Events Calendar

This coffeehouse is a little out of the way for most of us, but a great venue. The building is fairly large with a redwood growing through it, the wifi is free without restriction, and afternoons and Sundays it's a lot quieter. They close at 6pm. Located two blocks after Big Basin Way right next to the creek.

Rainbow's End
13266 Highway 9 (at Middleton)
Boulder Creek

Santa Cruz Metro (pdf only, html incorrect)
To Boulder Creek
From Boulder Creek

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

Time for a breather from the first three days. Some of us are on a roll but some of us have already run into a brick wall. Come play with the dogs and chat with fellow WriMos. The parks are off-leash ONLY within the fensed areas; don't get cited. Both parks have small dog areas as well as general, water for the poochies, ample parking, and a minimum of shade. If it rains much, consider this event cancelled. Aptos isn't so bad but the Scotts Valley park rests on the old runway and gets absolutely disgusting (and unhygienic).

Scotts Valley Dog Park is adjacent to the Skateboard park near the soccer fields and senior center, behind the post office.

Aptos Dog Park is at the Polo Grounds on Harrington Road. Take Hwy 1 to the Rio Del Mar exit, head toward the hills rather than the beach, turn right at Soquel/Harrington, and then bear left twice to remain on Harrington. After the Junior High you will pass a few homes then come to the left turn into Polo Grounds County Park. Free parking. No dogs are allowed on the soccer fields, but there is an unmanicured field and some trails, too. Oh, and there's a small bicycle jumping area, too.

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

Abouché closed, but right across the street adjacent to Safeway is Coffee Cat. It's a great place, always busy morning, noon, and night. There is a variety of indoor seating as well as a few outdoor tables. Wifi is free and there are plenty of power outlets and two clean bathrooms. They also a selection of teas, smoothies, and premade foods.

Coffee Cat
255 Mt. Hermon Road
Suite A
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 439-0700

Santa Cruz Metro
Routes 31, 32, and 35

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

Abouché closed, but right across the street adjacent to Safeway is Coffee Cat. It's a great place, always busy morning, noon, and night. There is a variety of indoor seating as well as a few outdoor tables. Wifi is free and there are plenty of power outlets and two clean bathrooms. They also a selection of teas, smoothies, and premade foods.

Coffee Cat
255 Mt. Hermon Road
Suite A
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 439-0700

Santa Cruz Metro
Routes 31, 32, and 35

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

Surf City is a locally owned and operated coffee roastery with three stores. What's particularly cool about the Aptos location is the outdoor seating area welcome to dogs. There are not many power outlets here, so we may need some power strips. Hopefully I am the only one with a laptop so old that working batteries are no longer available anywhere. Coffee, tea, chai, bagels, cookies, and sometimes other things. They close at 7pm Mon-Sat and 6pm Sundays. From Hwy 1 take the Rio Del Mar exit, go toward the hills, turn left and then right into the parking area. This is the closest coffee shop to the dog park.

Surf City Coffee Aptos
9105 Soquel Drive
Aptos, CA 95003
831-684-2750

Santa Cruz Metro
Routes 54, 55, and 71,

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

Surf City is a locally owned and operated coffee roastery with three stores. What's particularly cool about the Aptos location is the outdoor seating area welcome to dogs. There are not many power outlets here, so we may need some power strips. Hopefully I am the only one with a laptop so old that working batteries are no longer available anywhere. Coffee, tea, chai, bagels, cookies, and sometimes other things. They close at 7pm Mon-Sat and 6pm Sundays. From Hwy 1 take the Rio Del Mar exit, go toward the hills, turn left and then right into the parking area. This is the closest coffee shop to the dog park.

Surf City Coffee Aptos
9105 Soquel Drive
Aptos, CA 95003
831-684-2750

Santa Cruz Metro
Routes 54, 55, and 71,

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

I'll directly edit this post when I have rooms reserved. It's also possible to just drop in since there are usually plenty of desks available and a reasonable number of power outlets. I've dropped in on my own and worked in the quiet study room.

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

The College Eight Red Room is on the west side of the UCSC campus. Take 16, 19, or 20 to the College Eight/Porter stop. Walk downhill, down some stairs, and enter the rightmost room in the red building in from of you.

I have been unable to reserve the room, as they restrict it to campus organizations, but normally it is open on the weekend. There are no bathrooms in the building itself, but the College Eight academic building is nearby.

BFS 2008 Participant.
Learning Japanese, writing more, submitting work, editing a novel, writing a script, practicing French, getting a summer job, getting more sleep and exercise, applying for JET.

Hey Katie,

Do you think there are any writing or literary groups that might be willing to "sponsor" those of us who are doing NaNoWriMo (students or non students)??? Maybe if we can get with someone at one of those groups, not only could we get more people involved in NaNo, but we then *could* reserve rooms on campus either at the Red Room or at some other spots on campus.

Another Katie

Somebody mentioned the new location and said that there were plenty of outlets, which was exactly what I had planned to research before choosing which location to meet. We'll try this time and place on the 4th as a trial and edit this post if the schedule changes due to unrealistic expectations.

Lulu Carpenter's is in the Octagon Building at the corner of Front St and Cooper, behind the Cooper House.

Any bus that goes downtown can is sufficient since the Metro Plaza is only a short walk down Front Street.

Personal Note:
While I was highly enamored of Espresso Royale (now Lulu Carpenter's) during my sojourn at UCSC, I cannot personally give my money to the owner. His reputation as extremely hostile toward anyone appearing homeless, even when not on his own property, disturbs me greatly. I cannot dispute the quality of his work and I definitely have enjoyed the atmosphere and coffee in the past. I will not be present at this write-in; however a quality venue is a quality venue and I am one person driven by politics. I would encourage each WriMo to make their own decision and remember to consider that the priority in November is to write 50,000 words, which requires a comfortable writing environment. It's just not comfortable to me, personally, anymore.

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

The exact time for this regular write-in may change depending on whether an ML can be there regularly or another volunteer would like to "sponsor" it.

The Attic is a restaurant/cafe open fairly long hours serving a variety of foods from snacky appetizers to salads and burgers. They have a handful of entrées as well, plus their tea selection is extensive. They tend to be full for standard meal hours and Friday through Sunday, according to management. Therefore Monday afternoon between meal rushes seemed the ideal time to schedule. Have a late lunch or early dinner, or just come a little early or stay late to eat. This is definitely an establishment you should patronize with your money, not just your body.

931 Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95060

You can't get much closer to the Metro Plaza, so any bus that goes to downtown Santa Cruz will get you there.

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

A note about Surf City in Aptos. If you go on a weekday make sure that you are gone before 3pm because the place is covered in middle school kids and of course the parents picking up the kids. It is not a fun time to be in the are. But the good thing is if you want something and Surf City does not have it, then they generally do at Piggy Market in the same little center. Parking could be a problem if there are too many people. My office is in the same Redwood Center.

~*~Jenn~*~

It's very true. I live nearby and go to the dogpark Aptos Village a lot, so I knew that mornings and weekends would be the only practical time to schedule write-ins at Surf City. At least the sewer replacement project is finished so that it no longer takes twenty minutes to go a quarter mile.

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

I know wasn't that horrible. The people who ran that project had no idea how to direct traffic. Of course they still have to pave the other half of the road.

~*~Jenn~*~

I suppose it's possible the creative writing program might oblige. Other than that, one of my friends is trying to form a queer critique group or something like that, which would be sponsored by the Cantu Center and the Network.

I had thought of this, but I don't seem to be getting around to things.

EDIT: I talked to people in the literature department, they'll email me soon if they can get us a reserved space. It'd probably be in Humanities I during the week.

BFS 2008 Participant.
Learning Japanese, writing more, submitting work, editing a novel, writing a script, practicing French, getting a summer job, getting more sleep and exercise, applying for JET.

Hi Mishedor,
I'm from the Aptos area as well and I thank you for organizing these write-ins close to home!

I hope to be able to participate in a few Saturday or Wednesday sessions at Surf City. I will be "doggy-sitting" my parents 17month old dobie for the next few weeks as well as my 5 1/2 month old dobie puppy so I will have my hands full and not a whole lot of time for writing, but, I'd love to see if I can schedule some time in for writing and talking with people instead of just cnversing with "the furry boyz". They are both very well behaved (even the 5 1/2 month old is already tops in his doggie-school classes), so I may take them to participate in the write-in or I may take that as a welcomed opportunity for a break from "doggie-sitting..."

Anyhow - I know - way too much information from my end, but, again, thanks for the write-ins close to home and hope to see you there!

--------------------------------------------------------
Take care of the ones that cross your path.

2006 winner - "A Life In Vinaigrettes"
2007 working title - "Dead Dogs Do Tell Tails"

Hey Nanoers...

I wasn't able to make it to the kick off last night. But I was overjoyed to discover that one of my new Santa Cruz friends heard my crazy yet inspiring ramblings about NaNo and signed up!! He expressed interest in getting together so we decided to meet up.

We are going to be at Bad Ass Coffee on Pacific TOMORROW (Friday Nov 2nd) between three and four in the afternoon to kinda work through the whole NaNo idea and write a bit. Just a little comradery. I wanted to open it up to any of my fellow Nanoers - cause it would be really great to meet you guys.

So again:

BAD ASS COFFEE
1207 Pacific Ave (at Soquel)
Right near the Metro Station
Gather between 3-4pm
Leave when we are too wired to write/talk anymore ~ All are Welcome

As some of you have probably already noticed, the calendar works. The nearest 6 entries appear at the bottom of the Regional Lounge page and the graphic calendar resides one click further at http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/og_calendar/212.

If you use a Mac, you can also subscribe to the calendar in iCal. You'll find the link at the very bottom of the graphic calendar page.

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County

The forecast for this weekend is awfully cold (lows in the mid-30s and highs in the mid-50s), so outdoor picnics or beach bbqs won't do. Therefore Saturn Café it is in order to make it as accessible as possible both geographically and dietarily.

Saturn Café is on Laurel between Front and Pacific in downtown Santa Cruz, next to Kinko's. It's two blocks from the Metro Transit Center. For people Aptos and north, I will actually clean out my car (somewhat) and offer rides. I can take up to three passengers.

Saturn Café 4-6pm, Saturday December 1st.

You're new Municipal Liaison (ML) for Santa Cruz County