Great ceramic facilities. Flexible hours for drop in potters. Gallery has a fine mix of local…read moreartists.

The Art Center is a nice community of artists who are friendly and welcoming to newcomers. I've…read moremet so many great people here. I also really enjoy taking their classes and participating in the art shows. Membership costs are low, and provide a discount on classes. Top notch ceramics facilities too! The gallery space is lovely and offers an interesting variety of revolving art shows. The pictures I've shared here are from a recent show called "Pose." The theme was the human figure. I also included a photo of a pastel that painting I did in class. Currently the gallery is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A lovely facility all around. I highly recommend a visit!

Located at Tyrrell Park with a $5 admission fee for adults (free for kids), and no charge for entry…read moreon first Fridays of each month. Museum permit parking on Pilkington if you're lucky to find a spot (you do need to obtain the permit inside). A nature walk to explore and learn about the tide pooling at Scott Creek is among various programs and workshops offered by the museum regularly. And the lady at the front counter was friendly and shared interesting stories behind some of the items on display. There were a few live critters on site like the rosy boa near the fake snakes, and guests could even touch the sea creatures in the tide pool. Also, see and learn about plant and animal fossils and the history of paleontology in the Santa Cruz area. The animal displays were creatively set up, as well as a redwood tree ring. Lots of bird species, ducks, owls, and the golden eagle, even an interactive exhibit where guests could hear the bird calls of the song sparrow, hermit thrush, and pacific slope flycatcher, among others. My favorite exhibits were the banana slug display describing the importance of being slimy, and of course the black-tailed jackrabbit, cuz I like all things "rabbit". I also checked out the gift shop before leaving, with a variety of cute and creative products and souvenirs for sale, a great way to support the museum.

Forgot to review this place! We had been wanting to see this place for years and finally went. It's…read morea mile or so from the Boardwalk. Long walk or fast drive. They'll give you a parking pass for the street. It's very small but really a neat visit. Perfect for smaller kids especially!

Came here for a Hidemi art show one weekend. It's located upstairs and the proprietor was very nice…read moreand accommodating. Somewhat challenging parking in the crowded downtown area. I would come back here for another art gallery showing.

I found this gallery researching contemporary and pop artists and was thrilled to discover that…read moreGordon Smedt's work was showing in this Fine Art Gallery in he heart of Los Gatos/Silicon Valley. Whitney Modern spotlights art from internationally recognized and collected artists including Smedt, and I have visited a number of times, and each time have been treated to new artists and styles. Just this past month Gordon Smedt had his Leisure and Light show with all his new works. What an incredible and fun show, and Whitney Modern was the perfect intimate venue for this show. My family loves coming here and Suzanne, Whitney Modern Gallerist, is so nice and engaging, and very knowledgeable on many great artists. These are artists and works that are thought provoking, fun, and ones that are not only worth collecting, but pieces you dream of having at home or in the office. Didn't experience any pressure here, just a fun and friendly environment, and a place for all lovers of art to enjoy. Definitely worth a visit, and highly recommend going to one of Gordon's future showings, as his still-life large format works are absolutely brilliant.

We planned our annual girls' weekend, and this year was in Pajaro Dunes. Our superstar planning…read morecoordinator suggested a couple of activities for us to do, and it was unanimous we do the Sand Dollar Paint and Sip in Santa Cruz. This was all of our first time, and we really enjoyed it from beginning to end. We had a blast! Not only do they provide wine and snacks but you can also bring your own which we did. There were several tables with each canvas on an easel with the pattern penciled on the canvas. You get a palette of different colors and a water bowl to rinse your brush. You are offered to use additional brushes if you choose. When you're done with your masterpiece, you may add embellishments such as glitter to seashells. Kimberly was fantastic! She was very welcoming when we came in. She lead the class with lightheartedness and humor. She encouraged you to be creative. She showed us how to blend the colors to produce different hues. For some of us, we were challenged, but we did it! It was so much fun! I highly recommend checking out The Painted Cork. Thanks, Kimberly!!

This is my absolute favorite place to spend an evening. Every time I walk in, I'm welcomed with…read moresuch warmth and positivity as it really feels like a little creative escape. Kimberly, who runs the classes, is not only incredibly kind and welcoming, but also so talented and patient. She makes everyone, no matter their experience level, feel comfortable and confident in what they're creating. I've done several classes here, including a resin art class, a resin coaster workshop, and a holiday ornament painting session. Each class has been unique, fun, and thoughtfully guided. Kimberly provides all the materials and walks you through each step, making the process easy to follow and so rewarding. The atmosphere is always relaxed, creative, and filled with great conversation. It's such a refreshing way to unwind, learn something new, and leave with a piece of art you're proud of. I'm already looking forward to coming back for another class--this space truly brings joy, and I can't recommend it enough!

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.

Visited this gallery at the Tannery Arts Center this past weekend to check out the Small Works…read moreExhibition (the shopping show) not really knowing what to expect. The lady at the front desk was very kind and made me feel welcome. Suzy Rad Arts is what drew me to this event, specializing in beautiful, vibrant pet and animal portraits. But there were so many other impressive works that caught my attention as well while I looked around. There isn't too much to explore in this gallery since it's very small, like itty bitty, seemingly only a couple rooms, with just a small space dedicated to each artist's work for this specific event. But it's free to attend, and an opportunity to purchase something special for yourself or the art lover in your life (I got a lovely Suzy Rad greeting card with a quirky carrot). And while you're at it, you can check out the other artworks and sculptures on site at the Tannery Arts Center, like the sharky-go-round located right in front of the gallery. Besides special events, the Radius Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday to the public. The arts campus has a parking lot available as well.

West Theater has been a life changer for my teenager. He has attended Harry Potter camps on up to…read moreimprov groups. They are kind and talented instructors and the curriculum is stellar. This program has given my son a sense of confidence and that is a gift that will last a lifetime.

This little gem of a studio offers classes for all ages and performances year round. I love the…read moreofferings, like improv and playlabs..I need a boot to the behind to motivate myself to attend but once there it's pretty magical. Attentive to details, the staff seems to have as much fun as the students. Makes me miss the SF art scene less and less. SC has the bright shiny shiny right here in my backyard..Lucky us.

A classic Art and food festival in the redwoods. The Quaint town of Scotts Valley is a welcoming…read morecommunity.

First things first~ Free admission!! I'm not a fan of paying to get into a festival to spend my…read moremoney$$ Next to the dog park!! Ok, ok inside I'm still a 9 year old lil girl! Love my dogs, you're dogs... Everybody's dogs... we went Saturday. The dog show was Sunday. But enough ppl brought their babies out with them for me to enjoy... Since it's a cooler climate and on grass it worked, So no paw injuries from hot asphalt at some of these festivals. Thanks I enjoyed watching all the mutts on parade... Plenty of food boothes and trucks! No real lines to speak of, maybe a few ppl ahead of you. But, no hour waits... (hello urban nights) Like most Art & Wine festivals you can ohhhh & ahhhh over the Cool Art & Jewelry! I had a napkin... didn't want to drool on those jewelry cases...LOL! The kids area and bandstand were on one end...Car show on the other. Nice music, great way to spend a day! This is super family friendly on grass at the SKYPARK! The one thing I would recommend, is if you gotta get tickets to buy beer or wine you need to make that easier. Possibly more ticket booths or more signs where they are at...