In the return of her biweekly column, Lookout wine expert Laurie Love gives readers a taste of a recent trip to European wine regions, revisits Cabrillo College’s Perfect Pair event, covers news from the local wine industry and highlights events you shouldn’t miss.
Aptos
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Beckmann’s pie honors, Humble Sea in S.F., Whale City Aptos opens
Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli notes blue-ribbon success for Santa Cruz’s Beckmann’s Bakery, another new location for a Westside brewery, a long-anticipated addition to the Whale City family and much more in her Tuesday newsletter.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
High school sports roundup: Santa Cruz High in NorCal volleyball playoffs; CCS tourneys up next in baseball, softball
In his weekly look at Santa Cruz County high school sports, Thomas Frey chronicles the postseason journey for Santa Cruz High’s boys volleyball team and recaps how the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League season ended in baseball and softball with Central Coast Section play starting this week.
Posted inFood & Drink
Best of Santa Cruz County food & drink events, May 10-16
Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli highlights top events happening around Santa Cruz County in the coming week, plus more listings from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Baine’s Nine: Nine necessary know-abouts for the week ahead in Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, May 9-16
With the weekend nearly here, get your B9 shot in the form of Baine’s Nine, Wallace Baine’s recommendations for things to do around Santa Cruz County via Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inFood & Drink
Restaurateur-chef duo plots transformation of Aptos’ Palapas to Mexican seafood-focused Dos Pescados
Business partners Brandon Smittcamp and chef Trent Lidgey have plans to transform the 34-year-old Palapas Cantina in Seascape into Dos Pescados, an elevated but casual Mexican seafood restaurant. Palapas will close May 19 and aims to reopen as Dos Pescados in June.
Posted inEducation
New superintendent Heather Contreras brings deep Santa Cruz County ties, willing ear to PVUSD
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Heather Contreras comes from a family of educators, and a family that once made its home in Watsonville. With the district facing ongoing challenges including declining enrollment, she’s starting out with a “Look, listen and learn” tour.
Posted inLatest News
Sick pelicans are turning up across Santa Cruz County. Here’s what might be happening.
Animal rescuers and volunteers have encountered a huge number of sick, injured and disoriented pelicans over the past several weeks. Although these birds are testing negative for avian flu, the afflicted animals keep piling up. What is causing the widespread ailments?
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Paystand’s progress, food and beverage spots for lease, Joby inks Abu Dhabi partnership
Scotts Valley’s Paystand aims to become the “Venmo of business-to-business payments,” with its latest acquisition, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her latest business roundup. Plus, leases for a downtown Santa Cruz food kiosk and cafes at the Tannery Arts Center and on Cedar Street are up for grabs. And Joby Aviation partners with Abu Dhabi and expands its Marina facility.
Posted inLatest News
Board of supervisors unanimously approves two contested segments of Coastal Rail Trail
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve Segments 10 and 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail in Mid-County just over a month after it initially deadlocked on moving the project forward. Regional Transportation Commission staff expects construction to begin no later than summer 2026.