New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…
Liza Monroy
Liza Monroy is the author of “The Distractions” and three previous books. In addition to Lookout, where she wrote about parenting, her work has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, O (Oprah Magazine), Marie Claire, Longreads, Newsweek and many other publications and anthologies. Find out more on her website, LizaMonroy.com.
Westside: Beautiful quirks & local lore
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…
What makes the Westside the Westside?
It’s the San Lorenzo River geographically, but it’s as much a well-developed state of mind. Liza Monroy picks that identity apart — and provides a great guide for all to eat, visit and explore.
Don’t mess with the women: Backlash over surf contest inequity leads to a reexamination of fairness, the law
When Santa Cruz’s only big surf industry company, O’Neill Wetsuits, put on an event in October that for the first time included females, it could’ve been a happy story of progress at last. Instead it “came off wrong,” according to many who followed it closely, and the company has said very little about it. Others, though, had much to say.
May the stoke be with you! Surf season is here & so too is this handy guide to Santa Cruz surf schools
With the concurrent arrival of fall and the season’s first northwest swell, which brought large waves to Santa Cruz’s world-famous stretch of coastline this past week, it’s the perfect time to consider being part of the action in the water. Whether you’re brand new to it or just need to scrape off some rust, Lookout has your complete guide to finding the stoke.
Green miles: A vegan roadmap to Santa Cruz
From breakfast through after-dinner dessert and just about every other eating and drinking opportunity in between, Santa Cruz County has a wealth of options for anyone eating vegan or curious about trying it.
Sprouting a movement: Veganism goes mainstream
Santa Cruz has had a vegan streak for years, and between the area’s open-minded consumers, access to fresh, top-quality ingredients and the blossoming of options at big chains like Safeway, “it’s never been easier to go plant-based.”
Santa Cruz’s outdoor wedding boom: After the pandemic pause, demand for that special place, day is surging
After a period of uncertainty that put traditional large weddings on hold, couples and those who help them put together the perfect day are finding creative ways to make things safe and special. Lookout turned to the experts to see what was going on.
A surf tribe rallies for Ráine: ‘When your baby is diagnosed with cancer, you need extra family’
Before she had even turned 1, Ráine Huszar of Santa Cruz had undergone 14 rounds of chemotherapy, each round lasting three weeks, and tallied more than 16 hospital admissions. Her family has gotten positive news in recent weeks and those at Saturday’s Sharks Cove Surf Classic hope to see her smiling face on the sand.
Into the blue: Your guide to Santa Cruz coastal exploration
Whether in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, the waters just off Santa Cruz County are swimming with possibilities. Take it easy in the Yacht Harbor? Cruise around a wharf? Explore the wilds off the Westside? Venture to Shark Park and the Cement Ship? Lookout has you covered no matter what you choose.

