Event highlights for the week of October 18, 2017.
Green Fix
The Missing Arm
When things go missing around Waddell Creek, you can blame family, your memory, or the dog, but it’s really Benjamin Basin’s larcenous severed arm that’s taking your stuff. His arm was cut from his body nearly 150 years ago and buried in a meadow, but legend has it that it still haunts the Big Basin redwoods today. To hear the rest of the story, join Big Basin State Park rangers for a nighttime tour around the redwood loop, complete with music and marshmallow and apple roasting. Bring a flashlight and a friend for protection from the tenacious phantom arm.
INFO: Registration opens at 6:30 p.m., tour at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek. thatsmypark.org. $10 per vehicle.
Art Seen
Entertainment With an Edge
From Sherlock Holmes to The Godfather, all of the best stories (and movies) come from mystery novels. But what goes into the hair-raising suspense mystery novels? The norcal chapter of Mystery Writers of America brings a panel discussion on “what is suspense?” to answer that question. The panel includes New York Times bestselling author Laurie King and USA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian, plus many more mystery specialists. The discussion is open to mystery enthusiasts of all ages.
INFO: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19. Santa Cruz Downtown Public Library, 224 Church St, Santa Cruz. mwanorcal.org. Free.
Saturday 10/21
Heritage Harvest Festival
Travel back to the early 1900s Wilder Ranch for some old-timey square dancing, wool spinning and pumpkin decorating. In celebration of the harvest season, the state park hosts the annual event, complete with tours of the ranch’s Victorian house, live music, and Heritage apple tasting. This historical recreation may be your only chance to see an antique tractor or blacksmith shop. Carpooling is encouraged, since parking spaces are limited.
INFO: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wilder Ranch, 1401 Coast Road Santa Cruz. 426-0505. $10 parking, free admission.
Monday 10/23
Richard Harris at the Rio
In the age of fake news, NPR has led the way in both national radio coverage and localized dialogue. There are few things better than lounging about listening to NPR’s weekend edition, but one is seeing NPR correspondent Richard Harris live. Harris is a UCSC alum and reporter focusing primarily on environmental issues, science and medicine and has travelled pretty much anywhere you can think of, or damn near close to it. He will be talking about his new book and the issues he’s seen during his career as a science journalist. This free event was relocated to a larger venue after receiving tremendous interest—meaning you should probably show up early for a good seat.
INFO: 7 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. riotheatre.com. Free.
Saturday 10/21
Make-A-Vase Workshop
You make it, they glaze it. Join Good Life ceramics in making your very own slab vase while sipping a glass of wine. Sculpt your vase, attach the bottom by slip-and-scoring, chose your glaze, then pick up the finished piece a few weeks later. This is the ideal workshop for creating a one-of-a-kind holiday gift with all of the tools and materials provided. Quinta Cruz winemakers will be pouring wine, and snacks will be included.
INFO: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Annieglass, 310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville. annieglass.com. $60.
