Good Times | Santa Cruz California's Leading Free Weekly

Twelve Bites of Christmas

December 10, 2025

For the Holidays, Give Friends a Truly Local Experience

December 10, 2025

Holiday Entertaining: Keep It Cozy, Keep It Local

December 10, 2025

Solstice Groove

December 3, 2025

Quite a Pickle

November 26, 2025

Bookshelves at Soquel Elementary filled with children’s books, with a small sign reading “Thank You Coco!!! From Soquel Elementary.”

.Breaking News

December 10, 2025

Path to Literacy

Formed in 2016, Live Like Coco Foundation not only gets books into the hands of students who need them, it also strengthens the idea that a book is a gift.

Read more

A tractor clears mud beneath a storm-damaged rail bridge covered with fallen trees near New Brighton.

.Breaking News

December 10, 2025

Tracks Derailed

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) on Thursday approved a plan to develop an interim bicycle and pedestrian trail.

Read more

Bookshelves at Soquel Elementary filled with children’s books, with a small sign reading “Thank You Coco!!! From Soquel Elementary.”

.Breaking News

December 10, 2025

Path to Literacy

Formed in 2016, Live Like Coco Foundation not only gets books into the hands of students who need them, it also strengthens the idea that a book is a gift.

Read more

A tractor clears mud beneath a storm-damaged rail bridge covered with fallen trees near New Brighton.

.Breaking News

December 10, 2025

Tracks Derailed

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) on Thursday approved a plan to develop an interim bicycle and pedestrian trail.

Read more

Singer-songwriter Alexa Rose standing in a sunlit field, wearing a “Cowgirl” crop top with arms raised behind her head.

.Things To Do This Week

December 10, 2025

Things to do in Santa Cruz

Folk singer songwriters Lou Hazel & Alexa Rose, from Appalachia—movingly human, sometimes fun and whimsical, sometimes longing and sad, often all at once. Sunday at Felton Music Hall, 8pm

Read more

Collage showing oysters on ice with granita, large cuts of beef dry-aging, and the garden at Home restaurant in Soquel.

.Dining Reviews

December 10, 2025

Away We Go

Home Away, a new fast-casual spot in Soquel, features hyper-local dishes, oysters, empanadas, and creative takes on Chef Brad Briske's Home classics.

Read more

Shredded beef crispy taco served with Mexican rice and refried beans topped with melted cheese at Las Palmas Taco Bar.

.Foodie File

December 10, 2025

Taco Tradition

Las Palmas Taco Bar, first opened in 1955, features Jalisco-born recipes, blending traditional Mexican favorites with American touches.

Read more

Collage showing oysters on ice with granita, large cuts of beef dry-aging, and the garden at Home restaurant in Soquel.

.Dining Reviews

December 10, 2025

Away We Go

Home Away, a new fast-casual spot in Soquel, features hyper-local dishes, oysters, empanadas, and creative takes on Chef Brad Briske's Home classics.

Read more

Shredded beef crispy taco served with Mexican rice and refried beans topped with melted cheese at Las Palmas Taco Bar.

.Foodie File

December 10, 2025

Taco Tradition

Las Palmas Taco Bar, first opened in 1955, features Jalisco-born recipes, blending traditional Mexican favorites with American touches.

Read more

submit an event

<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/goodtimes-calendar.jpg" alt="submit an event">

The Beat Farmers performing live on stage with guitars and drums before a crowd at Moe’s Alley.

.Music

December 10, 2025

Plowing Ahead

In the rural pantheon where the rock ’n’ roll gods and goddesses assemble, there’s a special tract of land for San Diego’s Beat Farmers. Rocking at Moe’s Alley, Dec. 11 at 8pm

Read more

Children dressed in festive toy-soldier costumes pose with two small dogs during a Santa Cruz holiday celebration.

<img width="562" height="408" class="entry-thumb" src="https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/gtw2549_HolidayGuide_main-photo-562x408.jpg" srcset="https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/gtw2549_HolidayGuide_main-photo-562x408.jpg 562w, https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/gtw2549_HolidayGuide_main-photo-205x149.jpg 205w, https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/gtw2549_HolidayGuide_main-photo-324x235.jpg 324w" sizes="(max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px" alt="Children dressed in festive toy-soldier costumes pose with two small dogs during a Santa Cruz holiday celebration." title="The Editor’s Desk" />

.Letters to the Editor

December 10, 2025

The Editor’s Desk

It’s great to see Mayor Fred Keeley and County Supervisor Manu Koenig propose an alternative to the $4.5 billion rail/trail...

Read more

fingers typing on a vintage typewriter

<img width="562" height="408" class="entry-thumb" src="https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/shutterstock_173678780-562x408-1-1-562x408.jpg" srcset="https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/shutterstock_173678780-562x408-1-1-562x408.jpg 562w, https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/shutterstock_173678780-562x408-1-1-e1700676890959-205x149.jpg 205w, https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/shutterstock_173678780-562x408-1-1-e1700676890959-324x235.jpg 324w" sizes="(max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px" alt="fingers typing on a vintage typewriter" title="Letters" />

.Letters to the Editor

December 10, 2025

Letters

I’m romantic about trains... But the recent long letters to Good Times advocating for the train here are romantic nonsense.

Read more

submit an event

<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/goodtimes-calendar.jpg" alt="submit an event">

Children dressed in festive toy-soldier costumes pose with two small dogs during a Santa Cruz holiday celebration.

<img width="562" height="408" class="entry-thumb" src="https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/gtw2549_HolidayGuide_main-photo-562x408.jpg" srcset="https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/gtw2549_HolidayGuide_main-photo-562x408.jpg 562w, https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/gtw2549_HolidayGuide_main-photo-205x149.jpg 205w, https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/gtw2549_HolidayGuide_main-photo-324x235.jpg 324w" sizes="(max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px" alt="Children dressed in festive toy-soldier costumes pose with two small dogs during a Santa Cruz holiday celebration." title="The Editor’s Desk" />

.Letters to the Editor

December 10, 2025

The Editor’s Desk

It’s great to see Mayor Fred Keeley and County Supervisor Manu Koenig propose an alternative to the $4.5 billion rail/trail...

Read more

fingers typing on a vintage typewriter

<img width="562" height="408" class="entry-thumb" src="https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/shutterstock_173678780-562x408-1-1-562x408.jpg" srcset="https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/shutterstock_173678780-562x408-1-1-562x408.jpg 562w, https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/shutterstock_173678780-562x408-1-1-e1700676890959-205x149.jpg 205w, https://www.goodtimes.sc/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/shutterstock_173678780-562x408-1-1-e1700676890959-324x235.jpg 324w" sizes="(max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px" alt="fingers typing on a vintage typewriter" title="Letters" />

.Letters to the Editor

December 10, 2025

Letters

I’m romantic about trains... But the recent long letters to Good Times advocating for the train here are romantic nonsense.

Read more

best of santa cruz county 2025

“Good