Todd Guild
FUN – Boardwalk Bowl
My wife is a teacher, and as such she is always busy. This includes evenings and weekends.
And so I often find myself taking our sons on outings so she can catch up on work.
A perfect activity for us is visiting Boardwalk Bowl, 115 Cliff St. in Santa Cruz. It is relatively inexpensive, especially if you can find free parking, which I strongly suggest. Paying $10 to leave my car just so I can pay more money to be entertained just rankles me.
Once we get there, the staff is helpful and the games are reasonably priced, and the lanes have never been too full while we’ve been there.
After bowling we usually hit the Neptune’s Kingdom arcade next door. With its maddening cacophony of electronic noise, it takes me back to my own childhood of wandering among video games with pockets full of quarters.
Hours vary.
For information visit boardwalkbowl.com or call 426-3324
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Tony Nuñez
FOOD – Slice Project: Lil Pep Square Pie
The first day the Slice Project, 300 Main St. in Watsonville, opened up I was there twice, once as a reporter and again as a customer. I had two slices throughout the day and my wife and I shared a square, Detroit-style pie of Lil Pep. Until Friday, I had not experienced much Detroit-style pizza, but Slice Project’s rectangular pie surprised me in all the best ways. It’s thick, crispy crust and soft inside made for an enjoyable bite, and the small but savory cupping pepperoni completed the package. For now, this pie ($22) is my favorite thing on the menu, but I will be back for more very soon and that could change.
FUN – Brew Year’s Eve at Alvarado Street Brewery
I wasn’t always a fan of going hog wild to celebrate the new year. Most of the time, people get too rowdy and that energy—mixed with alcohol—leads to some unwanted problems. But a couple years ago some friends invited my wife and I to Brew Year’s Eve at Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey, and I was thoroughly impressed with their event. It wasn’t too packed. It wasn’t rowdy. Nobody wanted to start problems. And, most importantly, it was tons of fun. I believe you can still snag some tickets on Eventbrite for $20. The event runs from 9 p.m. to 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. KRML’s Steb Montez will be the DJ, as the restaurant in downtown Monterey will turn the dining room into a dance floor and the beer garden into a silent disco. It will also have drink specials and a complimentary toast at midnight. All attendees must be 21.
