Ryan Masters

Santa Cruz’s first Porchfest brings 53 bands to 14 porches on Oct. 3. Organizer Darrow Feldstein turns front steps into stages for a free day of music and community.

For 10 months, The Vessel operated in the shadows of Santa Cruz’s mainstream music scene, hosting 75 shows and more than 300 punk, metal, hardcore and alternative bands before closing for good.

World Elite Sumo brings its first West Coast tournament to Santa Cruz, with 12 international wrestlers, a new women’s competition and 400-pound Power Slap star Makini “Big Mak” Manu.

Santa Cruz County is seeing unusually dense gatherings of dragonflies this summer, bringing flashes of color—and formidable natural mosquito control—to local rivers, lagoons and gardens.

After five years on call day and night, Ryan Masters looks back on the danger, trauma and consuming commitment of serving as a Zayante volunteer firefighter.

Legendary Santa Cruz surf spot Steamer Lane makes its bodysurfing contest debut

After moving through critical moments of American counterculture, the local painter still strives for artistic purity

Cadets face their fears in training courses for the Santa Cruz Fire Fighters Academy