As devastating wildfires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area, Santa Cruz County residents are searching for opportunities to help. Lookout compiled a variety of ways locals can support the thousands of displaced Southern Californians, along with animals, firefighters and other emergency personnel.
Guides
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz County gift guide: 9 local non-booze gifts you can get at the grocery store
Looking for last-minute gifts? Don’t overlook your local grocery store. Lookout’s food and drink reporter shares her picks for some of the best Santa Cruz County-made products widely available at local markets – that aren’t wine or booze. From olive oil and hot sauce to chocolate and jam, all of these treats are less than $20.
Posted inGuides
‘Tis the season for service: Where to volunteer in Santa Cruz County during the holidays
Santa Cruz County nonprofits have plenty of ways to volunteer in person during the holiday season, from helping seniors and children to preparing meals and writing cards for those in need.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
A guide to Santa Cruz County holiday fun 2024
From big traditional productions like “A Christmas Carol” and “The Nutcracker” to the return of the Flynn Creek Circus to lights at the fairgrounds, the downtown parade and a medley of other happenings, Santa Cruz County is brimming with the holiday spirit, and Wallace Baine has a guide to it all.
Posted inFood & Drink
The 15 best sandwiches in Santa Cruz County
From Vietnamese bánh mì to Italian paninis to Mexican tortas and classic deli sandwiches, these are 15 sandwiches in Santa Cruz County with star power. This list includes options from neighborhood cornerstones like Zoccoli’s Delicatessen in Santa Cruz, creative combinations from newer restaurants like Seabright Deli and refreshing vegetarian options from places like The Grove Cafe in Felton.
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz pizza guide: Does our pizza-obsessed county have its own style?
Santa Cruz County is home to more than 70 places to buy pizza, and can boast a higher pizza-per-capita ratio than New York City and Chicago. Our little coastal community’s pizza obsession is rooted in California culinary history, but modern chefs are putting their own spin on things with local ingredients and fresh takes on regional styles. Local pizza makers weigh in on whether Santa Cruz has developed its own style.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Summer guide: Your top events in the Santa Cruz summer
From music, beer, art and wine festivals to an array of entertainment at the Beach Boardwalk, ambitious productions on local stages and annual traditions like the Wharf to Wharf race, summer options are virtually endless in Santa Cruz County (and beyond).
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Fireworks-free Fourth fun: Your guide to celebrating Independence Day in Santa Cruz County
The Fourth of July in Santa Cruz County won’t have fireworks, but it’s heavy on parades and community celebrations, from Boulder Creek to Watsonville.
Posted inFood & Drink
Hot dog! Here’s where to enjoy the best hot dogs of the summer in Santa Cruz County
Hot dogs are an iconic summer meal, and in Santa Cruz County, six hot dog vendors plus one café are offering fresh takes on the classic all year long. Lily Belli tried them all, and brings a recommendation from each.
Posted inFood & Drink
A guide to the best burgers in Santa Cruz County
Which burgers in Santa Cruz County are the best? Lookout food and drink correspondent Lily Belli hit the streets to find out. From cheffy restaurant burgers to paper-wrapped fast food, here are the local burgers that rose to the top.
