The Oaxacan fare at downtown Santa Cruz kiosk newcomer Gabrielita Tamaleria is Lily Belli’s featured bite this week; her Friday newsletter also includes recommendations for food & drink events in the coming week and food news you might have missed.
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Posted inFood & Drink
Best of Santa Cruz County food & drink events, Jan. 17-23
Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli highlights top events happening around Santa Cruz County in the coming week, plus more listings from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inLatest News
Morning Lookout: Power plant fire, Capitola council switchup, New Leaf tenant, PVUSD budget cuts, downtown food kiosks
Santa Cruz County news headlines from Lookout for the morning of Friday, Jan. 17.
Posted inFood & Drink
Gabriella Café-owned Gabrielita Tamaleria, newcomer Crepe Cones open inside two downtown Santa Cruz kiosks
This week, the owner and chef of Gabriella Café, a 33-year-old landmark restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz, opened a lunch spot inside a kiosk on Pacific Avenue. Gabrielita Tamaleria serves tamales, burritos and drinks inspired by chef Gema Cruz’s Oaxacan roots. Up the street, Crepe Cones will offer made-to-order crepes with sweet and savory fillings.
Posted inEastside / Live Oak / Pleasure Point
Deadline looms for mobile home residents as officials debate who’s responsible for rail trail encroachment
As residents in two Live Oak mobile home parks await a final Regional Transportation Commission report regarding who is responsible for paying to remedy encroachments along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, County Supervisor Manu Koenig’s office has requested that the commission focus on working with the parks’ owners and not the residents.
Posted inWestside / Downtown
New tenant inching closer for empty New Leaf store in downtown Santa Cruz
A national retailer has signed a letter of intent for the site of the former New Leaf Community Market on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. The real estate broker involved in the deal says while it won’t be a grocery store, “everyone will be happy” about the new tenant.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified School District approves $5 million in cuts to elementary staff, mental health services
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s board of trustees voted to make reductions to district programs funded by one-time pandemic-era funding, including its mental health clinician program. The trustees needed to slash $5 million from the district’s budget based on recommendations from its “sustainable budget team.”
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
Capitola will fill vacant city council seat through open application process after public pushback
Instead of choosing between two recently unsuccessful city council candidates, the Capitola City Council opted Thursday to switch gears and fill a vacant seat through an open application process. The council will make the final selection on Jan. 30.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified School District board to hold special meeting on ethnic studies
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s board of trustees voted to schedule a special meeting in March to discuss the district’s ethnic studies curriculum. The meeting will examine its current curriculum and decide on next steps.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Weekender: Kuumbwa hits the big 5-0, Lucas Lawson’s new album and 8 Tens @ 8 returns
Recommendations for the week ahead and news and notes from around Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment from Lookout’s man about town.