Best Derby Girl

Ima Hotmess

1. Ima Hotmess isn’t skating right now after breaking her ankle, but she coaches the Santa Cruz Derby Girls team, as well as the junior team.
2. Mom of a derby family—her husband, Neoscorin, is a referee and co-coach, and her son, Killa Kee, is a junior referee.
3. She started skating seven years ago.
4. Ima came from Monterey Bay Derby Dames, where she used to be the team captain.
5. When she’s not coaching, she is working at Skateworks … and thinking about coaching. GEORGIA JOHNSON

Best Dog Park

Frederick Street Park

1. Frederick Street Park is one of nine off-leash dog areas in the city of Santa Cruz.
2. It is known for its oceanside view of the harbor.
3. There are water fountains on site to allow pooches and humans to hydrate after all that running around.
4. Also features a fenced-in area. Who’s a safe doggie? Is it you? Oh yes it is! Oh yes it is!
5. Did you forget your poop bag? Don’t worry, you can find plenty on site. GJ

Best Neighborhood

Seabright

1. Nobody knows for sure how much of Seabright is in the mysteriously defined area known as “Midtown.” If someone tells you they know, don’t believe them.
2. If you spend any serious amount of time in Seabright, you will end up at Day’s Market at least once. It’s just a thing that happens. Try to not go there. You can’t.
3. On any given weekend morning, Seabright has a larger per capita percentage of people waiting to be seated for breakfast than anywhere in Santa Cruz County—possibly the world.
4. Most summer nights after dark, the many fires on Seabright Beach make it look like something out of a Mad Max movie, only without all the black leather. Okay, sometimes there’s black leather.
5. Seabright Beach was once home to a bathhouse shaped like a castle. It was built around 1900 and demolished in 1967, so if that sounds like fun, you missed your window. STEVE PALOPOLI

Best Nonprofit Group

Grey Bears

1. Founded by two UCSC students in 1973, Grey Bears delivers fresh produce and healthy staples to more than 4,000 Santa Cruz County seniors each week.
2. Last year, they delivered 2.3 million pounds of produce and foods, totaling more than 1.9 million meals.
3. Grey Bears operates two recycling centers, a thrift store, a computer electronics store and bookstore.
4. They had more than 700 volunteers in 2016.
5. They recently installed solar panels to their thrift store at 2650 Chanticleer Ave. Ninety-three percent of their electrical use is now solar-powered. GJ

Beach

Seabright Beach

East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

RUNNERS-UP Capitola Beach, Twin Lakes Beach

Bike Ride

West Cliff Drive

RUNNERS-UP Nisene Marks, Wilder Ranch

Boardwalk Ride

Giant Dipper

400 Beach St., Santa Cruz,

423-5590, beachboardwalk.com

RUNNERS-UP Carousel, Log Ride

Derby Girl

Ima Hotmess

RUNNERS-UP Alicia Moss, Def Jen Wreckers, Shamrock N. Roller

Dog Park

Frederick Street

168 Frederick St., Santa Cruz

RUNNERS-UP Aptos Polo Grounds, Its Beach

Farmers Market

Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Market at Cabrillo College  

6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 728-5060

RUNNERS-UP Downtown, Westside  

Local Athlete (non-Derby)

Nat Young

RUNNERS-UP Tobin Ortenblad, Luke Rockhold

Neighborhood

Seabright

RUNNERS-UP Pleasure Point, Westside

Nonprofit Group

Grey Bears  

2710 Chanticleer Ave, Santa Cruz

479-1055, greybears.org

RUNNERS-UP Homeless Garden Project, Save Our Shores

Place of Worship

Holy Cross

210 High St., Santa Cruz

459-0631, holycrosssantacruz.com

RUNNERS-UP Inner Light Ministries, Land of Medicine Buddha, Peace United Church of Christ

Place to Walk/Jog/Hike

West Cliff Drive

RUNNERS-UP Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, Wilder Ranch State Park

Retreat Center

Land of Medicine Buddha

5800 Prescott Road, Soquel

462-8383, landofmedicinebuddha.org

RUNNERS-UP 1440 Multiversity, Mount Madonna Institute

Wedding Venue

Seascape Beach Resort

1 Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos

688-6800, seascaperesort.com

RUNNERS-UP Chaminade Resort & Spa, Hollins House

MORE BEST OF 2018: SHOPPING & SERVICES | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE | ARTS & CULTURE | HEALTH & RECREATION | EDITOR’S PICKS

PHOTOS BY KEANA PARKER