Christina Waters

Give your eyes a plein air odyssey, at the 79th Annual Statewide Exhibit, filling the Santa Cruz Art League from May 30-June 28.

Irreplaceable Places: Contemporary Landscape Painters of California — showcases fine work from some of California’s leading landscape painters, including Santa Cruz painter Pat Woodman, a virtuoso of clouds.

Reception: Saturday, June 6, 3-5pm (more…)

That would be Bonny Doon Vineyard’s Cellar Door — where Friday night hosted out-of-towners and locals, artists — including “Cigare” sculptor Michael Leeds, who sat directly under his distinctive metal creation (see post below) — and robust ultra-fresh dishes (shown is what’s left of our beef panzanella salad with arugula and fresh peas) that perfectly matched the wines (in this case, the 2004 Cigare).

A terrific time – all the curved tasting bars were full, and each of the family-style tables was packed with new-found best friends. Kudos to chef Charlie Parker and his amazing staff — quite an achievement for this brand new cafe concept. Three courses, prix fixe, $28. Plus the small plates menu.

Make a res immediately, or risk being hopelessly out of the culinary loop.

Cellar Door Cafe - 831.425-4518 - 3-course, prix fixe dinners Thurs - Sunday.

Also opening this week is a substantial group show exploring the human figure. Nine area professionals, including abstract expressionist Claire Thorson (a true clairvoyant), show their work at five Santa Cruz County Bank locations, through September 4.

Curated by Joan Blackmer, the show features an Artists’ Reception, June 3 - 5:30-7:30pm, at the 720 Front Street location. . . .

and don’t miss the second installment of the Digital Arts/New Media InterACTIVATE exhibition, Opening Reception Friday, June 5, 6:30-8:30pm (free and open to the public). The show is a collection of MFA thesis presentations from UCSC’s digital artists, all astonishing, all tech.

The all-Fiestaware platters, bowls and plates at Cellar Door Cafe somehow enhance the colorful, regional ambience of this new Westside magnet.

A velvety puree of broccoli, with a float of crème fraiche — nice partner for Ca’del Solo’s Le Cigare Blanc.

Most dishes rarely taste as good as they look. Except the ones at Gabriella, dreamed up with fresh attitude by chef Brad Briske.

Consider this supple halibut creation. Adolescent beet sprouts, micro-zest of lemon, drizzles of scented oils - unbelievable.

This dish — shared last week with soon-to-be-ex-pat Dan Dickmeyer — tasted even better than it looks. The accompanying Hunter Hill blend of viognier and roussanne didn’t hurt one bit, either.

What blockbuster author Dan Brown needs more than anything right now is a witness protection program. If English teachers, theological archaeologists and script doctors across the land ever found out where he lives, his life wouldn’t be worth the pixels Ron Howard’s new film is made of. In addition to a jowly Tom Hanks reprising his lifeless role as Harvard “symbologist” Robert Langdon, and semi-smoldering Ayelet Zurer as CERN nuclear physicist with a stripper’s name, Vittoria Vetra — both avoiding even a neutrino of sexual chemistry — Angels & Demons had to be Brown’s high school term paper about that merry band of Renaissance conspirators known as the Illuminati.

Langdon is summoned to Rome where hell’s a poppin’ in the form of a vial of anti-matter (cooked up at CERN) that has fallen into the wrong hands. The Church is in disarray, having just lost one pope and heading toward seclusion in the Sistine Chapel (nice photoshopping here) to vote (more…)

Just to prove to you that UCSC arts scholars are messing with traditional art categories - check out this installation of day-glo orange cones. That’s Sesnon Gallery Director Shelby Graham doing the finishing touches.

At the Irwin Scholars 2009 show — reception May 27, 5-7pm. On exhibit through June 13.

Featuring the award-winning artwork of:

Dana Ashton, Jory Bidart, Ben Blair, Ivan Yi-Heng Huang, Anna Huemmer (the cone queen), Jordan Jurich, Conner MacPhee, Maya Manvi, Danni Tsuboi, Jordan Tynes, Bryce Walker, Vince Waring and Mathew Zefeldt.

Up front let me say that while this week’s cheap wine discovery — a serviceable Nero d’Avola from Ruggero di Tasso — is not nearly as chewy and robust as the phenomenal Phenom (see post below), it is waaaaay better than almost any $3.99 wine on the planet.

For less than four dollars, you’ll experience a nose of blackberries, a central core of Santa Rosa plums and a decent amount of spice, all packed into a 13% alc. slice of Sicily. This wine could save your budget at the next bbq or large-scale pasta dinner. Chase it with plenty of marinara and your palate will barely know the difference.

At TJs.

If you’re in Palo Alto this Saturday, May 23rd, you won’t want to miss the debut of Bradley Brown’s new tasting room surrogate, tucked inside Vino Locale Wine Bar of Palo Alto. From 2pm to 6pm, sample a slew of Big Basin Vineyards wines at Vino Locale. (more…)

When that mad scramble for the new and the trendy gets tiring, it’s time to get back to basics.

Mobo Sushi is not only as good as it ever was, it’s now even bigger. Gone are those beloved (or maddening, depending upon your POV) tiered seats. Now Mobo has expanded all the way to the edge of its property. Tons of room, gorgeous, impeccable sushi.

For when that inevitable craving for sushi brings you to your knees.

Mobo Sushi - 105 River, Santa Cruz 425-1700.