This Week on the Central Coast…
New art venues in Monterey, STEM presentations in Salinas, and annual events in Santa Cruz.
Monterey
Wendi Kirby Music is a new concert venue located in Monterey. Wendi Kirby has been putting on occasional concerts since November of last year, but its official opening night was last Saturday. Wendi describes herself as an “indie classical, new age, or contemporary jazz” artist. But the space is not just for her. She wants to honor all local musicians in the area and give them a space to promote themselves.
Like most art spaces in the area, the venue is rather hidden away. The Paseo Zavala building houses it all, including a grand piano and enough space to fit two floors of seating. The venue also serves as a recording studio and space to give music classes.
The next concert will be on April 12, starting at 7pm, featuring The Dave Holodiloff Band. Find more information at Wendi Kirby’s website.
The Future of Sand City’s Art Park
Sand City’s proposed Art Park is at a standstill as the city decides how it wants to proceed with the project. The current idea is to turn “a block of land almost entirely owned by the city, and which Sand City officials hope will not only help inject energy into the West End district, but also add much-needed housing to the region” in an Art Park and beyond.
The idea is to keep about sixty percent of the Art Park as it is while transforming the other part into a live/work space for artists. The project includes eight extremely-low income units and eight low-income units. The ground floor is intended for mixed-use, where it could be transformed into an art gallery or commercial space.
For now, the project remains a dream as the council decides its future.
Salinas
Hartnell’s STEM Expo Showing Off AI
Hartnell’s STEM Expo will be held next Wednesday from 1 to 5pm. Attendees will be treated to a day of artificial intelligence as experts share the challenges and opportunities of AI. Following the panels, guests will be able to engage directly with the speakers during a Q&A session.
Organizers hope the event will not only serve as an introduction to the world of AI, but also as inspiration to students. “Whether you’re a student looking to chart your career path, a professional seeking to expand your horizons, or simply an AI enthusiast eager to learn more about this fascinating field, the STEM Expo offers something for everyone.”
If you would like to attend the event, you can do so here. The event is free!
Santa Cruz
Annual Sand Crab Classic Fishing Tournament
The 19th annual Sand Crab Classic Surf Perch Tournament was held last Saturday across the Monterey Bay. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project. Despite the name, none of the winning fish were caught by use of sand crabs.
Dave Ressa of Los Gatos repeated as champion of the Senior Men’s Barred Surf Perch Division with his 15-inch 2.08-pound fish. Nayeli Cruz of San Jose took the women’s title with her 14.5 inch barred surf perch. Camille Cortazzo and her sister Samara took first and second place respectively for the Senior Women’s Division, both with 12.5 inch perch.
Pioneer Days to Modern Ways: This Year’s Fair
Pioneer Days to Modern Ways is this year’s theme for the Santa Cruz County Fair. The fair already showcases the pioneer days in its Agricultural History Project and Museum. There will surely be presentations showcasing how technology has helped modernize the industry as well. To further emphasize the modern ways theme, the fair will feature its first-ever drone show every night.
The theme was chosen from more than eight-five submissions and was proposed by Kyle Middleton, who happens to be the co-superintendent of the livestock program. She chose to donate her prize package to the Boys & Girls Club of Scotts Valley.