Verve Coffee Roasters has grown to become a major brand in artisanal coffee, with a successful wholesale business and 19 cafés across California and as far flung as Tokyo. But it’s Verve’s partnership with Capital One that could catapult the brand to a national footprint by the end of 2023. For Santa Cruzans, the collaboration with a major financial institution begs a larger question: Can the company that first brought the laid-back Santa Cruz vibe to California’s coffee scene sustain its boutique, surfer-chic appeal as it ascends the national stage?
Ashley Spencer
Posted inLatest News
Sunday Reads: Black Lives Matter mural repainting, local trivia boom and Junior Guards’ serious fun
No matter your budget, the ages and size of your crew and how you like your fun (active, chill, noisy, peaceful, with or…
Posted inGuides
Zip line the redwoods, take a forest bath, ride the rails, row a boat — choose your own Felton summer adventure
No matter your budget, the ages and size of your crew and how you like your fun (active, chill, noisy, peaceful, with or without an adult beverage at hand …), chances are you can find something in Felton to make summer memories to cherish. Take our quiz and let Ashley Spencer be your guide from there.
Posted inCoast Life
A day away in Pescadero: Elephant seals at Año Nuevo, an award-winning tavern and baby goats
The 30-mile stretch of coast north of Santa Cruz between Año Nuevo and Pescadero offers a wealth of options for families and groups, couples or those flying solo. With spring bird migration, elephant seal molting and goat kidding seasons at their peak, Ashley Spencer offers a variety of ways to enjoy a day away.
Posted inFood & Drink
Relish the radish: Making the most of Santa Cruz’s bounty in this soggy spring
Memorial Day is in sight, and with it the return of eating outdoors, protein on the grill and making stars of veggie-laden salads. Taking her cue from the “cook locally, cook seasonally” approach of Seabright Italian standby La Posta and delving into a pair of new cookbooks, Ashley Spencer offers some ideas and recipes to make the most of local produce even at a time when the effects of climate change on our food scene couldn’t be more apparent after a disastrous winter.
Posted inCoast Life
Santa Cruz road trip: A day away in Monterey
Just 60 miles or less from just about anywhere in Santa Cruz County, Monterey makes a great destination for families and groups, couples or those flying solo. With the Monterey Bay Aquarium a must among the Central Coast’s crown jewels, Ashley Spencer plots out an itinerary for a quick day trip south.
Posted inCoast Life
City aims to pilot Santa Cruz wharf to calmer waters after stormy few years
“We’re investing in building momentum this summer,” the City of Santa Cruz’s development manager says of goings-on at the wharf, where the balance between tourists and locals, new challenges and old wooden pilings, development and a fragile ecosystem are all part of the equation.
Posted inFood & Drink
Bait the hook: Dining renaissance underway at the Santa Cruz wharf
With the reopening of Stagnaro Brothers and Firefish Grill, a Humble Sea pop-up, Makai’s island grog and a summer concert series, the wharf is aiming to tempt Santa Cruz locals into the mix at the popular tourist haunt.
Posted inLatest News
Sunday Reads: Climate change video game, life after the Benchlands, trouble at the county fair
Breakfast at the Westside farmers market to vino with a view to dinner al fresco in Boulder Creek and Soquel, summertime…
Posted inFood & Drink
Bountiful pop-up fare for spring, summer and beyond: The 2023 farm-to-table guide for Santa Cruz County
Breakfast at the Westside farmers market to vino with a view to dinner al fresco in Boulder Creek and Soquel, summertime is the ideal canvas for Santa Cruz County chefs, restaurateurs, vinters and more to up their game.