Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Two Thousand Dolphins
Santa Cruz County · July 14, 2026
Did a neighbor send you here? Join the list at www.lowtide.media
Good morning friends.
There are almost 4,000 of you reading this now, most of you new in just the last few weeks, and we're thankful for every one. To celebrate, we're planning a giveaway when we cross 5,000 readers. Details soon; sharing your referral link at the bottom is the fastest way to get us there, and it still earns you a Verve coffee at seven friends.
Two of our favorite things in this edition came straight from readers: Saturday's street fair on the Westside and Sunday's art reception up on Summit. Keep them coming.
CONDITIONS · TUESDAY, JULY 14
|
|
Hot one today: 87 in town before the marine layer claws its way back Friday night and the weekend settles into the low 70s with morning fog. This month's extreme tides are still running; the coastal flood advisory holds through early Wednesday, with the highest water around 10:40 tonight, so expect wet pavement in the usual low spots around the harbor. In better water news, the surf is actually good: Steamer Lane is the call at 3 to 4, Pleasure Point a fun 2 to 3, and the buoy picked up a long-period south pulse this afternoon. Water is 61, still a full 3/2.
TIDEPOOL WINDOW Friday, July 17: a -0.8 ft low at 7:26 AM. Wednesday and Thursday go lower still (-1.6 and -1.3) but bottom out before 7 AM, so Friday is the civilized one. Walk the reefs at Natural Bridges and bring shoes that can get wet.
Friday morning's 9 AM boat out of the harbor logged 2,000 long-beaked common dolphins. Not a typo. Two thousand, plus five humpbacks working the same stretch of the bay. Saturday's all-day boat followed it up with 31 humpbacks and another 350 dolphins, and earlier in the week a couple of mola mola drifted past like lost dinner plates.
Photos are on Facebook. If you've been waiting for a week to book the boat, this is the one.
Apricots and blueberries are the move at the stands this week, with the first figs sneaking in and sweet corn finally showing up.
One honest note: Gizdich Ranch has closed its u-pick berries for the year, so don't drive out to Peckham Road expecting olallieberries. The pie shop is still open daily 9 to 5, which softens the blow. Crystal Bay Farm in Watsonville still runs u-pick strawberries Wednesdays and Sundays, noon to 5, $8 a pound plus $2 to get in. And the lavender at Noble Harvest Farm in Aptos only runs weekends through July 26, so this weekend or next is it.
Homeless Garden Project is one vote from owning its farm
The city zoning administrator votes Wednesday on splitting the 4-acre Natural Bridges Farm off a larger Shaffer Road parcel, which would let the nonprofit buy the land it has leased since 1998. A $1 million Coastal Conservancy grant covers about two-thirds of the price. If you bought a Hop N' Barley ticket last weekend, this is where that money points.
UCSC will guarantee two years of housing
New undergrads arriving this fall get a two-year housing guarantee, up from one. The math behind it: 350 new beds at the Delaware Apartments this fall, a Kresge renovation growing from 395 beds to 993, and more coming through 2029. Every student housed on campus is one fewer bidding up a room in Seabright.
Watsonville's 14U baseball All-Stars went on a run
The 14U squad beat two-time defending champ Santa Cruz 8 to 1 at Franich Park to take the PONY baseball regional title, then opened the Super Regional in Modesto by erasing a 5-0 deficit in the sixth to win 6 to 5. Dante Ponce went 4-for-4 in the comeback. The bracket runs toward the PONY World Series in Pennsylvania; either way, tip your cap to Watsonville.
The city's e-bike rebate got bigger
The GO BIKE! rebate relaunched July 1 at $500 off an e-bike, or $1,000 if you income-qualify, up from $400 and $800. The catch: it is for people who work in the Downtown Parking District, and the pot is limited, so apply before the October 15 deadline if that is you. Curious but not sold? Free e-bike test rides on July 21, 11:30 to 2:30, in Lot 16 next to the Downtown Library.
For the visual folks, we put l.t.l. on a map. View Mo's Map to see what's happening near you, plus the markets and the weekend's sales.
Garage sales get refreshed every Friday. This Saturday already has a good one pinned: a 9 AM sale on Jocelyn Ct in Carbonera with designer clothes and home goods, submitted by a reader. Know of another? Submit it here.
Road closures, current and upcoming, plus happenings, music, and the spots we send people to, all in one place:
★ = family-friendly
TUESDAY, JULY 14
★ World Cup Semifinal Watch Party · 12 PM · Aloha Terrace, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St · Free
The Boardwalk puts the semifinal on a big LED screen over the sand. Runs again Wednesday, same time, and the final gets its own party Sunday (see the Weekend Pick).
Much Ado About Nothing · 8 PM · Audrey Stanley Grove, DeLaveaga Park · $25 to $98
Santa Cruz Shakespeare in the redwood grove, sharp comedy under the trees. Bring layers; the grove gets cold the second the sun drops.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
★ Capitola Twilight Concerts: Mercy & The Heartbeats · 6 PM · Esplanade Park, Capitola Village · Free
Dance covers on the water. Bring a low chair, grab dinner in the Village, park up the hill and walk down.
Locals Night at Mane Kitchen & Cocktails · from 5 PM · 1222 Pacific Ave, Downtown · 15% off with a Santa Cruz ID
The new spot in the old Betty's Eat Inn space runs a locals night every Wednesday, and the owner emailed us the deal herself: Santa Cruz ID gets 15% off, and yes, she'll honor Aptos. Big of her.
Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore · doors 7 PM · Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way · $30 adv
Two songwriting lifers doing an almost-acoustic duo set. If you know "Fourth of July" or "Dallas," you already have your ticket. Have a listen: Dave Alvin ↗ and Jimmie Dale Gilmore ↗.
THURSDAY, JULY 16
★ Crow's Nest Beach BBQ: Fishhook · 5:30 PM · Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, Twin Lakes · Free
Band on the sand, BBQ smoke in the air. Parking is a scrap, so take the free water taxi, it runs 5 to 9 PM.
Dan Tyminski Band · 7 PM · Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave · $55
The voice of "Man of Constant Sorrow" from O Brother, and the vocal on Avicii's "Hey Brother," playing bluegrass at the Rio. That range in one career deserves a Thursday. Have a listen ↗
★ Evenings on the Colonnade: Flaco El Jandro · 8:30 PM · Colonnade Stage, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk · Free
Free set on the Boardwalk after the rides slow down.
FRIDAY, JULY 17
★ Midtown Fridays: Ancestree · 5–8:30 PM · 1111 Soquel Ave, Midtown · Free
Block party rolls on with Ancestree, Santa Cruz roots reggae, on the flatbed. Food trucks in the lot. Have a listen ↗
★ Free Movies on the Beach: Back to the Future · 9 PM · Main Beach at the Boardwalk · Free
Blankets on the sand, 88 miles per hour. The kids will make it to the DeLorean before they crash.
SATURDAY, JULY 18
★ Almar Street Fair · 12–6 PM · Hwy 17 Studios, 831 Almar Ave, Westside · Free
Over 100 makers and food vendors take over the block at the film studio, with the World Cup on the big screen while you browse.
Bargetto 37th Annual Art & Wine Festival · 11 AM–5 PM, also Sunday · Bargetto Winery, 3535 N Main St, Soquel · Free entry
Thirty-plus local artists along Soquel Creek, live music from 11:30, tasting with the festival glass. Thirty-seven years in, they have the formula down.
★ Brookdale Lodge Classic Car Show · 9 AM–5 PM · 11570 Hwy 9, Brookdale · Free
Chrome under the redwoods at the strangest, most storied lodge in the valley. Worth the drive up 9 on its own.
Babe Rainbow · 8 PM · Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave · $33.60
Australian psych-rock that sounds like a surf trip in 1971. On brand for this town. Have a listen ↗
SUNDAY, JULY 19
★ World Cup Final Beach Watch Party · 12 PM · Aloha Terrace, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk · Free
The final, on the beach. Full rundown in the Weekend Pick below.
Closing Reception: Suzy Rad · 2–5 PM · Burrell School Vineyards, 24060 Summit Rd · Free entry, tasting $25–35
A closing reception to meet the local artist, with Bird in the Hand playing the tasting room; her work hangs through the end of the month.
MONDAY, JULY 20
Pink Ladies of the Sonnets · 7 PM · Audrey Stanley Grove, DeLaveaga Park · $25
Santa Cruz Shakespeare's Monday Night Revels: the Bay Area's best drag queens and kings take on the sonnets. One performance only.
LOOKING AHEAD
Wharf to Wharf is Sunday, July 26, 8 AM. The 2026 course starts at 30th Avenue and Portola Drive on the Eastside this year, not the Santa Cruz Wharf, before finishing in Capitola. If you're not running, the Opal Cliffs stretch is still the best free concert in town. Spark in the Dark brings David J of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets to the Catalyst Atrium for an all-vinyl set on Friday, July 24, around $41. And Tacos & Tapas, El Pájaro CDC's fundraiser with 20-plus food vendors, hits Watsonville Thursday, July 23, $80, for a good cause.
Woody's at Watsonville Airport · 100 Aviation Way, Watsonville
Chef Tim Wood, the guy behind Woody's at the Monterey airport, opened his newest one in June, taking over the space at the Watsonville airport where Ella's used to be, and keeping alive the airport's 40-year streak of having a real restaurant next to the runway. The menu is unapologetic comfort: sand dabs, ranch burgers, the house calamari steak. There's a Captain America motorcycle helmet on the wall signed by Peter Fonda, and you can watch Cessnas practice touch-and-gos while you eat. Lunch 10:30 to 2:30, dinner 4:30 to 9, closed Tuesdays, which means you can't go today. Consider that a Wednesday plan.
World Cup Final on the Beach · Sunday, July 19
The World Cup ends Sunday, and the Boardwalk is throwing the county's best free viewing party: a giant LED screen on the Aloha Terrace at 400 Beach St, noon to 3, with the ocean behind you and the match in front. First come, first seated, no outside alcohol, and the semifinal parties Tuesday and Wednesday are your dress rehearsal.
Make a weekend of it: the Almar Street Fair on Saturday has its own big screen running with 100-plus vendors around it, so you can watch soccer two days straight and call it supporting local makers.
The markets and standing plans that run every week.
Tuesday: Felton Farmers Market · 1:30 to 5:30 PM · 120 Russell Ave, Felton
Wednesday: Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers Market · 12:30 to 5 PM · Cedar and Church, Downtown
Friday: Watsonville Farmers Market · 2 to 9 PM · Peck and Union, Downtown Watsonville
Friday and Saturday: Live Band at Abbott Square · 7 to 10 PM · 725 Front St, Downtown · Free
Saturday: Westside Farmers Market · 9 AM to 1 PM · Mission St Ext and Western Dr
Saturday: Aptos Farmers Market · 8 AM to Noon · Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Dr
Saturday: Scotts Valley Farmers Market · 8 AM to Noon · Graham Plaza, 219 Mount Hermon Rd
Sunday: Live Oak Farmers Market · 9 AM to 1 PM · 15th and East Cliff Dr
Sunday: Humble Sea Brewing · 11 AM to 9 PM · 820 Swift St, Westside · Free entry
Fog beer and fish and chips in the beer garden. Dog and kid friendly, Saturdays too.
If you know someone who would like this, send them your referral link below. Refer 7 friends and we will buy you a coffee at Verve.
If something in here sounds good, go. Tell a neighbor. And if you heard about something we should cover, hit reply or send it here.
See you next Tuesday. 🌊
Low Tide Local