Event highlights for the week of March 21, 2018.
Green Fix
Eighth Annual Operation Surf Santa Cruz
This one-of-a-kind program offers personalized surfing lessons for wounded and post 9-11 active duty and veteran service members from the U.S. military. The event provides an environment where participants work to overcome perceived limitations connected to physical and psychological disabilities sustained while serving.
There are also volunteer opportunities for those looking to get more involved.
INFO: Thursday, March 22-Tuesday March 27. See website for all locations and events. March 22: Welcoming at the Dream Inn. Capitola Opening Ceremony: March 23-25. 805-544-SURF. amazingsurfadventures.org.
Art Seen
Belly Dance Class
That hot belly dancer at the Greek restaurant didn’t get her six-pack overnight, and neither did Shakira. Great belly dancers make it look really easy, but beneath the facade of beauty and grace, belly dancing requires a tremendous amount of core strength and fluidity. Sure, her hips don’t lie, but they can be complicated—belly dancing is hard work. Learn the basics, build up your confidence, and you’ll be moving like a Colombian pop star in no time. All levels welcome.
INFO: 10:30 a.m. Watsonville Yoga, Dance and Healing Arts. 375 N. Main, Watsonville. 713-9843. watsonville.yoga. $10.
Sunday 3/25
13th Annual Harp Festival
The harp is one of the oldest instruments in the world, so it’s only fitting that there be a festival to commemorate it. There are a couple of different kinds of harps, and various ways to play. The event features soloists from Monterey to New Orleans, and a harp “petting zoo” at intermission to get up close and personal with the harp. Don’t worry, it doesn’t bite unless you stroke the spine the wrong way.
INFO: 2 p.m. Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. 429-1964. santacruzmah.org. Free, donations gladly accepted.
Thursday 3/22
Kimchi Workshop
Sure, you can buy a jar of kimchi for $15 in your local grocery store, but it’s much more gratifying, cost-effective and generally better to make it at home. Kimchi is really just like ultra-fancy sauerkraut, and is rich in probiotics and antioxidants. Despite the recent popularity of fermented foods like kefir and kombucha, kimchi has been a Korean staple for more than 1,500 years. It’s meant to be enjoyed in moderate amounts, so if you are a new kimchi eater, maybe don’t eat the entire jar, or you will really regret it later. These are the kinds of things you can learn at this week’s kimchi workshop. Vegan options are available.
INFO: 6 p.m. New Leaf Community Market. 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz. 426-1306. newleaf.com/events. $35.
Saturday 3/24-Sunday 3/25
Celebration! For Santa Cruz Symphony
It’s the Santa Cruz Symphony’s 60th anniversary this year, and symphony director Daniel Stewart has something very special in store. The unveiling of his newest composition, “Social Media,” is in celebration of the symphony’s success. And there’s more—the evening begins and ends with Mozart, with other historic works sprinkled in. His joyful “Overture to the Marriage of Figaro” opera opens the evening, and the event concludes with “Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola K 364.”
INFO: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. 307 Church St., Santa Cruz.
2 p.m. Sunday, March 25. Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts. 250 East Beach St., Watsonville. santacruzsymphony.org. $29-$85.
