The Official Capitola Summer Festivals Program & Adventure Guide • 2023

Nicole Fischer & Amadeo Bachar

The Official Capitola Summer Festivals Program 2023

PUBLISHER | Patrice Edwards

EDITOR | Jondi Gumz

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Camisa Composti

LAYOUT DESIGN | Katharine Cameron

DESIGN | Michael Oppenheimer

OFFICE MANAGER | Cathe Race

MEDIA CONSULTANTS | Teri Huckobey

Brooke Valentine | Camisa Composti

PHOTOS | Capitola Beach Festival Committee, Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, Capitola Historical Museum

Poster Artists

The 40th annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival poster art is a collage collaboration by Nicole Fischer and Amadeo Bachar. It is a compilation featuring dozens of Nicole’s photos of Capitola, highlighting the abundance of the local flora blossoming this spring. Pairing with Amadeo’s simplistic gouache painting style creates a hopeful story of resilience and liveliness. After a trying winter season, this year’s poster marks a moment in time recognizing the strength and beauty of the Capitola community.

Nicole Fischer

Nicole Fischer is a Santa Cruz based artist /photographer and business owner. Founder and owner of Rootstock Collective on 41st Ave. where she features over 60 local artists. Nicole takes great pride supporting these artists and makers in their artistic journey. Regardless if you are a world renowned artist or selling small prints for the first time, she has made a space for all her artists to thrive and blossom into their full potential.

Nicole was born and raised in Central Florida, spending her time on the lush rivers and electric blue waters of Florida and the Bahamas. It was there that she grew a deep appreciation for ephemeral/atmospheric lighting and rich colors. During her early career as a graphic designer, she moved around the country and began to grow her eye for the natural beauty of the world and its people. This is very evident in her photography which takes atmosphere, depth and color to a very intimate level. With her keen eye for composition and light she puts the viewer in positions to see her subjects in ways that are truly unique to her eye. Her collectors often express how much her photos light up any room they hang in.

Currently, Nicole lives in Seabright with her 7 year old son Fischer, where she enjoys walks down to the harbor, camera and kiddo in tow. When she’s not in full time mom mode she runs her shop, Rootstock. Nicole opened Rootstock close to three years ago, and has grown into a focal point of community and art for Pleasure Point and Santa Cruz county. This year, she was honored with a Nex tie award for Entrepreneur of Year by Event Santa Cruz, Lookout, and a panel of community leaders. She sits on the board ofa the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce and Pleasure Point Business Association. Nicole is very passionate about the community, and is dedicated to the sustainability and growth of Santa Cruz and its residents. For inquiries about Nicole’s photography you can follow her on Instagram @ladyfischphotography. You can also see her work hanging @rootstockcollective among her other artists.

Amadeo Bachar

Amadeo Bachar is a California-based artist and educator specializing in marine science illustration. As a native son of California’s central coast, Amadeo drew early inspiration from family traditions of fishing, coastal gatherings, and from his family’s old copy of The Lore of Sportfishing.

Amadeo’s illustrations and fine art lead us into the richly detailed, colorful, and sometimes strange world of marine landscapes— and the individual beauty of the creatures that inhabit them.

He earned a B.S. in Marine Biology from UCSC, then went on to attend the world-renowned UCSC Science Illustration Program in 2004. By 2008 his career as a freelance illustrator was well established, with works published by National Geographic, United Nations, Scientific American, CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, among others.

Today Amadeo is a full-time artist, proud family man, and an avid fisherman, free diver, and spearfisherman. In addition to running his busy studio in Aptos CA, he is in the process of developing local scientific illustration workshops, and an online curriculum for all skill levels. Amadeo’s work can be found in stores worldwide, being merchandised by brands like Salty Crew, Igloo, BD Outdoors, and others.

For questions, commissions, or licensing inquiries please contact Amadeo directly; studio@abachar.com.

40th Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival

Stroll the Festival with friends and family, sipping exceptional wines from 23 Santa Cruz Mountain wineries, while admiring the artistic talents of over 125 fine artists. Sway to live music and be inspired by local dance groups while taking in the ocean breeze and breathtaking view of the Monterey Bay. Feed your cravings with tantalizing cuisine from local food trucks. Be sure to cruise through the Artisans Marketplace for locally handcrafted goods. In addition, Capitola Village is filled with restaurants for every taste, and charming boutiques to satisfy a shopper’s dream.

Art, wine, music, and gourmet cuisine in the enchanting beach-side setting of Capitola Village. summer’s last hurrah, and truly a weekend in paradise!

Festival Details:

FESTIVAL IS ADMISSION FREE

FESTIVAL HOURS:

Saturday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

WINE TASTING

Must be 21+. Wine tasting requires puchase of 2023 Festival Glass ($15) and Tasting Tokens ($1 each).

Wine tasting requires 2 – 4 tokens per tasting, depending on selected tastings.

BEACH & VILLAGE PARKING LOTS ON CAPITOLA AVENUE

The City of Capitola offers a free beach shuttle from the Beach and Village Parking Lots located behind City Hall at 420 Capitola Avenue. Free shuttle operates 10 AM – 8 PM weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through mid-September and drops off in Capitola Village. Parking costs $0.50 an hour for up to 12 hours. Pay stations accept cash, debit cards and credit cards. Meters operate every day from 8 AM to 8 PM.

FREE BIKE VALET PARKING

Forgo parking hassles and ride your bike to the Festival. Staffed by Harbor High Leadership students, bike valet parking is located in the David Lyng Real Estate parking lot at the corner of Capitola & Stockton Avenues.

CAPITOLA MALL PARKING & SHUTTLE

Park in the former Sears parking lot at the Capitola Mall on 41st Avenue and ride the FREE shuttle to the Festival. Capitola Mall shuttle drops off at the Festival entrance. Shuttles run approximately every 20 minutes. Saturday, September 9: 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM; and Sunday, September 10: 9:30 AM to 7 PM. Visit www. capitolartandwine.com or for more information. FREE SHUTTLE!

Cheers to the Mermaid

a mermaid graced the very first Festival glass back in 1987, however swam away shortly after. Local artist Maia Negre recreated the festival logo in 2017 for the 35th anniversary glass, bringing the mermaid back to life and returning her to her place of honor. Wine tasting requires the purchase of a 2023 Festival Glass ($15) and Tasting Tokens ($1 each) available at Glass & Token booths throughout the festival. Tastings vary from 2-4 tokens. Must be 21+ years of age to purchase glass, tokens, and to wine taste.

Local Artisans Marketplace Gourmet Cuisine

Capitola Mercantile Parking Lot

Be sure to visit the Local Artisans Marketplace located behind the Capitola Mercantile building with entrances on Esplanade and San Jose Avenue where you will find locally handcrafted creations including handwoven baskets, candles, eco-friendly goods, reclaimed wood crafts, olive oils, balsamics, baked goods, chocolates, confections, and more.

Folks are sure to get hungry while exploring the Festival, and there will be plenty of tasty options to tempt the palate! Capitola Village is filled with fabulous restaurants to satisfy every taste, and the Festival food court, located on Monterey Avenue, will showcase specialties from local food trucks. When hunger strikes, there’s something satisfying for everyone!

Entertainment Schedule:

ON THE BANDSTAND STAGE AT ESPLANADE PARK

Saturday, September 9

11:00 - 11:30 Agape Dance Academy

12:00 - 12:30 Te Hau Nui Hula & Tahitian Dance

1:00 - 1:30 Pacific Arts Complex

2:30 - 4:00 Alex Lucero Band

5:00 - 7:00 The Lost Boys featuring James Durbin

Sunday, September 10

11:00 - 11:30 Dancenter

12:00 - 12:30 Elaine’s Dance Studio

1:00 - 1:30 Cirque Tumble Cheer

2:30 - 4:30 Jive Machine

Saturday & Sunday

Street Performers – Intersection of Capitola & Monterey Avenues

11:30 - 1:30 Cement Ship

2:30 - 3:00 The Surfing Magician

Let the Wine Tasting Begin!

Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah - whatever your pleasure, you can sip and stroll your way through the Festival. Peruse beautiful works of art and listen to great music while enjoying the exceptional wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains. With 22 exceptional wineries in one location, deciding which to taste is your only challenge.

Purchase a 2023 Festival Wine Glass ($15) from one of the six Glass & Token Booths conveniently located throughout the Festival. Tasting tokens are $1 each, with wine tastings varying between 2 – 4 tokens, depending on the wine of choosing. Must be 21+ years of age to purchase glass, tokens, and to wine taste.

This year’s participating wineries are:

37th Parallel Armitage

Bargetto Winery

Beauregard Vineyards

Bottle Jack Winery

Burrell School Vineyards & Winery

Chaucer’s

Doon to Earth: Bonny Doon Vineyard & Ser Wines

Dorcich Family Vineyards

Hallcrest Vineyards

Martin Ranch Winery

Naumann Vineyards

Poetic Cellars

Roudon-Smith Winery

Silver Mountain Vineyards

Sones Cellars

Soquel Vineyards

Storrs Winery & Vineyards

Valley Vista Vineyard

Villa del Monte Winery

Wargin Wines

Wright’s Station Winery

Summer Festivities

CAPITOLA BEACH TWILIGHT CONCERTS

June 14 – August 30

The 2023 Twilight Concerts will be held Wednesdays from 6 pm8 pm June - August. The Concerts are held at the Esplanade Park Bandstand, with the one of largest dance floors around. Bring a picnic or dine at one of our many area restaurants, many of whom sponsor our concerts. Seating is on the lawn, seawall, benches, or the beach. Please bring your low back chairs or picnic blankets. Warm jackets suggested for cool evenings. No alcohol or dogs in the park or on the beach.

SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK

Evenings on the Colonnade – June 15 – Aug 10

Come for the rides, stay for the entertainment!

Enjoy FREE entertainment Thursdays and Fridays throughout the summer in our Colonnade. Rock out to Bay Area bands at this beautiful seaside location, while you enjoy a variety of Boardwalk treats. Play at the arcades that stay open late or shop a variety of stores open late on the Colonnade. www.beachboardwalk.com

WOODIES ON THE WHARF

June 24, 10am–3:30pm

Make your plans now to join us on June 24, 2023 at the Santa Cruz Wharf for Northern California’s largest woodie show featuring more than 200 wood-bodied cars. Admission is free! music, woodie goodies, and prize drawings add to the fun. Free bike valet is available on the wharf.

For Woodies on the Wharf 2023, the Santa Cruz Woodies Club is donating our on-wharf raffle proceeds to just two charities: The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project (www.mbstp.org) which is graciously providing volunteers for our Bike Corral/Valet and the Community Foundation for Monterey County – Pajaro Relief Fund (www.cfmco.org).

9TH ANNUAL PLEASURE POINT STREET FAIR

June 24, 11am – 5pm Portola Drive between 41st and 38th Avenues

Pleasure Point will be buzzing as the community takes to the street to enjoy the Pleasure Point Street Fair. Admission is free and bike parking will be available. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Live Oak Education Foundation. www.pleasurepointstreetfair.com

ART AT THE BEACH IN CAPITOLA

11am – 5pm June 25, July 30, August 13

Esplanade Park in Capitola Village

Enjoy an afternoon in Capitola at the Sunday Art at the Beach event this summer at Esplanade Park overlooking the Monterey Bay. Browse quality artwork including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and mixed media from local artists. This family friendly event is free and open to the public. For more information visit cityofcapitola.com.

INDEPENDENCE DAY IN APTOS VILLAGE

July 4 – 10am

Come enjoy the “World’s Shortest Parade” from 10:00am12:00pm and then immediately afterward join us at the Aptos Village Park for the Party in the Park featuring James Durbin and Lost Boys, local vendors, food, and activities till 4:00pm. www.aptoschamber.com

SANTA CRUZ FIRECRACKER RACE

July 4

38 Years and Still Going Strong! The Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise is ecstatic to announce that our full Firecracker race is back for 2023. That means all three courses will be available - 10K, 5K, and a Kid's 1K Fun Run will be hosted at Harvey West Park.

www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/SantaCruz/ SantaCruzFIrecracker10Kand5K

BOULDER CREEK PARADE AND BLOCK PARTY

July 4 – 10am – 2pm

Celebrate the Fourth of July in Boulder Creek! Enjoy a parade, a block party with vendors, BBQ, and live music!

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Thank You ForYour Support!

The Capitola Art & Wine Festival is a community event, and the number one fundraiser supporting the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, as well as the local nonprofit school and community groups that assist with set-up, recycling, break-down, and more. We are grateful to our faithful volunteers that help in more ways than we can count. It takes a village, and we are thankful for ours.

Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce

Admission is free!

Saturday, 10am–6pm Sunday 10am–5pm.

Free parking and shuttle from Capitola Mall.

Free bike valet parking at the Festival. More info at: capitolaartandwine.com

Summer Festivities

SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE

July 8 – August 27

This season, Santa Cruz Shakespeare will present The Taming of the Shrew, King Lear, and Book Will at our beautiful outdoor home in The Grove at DeLaveaga Park. Bring a low-back chair, picnic and a jacket. Order tickets at www.santacruzshakespeare.org.

51ST ANNUAL WHARF TO WHARF RACE

July 23 (always the 4th Sunday in July)

A scenic six-mile race with live bands, throngs of festive spectators, and the coveted Wharf to Wharf Runner T-shirt, awarded only to race finishers! For registration and more information visit www. wharftowharf.com

WATSONVILLE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

August 4, 5, 6

This multi-faceted celebration will serve up a menu of strawberry delights, non-stop entertainment, contests, and more. This free admission festival is located in historic downtown Watsonville around the City Plaza on Main, Peck, and Union Streets. For more information visit www.mbsf.com.

UKRAINIAN ART IN THE PARK

August 26 noon-6 pm

Enjoy the art, music, and dance of Ukraine in Capitola’s Esplanade Park

40TH ANNUAL CAPITOLA ART & WINE FESTIVAL

September 9 & 10

Art, wine, music, dance, and good vibes? All in the enchanting beach-side setting of Capitola Village — summer's last hurrah, and truly a weekend in paradise! Stroll the Festival sipping exceptional wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains while admiring the artistic talents of over 100 fine artists. Please visit www.capitolaartandwine. com for more information.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SAILBOAT RACES

Santa Cruz Harbor 6:30pm – 8pm

Each Wednesday night local sailors get out during the early evening to compete and have fun, with the emphasis on fun! Wednesday Night Races begin at 6:30pm. Watch the sails parade in their full glory against the setting sun. www.santacruzharbor.org

HOP N’ BARLEY BEER FESTIVAL

Saturday, July 15, 11am – 5pm

Skypark, Scotts Valley

This family and dog friendly beer festival is celebrating fun in the sun with craft brews from far and wide! Come enjoy live music, food trucks, and lots of delicious brews!

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIR

September 13 -17

Come enjoy festivities, rides, good fair food, and local wares. Bring the family and stroll the beautiful fairgrounds. Safe, fun, and affordable! www.santacruzcountyfair.com

LITTLE WHARF 3-MILER

September 23 – 8am

The Little Wharf Race starts at the East Cliff Village Shopping Center and finishes inside Capitola Village in the Capitola Esplanade. Check out www.wharftowharf.com for more information.

CAPITOLA BEACH FESTIVAL

September 23-24

Join us again this summer for the Capitola Beach Festival. We have some great events planned, including the Sand Sculpture contest, Cornhole, Children’s Art, Scavenger Hunt, Music at the Beach, and the Lighted Boat Nautical Parade. Check www.capitolabeachfestival.com for updates.

SCOTTS VALLEY ART, WINE, AND BEER FESTIVAL

August 19 & 20

Saturday 10am – 6pm Sunday 10am – 5pm

Come enjoy the Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival! In addition to our wonderful Artists, there will be food trucks and vendors with innovative cuisine, as well as live music. The Kids Fun Zone will be back and the area’s most prestigious wineries and award-winning micro-breweries pouring their best. The ever-popular Cops ‘N Rodders Car Show will be on Saturday, and Sunday, the funfilled “Dog Day” will feature many canine contests and prizes! Visit svartfestival.com for more information.

Help Capitola recover and reconnect after a tough winter. Find the “Beauty and the Beach” at the 5th annual Capitola Beach Festival on September 23 and 24. The Festival offers many family friendly and free events, just the right excuses to come out and play: Sand Sculpture Contest, Concert in the Park, Chalk and Children’s Art, Horseshoe Tournament in the Sand, Scavenger Hunt, and Rowboat Races.

Wharf to Wharf’s 3-mile Little Wharf fun run takes place on Saturday morning.

Not to be missed, the Lighted Nautical Parade Saturday evening - bringing lights, music and excitement to Soquel Creek. New events underway - but not ready at press time - a Corn hole Tournament and a Paddle Board Race off Hooper’s Beach.

Enjoy the beauty of our Capitola Beach and Village. Dance, play in the sand, row a boat, toss a bag or a shoe, and watch a parade. Build a float for the Nautical Parade.

Join our volunteers and help make it all happen.

Capitolabeachfestival.com

Easy to find, historical Pleasure Point is located along the stunning cliffs of the Monterey Bay between Santa Cruz and Capitola Village. Enjoy unique boutiques, sidewalk cafes, world-class surfing and great places to stay. Family friendly, laid back and fun!

www.pleasurepointguide.com

About the BeachFestival Artist

In remembrance of the powerful waves that washed through Capitola Village this past winter, Maia Negre’s “Double Wave” watercolor painting has been selected for this years’ 2023 Capitola Beach Festival poster.

One of her early works, originally painted in 2004, this piece effortlessly communicates the essence of ocean energy and the beauty of beach life.

Maia will have a limited edition run of this poster in her booth at this year’s Capitola Art and Wine Festival.

In addition to the 2023 Beach Festival poster, Maia’s art has graced a number of other Capitola events and local landmarks. In 2010 she was the leadassistant to John Ton on the Capitola Wharf Road mural,

and later became an artist-partner on the mural’s lower extension in 2015.

In 2015, Maia was also the Capitola Art and Wine Festival Poster artist. In 2017, she redesigned the Mermaid Logo on the wine glass for the Capitola Art and Wine Festival, which is still used to this day. The following year in 2018, she designed the very first 2018 Capitola Beach Festival Poster. She is also a collaborating artist with Merge4Socks and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, with her art featured on a variety of socks and apparel. In the fine art realm, Maia’s oil paintings are known for her signature style and dreamy interpretations of surf, waves, ethereal coastlines, mermaids, and botanicals.

With the ocean at the heart of Maia’s work and life, her art is a true confluence of all her passions, and an expression of reverence to the beauty of life. Maia is one of Santa Cruz's most beloved and popular artists.

You can find her work all over Santa Cruz County, on the walls of hotels, established businesses, resident's homes, and public murals. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Painting and a minor in business from San Jose State University.

When she's not painting and running her art business, this gentle powerhouse can be found in the yoga studio, surfing, spending time with her family, or traveling to her favorite places.

Follow her upcoming shows, projects and inspirations on Instagram at @ maianegre. Or see more of her work on her website at www.maianegre.com

Capitola Beach Festival

Capitola Competitions & Events in the Roaring 20's

By Deborah Osterberg,

When oil entrepreneur Henry Allen Rispin bought much of Capitola in 1919 from Katherine Cope Henderson (Frederick Hihn’s daughter), he set about modernizing the resort town. To ensure the success of his large investment, Rispin needed to attract tourists and prospective land buyers.

The 1920s was an age of exuberance. Contests and record-breaking feats of all sorts garnered a great deal of media attention, from dance marathons to flagpole sitting. From his youthful days as a theater promot er, Rispin was well aware of the lure of spectacle. To garner large crowds that summer, Rispin held a wide variety of public events which he dubbed “one continual round of pleasure.” At the beach and lagoon these included upset canoe, tilting and relay races, greasy pole climbing, sack races, pony races, and fat men’s and fat women’s races. The Capitola Skating rink featured a prize carnival of a chariot race, a one-mile speed race, a hurdle race, balloon race and a button race, whatever that was. There was also a free wild west show which featured “cowboys with lively bucking horses” and bulls at the campground which was once located across from today’s Capitola City Hall.

Mostly importantly, Rispin recognized the latest athletic craze, competitive swimming. In January 1920, the San Francisco Examiner, described Rispin as “the leading spirit of the new enterprise” in Capitola to host major swimming races that summer. Since the reintroduction of the Olympics in 1896, and the establishment of the first worldwide swimming association in 1908, the sport of swimming grew rapidly in popularity during the first two decades of the 20th century.

Capitola’s pristine ocean shoreline, protected lagoon, and Soquel Creek were the ideal setting for aquatic events. The official competitions sponsored by Rispin drew not only championship swimmers, but also championship water polo players, divers and canoeists from the Olympic Club of San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Dolphins, the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the Young Ladies Institute in San Francisco, and the

Museum Curator at the Capitola Historical Museum and Gordon van Zuiden, Member of the Capitola Historical Museum Board

Group of competition swimmers in Capitola, circa 1920. The second from the right is believed to be Hilda Curtis. Image from the Macdonald Collection, Capitola Historical Museum.

Hilda Curtis sitting next to the Hotel Capitola, 1921. Image from the Capitola Historical Museum.

Alameda Neptune Club.

The first major swimming competition in Capitola was the men’s one mile rough-water ocean race on Sunday, July 11, 1920. The race was for the Pacific Coast title sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Union (A.A.U.). Swimmers who were not invited to attend the Olympic trials in Chicago came to Capitola for the rough water mile championship. Out of a field of twelve, the winner was 19-year-old James Carson of the Olympic Club of San Francisco. Carson, who swam the course in 22 minutes and 12 seconds, and won by twenty yards over his closest competitor, set a new one-mile open ocean swimming world record.* Carson, a recent graduate from San Francisco’s Lowell High School, was also on the San Francisco Olympic Club national championship water polo team and went on to compete for the United States Water Polo Team at the Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, where the U.S. team came in fourth place.

On September 19, 1920, Capitola hosted the A.A.U.-sanctioned Pacific Coast mile swimming championship for women. Florence Friesenhausen of the Young Ladies Institute in San Francisco won that first Capitola women’s race with a three-foot lead over her nearest competitor. Starting with the 1921 season, the one-mile course was moved to Soquel Creek. The 220-yard swim course, composed of eight laps, was “held by international experts to be one of the finest in the world.”

In 1921 Rispin decided to give the winner of the women’s Pacific Coast one-mile championship an additional honor, the “Rispin Cup”.** The San Francisco Examiner’s sportswriter declared that the new prize was “the biggest and most valuable swimming trophy ever offered on the Pacific Coast.” In 1921 and 1922 the contest, and the “Rispin Cup” went to one of the most celebrated women swimmers of the day, Marie Curtis of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Marie Curtis was beaten in dramatic fashion by another Curtis, (no relation to her) the following year. In 1923, 14-year-old Hilda Curtis was leading by five yards, when the energy of the favorite, Marie Curtis, suddenly gave out and she sank, almost drowning. Hilda Curtis won the race by setting a new record of 31 minutes and 7.25 seconds.

Though the Capitola events and aquatic competitions were a success, they were not enough to save Rispin from eventual bankruptcy by the late 1920s and the loss of his “modern” resort.

* Some accounts dispute Jim Carson’s world record.

** The “Rispin Cup” designation was applied retroactively to Friesenhausen for her 1920 win.

Jim Carson (fourth from the right) aboard the boat Reliance at Capitola for his one-mile swim record. Image courtesy of the van Zuiden Collection.

This postcard shows water polo players in Capitola Lagoon on Sunday August 8, 1920, including Jim Carson and other members of the national championship team from the San Francisco Olympic Club. Image courtesy of the van Zuiden Collection.

Capitola Beach Festival

Capitola Beach Festival

■ Custom Cushions

■ Heaters

We also do complete patio furniture restoration and repair.

Capitola Beach Festival

Beach Festival

Storm Snags Capitola Fishing Derby 2023

by Teresa Green

Mother Nature wreaked havoc on Capitola Beach, Soquel Creek, the Village, and neighborhoods during winter storms that hit in January and February 2023. Storm surges flooded businesses and streets along Soquel Creek and the Esplanade causing the City of Capitola to declare an evacuation. Giant trees and other debris washed down Soquel Creek and ended up on Capitola Beach. Damage was extensive and long-lasting.

Capitola has come back strong. Capitola Public Works did amazing work in cleaning up the streets, ridding them of water, sand, and branches. A week later, it might have been hard to tell there had been a storm, except for the fencing around all of the red-tagged, beachside restaurants. Capitola Recreation organized volunteers to help with cleanup at businesses, and sponsored bands on the beach to raise money for those impacted by the storms. Slowly, the restaurants are reopening as repairs are completed. Zelda’s Restaurant retained the large piece of the wharf that crashed through

Scavenger Hunt!

How much do you know about Capitola historical landmarks, history, and points of interest? This was what people who participated in the 1st Capitola Beach Festival Scavenger Hunt found out.

Participants received a map of the village with Waystations marked out and answered simple questions about what they found as they learned about the City of Capitola and the Capitola Beach Festival. We had 88 groups on Saturday traverse the 1+ mile route. Small prizes were given to all who completed the scavenger hunt.

Young children were volunteered to join their parents, older kids and adults went with their friends, and husbands and wives competed against each other in teams. Some completed it all in an hour while others did it leisurely, stopping to have lunch or shop, finishing hours later. On returning, all agreed they had a good time. Many remarked that they had lived or visited Capitola for a long time and learned a lot by doing the scavenger hunt. It made them look at things they just had never noticed.

their windows as part of their remodel decor. All on the Esplanade should be open by June.

What will not be fixed soon is our beloved wharf. Extensive waves took out a large section of the structure: decking, railings, and pilings. The city estimates the already planned rebuild along with repairing damages will take at least a year. Sadly, the two businesses on the wharf, Capitola Boat and Bait and The Wharf House, which have supported the Capitola Beach Festival for many years, are closed indefinitely.

Clearly, the Capitola Beach Festival will be unable to hold the Fishing Derby on the wharf in 2023 and it will be missed. This event dates back to 1967, beginning as part of the Begonia Festival, and it has continued to attract the interest and imagination of hundreds of men, women, and children for decades, now as part of the Capitola Beach Festival.

By September 2024 we hope you will be able to enjoy this 54 year old classic once again.

The prizes were small “party favor” type things of little value, but everyone, including the adults, took their prize. It was all in good fun!

The Scavenger Hunt will again be an event at this year’s Capitola Beach Festival. It will be held on Saturday, September 23rd, from Noon to 4PM.

Horse Shoes in the Sand

Horseshoes In the Sand is an 18 year festival tradition. While the popular Horseshoe tournament continues to evolve, with new participants and leadership, the one constant has been our sponsor: Zelda’s on the Beach.

Every year the tournament brings something new and memorable, last year was no exception. The “Blue Shirts” returned with cheers, karaoke, entertaining music and a sing along. We cannot wait to see what Shirley, Debbie and Cathy have planned for this year.

We are excited to welcome back returning and new participants as well as the reopening of Zeldas. A little fun in the sun with friends and loved ones may be just what we all need after this rough winter.

If you love the beach this activity is a fun way to pass the day away. Whether you’re an old hand or a beginner, “Horseshoes In the Sand” is the event for all!

Horseshoes In the Sand returns to Capitola Beach on Sunday September 24th, 9:00 – finish. Space is limited and registration is free.

Twilight Concerts at Capitola Beach

Wednesdays, June 14-August 30 starting at 6:00pm

Sunday Art at the Beach

June 25, July 30 & August 13, 2023.

Movies at the Beach

August 25th and September 1st.

Food Truck Fridays at Monterey Park

June 16, July 14, Aug 18, and Sept 15.

Capitola Plein Air

October 30th – November 5th

President's Message

The Capitola Beach Festival Committee returns September 23rd & 24th with our 5th annual festival themed “Beauty and the Beach”.

The Capitola Beach Festival returns this year with many of the traditional activities that Capitola has come to love. Plus, we will be adding a few more family friendly events, such as Cornhole and Paddle board racing. Be sure not to miss Saturday night’s Lighted Nautical Parade on Soquel Creek!

In my third year as president, it is my pleasure to lead this amazing group of community spirited, energetic individuals who all volunteer their time and effort to make this event possible. I want to especially thank the Committee’s Board and Event Sponsors for their efforts to continue to help create this family friendly weekend.

(See the Capitola Beach Festival Event Schedule in this publication.)

Come to the Beach, have fun, make new friends, and create lifelong memories. Check out our Capitola Beach Festival website for an updated calendar of events. And Join us as a volunteer. Sign up to build a float for the Nautical Parade - we provide the barge; the building site and you provide the Memories!

We look forward to seeing you and your family at the Capitola Beach Festival for fun, free, family-friendly entertainment, and lots of new Memories.

Mary Beth Cahalen, President

Hall | 831-475-7300 420 Capitola Ave | Capitola, CA 95010

Capitola Beach Festival

Lighted Nautical Parade

By Cindy Kiernan and Mary Beth Cahalen, Parade Chairs

The Nautical Parade is the highlight of the Beach Festival. The parade on Soquel Creek began with the Begonia Festival’s floats covered with thousands of freshly picked blossoms. The floats were gorgeous – and a lot of work and cleanup!

The Lighted Nautical Parade now relies on twinkling lights! Imagine floats decorated with strings of old holiday lights, computer programmed LEDs, elaborate animation, live music, or cardboard boxes. Lots of reused materials and less debris. The options are endless.

We love watching the floats twinkling with lights, weaving their way down the river, with the music in the background, the comedy of errors that are bound to happen, and the crowd cheering their favorites! The parade has grown into a spectacular way of to end the summer and welcome the fall season to Capitola.

Float builders tell us that they built lasting memories being a part of the parade; an opportunity for team building, creating, laughing, new friends, and reconnecting with old friends.

Come celebrate our 2023 theme “Beauty and the Beach.” Come play with us – gather friends and build a float, be a Festival volunteer, meet new friends, or find your favorite spot to sit and just enjoy the fun!

We invite new float builders: The festival provides the 8x12 foot barges and the building site. You provide the creativity, the team, whatever building and lighting materials you choose! Add your music, a narrative and a bit of theatrics!

Contact the Parade Chair 831-428-9875 or email capitolabeachfestival@gmail.com

Photo Credit: James Stanton

Capitola’s “Beached” Parade

By Laurie Hill

The 2022 Capitola Beach Festival’s Nautical Parade made a fast pivot when water conditions on Soquel Creek forced the team to either cancel the parade or set up a beach parade. True to the theme, 4 float teams made a “Marvel of it All” in the sand.

For over 70 years the Begonia and Beach Festivals have produced Nautical Parades. A handful have been canceled or moved to the streets, this was the first parade moved to the beach.

“It was a marvel that we pulled it off at all” said Festival President, Mary Beth Cahalen.

First place parade winner, the Mid County Senior Center’s entry produced a homespun garden gazebo with delicately lit scarecrows, sunflowers, lavender, and pumpkins. The team celebrated nature’s bounty and the return of the Senior Center as a gathering and activity space.

The second place winner, the Jewel Boxers back for the third time, presented the “Marvelous Captain Capitola” a highly technical float that featured over 5000 digital lights, animated by four stage controllers, much of which was recycled from their first place entry in 2021.

The third place float, entitled “ReflectionNNN” included an exotic dis play of recycled materials and costumes that reflected upon the gran deur of past water festivals and paid homage to the First Peoples of these waterways.

The crowd favorite was clearly the Festival’s Creek “Water” Marshals’ pivot from lighted kayak dancing to dancing in the sand. Celebrating nurses and health professionals, they were energetically led by Nautical Parade Chair, Thea Luiten, holding an oversized syringe. The crowd joined in and danced to tunes that parodied the role of nurses.

Properties adjacent to Soquel Creek took a beating during this winters storms but the Festival Team hopes to return to the more typical water parade this year.

Capitola Wharf: What's Next?

The community of Capitola is gearing up to rebuild and enhance the Capitola Wharf after a tumultuous start to 2023. The winter storms caused significant damage to the beloved landmark, bringing heartbreak to residents and tourists alike. However, plans are already in the works to bring the Wharf back better than ever.

The City of Capitola had the $8 million Wharf Resiliency and Public Access Project planned to begin in fall 2023 prior to the January storms. The project is designed to make the Wharf more resistant to future storms, and now includes the necessary storm repairs, bringing the total cost to $10.5 million. If all goes to plan, the Wharf will reopen in time for the summer of 2024.

Local volunteers have also formed the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project (CWEP) to enhance the rebuilt Wharf. Private donations will fund upgraded amenities such as improved lighting, historical signage, seating, greater public use, and art features. (Donations are tax-deductible.) In addition, CWEP is partnered with the Wharf to Wharf Race, which will promote the fundraising effort to its 2023 race participants.

“The Capitola Wharf is essential to our community,” said CWEP Chair, Gerry Jensen. “This is an exciting time to showcase Capitola’s resilience, build a legacy, and ensure that the Wharf remains a cherished gathering place for generations to come.”

For more information on CWEP contact https://capitolavillage.com/wharf

Beauty and the Beach

Capitola Beach Festival Sand Sculpture Contest 2023

By Laurie Hill

Originated by Craig French in 1971 as a part of the Begonia Festival, the Sand Sculpture Contest takes place Saturday, September 23. Sign up (before you start your sculpture) at Capitola Beach starting at 10 am. Judging will begin before 2:00 with award ceremony around 2:30 pm. You must be present to win. Sand sculptures are spread along the beach from the Capitola Wharf down to the jetty on the other side of the beach. Plaques are awarded in five categories: small group, large group, one adult one child, 9-14 and under 8 with one overall Grand Prize Winner.

The rules are: Have a family friendly subject matter and

your building site cannot exceed 20 x 20 feet. All objects used must be natural (not man-made) material found on a beach, for example seaweed, drift wood, shells, pebbles and feathers. Forms may be used in the construction but must be removed prior to judging.

Sculpture tips from Bill Lewis, a.k.a. Santa Cruz Sand: Bring some tools, pour lots of water on the ground, make a pile of sand, add more water, and detail from the top down. If the sand is not cooperating it is probably too dry.

Come down and play in the sand – invite neighbors, family and friends to form a team. Build close to the surf, but plan for high tide!

CENTRAL COAST

Adventures

Kayaking Boating

Santa Cruz Harbor hosts thousands of visitors each year. Other anchorages are Capitola Wharf (May 1 to Sept. 30); Moss Landing Marina; Monterey has two Marinas; Monterey Municipal; and Breakwater Cove all within walking distance of excellent restaurants, old Monterey, historic Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Just north you'll find Asilomar Beach and famous Pebble Beach.

Paddle

Boarding

Kayaking tours of Elkhorn Slough will take you into one of 17 estuarine reserves in the United States. Elkhorn Slough is home to saltwater, freshwater and marshland wildlife where you might see seals, otters, loons, egrets, pelicans and even small sharks. Along Monterey Bay there are open coast paddling tours, overnight sea kayaking trips and the thrill of surf kayaking.

Climbing & Hiking

Santa Cruz County has become one of the most popular destinations for paddleboarding. With our breathtaking coastline there are many sights to see when out on the blue water. You never know when you might get a show or a visit from a whale, dolphin, seal, or one of the creatures that live in our ocean. There are many facilities in Santa Cruz that rent paddle boards and they are always willing to help out if you are a newcomer to the. Don’t miss out! Get on a paddleboard and experience the sights our area has to offer!

There are more than 20 recognized hiking trails in Santa Cruz County that traverse the coastline, beaches, mountains and the redwood forests of this unique corner of the Central Coast. From Big Basin Redwoods State Park there is the famous Skyline to the Sea Trail. Up the mountain there is Henry Cowell State Park nestled in the redwoods of Felton as well as numerous hiking trails leading to and fro Highway 1 between here going north or south for miles and and miles in either direction.

Capitola Beach Festival

Little Wharf 3-Miler

On September 23rd, Wharf to Wharf Race, Inc. is producing the Little Wharf 3-Miler as a part of the Annual Capitola Beach Festival weekend. The Festival kicks off on Saturday morning with a point-to-point family fun run/walk starting at the East Cliff Village Shopping Center and run three miles along the Santa Cruz coastline, before finishing in the Capitola Esplanade.

The event serves as a second fundraiser toward the Wharf to Wharf’s mission of supporting youth sports in Santa Cruz County. All participants receive race day swag. The 3-mile run/walk is limited to the first 4,000 registrants.

At the 2022 Little Wharf 3-Miler, participants came out to enjoy the race, with many walking or jogging together as a family or group. We encourage you to bring your friends and family out for the fun, and enjoy the final 3 miles of the Wharf to Wharf race course!

All levels, ages and abilities are welcome. Registration information is available online at www.wharftowharf.com.

Chalk Art on the Sea Wall

The Chalk Art event has been a child and family favorite for years. Patti Bradley, event chair said “What a joy it is to see children of all ages work on their colorful creations. I am delighted to continue this well loved event for the Capitola Beach Festival. From pre-schoolers to art school graduates, everyone has a great time illustrating what makes Capitola so special.” We provide the chalk, a spot on the sea wall, and you provide the inspiration.

Rowboat Races for Everyone!

By Neal Savage and Teresa Green

Unprecedented rains in September 2022 had the Capitola Beach Festival staff perusing Soquel Creek the week before the festival. As the creek rose higher and higher we feared our problem was going to be too much flow in the creek from the storm - something that would have caused the City to remove the sand berm on the lagoon. That did not happen but.....

The early season storm - being the first of the year - brought debris and stirred up the creek bottom and increased the turbidity (cloudiness) of the creek. The turbidity prevented the sun from getting to the plants on the creek bottom - and thus depleted the oxygen that the fish rely upon. Fish were dying. The City consulted their fish biologist and ultimately lowered the water level of the Creek by use of the flume on the lagoon. Four days before the festival, our problem was now too little water in the creek. Two days before the festival, the oxygen levels were acceptable and they started letting the lagoon fill again. We all crossed our fingers while Rowboat Races Chair, Neal Savage, checked the rising water levels multiple times a day to “project” whether the creek would have enough water for the event. In the end, it did not raise quickly enough - the step down to the rowboats would be a whopping three feet! – and that was just too dangerous to proceed with the event. For the first time in memory, the Rowboat Races were canceled.

The Rowboat Races are a series of timed head-tohead races that go up and down Soquel Creek, between the bridge and trestle. Groups of two compete in races for the best time in their age group:

• Youth 12 and under

• Juniors 12-17

• Adults 18-30

• Masters 31 & Over

There are always a few ringers in older groups seeking revenge from last year’s loss but the highlight is the Youth. Coaxed by parents and siblings into rowboats along with a passenger, the youngsters often take their first ride in a rowboat. The crowds cheer everyone and there are groans when the boats get caught up in riverside plants or docked boats but it's all still a delight. "Passengers" are there to help the youngest rowers but depending on skill and relationship to the rower they have been described as captain, coach or just ballast. Once the rowers figure out they are pulling the oars to go backwards, they think it is easy, but just wait for that first turn. Pulling the opposite side of where you want to go (backwards) with your coach yelling “encouragement” stresses out even the best of the rowers and the circles entail. This is when many are glad they are only spectators. The rowboats races are unpredictable in the details but always enjoyable and a crowd favorite.

Barring any unforeseen weather, the Rowboat Races will resume in 2023. Don't miss out, sign up is Noon – 1:00 Sunday, September 24 at Stockton Bridge! No late entries. Waivers are required, and parents need to sign up children. Races start at 1:00 pm.

Special thanks to the families along the creek that lend us the boats and paddles! And the Craft Gallery for their sponsorship.

Capitola & Soquel Once One – Now Two!

Capitola wasn’t always called Capitola. The original settlement grew out of what was then called Soquel Landing. Frederick A. Hihn obtained the land in 1865 from the heirs of rancho grantee Martina Castro. With the help of a ship’s carpenter, Samuel A. Hill, he built a wharf at the mouth of Soquel Creek and called it Soquel Landing. Samuel A. Hall not only built the wharf but also Soquel’s Congregational Church and was the main carpenter on most of the buildings that Hihn developed. The wharf served as an outlet for the produce – mostly potatoes – and lumber grown in the interior. Shipping was successful until 1874 when the railroad was established along the coast. Once the railroad came in, shipping slowed down, and the mills grew quiet.

In 1869, Frederick A. Hihn decided to develop the coast into a resort for tourists. His first lessee was Samuel A. Hall, and the area became known as Camp Capitola. Hihn saw that the landscape that provided refuge from the summer heat could also be profitable. His foresight created the place known now as the oldest seaside resort on the Pacific Coast. Camp Capitola had its grand opening July 4, 1874 and was instantly popular with tourists. Visitors came by car and on the Santa Cruz-Watsonville train year-round to visit Capitola. In 1882 Hihn subdivided lots and built cabins, a livery stable, a skating rink, a theater, a bandstand, and a 30-room hotel. Hotel Capitola, boasting 160 rooms, was built until 1895 to replace the original hotel. Unfortunately, it burned down in 1929. As time went on, a merry-go-round and various arcade games were added to the village charm.

The name “Capitola” was probably given to the resort to commemorate the fact that in 1869 the town of Soquel had invited the government of California to settle there and make its capital in upstairs rooms of Ned Porter’s store. Capitola is “capital” in the Spanish language.

In the meantime, Soquel was becoming a bustling little town. In 1843, John Daubenbiss arrived in California and built and operated a flour

mill in the village of Santa Clara. With John Hames, also a pioneer, he also built a flour mill and a sawmill on Soquel Creek. He harvested and sold timber for the Commercial Street pier in San Francisco and furnished the lumber and pilings for the long wharf at San Francisco, at the foot of Commercial Street. In 1847 he married Sarah Lard in San Jose and they settled in Soquel. They moved into their home, which still sits on the hill overlooking Soquel, shortly after it was built in 1867. Daubenbiss stayed in Soquel for the rest of his life and became known as one of the town founders. He is also credited with donating the land for Soquel cemetery and building the first school. John Daubenbiss struck ill and died at his home on February 10, 1896, at the age of 79. He was buried next to his wife and children at their family plot in the Soquel Cemetery down the road.

Capitola Hotel

Photos Courtesy of Jon Morgan

1913, the doors of the Soquel Memorial Public Library opened to the public. The building was named the Porter Memorial Public Library in honor of Benjamin and Kate Porter, the parents of Mary Porter Sesnon.

The New England-style structure, with its soaring steeple, was organized in 1868 by Joshua and Narcissa Parrish. Coming from Ohio in 1852, they settled in Soquel and soon realized there was no church in town. Narcissa began inviting community women to attend weekly prayer meetings in her home which lead to Miss LuLu Hall, a local schoolteacher, to offer Sunday School in Soquel’s one-room schoolhouse. From the prayer meetings and the Sunday School emerged a “society” that led to the organization of the Congregational Church of Soquel and its ultimate construction in 1870.

Joshua and Narcissa donated the land and Samuel A. Hall (who was also Lulu Hall’s father) designed the building and oversaw construction. The church has seen a number of upheavals. In 1955, Soquel Village was flooded when Soquel Creek overflowed its banks and the church was used as a temporary shelter for people in need. In 1967, the historic structure was damaged by an arson fire and restored. When Soquel was flooded again in 1982, the church became a temporary fire station. The earthquake of 1989 knocked the steeple bell from its mounting. The Congregational Church has been the church home for generations of people since has then and just celebrated its 150th anniversary!

First Capitola City Council

Soquel Library 1912

Capitola Signs of the Times: 1874-2023

By Deborah Osterberg

The Capitola Historical Museum is open for the 2023 season with the new exhibition, “Capitola – Signs of the Times.”

According to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, signs are “… an often-overlooked part of our culture that hides in plain sight as part of our daily lives.”

Signs are almost as old as people’s first efforts to communicate thoughts. They are the visual tools for identification, to communicate information, and sell products and services. Signs reflect the era in which they were produced. They contribute to a sense of place and enable us to trace the history and evolution of our communities over time. Though intended as transitory, signs, both past and present, became a part of our collective memory.

The signs in this exhibition help tell the story of Capitola, from its pioneer and resort beginnings to its character today as a popular beach town, artists’ colony, and desirable coastal residential community. The exhibition features several vintage signs from past Capitola businesses and dozens of photographs of resort and commercial signs.

The inspiration for “Capitola – Signs of the Times” came from a quote used in last year’s exhibition. The quote was from a letter home to family by architectural intern Helen Benbow, who worked for Henry Rispin’s architect, George McCrea.

“Now the great difficulty is signs. Every concessioner wants to hang a banner clear across the street in front of his place etc. And Mr. Rispin doesn’t see why it isn’t

all right. But I think Mr. McCrea will win out.”

This made me think about the sign clutter evident in many photographs of the Esplanade in the period after Rispin went bankrupt and sold off his Capitola holdings. Apparently, Mr. McCrea did not win out regarding signs. Then I thought of how different signs around Capitola look today. I realized the history of Capitola could be told through its signs: Past and present.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is the large, wooden Camp Capitola sign, which we believe is the museum’s oldest sign. According to local historian Carolyn Swift, this Camp Capitola sign likely dates from the 1890s, or earlier, since after that time, F.A. Hihn dropped the “Camp” and began referring to his resort simply as … Capitola.

Another exhibition highlight is an imagined recreation of the interior of Southern Pacific Railroad’s Capitola Depot, circa 1915, complete with station master. The authentic Southern Pacific station master uniform was generously loaned to the museum by the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. Though the uniform dates from the 1950s, the style is not all that different than earlier versions. The station colors of sea moss for the ticket office and the signature yellow and brown of the station exterior are authentic.

The 1915 theme of the depot recreation links it to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, which took place that year in San Francisco. Reproductions of exposition publicity and tickets adorn the station. Several pieces from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition are permanent parts of the museum. Displayed on the museum ceiling are beautiful stained-glass windows originally used in the exposition’s Ohio Building. After the fair, they were incorporated into Al Lent’s craftsman style home in Capitola. After the home was remodeled in 2009, the stainedglass windows and a couple of magnificent redwood pillars were donated to the museum by Jeff and Cathie Thurmond. The remodeled Lent House overlooks Capitola from the edge of Prospect Avenue.

The exhibition also traces the history of sign-making from early examples in China and Europe up to modern sign-making materials and technology. A modern sign shop was visited to better understand how signs are made today. Signs by Van provided a tour of their Prunedale operation and provided samples of modern-day sign making materials and images of current fabrication equipment.

A highlight of sign-making history is the display on the life and career of local sign-maker Leo Sievert. He operated his sign shop, at 1438 Soquel Avenue at the corner of Trevethan Avenue, from 1938 into the 1970s. Despite having lost a leg in a childhood accident, Leo became a very successful Santa Cruz sign-maker. He completed sign work for local movie theaters, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Perhaps Sievert’s most iconic Santa Cruz artwork is the towering Front Street-facing, Del Mar Theater wall sign. In the 1920s and 1930s, Leo made many large wall-sized advertisements for Capitola’s famed nightclub, the Hawaiian Gardens. Several prototypes of these colorful, exotic signs are in the exhibition. And thanks to a loan from his son, Ken Sievert, many of Leo’s sign-making tools are also on display.

The admission-free Capitola Historical Museum, at 410 Capitola Ave., Capitola, is open every Friday through Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. through the end of December.

Deborah Osterberg is curator of the Capitola Historical Museum.

What do you like best about Capitola?

Interviews & photos by Judie Block

"Easy to answer!  I like the Capitola Twilight concerts on Wednesday evenings in the summer.  The dancing is great as well as just listening.  Its enjoyable for picnicking on the lawn , benches and the beach, as well as good people watching.  Different bands and types of music are different each Wednesday. It is something I look forward to in the summer.  It gives me a great sense of community as well as good music to listen to." -

Steve from Soquel

"My husband and I travel over Highway 17 every Sunday from San Jose to join our friends to play ukulele in the Capitola bandstand.  We have breakfast or lunch in the delightful cafes.  We shop and love the little beach village that is Capitola. To see the smiles and laughter as people wander up to see hula hooping, flags, dancing jitterbug and hula, as we strum old and new songs. It is the perfect way to start our week.  We love Capitola." -

Phyllis from San Jose

"I am visiting the Bay Area from South Carolina. I am from Mountain View and moved to South Carolina after my husband passed away.  Capitola has always been a very special place for me.  I loved sitting by the beach and relaxing to the sounds of the surf.  I loved puttering thru the shops and always finding a special treasure.  South Carolina is pleasant but definitely not like the little seaside village radiating peace, love and tranquility." -

Gail from South Carolina

"I’ve spent my life driving over the hill to get to the beach.  I never miss visiting Capitola! I’ve been going since the early 1980s to the present.  Some of my favorites are “Venetian Court, with its European flavor.  Love the Inn at Depot Hill, my first B & B stay.  Thai Basil my first Thai food experience.  I love to buy glass pumpkins each year in the fall from the many galleries.  No visit to Capitola is complete with eating at Gayle’s.  Many decades and memories of this delightful and charming spot on the planet." - Craig from San Jose

"My favorite thing about Capitola is the beach! I love to be by the water, whether I’m surfing, boogie boarding, or just going for a walk or a run by the shore. An early morning run is one of my favorite ways to spend time at the beach, since no one else is out and it’s very peaceful. But it’s also a great time when everyone else is out there too – especially when the ukeleles are playing! I always look forward to visiting Capitola and walking around the village shops and cooling off in the water." - Emily from

Arkansas

"I love the nature in and near Capitola.  New Brighton Beach is my happy place, especially on a weekday morning walking my dogs and enjoying a cup of coffee. I also love to visit the village..Two of my favorite quick and affordable spots are Mijo’s and Pizza My Heart.  I’ll grab a burrito or a slice of pizza and then sit by the water and people watch or enjoy the sunset. Every Sunday you can listen and watch the ukulele players at the esplanade while watching kids learn to surf nearby. I love how relaxed . kind and helpful people are in Capitola. A very special place." - Josie

from Orinda

"Capitola is a charming escape for me. I love the size of the town, the colors of the town, the beachfront, the kelp, the cute stores and the restaurants. It’s close by and I can get there for a weekend and I feel safe there. I mention safe because during the pandemic, I went to Capitola , and stayed at a hotel, and I felt welcome and safe in my own space with my balcony looking out over the ocean. After the recent storm, I’m curious to see how Capitola will evolve."

- Joni from Mountain View

Editor’s note: Listen to ukuleles every Sunday 10-11:30 am at the Bandstand in Esplanade Park.

2023 Twilight Concerts

The Capitola Twilight Concerts are hosted on Wednesday evenings during the summer months. All concerts begin at 6 p.m. and take place at the Esplanade bandstand in Capitola Village. These free events are made possible by the generosity of our sponsors.

The Capitola Twiight Concerts are hosted on Wednesday evenings during the summer months. All concerts begin at 6 p.m. and take place at the Esplanade bandstand in Capitola Village. These free events are made possible by the generosity of our sponsors.

June 14 Jive Machine www.jivemachine.com

June 21 Dirty Cello www.dirtycello.com

June 28 Tsunami www.tsunami-rocks.com

July 5 The Alex Lucero Band www.alexluceroband.com

July 12 Ribsy Nickels www.reverbnation.com/ribsysnickel

July 19 The Joint Chiefs www.thejointchiefsband.com

July 26 Pacific Roots www.pacificrootsmusic.com

August 2 Delta Wires www.deltawires.com

August 9 Extra Large www.extra-large.net

August 16 Billy Martini Show www.billymartini70s.com

August 23 Everyday People www.everydaypeopletheband.com

August 30 Digbeats n/a

Movies at the Beach

Movies begin at dusk. All movies are shown on the bandstand stage in Esplanade Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring seating. Low back chairs and blankets are recommended. Considering bring a picnic dinner or dine locally at area restaurants. No alcohol or dogs on the beach.

August 25 – Super Mario Brothers

September 1 – Lyle Lyle Crocodile

Sunday Art at the Beach

Capitola Village, Esplanade Park

June 25, July 30 & August 13, 2023

Enjoy an afternoon in Capitola at the Sunday Art at the Beach event this summer at Esplanade Park overlooking the Monterey Bay. Browse quality artwork including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and mixed media from local artists. This family friendly event is free and open to the public.

Friday Food Truck Event at Monterey Ave Park – 4:30-7:30 pm

Come enjoy a variety of Food Trucks on June 16, July 14, Aug 18, and Sept 15. Bring your own chairs, blankets, grab a drink, eat some food, enjoy some music and meet your neighbors!

June 24, 2023

After a two-year hiatus due to Covid 19 the 26th Annual Woodies on the Wharf in conjunction with the 5th Annual National Woodie Club meet will take place Saturday, June 25, 2022 and officially runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It all began in 1994, when Santa Cruz Woodies was a fledgling chapter of the National Woodie Club. Many club members had participated in events with their woodies at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the cars were always met with enthusiasm. When it was decided to put on an event of our own the Santa Cruz Woodies Club partnered with the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department and the Santa Cruz Wharf Merchants Association and the 1st Annual Woodies on the Wharf took place on June 24, 1995 with 50 cars in attendance. After our humble start, our attendance has grown over the years.

In 2019 at our 25th Anniversary Woodies on the Wharf we hosted approximately 200 Woodies coming from all over the country. In addition to attracting a world-class exhibition of Wooden cars (one of the largest Woodie gatherings in the country) the event features Woodies on the Wharf merchandise sales, music by Classified Sound, a raffle offering 100’s of prizes donated from local businesses including Surfboards and an E-Bike Cruiser (ninety percent of the raffle proceeds are donated to worthy local charities), a surfboard-shaping demonstration by

Bob Pearson of Pearson Arrow Surfboards, delicious food at restaurants, shopping and recreation opportunities at all Wharf businesses and the sendoff Woodie Parade off the Wharf which begins promptly at 3:30 p.m. after the Awards Ceremony!

Combine that with the attraction of the Wharf itself, and you have what is regarded as the best family fun day that takes place on the Santa Cruz Wharf all year. Wharf Parking will be extremely limited! Bike Santa Cruz County will be running the FREE Bike Valet during the event. We encourage you to park off site and walk or bike to the Wharf! Come on down, enjoy the sunshine, music, dining, shopping, recreation, raffle and of course the stars of the show, our classic Wooden Cars!

Can’t get enough Woodies? Take a stroll on West Cliff Drive Sunday morning June 26 around 9:00 AM and witness Sophia’s cruise where a large caravan of Woodies heads north past the Lighthouse then loops back past the Boardwalk as we all say goodbye to Santa Cruz.

Our sponsors this year include the City of Santa Cruz, City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, Santa Cruz Wharf Merchants Association, The National Woodie Club, De Mattei Construction, Woodies.com, The Beach Guy, Caltest Analytical Laboratory, Bicycle Trip, Pearson Arrow Surfboards, The Ocean Pacific Lodge, KPIG 107.5 FM, Cruzio Internet, Macdonald Design & Community Printers.

It’s no secret that the Monterey Bay beaches are pure vacation paradise. So to make the most of your fun in the sun, stop by Santa Cruz County’s organic pioneer—Staff of Life Market. Stock up on beverages, barbecue, summer salads and desserts for the most delicious and healthy eating that Santa

Explore Santa Cruz County

51st Anniversary Wharf to Wharf Race

Each year, on the fourth Sunday in July, thousands of runners from across America and around the globe return to Santa Cruz, California for the annual six-mile race to Capitola-by-the-Sea. First run in 1973 by a handful of locals, the Wharf to Wharf Race today enjoys a gourmet reputation in running circles worldwide. Its scenic, seaside setting, perfect weather, and festive beach party atmosphere make it a favorite of casual joggers and elite athletes alike. Limited to 16,000 runners, the race sells out each of its registration windows in a mere few hours. Locals have 3,000 reserved spots; qualifying returning runners get priority. Runners are thrilled just to get in!

The 2023 Wharf to Wharf Race is offered as a live event OR virtual. While many come for sun, fun and fitness reasons, serious athletes run to test their mettle against the best. The race draws an elite, international field. Runners know that a good showing at Wharf to Wharf is a guaranteed boost to their running career. The roll of past champions includes a number of former Olympians.

Widely acclaimed “The best little road race in California,” Wharf to Wharf is the biggest summer event of its kind on the West Coast and a boon to local business, annually infusing more than $8 million into the Santa Cruz County economy. It receives broad media attention, and is highlighted in all running industry polls and publications as one of the top races in America each year.

Sunday, July 23 2023 51st Anniversary

RACE HISTORY

The first Wharf to Wharf Race was run Saturday morning July 28, 1973. It was not the main event of the day, just one of a number of festivities scheduled by the City of Capitola’s Heritage Days Committee organized by Jim Reding and Wayne Fontes to celebrate the dedication of Camp Capitola’s Superintendent’s Office, as a California State Historical Landmark. Wayne Fontes chaired the Race Committee and Soquel High School track coach Ken Thomas served as Race Director. The $200 race budget was underwritten by the City of Capitola.

The race was a pretty casual affair starting at the Santa Cruz Wharf and winding its way through coastal neighborhoods to Capitola Village, some six miles to the south. It did not run without incident. As the race leaders approached the Village, they were inadvertently misdirected onto Capitola's Wharf, rather than to the Esplanade where the finish line was actually located. After some discussion, race officials declared Stanford’s Jack Bellah the winner and duly awarded him a classic plaque proclaiming him Champion of the “WARF TO WARF” Race! These misadventures notwithstanding, the race was considered a grand success by the 273 participants who ran. When they clamored for a rerun the following year, the organizing committee obliged and the race began a life of its own. Through the '70s the race grew, riding the wave of the running boom that swept the nation. Numbers doubled each year into the '80s before peaking at around 3,700 runners in 1983. At that point the leadership took a more proactive role in its promotion and administration. In the fall of that year, race representatives were dispatched to the First Annual Roadrace Management Convention in Washington DC to see what they could learn. The knowledge they brought back led to many changes in the face and future of the race, not the least of which was introducing a commercial sponsorship program, which facilitated the addition of attractive new features and expanded the event's financial horizons. More than 6,000 runners answered the starter’s call in 1984.

The race is on a roll!

The Race is produced and administered by Wharf to Wharf Race Inc., a California nonprofit corporation chartered to promote running as a means to health and fitness. Toward this mission, the Race has, since its inception, contributed more than $6 million to Santa Cruz County youth sports programs in general and the running community in particular.

Congratulations to the 2023 Wharf to Wharf Scholarship recipients!

Wharf to Wharf Race Inc. annually awards four scholarships to distinguished local scholar-athletes who will compete in track and field or cross country at the collegiate level.

The Howard Marcus Scholarship is a $12,000 scholarship awarded to two athletes who excel in both academics and athletics with plans to compete at a 4-year university.

The Otis Chandler Scholarship is a $6,000 scholarship awarded to two athletes who excel in both academics and athletics with plans to compete at a 2- or 4-year college or university.

2023 Howard Marcus Scholarship recipients:

Trent Nosky, Aptos High - Colorado State

Brooke Willoughby, Aptos High - Long Beach State

2023 Otis Chandler Scholarship recipients:

Brody Staley, Soquel High - Chico State

Julia Snelling, Soquel High - Colorado College

This year’s Wharf to Wharf Race, featuring 16,000 runners and more than 50 bands, will be the morning of Sunday, July 23, from Santa Cruz to Capitola. Capitola Village will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. to noon.

Photos:

Brody Staley and Julia Snelling with Mary Maleta-Wright

Brooke Willoughby

Trent Nosky

Wine Pairings

Entertaining at your home this summer? Before you get down to cooking, you’ve got to plan the menu and shop for it. And of course, a fabulous summer dinner must have wine with it. There are so many different types of wines! What kind goes with which types of food? This guide can help you choose the perfect varietal for your meal, so you don’t end up wandering the wine aisles in a state of confusion.

Pinot Noir – The lightest bodied of all the red wine varietals, the graceful, silky mouth feel of this wine and the wonderful earthiness will make you want to follow every bite with a sip. The bright acidity works as a palette cleanser, making it perfect for pairing with rich, creamy pasta dishes, and risottos. Stews, wild mushrooms, and root vegetables also make good pairings. A classic pairing is Beef Bourguignon.

Zinfandel – This fruity, high-alcohol wine is perfect with a holiday meal. Zin is heavier than a Pinot or Beaujolais and will be better suited to a meal with side dishes that are rich and buttery. Many people opt for red meat on their table, usually a beef rib roast. Beef nearly always needs a big red wine to stand up to its richness, and typical holiday preparations tend to make this even more true.

Syrah – Syrah is a big red varietal from the Rhone valley in France. Its red and black fruit flavors make it a classic beef pairing. Any good Syrah will make a great beef pairing at your holiday meal.

Sangiovese – Sometimes also called Brunello, Sangiovese is a varietal that can do great things on your table. This wonderful Italian wine has strong notes of red fruit and hints of leather and tobacco, making it a perfect pairing for beef.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Usually the biggest and boldest red wine, cabs have a high tannin content that makes them the most typical red meat pairing. You should open the bottles an hour or so before serving to let the wine breathe a little.

Chardonnay – This wine carries flavors that range from apple and lemon to papaya and pineapple, and it also shows notes of vanilla when it’s aged with oak. It pairs well with mild and creamy cheeses, including Brie, triple cream and Monterey Jack. White fish and shellfish area good partner with Chardonnay as is, chicken or fish in creamy or butterbased sauces.

Sauvignon Blanc – Typically high in acidity, this full-flavored wine has mineral, grass and grapefruit notes, and has light to moderately high alcohol, depending on the climate. The herbaceous flavors of Sauvignon Blanc complement any dishes with herbs such as dill, oregano, basil, thyme, or rosemary. Sauvignon Blanc is also lovely with salads such as Caesar salad, spinach salad or garden salads.

Rosé – Made from red wine grapes, Rose is produced in a similar manner to red wine, but with reduced time fermenting with grape skins. This reduced skin contact gives rosé a pink hue and lighter flavor than that of red wine. Rosé wine pairs well with Ham, Garden Salads, Sushi, and lightly flavored Fish. With crisp flavors of cherry, raspberry, strawberry, watermelon and citrus, Rosé will keep you invigorated throughout your meal.

Pinot Grigio – Pinot Grigio matches best with fresh flavors as well since it has lots of bright fruity notes. Think light pasta and rice dishes with lots of herbs, fresh green salads and vegetables, chicken, and turkey, and naturally fish and seafood. Anything with a white wine or lemon sauce is excellent with Pinot Grigio as well.

Let’s not forget dessert wines. The secret of serving dessert wine is that it should be sweeter than the dessert and should match the flavor intensity.

If the dessert is delicate or fruity, serve a Muscat, which should be chilled before serving. A heavy chocolate dessert, such as a torte, will do well with a port or Madeira wine. A dessert wine with, after, or in place of dessert can set your dinner apart from just another meal.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

On the Santa CruzWharf

Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery Riva Fish House

In 1981 we started with the idea of having the best fish market on the West Coast. We were on our way but a year or so later one of our regulars asked if we'd put some of our Bay Shrimp in a cup for him, which we did, and he dumped some red sauce on it. Actually, it looked pretty good.

That was the end of something, and the beginning of something else. We named our new restaurant in honor of a little fishing village on the Ligurian Coast of Italy: Riva Trigoso. It had been home for a number of early Italian immigrants who settled in Santa Cruz and worked on the Wharf.

Voted Santa Cruz's Best Restaurant and Best Seafood Restaurant, we offer something for everyone. Try our chowder, acclaimed fried-calamari, fish tacos, broiled oysters, fried zucchini, or killer crab melt featuring juicy tasty crab, seasoned to perfection, served on sourdough bread hand-made and baked to Riva's exacting specifications, with cheese of your choice. Good for body and mind! Wash that down with a craft beer or handmade cocktail. Complete your experience with some of our 12 flavors of delicious, creamy gelato.

Walk far enough out on the Santa Cruz Wharf and the land falls away, replaced by a sense of ocean and sky in all directions. On the wharf’s lower decks, sea lions bask in the sun and bellow contentedly at one another. Seagulls wheel in the sky or hop along the wharf railing, pestering meditative fishermen. To the west, surfers ride the glistening waves of world-famous Steamer Lane like an impossibly beautiful dream. It is out here, near the last bend in the wharf, that you will find Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery, Voted Best Restaurant on the Wharf, Best Outdoor Dining and Best Craft Cocktails in Santa Cruz, Sentinel Readers Choice, 2021.

Entering Makai is like being hit with a warm wave of pure tiki before swimming out into its ocean. It is a place of island melodies and intoxicating aromas. Tiki statues silently grin and howl from every nook and cranny. Plus, the bar rotates, making it arguably the coolest place to get a drink in the whole Monterey Bay region.

If you really need a vacation, but only have a few hours, we invite you to escape to Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery, the fully immersive tiki restaurant and bar on the Santa Cruz Wharf.

Nick Sherman

Trestles

Established in 2021, Trestles Restaurant, takes its name from its location, steps away from the iconic Capitola Trestle. Our philosophy is simple: using proper technique, stay committed to using local, fresh, ingredients to create seasonal fare that people will come back for.

Trestles represents the life long dream of Chef Nick Sherman to open his very own restaurant. Chef Nick is extremely grateful to his countless friends and family who have helped him tirelessly to realize this dream. We sincerely hope you’ll feel the love and hard work that went into these walls and look forward to serving you! Trestles provide a culinary experience for Capitola unlike any other. Utilizing seasonal locally sourced produce. The menu will often be updated to reflect the current availability of our area’s rich assortments of fruits and vegetables along with varied techniques and inspiration with which to approach it.

Private Events

Planning a special event or celebration? Let Trestles be your host with our delicious menu and beautiful space. Private dining buyouts are available for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, and corporate events.

Cavalletta

Both coming from humble beginnings in the restaurant industry, Chefs Nick Sherman and Shawn Ryberg have teamed up to create a restaurant that marries the traditional flavors of Italy with the seasonal offerings of coastal California. From this concept, Cavalletta was born, serving elevated Italian inspired fare in a laid back and inviting environment.

From a young age, Nick Sherman, current owner of Trestles in Capitola, had a passion for the culinary industry. To further his skills, he gained additional experience in Vail, Colorado and then Basalt in Napa Valley before returning home to Santa Cruz in 2020 to fulfill a lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant and bringing his culinary expertise back to the community he grew up in.

Born and raised in Cape Cod, Chef Shawn Ryberg has spent the last 20 years in Hawaii as Head Chef at the iconic Haleiwa Joes. There he oversaw the creation of the restaurants colorful and delicious dishes using the islands fresh, local ingredients. Last June, he moved back to the mainland and teamed up with Nick to bring Cavalletta to life.

At Cavalletta, we believe that seasonally fresh and locally sourced ingredients make all the difference. We are proud to use local farmers, fisherman and butchers in our operations and our chefs can be found foraging mushrooms or fishing in the harbor themselves to give our guests the best of what coastal California has to offer. All of our pastas and sauces are made in house using simple ingredients. Our wood fired pizzas are made using traditional technique, which produces a thin and airy crust with a slightly charred bottom

Each pizza is about 12”in diameter- perfect for feeding 1-3 people.

Parish Publick House

The Parish Pub in Aptos was started in 2017 by four friends who have worked in Santa Cruz restaurants and bars for over 20 years. They decided to start a sister pub to the already established Parish Publick House on the West side of Santa Cruz. Joel, Nate, and Erik, teamed up with their friend Karen to create a service oriented pub with a neighborhood feel. They have an emphasis on warm service, quality fresh food, a comfortable family friendly atmosphere, and the best beer and cocktails they can serve.

The Parish Pub Aptos offers to go food, patio dining and inside seating. The kitchen has been led by Chef Dave Baskerville who has increased the delicious “small bite” offerings to offer quality food and flavors.

Bar manager Melissa Stoll has continued to scout exceptional beers and to make a fun and innovative craft cocktail menu. In addition, the Parish Pub was an early adopter of the Impossible Burger and offers many other vegetarian and healthy options to ensure there is something for everyone.

Buzzo

Indiana Todd grew up in the restaurant business. His dad, Todd, has one of the most beloved restaurants in the area, Carpo’s. As the son of the owner, Indy started working at Carpo’s alongside his father when he was young. At one time or another he has done every job theremaintenance, cooking, front register, a little bit of everything. Indy took time off to graduate from the California Culinary Academy (CCA) and spent 3 years working in some of San Francisco’s finest restaurants before returning to Santa Cruz.

A pizzeria has always been a dream of Todd and Indy’s, so when the building behind Sunnyside Produce became available, they dove right in. Opening a restaurant during the last few years became a challenge but Todd and Indy prevailed and Buzzo (Boot-So) Pizza finally opened a few months ago. The star of the show is the huge domed Italian Mugnaini WoodFired Pizza Oven. It is the first thing you notice when you walk in. Using almond and apple wood, the oven gets to 900 degrees Fahrenheit and delivers delicious pizzas.

Buzzo’s menu is small but mighty. Pizzas run from the all-time favorite Margarita Pizza to creative pies, including Potato, Garlic, and Cauliflower. The appetizer menu is a creative array of salads, vegetables, house made pancetta, and chicken liver mousse. While you eat you can enjoy a variety of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks. Don’t forget to enjoy your dessert, a brownie with house made gelato, and of course Gelato sans the brownie. It’s all good!

2510 South Main, Soquel (one door up from Carpo’s behind Sunnyside) Phone: 831.316.7336. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 5-9pm. Weekends 12-4pm Take out only. buzzopizzeria@gmail.com

/BOOT-SO/

Wood fired pizza in sunny Soquel Casual atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating.

Dine in / To-go / Pick-up

Indoor and Patio Dining

Located in Soquel next to Beer30 & Sunnyside Produce

Large/medium parties can be accommodated on patio only. Reservations for large parties only.

APPETIZERS:

CITRUS AND GARLIC

MARINATED OLIVES

ARUGULA SALAD

CAESAR SALAD

MEATBALLS

CRISPY CAULIFLOWER WITH

LEMON GARLIC AIOLI

PANCETTA & FENNEL

BUTTER CROSTINI

CHICKEN LIVER WITH APRICOT JAM

PIZZA:

MARGARITA

PEPPERONI SAUSAGE

POTATO MUSHROOM

CAULIFLOWER

GREEN GARLIC

HOURS: Tuesday – Sunday 5:00pm-9:00 pm Dine in.

2510 S MAIN ST. SOQUEL, CA 95073 • BUZZOPIZZERIA@GMAIL.COM

831.316.7336

The Hideout

The Hideout Restaurant opened its doors in 2015 and has since become a community favorite! Owners Pete and Lisa Vomvolakis and Austin and Rachel Welch, with the help of family and friends, transformed an original 1930’s Aptos home into a beautiful new restaurant and bar. Just four years after opening, The Hideout was destroyed by a fire in 2019. With overwhelming community love and support, The Hideout was rebuilt into the beautiful restaurant it is today.

Pete and Austin have both worked in the local restaurant industry for years and are well known in the community. With the help of locally renowned chefs, Antonio Gomez and Serafin Pantoja, The Hideout prides itself on creating classic American comfort foods: delicious appetizers and small plates to share, soups, large salads, sandwiches, burgers, seafood, pasta, and other hearty entrees – something for everyone!

The Hideout is a family friendly restaurant where you can sit at the 700 year old Redwood bar and catch a game on one of the seven large screen TV’s, enjoy the outside atmosphere under a heated patio, cozy up to the fireplace in the main dining room or host a large party in our semi private Redwood Room. Pete, Austin and staff take pride in creating a welcoming atmosphere, giving their customers friendly and attentive service, and offering quality food and drinks at a fair price. After visiting The Hideout you definitely won’t go away hungry!

Summer Fruit Tart

Crust:

1 1/3 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

One cube butter, plus two tablespoons from another (10 tbs)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (can use almond if preferred)

*You can use store bought if you don’t want to make your own

Filling:

1/2 c. heavy cream

12 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 tsp. almond or vanilla extract

Topping:

1 c. halved strawberries

1 c. blackberries

1 c. raspberries

4 Kiwis or Mandarin Oranges

1/3 c. blueberries

1/4 c. apricot jam

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add melted butter and extract and stir until dough forms. Press mixture into a 10” tart pan with a removable bottom, pressing dough all the way up the sides and until dough is smooth.

Prick all over with a fork and bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely.

In a medium bowl using a hand mixer beat heavy cream until stiff peaks form. In a different bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, extract, and beat until no lumps remain. Fold in whipped cream.

Spread filling over cooled crust and arrange fresh fruit on top.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat together preserves and 2 teaspoons water until warmed, 30 seconds. Brush over tart and refrigerate until well chilled, 2 hours.

If you’d rather make mini tarts you can double the dough. No need to double the filling and spread.