Some of Santa Cruz’s bicycle advocates are refining their missions and goals—or at least clarifying them. The group known as People Power is changing its name to Bike Santa Cruz County and celebrating with a press event and fundraiser Tuesday, April 7. “We’re focusing on what we do best, which is bicycle advocacy,” executive director Amelia...

Films This WeekCheck out the movies playing around town.With: Reviews Movie Times click here.Santa Cruz area movie theaters > ....... New This Week   BACKCOUNTRY A young, urban couple—one an experienced backpacker, the other a newbie—goes camping in the Canadian wilderness in this fact-based adventure drama, where they are soon lost in the forest and menaced...

Stage magician vs. charlatans in engaging ‘An Honest Liar’ It’s a story fraught with drama—fame, fraud, deception, religion, showbiz, money. Hot-button LGBT and immigration issues also swim to the surface in this tale of coming out, coming clean, and growing up. Dramatic fiction? No, it’s the life story of professional stage magician James (“The Amazing”) Randi,...

UCSC partners with local nonprofit to find plant-based solution to a deadly superbug Many people think essential oils are simply New Age fodder, used for therapeutic and spiritual healing. There is that. But local clinical trials have found that these ancient remedies, which can interact with human physiology, are also proving effective in killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria—a...

In 40 years of publishing, Good Times has seen a lot of “bests.” Some of the local businesses and individuals have come and gone, while others have remained the people’s choice for years. But the most important thing is that with every passing year, our survey gets more inclusive. The categories drill down deeper and deeper...

A hike that’s across from Waddell Beach. I didn’t realize you could go across the highway and do a super simple loop, and it’s beautiful. You can see the coastline. Liz Porter, Santa Cruz, Community Outreach                   The back entrance of Henry Cowell via Ocean Street Extension....

Abstract artist Sonia Calderon just wants to paint Juicy tubes of paint covering the surface of her work tables and benches. Juicy fields of thick paint covering the large canvases in her studio. There’s no denying that the large-scale abstract paintings made by restless artist Sonia Calderon are, well, juicy. So much so that she even...

Sean Venus’ gin straight up, remembering Rosa’s and a tasting of Hungarian wines Sean Venus has infused new botanical metaphors into the entire concept of gin. His Blend No. 1 Venus Spirits gin—for which I happily forked over $31 at Whole Foods—is the sort of libation that Morgan le Fay might have enjoyed over a midnight...

Pop-up spot attracts paleo crowd with locally sourced low-carb meals Since early February, Front Street Kitchen has hosted Thursday night pop-up dinners, allowing Santa Cruz to get a taste of all kinds of food. Front Street Kitchen started as a commercial kitchen for different caterers, but they’ve all gone their separate ways—except for Denna Myers (Local...

Win tickets to see The Dawn Drapes at the Blue Lagoon on SantaCruz.com The Dawn Drapes was formed in 2012 by Michael Sanzo, Daniel Rice and Eggy Gorman, three regulars of the Harrisonburg, Virginia music scene. Like many of the late-1960s bands, the Dawn Drapes play electric rock rooted in folk music. But where their predecessors may drift...