.Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Dec. 9-15

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC 

BOOK SALES AT THE CAPITOLA MALL Thanks to the generosity of the management of the Capitola Mall, we have reopened our bookstore in a new, spacious location in the mall. We offer thousands of used items: books, CDs, and DVDs. Most items sell for $1 or $2 each. All funds will be used to enhance the new Capitola library. Cash or check only. Open Saturdays and Sundays, noon-4pm. We are located in the Capitola Mall next to Hallmark and across from Express. Masks and social distancing are required. Please do not take donations to the bookstore. We will pick up donated materials from you. Contact Karen Scott at ka***@sp*****.com to schedule a pick up.

VIRTUAL HOLIDAY ART AND CRAFT FAIRE Santa Cruz County Park’s annual Holiday Art and Craft Faire is going virtual for 2020! For the month of December, join us online at scparks.com to find and support amazing local artists and craft-makers! Our webpage will feature over 40 artists who offer a broad range of holiday gifts ranging from glasswork, prints, cards, jewelry, and more!. 

BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL VIRTUAL FESTIVAL This year, bring the adventure home! Fluff up your couch cushions, grab a snack of choice, and make sure you have a good internet connection because the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is going virtual! For the first time ever, travel to breathtaking destinations, embark on daring expeditions, and celebrate some of the most remarkable outdoor achievements, all from the comforts of your living room. The Covid-19 pandemic has created extraordinary circumstances around the world and many of our live World Tour screenings have been postponed or canceled. While we can’t replicate the experience of seeing the Banff films on the big screen of your local theatre, surrounded by friends and your community, these curated programs of amazing outdoor films will inspire you to live life to the fullest … however that looks these days! Please visit riotheatre.com for more information about the online programs and how you can support your local screening. 

SALSA SUELTA IN PLACE FREE ZOOM SESSION For all dance-deprived dancers! Free weekly online session in Cuban-style Salsa Suelta for experienced beginners and up. May include Mambo, ChaChaCha, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Orisha, Son Montuno, Cuban-Salsa. Ages 14 and up. Thursdays at 7pm. Contact to get Zoom link: salsagente.com

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COMMUNITY 

DESSERTS IN THE RAW—PLANT-BASED PLAY-ALONG Can dessert be a transformational experience for your taste buds, your body, the Earth, and all of lifekind? You betcha! Join raw dessert master Chef Beth Love to learn just how healthy and life-changing dessert can be! Offered on a donation basis. All proceeds benefit Eat for the Earth. Online at desserts-in-the-raw-12-10-20.eventbrite.com. Wednesday, Dec. 9, 5:30-7pm.  

BE THE SOLUTION: A WORKSHOP ON HOW YOU CAN HELP TO END HOMELESSNESS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Homelessness is a huge issue that needs solving, but where do we begin? Join community activist and former Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane, and Housing Matters Community Engagement Manager Andrea Feltz, in an interactive workshop to discover how you can be a part of the solutions to homelessness. We will walk through a simple five-step process, with big and small group discussions, to uncover what you can do today to join us at Housing Matters in solving homelessness in our community.  Bring your questions, a notebook and a pen, and get ready to make your personal plan to help join the forces in your county and beyond! Learn more here: bethesolutionssc.eventbrite.com. Thursday, Dec. 10, 10-11am. 

JACKET AND BLANKET DRIVE For November and December, the Scott’s Valley High School Junior Class is hosting a jacket and blanket drive to help supply jackets and blankets to people who are homeless in Santa Cruz County. It is very important to make sure everyone has jackets and blankets because of how cold the weather has been. All items must be washed and can be dropped off at Four Points Sheraton Scotts Valley, located at 5030 Scotts Valley Drive. Items will be donated to Food Not Bombs Santa Cruz. 

VEGAN CHEESE, PLEASE! Looking for something really special to serve for the holidays? Want it to have gourmet-flavor but a star nutrition profile? In this class, you will learn to make a variety of artisanal plant-based cheeses that delight the senses without hurting your health. This is the first time master Chef Beth Love will be offering this popular class online, so get your tickets quickly! Offered on a donation basis. All proceeds benefit Eat for the Earth. Saturday, Dec. 12, 3-4:30pm. vegan-cheese-please-12-12-20.eventbrite.com

RESTORATIVE SELF CARE FOR CZU WILDFIRE SURVIVORS The CZU fire has wreaked havoc on our community. Even now, weeks later, you may notice that you’re still experiencing a disruption to your sleep patterns, being in emotional pain, suffering from incessant worry, feeling unsafe or easily startled, or just completely overwhelmed with all that you are dealing with. If so, you are not alone. Since the fires broke out in August, our community has suffered greatly, yet we’ve also shown the ability to come together to support one another, confide in one another, and encourage one another. This six-week series is a time to meet with other community members to help begin the healing process. Each evening we will explore different practices to help you manage the impact of the upheaval you’ve been through, using breathing, gentle stretching, guided meditation, journaling and time for connecting with each other. Luma Yoga and Family Center, 1010 Center St., Santa Cruz. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7-8:30pm. 

GROUPS

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS All our OA meetings have switched to being online. Please call 831-429-7906 for meeting information. Do you have a problem with food? Drop into a free, friendly Overeaters Anonymous 12-Step meeting. All are welcome! This meeting is bilingual, English and Spanish. La nueva hora de las 6:30pm comienza el 6 de mayo de 2020. Todas nuestras reuniones de OA han pasado a estar en línea. Llame al 831-429-7906 para obtener información sobre la reunión. ¿Tienes algún problema con la comida? Participe en una reunión gratuita y amistosa de 12 pasos para comedores anónimos. ¡Todos son bienvenidos! Esta reunión es bilingüe, inglés y español. 6:30-7:30pm. Watsonville Volunteer Center, 12 Carr St. Watsonville, Santa Cruz.

VIRTUAL YOUNG ADULT (18-30) TRANSGENDER SUPPORT GROUP A weekly peer support group for young adults aged 18-25 who identify as transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, agender, or any other non-cisgender identity. This is a social group where we meet and chat among ourselves, sharing our experiences and thoughts in a warm, welcoming setting. Our meetings will be held on Discord during the shelter-in-place order. For more info, contact Ezra Bowen at tr***@di*************.org.

LGBTQNBI+ SUPPORT GROUP FOR CORONAVIRUS STRESS This weekly LGBTQNBI+ support group is being offered to help us all deal with stress during the shelter-in-place situation that we are experiencing from the coronavirus. Feel free to bring your lunch and chat together to get support. This group is offered at no cost and will be facilitated by licensed therapists Shane Hill, Ph.D., and Melissa Bernstein, LMFT #52524. Learn how to join the Zoom support group at diversitycenter.org/community-calendar

OUTDOOR

LABSIDE CHATS: A CONVERSATION WITH A SCIENTIST, FEATURING SHAWN NOREN, PH.D. Tune in for the next Labside Chat with Shawn Noren, research scientist with the Institute of Marine Sciences at UCSC. Join us to explore the intricacies of marine mammal physiology. Join the conversation! Submit your questions in advance for Shawn, then watch the conversation to hear the answers during the live chat. Visit the Seymour Center’s website to submit your questions in advance for each Shawn and to watch the live conversation: seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/learn/ongoing-education/labside-chats. Labside Chats are livestreamed the second and fourth Thursday of every month (excluding holidays), and are offered at no charge. Please support the Seymour Center by becoming a member or making a donation today. Thursday, Dec. 10, 3:30pm. seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/learn/ongoing-education/labside-chats.

WOVEN IN TIME: THE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND HISTORICAL ECOLOGY OF THE ELKHORN SLOUGH “Woven in Time: the Cultural Heritage and Historical Ecology of the Elkhorn Slough” explores the rich history of the region with a presentation by Reserve Stewardship Coordinator Andrea Woolfolk—who has spent a large part of her career documenting how humans have shaped this estuary—followed by a virtual ribbon cutting to celebrate “Woven in Time: the Cultural Heritage and Historical Ecology of the Elkhorn Slough,” a new multimedia exhibit made possible with the generous support of California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Thursday, Dec. 10, 5:30-7pm. Streamed via Facebook live at facebook.com/events/2519752044989001.

CULTIVATING GROWTH WITH ‘SEEDFOLKS’ The Homeless Garden Project (HGP) announces the third and final event of its 2020 Sustain in Place: A series of at-home tastings. The fundraising event features readings from “Seedfolks,” by Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman. The story, suitable for all ages, is about a diverse cast of characters transforming an empty lot in Cleveland, Ohio, into a community garden and the transformations that they each experience. This virtual gathering features Paul Fleischman, as well as six community leaders, each of whom will read a chapter: Donna Meyers, Incoming Mayor, City of Santa Cruz; Jonathan Franzen, award-winning author; Tony Elliot, Parks and Recreation Director, City of Santa Cruz; Justin Cummings, Mayor, City of Santa Cruz; Blanca Tavera, LCSW, Faculty, School of Social Work, San Jose State University; Mike Ryan, Artistic Director, Santa Cruz Shakespeare. Guests will also have the opportunity to pick up a reusable grocery tote bag (donated by New Leaf Community Markets) from Homeless Garden Project’s Downtown Store, filled with a copy of “Seedfolks,” HGP’s organic lavender shortbread cookie mix, a jar of HGP’s organic strawberry or pumpkin jam, HGP’s organic herbal tea and fresh-baked bread donated by La Posta Restaurant and other local bakeries. By attending the Sustain in Place event, guests will be helping to support trainees in transforming their lives and gaining the skills they need to build their home in the world. Ticket information is available at bit.ly/SeedfolksHGP or on the Homeless Garden Project website, at homelessgardenproject.org. Saturday, Dec. 12, 3pm. $25-$95. 

WEST CLIFF DECEMBER HOLIDAY OUTDOOR MARKET Enjoy a socially distanced holiday outdoor market with unique artisans and food trucks while taking in the spectacular view of the ocean. This one of a kind market will be held in two parking lots along West Cliff Drive. This is always a popular spot for locals and tourists, as it overlooks the famous Steamers Lane surf spot. The market will feature one of a kind gifts and a chance to do some holiday shopping. The market will follow all social distancing guidelines and all vendors and attendees will be wearing face masks. Please come and join us and enjoy this outdoor holiday shopping experience! Saturday, Dec. 12, 10am-4pm. Lighthouse Field State Beach, W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

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