Actors’ Theatre delivers a particularly tight and engaging Night “B” in its 30th anniversary “8 Tens @ 8” Short Play Festival. Eight short plays move briskly across styles and settings, unified by strong performances and assured direction. A confident, crowd-pleasing evening that showcases the festival at its best.
Arts & Entertainment
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘8 Tens @ 8’ Short Play Festival turns 30 and still moves fast
Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre launches its 30th edition of the “8 Tens @ 8” festival with a lively Night “A” that offers a brisk, entertaining sampler of short plays that range from laugh-out-loud funny to quietly touching. It’s a crowd-pleasing reminder of why this beloved festival has thrived for three decades.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I made Santa Cruz the setting for two chapters of my novel – here’s why
Max Talley, a writer living in Santa Barbara, set two pivotal chapters of his recent book “Peace, Love & Haight” in Santa Cruz. Here, he explains why the Beach Boardwalk and the drive north up Highway 1 figure into his hippie crime novel set in 1969.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Weekender: Food events to put on your 2026 calendar
Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inFood & Drink
Best of Santa Cruz County food & arts events this weekend, Jan. 15-19
With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County, with a recommendation from Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Exploring hidden light: Steven Haddock brings ocean’s radiant secrets to life
In “The Radiant Sea,” scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute bring together a lifetime of research and photography of deep-sea creatures. A book event Friday will dive into the role of light in the ocean’s depths with a presentation, demonstration, videos and a Q&A session.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios for sale: Changes coming for another beloved pillar of local music scene
Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios is for sale. Its longtime owner-operators, Jenn and Paul Gallacher, hope to sell to someone who wants to keep the music rehearsal spaces on Coral Street open and continue running the business.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Hardcore punk band Drain plays surprise show at new local tattoo shop
Hidden Sun Tattoo, a new tattoo shop on Water Street in Santa Cruz, drew hundreds of hardcore fans by hosting a $10 pop-up show featuring local punk band Drain to celebrate its opening.
Posted inFood & Drink
Best of Santa Cruz County food & drink events, Jan. 9-15
Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli highlights top events happening around Santa Cruz County this weekend and into next week, plus more listings from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Here are Watsonville Public Library’s top checked-out books of 2025
Mysteries, manga and even crochet dominated the Watsonville Public Library’s most checked-out books in 2025, reflecting wide-ranging tastes among adult, teen and young readers.