Arts & Culture

WATSONVILLE—The second round of voting for the next large installation of “Watsonville Brillante” has opened. A project from accomplished local artist Kathleen Crocetti, “Watsonville Brillante” is a 12,000-square-foot tile mosaic that will cover the outside of the six-story Watsonville Civic Plaza parking garage at the...

In celebration of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History’s (MAH) 25th anniversary, the RedBall Project, a global art installation that has been to over 30 cities since 2001, is coming to Santa Cruz County. And now, after a countywide search by MAH staff...

WATSONVILLE—A new bakery that offers a dazzling and colorful line of pastries, cakes, fancy cookies, cupcakes and more has recently opened in downtown Watsonville. Ricarmi Panaderia y Pasteleria at 11 East Fifth St. is the realization of a longtime dream for Ricardo Lopez and Armida...

WATSONVILLE—“The Apple King,” a novel inspired by Watsonville’s Croatian community and its historic role in the region’s apple industry, recently won the Connecticut Author Project Award and will be featured in an issue of the national Library Journal publication. Author Barbara Anne King was born...

Pierre Riche’s artistic journey has been anything but dull. Born in New York City in 1966, Riche has lived in nine different U.S. states, moving more than 14 times and exploring various pathways.  He studied at the School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago, lived in...

APTOS—Cabrillo Gallery will open its first in-person exhibition of 2022 on Monday, with a show exploring the ways in which human beings see and express their own identities.  “Who We Are: Portraying Identity” will feature 27 artworks, from paintings and photography to mixed media and...

WATSONVILLE—Seven murals that line the historic Taylor’s Alley, a pedestrian conduit between Main and Union streets in downtown Watsonville, have been given new life thanks to the efforts of local volunteers. Judy Gittelsohn, owner of nearby Studio Judy G, and her sales director Emily Reynolds...

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz community radio station KSQD 90.7 FM will broadcast and stream three days of the internationally-acclaimed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this weekend. The broadcast and stream will begin Friday 11am-4pm, continue on Saturday noon-5pm and end Sunday 11am-5pm. Artists include Chris...

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music has hit the stage in its 57th season with its focus on the new—the here and now of contemporary works for orchestra.

A weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like. Tarmo Hannula FOOD: Pizza My Heart Fresh hot pizza keeps the customers lining up at Pizza My Heart in downtown Santa Cruz. Founded in 1981 in Capitola Village by Fred...