This week on the central coast…
Art programs, “Free to Learn” at the Aquarium, and a cookie recipe!
Salinas
New art programs hope to grow into a space for teens
Cepanoa Arts is a studio that is currently teaching ukulele and illustration. Ukulele is a great starting point for kids, due to its size, and students can easily move on to guitar if they want. In illustration, kids start with pencil and paper and then move on to iPads to create digital art, which they can display on social media. The program director, Carlos Cortez, says there will be opportunities for much more in the future, such as poetry and basket-making.
Cortez emphasized that “they don’t have to be interested in ukulele or illustration – the reason might be as simple as having nothing better to do”. He envisions the classes as being a place where kids can form new friendships and hang out.
Classes are Tuesdays-Thursdays, from 4:30-6:30pm. Tuesdays are ukulele days, Wednesdays are open studios, and Thursdays are illustration.
Artists Ink Creative Studio
1 Midtown Lane, Salinas
297-2656, artistsink.org
Contact organizers for new dates.
Monterey
The aquarium is restarting the “Free to Learn” program
The aquarium says the program offers complimentary group admission to nonprofits and other special organizations that serve low-income families. The aquarium said “Bringing Free to Learn back was a big priority for us. The Aquarium is committed to providing affordable access programs for people who could not otherwise afford to pay the cost of admission.”
Applications are being accepted through May of next year. All Free to Learn partners must attend a training webinar and set up an online account to reserve their tickets. All of that information can be found on the Aquarium’s website.
Santa Cruz
Pacific Cookie Company shares their recipe
Stacy Gleason, daughter of the founder, was interviewed by California Live. She offered a behind-the-scenes look at the local cookie company and shared their fan-favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe:
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES RECIPE
1 CUP UNSALTED BUTTER (room temperature)
1 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR
1 CUP LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
2 teaspoon VANILLA EXTRACT
2 LARGE EGGS
2 ½ CUP UNBLEACHED ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
1 teaspoon BAKING SODA
2 teaspoon SEA SALT
2 CUPS SEMI SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Cream together butter and sugars until fluffy
Add vanilla extract and eggs until just mixed
Add flour, baking soda, sea salt until just mixed
Add chocolate chips until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
Bake for 9-11 minutes just until the tops begin to crack a bit
Let sit on baking sheet for at least 5 minutes to continue to bake and set up
Enjoy!