This Week on the Central Coast…
Local artists show their stuff in Monterey, an Octopus Garden in the Monterey Bay, and Watsonville is getting a new park.
Good morning everyone!
Did you all get to check out some of the festivals and events around town? Whether it was West End, Turkish Festival, a rib cook-off, or a new art exhibition, there is so much to see right now! And there is only more to come as we get ready for the fair and the Jazz Festival. Let’s take advantage of the sunny weather while it’s still around!
Monterey
Pop and Hiss: A Music Venue for PG
Pacific Grove local Michaela Kuenster wants to open a record store with an interesting hook: it will also serve as an all-ages live music venue. The store would feature a bar, but Kuenster emphasized that it would not be a focus. “The vibe will be like a BBQ at your favorite uncle’s house”, she said.
Pop and Hiss (named for the sounds a record makes) would be a space for everyone, including young musicians who “can get their start alongside seasoned professionals”.
This sounds like such a fun addition to PG, a city that I consider one of the most community-focused places in the county. It only makes sense that there would be a space for everyone to hang out and enjoy each other’s talents. And I’m not alone.
The idea of the venue seemed to be overwhelmingly supported by the community, who showed up en masse to the council meeting where it was discussed. A few voices of opposition were concerned about the level of noise. However, Kuenster reassured everyone that she would make sure she followed noise laws and would be respectful of the locals.
If all goes well, we’ll have a new third place in PG to all hang out and listen to some up and coming talent.
Mark Sarvas is a local author who lives in Pacific Grove with his partner. He currently has two books published, has submitted a third, and is working on a fourth. The couple have so many books - around 3,500! - they converted their garage into a library.
His first novel was published in 2008, titled “Harry, Revised”. The story follows a man who lost his wife. He tries to get his life back together, but does so in all the wrong ways, somewhat comically. “Harry, Revised” has been published in several countries. “Sarvas considers ‘Harry, Revised’ a crazy, weird book, bolstered by what he calls a lot of comic energy.” He says he took inspiration from his own life to create the characters and situations in the novel.
His second novel was published in 2018, titled “Memento Park”. In this novel, a young man sets out on a journey (both physical and emotional) to find a family heirloom that was stolen during World War II. To do so, he must mend relationships and connect his family history. “Memento Park” won a 2019 American Book Award and the 2019 American Jewish Library Association fiction Award. Sarvas explained that he likes to give special attention to his titles and was having trouble naming this one. Then, a friend pointed out that the story obviously came from a place called Memento Park and should be the title. That was all it took.
You can find his books on Amazon.
“Central Coast Allure” at the Stanton Center
Last Thursday marked the opening of a new photography exhibit at the Stanton Center called “Central Coast Allure”. Monica Vigna, the creative mind behind the pictures, greeted guests at the free reception, complemented by the presence of Big Sur Vineyards’ wines and snacks.
The gallery featured studies on places very familiar to us. However, through Vigna’s eye, we’re able to experience Big Sur and Carmel River State Beach in a new way. The exhibition is meant to be thought provoking and give viewers a deeper sense of appreciation for the amazing area that the Central Coast is. Her work “captures the stunning landscapes, charming coastal scenes, and captivating moments that define the unique allure of the region.”
Vigna’s love for photography is founded in nature. She’s always loved backpacking through the central coast of California. While on these adventures, she began documenting the intricate patterns of nature and the natural beauty of the land around her. With encouragement from friends and family, she turned her talent into a business, putting on exhibits and selling her pictures as 5x5 cards on her Etsy shop. They’re more than worth the $6 price tag.
If you missed the reception, no worries! The exhibit will be shown through October 31 at the Stanton Center in Custom House Plaza. Admission is free.
A new study published in Science Advances* , has found that octopuses mate and nest at the base of Davidson Seamount in the Monterey Bay. Davidson Seamount is an extinct underwater volcano and is the perfect temperature for incubation at fifty one degrees. Researchers have named the area Octopus Garden and is one of only a handful of known nurseries. Researchers counted 6,000 octopuses in the Garden, but estimate there could be as many as 20k in the area. The eggs of the Pearl Octopus that migrate there typically take up to eight years to hatch. However, with the Garden’s perfect conditions, their eggs can take less than two.
The discovery was made thanks to advances in technology that allowed them to control a car-sized remotely operated vehicle (named Doc Rickets) two miles underwater from the ship at the surface. The Garden is protected as part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary after being recognized as the important breeding and resting spot for thousands of octopi.
Santa Cruz
Funding Approved for a New Park in Watsonville
Last week, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a 38.5-acre park on Whiting Road next to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds with plans to develop a new county park. The county is excited for the new development. It will be the first new county park in almost 20 years. The Parks Director said “Once completed, this will be an oasis that draws residents from across Santa Cruz County, and we look forward to working with the community and partners such as County Parks Friends to bring this facility to life.”
The park is estimated to be done in about fifteen to eighteen months, which would be late 2024 or early 2025. Once finished, the park “will include athletic fields, a nature trail, a demonstration farm and other features.”