In his 75 years, he’s excelled as an airbrush artist, a sculptor, a graphic designer, in interior design and architecture. But this story is about what might be Michael Leeds’ greatest work of art: his home in a historic space called the Enterprise Iron Works building in downtown Santa Cruz, overlooking Squid Row near the Santa Cruz Art Center.
The Here & Now
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My non-trivial Trivia Night launches next week
Expect mind-bending local knowledge sharing, conviviality and a twist or two. Sign up to attend Wallace’s new monthly Trivia Nights, at Abbott Square, here.
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Santa Cruz composer reflects on California’s new climate normal in ‘The End of Rain’
Santa Cruz native Scott Ordway will be on hand July 29 when the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music presents the world premiere of his multimedia meditation on life amid the threats of drought and wildfire.
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A photo shoot for the ages: The saga of Sleepy John’s retirement send-off
A historic group photo of luminary Santa Cruz musicians, brought together to honor the retiring “Sleepy John” Sandidge, almost didn’t happen … until our photographer, Kevin Painchaud, figured out the solution.
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An empire built on goofy socks: The Santa Cruz saga of Socksmith
“A sock shop? How long do you think they’ll be in business?” That was the greeting Eric and Ellen Gil got when they opened in downtown Santa Cruz in 1988, but with their company, Socksmith, now an industry giant, the sock is on the other foot.
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‘Don’t expect any oldies’: Bob Dylan comes to Santa Cruz
The figure is eerie: Dylan’s silhouette is almost as recognizable as his donkeylike singing voice, which is good because that’s all we’re getting, his silhouette standing against an orangeish glow on the curtain behind him. He’s avoiding any kind of spotlight like Dracula avoids the rising sun. Wallace Baine take us inside Thursday’s sold-out show at the Santa Cruz Civic.
Posted inCity Life
Cabrillo Stage emerges post-pandemic with crowd-pleasing ‘Grease,’ ambitious ‘Candide’
Santa Cruz County’s professional musical-theater troupe enthusiastically reoccupies the Crocker Theater for the first time in three years to present a big 2022 season.
Posted inCoast Life
Museum takes a fond look back at Seabright’s legendary Castle Beach
A new exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History features photos and artifacts from the castle that sat near the entrance to what is now Seabright Beach until its destruction in 1967. What in 1929 was a Hollywood-inspired Moorish fantasy now can be remembered by new generations of Santa Cruzans.
Posted inCity Life
‘Agents of Change’: Poetry on art, offering strands of hope
Santa Cruz County poet laureate David Sullivan talks about upcoming events — a show opening Friday at the downtown library and a workshop set for June 18 — and reflects on changing the world through the written word.
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Time for a new ‘Ohio’: Where is the protest song we need in 2022?
Uvalde. Buffalo. George Floyd. Jan. 6. Can political protest music make a difference? A lesson from 50 years ago gives musical artists a blueprint for meeting the challenges of 2022.