[ Note* = This will be the first issue that is sent out to the public. Call it our “soft open”. If you enjoy it, please pass it along to a friend who would find it helpful :)
Our whole goal here is to help gather a bunch of things happening in the community and put it in one place. We hope it will help people build the community, get offline, and connect in person. Hope you enjoy! ]
THE TIDE REPORT
This week tips toward Saturday. Bookshop's open all day for Independent Bookstore Day, the Trail Running Film Festival is at the Rio, and a new surf shop on 41st is quietly open. Wildflowers are out along the bluffs.
LOCAL NEWS
Sergio Carrera and the Vega family — the crew behind the original El Frijolito on Alexander Street since 1985 — opened a takeout-only spot earlier this month at 1058 S. Green Valley Rd, in the shopping center off Highway 1. Hand-written menu, around 20 dishes, 12 meat options on the carne fries. Get the lengua. Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 8 PM.
The bluff path that fell into the bay last February isn't coming back. Council voted this week to skip the $200,000+ rebuild and put smaller money into street-end fixes — benches, parking. Public Works said grant funding was thin and there's no guarantee a new path wouldn't erode again. Community groups can still raise the money themselves.
HAPPENINGS
★ = family-friendly
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
Far West Fungi: Myco Mixer · 2–5 PM · 224 Laurel St, Downtown · Free The weekly mushroom-shop happy hour. Free bites, samples, cafe specials. Lion's mane growing kits in the back if you're curious.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
★ Skypark Food Truck Friday · 5–8 PM · 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley · Free The biggest food truck gathering in the county. Live music (Shady Rest Band this week), kids everywhere. Park up by the dog park.
Kuumbwa Jazz: A Change Is Gonna Come · 7–9 PM · 320 Cedar St, Downtown · $58–$89 Palaver Strings (Grammy-nominated ensemble) with tenor Nicholas Phan. A program of protest songs plus world premieres from UCSC composers. Tickets aren't cheap.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
★ Independent Bookstore Day at Bookshop Santa Cruz · 10 AM–6 PM · 1540 Pacific Ave, Downtown · Free National holiday for indie bookstores. Bookshop's been doing this for years — exclusive titles, prize wheel, the regulars all show up. Verve next door if you need coffee first.
★ Capitola Mall: Succulent & Bonsai Show · Sat 10 AM–5 PM, Sun 10 AM–4 PM · 1855 41st Ave, Capitola · Free Local growers, judged competitions, real bonsai you can take home. Go early — the small ones disappear by lunch.
Rio Theatre: Trail Running Film Festival · 6–9 PM · 1205 Soquel Ave · $18–$23 Three hours of films from runners who go further than is reasonable. The Rio's bar is open.
Santa Cruz Baroque Festival: All Bach Violin Virtuoso Solo · 7:30–9:30 PM · 532 Center St, Downtown · Free–$50 Annual program of early music. This one's solo Bach in a small room.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
★ SC Maker Studios Anniversary Party · 1–4 PM · 427a Swift St, Westside · Free Live magic show, maker stations, crafts. Free Sunday afternoon for kids.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Sunny California — Pleasure Point
Sunny California has been around as a clothing label for years — Midtown Surf Shop has stocked it on Soquel Ave forever. Now it's the name on a real storefront on 41st, same ownership, same brands, same culture. It's a soft open right now — no signage out front, no announcement. The space is meant to be more than a shop: art exhibits, motorcycle exhibits, events, a podcast studio are all planned. Grand opening's early May.
WEEKEND PICK
Independent Bookstore Day at Bookshop Santa Cruz — Saturday, April 25
Bookshop's been doing Independent Bookstore Day for years and it always pulls a crowd. Exclusive titles, prize wheel, the regulars showing up. Open 10 to 6 at 1540 Pacific. Park on Cedar, grab a Verve cortado next door, and bring cash — the limited-run items go fast.
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 · Seasonal, opens May 5 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 · Seasonal, opens May 2 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 #004. If something's happening in Santa Cruz County that we should know about, tell us here or just reply to this email.
See you next Thursday.
— Low Tide Local