Local, amateur filmmakers share space with established directors at the Pinnacles Film Festival.

The inaugural Pinnacles Film Festival in King City offers a chance for local, independent filmmakers to showcase their work. The concept has resonated; there are 37 films in the lineup, presented in three theaters over a single day, Oct. 10. “Part of our original idea was to create a space...

Photos: Costumes and Tea Dueling at Steampunk Picnic Near Santa Cruz

“Natural Science” was the theme as steampunk fans in California’s Santa Cruz area met on Saturday, Oct. 3, for their annual picnic. This was the 10th gathering for the informal group, held this year at Highlands County Park in Ben Lomond. Activities included a costume contest and tea...

CSUMB alum returns to talk about his well-received debut thriller.

Writer Omar Hussain is from the San Francisco Bay Area and is now living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. On the back of his Monterey-based thriller, A Thousand Natural Shocks, it says he holds an MFA in creative writing from NYU, but Hussain is also a graduate of the Humanities and Communication program at CSU Monterey Bay. He will speak there for the Writers from the Edge series on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Hollister teens present ‘Freaky Friday’ at Granada

A mother and daughter who can’t stop butting heads will be forced to stand in each others’ shoes when San Benito Stage Company opens its fall teen musical “Freaky Friday” on Oct. 16 at the Granada Theater. Directed by Aaron Hernandez, the production features a cast...

Devon Blood in Santa Clara

After being shot in the head during a home robbery at the age of twenty-six, Devon Blood lost precise muscle control on the dominant side of his body. No longer able to skateboard, he refused to lose art as well. With severe muscle tremors affecting his right arm, he trained himself to tattoo left-handed instead. Now two decades later, the Oakland-based artist presents Intrusive Thoughts, a full portfolio of skateboard decks and other canvases bearing his aesthetic in oil, acrylics, and tattoo pigment. For his hour-long artist talk at the Triton, Devon also shares his autobiographical book Keep Laughing.

Governor Newsom Announces 35 New Films Coming to California

Sacramento, CA…California isn’t ready to say “Bye, Felicia” to the iconic Friday franchise. Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced 35 new films, including New Line Cinema’s highly anticipated Last Friday, received credits in the latest round of awards from the expanded California Film Commission’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program. These awards also include a new project from Mike Mills and Michael 2 (working title) from Lionsgate, which released the blockbuster Michael Jackson biopic earlier this year. New awardees, including 28 independent films, underscore both California’s unique status as a haven for independent creators and the only state where stories like these can be properly told. The announcement follows Governor Newsom’s recent push to bolster California’s entertainment industry with a new post-production tax credit, an expanded film and TV tax credit, and protections for actors from AI-generated content.

Maya Cinema to return to downtown Salinas

Downtown Salinas has been filled with the neon glow of the Maya Cinema for over two decades, until the lights deteriorated immensely. The place that formed several memories for the Salinas Community had packed its screens and permanently closed. Not only had they taken the movie screens, but also the memories of many patrons, leaving them with an eternal sensation of nostalgia.

King City sidewalk art competition names winners

KING CITY — Transportation Agency for Monterey County, in partnership with Sol Treasures, has announced the winners of the King City Safe Routes to School Sidewalk Art Competition. The competition launched in spring 2026 with a call for artwork from elementary, middle and high school or college students, adult...

Study looks at development sprawl

When it comes to development sprawl Tulare County is right in line with the state average when it comes to its impact. That's according to a new study from NumbersUSA that looked at how sprawl was tied to population growth. The study looked how much the state has grown over a 40-year period from 1982 to 2022 and how that growth impacted land development. Co-authors of the study were Philip Cafaro, professor at Colorado State University's School of Global Environmental Sustainability, and Leon Kolankiewicz, NumbersUSA scientific director.

17 poets, 4 minutes each: Writers of Color Santa Cruz County celebrates 5 years

➤ Para leer el artículo en español, haga clic aquí. Four minutes is not a lot of time to tell a story. But for the poets of Writers of Color Santa Cruz County, it can be enough to make their voices heard. The collective will host its...

Motion Pacific dance finds new home on Frederick Street

After over two years without a permanent studio, Motion Pacific has signed a 10-year lease on a new space on Frederick Street. The Santa Cruz nonprofit left its Front Street studio in 2024 and has offered dance classes and programs through partnerships and rented spaces over the past two years. The new location at 718 Frederick St. will bring these programs under one roof while providing shared space for local artists and community organizations.

This Bay Area superstar turned a concert into one big family reunion

At Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Kehlani’s hometown concert blended R&B spectacle, family reunion energy and a moving finale.

Creed from ‘The Office' hits the stage in Napa, Felton

'Friday,' 'Michael' sequels among upcoming films awarded California tax credits

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced that 35 new films, including New Line Cinema's upcoming sequel "Last Friday" and Lionsgate's "Michael" follow-up, received credits in the latest round of awards from the expanded California Film Commission’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program. The announcement...

New Book Published on ‘Photographic Collective Biography’ of Musa Dagh Immigrants in the U.S.

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Prof. Vahram Shemmassian, Director of the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Northridge, has published a new book, titled “Armenian Immigrants from Musa Dagh in the United States: A Photographic Collective Biography” (Yerevan, 2026). Its cover design and layout is the work of Lusine Matevosyan.