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Some of the best and most beloved people, pets and spots in Santa Cruz County, as chosen by our staff.

Some of the best and most beloved people, pets and spots in Santa Cruz County, as chosen by our staff.

 

BEST LOCAL DOG
Chekoteh at Serpent’s Kiss
If you have been to Serpent’s Kiss, chances are you met Chekoteh. The wolf-like canine who passed away on Valentines’ Day of this year was a head-turning combination of Huskie, Akida, Russian Samoyed and actual American wolf—but to those who knew him, he was also much more. He descended from a long line of sled dogs bred by Stephanie Littlewolf of Felton and, according to the staff of Serpent’s Kiss, was also a “dream dog.”
“The first two nights that I had him he showed up in my dreams, and did so regularly after that. Always kind of just hanging out, just like he does in real life,” said Chekoteh’s Papa, who goes by Wolf. He often accompanied his Momma, Susan Diamond (Gold Award winner for “Best Psychic”) when she worked with clients. They too would comment on his appearing in their dreams and meditations. “Koteh” loved hiking with his Dad, chasing skipping stones, playing at the Doggie Beach, dancing and singing at fire circles, attending classes at Serpent’s Kiss and loving his great big community. He was frequently spotted from the window at Los Pinos where he would “vibe” his favorite neighbors to bring him beef bones.
He will live on in the hearts and dreams of those who came to know him.
Last week the owners of Serpent’s Kiss adopted a new wolf-huskie puppy named Sasha. She will be a regular at the store once she is big enough.  (GP)

 
BEST OTHER  LOCAL DOG
That Big Black Newfoundland
Often spotted strolling on West Cliff or in various shops downtown on Pacific, this amazing creature would no-doubt be mistaken for a wild bear if not for his leash and gentle demeanor. With the fuzziest of fuzzy black coats and a mouth full of drool, this dog is striking in his beauty and unmatched in his mild temperament. His owners are friendly too, and are gracious in their acceptance of pedantic questions about their majestic beast, so go ahead and APPROACH HIM! (GP)

BEST ROOF
Rittenhouse Building.html
From a good roof, you can see for miles, and look down on your neighbors while you’re at it. But what to do if you have live in an apartment, or your roof is too steep to accommodate your lawn chair and a glass mug of Clamato? Luckily the top story of the E.C. Rittenhouse building hosts events about once a month—everything from barista competitions to concerts, and it has a nice patio, too. We don’t know what their lawn chair policy is, but from the up there you sure can see for miles and miles and miles. 101 Church Street, Santa Cruz. 831.332.1295. (JP)
BEST TRANSPLANTED SANTA CRUZAN
Dixie Mills
A choreographer and producer, Mills moved to Santa Cruz from New York City in 2010, and it didn’t take her much longer than a year to give our laid-back beach town some big-city cultural cachet. As the founder of the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival, Mills oversaw 42 shows over the course of a couple weeks and gave dozens of local and regional artists the chance to try out offbeat, risk-taking productions of all varieties (from ballet to circus to stand-up comedy). These days, Mills is the artist-in-residence at the 418 Project and is busy putting together the second annual Fringe Festival, which will draw acts from all over the US, including Colorado, Hawaii and Georgia.  (GP)

CRAZIEST OPTICAL ILLUSION
Laurel Hill
Sorry, Mystery Spot. This one goes to the hill below California and Laurel Street, near Santa Cruz High School’s football field, and it’s much steeper than it looks. First of all it’s on a curve, which it makes it hard to gauge how steep the incline is. What’s more, that bend also takes critical momentum away as eager travelers try to power upward. Aaaah!!! Cyclists and manual transmission automobiles beware. (JP)

BEST FREE WORKSHOPS
Free Skool
Every now and again, an ordinary Joe (or Josephina) wants to learn yoga, economics, graphic design, the basics of community organizing or how to cook. And normally a good workshop costs money, right? But don’t your dreadlocks in a twist just yet. Thanks to Free Skool, we Santa Cruzans can learn the things we need without opening our checkbooks, making a trip to the ATM or asking for spare change. In all seriousness, a Free Skool, which distributes calendars throughout Santa Cruz, is really a great way to meet people and learn something new. (JP)

  • https://www.santacruz.com/ae/articles/2013/04/03/gold_awards_2013_community_life_editors_picks Def_Jen_Wreckers

    “That Big Black Newfoundland” dog’s name is Ruby, and SHE’s a sweetheart. Ruby is so sweet to our 4-m.o. doberdor (doberman/lab) puppy; we always see her at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery.

  • https://www.santacruz.com/articles/gold_awards_2013_community_life_editors_picks.html Def_Jen_Wreckers

    “That Big Black Newfoundland” dog’s name is Ruby, and SHE’s a sweetheart. Ruby is so sweet to our 4-m.o. doberdor (doberman/lab) puppy; we always see her at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery.