For three weekends in October, artists in Santa Cruz County fling open their doors and welcome strangers into their most private spaces — their studios. Green signs dot the roadsides, proclaiming “artist” with a number and type of art.

The signs correspond with information available in the $20 artist guide and calendar offered by the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County, which has run the Open Studios Art Tour for the past 24 years….

There are three “P” words at the heart of the new Mill Works Theatre: “Practice, perfect and perform.” To that, add a fourth word. “Passion.” It’s a passion for theater that brought founders Debbie Quigg and Joan Van Antwerp together to create the workshop-style gatherings, which begin tonight (September 28) at The Mill Gallery.

The friends, both active in the local stage scene, came up with the idea for a theater testing ground a year ago over a cup of coffee. They wanted to put together an ongoing place where people could both practice and enjoy watching theater as a work-in-progress….

It was a challenge for director Gerry Gerringer to describe Sarah Ruhl’s The Clean House without giving away the plot. The show, which opened Actors’ Theatre’s 25th season September 18, combines laughs with poignant drama in a female-centric production.

“It’s about understanding that we really need to appreciate life as it comes to us and search out the love and the beauty,” said the Santa Cruz theater veteran.

Inspired by an overheard comment about a depressed housekeeper who refuses to clean, The Clean House opens with Mathilde (Veronica Tjioe), a Brazilian maid too blue to do the cleaning up for a female doctor and her husband….

NOTE: Weekend Santa Cruz is taking the week off. Come back September 28 for the latest issue.

When the 54th Annual Santa Cruz Follies takes the Civic Auditorium stage Wednesday, September 16, it will be the culmination of more than a year of work. Director Jo Luttringer started searching for the music last summer, the dancers began rehearsing a few of their steps in November and auditions for individual pieces took place in February.

The show, themed “That’s Entertainment,” features 36 seniors in a fast-paced variety act that starts with a circus, ventures through vaudeville, dashes through patriotic Americana and winds up with a dramatic grand finale….

It’s pig racing, fried food tasting and blue-ribbon placing. It’s Ferris wheel riding, demonstration guiding and entertainment providing. The Santa Cruz County Fair runs Tuesday, September 14, through Sunday, September 20, at the fairgrounds in Watsonville, showcasing everything from the Blue Oyster Cult to prized sheep. The self-supporting event — no taxes are used to pay for the Fair — brings the best in agriculture, domestic arts and crafts together with carnival fun, musical acts and more….

Long ago, in what is now known as the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas, the Ohlone lived on the land. For thousands of years, the “people of the West” — 40 to 50 distinct groups of Native Americans — foraged, hunted, roamed and traded up and down the coast. Then came the Spanish and the Missions and the rest, as they say, is history.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park makes its annual trip to the past 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (September 19) during Ohlone Day….

For current events, see the complete listings at The Week, The Weekend and Everything Else.
For the Weekend of September 11-13, 2009.

PICK OF THE WEEKEND: The Felton Library Festival on Saturday; The Greek Festival all weekend.

Friday /// Saturday /// Sunday

Friday
29th Annual Greek Festival. Take a staycation to the Mediterranean. Enjoy Greek food, spirits, crafts, live [...]

For current events, see the complete listings at The Week, The Weekend and Everything Else.
For the Week of September 7 – 10, 2009.
PICKS OF THE WEEK: Gretchen Peters on Tuesday
Monday /// Tuesday /// Wednesday /// Thursday

Monday
Rock N Roll High School at Movie Nite at The Crepe Place.
The Ramones help high school students take over [...]

Greek food, Greek music, Greek dancing, Greek arts and crafts. All that’s missing from the 29th annual Greek Festival, held September 11-13 at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, is Greek film. A quick trip to the video store for one of these four Grecian goodies will start a Mediterranean staycation right….

Eat watermelon. Socialize over ice cream. Listen to good music. Support the Felton Library. The Felton Library Festival on Saturday (September 12) affords a perfect opportunity to do all of these things. Sponsored by Felton Library Friends, this free festival has something to offer both kids and adults.

“It’s a fun event, very down home,” said Michele Mosher, a volunteer with the group….