Cruz

[Drunk Monk]

There's a ridiculous amount of reggae comin 2 di Cruz. 

Plus Hartle (of China Cats) has relaunched Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place, which as you know is just a short walk from our bungalow. 

That's likely where my few extra $$ are going. I've resolved to go to more live music. It's the best medicine for DMs in these troubled times...

If only we could seal the Quarry as RM gig.

[thatguy]

Just a PS after mentioning Hartle, I saw on FB that Michael's on Main finally gave up after two years. Their lease is expiring.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/we-had...r-AA1AE759

‘We had a remarkably good time’: Michael’s on Main will not return to longtime home in Soquel. And maybe never at all.
Story by PK Hattis
• 1w • 4 min read

SOQUEL — Michael’s on Main, the popular Mid County restaurant and live music venue that has been closed since 2022 due to fire damage, will not return to the building it called home for 21 years and may never reopen at all.

Erik Barbic, the manager of Holiday Corners, LLC, which owns the property at 2591 Main St. in Soquel, told the Sentinel that a new tenant —a yoga and fitness studio — has signed a lease and is working through the planning and permitting process with the county.

“The building lies in a FEMA flood plain which has a number of restrictions on construction,” Barbic wrote in an email to the Sentinel. “Unfortunately, the building costs of putting a restaurant back were not feasible within the constraints so we pivoted to find another user.”

Soquel Creek, which has flooded in the Soquel area during heavy storm periods, runs through the back side of the property, not far from a sprawling deck and walking area above the creek’s embankment.

Michael Harrison, who has owned Michael’s on Main since 2016, said he held out hope for months after the fire that his restaurant would eventually make a return. But about 16 months after the incident, when his business interruption insurance money was coming to an end, he heard from his insurance provider that the property owner had not yet secured the rebuilding permits. Eventually, the lease was terminated.

“I was still holding on thinking we were going to get reopened and they (the property owner) finally decided they were going to go in another direction,” said Harrison. “I don’t have any hard feelings toward them (the property owner).”

Harrison has searched around town for other locations to start over, but so far to no avail.

“At the end of the day, the bottom line is that we are simply not going to be able to reopen at that location,” said Harrison. “I have looked around for something else, but it was kind of a Goldilocks location for the business model that we were using it for.”

The county’s Department of Community Development and Infrastructure told the Sentinel in a statement that rebuilding regulations in Federal Emergency Management Agency-designated floodplain areas don’t have much wiggle room.

The department wrote that it, “deeply understands the challenges property and business owners face when rebuilding after a disaster, especially when sites are located in an area where floodplain regulations are involved. Public safety is a top priority, and properties within FEMA-designated floodplains must comply with strict standards to reduce future flood risks and protect structures and their occupants.”

The statement continued, “The County remains committed to assisting property and business owners through the permitting process while ensuring projects align with safety regulations and community needs.”

Since the fire more than two years ago, Harrison said the live Grateful Dead tribute performances he hosted at the restaurant, known as “Grateful Sundays,” were relocated to the Crepe Place in the Seabright neighborhood, which he’s confident the loyal “deadheads” are happy with.

Harrison didn’t completely rule out his continued involvement in the restaurant industry, but the prospects aren’t looking good. He said he’s searched around locally for another location to reopen, but nothing has seemed like a good fit.

“I’m 73 (years old), I’m retired and, even though I’ve looked at a few of the empty restaurants around town, I haven’t really found one that I would have been able to do anything close to the business model that I had,” said Harrison. “I haven’t found something that I really felt passionate about.”

Harrison added that he might produce three or four music shows a year, but for the most part, he’s enjoying retirement.

“We had a remarkably good time and it was a wonderful community gathering place,” said Harrison. “But we just haven’t found a location that would be able to offer anything like that.”

Fire crews were called to the restaurant one early morning in September, 2022, as flames were seen ripping through the rooftop. According to Harrison, after an investigation by two insurance companies and a local fire department, the fire’s cause is still unclear, though it is thought to have originated from an equipment failure in the kitchen area. He said about half of the building, which was uninhabited at the time of the fire, was destroyed.

Harrison said the original Michael’s on Main was established in 2001 by Michael Clark, but that the property had been used as a restaurant for about 40 years.

That is about to change, as the forthcoming tenant has a new vision for the property and its potential.

Jason Book, CEO of Hot Elevation Studios, told the Sentinel that the yoga and fitness boutique that has been operating on 41st Avenue for the past 15 years will relocate to the Soquel property which he called an “oasis-like location.” Hot Elevation has signed a lease, he said, and the business is working through the permitting process with the county in hopes of making the move later this year.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring a fitness offering that is going to be very, very unique and particular to the East Side of Santa Cruz County,” said Book. “A place that delivers best in class experience, customer experience … to the extent that it would be a destination spot for visitors, for couples planning date nights. In other words, we’re planning on creating something that is visually and experientially very beautiful.”

Book said the studio will offer hot yoga classes, pilates, barre workouts, PRX and cycling classes, among other things.

“We are excited to have a business as successful as Hot Elevation Studios select the property for the new vision of their studio,” wrote Barbic.

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Bummer. That was a lovely place. I went to many a grateful Sunday. I enjoyed the deck seating and the food was reasonable.

[Drunk Monk]

APRIL 4, 2025
Saxsquatch
Get Show Tickets

MORE INFO

LESS INFO

GET TICKETS

SHOW STARTS:
8:00 pm

Doors will open approximately 30minutes prior to show start time.

ENTRY FEE:
$
20
Show 8pm // Ages 21+
***This is a standing room general admissions show. There will be a limited number of chairs located in the back of the concert hall. Seating will be first come first served. The restaurant will be open for dinner starting at 4pm.
Felton Music Hall Presents:
SAXSQUATCH
with TEP No

like this is kinda tempting even…

[thatguy]

CAL FIRE CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit

Fire at Bigfoot Discovery Museum Complex
NEW INFORMATION: Felton Fire Protection District is in charge of this incident.
CAL FIRE CZU Engine 1764 was the first arriving resource at scene and conducted an aggressive fire attack on the structure, which kept the fire to the building of origin. (A small cabin near the Bigfoot Museum)

Only minor damage occurred to the surrounding structures.

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Heard about that on my socials

Clearly another blow from those yeti incels terrorizing the squatches.

[Drunk Monk]

Santa Cruz County beach closed due to swimmer-shark contact, no injuries reported

Updated: 1:06 PM PDT Jul 1, 

RIO DEL MAR, Calif. —
California State Parks reported that a swimmer and a shark came into contact on Tuesday at a beach in Santa Cruz County.
At approximately 10:53 a.m., a shark encounter was reported at Rio Del Mar State Beach.
The swimmer was located 100 yards away from the Rio Del Mar platform.
State Parks stated that no bites or injuries occurred. It remains unclear how the contact happened between the shark and the swimmer.
This incident is not being classified as an attack.
The swimmer was rescued by lifeguard staff and brought safely ashore.
Rio Del Mar State Beach will be closed for a 1-mile stretch, north to Seacliff, for 48 hours due to this incident. State Parks will close the beach one mile north and south of the location where the incident occurred.
State Parks is currently conducting its annual junior lifeguard program; the children were in the water when the incident took place. All activities are now limited to the shore, and no one is permitted to enter the water.

 
Rio del Mar is one of our fav beaches for early morning dog walks…

[thatguy]

Years ago some friends were going to do the Mermaid race there: running, biking and then swimming around the cement boat. Right before the event, they cancelled the swimming portion due to the number of sharks that hang out around the cement boat. 

I've seen some drone footage take right above the cement boat with 7-8 sharks clearly visible, just chilling.

I'm not surprised. 

--tg

---

9 years ago:

[Drunk Monk]

The Pacific Avenue property that's long been the home of The Catalyst Club is on the market. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Posted inArts & Entertainment

Catalyst Club building, one of the oldest in downtown Santa Cruz, goes on the market
by Jessica M. Pasko5 hours ago

Quick Take

The property at 1009-1011 Pacific Ave. that's been home to music venue The Catalyst since 1976 is for sale for $4.55 million, listed by the heirs of the building’s former owner, Randall Kane. The Catalyst's lease expires in mid-2028.

The longtime home of The Catalyst Club in downtown Santa Cruz is up for sale, putting the storied music venue’s future in something of a limbo. 
This month, the property at 1009-1011 Pacific Ave. went on the market for $4.55 million, listed by the heirs of the building’s former owner, Randall Kane. Kane was the longtime owner of the Catalyst, which he purchased in 1969 and moved from Front Street to its current location in 1976. He sold the business in 2003 to a group of partners, but kept the building, which went to his family after his death. 
The music venue’s current lease with the business’ owner, Usually Hip, Inc.,  expires in mid-2028 with no further options to extend, and a new buyer could decide to continue with a new lease – but that’s no guarantee, according to Reuben Helick, managing director with Cushman & Wakefield, which has been contracted to sell the building. Any new owner would have to honor the existing lease until its end, however. 
“Our hope is that this continues as a music venue,” said Helick. “[But] if an offer comes in at the right price, [the owners] will take it.” 
The Catalyst is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Santa Cruz, and was originally a bowling alley. Built as two adjoining buildings in 1938, the properties were merged in 1973 and managed to survive the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
A Santa Cruz legend, the Catalyst has hosted some of the biggest names in the music industry throughout its history, including Neil Young, the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Pearl Jam and Nirvana, among countless others.
A new owner could repurpose the building for a different use, decide to operate it as a music venue themselves, or decide to develop the property for housing/mixed use.
“We kind of saw this coming; it wasn’t a surprise,” said Igor Gavric, the general manager of The Catalyst Club. “Landlord deals are sort of independent of us. We’ll see what happens.”
Gavric, who has been the general manager for the past 12 years, said the business will certainly talk with the eventual buyer about next steps. At the moment, it’s business as usual.  “We’re not going anywhere for now,” he said.
Kane’s heirs previously listed the building for sale in 2011, asking $2.2 million, but it didn’t sell at that time, Helick said. The current sale involves the two-story, 19,500-square-foot Catalyst space, which includes two performance areas, multiple bars, balconies and an upstairs entertainment area. The first floor consists of a lobby area, commercial kitchen, cocktail bar, the Atrium performance area and the main performance area. The second floor includes the balconies, another bar, a manager’s office, a green room for performers and an entertainment area.  A buyer also has the option to purchase the adjacent parcel at 1013 Pacific Ave., which has long been vacant. 
Downtown revitalization efforts, including the new housing being constructed, make this an exciting time to invest in the area, said Helick.
“People will be living here, shopping here,” he said. “That’s going to be big. It could be a while, but it’s going to be a lot more dynamic. It’s going to be a fun place.”

I disdain the Cat. It's got mediocre acoustics and I swear they've never cleaned the floor since I was firsst going there in the mid 80s. But I've seen some great shows there. They still book some of the best acts coming through town. A friend of mine was working as a bouncer there for a while and offered to slide me in whenever I wanted, but I never took advantage of that (I didn't know him that well so I never knew how solid that offer was).

[thatguy]

--tg

[thatguy]

Tsunami Alert!!



https://weatherkit.apple.com/alertDetail...2CA6A6D320

Severe Weather Alert

If you are located in this coastal area, stay alert for further updates.

Tsunami watches are an advance notice to areas that could be impacted by a tsunami at a later time. Watch areas may be upgraded to a warning or advisory status, or canceled, based on new information.

At 425 PM Pacific Daylight Time on July 29 an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.7 occurred 80 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk Kamchatka.

Estimated tsunami start times for selected sites are;

Kodiak Alaska 820 PM. AKDT. July 29. Seward Alaska 845 PM. AKDT. July 29. Elfin Cove Alaska 850 PM. AKDT. July 29. Yakutat Alaska 855 PM. AKDT. July 29. Sitka Alaska 855 PM. AKDT. July 29. Langara British Columbia 1005 PM. PDT. July 29. Valdez Alaska 905 PM. AKDT. July 29. Cordova Alaska 915 PM. AKDT. July 29. Homer Alaska 940 PM. AKDT. July 29. Craig Alaska 955 PM. AKDT. July 29. Tofino British Columbia 1130 PM. PDT. July 29. La Push Washington 1135 PM. PDT. July 29. Neah Bay Washington 1140 PM. PDT. July 29. Port Orford Oregon 1140 PM. PDT. July 29. Long Beach Washington 1145 PM. PDT. July 29. Charleston Oregon 1145 PM. PDT. July 29. Brookings Oregon 1150 PM. PDT. July 29. Fort Bragg California 1150 PM. PDT. July 29. Moclips Washington 1150 PM. PDT. July 29. Westport Washington 1155 PM. PDT. July 29. Seaside Oregon 1155 PM. PDT. July 29. Newport Oregon 1155 PM. PDT. July 29. Crescent City California 1155 PM. PDT. July 29. Monterey California 1215 AM. PDT. July 30. Port Angeles Washington 1220 AM. PDT. July 30. Port San Luis California 1235 AM. PDT. July 30. San Francisco California 1240 AM. PDT. July 30. Port Townsend Washington 1245 AM. PDT. July 30. Santa Barbara California 1250 AM. PDT. July 30. Los Angeles Harbor California 105 AM. PDT. July 30. Newport Beach California 110 AM. PDT. July 30. Bellingham Washington 110 AM. PDT. July 30. Oceanside California 115 AM. PDT. July 30. La Jolla California 115 AM. PDT. July 30.

The tsunami watch will remain in effect until further notice. Refer to the internet site tsunami.gov for more information.
Monitor the situation and take precautions if necessary.

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

[quote pid="79773" dateline="1755202080"]
Drunk MonkJust heard Betty’s Burgers downtown is closing. They say Seabright will stay open but that’s gotta be impacted by the Murray bridge closure.
[/quote]

An intruder broke into Betty Burgers in Seabright on Tuesday morning, causing $50,000 in damages. Credit: Betty Burgers

Betty Burgers Seabright store temporarily closed after major vandalism
by Lily Belli 6 hours ago
An intruder broke into Betty Burgers in Seabright early Tuesday morning and caused more than $50,000 in damages and lost income by emptying a fire extinguisher inside the restaurant. 
The break in occurred around 5 a.m., and no one was in the building at the time. The restaurant was closed on Tuesday to be cleaned and repaired, and plans to reopen on Wednesday. 
The intruder only took a laptop, $600 from the cash register, and a Betty Burger-branded sweatshirt, but they caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage while they were inside the building. Food was thrown on the ground and condiments were sprayed on the walls and ceiling. The grill was taken apart, and the intruder emptied a fire extinguisher in the dining room, coating the tables and floors in toxic residue. They also ripped apart a $9,000 security...

Dammit. This is my 'hood.

[Greg]

Why would Lilly Belli do that?

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Why would Lilly Belli do that?

She did it 6 hours ago. Surely they can track her down.

[Greg]

Why would Lilly Belli do that?

She did it 6 hours ago. Surely they can track her down.

Totes.