Hail, hail, dear readers. It’s Tuesday, Jan. 9, and we’re likely to see some rain around Santa Cruz County, the forecast says, with highs in the mid-50s and overnight lows in the 30s.
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A double dose of Lily Belli starts us off, with Lookout’s food & drink correspondent reporting that Capitola Bar & Grill, long the center of a feud between the restaurant owners and their landlord, is set to close at the end of January. Lily also recaps what was an uneven 2023 for Santa Cruz County restaurants, and looks ahead to what 2024 might have on the menu.
King tides are returning this week, and Tae Yun Kang has the details on when, how high and low and what precautions might be in order.
In Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, columnist Mike Rotkin is also looking ahead, scoping out what he sees happening in Santa Cruz County politics. You’ll find that, plus the latest in local high school sports, on the other side of these newsy snapshots, courtesy of Sergio Cardoso:
Photo of the day
A piece of construction equipment crashed into a pedestrian bridge over Soquel Drive in Aptos on Monday afternoon, severely damaging the structure and closing the road through Cabrillo College.
The California Highway Patrol said the excavator smashed into the pedestrian overpass around 1 p.m. Monday on the westbound side of Soquel Drive.
Photos the CHP posted on social media showed the excavator, its arm extended into the air, chained to a large wooden slab atop a flatbed trailer that is being hauled by a dump truck.
The CHP said Monday afternoon that westbound Soquel Drive would be closed until further notice, with Perimeter Road and northbound Highway 1 as detours; just after 10 p.m., the agency said that stretch of Soquel Drive had been reopened to traffic.
‘Pushed to the limit,’ Capitola Bar & Grill to close at the end of January
Over the past two years, a conflict between the owners of Capitola Bar & Grill in Capitola and their landlord have escalated into multiple lawsuits. Now, owners Lasalle and Michelle Strong say they have been “pushed to the limit” and are closing the business at the end of the month. Lily Belli has the update.
2023 was a challenging year for the local dining scene. Will 2024 be better?
Following the pandemic revival in 2022, 2023 was a slow and difficult year for many Santa Cruz County restaurants. As we enter 2024, some business owners might attempt to lure budget-conscious customers in with more affordable menus and special events. Lily Belli looks back, and forward.
DAILY DIGEST
That’s a start from Lookout, but we’re far from done. Still to come this Tuesday is not only more on the food & drink scene in the form of the Lily Belli on Food newsletter, but also, with California’s primary now just eight weeks away, the launch of our Santa Cruz County voters guide and On the Campaign Trail, where you’ll find up-to-the-minute news, notes, numbers and more as we head toward the March 5 vote and then Nov. 5 Election Day beyond. Sign up here for breaking news alerts via text and email, and for Lily’s and all of Lookout’s other newsletters; following us on the socials is another good way to stay on top of Santa Cruz County news and views – connect with Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.
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May your Tuesday be all that and then some.
Will McCahill