.5 Things To Do in Santa Cruz: February 13-19

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

Green Fix

Salamander Safari

Some salamanders and frogs have tongues up to 10 times as long as their bodies, and the world’s largest salamander can grow to a length of 5 feet. Discover some of the secretive salamanders that live in the redwood forest, and learn all about salamander life cycles, behaviors, adaptations, and the current threats they face. The trip totals about 2 miles. Don’t forget to bring water and hiking shoes.

INFO: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Visitor Center, 101 N Big Trees Park Road., Felton. 335-7077. Free/vehicle day use $10.

Art Seen

Random With A Purpose XXVII: Via

UCSC’s annual student dance production Random With A Purpose is a collaboratively student-run and student-created dance production. Now in its 27th year, choreographers create dances about an ongoing process or one which they have experienced, presenting the audience with a changing and developing environment to exhibit the various ways we are influenced by the spaces we navigate.

INFO: 7:30 p.m., 3 p.m, Sunday matinees. Friday, Feb. 15-Sunday, Feb. 24. UCSC Second Stage Theater Arts Center, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. ucsctickets.com. $18/$5 parking. Photo: Photo by Stephen Louis Marino.

Thursday 2/14-Saturday 2/16

‘What Is Erotic? I See You/Te Veo’

The 418 Project’s latest show focuses on their annual V-Day question: what is erotic? In the spirit of this year’s focus on viewpoints, the all-volunteer cast and crew wants to showcase different perspectives. Now in its 14th season, What Is Erotic? puts local artists’ brave, original, sometimes-poignant, and sometimes-funny reflections on view with pole dance, spoken word, burlesque, theater, and more.  

INFO: 7:30 p.m. The 418 Project, 418 Front St., Santa Cruz. 466-9770, the418project.com. $25-125.  

Monday 2/18

‘Marlon James: Black Leopard, Red Wolf’

New York Times bestselling author Marlon James comes to Santa Cruz to talk about his latest novel Black Leopard, Red Wolf. The book includes a colorful cast of characters, like a shapeshifting man-animal, a monstrous eater of human flesh, witches, roof-walkers, murderous hyenas, trolls, mermaids, and conjoined twins.

INFO: 7 p.m. Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 423-0900, bookshopsantacruz.com. Free. Photo: Mark Seliger.

Thursday  2/21-Sunday 2/24

43rd Banff Mountain Film Festival

The annual Banff Mountain Film Festival is traveling to some 400 communities around the world. From an exploration of remote landscapes and mountain cultures to adrenaline-fueled action sports, this year’s world tour is making a pit stop in Santa Cruz to bring stories of distance runners and skiers, beavers and grizzlies. Benefits the UCSC Wilderness Orientation Scholarship Fund.

INFO: 7 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 423-8209, riotheatre.com. $18-22.