Quick Take:
Forget Halloween — if you really want to see children delight in costumes and festivities, check out two theater...
A brisk good morning, all. It is Friday, Oct. 27, and sunshine is the order of the day around Santa Cruz County. Temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s, and more of the same is forecast through the weekend.
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This being Friday, you know Lily Belli is in the mix — she’s got a look at a bunch of new food and drink options coming to downtown Santa Cruz, including a Pacific Avenue location for Soquel vegetarian fave Pretty Good Advice. That, of course, is ahead of her latest Eaters Digest, bound for an inbox near you later in the day.
I’ve also got Lookout’s Athlete of the Month for October, with Thomas Frey shining the spotlight on Soquel High School football star Jordan McCord III, who has the Knights playoff-bound and holds a pair of scholarship offers, including from San Jose State.
You should also read along for a double shot of Wallace Baine, who not only has a look at a pair of youth theater productions opening Friday but also wades into what’s happening all over Santa Cruz County — Halloween and Día de Los Muertos celebrations being the headliner — with his latest Weekender.
You’ll find all that and the latest on Otter 841 among the Friday headlines, on the other side of this snapshot.
Photo of the day
Scotts Valley High School returns this week with its annual haunted house, taking place through Saturday at 555 Glenwood Dr. in Scotts Valley. Hundreds of actors dressed as blood-soaked zombies and other ghouls do their best to scare guests in an immersive indoor experience. Tickets are $15 and are sold at the gate (cash only) starting at 5:30 p.m. The event is restricted to brave souls age 10 and up.
Pretty Good Advice, Rock N Roll Donuts plus 8 more new restaurants headed to downtown Santa Cruz
Ten new food and beverage businesses are planned to open in downtown Santa Cruz, at least two within the next few months. A city official says there is “a lot of interest” in food-related businesses, suggesting a new wave of options along Pacific Avenue. Meanwhile, two recent closures and a long-delayed remodel show how difficult it can be to keep the doors open. Lily Belli has details.
Soquel High senior Jordan McCord III speeds past defenses to reach new heights
Jordan McCord III led Soquel High School to a historic football victory against Palma High last week, with his athleticism playing a key role as the Knights scored a 14-7 win and avenged last season’s loss. McCord has earned scholarship offers from San Jose State and Eastern Washington. Thomas Frey profiles Lookout’s Athlete of the Month.
➤ HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP: Watsonville volleyball turnaround, Soquel’s big gridiron win & Haley Jones honor
Lots to sift through as Friday warms up and we head into the weekend. As I mentioned, Lily Belli will be back later with Eaters Digest, which you can get delivered right to you by signing up right here. That link will also get you breaking news alerts via text and email, to say nothing of all of Lookout’s other newsletters. (On the horizon are the specially curated Sunday Reads and, coming Monday, Christopher Neely’s missive on Santa Cruz County politics and policy, In the Public Interest.) Don’t worry, you can connect with Lookout on social media, too: We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.
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Cheers to a nice Friday, and have a safe, relaxing weekend beyond.
Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz
Upcoming events in Santa Cruz County
SATURDAY 11/11
Apple-Palooza @Farm Discovery at Live Earth
Cloe Hubbard @Steel Bonnet Brewing Company
James Durbin: Unplugged @Veterans Village
Noah Gundersen @Felton Music Hall
Lowdown Brass Band @Moe’s Alley
SUNDAY 11/12
Sip & Stroll @Capitola Village
Fall Wine Walk @Downtown Santa Cruz
Grateful Sundays with Matt Hartle & Friends @Felton Music Hall
The Lacs @The Catalyst
Gene Luen Yang | “The Books Of Clash Volume 2″ @Bookshop Santa Cruz