was 2 years old, she suffered burns all over her body, leaving her with major scars. Although she survived, the scarring resulted in bullying that led to low self-esteem and questionable decision making, she says. She became a teen mom, and later watched her life transform when she found strong female role models and started knowing the feeling of having others believe in her.

It’s a lesson she’s taken to young girls by starting her nonprofit, which works with girls in the Live Oak area and uses physical activity to motivate them.

“Especially now, given the times and going into 2017,” Cariño says, “girls really do need to be able to speak for themselves.”

The organization started out by helping 17 girls in 2013, and three years later boasts 150 enrollees, with more growth planned in the near future, Cariño says. Salud y Cariño runs yearlong programs for girls in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades and 10-week programs for fifth graders.

Despite her enthusiasm, Cariño admits there are rough patches. “Anyone that works with youth can tell you that you have good days. You have those days where you feel like you’re reaching a student and making a difference. Then you have those days where it’s just attitude and tears,” she says.

Other youth-focused organizations participating in Santa Cruz Gives include UnChained, which is working to pair kids with dogs; NAMI Santa Cruz County, which works with children and adults who deal with mental health issues; Jacob’s Heart, which fights pediatric cancer and supports families facing it; Big Brothers Big Sisters, which establishes mentor relationships; Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, which is growing its Reading Buddies program; Farm Discovery at Live Earth, which teaches kids healthy gardening; and Senderos, an afterschool program that teaches the valuable cultural traditions in Latino heritage.

When it comes to helping children out, Cariño says she sees the need in the kids she works with, and that work never ends. With so many youth-focused groups working on causes from the environment to social justice, she feels that these organizations can make donors’ money go very far.

“From my point of view, I work hard and I feel like there’s never enough,” Cariño says. “I put my heart and soul into the work, and I never feel like it’s enough.”

To donate, please visit santacruzgives.org through Saturday, Dec. 31.

Devil Makes Three Returns for New Year’s Eve at the Catalyst

A&E
Music

Jacob Pierce

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December 28, 2016

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Devil Makes Three Returns for New Year’s Eve at the Catalyst

Singer-songwriter Pete Bernhard and his Devil Makes Three bandmates came of age as artists about a decade ago, in Santa Cruz. Bernhard, who’s since moved back to his hometown in Southern Vermont, is returning to Santa Cruz this weekend with the band for two sold-out shows at the Catalyst to close out the year. They’re touring in support of their new cover album, Redemption and Ruin, and Bernhard spoke to GT about their latest homecoming.

You said five years ago that the members of Devil Makes Three sort of see yourselves as a Santa Cruz band. Is that still true?

PETE BERNHARD: I feel a lot of connection to California. My mom lives in San Diego. I went to middle school in California when I left Vermont. I love Santa Cruz, and I miss California, even now. That’s still pretty much right on. I do feel like Santa Cruz is a second home. I did spend over 10 years there, and I really love it. It’s a great place.

The last show you did here was three New Year’s Eves ago. Have you been back in between?

Personally? Yeah, I’ve been back quite a bit, actually. I still have a good amount of friends out there.

So why the three-year break?

Sometimes you have to choose between playing San Francisco and playing Santa Cruz. They’re too close together. The last few times we’ve come through, we’ve played the Fox in Oakland. So, we had to make the executive decision. But we love Santa Cruz. We’re still gonna come back. It just might be more time in between shows.

In the song “For Good Again,” you talk about an attic you lived in on Lincoln Street above a bathroom and paying your rent in illegal drugs. It all seems too real to be made up.

I was doing a lot of working and a lot of trying to save money. That’s why I was living in the attic. It was a lot of working regular jobs and touring and trying to get it together. I was having a lot of fun, but I wasn’t really doing a whole lot [laughs.] It belonged to a buddy of mine, and he had lived there for years. I had nowhere to live at the time, and me and him used to play music together. And he just kind of gave me a room. He was trying to help me out, and I stayed there for a while, actually. We worked together. It was just a little place. It honestly was not big enough for the three of us who lived there at all. But he was cool and decided to help me out. We had a blast. We just spent a lot of time hanging out together and drinking. I wrote a lot of songs at his house.

Back in your California days, you had a lot of ups and downs as a band. After so many years, I wonder if it can be difficult to stay together.

If you’re asking if we get along, yeah, we get along. Most definitely, we certainly do. You can’t be a band as long as we have and not get along. You go check out how many bands have been a band as long as us. I think you’ll find it’s very few. You can’t make it as a band if you’re not close friends. We’re about as close as you can possibly get. I’d say we’re more like family than friends at this point. And that’s the only way you can make it work as a band. If we didn’t get along, we never could have made it work this long. If we were actively fighting with each other, we would have broken up 10 years ago. We operate like a team.

You mentioned three years ago wanting to do a gospel album.

Yeah, that’s kind of what this last album was, in a sense. More the idea behind the album was to show a lot of the influences of the Devil Makes Three, and a lot of the artists that have inspired us. We separated into redemption and ruin. Half of it was gospel songs, traditional songs. And half of it was songs about ruining your life, I guess. That’s what the gospel idea turned into. It was always the idea to show the stuff that we were into and the music that influenced our band and made us want to start doing what we’ve been doing for so many years. It took a long time to get off the ground, but it eventually happened.

You guys don’t rush putting out an album. One comes out every three years or so.

Honestly, we’re not not rushing on purpose. It’s just that I’m the main songwriter of the band. I don’t really come up with an album every year. I probably could come out with an album every year, but I just don’t think it would be very good. The music industry really pushes artists to put out a lot of material. As soon as your album comes out, it’s like, “When’s your next album coming out?” That’s great and all for people wanting to buy stuff. I don’t really think it’s great for artists. That’s not what it’s supposed to be. You’re not supposed to just hammer out an album to make money. It’s got to be at least somewhat inspired [laughs]. I don’t get inspired every year.

The album does a nice job balancing your two themes—the biblical and the, uh, wanting to get messed up.

It’s the two sides of the coin. It’s always a theme that I’ve loved and also a theme in all the music that I get inspired by, too.

How many times have you read the Bible? Your allusions feel like second nature.

I always read it in a very non-religious way to some degree. My mom was definitely raised Catholic. I went to a lot of different churches with my mom, actually. Honestly, most of the Bible that I’ve read, I’ve done it on my own, not through church. I’ve read the Bible a lot of times to inspire a certain song or understand a certain song. The only part of the Bible that I’ve really read that I remember is the New Testament—the Sermon on the Mount and the gospels, of course. I think the Bible has some great lines into it. Like lots of religious texts, it’s got some really great passages. At its best, it’s really poetic, and at its worst, it’s really boring. I think the Bible is a cool, inspirational text, but I don’t really think I’ve read it in quite a long time. I don’t consider myself a religious person. I don’t think, in a lot of ways, religion has lived up to what Jesus was talking about.

Devil Makes Three plays the Catalyst in Santa Cruz at 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 31. Both shows are sold out.

Harry and the Hitmen at Crepe Place for a New Year’s Eve Triple Play

A&E
Music

Mat Weir

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December 28, 2016

0

Harry and the Hitmen at Crepe Place for a New Year’s Eve Triple Play

After more than a decade of playing music, it’s hard to believe Santa Cruz soul act Harry and the Hitmen hasn’t made a studio album until now.

“We did a little bit of studio recording in the past, but that was a long time ago and it was more of a demo,” explains drummer Harry Murphy. “Up until the last couple of years, we were pretty much a cover band.”

The soulful sextet began in Santa Cruz roughly a decade ago—although Murphy can’t remember the exact year—while the musicians were all in college. Originally, Harry wasn’t their drummer. Rolf Sandmeyer, Nick Gyorkos, Ryan Morgan, Scott Makson and Jesse Toews “almost had a band,” before their original drummer moved. Murphy had been working with one of the guys’ girlfriends at the time, and mentioned he played drums. Soon, Murphy would find his soul mates.

“We all grew up on [soul music] in one way or another, and we all agreed they were some of the best songs ever written,” he says. “Plus, we all wanted to make people dance.”

After years of exploring the original Motown sound—from Marvin Gaye to the Four Tops—the six-piece crew decided to branch out. Through the years they mapped an expedition through the music of Stax and Chess Records, Al Green, Kool & the Gang, Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin and everything in between.

One of things that makes the group special is that the lineup has stayed together—most bands have a hard time keeping three or four members together for a couple years, let alone six people for a dozen years.

“The guys in the band are salt-of-the-Earth kind of people,” Murphy says with sincerity in his voice. “You can’t really find better people than that.”

As Harry and the Hitmen continued to play their souls out over the years, one goal eluded them: writing and recording an album of originals.

“We kept saying to ourselves, ‘We really need to buckle down and write our own stuff,’” Murphy remembers. “So that’s what we did.”

The result is their 10-song debut, Deep In Your Soul, which features new music from the seasoned band. While the CD release party was Dec. 9 in Big Sur at the Fernwood Resort, the Hitmen plan to celebrate it in Santa Cruz, too.

“We’re waiting for the vinyl for an official Santa Cruz release party,” says Murphy. “We’re hoping it will be sometime in March.”

While Deep In Your Soul features all original music written by Harry and the Hitmen, some of the songs may sound familiar to hardcore fans.

“We debuted some of the music on New Year’s Eves past,” he states.

Which brings us to their three-night New Year’s Eve Extravaganza at the Crepe Place. Beginning on Thursday, Dec. 29, HAHM will play the midtown spot with special guests the first two nights (the Vitamins and Ginger and Juice, respectively). On Dec. 31, they will play a show that spans their past and future sounds, possibly with some special covers thrown in the mix, if past NYE shows are any indication.

“This might be the seventh, eighth or even 10th time we’ve played New Year’s Eve at the Crepe,” Murphy reminisces. “We try to make it better and bigger each time.”

Info: 9 p.m. at the Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10, $15, $20/door. 429-6994.

The Best Bites of 2016

Christina Waters

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December 28, 2016

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2016 was the year of the scallop, with no fewer than three fabulous dishes capturing my fancy that involved my favorite shellfish. A fabulous lunch at Cafe Sparrow was highlighted by a trio of plump moist day boat scallops, seared golden and topping a foundation of polenta with orange reduction sauce. Here was a lunch to linger over and to remind me all over again just how much I love this enduring Aptos Village landmark.

Fresh sea scallops wrapped in prosciutto in a chipotle sauce at Plantation, on Long Beach Island, New Jersey also made a lasting impression. Another scallop dish right here in Santa Cruz made my list, too. Seared sea scallops with parsnip puree and an addictive slaw of Brussels sprouts, studded with thin slices of grapefruit and tangerine made by chef Mark Denham at Soif. Curls of flash-fried parsnip topped the beautiful dish that was also surrounded with a reduction vinaigrette—dazzling flavors!

At La Posta, an evening’s special pasta—a dish of plump gnocchi that had been sauced with shreds of slow-cooked pork and those little orange tomatoes—knocked me out. The pork and pomodori formed a sauce synergy that bathed each little pillow of potato pasta. Sauce rich enough to act like a main course, yet subtle enough to flatter without overwhelming the pasta. I was impressed with an appetizer of roasted fresh Dungeness crab and infant greens at Chez Panisse last month. The white Bordeaux pairing didn’t hurt one bit.

A lunch entree of Idaho trout at Gabriella dazzled with delicious trout flavor flattered by a bed of inner leaves of baby romaine, arugula, cucumbers, and zest of carrots. Perfumed with tarragon, the vibrant dressing added zing. Gabriella was also the site of the year’s showpiece dessert—pumpkin semifreddo topped with a dusting of ginger snaps and a snowy field of unsweetened whipped cream. Dazzling! An outdoor summer meal at the Homeless Garden Project’s Sustain Supper showed off chef Brad Briske’s superb treatment of roast whole snapper, brined with garlic, rosemary and jalapeños and stuffed with yet more herbs. The aroma was incredible, thanks to the fire pit cooking process.

A textbook-perfect dish of boeuf Bourguignon at Bo-Beau in La Mesa offered herb-fragrant baby carrots, mushrooms, long haricots verts, and fingerling potatoes, adorning the moist, tender beef and rich pancetta reduction. Exactly the way someone’s French grand-mère would have made. Nothing less than a housemade glazed donut at Bantam’s brunch forced me to revoke my gluten-free creed for a few minutes. The rich doughnut arrived with its hole (also glazed) on the side. Each bite was intense, light yet substantial. The Scotch olives at Assembly—Castelvetrano olives stuffed with garlic sausage and cheese and then deep fried. Yeow! An order of Ahi Katsu Tacos from Hula’s sided with black beans and molten salsa, were worth revisiting. Laid across the two tacos were long slabs of pink panko-crusted ahi, topped with cilantro and underscored by fresh slaw. We cleaned our plate. The supple, nay tumescent almond orange cookie, dusted with powdered sugar from Cafe Ivéta has earned my love and respect over and over. The tension of flavors, intense almond pushing against the tangy citrus, is enough to make anyone’s afternoon (pair with jasmine green tea for a serious bliss event). Heavenly texture. Destined for Hall of Fame status are the always wonderful Red Oil Dumplings at O’mei. Tender, succulent, and brilliant in their incomparable spicy sauce (which I could eat for breakfast!). Diverse and well-seasoned, it was an unpredictable year. In food, as in other things. Here’s to a great 2017!

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology Dec 28—Jan 3

Rob Brezsny

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December 28, 2016

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Donatello was a renowned Italian sculptor. His favorite piece was “Lo Zuccone,” a marble statue of the Biblical prophet Habakkuk. As Donatello carved his work-in-progress, he addressed it. “Speak, damn you! Talk to me,” he was heard to say on more than a few occasions. Did the stone respond? Judging from the beauty of the final product, I’d have to say yes. One art critic testified that “Lo Zuccone” is a “sublimely harrowing” tour de force, a triumph of “forceful expression,” and “one of the most important marble sculptures of the 15th century.” I suspect you will have Donatello-like powers of conversation in 2017, Aries. If anyone can communicate creatively with stones—and rivers and trees and animals and spirits and complicated humans, for that matter—it’ll be you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): According to Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, “A certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect.” Let’s amend that thought so it’s exactly suitable for your use in 2017. Here’s the new, Taurus-specific version: “A messy, practical, beautiful type of perfection can be realized through a patient, faithful, dogged accumulation of the imperfect.” To live up to the promise of this motto, make damn good use of every partial success.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini gymnast Marisa Dick has created a signature move that has never been used by any other gymnast. To start her routine, she leaps up off a springboard and lands on the balance beam doing a full split. The technical term for this bold maneuver is “a change-leg leap to free-cross split sit,” although its informal name is “The Dick Move.” The International Federation of Gymnastics has certified it in its Code of Points, so it’s official. During the coming months, I expect that you will also produce one-of-a-kind innovations in your own sphere.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I hope you will be as well-grounded in 2017 as you have ever been—maybe even since your past life as a farmer. I trust you will go a long way toward mastering the arts of being earthy, practical, and stable. To do this right, however, you should also work on a seemingly paradoxical task: cultivating a vigorous and daring imagination—as perhaps you did in one of your other past lives as an artist. In other words, your ability to succeed in the material world will thrive as you nurture your relationship with fantasy realms—and vice versa. If you want to be the boss of reality, dream big and wild—and vice versa.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Even if you don’t think of yourself as an artist, you are always working on a major art project: yourself. You may underestimate the creativity you call on as you shape the raw material of your experience into an epic story. Luckily, I’m here to impress upon you the power and the glory of this heroic effort. Is there anything more important? Not for you Leos. And I trust that in 2017 you will take your craftsmanship to the highest level ever. Keep this advice from author Nathan W. Morris in mind: “Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece, after all.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): French painter Henri Matisse (1869-1954) turned out to be one of the supremely influential artists of the 20th century. But he was still struggling to make a living well into his thirties. The public’s apathy toward his work demoralized him. At one point, he visited his dealer to reclaim one of his unsold paintings. It was time to give up on it, he felt, to take it off the market. But when he arrived at the gallery, his dealer informed him that it had finally been bought—and not by just any art collector, either. Its new owner was Pablo Picasso, an artist whom Matisse revered. I think it’s quite possible you will have comparable experiences in 2017, Virgo. Therefore: Don’t give up on yourself!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The self in exile remains the self, as a bell unstruck for years is still a bell,” writes poet Jane Hirshfield. I suspect that these words are important for you to hear as you prepare for 2017. My sense is that in the past few months, your true self has been making its way back to the heart of life after a time of wandering on the outskirts. Any day now, a long-silent bell will start ringing to herald your full return. Welcome home!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In accordance with your astrological omens for 2017, I’ve taken a poem that Shel Silverstein wrote for kids and made it into your horoscope. It’ll serve as a light-hearted emblem of a challenging but fun task you should attend to in the coming months. Here it is: “I’ve never washed my shadow out in all the time I’ve had it. It was absolutely filthy I supposed, so I peeled it off the wall where it was leaning and stuck it in the washtub with the clothes. I put in soap and bleach and stuff. I let it soak for hours. I wrung it out and hung it out to dry. And whoever would have thunk that it would have gone and shrunk, for now it’s so much littler than I.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Walk your wisdom walk in 2017, Sagittarius. Excite us with your wisdom songs and gaze out at our broken reality with your wisdom eyes. Play your wisdom tricks and crack your wisdom jokes and erupt with your wisdom cures. The world needs you to be a radiant swarm of lovable, unpredictable wisdom! Your future needs you to conjure up a steady stream of wisdom dreams and wisdom exploits! And please note: You don’t have to wait until the wisdom is perfect. You shouldn’t worry about whether it’s supremely practical. Your job is to trust your wisdom gut, to unleash your wisdom cry, to revel in your wisdom magic.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): As I was ruminating on your astrological omens for 2017, I came across a wildly relevant passage written by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. It conveys a message I encourage you to memorize and repeat at least once a day for the next 365 days. Here it is: “Nothing can hold you back—not your childhood, not the history of a lifetime, not even the very last moment before now. In a moment you can abandon your past. And once abandoned, you can redefine it. If the past was a ring of futility, let it become a wheel of yearning that drives you forward. If the past was a brick wall, let it become a dam to unleash your power.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Naturalist John Muir regarded nature as his church. For weeks at a time he lived outdoors, communing with the wilderness. Of course he noticed that not many others shared his passion. “Most people are on the world, not in it,” he wrote, “having no conscious sympathy or relationship to anything about them—undiffused, separate, and rigidly alone like marbles of polished stone, touching but separate.” Is there anything about you that even partially fits that description, Aquarius? If so, I’m pleased to inform you that 2017 will be an excellent year to address the problem. You will have immense potential to become more intimate and tender with all of the component parts of the Great Mystery. What’s the opposite of loneliness?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Seven Chilean poets were frustrated by their fellow citizens’ apathy toward the art of poetry. They sarcastically dramatized their chagrin by doing a performance for baboons. Authorities at the Santiago Zoo arranged for the poets’ safety, enclosing them in a protective cage within the baboons; habitat. The audience seemed to be entertained, at times listening in rapt silence and at other times shrieking raucously. I’m sure you can empathize with the poets’ drastic action, Pisces. How many times have you felt you don’t get the appreciation you deserve? But I bet that will change in 2017. You won’t have to resort to performing for baboons.

Homework: If you’d like to enjoy my books, music, and videos without spending any money, go here: http://bit.ly/LiberatedGifts.

Sailing into the New Year

Risa D’Angeles

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December 28, 2016

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Our new year begins with a Mercury retrograde in Capricorn and Mars in Pisces. On Jan. 3, Venus joins Mars in Pisces. All of us will be quite reflective, imaginative and dreamy the first part of the new year. Most of the time. Venus will retrograde (March 4 – April 15) during 2017, as it does every 18 months for 40-43 days. With Venus retrograde, intense love Instagrams are not sent. And no weddings! Instead, assess self-esteem and how to save the world. The stock market shifts wildly during Venus retrograde. With Uranus in Aries, we understand liberty with more clarity, and the importance of freedom. Our world accelerates forward, unfolding the Aquarian Age.

The year of the Fire Monkey ends, and the year of the Fire Rooster begins. We will continue to see activism, new arts awakening and new frontiers forged. “Put a little love in the heart (first)” is Jupiter in Libra’s theme. Before sex happens (Jupiter in Scorpio). Soon everyone will return to the truth of what matters. Justice and equality, too.

And so the Noah’s Ark (humanity) is set to sail into a new year. We sense excitement for what’s to come. Each year an envelope of new experiences opens. We enter into a celestial boat, the Ark. We are transported, like seeds, into a new world, given another chance at purpose and the accomplishment of the Divine Plan on Earth. Each year, a profound wisdom is given to humanity in the present cycle of time. We travel in the ark in pairs, navigating the waters of a new world.

As we enter a new year, the months overseen by the zodiac, it’s good to learn the gifts (purpose, tasks, surprises, nature) of each sign, Aries to Pisces. Then we have understanding of each other.

ARIES: Creates the beginnings of things, has a fiery, quick-thinking mind, does not exhibit patience (especially for slower signs Pisces, Taurus, Scorpio, Capricorn), is filled with enthusiasm (filled with God). Using the “I” word constantly, Aries is developing a sense of self-identity, amidst being decisive, competitive, aggressive, proving themselves as impulsive risk takers. The hierarchy looks on to see if you’re a good risk for them. Can you change the world?

TAURUS: People often call Taurus stubborn, but that’s not the reality. Taurus people must think deeply before responding to questions. Their mind is based upon sensibility and practicality. Give them time to ponder on all aspects of a question before answering. Taurus loves gold and beauty (Venus). Gold is valuable, and like Taurus, a serious, long-lasting investment. Taurus illuminates the minds of humanity—beginning with themselves.

GEMINI: Your eyes are special, different than the other signs except for Aquarius. They gather information in order to disperse that information to others. Gemini’s the messenger (Mercury), quite imaginative, sometimes a gossip, can be charming when it’s important and absent when it’s not. Your purpose, after dispensing information, is to love beyond everyone else’s capacity. Sirius is your guiding star. Become acquainted.

CANCER: Truly a crab, circling whatever interests them, never moving in a straight line. You’re circuitous in order to assess safety and well-being. When safety is assured, you nurture and nourish all beings—people, kingdoms, babies, animals, gardens, the broccoli deva, etc. Shy and evasive publicly, you’re lively and talkative with intimates. And very opinionated! Following moon cycles and ocean’s tides, you’re sensitive, moody, refined. Neptune summons you.

LEO: The world’s your jungle. Proud lions have strong will, great intelligence, a high forehead, often big hair, can be generous, intense, over- confident, and at times a pain to everyone. You’re a leader, must be in charge, very creative, inspiring others and sensitive like Cancer. Your purpose is to awaken, cultivate your gifts, and then offer them to humanity. You are a “fire child.” That fire is God (Agni).

VIRGO: Known as a perfectionist, you’re to bring order and organization into the world. However, before understanding this task, you’re often critical, judgmental, opinionated and silently unappreciative. But this is just a stage. Later, you become trustworthy, exploratory, appreciative. Your purpose is to gestate new realities and realize that “love underlies all the happenings of the times.” Archangel Gabriel is your protector.

LIBRA: Libra likes to play, have fun, be social and cooperate. With their sense of beauty and justice, Libras seek to bring balance to everyone’s life. Libras have many relationships. In each one, they are learning how to be in relationships, how to choose and discriminate how to share and love and extend themselves so they can learn and radiate Right Relations in all interactions. Librans are mediators, servers and are always beautiful.

SCORPIO: The sign of potent and emotional feelings and desires, Scorpios also have strong powerful wills. Serious, deep and extraordinary researchers, they’re always somewhat in a Halloween situation. Always facing death and rebirth, Scorpios ask others to walk with them. As everyone declines the invitation and withdraws, Scorpios never show weakness. They can be harsh and undiplomatic. Often they suffer and we find them deeply and unequivocally admirable.

SAGITTARIUS: The truth sign. Sags are like an arrow of light—straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, focused upon what’s ahead, eyes ever on the mountaintop, riding over the plains toward a goal almost unreachable. They’re adventurous, cultural, journeyers, publishers, filled with music, love of food, the need for freedom. Their companion is Jupiter, which suggests joy. But sometimes, for little moments, they can also be sad at the injustices in the world.

CAPRICORN: The sign of self-reliance; like Taurus, but different, Caps never ask for help, for they must prove to themselves they’re responsible, accountable, dependable and trustworthy. Often, no matter how much Caps accomplish, they feel unworthy and undeserving, judging themselves as not having done enough. Caps need help understanding that they are always on the path, having earned a starry place among their serving brothers and sisters. Caps need to know they are the “rising sun.”

AQUARIUS: Honest and sincere, understanding brotherhood and seeking freedom, bringing the future into the present, always different and slightly revolutionary, Aquarians are comforted by knowing everyone in town. They love parties and groups. They’re loyal and sympathetic. These “waters of life” star children, quirky and eccentric, sometimes very determined, learn by being both alone and in groups and consider their work with deep seriousness. Aquarians are the “light that shines on Earth, across the sea.” They are the future.

PISCES: Very sensitive (like Cancer), a delicate fish (actually two), most comfortable in water (ocean, pools, river, lakes, rain), Pisces can suffer tremendously, not understanding life in form and matter. Sometimes the fish find themselves in places and positions not quite right, sometimes with broken feet and bones. This is frightful for them. The Talmud says that “Every blade of grass has its angel bending over it, whispering, ‘Grow, grow.’” Pisces has their angel, bending over them, too. It’s just invisible to everyone else.

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