This Week on the Central Coast…
A new brewery, a new festival, a new musical, and a new world record.
Monterey
The SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Center announced they had successfully saved six baby snowy plovers. The center had been monitoring the cliff where the shorebird’s nest was located and determined it was eroding and would soon collapse. They rescued the eggs and brought them back to the center to be hatched.
The birds can be found near the shore, digging up crabs, clams, and insects. “The plover is listed as threatened under provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act, which indicates the need for coastal dune and beach restoration and protection along with the valuable work our partners at SPCA Monterey County are doing to support this species.”
Pacific Grove’s first-ever brewing company, Hops & Fog, opened on Lighthouse Avenue this week. Owners Mike Durrant and Ximena Waissbluth are longtime residents of PG and made sure to include the city’s influence in their brewery. The decor features murals by local artists, vintage photos of Lovers Point and Lighthouse Avenue, and found sea glass.
The menu includes a range of beers, from light lagers to hoppy IPAs, with local-minded names like “The Saucy Otter” and “Good Old Haze”. For food, Hops & Fog offers house-made pizzas and sandwiches, crafted to pair with the beers they’re offering. Smaller bites include smoked almonds, spicy candied pecans, and caprese skewers.
Hops & Fog will hold its official grand opening over Labor Day weekend when they will premier their own brews. Until then, they will be serving up guest beers from Hidden Hills Brewing and Blending, Other Brother Beer Company, and Alvarado Street Brewing.
World’s Away: A New Festival in Monterey
Worlds Away is a new electronic music festival coming to Monterey in October. The lineup will feature popular artists, such as The Chainsmokers, Tiesto, Lauv, R3hab, Sam Feldt, Lost Kings, and Ayokay. The festival will feature technical innovations such as thematic landscapes, light shows, and art installations.
Organizers of Worlds Away acknowledged Monterey’s past influence on the music and festival scene with the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. “Now, we honor that legacy by introducing Worlds Away, a celebration that blends the timeless spirit of 1967 with the futuristic pulse of tomorrow.”
The festival is set for October 12 of this year. Tickets range from $200 for general admission to around $1,700 for boxed suites. Student and military discounts are available.
Santa Cruz
“Heathers: The Musical” at London Nelson Community Center
Renegade Theater is producing “Heathers: The Musical” at the London Nelson Community Center. The musical follows a high school senior named Veronica Sawyer who becomes part of the popular group known as The Heathers. She realizes the toxic nature of the group and things take a dark turn when she accidentally poisons their leader. The musical tackles these dark themes with comedic moments and a high-energy, edgy soundtrack.
Renegade Theater Troupe follows this same theme. They value a collaborative approach to creating theater in a way that is both thought-provoking and inspiring. Renegade prioritized inclusivity, diversity, and the mental health of their cast, crew, and staff.
The next shows will be August 22 through 24 with performances starting at 7pm. Tickets cost $25 or $20 for students and seniors.
Local Man Breaks the “Bike Surfing” World Record
Bike surfing is a stunt where a rider stands on top of a moving bicycle, one foot on the set. And now, a 19 year old from Santa Cruz named Brock Johnson has broken the world record when he bike-surfed for 200 meters, shattering the previous record of 80 meters.
Johnson spoke about his contact with Guinness: “I got in touch with the Guinness Book of World Records and they said it was only 80 meters. Most of the time when I go on a bike ride, I will do the bicycle surf stunt and I’ll surpass 80 meters just about every time"
You can catch Johnson and his bike crew, The Santa Cruz Maniacs, practicing in public areas around the city, such as the Santa Cruz High School track.