Hi friends,
The big “No Kings” rally will not be the only march on Saturday morning in downtown Santa Cruz. The Beach Boardwalk is hosting its annual Santa Cruz Band Review, featuring more than 50 high school marching bands from all over California. Both entities are scheduling quite different marches through downtown at roughly the same time. Would be seven kinds of awesome if they crossed paths, combined efforts and went viral. Sounds like the plot of a Hollywood comedy, huh? Gimme Will Ferrell as the band director and Jenna Ortega as the political activist who strike a deal. (Maybe Stanley Tucci as Mayor Fred Keeley?)
Now, on with the show.
THIS JUST IN
Singer-songwriter Carsie Blanton has a new date at Moe’s Alley. She had been scheduled to play Moe’s on Friday, but she was detained and jailed by Israeli forces as part of a flotilla of activists delivering food and supplies to Gaza. She’ll be back at Moe’s on March 6. San Lorenzo Valley country star Jesse Daniel returns to his home area to play New Year’s Eve at The Catalyst. Singer-songwriter Jackie Greene does a double dip with two shows Jan. 30 and 31 at Moe’s Alley.
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.
Brilliant Brillante
The astonishing mosaic mural known as Watsonville Brillante is getting statewide attention. And, I say, it’s about time!
The League of California Cities has bestowed its Helen Putnam Award for Excellence upon Watsonville Brillante for its ability to use public art for economic development and community identity.
If you’ve been to downtown Watsonville, you’ve seen Brillante — how could you not? The mural project transformed the downtown parking garage next to the Watsonville Public Library and courthouse with its three enormous murals and its many smaller ones. Brillante is a project of hundreds of locals, from artists to volunteers. But leadership for the project falls on the shoulders of the heroic mural artist Kathleen Crocetti. Someone in Watsonville is going to have to build a statue to Crocetti one day, in mosaic tiles, of course.
‘No Kings II’ weekend
A reminder that Saturday marks the nationwide “No Kings” protest against the Trump administration, and that protesters in both Santa Cruz and Watsonville will be out in force. The Santa Cruz protest begins at 10 a.m., allowing time for people to also attend the Watsonville event, which will kick off at noon.
CHECK THIS OUT
Best 9: Top events for the week ahead in Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, Oct. 16-23
THIS WEEK IN A&E
New essay collection explores what it means to be a Californian, one book at a time
John Freeman’s “California Rewritten” is a collection of essays on significant books by living writers on the experience of living in California. Freeman comes to Bookshop Santa Cruz to talk about the new book this evening.
Human Library lets you read people instead of books
In an Oct. 25 event called the Human Library, participants can engage in conversation with living “books” — people who have been discriminated against in their daily lives because of their identity, lifestyle, occupation, social status, religious belief, sexuality or ethnic origin.
The sound of Jesse Thorn’s America: A podcasting pioneer returns to Santa Cruz
Los Angeles podcaster and radio host Jesse Thorn comes to Santa Cruz on Nov. 1 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his interview and arts show “Bullseye.” It’s a full-circle moment for Thorn, a UC Santa Cruz alum who was one of the first radio […]
One man, one plan: At 54, Clay Hausmann moves boldly into making art about his family experience
Scotts Valley’s Clay Hausmann is a marketing professional and a family man. But he’s now an aspiring performer as he’s written and performed a one-man show called “Empty Nest and the Rest” that he hopes to spread to more audiences.
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.