2023
LOCAL SHOPPING THE
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO
GoodTimes.sc
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1 3 2 0 PA C I F I C AV E , S A N TA C R U Z , C A 9 5 0 6 0 Monday through Friday 10am-5pm & Saturday 11am-5pm
( 8 3 1 ) 4 2 3 - 4 1 0 0 | d w j @ d e l l w i l l i a m s . c o m | W W W. D E L LW I L L I A M S . C O M
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Rejoice &
Rejuvenate!
We have Gift Certificates!
Botox & Filler • Rejuvenating Facials Diamond Glow Facial • Potenza MicroNeedling Laser Facial Rejuvenation • Vitamins and IV Therapy • CoolSculpting 831-226-2108
1595 38th Ave, Capitola
rejuvenatemedi-spa.com 2023 | GOODTIMES.SC | SANTA CRUZ GIF GUIDE
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2023
CONTENTS Always the
Perfect Gift. Fine Wines and Cheeses from Around the World Impress your guests or delight your loved ones with the perfect gift from our carefully curated selection of wines, cheeses, and charcuterie from around the world. Make your holiday event one to remember with our wide variety of meats, seafood, and organic produce. And don’t forget to check out our wonderful selection of gift ideas in our home, garden & gift department.
ADS
We also offer the finest Meat, Seafood, and Organic Produce for all your entertaining needs.
TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU
SANTA CRUZ
1266 Soquel Avenue • 831-423-8632
WATSONVILLE
906 E. Lake Avenue • 831-726-0240
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GIFTS FOR THE … 6 Art Lover
24 Erotic Enthusiast
44 New Parent
8 Beer Geek
26 Fitness Fanatic
46 Stoner
10 Bike Lover
28 Foodie
48 Student
12 Bookworm
32 Gardener
50 Surfer
14 Chef
34 Heavy Petter
52 Techie
16 Chocoholic
36 Hipster
54 Vegan
18 Coffee Addict
38 Home Decorator
56 Vinophile
18 Crafter
40 Jewelry Lover
58 Yogi
22 Environmentalist
42 Musician
EDITOR’S NOTE
People come from all over to shop in Santa Cruz this time of year. Why? Because we have plenty of boutiques, custom artisans, one-of-a-kind food choices, crazy clothing, amazing vintage wear, great wines, tons of original art, a cornucopia of musical instruments and high quality organic dispensaries. To name a few, that is. There is nothing like our small, original and crafty stores in the slick commercial and endlessly repeated stores elsewhere, which is why it seems all of the Central Valley and the Valley of Silicon drive over the hills and through the passes to get here in the winter off-season. Even when I lived elsewhere, I did all of my holiday shopping in Santa Cruz and got rave reviews from the gift receivers. It was like I had traveled the world for unique, handcrafted items I found right here. Gift buying has always kept Santa Cruz close to my heart. Even our street vendors have cool stuff. All that said, we are under attack. Not from the big box and chain stores locals once fought off as the enemy, but from the web, dark as it can be, with its seemingly good deals and variety. I do everything I can to avoid it and shop local, knowing that every dollar I spend here comes back to our community and not some billionaire’s pockets. He can keep his yachts, you know. Let’s help our local, small town heroes. Happy Holidays, BRAD KAVA
STAFF WRITTEN BY
EDITOR
AIYANA MOYA BRAD KAVA CHRISTINA WATERS DNA FOLLY CORVALLIS JEANETTE PRATHER JOHN KOENIG JOSUE MONROY JUNE SMITH QUINN SOUTHALL RICHARD STOCKTON TODD GUILD
BRAD KAVA
JENNIFER MEYER, SAM MIRANDA, JACKIE MUJICA, STACI MORRIS
MANAGING EDITOR
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
PUBLISHER
CIRCULATION MANAGER
DAN PULCRANO
HALEY TWEEDELL HEATHER TSANG
GENERAL MANAGER
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
COVER DESIGN BY
LEE MAY
JEANETTE PRATHER
DEBRA WHIZIN
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
CINDY COULING
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR DEB FISHER
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR SEAN GEORGE
DESIGNERS
ELENA RAZGONOV, PHAEDRA STRECHER,
LISA BUCKLEY, KATE KAUFFMAN, SUE LAMOTHE, DUFFY BARETT
OFFICE MANAGER DANIELLE RATLIFF
ACCOUNTING AURENE POKORNY SHANNEN CRAIG HEATHER TSANG, HALEY TWEEDELL
A Good Times publication.
11/6/23 4:24 PM
SOMETIMES THE BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS ARE THE MEMORIES WE CAPTURE At Bay Photo, we offer a wide selection of products to cover all of your Holiday gifting needs, When it comes to personalized greeting cards, stunning custom wall art, and unique photo gifts, we have you covered. If you need help designing your Christmas gifts, please come to our local stores. We’re here for you!
bayphotofilm.com
Clearly they’ll love Acrylic Blocks
Your gifting problems, solved!
Eastside Store 715 Soquel Avenue (831) 425-1100
@bayphotofilm
Park Avenue Store 2959 Park Avenue (831) 475-6090
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Gifts for the
ARTIST
Ahh, the pretentious art lover. Art lies in the eye of the beholder, so we won’t even suggest trying to buy art for the art enthusiast in your life. Instead, here are a few art-adjacent ideas. First up and debatably best, a gift card to Picture Appeal Framing Store downtown Santa Cruz. What’s cool about this framing store is that they often work with artists, so they have an eye for the perfect accent frame. Maybe your art lover also likes to dabble in creative pursuits, in which case spending an evening painting ceramics at Petroglyph might be the perfect experience for them. Or, why not just let them pick out their own art piece at Artisans and Agency, which often features work from local artists. AM
PETROGLYPH CUP
Petroglyph
125 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz 831-458-4278 Petroglyph.com ~$50
PRINTS
ARTISANS and Agency 1368 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-423-8183 ArtisansandAgency.com ~$100
PICTURE FRAME
Picture Appeal
123 Maple St., Santa Cruz 831-421-1500 PictureAppeal.com $100+
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A Shopping Experience Like No Other Ladies Clothing, Shoes, Accessories & Gifts
Bunny's Gifts
7000 Soquel Dr. Ste 3, Aptos | 831-662-2730 bunny’s-Gifts bunnys_gifts
10% Off
Must Mention Ad (excludes shoes & sale items)
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Gifts for the
BEER GEEK
Who doesn’t like a nice cold glass of golden IPA on a warm day? Or, when the days get shorter and nippier, a nice hearty stout as you're wrapped up in your favorite scarf? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, chances are you know a beer lover or two who drooled at the thought of a nice fizzy sip. Luckily, Santa Cruz has emerged as a craft beer hub in recent years with a new brewery or tap room opening up seemingly at every corner. This holiday season, hop on over to Sante Adairius Rustic Ales and pick up a few of their world-renowned bottles. The Saison Bernice is a beloved staple that will satisfy the most discerning beer fan. Grab a unique Mexican mole stout at Beer Thirty, one of the best bottle shops in town with a wide selection of unique brews. Finally, if you want to give them the full experience, book a trip on the Brew Cruz and join them on a beer tasting adventure to various local breweries and taprooms. Bottoms up! JM
BOTTLE LOGIC LECHE BORRACHO MEXICAN MOLE STOUT
SANTE ADAIRIUS RUSTIC ALES SAISON BERNICE
Beer Thirty
Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
2504 S Main StSoquel, CA 95073 (831) 477-9967 beerthirtysantacruz.com $31.25
103 Kennedy Dr. Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 201-4141 rusticales.com $20
BREW CRUZ TOUR
Brew Cruz
(831) 222-0120 scbrewcruz.com $95
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SUPERB PRODUCTS OF VALUE • LOCAL, NATURAL, SPECIALT Y, GOURMET • NEIGHBORLY SERVICE FOR 85 YEARS
Wine Experts Ready to Help
Free Gift Wrapping
Come share in the magic of the Holiday Season at Shopper’s Corner! For those of you looking for the perfect gift, Shopper’s has you covered with the largest selection of wines in the area. We will even gift wrap for you for free of charge! Many customers knock out all their gift shopping here while doing their daily or holiday shop. There is something for everyone here at Shopper’s, and you can always count on us for helpful and friendly assistance in choosing your wines. Hope to see you soon!
The gift of wine is a special one, because it’s a gift that you can share! FAMILY-OWNED & OPERATED FOR 85 YEARS
10% Discount on 6 or More Bottles Mix or Match! Wine
(831) 429-1804
★ VOTED BEST BUTCHER SHOP ★ BEST WINE SELECTION ★ BEST CHEESE SELECTION ★ BEST LOCALLY OWNED GROCERY STORE ★ BEST GREEN BUSINESS ★ BEST PRODUCE
Produce (831) 429-1499 • Grocery (831) 423-1398 • Meat (831) 423-1696
LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF SOQUEL & BRANCIFORTE AVENUES
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Gifts for the
BIKE LOVER
In a county with more per capita car/bike accidents than anywhere and more thefts, your cyclist would love some safety and theft-proof options What about a light suit of armor? No we’re not kidding and had I owned one, I might have spent less time in the emergency room. The G-Form MX360 Impact Shirt looks like something Tony Stark would wear and gives some serious upper body protection. It’s on sale at Spokesman Bicycles and could really come in handy with the slim cycling area in the rail/trail they are planning. You always need a pump with you and the lighter, the smaller
G-FORM MX360 IMPACT SHIRT
and the more flexible the better. Specialized’s Air Tool Switch Comp Pump features presta and Schrader hookups and is a mini blessing. The price is mini too at $21 and comes with a mounting for the pump and water bottle and an easily viewable gauge. It’s available at Cyclesport shops. You want to show your partner you REALLY love them? Time for a tandem bike you can ride together. It will either make you or break you, but we bet it will make you a solid team and give you much to share. Electra’s Tandem 7i is light, bright and a bargain at $1,600 at Bicycle Trip. BK
AIR TOOL SWITCH COMP PUMP
Spokesman Bicycles
Scotts Valley Cycle Sport
231 Cathcart St. Santa Cruz, 95060 (831) 429-6062 And 402 Ingalls St. Santa Cruz, 95060 (831) 291-7603 $180
203 Mt Hermon Rd. Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (831) 440-9070
Santa Cruz Cycle Sport 914 41st Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 475-3883 $21
ELECTRA TANDEM
Bicycle Trip
1001 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831)-427-2580 $1,600
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Gifts for the
BOOKWORM
You never hear, “they’re coming for our books,” but they are, so this is a great time to check out some of Santa Cruz’s best places to shop for your bookworm. The matriarch of the literary scene, Bookshop Santa Cruz, is located on Pacific Ave and is an intergenerational family-owned bookstore. With incredible events and a genuine focus on making downtown less stupid, pickup a copy of local author Lara Love Hardin’s The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing for the perfect gift of a local author who’s gone national. Out in Pleasure Point, Gary and Denise (and Marsh, the store dog) opened a delightful little book
SO LATE IN THE DAY BY CLAIRE KEEGAN
Two Birds Books
881 41st Ave., Santa Cruz 831-900-5588 TwoBirdsBooks.com $18.60
THE MOTHER OF HOBOES
spot called Two Birds Books. Between Denise’s PhD in literature and Gary’s love of sci-fi, this is a great place to ask what they recommend and, according to their website you probably want to pick up So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan for your short story book worm. And located downtown is the very cool, Bad Animal, where you have your choice of books and dinner. For your bookworm we suggest a vintage book, such as The Mother of Hoboes for $140, or maybe a gift certificate to impress, but either way, you’re in the bookworm Zone. DNA
THE MANY LIVES OF MAMA LOVE BY LARA LOVE HARDING
Bookshop Santa Cruz 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-423-0900 BookshopSantaCruz.com $28.99
Bad Animal
1011 Cedar St., Santa Cruz 831-900-5031 BadAnimalBooks.com $140
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e & Sun v to s d o o W m o fr s g n ti e Holiday Gre
IndoorLiving Fireplaces, Inserts & Stoves, Gas, Electric, Wood & Pellet
OutdoorLiving Fireplaces, Fire Tables & Fire Pits, Kitchens, Furniture, Pizza Ovens, Grills, Kit Pergolas & Umbrellas
Woodstove & Sun has been warming homes since 1982. Providing top quality products and customer service to the Central Coast, we now offer one stop shopping to perfect your outdoor living space too!
WOODSTOVE & SUN 510 Soquel Avenue • Santa Cruz, CA (Down the Hill from Shopper’s Corner) www.woodstoveandsun.com Instagram@woodstoveandsun
(831) 425-5123
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Gifts for the
CHEF
When shopping for a kitchen witch or wizard, one must decide whether to find a gift that is good for a season or for a lifetime. It's easy to choose something that excites in the moment, but could languish on a shelf for years, but we found some gifts that are sure to be used. A chef's knife is an extension of their hand, a source of pride and constant use. Toque Blanche offers the Victorinox Swiss Classic, with a 10" Santoku blade--sure to make every fillet and julienne a joy to prepare. If your culinary artist loves to expand their skills with a great book, Two Birds Books recommends the recently published Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling. It's not all about the carne! Shopper's Corner has a dizzying array of irresistible sauces and jams, some locally produced, and many that won't be found anywhere else. For a classic pairing that is sure to be used and appreciated, try a bottle of Grosoli Del Duca Aged Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, and locally made Belle Farms Extra Virgin Olive Oil. JK
SANTOKU CHEF’S KNIFE
MEXICAN GRILLING COOKBOOK
My Toque
Two Birds Books
1527 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-426-1351 MyToque.com $70
881 41st Ave., Santa Cruz 831-900-5588 TwoBirdsBooks.com $40
LOCALLY MADE OLIVE OIL
Shopper’s Corner
622 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz 831-423-1398 ShoppersCorner.com $30
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BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT in SANTA CRUZ ―Santa Cruz Sentinel Readers Choice 2022 ―Good Times, Best of Santa Cruz 2023
At Riva Fish House, we offer a view with flavor.
Island Kitchen & Groggery
BEST FANCY COCKTAILS BEST HAPPY HOUR (RUNNER UP) BEST PATIO DINING SANTA CRUZ (RUNNER UP)
BEST RESTAURANT ON THE WHARF BEST OUTDOOR DINING
Dine at our seaside haven on the Municipal Wharf today!
The Fully Immersive Tiki Paradise on the Santa Cruz Wharf! Open Daily 11-9, Happy Hour M-F 3-6 pm (831) 429-1223 • 31 Municipal Wharf
RivaFishHouse.com
Connect With Us!
rivafishhouse
rivafishhouse
Call Today for Reservations! Open Daily 11-9 | Happy Hour M-F 3-6 PM (831) 466-9766 • 49A Municipal Wharf www.MakaiSantaCruz.com makaisantacruz
makai_santacruz
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Gifts for the
CHOCOHOLIC
Who is easier to please at gift giving time than a chocolate lover? Most would be thrilled with a bag of M&Ms or a gift-wrapped Hershey Bar. And yet, you want your favorite chocoholic to really light up at the sight of something special. Santa Cruz is blessed with chocolatiers devoted to elevating their craft to a world-class level. Donnelly Chocolates brings out all of their varieties and flavors for the holidays, including lemongrass, tea, lavender, chipotle, fresh mint, and Chinese five-spice. Chocolate the Restaurant offers a gift box of assorted truffles--your choice, with white rose, mint, amaretto, coconut, salted caramel, hazelnut and other flavors to select from. For your chocolate lover who craves a crunch, look to The Buttery and their decadently dark, rich, melt in your mouth Chocolate Dream cookies, a miraculous mix of outer crisp and sinful softness. JK
GIFT BOX OF EIGHT EXOTIC TRUFFLES
Donnelly Chocolates 1509 Mission St., Santa Cruz 831-458-4214 DonnellyChocolates.com $27.50
GIFT BOX OF 12 ASSORTED TRUFFLES
Chocolate
1522 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-427-9900 ChocolateSantaCruz.com $40
BOX OF 10 CHOCOLATE DREAM COOKIES
The Buttery
702 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz 831-458-3020 ButteryBakery.com $18
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great gifts for you & Yours this
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Proudly Locally Owned & Operated 2023 | GOODTIMES.SC | SANTA CRUZ GIF GUIDE
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Gifts for the
COFFEE ADDICT
How great a gift is coffee? For early-morning focus and late-night studying it's our friendly fix. It brings us together with friends and it's a pleasure to savor alone. Santa Cruz is home to many true coffee devotees, passionate about all things coffee, from sourcing and roasting to brewing and serving. An easy treat for your coffee lover is a gift card for Shrine coffeehouse on Westcliff, where a beautiful view of the ocean and a courtyard complete with a relaxing fountain come with your coffee and pastry or quiche. For those brewing their own at home, Verve on Pacific makes it easy with their selection of pour-over sets, especially with the Hario V60 Glass Dripper, that uses all sizes of filters and sits atop a carafe or a mug. Then investigate the "current case file" at The Coffee Conspiracy nearby, singleorigin beans in limited quantities, bags numbered from one to one hundred. JK
PAINT SET
Palace Art and Office Supply 1501 41st Ave. K, Capitola 831-464-2700 PalaceArtSupply.com $50
WATERCOLOR PAINTING WORKSHOP
Wallflower Santa Cruz 107 Locust St., Santa Cruz 831-334-3801 WallflowerSantaCruz.com $100
POUR OVER SET
GIFT CARD
Verve Coffee
Shrine Coffee
1540 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-471-7726 VerveCoffee.com $40
544 West Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz 831-266-1910 ShrineCoffee.com
$5+
LIMITED EDITION COFFEE
Coffee Conspiracy 111 Locust St., Santa Cruz 831-946-9785 CoffeeConspiracy.co $25
Gifts for the
CRAFTER
Crafty people always give the best gifts—this year, wow them for a change. Of course Palace Art and Office Supply is on the list, a crafter’s dream that seems to be stocked with every obscure crafting item you’ll ever want for. Wallflower Boutique offers sweet crafting sessions every month, featuring everything from beginning patchwork, to acrylic painting lessons, to tailoring tutorials. Another fun option is through Cabrillo Extension, which offers workshops and classes on things like creating mosaics, jewelry making and mixed media lessons. AM
BEGINNING MOSAICS CLASS
Cabrillo Extension, Aptos Campus 6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos 831-479-6100 Extension.Cabrillo.edu
$195
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20 YEARS IN BUSINESS
Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm & Saturday: 9am - 2pm
2800 Daubenbiss Ave, Soquel 831.476.8780 • Interiorvision.biz
The Beauty of Cork
Natural Beauty of Wool
Todd Ivy, Sales/Estimator Our Newest Team Member
Marmoleum the Natural Linoleum
Prices to Fit Every Budget! Visit Our Full–service Showroom
COME VISIT our newly remodeled over 3000 sq ft of amazing flooring and window treatment products
Let us assist you from concept to competition
Property managers, contractors, residential, realtors, commercial, welcome! Hardwood • Luxury Vinyl Plank • Laminates • Carpet • Shutters • Wool • Sisal • Linoleum Cork • Custom Area Rugs • Custom Draperies • Window Shades Featuring Both Graber & Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
SEVERAL STYLES AND COLORS OF CARPET AND VINYL IN STOCK FOR THAT QUICK INSTALL!
THINK GREEN Environmentally Friendly Products
Deborah Cypert Owner
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN SOQUEL VILLAGE
Bobbie Frandeen Co-Owner/Estimator
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Gifts for the
ENVIRONMENTALIST
It’s in the bag. With microplastics increasingly entering the oceans, and landfills filling up with plastic-based waste that will linger for hundreds of years, it should be the goal of every environmentalist to reduce the amount they throw away. Enter Bagito, a Santa Cruz company that makes reusable tote bags, storage bags, cutlery and products such as towels using materials such as organic cotton and bamboo. Anyone can take the steps to protect the environment, but sometimes it is good for mind, body and soul to remind ourselves why we’re doing it. And what better way to do this than to see firsthand the beauty of the Monterey Bay with a kayak tour through Elkhorn Slough or its environs? See a breathtaking variety of birds, marine mammals and other wildlife, and experience a type of serenity you will not find anywhere else. TG
ZIP-EM REUSABLE STORAGE BAGS
Bagito
1509 Seabright Ave., #B1, Santa Cruz 831-536-4160 Bagito.co $15
FOUR-HOUR KAYAK TOUR
Monterey Bay Kayaks North Harbor, Moss Landing 831-373-5357 MontereyBayKayaks.com $38+
UNPAPER TOWELS
Ethos
59 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Suite H, Santa Cruz 831-854-2490 EthosSantaCruz.com $20
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A Good Night’s Sleep... is the Greatest Gift • Maintains proper spinal support • Opens the airway for easier breathing • Works with any sleeping position
Gift Cards Available!
Comfort & Support for the REST of your life
2701 41st Ave, Soquel (Top of 41st Ave., at Highway 1) 831-464-2228 • sc41.com
Shop Local This Holiday Season!
Voted #1 Toy Store in Santa Cruz
We moved to Aptos!
Hope Services’ mission is to enable individuals with developmental disabilities to live and participate fully in their communities. They serve approximately 3,500 clients and their families throughout California.
19B Rancho Del Mar Aptos | (next to Safeway off State Park Dr.)
(831) 316-7261 • Open 7 Days 2023 | GOODTIMES.SC | SANTA CRUZ GIF GUIDE
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Gifts for the
EROTIC ENTHUSIAST If your taste for sex includes, well, actually tasting things, then order up a Chocolate Sunday for Two and see where the evening (or afternoon?) takes you. The kit boasts everything from a chocolate aphrodisiac bubble bath to pheromone infused rose petals, all packaged in a highly desirable gift box from Bedroom Desserts. Shop online or visit in person to explore sexy lingerie, bedroom toys and passion-infused treats. For those who want something to stimulate our biggest sex organ…which, of course, we all know, is our brain…head to Bad Animal and pick up a piping hot new novel like “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover or perhaps go for the OG erotica classic “The Story of O,” first published in 1954 by a French author using the pen name Pauline Réage. After being stuck inside during the pandemic, many of us want to get out and do something sexy IRL. If you relate, then plan to “practice the art of conscious connecting, satisfying intimacy and playful interactions” during a Sacred Sensual Saturday, a monthly event in Aptos where you can enjoy Tantric practices, Pujas and other “delightful interactions with beautiful beings on the sacred sexuality path.” FC
CHOCOLATE SUNDAY FOR TWO
Bedroom Dessert 1714 Brommer St. Santa Cruz Ca 95062 (831)688-9900 $80
“IT ENDS WITH US”/ “THE STORY OF O” Bad Animal
1011 Cedar Street Santa Cruz, California (831)900.5031 Sacred Sensual Saturday $35-$55 (Sign Up Via Event Brite)
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413 Seabright Ave.
712 Ocean Street
Yacht Optional
Home of the Giant Gopher
10am - 2am Outdoor Patio
6am - 2am Outdoor Patio
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Gifts for the
FITNESS FANATIC
For that one friend who finds themselves working out on vacation or daydreaming of the gym during that especially long work day. It is no secret that Santa Cruz is a very active fitness community with a plethora of options ranging from the mountains to the ocean. From the environmentally conscious reused weights (both dumbbells and plates) to wrist weights to make that pilates session even more difficult, there is certainly no lack of options to present to the fitness fanatic. Even get them interested in an exciting new hobby for a month at one of Santa Cruz’ premier rock climbing gyms with 2 yoga classes and full gym access included. “It’s a big enough gym to always keep you busy, but small enough to feel at home,” commented local guide Sullivan Gaudreault. Getting in shape doesn’t always have to be painful! QS
USED RUBBER WEIGHTS
Play It Again Sports 4770 Soquel Dr, Soquel 831-475-1988 playitagainsports.com $1.49 per pound
ROCK CLIMBING/ YOGA TRIAL MEMBERSHIP
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym 104 Bronson St #12 831-454-9254 pacificedgeclimbinggym.com $120
BELL WRIST WEIGHTS
Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab
317 Potrero St ste c, Santa Cruz 831-425-9500 santacruzcore.com $14.50 (2.5 lbs)
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HAPpY HOLIDAYS!
Craft Crush Kits
20" x 28"
Cavalinni Puzzles Vintage Inspired 1,000-Piece Puzzles CSPZLxxxx
2495
by Ann Williams Assorted sets AWAC1979 AWAC2205 AWAC1978
2095
A Perfect Place For A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION! on the beach in santa cruz UNIQUE LOCAL GIFTS
Easy Carry Art Studio MDECART06
STEM ReBots Kits TN55200x
1195
45
99
Woven Cat Pouch LALLS97-xxx
19
45
Mixed Media Handmade Journals
4295
LA103x
WE SHARE A SPACE! 1501-J & K 41st Avenue • Capitola 464-2700 • Open 7 days a week
palaceartsupply.com • shop_moodsboutique
(cannot be used to purchase Gift Cards)
#600-433 Exp. 12/31/23 Cash, check or bank card only. Limit one per customer per day. Not valid with other coupons. Must present coupon at time of purchase.
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Gifts for the
FOODIE
Serving platters from Annieglass, those gorgeous pale sea-green glass beauties with 24-karat gold trim, go the extra distance in setting a choice table. The newer ruffle edged buffet plates make a statement at holiday parties, especially when laden with tiny hors d'oeuvres, or flutes of champagne. Collectors of locally-based Annieglass can never have too many of these charismatic serving pieces. For the hands-on foodie, there are simple yet deeply satisfying classes in various genres of baking available at the incomparable Companion Bakeshop mother ship. One of the most popular of these technique classes takes the home baker through Sourdough Basics, two ours of starting with the starter, then going through mixing, fermenting shaping and baking a rustic loaf of real sourdough bread. You'll take-away your own sourdough starter, bread basket and loaf ready to be finished in your oven after class. Some places have everything your foodie might want, and Bad Animal is such a one-stop-shopping destination. Wine, serious cuisine, and books filled with gourmet lore and history await at this sophisticated pit stop. So consider a Gift Card from Bad Animal and be secure in the knowledge that your recipient will be utterly stoked. CW
GOLD RIMMED PLATTER
Annieglass Studio & Company Store 310 Harvest Drive Watsonville, CA annieglass.com Ruffled buffet plate $120
SOURDOUGH WITH CLASS
Companion Bakeshop 2341 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831 471-8378 companionbakeshop.com Baking classes $150
GIFT CARD WITH BENEFITS
Bad Animal
1011 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz 831 900-5031 badanimalbooks.com $10-$200
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ring in the holidays with new leaf From gift cards to cuddly stuffed animals, locally-crafted candles, sustainable home goods, and lush houseplants, we’ve got your gifting needs covered! Half Moon Bay • Downtown Santa Cruz Westside Santa Cruz • Capitola • Aptos
Friendly Local Experts for All of Your Holiday We’re For More Info, Shopping for Board Open Call Games, Card Games, Daily 831.515.7096 Roleplaying Games, Dice, Puzzles, Accessories swordandboardgamestore@gmail.com • swordandboardgamestore.com Located in the Capitola Mall Unit J07 • 1855 41st Ave. Capitola, CA 95010 and more!
Come In and Play a Game in our Game Room with Your Friends and Family!
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224 Laurel Street farwestfungi.com
Be a Holiday Hero with ice cream from
,
,
Seasonal Pints Gingerbread Houses Merch & More
Rough Fine Jewelry
1537 Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz
Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm 831-346-6758 varianceobjects.com
shop | eat | drink | play
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1122 PACIFIC AVE (831) 225-0359
SUN-THURS 11:30-6:30 FRI & SAT 11:30-7:30
1127 SOQUEL AVE (831) 454-8208 MON-FRI 11-6 SAT & SUN 10:30-5 PLUS EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS AT BOTH SHOPS!
COME VISIT SANTA DOWNTOWN! DECEMBER 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, AND 23 12-4PM
TOYS AND GIFTS FOR ALL AGES!
DOWNTOWN for the HOLIDAYS UPC O MING EVE NTS NOV Small Business Saturday Golden Envelope Holiday Makers Market Sidewalk Sales
FEEL WHOLE FROM SKIN TO SOUL Massage Holistic Facials Acupuncture Infrared Sauna
DEC Holiday Parade Holiday Pub Crawl Reindeer Round-Up Visits with Santa
Lymphatic Drainage Machine Ionic Foot Detox and more! 10% OFF GIFT CARD PURCHASE WITH MENTION OF GOODTIMES - VALID THROUGH 12/23/23
downtownsantacruz.com
WWW.YOSOWELLNESS.COM 831.600.8053
@YOSOWELLNESS
740 Front St. Suite 110, Santa Cruz
1017
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Gifts for the
GARDENER
The gardener in your life covets those gorgeous glazed pots that line the back shelves of The Garden Company. Beyond mere everyday terra cotta, the deep blues and vivid oranges of these plant containers are a luxury that delights the eye and probably encourages the botanical contents to grow ever more beautifully. To complete your gift, consider a special plant to put inside that vibrantly-glazed pot. For the gardening nerd, nothing beats a chatty, well-written how-to book and this one, Microgreens is loaded with fun facts and tempting suggestions about those tiny, intensely-flavored baby greens that enliven salads and spice up savory dishes. Check out Bookshop Santa Cruz and you'll find that extra inspiration comes from the book's chapters on developing a microgreen side hustle. For the entrepreneur with a green thumb. For statement botanicals as well as those rambunctious outdoor vines, a fine pruning instrument is always needed. Artisan pruning shears, graceful and sturdy, are the exact gardening accessory beloved of indoor and outdoor plant-lovers alike. Dig Gardens has a fine selection. They also have a substantial outdoor nursery in Aptos! CW
DIG GARDENS
Dig Gardens
420 Water St., SC 831 466-3444 diggardens.com Artisan Shears $49.99
GLAZED POTS
The Garden Company 2218 Mission St, SC 831 429-8424 thegardenco.com Glazed plant pots $10 - $75
GROW AND SELL SPECIALTIES
BookshopSanta Cruz 1520 Pacific Ave., SC 831 423-0900 bookshopsantacruz.com $14.90
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Treat yourself or someone else!
Give Relaxation & Wellness! Therapy Meets Luxury
Gift Certificates & Holiday Appointments Available!!
Empowering Hands 5215 Scotts Valley Drive Suite F 831-888-7614 EmpoweringHandsMassage.com
Our place is filled with great gifts for the holidays
Clothing • Pajamas • Robes • Jewelry Scarves • Globes • Bags • Lingerie Shop local for the women in your life! Locally Owned Since 1972 Santa Cruz • 831-423-3349 • 1224 Pacific Ave Capitola • 831-476-6109 • 504C Bay Ave Visit us on Facebook
Downtown Santa Cruz 1515 Pacific Ave. 831-429-6101
Aptos Village 154 Aptos Village Way 831-612-6495
Shop ONLINE @ SockShopAndShoeCo.com
We validate parking for the Locust Street Garage Rewards with Every Purchases 2023 | GOODTIMES.SC | SANTA CRUZ GIF GUIDE
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Gifts for the
HEAVY PETTER
You can’t really call yourself a football fan unless your pet and you sport matching jerseys. Yup, you can have your poodle put on a red PURDY pullover for $30. Made from 100% satin and breathable poly mesh, this jersey also features woven trim on the neck and sleeves for a comfortable, tailored fit so they never break a sweat during those big plays. The NFL "property of" jock tag on the back allows you to add a touch of style and personalization, because win or lose, they'll still be your Most Valuable Pet. How about a Leopard Gecko, which is a medium to large sized nocturnal, ground-dwelling gecko. They are native to Asia, Pakistan, and northwestern parts of India, which eat insects. They are easily cared for, making them a great pet. Is your dog a pig? You’d better get them a cute placemat. Top Paw Dog Bone Plastic Placemat comes with a cool dog bone design, and stays in place to prevent spills and the messes that come with them. BK
PET SPORTS PULLOVER
PetSmart
Order online: Petsmart.com $30
MARGI ADULT FEMALE MANDARIN TANGERINE LEOPARD GECKO
Pet Shop Santa Cruz
533 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz 95062 (831)-429-1242 $200
TOP PAW DOG BONE PLASTIC PLACEMAT
PetSmart
490 River St Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 429-2780 $20
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Gifts for the
HIPSTER
At first, one might not think of Santa Cruz as a hipster location. But, think again! We’ve got all the makings of a funky little beach town that attracts your a-typical ‘hipster.’ A laid-back, relaxed style that mixes well with digital tech pioneers all while hosting a large college and retired population, simultaneously. What’s more hipster than all of those elements in one city? This is a place where you can find surf shops that double as coffee houses, mingle with musicians outside of a historical and cultural museum, and shop vintage-like apparel (some even the real deal!) for half the price. If you have a friend or family member who’s on the cutting edge of OG trendy (a.k.a. a hipster), then check out the gifts listed below. They’ll be sure to love these curated boutique-y Santa Cruz faves. JP
ANY PIECE OF JEWELRY
Crossroads Santa Cruz 811 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831-458-2555 CrossRoadsTrading.com $10+
GIFT CARD
Abbott Square
118 Cooper St., Santa Cruz AbbottSquareMarket.com $25+
RHYTHM ANDRES WIDE LEG JUMPSUIT
Midtown Surf Shop
1126 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz 831-316-7646 MidtownSurfShop.com $89.95
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No Orders Too Small or Too Large!!
at no extra charge
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Gifts for the
HOME DECORATOR
It's those special, often insanely obvious little touches that turn a living area into a place you want to live in, and there's not a home decorator alive who doesn't covet a gorgeous Merino lambswool throw. The kind that you drape over the back of a couch and create instant coziness. A blanket that not only looks tasteful but feels warm and luscious on a chilly evening. A blanket like the ones you'll find at Stripe Design Group. Expand the horizons of any room, and add sparkle too, with a round, gold framed mirror from Riverside Lighting. The Varaluz collection has 30" diameter mirrors to add glow to your bedroom, living room, man cave, or boudoir. And it will reflect your own good taste. Artisans in downtown Santa Cruz just might have the answer for that discerning home decorator who loves to add a regional flourish to pull the entire look together. The gorgeous watercolor landscapes of Santa Cruz coast lines, ocean and cliffs by renowned painter Marie Gabrielle are just the thing to make a room unique. Handsomely matted and framed, the assortment of giclée prints could pass as originals. CW
DESIGNER COMFORT
WATERCOLOR LANDSCAPES
Stripe
Artisans & Agency
107 Walnut Ave, SC 831 421-9252 stripedesigngroup.com $168
1368 Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 831 423-8183 artisanssantacruz.co $60 - $575
MIRROR IMAGE
Riverside Lighting
300 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz 831 423-7411 Riversidelightingandelectric.com $369
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ve i G Monday-Friday 11am-5pm Saturday 12pm-5pm
From The
Over 3 Million donated to local children’s non-profits! 831.662.0327 8045 & 8047 Soquel Drive Aptos If you would like to learn more about Caroline’s or join our amazing crew, please visit carolinesnonprofit.org
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Gifts for the
JEWELRY LOVER
While most of us know Lumen Gallery as a cornerstone of the Capitola Village shopping experience, with its vibrant quirky rugs, perfectly-on-trend gifts and elevated cannabis accoutrement by Jonathan Adler, what some may not know is that owner Cierra Ryczek designs many of the shop’s standout pieces of jewelry. Check out Cierra Designs to see her latest collections, which can also be purchased at Blackbird and Botanic & Luxe. For handmade, original and sustainable jewelry designed right here in Santa Cruz, try Desert Moon Design. Owner Ali Osborne personally hand crafts each piece, which includes
earrings, necklaces and bracelets and features a Bridal Collection, stackable rings and even a gorgeous Triangle Septum Ring…a decidedly on-point gift for any Santa Cruz local. Downtown’s Dell WIlliams isn’t just about jewelry, but has wonderful gifts of glass, home decor, wedding presents, clocks and watches. We love the throwback “Mechanic” watch by Shinola that shows the inner workings of the timepiece right through the back glass. Bucking all trends, you have to wind it. It’s a great talking point that will attract attention for $1,500. A 4.5 inch Nambe Copper Canyon bowl goes for $25 and its 15-inch big sister costs $180. And while we certainly always want to support local, small and diverse-owned businesses, we also want to ensure our local malls don’t become retail wastelands. They employ many people in a wide range of jobs, provide an efficient shopping experience for folks with transportation challenges and provide cost-effective options for just about any budget. The Capitola Mall, with a handful of jewelry shops to choose from (some locally owned), has been serving our community for 46 years. So if you’re not a 1-percenter, but still want to show someone they are special with a lovely piece of jewelry, you’re certain to find something perfect. Celebrate our local butterflies with a beautiful pair of glistening earrings from locally-owned Don Roberto Jewlers. FC
SHINOLA MECHANIC WATCH
Dell Williams
1320 Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, 96060 $1,500
SUNSHINE EARRINGS HANDCRAFTED BY CIERRA DESIGNS
Lumen Gallery
112 Capitola Ave. #100 Capitola, CA 95010 $168
SILVER PAVE BUTTERFLY CUBIC ZIRCONIA EARRINGS
Don Roberto Jewelers, Capitola Mall 1855 41st Avenue Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 476-9616 $49.99
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Gifts for the
MUSICIAN How about a gorgeous, etched kalimba under the tree of your loved one? For any musical need, Jansen Music has been serving Santa Cruz County since 1926. From ukuleles to high end vintage guitars, Jody will find what you need. Drumsticks fit perfectly in a stocking, and with a pair of Vic Firth American Classic Hickory Tipped sticks, your young drummer can flam and wham on anything. Sticks start at $15 a pair at The Starving Musician, or you can outfit a young rocker with electric gear from drum pads to screaming amps. For high end, acoustic guitars, vintage or new, Sylvan’s Music is the place in Santa Cruz. They have a beautiful playing room with some of the finest acoustic guitars you’ll ever play, and they have world-class banjos as well. Every ax on the wall is a joy to play. RS
PRE1938 GIBSON SOPRANO UKULELE
Jansen Music
7960 Soquel Drive, Ste J, Aptos, CA 95003 (831) 724-4798 $600
COOL DRUM STICKS
The Starving Musician
1003 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz 95060 (831) 426-1975 $15
EASTMAN ER-M-GB ELECTRIC HOLLOWBODY MANDOLIN GOLDBURST
Sylvan’s Music
1521 Mission St., Santa Cruz 95060 (831) 427-1917 $1,279
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spas • massage • bodycare
Gift Certificates ❖ Hot Tub & Sauna Suites
❖ Skin and Body Care VOTED BEST BREAKFAST IN SANTA CRUZ! A Santa Cruz Tradition for Breakfast and Lunch Since 1993
831-457-2804
Located in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz at
106 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz, CA Check out our menu at www.walnutavenuecafe.com
❖ Skin Care Products ❖ Massage order online, by phone or in house
Private Spas & Saunas overlooking a Japanese Garden
417 Cedar Street • 831-458-WELL
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Gifts for the
NEW PARENTS
The gift of music. Everyone knows that reading to children–and talking with them–are some of the most important things a parent can do for cognitive development and socialization. But including music is important too. That’s where Music Together comes in. These group classes are led by experienced musicians and include singing, rhythm and playing different instruments. Held in locations all over the county. Fees are $356 for 12 weeks. Let’s face it: diaper duty is not fun. But while we can’t help alleviate that part of parenting, we can do our part to keep diapers from the landfill. Why not try Tiny Tots, a service that drops off compostable diapers and wipes, and then picks up the used ones to be composted. Prices start at $34 per month, plus tax. TG
COMPOSTABLE DIAPERS
12 WEEK CLASSES
Tinytots.com 408-866-2900 $34 per month
Aptos, Felton, Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz www.musictogether.com (831) 332-9002 $356
Tiny Tots
Music Together/Musical Me
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Give the gift of sailing! Weekly afternoon and sunset sails Regatta viewing cruises Local beer and wine tastings Seasonal fireworks sails
SA I LOYC .COM
catamaran sailing in
SANTA CRUZ Gift certificates available for sailing on the
NEW LUXURY 65' 65' TEAM O’NEILL! O’NEILL! Public sailing season offered annually April through October. Private charters available all year for special occasions.
(831) 818 - 36 4 5
OYC’s captains are licensed and insured, and the Team O’Neill is inspected annually by the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Botox and Fillers • Facials • Platelet Rich Plasma Hair Restoration & Fillers • Body Contouring • Laser skin treatments • Semaglutite Weight Loss • IV therapy • Laser hair removal • True Body ID/ Flex
Gift Certificates Available
BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE $800 (Value $1,500) Tetra CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment
One Time Offer. Expires 12/31/23
BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE Intracel Micro-Needling RF Therapy 2 For $1,000 (Value $1,700 each) One time use only.
Expires 12/31/23
BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE Salt Facial (Sea Salt Resurfacing, Aesthetic Ultrasound, LED Phototherapy) 2 for $250 (Value $300) Expires 12/31/23
Dr. John Grady, DO
Voted Best Doctor
831.325.0202
4450 Capitola Rd, Suite 105
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Gifts for the
STONER
Here is a $6 stocking stuffer that brings relaxation in a can of grape soda. It’s called Purple Passion, a 12 oz can of sweet grape taste and fizz with 10 mg of hybrid THC, for an after-work buzz that is caffeine free. So much better than waking up with a hangover. If you want to give THC that will make your holiday partier “go higher”, 3 Bros Santa Cruz has pens crafted for potency. You might look into Himalaya Live Sauce, with cartridges that contain real, unrefined live resin, rich in terpenes and crystal THC. If you want to get a sleep deprived buddy a CBD Gummy pack, go to Santa Cruz Naturals, where they are doing a lot of buy one get a second one for $1 specials. Another stocking stuffer could be a Rosin Jelly Joint Pre-Roll Pack, or a Heavy Hitter Pre-Roll. RS
PURPLE PASSION FIZZY DRINK
CannaCruz
115 Limekiln St, Santa Cruz Cannacruz.com $6
HIMALAYA DREAM QUEEN 1 GRAM SATIVA
3 Bros Santa Cruz
CHERRY PIE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN TOPS GANJA DOSES MINTS
Santa Cruz Naturals 9077 Soquel Dr, Aptos And 19 San Juan Rd, Royal Oaks (831) 688-7266 $17.50
110 Fair Ave Unit B, Santa Cruz 831 345-0281 $23.99
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A VIEW OF THE OCEAN REAL-TIME ALL THE TIME .
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY’S BEST COLLECTIBLE STORE!
WaveClocks and TideClocks Accurate ocean conditions at a glance for the ocean adventurer www.thewaveclock.com
We Buy/Sell/Trade Video Games, Trading Cards, and All Other Collectibles! Turn Your Unwanted Items Into Cash or Trade Credit!
TWO LOCATIONS: 1855 41st Ave, #F1A Capitola, CA 95010 1921 Main St Watsonville, CA 95076
CONTACT: EMAIL: GameVaultCapitola @ Gmail.com PHONE: 831-226-9947
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Gifts for the
STUDENT
As a current Cabrillo college student, I’d testify on how difficult it can be to get everything you want and need to make your life a little easier all while earning good grades. Between Cabrillo, UCSC, and every high school in the area, Santa Cruz county has a vast student population trying to balance their studies with every other aspect in their lives. Remember back as a student when your pockets would be stuffed with crinkled bills–that current student you know could probably use a nice new wallet to keep a little more organized. Similarly for the local storage basket woven from recycled materials, or represent UCSC at Santa Cruz’ favorite bookstore. When developing habits heading into adulthood, practicing organization is certainly one that can’t be overstated. Before shipping off yet another pack of socks from Amazon they surely have one too many already, consider a few options reminiscing back on your student days. QS
HANDMADE LEATHER WALLET
Wallflower Santa Cruz 107 Locust St, Santa Cruz 831-334-3801 Wallflowersantacruz.com $18
SMALL STORAGE BASKET
Home/Work Gift Shop 1100 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 831-316-5215 shophomework.com $40
UCSC NOTEBOOK
Bookshop Santa Cruz 1520 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-423-0900 bookshopsantacruz.com $14.95
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Second Harvest Food Bank 2023
Holiday Food & Fund Drive We are the Food Bank
It’s that time of year – Holiday Food & Fund Drive time! This is the time of year, we pull together as a community to help our food-insecure neighbors.
For every $1 donated, we provide 3 healthy meals.
Donate today!
800 Ohlone Parkway Watsonville, CA 95076
Scan for more information or to donate.
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Gifts for the
SURFER
For those who live in Santa Cruz, it’s not a matter of if For those who live in Santa Cruz, it’s not a matter of if you know a surfer - but how many. With thousands you know a surfer - but how many. With thousands of surfers eager to feel that rush under their board of surfers eager to feel that rush under their board at the more than 23 local surf spots, a new gift at the more than 23 local surf spots, a new gift to boost their favorite hobby could make it that to boost their favorite hobby could make it that much better. A traction pad will give them much much better. Aand traction will wave give them more control agilitypad on the while much more control andprotect agility against on the wave while the surf hat will harmful sun the surf hat will protect against harmful rays and straps onto the head to preventsun rays and straps onto the head that wipeout from wiping your to hatprevent away! that wipeout from wiping your hat Be honest - how many of you have away! to Be - howinmany of you have toas grithonest your teeth freezing tolerance grit your teeth freezing tolerance as the frigid waterinseeps through the holes the frigid waterseveral seeps through theits holes in your wetsuit years past in your wetsuit several years past its prime. Rather than spending hundreds prime. Rather than spending hundreds on a new suit altogether, get those holes on a new fixed and suit sendaltogether, it to Blownget Outthose Surf holes Shack to fixed and sendasitnew. to Blown Shack to make it good With Out surf Surf season coming make it good as new. With surf season coming up, it's just a matter of time before they’ll be out on up, justagain. a matter the it's water QS of time before they’ll be out on the water again. QS
VEIA TRACTION PAD VEIASurf TRACTION PAD O'Neill Shop 110 Cooper St #100d, O'Neill Surf ShopSanta Cruz 831-469-4377 110 Cooper St #100d, Santa Cruz us.oneill.com 831-469-4377 $37.95 us.oneill.com
$37.95
DAKINE SURF HAT DAKINE Freeline Surf SURF Shop HAT
WETSUIT REPAIR WETSUIT REPAIR Blown Out Surf Shack
821 41st Ave, Santa Cruz 831-476-2950 821 41st Ave, Santa Cruz freelinesurf.com 831-476-2950 $45 freelinesurf.com $45
3055 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz (831) 475-4942 3055 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz Blownoutsurfshack.com (831) 475-4942 $35-$100 Blownoutsurfshack.com $35-$100
Freeline Surf Shop
Blown Out Surf Shack
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Happy Holidays!
www.DominicanOaks.com
FROM DOMINICAN OAKS
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY’S CHOICE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
LIC.# 440708773
RAMEN KAITO RAMEN, SUSHI & MORE
Open for Lunch and Dinner Tues - Sat 11-8, Sun 11-7 Closed Mon Food Court in Capitola Mall (831) 464-2586 • smilekaito.com Large Selection of Japanese Sweets and Drinks
SUSHI MARKET SPROUTS
300 7th Ave., at Twin Lakes Beach, Santa Cruz | 831.465.1177 12-6pm Tues-Sat Closed Sun-Mon
Thank You for Your Support This Year! 2023 | GOODTIMES.SC | SANTA CRUZ GIF GUIDE
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Gifts for the
TECHIE
Every year brings us more techie treats and some are even affordable. Want to keep track of your kids, your pets, your bicycles, your wallet? You need an Apple AirTag. I suggest a multipack of four for around $100. If you are prone to losing things and these days in Santa Cruz, having things disappear or stolen, you can subtly place them on your possessions and find them quickly, so long as there are other Apple devices near them. So far, that hasn’t been a problem. I’ve got one on my bike, my kid’s backpack and my luggage. There are plenty of great stories of things being found all over the world because of an AirTag. If you want convenient tasty coffee brewed in pods and you don’t want to fill landfills with more disgusting junk, you can consider a Nespresso machine. The company gives high tech coffee lovers free recycling bags with your pod purchases and very quickly brews what for me has become a great cup of coffee. I’m on my fourth cup as I write this and wish someone had given me this machine as a present. They aren’t cheap, ranging from $159 to $279, but brewing your own ends up cheaper than all those $6 lattes. Nothing has made my life easier as a student, teacher and writer than a Livescribe Echo 2 Smart Pen. This amazing device writes in ink on special paper and it not only records every word said, but it puts your notebook pages on your computer. No source can claim to be misquoted and no student will miss a word a teacher says. You could buy them in person at Best Buy, Staples and Office Depot, but now Staples only has ink replacements for them. The actual pens can be bought online for now. BK
APPLE AIRTAG
Best Buy
2650 41st Ave Soquel, CA 95073 (831) 465-0956 $27 or four for $99
LIVESCRIBE ECHO 2 BUNDLE
DELONGHI VERTUO NEXT PREMIUM COFFEE & ESPRESSO MAKER Kohl’s
855 41st Ave Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 462-6120 $189
Livescribe
us.livescribe.com $134
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H O L I D AY S H O P AND
RANGE CARD SALE 2 for 1
RANGE CARD
NOV E M B E R 2 7 T H - D EC E M B E R 1 0 T H 10% - 75% OFF SHOP ITEMS
Playdelaveaga.com
(831) 423-7214
Little Trends Boutique Has Everything You Need For Those Picture Perfect Moments.
With the Holidays Around the Corner, We Have Matching Family Pajamas, Sibling Sets, and Some Special Pieces Just for Mom!
Come Visit Us At One of Our Two Locations:
Main Store 1052 S. Green Valley Rd, Watsonville Inside the Circle Family Center 245 Sea Ridge Road, Aptos For Online Ordering & Holiday Hours: LittleTrendsBoutique.com
831.536.5070
@littletrendsllc Facebook.com/littetrendsllc 2023 | GOODTIMES.SC | SANTA CRUZ GIF GUIDE
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Gifts for the
VEGAN
Take your vegan friend out to dinner for the holidays and blow their minds with your insights on vegan culture and cuisine (you are really going to need to study for this). From Veg on the Edge, located inside the food court of Abbott Square, there is a wide variety of cruelty-free meals. (Oh what? Is this implying your regular meat meal is made under cruel conditions?) Veg on the Edge does up a Beyond Burger with a BBQ twist. You always want to check in on ingredients before you offer your vegan friend food. Is the mayo vegan? Sometimes you might get something that is OK for a vegetarian (eggs, dairy, cheese) but not OK for a vegan. Take the extra step. Most breakfast joints have vegan options, usually in the form of a tofu scramble, but ambience is important also, and, Café Brasil is a hotspot for people watching and good food. Take your vegan friend up the mountain to Boulder Creek to the Red Pearl for a wide array of vegan options. The Sweet and Sour Vegi Chicken, tastes like, well, chicken, but it’s all vegan. Feed a vegan, save a chicken. DNA
VEGAN BBQ BURGER
Veg on the Edge
725 Front Street, Santa Cruz vegontheedge.com/santa_cruz_menu $14.25
SWEET SOUR VEGI CHICKEN
The Red Pearl
13151 CA-9, Boulder Creek redpearlonline.com $14.95
TOFU SCRAMBLE
Café Brasil
1410 Mission St, Santa Cruz cafebrasil.us/menu-breakfast.html $16.25
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Holiday Specials! 1/2 off diamond stud earrings! PLUS specials on all necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings!
Handcrafted Sparkling Wines in the Heart of Santa Cruz At Equinox, we strive to make high quality méthode champenoise wines from locally sourced grapes, and provide a welcoming and memorable tasting experience for our guests.
Celebrating over
40 years in the same location!
Open for Tasting Monday - Thursday 1pm - 5pm Friday - Sunday 1pm - 6pm 334 - C Ingalls Street | Santa Cruz equinoxwine.com
831- 471- 8608
102 Walnut Ave. at Pacific, Downtown SC 831.458.9950 | stephansjewelry.com Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 11am - 5pm
Interest Free Financing Available 2023 | GOODTIMES.SC | SANTA CRUZ GIF GUIDE
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Gifts for the
VINOPHILE According to the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association, this region is where high tech gives way to high altitude. It’s the first California appellation defined by its unique location at the convergence of coastal mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and the San Francisco Bay. Since the 1870s when Paul Masson and Charles LeFranc planted the first vineyards with cuttings transplanted from Burgundy, the area has been recognized as one of California’s finest growing regions. As the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) to be defined by a mountainous region in 1981, it is known as “America’s Premier Mountain Appellation.” The AVA was also the first in the U.S. to use the European model of climatological and geophysical aspects instead of physical boundaries; defined primarily by elevation. The 1,300 acres of wine grapes consist mostly of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. The average bottle price ranges from $29-65. JS
SHOPPER'S CORNER
622 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 · (831) 423-1398
CANTINE WINE PUB
8050 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003 831-612-6191
DEER PARK WINE & SPIRITS
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd, Aptos, CA 95003 · (831) 688-1228
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Give the Gift of Relaxation this Holiday Season Voted... Best Esthetician Kim Pursley Runner Up Best Day Spa Runner Up
Thank you for Shopping Local! Gift Cards Available Check Out Our Online Store for Gift Certificates & Self-Care Products, or to Book an Appointment Schedule Your Private Parties and Events With Us! Located in the Scotts Village Shopping Center
245 Mt. Hermon Rd, Suite D Scotts Valley, CA 95066
kalanidayspa.com
831.600.7116
Holiday Giving Program
NOV 24TH THRU DEC 24TH FRIDAY-SATURDAY-SUNDAY EVENINGS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
Tickets ON SALE NOW!
FAIRGROUNDS-FOUNDATION.ORG
Adopt-AFamily Nov 1 - Dec 16
Join us in the giving and provide over 500 families with groceries, warm clothes, and yes- toys! SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFO! CALL THE HOTLINE: (831)-457-9834
scvolunteercenter.org
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Gifts for the
YOGI
I’ve been practicing yoga for nearly 25 years and every time I go on a Yoga retreat I’m surprised by how many folks are on retreat for the first time. And, to a person, by the end of the retreat they are transformed in mind, body, spirit and soul. Mixing travel, yoga (and, sometimes, bonus…surfing!) has been my go-to form of escapism for decades and I always want to explore new destinations. Lately I’ve had my eye on the Return to Self: Greece Yoga + Cultural Experience 2024, offered by Pleasure Point Yoga, which is described as “a journey to crystal clear waters decorated with sandy coves and dry rugged landscapes, cascading limestone cliffs, sparkling bays adorned with white sandy beaches…” Is anyone else’s mouth watering? But you don’t even need to travel outside of our gorgeous seaside communities to have a blissed out few hours. Sometimes just a nice, hot, sweaty power
flow or hot Pilates class – which are Hot Elevation Studios’ signature offerings – will do the trick. They offer drop-in classes, gift cards and a cute boutique. So many times, I hear folks say, “But I’m not flexible or strong or Zen or (whatever) enough to do Yoga,” which is ironic because practicing Yoga is precisely the best way to cultivate a deeper level of all these attributes. If you’re Yoga-curious and looking for a safe place to learn more and build your confidence, head over to In-Shape Family Fitness where teachers like Chandi Collins will show you how to use breath to move through a sequence of accessible Yoga postures to strengthen and tone the body, while challenging your flexibility and increasing mobility. Trust me, if there is a Yogi on your shopping list, with these experiences, you’ve got them at Om. FC
RETURN TO SELF: DROP IN CLASSES Hot Elevation Studios GREECE YOGA + 1440 41st Ave., Ste. E CULTURAL Capitola, CA 95010 332-9543 EXPERIENCE 2024 (831) $28 or New Student Special
Pleasure Point Yoga 3707 Portola Drive Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 479-YOGA (9642) $2,700-$3,450 per person, single/double occupancy
(30 days, $108) or Gift Cards (any dollar amount)
MEMBERSHIP
In-Shape Family Fitness 1100 41st Ave. Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 276-0153 Memberships (starting at $69.99/ month); Drop-In Class ($20, which also includes use of the pool and gym amenities for 24 hours)
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Cannabis Give the Gift of
One for me, one for you! kindpeoples.com
Open 8am-10pm Daily
3600 SOQUEL AVE
831.471.8562
533 OCEAN ST
831.515.4114
C10-0000172-LIC· C10-0000234-LIC
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Painting Drawing Sculpting Crafting Printmaking Readymade Frames Journaling Bookbinding Kids supplies and more.
ART SUPPLIES & CUSTOM FRAMING
@lenzarts
Voted Best Art Store and Best Picture Framing!
FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED EST. 1968
Art Materials 423-1935
Picture Framing 425-7111
142 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 lenzarts.com
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