In the arts, social services, journalism, education and the fight against homelessness, the late Rowland Rebele leaves behind a legacy of community support in Santa Cruz County stunning in its breadth and commitment.
City Life
Posted inArts & Entertainment, City Life
New downtown Santa Cruz exhibition mashes up art and poetry
“Broadsides,” opening at the M.K. Contemporary Art gallery, presents the work of some of Santa Cruz County’s best-known poets alongside the work of visual artists — with artist Rose Sellery playing matchmaker.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, City Life
After a career as a high-profile journalist, Santa Cruz’s Peggy Townsend is living the novelist’s life
Since her retirement from journalism, longtime Sentinel writer Peggy Townsend has shifted her storytelling skills to the realm of fiction. In her latest novel, “The Beautiful and the Wild,” Townsend explores the depths of isolation and the power of secrets, drawing from her personal experiences as a journalist and a seven-week van trip across Alaska. She appears at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Tuesday.
Posted inCity Life
Brookdale Lodge, one of Santa Cruz County’s most haunted places, still spooks at 100-plus years old
The Brookdale Lodge is a legendary part of Santa Cruz County’s past, having hosted notable figures like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Herbert Hoover — and, allegedly, ghosts. Long believed to be haunted by several spirits, the 100-plus-year-old hotel still holds surprises for visitors and staff. Now, as owner Pravin Patel looks to restore some of the closed-off, run-down sections of the hotel, patrons might soon be able to experience the lodge as it was in its heyday.
Posted inCity Life
Children’s theater lights up the stage this weekend with ‘Matilda’ and ‘The Addams Family’
Forget Halloween — if you really want to see children delight in costumes and festivities, check out two theater productions slated for this weekend. Christian Youth Theater in Santa Cruz brings a new take on Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” to the Crocker Theater at Cabrillo College, while All About Theatre stages a season-appropriate production of “The Addams Family” at the London Nelson Community Center.
Posted inCity Life
What’s happening where this Halloween season in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz is a terrific place to be in the black-and-orange season, from the beautiful and family-oriented cultural richness of Dia de Los Muertos in downtown Watsonville to the whack-a doodle spectacle and abandon of Halloween night in downtown Santa Cruz. Wallace Baine brings you a selection of the best ways to have some spooky fun.
Posted inCity Life
What would a new downtown arena mean for Santa Cruz audiences?
With Kaiser Permanente Arena extended beyond its intended lifespan, the Santa Cruz Warriors want a multipurpose downtown venue that could host events beyond basketball year-round, with a capacity of 3,000-4,000. That would be an alluring upgrade from the Civic Auditorium in terms of attracting big-name musical acts and speakers, but whether a new venue would suit mainstay Civic tenants like the Santa Cruz Symphony is a concern — and in any case, it’s no slam dunk that a bigger new venue would be filled regularly, either.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, City Life
Halloween thrills, audio theater, Tom Stoppard: Santa Cruz County theater stages a fall comeback
Santa Cruz County theater companies are making a strong comeback this fall with a lineup that ranges from “The Thin Place,” a chilling play about life after death at the Actors’ Theatre, to Tom Stoppard’s “Rough Crossing,” which opens Jewel Theatre Co.’s farewell season.
Posted inCity Life
Open Studios is back this month with more than 300 artists opening their doors across the county
Besides the wonderful artistic encounters, Open Studios gives you an excuse to explore areas of the county that might not be a part of your daily routine. This weekend, it’s South County’s moment to shine — that’s the studios from Live Oak down to Watsonville. On Oct. 14 and 15, it’s North County, including Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley. And Oct. 21 and 22 is an encore weekend for the whole county.
Posted inCity Life
Santa Cruz Comedy Festival revives pre-pandemic ambitions, welcoming 40 comedians to 10 venues
The Santa Cruz Comedy Festival returns to Santa Cruz from Wednesday through Saturday. The festival struggled through pandemic closures but is getting back to its ambitious origins in full force this week, with 40 acts performing across 10 different venues.