5 THINGS: A Travel Guide to Santa Cruz

In the series “5 Things,” I’ll ask some of my favorite bloggers in cities all over the country to share insider travel tips on where to eat, shop, stay, and play in their neighborhoods (plus, what to pack to make the adventure complete). This week, Christa Martin of fashion and beauty blog The Penny Rose offers us a glimpse into the best of Santa Cruz, California.

5 Things: Santa Cruz
Christa Martin of The Penny Rose

Santa Cruz is one of a kind. A coastal paradise 80 miles south of San Francisco, it has small town charm, big city style, epic redwood forests, and sweeping ocean vistas. It’s also a surfing mecca, and a haven for artists and tech workers. And somewhere in between it all is a place I call home.

I grew up in Santa Cruz, left for college, and, like so many others, I inevitably returned. There’s something about this town—you just can’t leave it alone.

EAT:

Bantam, 1010 Fair Avenue, (831) 420-0101

The motto here is, “don’t panic, it’s organic,” which really resonates with Santa Cruz residents — this is a health-minded town. It’s here at Bantam that you can indulge in pizza and not feel guilty about it. My favorite is the housemade sausage, tomato, cream, and calabrians pie for $18.

SHOP:

Stripe, 107 Walnut Avenue, (831) 421-9252
Cameron Marks, 402 Ingalls Street, (831) 458-3080

Two of my favorite boutiques in Santa Cruz are Stripe and Cameron Marks. Owned by superb local businesswomen, these beautiful stores are remarkably curated.

Stripe, located in downtown Santa Cruz, offers a brilliant array of items: vintage furniture, household goodies, leather bags made by local artisans, and a stellar selection of timeless, classic clothing. Around the corner is Stripe Men, a store for all the stylish gents in town. Cameron Marks, located on the West Side, offers a wonderful selection of striking, fashion-forward clothing and accessories. (A second store is dedicated to housewares, while a third brick and mortar location houses a dazzling jewelry and ceramics collection.)

STAY:

The Adobe on Green Street Bed and Breakfast, 103 Green Street, (831) 469-9866

While there are scores of lodging options in Santa Cruz, this place is a gem. I should know: I stayed here on my wedding night. It’s just a few minutes walking distance from downtown, and is nestled in a quiet, hidden corner of a residential neighborhood.

PLAY:

Sure, we have the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, but be forewarned, that’s where all the tourists go. If you want to stick to the local beat, head to a different part of town—the East Side. Perks include a walking path; endless beaches; epic surfing destinations; sushi, pizza, and The Penny Ice Creamery; and even a hipster coffee shop, Verve.

PACK:

On your way to the beach, pick up a handmade leather tote by Corral Made at Stripe. A roomy bag made by local artisan Jose Hernandez will seamlessly take you from day to night. While you’re at it, toss in a S’well water bottle, Maguba clogs, a bottle of Herbivore Botanicals Sea Mist Hair Spray (to extend that beachy hair look), and a Lee Coren scarf for when it gets chilly in the evening.

Thank you so much, Christa! When I was in college, many of my friends were from Santa Cruz and it was never lost on me how much they loved their hometown; it sounded like the perfect place to grow up—and to visit. 

Photos by Tommy Parker. Thank you to Shoko Wanger for her tremendous help with this series. 

P.S. Please add any of your own suggestions for Santa Cruz in the comments! Check here for all entries in the 5 Things series.

Cutest Ikea Hack: Duktig Play Kitchen

I love spotting a good IKEA hack. And this one blew me away.

Sara Eslami took the DUKTIG play kitchen ($99, check out the before) and gave it an update using only: Ikea TAG Handles, Butcher Block Contact Paper, LED stick-on lights, spray paint (white, gold, and primer), poster board and sharpie (for the subway tiles). Brilliant!

P.S. Two more Ikea Hacks: PATRIK swivel chair (with a gold spray paint recommendation) and the STOLMEN closet system as bookcases (also shown here).

The Art of saying Thank You

On my to-do list this week? Write thank you cards.

Just after Skyler was born, I got into the routine of keeping a stack of cards on the counter in a basket—along with pens and keys and stamps and such. As soon as a gift would arrive, and with inspiration fresh, I’d scribble off a note, add a stamp, and leave it out for the postman. But I fell out of habit and now, post-Christmas, the task is a bit more daunting.

Do you send handwritten thank you notes? Do you expect them? Where do you stand on cards versus emails—or texts? After Thanksgiving, somebody sent a card our way that was so nice and simple: something to the effect of ‘great food, great company, great time—thank you!’ and it served as a reminder of how little it takes to show someone you appreciate something. (However, if you’ve come over to our house recently, please don’t take my saying that as solicitation!)

Of course there is a formula one can follow for the tried-and-true thank you. It goes something like this:

Greeting. Write out their names: “Dear so-and-so.”

Gratitude. Begin with “thank you for the such-and-such.” (Money is typically given the euphemism of “generosity.”)

Gift. Keep it simple, but the idea is to say something you like about the gift, usually involving how you will use it, why it was so kind, etcetera. Be yourself and keep it honest. “It looks so pretty on the table.” “The kids will love picking something special out.” “I can’t wait to wear it on vacation.”

Giver. When will you see them next? What did you enjoy about seeing them at the holiday party? Traditionally, here is the place to say “You are always so thoughtful. Your friendship means so much.” I once read that the trick is to mention the past and allude to the future in a single line.

Gratitude. Again. “Thank you again.”

Greeting. Again. Sign it however makes sense to you: Love, Best wishes, Yours truly or, perhaps, XO, followed by your name.

Here are some lovely cards you might set aside for inspiration:
Sycamore Street Press, Thank You My Dear Card (Top)
Smudge Ink, Chevron Thank You Card / Sugar Paper, Kraft Scratchy Thank You Card
Ferme à Papier, Llama Thank You Card / Sycamore Street Press, Thank You Indigo Card
Smock Paper, Pink Heart Letterpress Card / Quill & Fox, Sincerely Thanks Card
Hammerpress, Sign Language Thanks Card / Rifle Paper Co., Rosa Merci Thank You Greeting Card

Or you might consider a set of personalized notecards, where the phrase “Thank you” is left entirely to you. Both Pinhole Press and Minted are good sources of personalized notecards.

Where do you stand on this matter? On what occasions do you send a handwritten thank you, if at all? 

P.S. This man wrote a thank you note every day for a year. An interview with Eva Jorgensen of Sycamore Street Press, who designed that top card.