Hi friends,
There’s a wonderful opportunity next week to learn more about the 1980s AIDS/HIV crisis as it unfolded in Santa Cruz County. The Diversity Center is releasing a new documentary titled “Never the Last Love Letter,” made by a team of local volunteer filmmakers, showcasing the amazing story of the tenacity and the courage of the local LGBTQ+ community in the face of a heartbreaking crisis.
The film’s screening takes place next Wednesday, May 21, at the Del Mar Theatre, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. It’s free. On the eve of Pride, here’s a chance to show Respect.
Now, on with the show.
THIS JUST IN
Anyone who says that Texas and California are destined to never get along needs to learn more about the great country artists Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Dave Alvin, the former about as Texas as Texas gets and the latter known as the “King of California.” The two have been collaborating a lot in the past few years, and they’ll appear together July 22 at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. The great bluesman Chris Cain is also slated to come to Kuumbwa with his band, Sept. 12. Newly booked jazz shows at Kuumbwa include saxman Kenny Garrett on Sept. 15, the stylish singer-songwriter Becca Stevens on Oct. 16, Los Angeles-based pianist Paul Cornish on Sept. 11, the Cuban pianist and composer Dayramir Gonzalez on Sept. 25 and the big brassy Latin dance band the Pacific Mambo Orchestra on Sept. 8. And, casting way out into the future, the Rio welcomes “The Rocket Man,” an acclaimed Elton John tribute, on March 6, 2026.
Trivia! You know what they say about trivia knowledge: Use it or lose it. The first Lookout Trivia Night of 2025 is closing in fast and we need smart trivia nerds to come out in force. It’s free, but tell us you’re coming with your RSVP. The fun happens Wednesday, June 4, at Abbott Square at 6:30 p.m., and continues the first Wednesday of the month through September.
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.
CHECK THIS OUT
Best 9: Top events for the week ahead in Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, May 15-22
THIS WEEK IN A&E
Why Santa Cruz needs a vampire bar: Could ‘Lost Boys’ tourism be our secret weapon?
The 1987 cult classic “The Lost Boys” has developed a deep association with the city in which it was shot, Santa Cruz. As downtown struggles to build toward a new future, wouldn’t a “Lost Boys” bar or cafe be just the thing to jumpstart interest […]
Santa Cruz County youth poet laureates create community through shared love of poetry
San Lorenzo Valley High School junior Finn Maxwell, 16, and Dina Lusztig Noyes, 18, a senior at Pacific Collegiate School, told Lookout about what they love most about Santa Cruz County’s youth poet laureate program. They’re the first two to win the distinction.
It happened in Live Oak: New exhibits at Simpkins Swim Center emphasize Eastside history
The idea for Live Oak’s own museum never quite caught on, but longtime locals Bill Simpkins and Reed Geisreiter have curated a look at the history of the unincorporated area between Santa Cruz and Capitola in “Live Oak: A Glimpse Into the Past,” with a […]
Boardwalk to debut drone show this weekend
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will present a drone show in the night sky on Saturday, taking part in a growing trend of using computer-choreographed light shows in place of more dangerous fireworks displays.
Goat Hill Fair returns to fairgrounds this weekend with expansive antique curation
One of the biggest Bay Area vintage fairs, Goat Hill returns to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds with a carefully curated selection of antiques.
Sempervirens Fund launches first Redwoods Festival, happening Sunday at Roaring Camp
The family-friendly event will honor more than a century of the land trust’s redwood conservation in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
UC Santa Cruz to host first off-campus powwow in more than 30 years
The event set for Sunday at downtown Santa Cruz’s Kaiser Permanente Arena is free and open to everyone as it seeks to preserve Native traditions and culture for future generations.
‘Lost Boys’ bar in Santa Cruz? What do locals think?
Lookout surveyed Santa Cruz County residents on “The Lost Boys” and found that locals not only love the 1987 movie but would be happy to support a “Lost Boys”-themed bar or restaurant.
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.