THE TIDE REPORT
The mayoral forum is tonight, David Sedaris is on Saturday, and Sunday’s Mother’s Day. If you’ve been meaning to make a plan for your mom, this is the reminder. The trains are already half-booked.
LOCAL NEWS
Lookout’s Mayoral Forum Is Tonight at the Paradox Five candidates for the June 2 Santa Cruz mayoral race, one stage, one evening. Lookout’s hosting at Hotel Paradox tonight, Thursday May 7. If you haven’t been paying attention to this race yet, this is the catch-up event. Details on the Lookout site.
Sunny California’s Grand Opening on 41st We wrote about this one in #004 as a soft open. The Pleasure Point storefront — same owners as Midtown Surf, same brands, same culture — is doing its real grand opening this month. Art exhibits, motorcycle exhibits, podcast studio. Worth a look if you live anywhere near 41st.
Watsonville Hospital Still Waiting on a Partner No new news this week, but no good news either. The hospital continues to operate on short-term loans while leadership searches for a long-term partner. Santa Cruz Local has the running coverage.
HAPPENINGS
★ = family-friendly
THURSDAY, MAY 7
Lookout Election Forum · Evening · Hotel Paradox, 611 Ocean St · Check details Five mayoral candidates, one stage. The catch-up event for the June 2 race.
Dead Meadow at Moe’s Alley · Evening · 1535 Commercial Way · ~$20 Heavy psych rock from D.C., been touring for twenty-plus years. Moe’s is the right room for it.
FRIDAY, MAY 8
★ Skypark Food Truck Friday · 5–8 PM · 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley · Free The standing weekly food truck thing. Park up by the dog park.
Brothers Comatose at the Rio · Evening · 1205 Soquel Ave · ~$25–$30 San Francisco string band, big harmonies, the kind of show people end up dancing in front of the seats at.
SATURDAY, MAY 9
She Is Beautiful 5K/10K · Morning · West Cliff Drive, Westside · Sold out The annual women-and-girls run along West Cliff. It’s sold out — we mention it because it’s worth knowing it’s happening. Expect West Cliff to be closed to cars in the morning. Plan around it if you live out there.
★ Spring Art Market at the Tannery · Daytime · 1060 River St, Westside · Free Local artists open their studios, hand-made everything, food trucks in the courtyard. See the spotlight below.
David Sedaris at the Civic · Evening · Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St · Check pricing Sedaris does the same thing he’s been doing for thirty years, very well. New essays, old favorites, signing line after. The Civic’s a big room and he usually fills it.
Protoje at the Catalyst · Evening · 1011 Pacific Ave · Check pricing Jamaican reggae, conscious lyrics, one of the genre’s better current acts. Catalyst on a Saturday is its own thing.
★ Westside Farmers Market · 9 AM–1 PM · Mission St Ext & Western Dr · Free The standing Westside Saturday.
★ Aptos Farmers Market · 8 AM–Noon · Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Dr · Free Year-round, nearly 90 vendors.
SUNDAY, MAY 10 — MOTHER’S DAY
★ Roaring Camp Mother’s Day Brunch Train · Morning · 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton · Check pricing The narrow-gauge brunch train through the redwoods. Books up early — if you’re trying to get on, do it today.
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services Run · Morning · Watsonville · Check pricing Mother’s Day fundraiser run for PVSS. Distances for all levels.
Jim Messina at the Rio · Evening · 1205 Soquel Ave · Check pricing Of Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield, Poco. A real piece of California music history.
Santa Cruz Chorale: Bach B Minor Mass · Afternoon · Holy Cross, 126 High St · Check pricing Christian Grube conducts. Two and a half hours, full chorus and orchestra. The B Minor is one of those pieces that earns its length.
★ Live Oak Farmers Market · 9 AM–1 PM · 15th & East Cliff Dr · Free Quiet neighborhood version of Downtown.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Tannery Arts Center — Westside
The Tannery sits on River Street where the old leather tannery used to be — now it’s a hundred-plus artist live/work studios, three galleries, the Colligan Theater, and an open courtyard. Most of the year it’s quiet and you forget it’s there. Then once or twice a year the artists open their doors, the food trucks line up, and you remember this is one of the most concentrated arts communities anywhere on the coast. Saturday’s Spring Art Market is one of those days. Free, all ages, easy parking.
WEEKEND PICK
David Sedaris at the Civic — Saturday, May 9
Sedaris reads new work, reads old work, takes questions, signs everything. He’s been doing this tour for decades and he’s still funny on a Saturday night in a 2,000-seat room, which is harder than it sounds. Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St, downtown. Park on Cedar or in the Locust garage. He stays after to sign for as long as the line is, so don’t rush off. Tickets at the Civic.
WEEKLY
The stuff that’s on every week — markets, music, standing plans.
Monday — Comedy Night at Abbott Square · 7–9 PM · 725 Front St, Downtown · Free Bay Area comics rotate in. Find a table, order a drink, settle in.
Tuesday — Felton Farmers Market · 1:30–5:30 PM · 120 Russell Ave, Felton Mountain market under the big trees. Runs through October 27.
Tuesday — Salsa Social at Abbott Square · 7–10 PM · 725 Front St, Downtown · Free Salsa, cumbia, merengue, bachata. All levels.
Wednesday — Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market · 12:30–5 PM · Cedar & Church, Downtown The big one. Show up around 3 when the crowds thin out.
Wednesday — Trivia at Front & Cooper · 6:30–8 PM · Abbott Square, 725 Front St, Downtown · Free Hugging Porcupines hosts. Cocktails and prizes.
Friday — Watsonville Farmers Market · 2–9 PM · Peck & Union, Downtown Watsonville The prepared food vendors are the move — come hungry.
Friday & Saturday — Live Band at Abbott Square · 7–10 PM · 725 Front St, Downtown · Free Rotating lineup, open garden, no cover.
Saturday — Westside Farmers Market · 9 AM–1 PM · Mission St Ext & Western Dr Runs rain or shine. The one with the coffee line.
Saturday — Aptos Farmers Market · 8 AM–Noon · Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Dr Year-round, nearly 90 vendors. Park in the upper lots.
Saturday — Scotts Valley Farmers Market · 8 AM–Noon · Boys & Girls Club, 5060 Scotts Valley Dr Runs through Nov 21.
Sunday — Live Oak Farmers Market · 9 AM–1 PM · 15th & East Cliff Dr Quiet neighborhood version of the Downtown market. Go before brunch.
BEFORE YOU GO
That’s #006. If something’s happening in Santa Cruz County that we should know about, tell us here or just reply to this email.
Happy Mother’s Day to anyone who needs to hear it. See you next Thursday.
— Low Tide Local