Visit Santa Cruz County is commemorating International Women’s Day this year with professional surfer and Santa Cruz native Autumn Hays. “Representing Santa Cruz, especially as a woman, is awesome,” she said. Fresh off her first place win in the World Surf League Qualifying Series, this milestone victory was also a way for her to honor
Packed full of colorful vendor stands, Santa Cruz farmers markets can feel like a riot of vibrant flowers, fruits, and veggies. Yet, hidden behind each stack of romanesco broccoli is a local farm with a story to tell. One example is Live Earth Farm, a market mainstay that lures tote-wielding foodies with fresh organic produce. Get to know them better, and you’ll discover they offer a lot more than sweet berries and succulent tomatoes, including a dreamy countryside property with farm stand, kids camps, and seasonal U-pick events.
Photos by Molly Ressler
As the director of Radius Gallery, Ann Hazels has her finger on the pulse of Santa Cruz County’s art scene. Every few weeks, she fills the bright and airy gallery space with a new exhibition of selected works, curated by herself or a guest curator. The exhibits often combine multiple mediums, from acrylics and photography to metal, clay, and even rubber sculptures that create interactive, thought-provoking experiences.
With a legacy that stretches back more than one hundred years, the Santa Cruz wine region has never been more vibrant. As Santa Cruz Mountains vineyards continue bearing delicious fruit, the local wine community keeps yielding new and exciting developments, from fashionable new tasting rooms to innovative wines. Plus, you may have heard that a Santa Cruz Mountains winery, Mount Eden, received the royal treatment when it was served at the Windsor Castle wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Here are three more tasty tidbits that have the local wine scene all abuzz.
Meet Taylor Reinhold, a talented, enterprising muralist and graphic artist who has galvanized a community of artists from all over the world via numerous street art-based ventures. He’s also the son of Ann Morhauser who founded the renowned glass studio, Annieglass. He jokes that he grew up watching glass break his whole life, but was also steeped in the skate and surf culture of Santa Cruz. In his twenties, he began selling graphic tees at local music festivals, which led to a screenprinting business and an artists collective dubbed the Made Fresh Crew. Reinhold recently moved his screenprinting shop, Natural Motion, into a 6,000-square-foot facility, which includes an airy gallery and retail space displaying street art-inspired works and apparel. We recently caught up with Reinhold to chat street art’s recent resurgence, community involvement, and the upcoming Open Studios event.