Santa Cruz County Home & Community Information

WHALE WATCHING IN SANTA CRUZ, CA

We took a little zodiak out in the Monterey Bay today to enjoy our 80 degree October Weather in Santa Cruz and were lucky enough to come across Humpback Whales.  I have been whale watching in Santa Cruz years ago but on a gorgeous day with glassy water is a special treat.

We were able to get close to the pair of humpback whales and saw them come up many times over about 1 hour.

Set against the back drop of the Santa Cruz mountains and coast, whale watching in Santa Cruz can provide some excellent photo opportunities.

There were a few whale watching boats out today as well as kayakers, stand up paddlers, and fishermen watching the whales in Santa Cruz.

If you are looking to buy a home or second home in Santa Cruz read my article Santa Cruz Beach Homes for Sale.

OCTOBER IS THE NEW JULY!  SANTA CRUZ WEATHER IS 80 DEGREES IN OCTOBER!

Santa Cruz weather is trying to make up for our foggy summer by treating us to a week of 80 degree weather in October!  Warm weather, big waves pinch me now, are we in Hawaii?

Time to take the dogs to the beach, surf, sail, mountain bike, paddle board, . . .  This 80 degree Santa Cruz weather in October surely can't last long . . .  I know the fog is out there somewhere, biding its time ready to roll in and cover us with a wet, cold blanket.

Santa Cruz weather is often fantastic in October, my birthday falls in this month and I have spent many a birthday at the beach and swimming.  October is a wonderful time to visit Santa Cruz as the crowds are down and your chances of sunny days are high.

Thinking of making Santa Cruz home or a second home?  Read my article about Santa Cruz beach homes for sale

SANTA CRUZ RESTAURANT WEEK

Santa Cruz Restaurant Week is upon us again folks, starting October 5th to October 12th.

This is a great chance to try some new Santa Cruz Restaurants as a great price.  Santa Cruz Restaurant week participating restaurants offer a fixe price, 3 course meal (appetizer, entree, desert) for only $25.

Some of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz participate in Santa Cruz Restaurant week like: La Posta, Chaminade, Soif, Casablanca, go here to see a full list of participating restaurants and menus

Santa Cruz has some excellent local chefs and restaurants, let's all get out there and enjoy and support them and our local businesses!

THE CORE's SANTA CRUZ RUN SWIM RUN

Have you always wanted to do a run swim run from Santa Cruz to Capitola?  Here is your chance!

The Core's 8th Santa Cruz Annual Run Swim Run  takes place August 2nd at 6am sharp, meet at the Santa Cruz wharf.

The Run Swim Run is a fantastic event that takes you on a jog and swim along the beautiful beaches and waves of Santa Cruz, CA.

The Santa Cruz Run Swim Run is scheduled to take place during extremely low tide so it is possible to do this event.  It is a unique and fun way to experience the Santa Cruz coastline.

Proceeds from the run swim run will benefit the Core which is non profit youth organization that helps mentor and provide positive experiences for the youth of Santa Cruz.

For more information and to register for the run swim run visit:  The Core Run Swim Run to Santa Cruz

CAPITOLA NEIGHBORHOODS - CLIFFWOOD HEIGHTS

Capitola many great neighborhoods, including the Cliffwood Heights area.  The Cliffwood Heights neighborhood is located between New Brighton State Beach and Capitola Village, it is bordered by Park Avenue and Monterey Avenue.  The Cliffwood Heights neighborhood in Capitola is mostly made up of single family homes.  It has a suburban feel with wide, quiet streets lined with trees.  Most homes in Cliffwood Heights were built in the 1960's and 70's on the site of the old Capitola airport.

The location of the Cliffwood Heights, a Capitola neighborhood is ideal.  One can walk to New Brighton State Beach, Capitola Village, Gayle's Bakery.  If you have school aged children, New Brighton Middle Schools is only blocks or less away.  There is even a hidden neighborhood park in Cliffwood Heights!

Compared to some other neighborhoods in Capitola like Depot Hill and the Jewel Box, Cliffwood Heights in generally more affordable.  The homes in Cliffwood Heights tend to be spacious, containing at least 3 or 4 bedrooms and generously sized lots.

There are some condos in Cliffwood Heights, many that offer big ocean views.  They are located on Park Ave and Balboa St.

Capitola is a wonderful community with many events and things to do.  Especially in the summer time with the Capitola Wednesday Night Concerts, Begonia Festival and Capitola Art and Wine Festival.

For more information about Capitola homes for sale, Cliffwood Heights and other Capitola neighborhoods, please feel free to contact me.

FREE MOVIES ON THE BEACH AT THE SANTA CRUZ BOARDWALK

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk offers FREE movies on the Beach in the Summertime on Wednesday nights.

Come down to Santa Cruz main beach in front of the Boardwalk with a blanket and a picnic dinner and enjoy these free movies on Wednesday nights.

Here is the lineup for the Santa Cruz Boardwalk's Free Movies on the Beach (most are 1980's classic movies!)

July 6th - The Lost Boys (as this movie was filmed in Santa Cruz this is a great movie to go to)

July 13th - Ghostbusters

July 20th - Top Gun

July 27th - ET

August 3rd - Raiders of the Lost Ark

August 10th - Back to the Future

For those of you looking to make Santa Cruz home or a second home read my article: Santa Cruz Beach Homes for sale

SANTA CRUZ DOG PARKS

Dog Friendly Parks in Santa Cruz:

The Polo Grounds in Aptos - dogs are allowed off leash and the park has water and benches.  Located at 2255 Huntington Dr, Aptos

Scotts Valley Dog park - dogs are allowed to run off leash and there is a section for small dogs, 25 pounds or less.  There are dog toys and water.  Located on Bluebonnet Rd, Scotts Valley.

Meder St Park on the upper Westside of Santa Cruz.  Dogs are allowed off leash before 10 am and after 4pm.  Located at Meder/Nobel St, Santa Cruz.

Lighthouse Field on West Clff in Santa Cruz used to be a great off leash park but times have changed and now dogs are only allowed on leash at all times :(  It was a great dog park, hopefully one day it will be back.  Visit Friends of Lighthouse Field for more info about the fight to return Lighthouse Field to a dog friendly park!

For other dog friendly areas visit my post about Dog Friendly Beaches in Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN BREWERY WING DING COOKOFF

The 4th annual Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery Wing Ding Cookoff is taking place this weekend, June 18th, 2011.

I have attended the past 2 years and the Wing Ding Cookoff is not to be missed by chicken wing connoisseurs or excellent organic beer lovers!

The entrance fee for the Wing Ding cookoff is $20 for all you can eat chicken wings, a souvenir Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery pint glass and 2 beers.  There will be live music this year The Down Beats and Western Skylarks.

The Wing Ding Cookoff will take place from 4 to 8 pm at the Westside Santa Cruz Farmer's market at the end of Western and Mission St.

CROW'S NEST THURSDAY NIGHT BEACH BBQ

It's that time of year again - The Crow's Nest Thursday Night Beach BBQ is back starting June 16th with local favorite band Sambada.

The Crow's Nest Thurday Night Beach BBQ starts at 5:30 and goes until sunset.  A BBQ dinner is served on the beach accompanied by live music.  The setting is beautiful, right on Twin Lakes Beach by the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor.  Admission is FREE and there is a bar and food available.

Here is the June 2011 Schedule for the Crow's Nest Thursday Night Beach BBQ:

June 16th - Sambada

June 23rd - Extra Large

June 30th - Ribsy's Nickel

July 7th - Harry and the Hit Men

July 14th - Extra Large

July 21st- Serendipity Project

July 28th - Ribsys Nickel

August 4th - Wooster!!

The Crow's Nest Thursday Night Beach BBQ runs through end of August, I will add the bands as they are scheduled.

For those of you looking to make Santa Cruz home or a second home read my article:  Santa Cruz Beach Homes for sale

CITY OF SANTA CRUZ RESIDENTIAL RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM

The City of Santa Cruz passed a Residential Rental Inspection Program Ordinance that officially started this year, January 2011.  Like it or not, it has begun.  So what is the City of Santa Cruz Rental Inspection Program and how will it affect property owners and landlords in Santa Cruz?

The Residential Rental Inspection Program applies to all owners of one or more residential dwelling units located in the City of Santa Cruz.  The program does not apply to:  Legal Additional Dwelling Units, rooms rented out in an owner-occupied single family residence, motel or hotel units, units already inspected by another government entity for housing and safety standards.

The City of Santa Cruz will begin sending out letters to properties they believe are rentals to notify owners starting in phases this summer 2011.  For the first 3 years of the program the rental inspections will only take place on rentals which are already known to be in violation of any codes.  Landlords will still be required to register and pay program fees ($45 annual registration fee & $20 per unit for inspection or self certification)

What is the purpose of the City of Santa Cruz Residential Rental Inspection Program and what will inspectors be looking for?

The primary purpose of the rental inspection program is to find any unpermitted dwelling units, renting of spaces not intended to be habitable, and unsanitary, substandard, overcrowded housing conditions.  If you have a converted garage or illegal unit this program is intended to find it and either have the structure removed or you could try to get it permitted.

Per the City of Santa Cruz the inspectors will be looking for unpermitted units and substandard living conditions but are NOT going to focus on unpermitted construction and construction which is not code compliant unless is is a neighborhood nuisance.

This City of Santa Cruz rental inspection program will affect landlords and tenants alike.  There will be additional cost for a rental property owner as well as the hassle for landlord and tenant of these inspections.  There is no doubt that there are many unpermitted units in the City of Santa Cruz and with the inevitable elimination of these extra rental units I would expect that rents in the City of Santa Cruz will increase and housing for UCSC students and other renters on the Westside of Santa Cruz will be much harder to find.