Artichoke Festival closes up shop

Event organizers Friday announced the immediate and permanent closure of the annual Artichoke Festival. This year’s event, originally scheduled for June 14-15 in Salinas, was slated to offer a range of artichoke dishes, cooking demos, wine tasting, art and craft vendors and more.

The statement included: “After 65 unforgettable years celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage, artichoke royalty, and community spirit, the Artichoke Festival will not return in 2025. This decision, made after months of thoughtful consideration, stems from the growing financial strain caused by increasing event production costs, insurance premiums, permitting requirements, and operational challenges that have made it no longer feasible to continue.” Visit artichokefestival.org to read more.

Staff of Life anniversary party, discounts on deck

Staff of Life Natural Foods (1266 Soquel Ave., 831-423-8632, staffoflifemarket.com) is holding its 56th anniversary party this weekend. Activities are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, including vendor samples and food tastings. Also, there is complimentary wine and beer tasting with discounts to purchase select wine and beer each day (noon to 6 p.m. Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday).

Friday’s promotions include $1 off all coffee drinks, plus special deli items for sale such as cheeseburgers and sausage sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, customers receive $2 off per pound at the hot and salad bars. At the café, there is a $2 discount on smoothies and juices Saturday, and single scoops of gelato are $4 on Sunday.

“This anniversary is not just about looking back, it’s about celebrating the people, farmers, and customers who’ve supported us every step of the way,” said Staff of Life owner Gary Bascou.

Verve Coffee launches Grateful Dead coffee collab

Verve Coffee Roasters has partnered with the Grateful Dead for a limited-edition organic coffee, Grateful Dead Morning Brew. Verve describes the coffee as rich, complex and “timeless and experimental, inspired by the free-spirited energy of the Grateful Dead.” It’s available as whole bean or ground coffee in Verve cafes or online at vervecoffee.com. The website also features a selection of limited-edition merchandise including Verve-Grateful Dead T-shirts and travel mugs.

This specialty brew is also Verve’s first certified organic coffee. Verve’s Santa Cruz cafes are at 1540 Pacific Ave., 1010 Fair Ave., 104 Bronson St. Suite 19 and 816 41st Ave.

Greek food pop-ups downtown

Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church (223 Church St.) is hosting a pop-up this weekend: Greek Food Faire. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. There is food for sale, plus live music. This is a smaller version of the big festival that happens every September. Visit propheteliassc.org/news-events/2025-greek-food-faire for details.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Skypark food truck series continues Friday

The monthly Scotts Valley Food Truck Friday series continues 5-8 p.m. Friday at Skypark (361 Kings Village Road). Sales at the beer and wine garden benefit the Scotts Valley Education Foundation. Participating food trucks are S.C. Eatery, Kuki’s Bowls, Tacos El Jesse, S&B, Italia Fire, Cracked Cookies, Spontaneous Confection and the Rollin Snack Shack. There is live music, face painting and picnic table seating. Attendees can also bring lawn chairs. For details, visit foodtrucksagogo.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Eat pie for a great cause

Pie for the People (pieforthepeople-santacruz.org) is holding its next fundraiser 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the Homeless Garden Project farm on Shaffer Road at Delaware Avenue. Proceeds benefit the Homeless Garden Project, whose mission includes helping unhoused individuals transition to stable jobs and housing. Attendees are encouraged to bring a vegetarian pie, plus a donation of $5 or more per person. Pie for the People, on Instagram @pieforthepeoplesc, raises money for local nonprofits by hosting seasonal community pie potlucks. RSVPs are encouraged at tinyurl.com/PieSpring2025.

MONTEREY COUNTY

Alvarado Street Brewery earns accolades

At the 2025 World Beer Cup, held May 1 in Indiana, Alvarado Street Brewery won three medals. It earned a gold medal for Howzit Punch in the American-style sour ale category, a silver medal for Contains No Juice in the hazy/juicy double IPA category and a bronze medal for Gold Label Mai Tai P.A. in the American strong pale ale category.

The World Beer Cup is known as one of the most prestigious beer competitions across the globe. This year, there were 8,375 entries from 1,761 breweries in 49 countries. For more information, visit worldbeercup.org.

Alvarado Street Brewery, which just celebrated its 11th anniversary, operates three Monterey County brewery restaurants and a production brewery as well as a tasting room in Spreckels. Learn more at asb.beer.

CAPITOLA

Summer food truck series starts Friday

Capitola Recreation is launching its summertime Food Truck Friday series 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Monterey Avenue Park. Food trucks at the event will be Evil Wings, Sauceyz and Scrumptious Fish & Chips, and there will be live music from Spun. The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation is sponsoring a beer garden. Similar events will be held June 27, July 25 and Aug. 8. For details, visit facebook.com/capitola.recreation.

SOQUEL

Pinot, paella at Bargetto Winery

Bargetto Winery (3535 N. Main St., bargetto.com) is hosting Pinot & Paella 4-6 p.m. Sunday. Guests will enjoy paella and award-winning pinot noirs. Cost is $85 per person, with a discount for Wine Club members. Reservations are required. To book or ask questions, contact 831-475-2258, ext. 10 or receptionist@bargetto.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Final week for downtown farmers market location

It’s the last week for the Wednesday afternoon downtown Santa Cruz farmers market at its current spot (Cedar and Lincoln streets). As of May 21, it will be at Cedar Street between Walnut and Church. The Santa Cruz Community Farmers Markets (santacruzfarmersmarket.org) invites the community to attend the last market at “this precious place that has housed it for decades. We have put together hundreds of photos and will be recording memories with the Museum of Art and History from 1-5 p.m. Local, dedicated market musicians will be playing for us.”

Quick Bites, compiled by Tara Fatemi Walker, is your weekly helping of Santa Cruz County restaurant, food and drink news. Send items to sentinelfood@gmail.com (Sunday 7 p.m. deadline for that week’s column). Want local food and drink news as it happens? Follow the Sentinel’s food crew on X @santacruzfood.