Hi friends,
Like millions of Americans, I first came to know Rob Reiner as Mike “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family,” watching him spar with Archie every week, in my case, as a pre-adolescent. This week, I realized that I’ve probably underestimated the influence that Meathead had on my own emerging socio-political consciousness at the time. Fifty years later, I’m pleased to say I still lean way more Meathead than Archie … and so did Reiner. What a loss. RIP to a great artist and a great American.
Now, on with the show.
THIS JUST IN
Last week, we announced that Bookshop Santa Cruz’s latest big-name author, Nick Offerman, is coming to the Golden State Theatre in Monterey on Feb. 9. Bookshop tells us that it was Offerman’s team’s choice to go to Monterey instead of Santa Cruz. The Golden State is part of Offerman’s national tour and Bookshop will be on hand as the event’s bookseller. Closer to home, Bookshop will be presenting novelist Karen Russell, most famous for “Swamplandia!,” for her latest novel, “The Antidote,” on March 16. The great British-born singer-songwriter Richard Thompson is due for a show at the Rio on April 5. The ambient-music psychedelic artist East Forest is set to perform at the Rio on March 10. The tribute band The Garcia Project, playing material from the Jerry Garcia Band, takes the stage at Felton Music Hall on March 14. And speaking of Jerry Garcia, Bookshop Santa Cruz will host an event called “Kitchen Counterculture,” talking about food and the Grateful Dead, and featuring the author of “Dead in the Kitchen: The Official Grateful Dead Cookbook,” on Feb. 26.
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.
World Cup fans in Santa Cruz?
The folks at Visit Santa Cruz County are thinking about next summer. That’s when the World Cup is slated to come to the U.S. for the first time in more than 30 years. Among the 16 host sites in North America will be Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, just 35 minutes over the hill, which will host six key matches beginning in June. VSCC has begun its campaign to draw World Cup visitors to Santa Cruz with a new website that pushes the area’s surf vibe and “progressive spirit,” a not-so-subtle wink to international football fans pondering whether to visit the U.S. in spite of the administration’s hostile immigration rhetoric.
The Super Bowl, the showcase for a different brand of football (perhaps you’ve heard of it), is also at Levi’s this NFL season, Feb. 8. The big game is already carrying completely unnecessary culture-war controversy because of the NFL’s decision to book Bad Bunny as the halftime show, so maybe that “progressive spirit” in Santa Cruz will apply to Super Bowl visitors as well.
Of course, locals should be thrilled to have soccer and NFL fans come to Santa Cruz — unless the Dallas Cowboys somehow make it to the Super Bowl. I mean, we have to have some standards.
The literary horizon
Befitting its name, Bookshop Santa Cruz is hosting a couple of events in the first weeks of the new year particularly interesting to locals:
On Feb. 11, journalist Scott Eden comes to town with his new book, “A Killing in Cannabis,” which unspools the story of Tushar Atre, the Silicon Valley CEO and cannabis entrepreneur who was murdered in Santa Cruz in 2019. Eden’s new book promises to be a deep dive not only into the circumstances of Atre’s death, but the shadowy world of black-market cannabis that has evolved alongside legalization. For his appearance in Santa Cruz, Eden will be interviewed by longtime Good Times editor Steve Palopoli.
Before that, however, on Jan. 8, Bookshop will bring in Santa Cruz mystery novelist Vinnie Hansen to discuss her new book, “Crime Writer,” and on Feb. 2, UC Santa Cruz professor of history Gregory O’Malley debuts his new book on one Black man’s experiences during the Revolutionary War, “The Escapes of David George.”
All the above events are free.
It’s important to turn out for all literary events, but particularly those involving local writers or local stories.
Santa Cruz in Pasadena
If you needed an excuse to watch the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, here’s a good one. The parade this year will feature a marching band made up of more than 300 band directors from across the country. Among that number will be Christy Latham, the band director at Santa Cruz High School for the past 25 years.
CHECK THIS OUT
Best 9: Top events for the week ahead in Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, Dec. 18-25
THIS WEEK IN A&E
Are we there yet? As 2026 dawns, downtown Santa Cruz is still in the middle of a long process to transformation
As 2025 morphs into 2026, Santa Cruz’s downtown is still deep in the middle of a major transformation. A new proposal for The Catalyst building has many up in arms, while fans of the new library quietly wait for 2028. Here’s an overview of where all the projects stand.
Applications open for Santa Cruz city arts commission
The City of Santa Cruz is seeking applicants for a position on its arts commission, to be appointed by District 5 City Councilmember Susie O’Hara for a three-year term.
Capitola Library is going solar
The Santa Cruz Public Libraries is installing rooftop solar panels on the Capitola Branch Library. When the system is operational, the library will become energy self-sufficient and the SCPL will save more than $30,000 annually.
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.