A viral fruit-shaped mousse dessert at a Soquel bakery has drawn long lines and daily sellouts, with hundreds of pastries gone within hours as customers flock from across the region. The surge in demand is pushing owner Ela Crawford to shift focus from wholesale to her storefront, even as the labor-intensive treats limit how many she can produce.
Local Business
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Weekender: Kids Day, free comics, Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s riveting ‘Vincent’
Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County this weekend.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
It’s ‘nerd Christmas’ in May as Free Comic Book Day returns to Santa Cruz
Downtown Santa Cruz’s comic hubs are rolling out the red carpet for Saturday’s national Free Comic Book Day, including an appearance by cartoonist Mike Kunkel of “Herobear and the Kid” fame at Atlantis Fantasyworld as it and Comicopolis celebrate the industry’s day in the sun.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Joby’s big ride in NYC, training for emerging aviation careers, Java Junction shutters River Street café
Joby’s electric air taxi takes Manhattan, a Monterey Bay nonprofit launches a forward-looking job training initiative and the end of the line for a Gateway Plaza coffee spot are all part of Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly look at local business.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Coffeehouses upping their food game; Abbott Square newcomers; learn fermentation from a master
Lily Belli’s Tuesday newsletter covers a culinary trend for coffee shops, what’s new at a downtown Santa Cruz food destination, a fermenting vegetables workshop and a secret to the crispiest chicken cutlets. Dig in!
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz County business filings: Week of April 28
Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area.
Posted inFood & Drink
In Santa Cruz, cafés evolve into all-day dining spots as coffee culture shifts
Santa Cruz coffeehouses are expanding into full-service dining, adding chef-driven, all-day menus as high-quality coffee becomes standard and less of a differentiator. While some cafés embrace the shift to stand out and draw customers, others stick with simpler offerings, reflecting a split in how the industry is evolving.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Kids Day returns to downtown Santa Cruz this Saturday
Downtown Santa Cruz is hosting its annual Kids Day this Saturday, May 2, from noon to 4 p.m. on Cooper Street and on Pacific Avenue between Locust and Church streets.
Posted inFood & Drink
River Street’s Java Junction to close after 28 years, citing rent hike and construction impacts
After 28 years, Java Junction will close its River Street location on Monday. Owner Michael Spadafora cites steep rent increases, prolonged construction disruptions and conflicts with landlord Balboa Retail Partners and property manager JLL. The closure follows months of reduced sales tied to lost outdoor seating and limited communication about the project, said Spadafora. The café’s Seabright and Santa Cruz Harbor locations will remain open.
Posted inEvents
Best of Santa Cruz County arts & food events this weekend, April 23-26
With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
