The Sesnon is an amazing little gallery tucked away above the Koi Pond at Porter. Visit on…read moreWednesday nights for special events related to the exhibition, like lectures or live music. Before you leave, check out the Faculty Gallery down the hall and the Porter room D-140 space downstairs. D-140 often has student shows from senior art majors. The Sesnon operates with UCSC's calendar, so be sure to visit when school is in session! Also, it's free to all!

This place always has interesting exhibits, the first time I went here was for my Porter Core…read moreclass. It's free and displays student and outside artists. Worth checking out, there is a koi pond outside too which is always nice to visit!

Great art, music, theater and events. Been going to First Fridays each month for years. Love…read morewandering the studios and talking w/the artists. So many great things to explore (and purchase.) First Fridays and the Art Market days there is food, music, and fun. Also, the Radius Gallery is open W-Sun 12-5pm throughout the month w/amazing rotating exhibits. WOW! Went to see a play again at the Jewel Theater Co last night at the on campus theater at Colligan. What a true gem! So funny and charming shows Recently the Cafe reopened (closed during covid.) So excited to have an easy place to pop in for @sporhaus coffee and @kintsugisc food options. W-Sun 9am-2pm. Convenient to swing by if going to Harvey West or Costco.

We went to Tannery Art Center in Santa Cruz. There are numerous outdoor art exhibits to see…read more There are also studios. There is also a café. This used to be a place where they made leather. Thus the name Tannery Arts. There are some historic leather making equipment on site to also see. There are signs to describe it. There is an exercise facility with a full range of classes to take. Artists and probably others can also live there at the condos. There is also a theater which has live theater shows on Thursday - Sunday nights. There is a calendar of the shows for the season.

Went to the gallery for first Friday, they had an exhibit set up for climate change that was super…read moreinteresting. At the entryway they had some food and drinks available for free (and an adorable studio kitten). The interns were friendly and knowledgeable as they showed me around the exhibit. I would come here again for another first Friday or exhibit, adorable gallery!

The only great part of the SC Art League (SCAL) is the Open Studios run efficiently and w/out…read morebiases by Ann O. I always wondered why so few artists belonged to SCAL, but I read this article about the favoritism toward Representational work, which explained it. SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL--LOCAL HISTORY "Claude Buck was president of the Santa Cruz Art League in 1953, a tough time in the art world. On one hand, there was a vibrant Bohemian art scene, but it was split between the abstract modernists, and representational art. A trio of Santa Cruz artists who founded the Art League: Margaret Rogers (president Emeritus), Cor de Gavere and Lenora PENNIMAN, wanted it to be a refuge for representational art.... Representational art was seen as something a camera could do, rendering the artist irrelevant. Worse, representational art was considered kitsch, called "calendar art" because their pretty scenes appeared on most calendars, akin to the banal paint-by-numbers fad, with sentimental illustrator art like Norman Rockwell, dismissed as magazine schlock..."

I have always and will always love downtown Santa Cruz, regardless of season. It has plenty of…read moreeateries and interesting shopping, both one and around Pacific. Well worth proposing about the edges. Cedar has a great comic shop, Atlantis Fantasyworld, restaurants, and other shops. Do wander off Pacific. Parking is reasonable, with lots around Pacific, street parking, and one can always get a ride share into downtown. Double bonus if there is a street fair. Do visit! We define will return.

Downtown Santa Cruz has an easy-going vibe for strolling the pedestrian-friendly walkable area…read more Public artworks dot the area with eye appeal. Street performers seem to enjoy themselves and appreciate a helping hand. There are many unique storefronts for browsing/shopping from crystals to hip shops, from antiques to a clothier with that elegant, must-have wardrobe piece. Parking can be rather limited, however there are surface lots and parking garages just a block off Pacific Avenue. If you are feeling hunger or thirst, there are plentiful of options from everyday pizza/burgers, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Korean, vegan and mediterranean restaurants to fine dining options. There are many bars to enjoy an adult libation, from the common to sophisticated. For the coffee aficionados, there are many brew houses. The downtown area is clean and is well maintained.

Part of "She-tail Row" (women artisan entrepreneurs) in Felton, Selena has made the most amazing…read morestore of artistic gifts and art! We bought several pieces from her as well as many Mala bracelets and necklaces. She is a prolific artist who takes inspiration from Mother Earth and sacred geometry...beautiful stuff!

Had a blast at Norcal's largest woodie show this past weekend. Families and individuals of all ages…read moreenjoying the sunshine on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The DJ playing surf music through the speakers, setting the mood. A few tents offering merchandise, presentations, and ballots for guests to vote for their favorite woodie. Good food and desserts available from eateries on the wharf (the clam showder and crab melt sandwich from Stagnaro Bros were particularly tasty). Of course, there was no shortage of awesome, colorful, and classic vehicles for visitors to explore and admire. A unique car show in a lovely setting on the water, and free to attend. The event took place deep on the pier, all the way in the back, so expect a bit of a walk even after arriving at the wharf. And the organizers informed guests of the shuttle from downtown (costing $1 cash) for more convenient parking options, but I found plenty of street parking walking distance to the event, near Pacific and Spruce (and even on Front Street), around noon time. The event ended with a sendoff parade in the late afternoon (I didn't stay to get caught in that traffic though). Totally worth checking out... love me some woodies!

I've always loved watching the Woodies pull up and the cool custom artists experience…read more My kids got there first taste of the scene and Santa Cruz further was cemented as the "greatest place on earth." Only now, it's not just because of the 'Lost Boys' movie and the arcade.

The 418 Project appears to be "rebooting", and in a good way. We went to a showing of a great…read moredocumentary about a Swedish artist. Dennis Bartok, the newish director, intorduced it and told us what's going on at 418. The overall atmosphere was causal and friendly. I hope there are other films and events we want to "do" there -- like a "sound bath"? In October?

This community Artspace is dedicated to supporting emerging artists and Diverse communities! The…read moreprogramming is forward thinking, inspiring, and includes all kinds of stuff--burlesque performances, black history month, Chinese New Year's, salsa dances--and is accessible--there is sliding scale or donation options for much of what goes on. I work here so I'm pretty stoked.

I enjoyed checking out this event happening at Esplanade Park this past weekend, right along the…read morebeach at Capitola Village. It takes place on select Sundays during the summer, hosted by the Capitola Art & Cultural Commission​. About 10-12 artist/vendor tents offering lots of lovely animal artwork, greeting cards, stickers, magnets, jewelry, clay paintings, and glass sculptures. I, of course, got me some banana slug art and accessories from Lauren Burke, and also purchased an awesome tote bag with an appealing design from another vendor. Everyone was so friendly, and the setting made the experience even more ideal. I was able to relax on the sandy shore after browsing and shopping... it was a good time.