Artists, hippies and anyone with an acquired taste for the impossibly strange have been making the pilgrimage to Santa Cruz for decades. Drawn by the sheer beauty of the mountains and calm of the ocean, this city by the sea has collected a legendary reputation for keeping things different—even inspiring the local slogan “Keep Santa Cruz Weird”— but not everyone knows what keeps the magic going. Here’s a short list.
Articles
A Tour of Santa Cruz Strangeness
Artists, hippies and anyone with an acquired taste for the impossibly strange have been making the pilgrimage to Santa Cruz for decades. Drawn by the sheer beauty of the mountains and calm of the ocean, this city by the sea has collected a legendary reputation for keeping things different—even inspiring the local slogan “Keep Santa Cruz Weird”— but not everyone knows what keeps the magic going. Here’s a short list.
Hotel Paradox Opens New Restaurant
Hotel Paradox showed that the house dining room, Solaire, is serious about its modernist ambience, streamlined menu and visuals. It’s a welcome contrast to days gone by at this vintage Ocean Avenue location.
Why TED Is a Viral Sensation
I met TED at a time in my life when everything felt at once possible and unattainable. It was my second year of college, and I was jaded. I had spent the year before immersed in my classes, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I had the power to make a mark. But with all the negativity in the news, and too much political spin in my volunteer experiences, I ended up feeling more powerless and ineffectual than ever. Like so many bright-eyed younguns, I wanted to make a change, but didn’t even know where to start—or if it would even matter in the end. I needed help believing in humanity again.
Local aerialist Allie Cooper Takes TEDx Out of Its Comfort Zone
When the list of events for TEDx Santa Cruz’s second year came out, there was one that was completely unexpected. Sandwiched into the very TED-esque list of speakers was the collaboration between Santa Cruz aerialist Allie Cooper, local electronic artist and producer LoWGritt, and San Francisco MC Sight on the Mic. But everything that made it wrong for TEDx is what made it perfect for TEDx.
Green Day to Play Santa Cruz Civic Dec. 4
It was reaffirmed just how just how big Green Day has become when the 2000-seat Santa Cruz Civic was announced today as one of the “intimate venues” the band will play as part of the first leg of their “¡UNO!, ¡DOS!, ¡TRÉ!” tour, before expanding into an arena tour in 2013. Green Day will play the Civic Dec. 4, with tickets going on sale Sept. 14 at 10am.
The Fresh and Onlys’ New Twist on Garage Rock
The latest “garage rock” movement—led by Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees and the Fresh and Onlys—is proving to be the most diverse, least-retro-sounding group of bands to have the term slapped on them in the last 30 years. The Fresh and Onlys have perhaps strayed the furthest from the garage-rock sound with the release of their fourth album, Long Slow Dance.
Q&A: Heather Liner
Liner says people love pastries because they take patience and skill. Not just anyone can with some up.
First Friday Offers Best in Free Dining
The coming of “First Friday” means two things: One, another night of inspiring, innovative arts events. Two, you just paid rent. Luckily, once a month in Santa Cruz you can satisfy your inner culture vulture, while simultaneously acting like an actual vulture. Go ahead, eat that 18th cheese cube—save your groceries for Saturday night.
35 Reasons to Love Fall
Any local knows the only things that set alongside the summer sun are the crowds and the vague sense of guilt for choosing to stay inside on a nice day. In order to celebrate the best time of year in our neck of the (red)woods, we’ve compiled a list of 35 can’t-miss fall arts and culture events.
