SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Chamber music festival concerts coming

Local nonprofit Music in May announces its 18th annual chamber music festival to be held on Memorial Day weekend. There will be an an organ and harpist recital May 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Peace United Church, 900 High St. in Santa Cruz. MainStage concerts are May 24 at 7:30 p.m. and May 25 at 2 p.m. at Cabrillo’s Samper Recital Hall at 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Ticket prices are $55 and $25 general admission and $25 for students, including all fees. More information is available at musicinmay.com or by calling 831-429-9100.

SANTA CRUZ

OLLI to host former campus architect Frank Zwart

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC Santa Cruz invites the public to an in-person and virtual presentation from 10 a.m. to noon on April 13, at Colleges Nine/Lewis Multipurpose Room, 615 College Nine Road.

Join for a social hour followed by a presentation by former campus architect Frank Zwart titled, “The Imagining and Making of a University Campus at Santa Cruz.” He will recount how the Santa Cruz community convinced the University of California to establish a campus there.

Admission is free and open to the public. Bring a friend. There will be coffee and nibbles. For directions and free parking information visit olli.ucsc.edu/monthly-gatherings/location-directions-and-parking. Contact olli@ucsc.edu for any questions.

CAPITOLA

Mid County Senior Center to hold benefit dance

The Mid County Senior Center will be hosting Bradley’s Big Swing Party featuring special guest vocalist Lori Rivera from 7-9 p.m. Friday at 829 Bay Ave.

Cost of admission is $10. Mid County Senior Center provides a variety of programs and activities for the local community. Ages 18 and over are welcome to participate in the dances.

SANTA CRUZ

M.K. Contemporary Art presents photo exhibit

In partnership with The Center for Photographic Art and PhotoCarmel, M.K. Contemporary Art presents: “Divergent Visions: Alternative Photo Practices,” at 703 Front St., running April 4-27. Curated by Shelby Graham, the first Friday reception will be 6-8 p.m. and showcases innovative photographic techniques that challenge traditional approaches to image-making.

Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m., Thursday to Sunday, and by appointment. For more info, go to mkcontemporary.art.

WATSONVILLE

Soroptimists meeting at Ella’s at the Airport

Soroptimist International of Watsonville will meet at Ella’s at the Airport, 100 Aviation Way, on April 15 at noon for a lunch meeting. After a brief business meeting, the program will include speaker Tina Chavez, Second Harvest Food Bank corporate and community relations director. Chavez will update the club members on their new “Operation Bridge the Gap” program.

Women in the community who wish to make a difference for women and girls are welcome to join to explore membership opportunities. For further information or to RSVP, contact Renee Mello at 831-840-2479.

SANTA CRUZ

Discussion on technology, policy and progress

Join Santa Cruz Works on Wednesday for panel discussion “Beaches, Books, Budgets, and Bots,” to tackle pressing issues with top innovators and thought leaders at the Chaminade Resort & Spa, 1 Chaminade Lane, from 6-8 p.m.

The evening kicks off with food, beverage, live music and networking. At 7, there will be 5-minute tech presentations from Innovation Within and Calorify followed by a Fireside Chat with experts exploring the ripple effects of political instability on our communities and the world at large. Featured speakers include former county Supervisor Zach Friend, higher education academic leader Lori Kletzer and author and climate science expert Gary Griggs, among others. General admission is $28.52. Go to tinyurl.com/2bjybw92 for information and to register.

SANTA CRUZ

Portuguese Hall to host annual dance, luncheon

The Santa Cruz Portuguese Hall invites the community to their annual Queens Dance and Membership Drive Luncheon on Sunday at the hall, located on 216 Evergreen St.

Social hour starts at 1 p.m., followed by lunch, the 2025 Queens’ presentation, music and dancing. To become a member, you must be of Portuguese descent or married to someone that is of Portuguese descent. The cost for membership is $25 per couple/per household. For non-members, admission is $25 for food and entertainment. Donations are accepted. Your support and commitment allow the hall to preserve and promote their Portuguese heritage.

Visit santacruzportuguesehall.org to RSVP. For more information, call 831-423-7753 or email infoscportuguesehall@gmail.com.

APTOS

Fly Fishing Club monthly meeting

The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club is holding its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Drive. The general meeting and door prize drawing will be followed by a presentation on fishing Pyramid Lake by Bucket List Fly Fishing owner Rob Anderson. The public is invited to attend. For more information, visit santacruzflyfishing.org.

SANTA CRUZ

CODA exhibition opens April

The public is invited to visit the Member’s Exhibit of the Community of Digital Artists at the R. Blitzer Gallery, 2801 Mission St. from April 3 to 26. The opening reception, featuring live music, will be held on Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m. The closing reception on April 26 from 1-4 p.m. (presentation at 1:30) will feature an artist talk, book signing and pop up exhibit by award-winning photographer and author Oliver Klink. He will be talking about and sharing images from his new book, “Poetry in Motion,” which features photographs of horses he has shot all over the world.

The exhibit features the work of 40 CODA members. The images were juried by Ann Jastrab, executive director of the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel. Regular gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday or by appointment by calling 831-458-1217.