Santa Cruz Restaurant Week returns for 13th year
Good Times has announced the 2023 Santa Cruz Restaurant Week—the tastiest week of the year. Over the past decade, the community’s response to Santa Cruz Restaurant Week has grown considerably, and the event has continued to gain enthusiasm and momentum.
Santa Cruz Restaurant Week spans eight nights from Oct. 18-25 and is modeled after popular Restaurant Weeks that happen across the nation.
The concept is simple: Restaurants throughout Santa Cruz County offer a three-course, fixed-price dinner menu, including three options each for appetizer, entrée and dessert. Each restaurant will promote one price point, and regular menus are also available.
This event shines a spotlight on the local food culture in Santa Cruz County while restaurateurs and chefs showcase their individuality and creative talents. This event is an opportunity for the restaurant community to promote as a group, for diners to try a new restaurant for the first time, or for guests to try new dishes at a favorite restaurant.
A list of participating restaurants and their featured menus can be found at santacruzrestaurantweek.com.
Santa Cruz Public Libraries director announces retirement
Santa Cruz Public Libraries Director Yolande Wilburn has announced her retirement, with her last day in the office being Oct. 19. Wilburn will join Evanston Public Library in Illinois, getting closer to family and embarking on a new chapter in her library career.
During her time with Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Wilburn achieved remarkable successes, including the seamless Integrated Library System migration, many library upgrades and reopenings, and consistently outstanding programming, services and collections.
“Serving as the Director of this incredible team has been both an honor and a privilege. Though farewells are never easy, I hold unwavering confidence that this organization will continue to flourish under new leadership, and I eagerly anticipate witnessing the remarkable achievements that lie ahead,” Wilburn said.
Eric Howard, assistant director of Santa Cruz Public Libraries since 2019, will step in as interim director while a national recruitment effort is conducted to fill the vacancy.
“Eric Howard has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to our organization. His appointment as interim director ensures a smooth transition and the continuation of our mission to serve our community,” Wilburn said.
Santa Cruz Black plans Fall Celebration
Santa Cruz Black (SCB) has announced that its inaugural benefit, A Fall Celebration for Black Equity and Empowerment, will take place Oct. 22 from 3-6pm at Highlands County Park in Ben Lomond.
“We are the community, and you are the community. In order to actualize our vision, we need to do this together. Our success is representative of this community. We are working to raise visibility of the Black community, which is often overlooked and forgotten because of our smaller numbers, but our work is for everyone in Santa Cruz County. A rising tide raises everyone. We invite you to join us on Oct. 22 and beyond,” said Cheryl Williams, executive director and co-founder of Santa Cruz Black.
Join SCB for community, food and drinks, entertainment, speakers, a silent auction and a peek at its vision for 2024 and beyond. All funds raised from this event will go directly to support community programming at Santa Cruz Black, including its commitment to closing the racial wealth gap, developing affordable housing opportunities, empowering youth working with local educators to uncover the histories of Black Santa Cruz, and creating community events for Black residents in Santa Cruz County.
Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/santacruzblack2023. Those unable to attend are encouraged to support Santa Cruz Black by donating at bit.ly/supportsantacruzblack.
