.Things To Do in Santa Cruz: March 10-16

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

ART SHOW Emerging from sheltering in place, Ben, a lifelong artist, photographer, actor and writer, was always looking for the next opportunity to translate everyday experiences into artistic expressions. At the start of shelter-in-place in mid-March, Ben began painting as a hobby, but his painting has since evolved into one of his favorite artistic forms of expression. Meet and greets will be held Saturdays and Sundays 8:30-10:30am with face masks and proper distancing. Ben’s paintings and fine art prints can also be viewed and purchased in the comfort of your home through artevolutionstudio.com. Wednesday, March 10, 7am-11:30pm. Thursday, March 11, 7am-11:30pm.

BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL VIRTUAL FESTIVAL All the programs? All the programs! If you’ve been too busy getting after it outdoors, or just haven’t made the time yet, now’s your chance to catch all our Virtual World Tour Programs including the grand prize winner: “Piano to Zanskar.” This year, bring the adventure home! Fluff up your couch cushions, grab a snack of choice, and make sure you have a good internet connection, because the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is virtual! Travel to the most remote corners of the world, dive into daring expeditions, and celebrate some of the most remarkable outdoor achievements, all from the comfort of your living room. Films can be purchased individually or as a bundle. Visit riotheatre.com for more information about the online programs and how you can support your local screening. You may also go directly to the Banff affiliate link for the Rio at filmfest.banffcentre.ca/?campaign=WT-163945.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTRY BAND ALBUM RELEASE MARCH 15TH Santa Cruz’s Hank and Ella with The Fine Country Band will release their second all-original album on March 15. Available on all streaming platforms and mail-order CD’s at thefinecountryband.com. As the Nashville sound was gaining popularity, 2,000 miles west a different country genre was taking off. The Bakersfield sound remains one of the most influential country music styles, and ever since its boom in the 1950’s, country music has called California home. Hank and Ella with The Fine country Band pulls from that distinct California sound and makes it their own. Influenced by decades of country music, the band puts a fresh, modern stamp on the genre while remaining true to time honored tradition. Like Hank says in one of his songs, whether it be a setting sun or a rain filled cloud, the good old days are now! “I’m good at being lonely, I’m good at being blue, I’m good at finding someone but they’re not like you.” These lyrics from the album’s title track may be what we were all feeling in 2020, but songs like “Lucky When it Rains” and “Riding on Easy” will get you dancing when we can all go to the honky tonk again. thefinecountryband.com. Monday, March 15, 9am.

WESTCLIFF ST. PATRICK’S FOOD TRUCK MARKET A different twist on a great tradition of St. Patrick’s Day! In these unusual times come get some great food to take home! Join us at the Westcliff parking lot and Lighthouse Field parking lot to enjoy a fabulous view, great food, and lots of social distancing! It’s a great chance to get outside and enjoy one of the best views in Santa Cruz! Enjoy the luck of the Irish by getting some great food to go! All vendors and attendees must wear masks and maintain a six-foot social distance. Food trucks include: Scrumptious Fish and Chips; Nomad Momo Dumplings; Union Foodie Truck; Taquizas Gabriel; PANA Food Truck. Saturday, March 13, noon-6pm.

COMMUNITY

SALSA SUELTA FREE ZOOM SESSION SALSA SUELTA FREE ZOOM SESSION Keep in shape! Weekly online session in Cuban-style Salsa Suelta for experienced beginners and up. May include Mambo, ChaChaCha, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Orisha, Son Montuno. No partner required, ages 14+. Contact to get the link. salsagente.com. Thursday, March 11, 7pm.

SCOTTS VALLEY BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATION: COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE The city of Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz Public Libraries are pleased to announce a Virtual Community Open House to preview the Scotts Valley Branch Library Renovations. Funded by Measure S, the Scotts Valley Library will see about $3.75 million in updates and upgrades to enhance services to the community. Construction is scheduled for later this year. Community members are invited to join the Virtual Community Open House on Zoom: bit.ly/3kHksF0. During the meeting, the Library Design Team will share a brief summary of the Scotts Valley Branch Renovations and close with a Q&A session. Please join us for this early look at our Library’s improvements! Thursday, March 11, 6pm.

TENANTS’ RIGHTS HELP Tenant Sanctuary is open to renters living in the city of Santa Cruz with questions about their tenants’ rights. Volunteer counselors staff the telephones on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm. Tenant Sanctuary works to empower tenants by educating them on their rights and providing the tools to pursue those rights. Tenant Sanctuary and their program attorney host free legal clinics for tenants in the city of Santa Cruz. Due to Covid-19 concerns, all services are currently by telephone, email or Zoom. For more information visit tenantsanctuary.org or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/tenantsanctuary. 831-200-0740. Thursday, March 11, 10am-2pm. Sunday, March 14, 10am-2pm. Tuesday, March 16, 10am-2pm.

GROUPS

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive environment or community and a chance for family caregivers to develop informal mutual support and social relationships as well as discover more effective ways to cope with and care for your loved one. Meeting via Zoom and phone. Who may benefit from participating in the support group? Family caregivers who care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, those would like to talk to others in a similar situation, and those who need more information, additional support and caregiving strategies. To register or for questions please call 800-272-3900. Wednesday, March 10, 2pm.

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish-speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Registration required, call 831-761-3973. Friday, March 12, 6pm.

WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM Cancer support group for women with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cancer. Meets every Monday at 12:30pm via Zoom. All services are free. Registration required. Contact WomenCARE at 831-457-2273 or online at womencaresantacruz.org. Monday, March 15, 12:30pm.

WOMENCARE TUESDAY SUPPORT GROUP WomenCARE Tuesday Cancer support group for women newly diagnosed and through their treatment. Meets every Tuesday currently on Zoom.  Registration required. Contact WomenCARE at 831-457-2273 or online at womencaresantacruz.org. Tuesday, March 16, 12:30-2pm.

WOMENCARE: LAUGHTER YOGA Laughter yoga for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets every Wednesday at 3:30 via Zoom. Registration required by contacting 831-457-2273. Wednesday, March 10, 3:30-4:30pm.

OUTDOOR

SEYMOUR MARINE DISCOVERY CENTER LABSIDE CHATS: A CONVERSATION WITH A SCIENTIST Dive into the wonderful, curious, and sometimes bizarre world of marine science! Join the Seymour Center for a live conversation with a UCSC scientist to gain deeper insight into their field of study and what fuels their passion for discovering the unknown. Visit the Seymour Center’s website to submit your questions in advance for each scientist, and to watch the live conversations. Join us for the next Labside Chat with Luis Huckstadt, assistant researcher with the Institute of Marine Sciences at UCSC. Learn about the role large predators, such as marine mammals, play in the marine ecosystem. This event is free for everyone and will be streamed live on the Seymour Marine Youtube Channel. Please visit youtube.com/channel/UCWKoNCKPS_bDgHE2eSe_lWw to tune in. Thursday, March 11, 11am.

10 YEARS SINCE THE TSUNAMI WITH THE SEISMOLOGY LAB The March 11, 2011 magnitude 9.1 Tohoku-oki earthquake and accompanying tsunami was devastating to Japan and affected regions all around the Pacific Ocean, including here in Santa Cruz. On the 10th anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami, Heather Savage and Kristina Okamoto of the UCSC Seismology Lab will talk about how and why the earthquake occurred and the lessons learned by earthquake scientists from this event. We will also discuss how Japan has recovered since the earthquake during this virtual event. Register online at santacruzmuseum.org. Thursday, March 11, 6-7pm.

VIRTUAL YOUNGER LAGOON RESERVE TOURS Younger Lagoon Reserve is now offering a virtual tour in both English and Spanish. This virtual tour follows the same stops as the Seymour Marine Discovery Center’s docent-led, in-person hiking tour, and is led by a UCSC student! Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. See what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. Access the tours at seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/visit/behind-the-scenes-tours/#youngerlagoon. Sunday, March 14, 10:30am.