The marquee from the first Event Santa Cruz in September 2013
Hungry for a new type of community event? This one sounds intriguing: The November incarnation of monthly speaker series “Event Santa Cruz” has an edible theme. On Nov. 20, 2013, attendees will hear seven special guests who make a difference while feeding folks in Santa Cruz and elsewhere (some literally feeding, some metaphorically).
The scheduled speakers are:
• The Hoffman Family – Owners of Hoffman’s Bistro and Patisserie
• Aaron Hinde – President LifeAID Beverage Company, Inc.
• Scott Roseman – Founder and President of New Leaf Community Markets
• Rachel Otis – Director Child Nutrition at Live Oak School District
• Patrice Keet & Rhiannon Crain – Members of the Board of Directors for The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
• Ian Bell – Local Singer/ Songwriter
There are seats for 165 people for the general event and there is a unique “downtown food walk” beforehand that’s limited to the first 30 people that sign up. Those 30 will visit four local venues—including The Truck Stop at the downtown farmers market—to sample food. Tickets are the same price ($10) whether or not you’re going on the food walk.
Matthew Swinnerton started Event Santa Cruz to help tell the stories of local businesses and the hard-working people that make these businesses run. This is the first “themed” Event Santa Cruz night. “I wanted to showcase entrepreneurs that love what they do, have a passion for good quality healthy food and make a living doing so,” says Swinnerton.
While some of the speakers are more well known in the community, like Roseman, some are less visible—and they all have interesting insights to share. “Rachel Otis is transforming how our children are being fed school lunches,” adds Swinnerton. When she told me that they were serving bok choy wraps and other health food to the kids I knew I wanted her at the Event.”
When asked how Keet, Crain, and Bell fit the edible theme, Swinnerton responded with the following “Keet and Crain are going to show how we can be creative with food and more importantly how children can be creative with food.” As for Bell, Swinnerton mentioned the fact that after a good meal, it’s “nice to sit back and relax and be entertained by an amazing performer.”
The first Event Santa Cruz was September 18, 2013. The six speakers included Kendra Baker (The Penny Ice Creamery and more), Danny Keith (Grind Out Hunger, Santa Cruz Surf Shop, Santa Cruz Warriors, etc.), and Ryan Coonerty (NextSpace, and former Mayor).
The monthly events take place at the Nickelodeon Theatre, 210 Lincoln St..
Buy tickets online.
Wednesday Nov. 20, 2013
Main event: 7-9 p.m.
Downtown food walk: 5:30 p.m.