Why We Broke Up (Wednesday, Feb. 1) For his latest project, Daniel Handler (otherwise known by his pen name, Lemony Snicket) teamed up with author-illustrator Maira Kalman. The New York Times calls the resulting novel, which takes the form of a letter written by a girl to her ex-boyfriend, “a silken, bittersweet tale of adolescent heartache.” The two appear at Santa Cruz High, 415 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz. Tickets $21.69 at 831.429.3960 or BookshopSantaCruz.com.
Nikki Giovanni (Thursday, Feb. 2) A well-known poem by Nikki Giovanni starts: “I should write a poem, but there is almost nothing that hasn’t been said and said and said beautifully, blandly, excitingly,” but by the same poem’s end she has repurposed half a dozen well-worn adages beautifully, blandly, excitingly and in the way only she can. Tonight she is the guest speaker at UC–Santa Cruz’s 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation at Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St, Santa Cruz, 831.420.5260. Free.
The Art of Flight (Thursday, Feb. 2) Adrenaline-fueled avalanche rescues, sweeping slow-motion panoramic shots of spectacular peaks and, of course, plenty of big air are all on order in the newest Brain Farm snowboarding film. First 40 people in the door win free lift tickets to Kirkwood. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel, Santa Cruz. Tickets $10 advance, $15 at the door available at Helm of Sun Valley and O’Neill Surf Shop.
Hard French Winter Ball (Saturday, Feb. 4) Break out your finery—San Francisco’s legendary queer dance party is coming to the beach this weekend. DJs Carnitas and Brown Amy will be spinning original vinyl all night long. 8pm-1am in the Cocoanut Grove Ballroom, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. Tickets $15-$25 at Saturn Café or HardFrenchWinterBall2012.Eventbrite.com.
Chamber Orchestra Kremlin and Sara Davis Buechner (Saturday, Feb. 4) One of Russia’s leading string ensembles comes to Crocker Theater for a red-banner event in Cabrillo’s Distinguished Artists series. With Tchaikovsky award-winning concert pianist Sara Davis Buechner. 8pm at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos. Tickets $25-$45 at 831.656.9507 or TicketGuys.com. Buechner performs solo Sunday, Feb. 5 at 3pm in the Crocker Theater.
Gabriella Café Literary Salon (Tuesday, Feb. 7) The inaugural session of Gabriella Café’s dinner and discussion series will be hosted by John Dizikes, professor emeritus at UCSC and author of Opera in America: A Cultural History. He’ll be joined by Dale Johnson. 8pm at Gabriella Café, 910 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. Free with dinner. 831.457.1677 for reservations.
