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        <title>Santa Cruz Real Estate News &amp; Information</title>
        <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/2023-02/</link>
        <description>Lifestyle, community, day trips, restaurants, real estate, home improvements, and more. Discover what makes Santa Cruz County such a great place to live. Presented by My Santa Cruz Real Estate.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/community-spotlight-west-santa-cruz.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/community-spotlight-west-santa-cruz.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Community Spotlight: West Santa Cruz</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



Shopping, entertainment, and the rocky shoreline. The city of Santa Cruz is known for its vibrant, lively atmosphere, and West Santa Cruz is where you’ll find a blend of commercial and residential areas—built upon the region’s long surfing history. 



Separated into the Upper West Side and Lower West Side, there’s much to see and do and several exclusive neighborhoods to call home, such as Westlake in the north and The Circles in the south. West Santa Cruz combines charming properties with dynamic city life, which makes this area quite a desirable place to live.


Beautiful homes, central location, and parks; this community truly has it all. Read on to learn more about why West Santa Cruz is a fantastic place to call home.


Surf’s Up A History


Santa Cruz surfing history dates back all the way to the late-1800s, and it has been a part of the city’s culture ever since. From well-established businesses to museums and statues, you’ll find surfing ingrained into Westside society. 



West Santa Cruz is where you’ll find the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum (found within the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse) and Steamer Lane—one of the most significant surf spots in the area. The Lower West Side is also where you'll find many of the local surf shops, conveniently located near the water, and incredible parks, such as Natural Bridges State Beach. Whether you’re a dedicated surfer or a casual observer, West Santa Cruz has a unique and distinctive feeling


Great Eats &amp; Cool Shops


Although a big part of the community, West Santa Cruz isn’t only about surfing. The Westside is also known for its shopping and dining opportunities, as a large part of this area is commercial. Santa Cruz residents are always minutes away from great eats and local boutiques you can't find anywhere else.



The Westside has two main, large commercial areas. Swift Street Courtyard has a bit of an industrial feeling, and has some outdoor spaces to enjoy a coffee with friends or get some work done. The downtown area is centered on Pacific Avenue and features quaint shops and restaurants on walkable, tree-lined streets. Plus, every Saturday, the community hosts the Westside Farmers Market, where you can find live music, organic food items, and assorted knickknacks—plus connect with your neighbors. 


A Community With Heart


Those looking to move to West Santa Cruz have a lot of choice: from condos and townhomes to single-family homes, both historic and modern. But what really attracts prospective homebuyers is the wonderful people that make up this community. That, of course, is priceless.



See a movie in the downtown or experience the thrills at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Take the kids to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center for an afternoon, or hike around the tidepools around the waterfront parks. It’s also easy to travel to the surrounding areas, such as the beautiful beaches in East Santa Cruz or Aptos, for a day trip. 



For those who want the city amenities with quiet residential areas, West Santa Cruz expertly combines both. Never compromise... your dream westside home awaits



Start your West Santa Cruz home search with Lauren Spencer Click here to get started. 

 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/notable-alumni-from-the-university-of-california-santa-cruz.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/notable-alumni-from-the-university-of-california-santa-cruz.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Notable Alumni from the University of California Santa Cruz</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



With ten campuses across the state (nine undergraduate and one graduate only), the University of California has consistently been ranked as one of the top higher education institutions in the country. UC Berkeley is perhaps its most-known campus, for its academic achievements have ranked it as one of the best schools in the world—with two other University of California campuses in the top 20.



The University of California, Santa Cruz is renowned for its research and science programs, as well as its gorgeous location—which overlooks the city and has views of the waterfront beyond. UC Santa Cruz has a great number of famed alumni, who have contributed significantly to arts, sciences, and other fields.


bell hooks


Writer, Activist, Professor  


bell hooks (born Gloria Jean Watkins, 1952-2021) was a writer, professor, and activist, notable for her work on race, gender, and class. She completed her PhD in English from UC Santa Cruz in 1983, earning a BA from Stanford University and MA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison beforehand. 



She published several books during her lifetime, including Ain't I a Woman?: Black Women and Feminism and All About Love: New Visions, which in turn contributed significantly to academia and the intersectional feminist movement.


Susan Wojcicki


CEO


Susan Wojcicki (1968–) graduated from Harvard University, majoring in history and literature, before going on to do a Master of Science (Economics) at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Listed on Time magazine’s Most Influential People, she is the CEO of Youtube—a position which she has held since 2014.



She is a polarizing figure due to her implementation of certain policies on the Youtube platform. She is also known to advocate for women in business and STEM.


Kathryn D. Sullivan


Astronaut, Geologist, Oceanographer 


Kathryn Dwyer Sullivan (1951–) is a decorated NASA astronaut and was part of NASA Astronaut Group 8—the first group of NASA astronauts to include women and minorities. She went on three space missions and is the first American woman to walk in space. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1973 with a degree in Earth Sciences. 



Sullivan is also an oceanographer and in 2020 became the first woman to dive into the Mariana Trench at its deepest point, Challenger Deep.


Marc Okrand


Linguist, Author, Professor


Marc Okrand (1948–) graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1970, then went on to earn a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in Linguistics. His research focused on Native American languages, however Okrand is most known for inventing Klingon, the language of an alien species on Star Trek.



Okrand also worked in the closed-captioning field, wrote several books on Klingon, and later created two more languages for movies and television: Kelpian for Star Trek: Discovery and Atlantean for Atlantis: The Lost Empire.


Andy Samberg


Actor, Musician, Comedy Writer, Producer


Andy Samberg (1978–) was born in California and is perhaps most famous for his work on SNL, as well as his performance on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, for which he won a Golden Globe award for. He attended the University of California, Santa Cruz for two years, studying film, and later transferred to NYU (Tisch).



Although known for his comedic roles and music (including being part of the Lonely Island trio), the last few years have shown greater range. His upcoming projects include a Lee Miller biopic, also starring Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, and Alexander Skarsgård.


 


Find your dream home in Santa Cruz today Contact Lauren Spencer, your Santa Cruz real estate expert, to begin your home search. 


 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/5-santa-cruz-cafes-for-valentines-day.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/5-santa-cruz-cafes-for-valentines-day.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>5 Santa Cruz Cafés For Valentine’s Day</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



Love is in the air Valentine’s Day is just around the corner—whether we’re anticipating it or not While chocolates, flowers, and candlelight dinners are popular plans for this romantic weekend, there are always some more casual alternatives.


For first dates, for friend dates, or for those just looking to get out and enjoy Santa Cruz, a café might be just the perfect place to spend the afternoon Here are five Santa Cruz cafés that you might want to check out this Valentine’s Day.


Flower Bar 


912 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz



For the romantics, Flower Bar might be just for you. This downtown spot is both a charming café and a fresh flower boutique. Some shop from the various homewares and goods, while others enjoy sitting outside and enjoying a coffee. 



Flower Bar’s menu also includes teas, artisanal sandwiches, pastries, charcuterie boards, and more. Stop by to soak up the elegance this Valentine’s Day—and consider ordering some flowers for your loved one, too Visit their website here.


cafegSC


103 Lincoln Street, Santa Cruz



The alternative option, cafegSC offers coffee and vegan eats in a quaint setting—all in the heart of Santa Cruz. This downtown café has a large menu, including not only hot and iced coffees, but organic smoothies, quinoa bowls, sandwiches, and more. It's always delicious and nutritious, and you necessarily have to be vegan to enjoy their great food.



Sit down to eat (although seating is limited) or take a coffee to go. Visit their website here.


Steamer Lane Supply


644-670 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz



For the adventurous types, you might want to venture just outside of the downtown area. Steamer Lane Supply is a small café that overlooks the water, located west of the boardwalk.


Outdoor seating and tables are limited; this destination is perfect for those who want to take a walk around and chat. And, of course, the views are spectacular. Visit their website here.


Mission Hill Coffee &amp; Creamery


1101 B Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz



Some of us are adventurous not because we love the outdoors, but because we enjoy ice cream all year round. While it’s not for everyone, Mission Hill Coffee &amp; Creamery has you covered—but also has coffee if that’s more your style. 


This downtown café also offers sundaes, iced tea, and milkshakes, plus specialty, ever-changing ice cream flavors. Again, seating is a bit limited, but some might say it’s more romantic to take a stroll around the city anyhow Visit their website here.


11th Hour Coffee


1001 Center Street 1, Santa Cruz / 402 Ingalls Street, Santa Cruz



This café has two locations in Santa Cruz: Downtown and Westside. Either location makes for a great Valentine’s Day date. The downtown location is found on Center Street, next to the Santa Cruz Art Center, and is beautifully decorated with plants. Visitors love the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of this café


 


11th Hour Coffee Westside, on the other hand, is located closer to the waterfront and features a small outdoor seating area. Depending on the vibe, either café makes a great hangout spot—but both can get quite busy Visit their website here.



There are so many cafés to explore around Santa Cruz. Check out the ones above or discover others this Valentine’s Day weekend



Interested in moving to the Santa Cruz area? Lauren Spencer can help you find your dream home. Click here to get started. 

 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
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