A weekly guide to what’s happening.
Green Fix
Light Up the Night
Too many bike riders are not lit enough. No, not like that kind of lit! Lit like illuminated. Bike Santa Cruz County wants to light you up, and is giving out free bike lights to the first 250 people that show up to their Light Up the Night event, so get there early. No worries if the bike lights run out, there are still a number of activities happening, including bike decorating, making reflective spoke cards, custom helmet stenciling, and a raffle with visibility-related prizes. The event will conclude with the most well-lit bike parade Santa Cruz has ever seen. Photo: Richard Masoner.
INFO: 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9. Current eBikes. 131 Front St., Santa Cruz. 425-0665. bikesantacruzcounty.org. Free.
Art Seen
I.M.A.G.I.N.E. Peace Now
In the aftermath of the deadly Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the Radius Gallery’s newest exhibit is more potent than ever. The I.M.A.G.I.N.E. traveling art show stands for “innovative merger of art and guns to inspire new expressions.” The 74 included artists created sculptures using decommissioned firearms collected during a Pittsburgh gun buyback program, and made them into art. The show isn’t necessarily anti-gun, rather it represents the pro-peace and pro-responsible gun legislation idea that art can diffuse violence.
INFO: Artists talk 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. Show runs through Nov. 11. The Radius Gallery. 1050 River St., Unit 127. Santa Cruz. 706-1620. radius.gallery. Free.
Saturday 11/10
‘Pigeon and the Crow’ Graphic Novella Release
Who knew a girl could fall in love with a crow? Or a crow could fall in love with a girl? All she did was feed the crow, and before she knew it the crow was bringing her gifts and she turned into a pigeon. Let that be a lesson for those who feed the birds—you might get more than you bargained for. This illustrated modern folktale is a collaboration between local illustrator Mike Benzce, who helped put together the graphic novella, and songwriter Nels Andrews, who wrote a song to narrate the story. It’s based on a real concept of crows bringing back shiny trinkets to those who feed them, and is set on the Central Coast. Join the two artists in celebrating the debut of the graphic novella.
INFO: 8 p.m. The Radius Gallery. 1050 River St., Unit 127. Santa Cruz. 706-1620. radius.gallery. Free.
Friday 11/9
Reel Rock 13
Adam Ondra is not a real human person—anyone can tell from watching him climb. He looks like he’s possessed, and kind of sounds like it too. It’s a kind of otherworldly grunting and screaming that’ll make Halloween seem like Easter. Ondra is one of the best climbers in the world, if not the best climber in the world. He recently climbed the hardest route in the world—a 5.15d, for reference—and made a movie about it. Why anyone would enjoy doing this, we don’t know, but it sure is fun to watch. Joining Adam Ondra is another climbing legend, Alex Honnold, who is also not really human because he likes to scale El Capitan without ropes. Reel Rock 13 is bringing both dudes to the big screen, along with a long-dismissed type of climbing—speed climbing—that may be finally getting its well-deserved due. Photo: Brett Lowell.
INFO: 7 p.m. Rio Theatre. 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. riotheatre.com. 423-8209. $20/$25.
Saturday 11/10
11th Hour Coffee Grand Opening Party
Wait, you say, hasn’t 11th Hour Coffee been open forever? Why yes, yes it has, and they have been making some super fancy yet delectable avocado toast, too. Thanks for asking! They never really did have a big to-do, though, so they are really kicking off the business with a barista competition, live music, and the Gordo Gustavo’s food truck—because what goes better with a latte than a pork breakfast sando? Nothing!
INFO: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. 11th Hour Coffee. 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. eleventhhourcoffee.com. Free.
Sunday 11/11
Mountainfilm Festival
Hailing from Telluride Colorado, Mountainfilm Festival is celebrating 40th anniversary with some particularly special and timely films. The 12 short films are spread across the outdoor appreciation spectrum, from climbing crusher brothers (for those of you who didn’t get enough climbing from Reel Rock 13) to political calls to preserve our wilderness. There’s a sprinkling of celestial awe, Icelandic fishing, and plenty of snowy wonderlands for those biting at the bit to get to the snow.
INFO: 7 p.m. Rio Theatre. 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. riotheatre.com. 423-8209. $18.
