caption 1 The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music got its start in a small bohemian coffee shop in 1963. 2 This year, Marin Alsop steps down after 25 years as the festival’s conductor. Alsop studied under Leonard Bernstein, attended Yale and Juilliard, and since her beginnings with the festival has become world-famous as conductor for a number of prestigious orchestras: Philadelphia, Cleveland, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris and others. 3 This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Church Street Fair, which is produced by the festival and the Civic Auditorium, in celebration of local art, music, food, and wine. 4 Each season, the cello section stages an elaborate prank. In the past, they’ve dressed up in biohazard gear, bejeweled bolero jackets (“à la Liberace,” as the festival’s executive director, Ellen Primack, puts it), tie-dye, clown costumes, and more. 5 This year’s festival runs from Aug. 5-13 and includes 11 composers-in-residence, Lola Montez Does The Spider Dance by John Adams, a symphonic ballet, and the West Coast premiere of Kevin Puts’ The City. AMH
Best Movie Theater
The Nickelodeon
caption 1 Bill and JoAnne Walker Raney opened the Nick as a single-screen art-house movie theater in 1969. 2 Regularly playing non-mainstream American independents and subtitled (never dubbed) foreign-language films, the Nick served as a bastion of film education for many local film reviewers and professors. 3 Bill’s second wife, Nancy Raney, made a name for herself as the consummate hostess. For instance, in 1987, with help from the Casablanca Restaurant, she recreated the entire feast from the Danish film Babette’s Feast to promote its release. 4 In December of 2015, ownership of the Nick (along with Del Mar and the recently closed Aptos Cinemas) changed hands from the theater’s second pair of owners, Jim Schwenterley and Paul Gottlober, to Landmark Theatres, a theater chain out of Los Angeles specializing in art-house and independent films. 5 The Nick and Del Mar serve concessions from the Penny Ice Creamery, the Buttery, Black China Bakery, Nut Kreations, Sweet Earth Burritos, SunRidge Farms, and Alta Coffee. AMH
Best Poet
Kevin Devaney
caption 1 Kevin Devaney is that friendly fellow with the typewriter on Pacific Avenue. 2 For a donation, he will write you a poem on the spot. 3 Devaney founded Santa Cruz’s only Weekly Poetry Open Mic 4 He’s a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. 5 Devaney sells handmade street poetry books on Etsy. CJ
Best Theater Company
Jewel Theatre Company
caption 1 Founded by artistic director Julie James in 2005, Jewel is the only year-round professional theater company in Santa Cruz. 2 Last November, Jewel became the arts company in residence at the new $5.8 million Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center. 3 With the move from the Center Street Theater to the Colligan Theater, Jewel doubled the seating capacity at its shows from 89 to 182. 4 James says Jewel’s subscriber base has been growing by about 35 percent every year. 5 Their current production is Master Class (above), which runs through April 3. SP
Art Event
First Friday
firstfridaysantacruz.com
RUNNERS-UP Capitola Art & Wine Festival, Open Studios Art Tour
Art Gallery
Museum of Art & History
705 Front St., Santa Cruz, 429-1964, santacruzmah.org
caption 1 This vibrant, two-mile long, mixed-use bicycle path stretches from the Municipal Wharf to Natural Bridges State Park. 2 On any given day, you can see surfers, otters, sea lions, pelicans, dogs, skimboarders, bodysurfers, kayakers, dolphins, whales and more. 3 West Cliff Drive is home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which was established in 1986 and has collections dating back to the earliest days of mainland surfing.
4 West Cliff Drive is dog-friendly and family-friendly. 5 It boasts two prime spots for watching the migrating Monarch butterflies: Lighthouse Field and Natural Bridges State Park. CJ
Best Farmers Market
Aptos Farmers Market
caption 1 The Aptos Farmers Market was voted America’s Favorite Farmers Market in California by America’s Farmland Trust. 2 The market features 90 vendors, most of whom are certified organic or use sustainable farming methods. 3 In addition to offering fruits and vegetables, the market offers grass-fed meats and poultry, sustainable fish, oysters, handcrafted cheeses, locally produced olive oil, pasta and gourmet sauces, juices, sauerkraut, Corralitos smoked sausages and bacon, artisan breads and baked goods, and more. 4 The market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. until noon. 5 The market regularly features live music and special events. CJ
Best Wedding Venue
Seascape Beach Resort
caption 1 The ocean-view wedding site at this elegant resort overlooks the Monterey Bay. 2 An expert staff seeks to help create a dream wedding ceremony. 3 Wedding planners specialize in creating stylish receptions for up to 280 guests. 4 The resort’s executive chefs specialize in elegant California coastal cuisine. 5 Banquet rooms from 700 – 4,000 square feet also offer catering venues for the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, brunch, reception and a honeymoon package.JS
Beach
Seabright Beach
East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
RUNNERS-UP Capitola Beach, Twin Lakes Beach
Bike Ride
West Cliff Drive
RUNNERS-UP Nisene Marks, Wilder Ranch
Boardwalk Ride
Giant Dipper
400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, 423-5590, beachboardwalk.com
RUNNERS-UP Fireball, Log Ride
Derby Girl
Kosher Assault
RUNNERS-UP Def Jen Wreckers, Hell Louise
Dog Park
Aptos Polo Grounds
2255 Huntington Drive, Aptos,
RUNNERS-UP Frederick Street, Scotts Valley Dog Park
caption 1 In an açaí bowl, you’ll find granola, bananas and strawberries over a housemade açaí fruit smoothie. 2 The açaí bowl is one of the most popular items on Café Brasil’s menu, especially for take-out. 3 In the restaurant, there’s an open “açaí bar,” which is the first thing you see as you walk in. You can watch them make your bowl right in front of you. 4 Café Brasil also has a juice bar with an açaí smoothie similar to the bowl. 5 Even before the acai craze, Café Brasil was a local breakfast institution, and crowds can be seen outside waiting for a table every weekend. AE
Best Burger, Santa Cruz and Capitola
Betty Burgers
1 The meat at Betty Burgers is organic and grass-fed, with no hormones and no antibiotics—and never frozen. 2 All burgers are made with local produce, and all burger sauces are made in-house. 3 Two of their most popular burgers are the Texas Two Step and Point Grinder. 4 There is a full bar in their downtown Santa Cruz location. 5 Not even the staff can totally explain the slightly salacious touches to the menu like “Betty On Top,” “Rough and Ready,” “Betty Likes It Tender” and “Nachos O’Lay.” The secrets behind this mystery are much-debated in the GT office. AE
Best Cheese Selection
Shopper’s Corner
1 Manager/partner Andre Beauregard and deli manager Allisyn Bordwine spend quality time at the Fancy Food show in San Francisco, comparing endless varieties and cultures of cheese. 2 The store carries 19 categories of cheese, some aged up to six years, and dozens in specific classes, such as smoked or cave-aged. 3 Shopper’s cheeses come from many countries, including Italy, France, Holland, England, Ireland, Bulgaria, Finland, Norway and Spain, in addition to domestic varieties. 4 The latest trend is grass-fed and free-range (as in the cows), as well as raw non-pasteurized cheeses. 5 Enzymes found in non-pasteurized cheese help with digestion, but are stripped away when pasteurized. JS
Best Date Night Restaurant, San Lorenzo
Cremer House
caption 1 Staff say the housemade pretzels are the most popular menu item for couples on a date. 2 Attention to aesthetics is important to the managers at Cremer House, and the vibe is warm and comfortable. 3 The housemade butterscotch cookie with Mission Hill Creamery caramel ice cream is the most popular dessert—and perfect for sharing. 4 The folks at Cremer House believe in keeping their cuisine as organic and locally sourced as possible. 5 They’re also known for handcrafted beers to share, and sparkling wines. AE
Best Hot Dog
Gary’s Snappy Dogs
1 On weekdays, Gary sets up shop outside U-Save Liquor, and on weekends in the Swift Sweet Courtyard, where he suggests having a glass of wine with his hot dogs. He retired from the wine business and decided to put the hot dog carts he had “sitting around” his house to good use. 2 Gary calls his hot dogs “snappy dogs” because they make a delicious snapping in your mouth after a bite. He also jokes that in Pretty Woman they use the term “snap dog,” but he thought of it first. 3 There’s a homemade chili sauce option, but the most popular item is the classic hot dog with condiments. The classic hot dog is a beef dog with a sheep casing. 4 His dog, also named Snappy, can often be found hanging out under the stand, and occasionally comes out to say hello. 5 Other options on the menu are Louisiana Hot Link, Polish Sausage, Chicken Italian Sausage, Cheezy Bavarian, and Smoked Lamb Sausage. AE
Best Italian Restaurant
Lillian’s Italian Kitchen
caption 1 Owner Joe Moreno and family are proud of Lillian’s numerous wins in GT’s Best of Santa Cruz County awards, the first of which was for Best New Restaurant in 2008. 2 The newly constructed, much larger space just down the street at the corner of Seabright and Soquel is set to open by May 1, with staff training beginning in April. 3 Seating capacity will be 74 in the dining room and 10 at the bar—which will also offer the regular menu—at the new location. 4 It took Moreno six years to buy a larger space in the same neighborhood. 5 Popular items on the menu will remain, with fresh seafood available daily. “Frozen” is not in the chef’s vocabulary. The kitchen will have an isolated area to prepare gluten-free pasta and other items. JS
Best New Restaurant
Mozaic
caption 1 Launched in 2015, Mozaic is a restaurant and bar with a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean theme, open every day from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. 2 Owners Jay Dib, Jerry Rohana, Faisal Nemri and Ben Khader, who opened just in time for Santa Cruz Restaurant Week last year, say they were “happily overwhelmed” by customer response. 3 Recipes from Lebanon, Greece, Jordan, Turkey, Italy and Spain bring a fusion of blended culinary cultures through flavors, textures and colors. 4 On Friday nights, Arabian belly dancing is held at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Private parties may also request the local dancing troupe. 5 Show-stopping “Sakanaki” is a flamed tableside cheese dish featuring pan-seared feta cheese with olive oil, brandy and lemon juice. JS
Best Restaurant — Soquel
Cafe Cruz
caption 1 Their most popular new item is applewood smoked buffalo wings with gorgonzola-port dipping sauce. 2 Artichoke aficionados alert: Heirloom applewood-smoked grilled artichokes are now back on the menu. 3 New handmade tables of sustainable alder wood in the lush Garden Room can now seat parties of up to 40. 4 Chefs enjoy chatting with customers from the open copper-backed kitchen, and customers love the cooking tips. 5 Café Cruz has a great local wine selection, featuring vintages from Alfaro, Beauregard, Cinnabar, Corralitos Ridge, Soquel Vineyard, Storrs, La Honda, Martin Ranch, Hunter Hill, Kathryn Kennedy, Heart O’ the Mountain, Mount Eden, Rexford, Ridge, Sones and Windy Oaks.JS
Best Seafood & Best Sushi, San Lorenzo/Scotts Valley
Otoro
1 Otoro’s menu is best known for its live seafood. 2 Regulars love it when Otoro occasionally gets in live sea urchin. 3 They get their seafood from a company in San Francisco. 4 If you’re new to the idea of eating live seafood, you can check out Otoro’s Facebook page, which has videos of chefs preparing meals. 5 A popular dessert is the ice cream crepes—vanilla, green tea or chocolate. AE
Best Winery
Alfaro Family Vineyards and Winery
caption 1 Alfaro produces 10 different Pinot Noirs and five Chardonnays, in addition to Albariño, Gruner Veltliner, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and a soon-to-be-released sparkling wine. 2 Of the 56 acres of grapes planted, eight are CCOF-certified organic. 3 A love of travel has taken Richard and Mary Kay Alfaro to Cambodia, Vietnam, Spain, Cuba, Guatemala, Peru, Turkey, Croatia, and Portugal. 4 Their son Ryan will work his first harvest in the family vineyards this fall, after graduating fromUCLA. He’ll pursue a degree in wine science through the University of Auckland in New Zealand. 5 Families with children and pets on leashes are welcome to the tasting room, open on Saturday. Complimentary juice, coloring books and dog biscuits are provided. Don’t mix up who gets what. JS
Acai Bowl
Café Brasil
1410 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 429-1855, cafebrasil.us
RUNNERS-UP Amazon Juice, Samba Rock Acai Cafe
Appetizers
Crow’s Nest
2218 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 476-4560, crowsnest-santacruz.com
RUNNERS-UP Hula’s Island Grill, Shadowbrook Restaurant
Bagel
Bagelry
320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, 429-8049; 1636 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz, 425-8550; 4763 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 462-9888
RUNNERS-UP Firefly, Main Street Bagels
Bakery
The Buttery
702 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 458-3020, butterybakery.com
RUNNERS-UP Gayle’s Bakery, Kelly’s French Bakery
Barbecue
Aptos St. BBQ
8059 Aptos St., Aptos, 662-1721, aptosstbbq.com
RUNNERS-UP Cole’s BBQ & Catering, Mission St. BBQ
Bar Food
Crow’s Nest
2218 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 476-4560, crowsnest-santacruz.com
caption 1 Epicenter lets customers test-ride bikes as they look for the right fit. 2 The shop also offers professional fitting and unlimited lifetime tune-ups. “We’re the only shop in the immediate area that does that, and the reason we do is that we don’t want the bike to sit in that garage and be sad,” says Candice Covello, marketing director for Epicenter. 3 Shawn Wilson, the owner, grew up riding in Nisene Marks doing dirt jumps with Cam McCaul and others who have gone on to be famous. 4 Epicenter helped build the since-demolished pump track in Aptos, where Aptos Village will soon be. Wilson hopes to rebuild it soon in a new location. 5 If you google “cutest bike shop Santa Cruz,” Epicenter is the top result. Covello suggests it’s because there are house dogs and one house cat who sometimes hang out around the shop. JP
Best Gym
Toadal Fitness
caption
1 Owners Christophe and Cecile Bellito proudly offer five facilities for the enrichment of life through better fitness. 2 Founded in downtown Santa Cruz in 1996, the first club was named Frog Fitness after a French tradition, and later changed to Toadal Fitness. 3 All five clubs—in downtown Santa Cruz, Westside, Scotts Valley, Live Oak, and Aptos (where it is called Cabrillo Fitness)—offer the Silver Sneakers program for seniors, as well as Zumba classes. 4 Cabrillo Fitness was opened in 1978 by a group of racquetball enthusiasts. To offer a more complete exercise program, the owner joined forces with Toadal Fitness. 5 New to Toadal Fitness members is a free screening offer from Precision Physical Therapy, which seeks to improve performance with movement-based evaluations and treatment techniques.JS
Best Martial Arts
Sanford’s Martial Arts
1 Opened in 1980, Sanford’s Martial Arts teaches traditional Japanese martial arts to students from age 4 and beyond. 2 Sean Sanford, now head instructor, joined his dad Ron at the studio at age 4. 3 With kids, emphasis is placed on character development, respect, self-discipline, and confidence. 4 Adults gain knowledge of balance and coordination, awareness skills and ways to relieve stress. 5 Three one-week summer camps in June, July and August are themed “Ninja,” “Samurai” and “Train like a Black Belt.” JS
Best Skate Shop
Bill’s Wheels
caption 1 The first Bill’s Wheels location was on East Lake Avenue in Watsonville in 1977. The rent was $125 a month. 2 When Bill’s Wheels was in Watsonville, owner Bill Ackerman got so much business from Salinas that he decided to open up a second location there in the 1980s. He moved twice before closing his Salinas shop in 2013, after 26 years. 3 Bill’s Wheels used to have events in its Watsonville parking lot called Skate Jams, which sometimes drew up to 400 kids. They would set up ramps and have bands perform on the back of a flatbed truck. The store has events these days at its Soquel Avenue shop, on a smaller scale. 4 Ackerman, now 58, was an established local skater in the ’70s, and he got into skating drained swimming pools “when that became a thing,” he says. Ackerman’s skills shone on the high jump, where a skater rides up to a high jump bar, leaps off their board and lands back on it on the other side. 5 Ackerman has the walls outside his business dedicated to a rotating list of graffiti artists. “That’s another thing we’ve stood behind for years, is getting behind the artistic side of graffiti,” Ackerman says. JP
113 Lincoln St., Santa Cruz, 423-3764 1200 17th Ave., #108, Santa Cruz, 464-3764 6200 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 475-5979 2929 Mission St. Extension, Santa Cruz, 466-3764 269 Mount Hermon Road, Scotts Valley, 430-9200
caption 1. Discretion Brewing brews their beer with 100 percent organic ingredients. 2. They are partnered with the Kitchen, an in-house restaurant headed by Chef Santos Majano (previously of Soif) that serves up creative reinventions of traditional pub fare, all made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. 3. Since opening three years ago, their brews have been awarded 18 medals in national craft beer competitions, including seven golds. 4. Discretion is the first solar-powered brewery in Santa Cruz County. Their installation supplants 70 percent of the brewery’s electrical needs with clean, non-polluting energy. 5. Every Monday is “Love Monday” at Discretion, with 20 percent of beer sales going to a local nonprofit. LS
Best Live Music
Moe’s Alley
caption 1. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Moe’s Alley.
2. The venue has a brand new Meyer sound system and new LED lighting. 3. Moe’s Alley hosts more than 250 shows per year. 4. The styles presented at Moe’s range from blues to rock to funk to bluegrass to reggae, and much more. 5. Moe’s has welcomed numerous actor-musicians to the stage, including Kiefer Sutherland and John C. Reilly. CJ
Best Local Band
Extra Large
caption 1. With at least a dozen Best Local Band awards over the years, Extra Large may well be the winningest band in Good Times history. 2. Extra Large is focused on expanding its reach beyond Santa Cruz. This summer they’re playing a number of festivals and concert series around the Bay Area and beyond. 3. Twice a year, Extra Large tours in Mexico where they have a growing base of enthusiastic fans. 4. Most of the lyrics to Extra Large songs are very positive and happy. “We exude a zest for life,” says percussionist and vocalist Valerie Leal. 5. The band has three albums’ worth of original material, but when performing, they play plenty of cover songs, as well. CJ
Best Margaritas
El Palomar
caption 1. El Palomar changes up its drink menu every few months, and its drink specials change weekly. 2. Its twists on the classic margarita (fresh lime, agave nectar, tequila) include mango, strawberry, pomegranate, pineapple, cucumber jalapeno, guava, and others. They also offer versions with mezcal instead of tequila, and others with their homemade hibiscus syrup. 3. Cantina happy hour is from 3-6 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and the taco bar happy hour runs from 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 4. The El Palomar building was built as a hotel and completed in 1933. After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, it was supposed to be demolished, but was retrofitted instead. During that time the El Palomar restaurant was displaced for four years. 5. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila … floor. AMH
Bar
Red Room
1003 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, 426-2994
RUNNERS-UP Crow’s Nest, Shadowbrook
Bartender
Ben Caruso @ Oswald
RUNNERS-UP Dana Meek @ Rosie McCann’s, Mark Urban @ Hindquarter, Raina Thomasson @ Blue Lagoon
Craft Brewer (local)
Discretion Brewing
2703 41st Ave, Soquel, CA
discretionbrewing.com
RUNNERS-UP Corralitos Brewing, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Dance Club
Motiv
1209 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 429-8070, motivsc.com
Best Arts & Crafts: Palace Arts & Office Supply
1. Palace Arts is family-owned, and has been open in Santa Cruz for 67 years 2. There are two locations, in Capitola and downtown Santa Cruz.
3. At the Capitola location, there are classes and demos for oil painting and acrylic painting.
4. With the popularity of the adult coloring trend, they’ve seen adult coloring books become some of their best-selling items; they have the largest selection on the Central Coast.
5. On Wednesdays, the Capitola location holds “drop-in coloring” for all ages from 3-6 p.m. AE
Best Barbershop
Montgomery’s Barbershop
Best Barbershop: Montgomery’s Barbershop
1. With its checkered floor and red walls, the vibe at Montgomery’s Barbershop is retro with flair.
2. On weekdays, they are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 3. Most people think of “barbershop” as a guy thing, but Montgomery’s caters to both men and women of all ages.
4. Always popular at Montegomery’s: the “fade” haircut.
5. Can’t imagine what it’d be like to get your haircut at Montgomery’s? Their Facebook site features videos of customers getting their hair done. AE
Best Computer Repair
Clickaway
Best Computer Repair: Clickaway 1. Clickaway’s computer repair services do not require an appointment, and they provide same-day on-site service. 2. Store manager Vince Hargraves is proud of the “friendly atmosphere” in the store. 3. In addition to computer repair, Clickaway provides services for Verizon Wireless and Comcast. 4. They also carry laptops and desktops from Dell, Lenovo, HP, Apple. 5. The team at Clickaway is fluent in both Spanish and English. AE
Best Green Business
T Paul Sek Eco-Friendly Painting
Best Green Business: T Paul Sek Eco-Friendly Painting 1. T Paul Sek Eco-Friendly Painting has been dedicated to eco-friendly practices since 2003, out of concern both for consumer health and minimizing environmental impact. 2. It is a family-run business, established by Theodore Sek and wife Debbie Sek. 3. The “T” in “T Paul Sek” comes from the first letter of Paul Sek’s given first name, Theodore. His wife, Debbie, says the name just stuck. 4. They do both indoor and outdoor projects. 5. One of the couple’s all-time favorite jobs was painting a three-bedroom townhouse in Los Gatos 22 colors, with accent walls in each closet. AE
Best Musical Instruments
Sylvan Music
Best Musical Instruments: Sylvan Music 1. The folks at Sylvan Music have dedicated themselves to what they call the “wide world of killer stringed instruments” for 32 years. 2. Some instruments they carry are made locally, others come from all over the U.S., Europe and the Pacific Rim. 3. Sylvan holds lessons for all stringed instruments; guitar lessons are the most popular. 4. Ukulele lessons are on the rise. 5. Their website, sylvanmusic.com, features video demos created by employees. AE
Adult Store
Camouflage
1329 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-7613, shopcamouflage.com
7775 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 662-6000 819 Bay Ave., Capitola, 464-5300 720 Front St., Santa Cruz, 457-5000 4604 Scotts Valley Drive, # 10, Scotts Valley, 461-5000
When professor Jim Funaro introduced a class to Cabrillo in 1979 that used both science and science fiction to teach anthropology, he had no idea it would lead him to building whole new worlds. But that’s just what he was doing four years later, when he organized the first Contact conference in Santa Cruz. An academic gathering that brought together some of the best minds in science, science fiction writing, and art to imagine possibilities for humanity’s future, it was centered around a main event Funaro called “COTI: Cultures of the Imagination,” a simulation that had conference participants designing human colonies and alien civilizations. Larry Niven, the iconic science fiction author whose career stretches over five decades and includes 1970’s groundbreaking Ringworld, was at that first Contact in 1983, and remembers that not everything went smoothly with that first world-building experiment. “We made mistakes,” Niven tells GT. “We broke up participants into two groups who would design alien worlds. On Sunday afternoon they would meet. We didn’t consider that humanities people would be hopeless at creating worlds. At later gatherings, we hard science writers would build the worlds first, and let the humanities play there.” Niven, who returned to Contact as keynote speaker in 1995, is back at this year’s conference—which will be held at the Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale April 1-3—to return to the matter of world-building with a presentation on “The Legacy of Heorot,” explaining the backstory of a series he co-authored with consultation from Dr. Jack Cohen, one of the foremost researchers in fertility among all life forms. This year’s conference will also feature author Kim Stanley Robinson speaking about the “eccentric orbit” of science and science fiction, Funaro himself discussing “The Evolution of Star Trek as an American Mythos,” and more than two dozen other talks from science-fiction writers and NASA scientists, with titles like “Alien Civilizations: What Lies Beyond Our Imagination?” “What Will Commercial Spaceflight Cost in the Future?” and “Mars: Science and Science Fiction on the Red Planet.” The Contact conference will be held April 1-3 at the Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale. For more information and to register, go to contact-conference.org.
Arts & Culture
Best Festival (Music)
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
1 The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music got its start in a small bohemian coffee shop in 1963.
2 This year, Marin Alsop steps down after 25 years as the festival’s conductor. Alsop studied under Leonard Bernstein, attended Yale and Juilliard, and since her beginnings with the festival has become world-famous as...
Community Life
Best Bike Ride
West Cliff Drive
1 This vibrant, two-mile long, mixed-use bicycle path stretches from the Municipal Wharf to Natural Bridges State Park.
2 On any given day, you can see surfers, otters, sea lions, pelicans, dogs, skimboarders, bodysurfers, kayakers, dolphins, whales and more.
3 West Cliff Drive is home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which was established in 1986...
FOOD & DRINK
Best Açaí Bowl
Café Brasil
1 In an açaí bowl, you’ll find granola, bananas and strawberries over a housemade açaí fruit smoothie.
2 The açaí bowl is one of the most popular items on Café Brasil’s
menu, especially for take-out.
3 In the restaurant, there’s an open “açaí bar,” which is the first thing you see as you walk...
Health & Recreation
Best Bike Shop
Epicenter Cycling
1 Epicenter lets customers test-ride bikes as they look for the right fit.
2 The shop also offers professional fitting and unlimited lifetime tune-ups. “We’re the only shop in the immediate area that does that, and the reason we do is that we don’t want the bike to sit in that garage and be...
Music & Nightlife
Best Craft Brewer
Discretion Brewing
1. Discretion Brewing brews their beer with 100 percent organic ingredients.
2. They are partnered with the Kitchen, an in-house restaurant headed by Chef Santos Majano (previously of Soif) that serves up creative reinventions of traditional pub fare, all made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
3. Since opening three years ago, their brews have been awarded...
Shopping & Services
Best Arts & Crafts
Palace Arts
1. Palace Arts is family-owned, and has been open in Santa Cruz for 67 years
2. There are two locations, in Capitola and downtown Santa Cruz.
3. At the Capitola location, there are classes and demos for oil painting and acrylic painting.
4. With the popularity of the adult coloring trend, they’ve seen adult coloring books...
Bernie all the way. Daniel Boyer, Santa Cruz, Business Development Manager It's kind of a circus, but I think that the public is going to elect someone that we can get behind. Not a clown. Micha Hogan, Santa Cruz, Dance Instructor Whether you like...
Plus Letters To the Editor The last couple of weeks, I’ve had a kind of fever. I might just chalk it up to the effects of putting out what, as far as anybody can remember, is the biggest issue in Good Times’ 41-year-history. I can’t really blame that, though, because I get this particular delirium every...
Bernie all the way.
Plus Letters To the Editor
