Hi friends,
My mind this week is on the beautiful and unforgettable Amy Ettinger, the Santa Cruz writer and journalist who passed away last weekend a few months after a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis last fall. Amy, you might remember, published a stunning and courageous piece about her diagnosis in the Washington Post last August. She was the author of a delightfully buoyant book called “Sweet Spot,” about America’s love of ice cream. Keep a thought for her husband, Dan, and her daughter, Julianna. We’ve lost a sweet soul and a bright inquisitive mind. Have a dish of your favorite ice cream tonight for Amy.
Now, on with the show.
This Just In!
The great jazz vocalist Kurt Elling is coming to the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on Sept. 12, in a show with longtime Branford Marsalis pianist Joey Calderazzo. His Deadpan-ness himself, the one and only James McMurtry, is scheduled for a date at the Rio on June 13. UC Santa Cruz’s astronomy and astrophysics departments are hosting a lecture titled “The Last Stargazers” at the Rio on April 17. But if star talk isn’t your thing, on the same date, April 17, you can catch The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash in another version of Western Wednesdays at Moe’s Alley. And, one of the most out-there musicians you’re ever likely to see, the guitarist known as Buckethead, is coming to The Catalyst on May 16.
Be sure to check out Lookout’s carefully curated and constantly updated planning guide, Down the Line, for the staggering riches and amazing choices awaiting Santa Cruz audiences. It’s our look ahead at the best shows, concerts and events through the rest of the year at clubs, stages and venues all over the county.
Here they are, nine necessary know-abouts for the week ahead. It’s the spring-in-my-step B9:
Gutzwiller memorial finished
The memorial to fallen Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy Damon Gutzwiller is now finished. Gutzwiller, you’ll remember, was shot and killed while responding to reports of a suspicious van near Ben Lomond — in other words, doing his job — in the summer of 2020.
The memorial is a beautifully designed spot in Willowbrook Park, a tiny county park in Aptos that Gutzwiller and his dog frequently visited. As created by Santa Cruz’s accomplished concrete artist Tom Ralston, the new memorial features shoeprints of the fallen deputy and his family, and a trio of bronze plaques placed in stone, honoring Sgt. Gutzwiller. Pay a visit sometime and reflect on the sacrifice of this fine public servant.
SCHS in motion
Fun stuff at Santa Cruz High this weekend — you might call it a SCHS Cardinal version of “Dancing With the Stars.” At the Santa Cruz High gym on Friday evening (6 p.m.), the school’s dance team and others from the Cardinal community will perform in “Dancing With the Santa Cruz Stars,” which was a big hit last year. This year’s theme is the movies, so each pair of dancers will perform to a popular soundtrack hit.
Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley is among the judges of the competition. The Santa Cruz High cheer squad and color guard will also make an appearance. It’s all open to the public, and general admission is $10. And if you have something Cardinal red to wear, that’s probably a good move.
Midtown Fridays return
Event Santa Cruz is gearing up for the return of Midtown Fridays, the weekly summer block party on Soquel Avenue in the heart of Midtown (or, if you prefer, Eastside). The event comes to life again May 31 and will continue each Friday through the end of August, with live music from a different local band each week.
Also Event Santa Cruz is deep into prep for the next installment of the NEXTies, to be co-presented by Lookout, on May 17, honoring many of the brightest and most on-the-move personalities in local arts, culture and business. Like last year, the NEXTies will take place at Woodhouse Blending & Brewing. We’ll hear about this year’s honorees very soon.
A shot of Joe on Zoom
On Saturday afternoon, if you’re free and near a Wi-Fi connection, you’ll get a chance to get to know Capitola’s master baker and songwriter Joe Ortiz, who will be the guest of honor at a Zoom event sponsored by Community Writers of Santa Cruz County.
As many in Capitola know well, Joe has been living an exciting double life, as one of the area’s great bread artists at Gayle’s Bakery and as a writer of no fewer than five stage musicals, including the thrilling “Escaping Queens,” which was the big show at Cabrillo Stage back in 2012.
Recently, he published a book of his poetry and lyrics from his shows. It’s titled “Diving Into Ink” (look for a copy next time you’re picking up a loaf at Gayle’s). On Saturday, Joe will read from the new book from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Earworm of the Week
Our friends at The New York Times have compiled an awesome list of the greatest songs having to do with California. And there are some terrific opportunities for rabbit-hole explorations on that list if you’re looking for them. But I’m still a bit miffed that, as comprehensive as it seems, the list is without Tim Bluhm’s gorgeous “California Way.” Bluhm is known as the lead singer and songwriter for The Mother Hips, one of NorCal’s finest live acts, straight outta Chico. In his way, Bluhm is California to the marrow — his latest album is a tribute to California icon Merle Haggard. And his sleepy, Sunday morning song “California Way” is a glorious evocation of the magic of California through music. The song begins “Steinbeck’s Eden is dry and dusty,” and then makes reference to “somewhere northward of Monterey,” so you know he’s in our neck of California. The song carries a distinct sense of melancholy. In fact, it’s a song about grief and survival, but it also sparkles much like these early spring mornings in the Monterey Bay. For those entranced by, say, Kate Wolf’s vision of California, this tune is a keeper.
Three Things
Here it is, our highly subjective, weirdly specific new feature, Three Things to Love in Santa Cruz County. And yes, we’re open to your suggestions:
- Yo, signage nerds. Let’s zero in on some of the coolest/weirdest/favorite-ist commercial signs in Santa Cruz County. My first nominee is the solemn hooded figure overlooking Highway 9 in downtown Felton, at The Abbot’s Thrift. Let’s hear yours.
- In my continuing quest for awesome Santa Cruz-themed stickers, I’ve discovered the work of designer/artist Mike Bencze, who offers twin beach-scene stickers, one of Santa Cruz, the other Santa Carla. Might as well get both.
- It’s true, West Cliff Drive has a nude beach, known to locals as 2222 or Pyramid Park (near where the jagged triangular art structure is, close to Natural Bridges). It might be America’s most uninviting nude beach — the way down is super treacherous, the beach is tiny to nonexistent on some days, the ocean there can kill you, and passersby can get a looky-loo with little effort. I know it was popular at one time, but does anyone use it today?
That’s all I got, friends. Come at me with comments, ideas, complaints, or thundering insights. Thanks to all Lookout members for your faith and support, and please, spread the word on what we’re doing.