The California Honeydrops head to Santa Cruz, and so should you

Last week we had an additional family member for a few hours. Oliver, a fuzzy, friendly dog, slept on our carpet next to our Dutsi Bap until his mama returned; she was at the Fox Theater watching the California Honeydrops open for Cake.

One of the mix CDs I slipped into my cherished first car included Cake’s The Distance with that memorable beginning beat, urging me to start my engine and hit the road. They’re still filling 2,800 seat theaters like the historic Fox, sharing the stage with the next generation of nonconformist music makers. The California Honeydrops, with their feel-good blues, are a definitive example.

The Honey Drops began with two Oberlin grads playing their own mix of blues, jug band, and R&B in the BART stations of the East Bay. Four years later they’ve grown to a five-person ensemble and fleshed out their sound to echo of New Orleans. There’s clear inspiration from the wide array of musical experiences of the band members, perhaps the most obvious being Polish band leader Lech Wierzynski’s tutelage from Ray Charles’ trumpeter Marcus Belgrave while he was in college.

As this storied group gains traction with a wider audience their tour route expands geographically. That means they’ll be in search of good cheap eats, lovely vistas, worthwhile watering holes and other necessities of traveling bands. In anticipation of their upcoming show in Santa Cruz, CA on the 11^th – and this is by no means their most expansive reach, they’ve performed across the country – I thought I’d offer some recommendations for them, and for anyone heading out to Santa Cruz for their performance.

It all goes down at Moe’s Alley this Friday, November 11^th. In store, some outstanding sounds. A few favorites of mine: Chewing on your Bubblegum (not sure of the exact name), Brokedown, Miss Louise, and I Found a Love. To support a truly creative, homegrown band donate to their Kickstarter campaign and help them raise funds to record their next album. Their current CD, Spreadin’ Honey, makes a sweet, über-local holiday gift, hint, hint. If you can’t make this show, find their full calendar here.

Here’s my picks for Santa Cruz-area fun.

Cheap Eats with a community feel for before and after the show:

Good coffee, cheap snacks, reliable Internet connection, and undergrad memories are to be had at Stevenson Coffee House.

Paula’s is the local’s breakfast spot. Roberto’s blueberry pancakes are a must, seriously. (no web: 3500 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, 831-464-0741)

The Buttery is the place for a piece of cake and also a dynamo breakfast. Super tasty without a huge price tag.

Bettty’s Burgers are juicy, period. They’re made with “triple-free” beef – no hormones, antibiotics, free-range, and the basic burger is just $4.95, not $14…

Late night meanderings:

Don’t drive with a buzz. Instead hire Hero Designated Drivers (known locally as HDD) to get you and your car home or hotel-bound in one piece. They’re trustworthy, fun-making transporters.

Surf City Billiards Café is the spot for late night brews and bar games. After a pint of local Seabreeze or Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing beer, I’m that much better at shuffle board. I’ll still probably suck at billiards, but that doesn’t make pool any less fun.

Daytime inspirations:

Positive Loitering events pop up in Santa Cruz regularly – it’s a communal and peaceful way to get your local, political voice heard, even if you’re just visiting.

Felix Culpa Gallery is colorful culture, complete with a sculpture garden. It’s been selected as a hometown favorite for years running from a slew of editors and publications, and for good reason. Free to visit and admire.

Main Beach is what Santa Cruz is known for – it’s central to most of these other haunts, and shouldn’t be skipped even if it is just to take off your shoes and let your toes feel the sand after the show at Moe’s Alley.

Bicycle Trip has all the local bi-ped know-how, plus you can rent demo bikes – the latest styles from reputable manufacturers – to try before you buy.

Santa Cruz represents with some stellar indie bookshops: Capitola Book Café and Bookshop Santa Cruz.

Beautiful places along the way:

Surf City Vintners is a wine-making collective with regular wine-tasting events, often on the cheap, at various small lot wineries around the county. Some are organic, and even biodynamic. Cheers!

Free Wheelin’ Farm is one of my very favorite farms to visit. And I visit a lot of farms. So just go if you’re in the neighborhood, K?

Bonnie Doon Ecological Preserve – The name Bonny Doon conjures wine for some, lavender for others, but this region of Santa Cruz County is home to an awe-inspiring wildlife and botanical reserve. The care that’s put into the land here is worth a gander. I like to mix nature and music and good food on any road trip, especially to a lush and lovely place like Santa Cruz.

Pacific Crest Apiaries is the place to bee… hardy har har… But seriously, this long standing honey outpost is a sweet stop just south in La Selva Beach.

If you’re into cold weather camping you’ll have New Brighton State Beach campgrounds all to yourself. Located on the cliffs above Monterey Bay, this is the most beautiful spot to pitch a tent, just south of Santa Cruz.

Wilder Ranch State Park has carefully restored acres of coastal wetland habitat and the migratory birds are back in droves. There’s also historical tours and magical botanic bounty to be found.

Renee’s Garden Seeds is centered in Felton, not far from Santa Cruz. The test gardens are marvelous, just call ahead to plan a visit.

Love Apple Farms is also on the way into town – it is a must-see for produce lovers, and the classes are top notch if you’ve got time for a longer stop over.