Grab a ticket, a paintbrush or microphone. Santa Cruz County is buzzing with creativity, and our readers picked the theaters, venues and cultural gathering spots that keep the arts alive and thriving. These 2025 Lookout List: Art & Entertainment winners and runners-up are the places everyone is talking about. Find more Lookout List winners here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 131 Old Coast Rd., Davenport 95017<\/p>\n Creatives in Santa Cruz County praise Chris Johnson Glass at Studio Zayante in Davenport for its welcoming atmosphere and the rare opportunity to create meaningful glass art pieces. Customers highlight Chris Johnson\u2019s supportive teaching style and the variety of class offerings \u2013 one voter even praised the studio for allowing them to incorporate personal touches like loved ones\u2019 ashes into their glasswork.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 703 Front St., Santa Cruz 95060<\/p>\n Voters say M.K. Contemporary Art in downtown Santa Cruz stands out for its well-curated exhibits that highlight a refreshing mix of unique and talented artists. Locals appreciate the gallery\u2019s lively atmosphere, variety of rotating shows and events that often include live music.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 112 Capitola Ave #100, Capitola 95010<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 95060<\/p>\n Bookshop Santa Cruz is a beloved downtown fixture known for its massive selection, friendly and knowledgeable staff and strong community spirit. Lookout List voters praise its welcoming atmosphere, local roots and standout children\u2019s section filled with thoughtful recommendations and unique finds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Lookout readers say DNA\u2019s Comedy Lab events always impress with strong headliners and lively open mic nights. While the future of DNA Comedy Lab events is unclear as the founder has moved out of the area, DNA still hosted the annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival in October of this year to much success.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 95065<\/p>\n Live music lovers rave about Moe\u2019s Alley\u2019s varied and entertaining lineup in its fun, intimate space. Lookout List voters praise the staff and owners as friendly and engaged, making the venue a go-to for live music.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 320-2 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 95060<\/p>\n Kuumbwa Jazz in Santa Cruz stands out for its world-class performances in an intimate venue with excellent acoustics and a welcoming atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the diverse lineup of artists, attentive staff, quality food and drinks, and the nonprofit\u2019s reputation for offering top-tier acts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 1156 High St., Santa Cruz 95064<\/p>\n UC Santa Cruz\u2019s Quarry Amphitheater stands out with its stunning redwood\u2011lined setting and top\u2011tier live acts that make each show feel special. Voters highlight the venue\u2019s thoughtful staging and welcoming production staff who elevate the concert experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 1124 Pacific Ave. #4415, Santa Cruz 5060<\/p>\n Moviegoers say the Del Mar Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz stands out for its historic charm and intimate, old-fashioned atmosphere that enhances every screening. For generations, voters have appreciated its carefully curated film selection and the nostalgic experience it offers alongside its cozy setting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n I love going to the movies, so I\u2019m happy at any of the great local theaters we have, but I must give a special shoutout to the Del Mar on Pacific Avenue<\/a>. Don\u2019t let the limited number of films at any given time fool you \u2013 each theater is comfortable and high-quality, and the vintage decor adds a unique charm to the viewing experience \u2014 not to mention the great concessions and friendly, knowledgeable staff. Its midnight movies on the weekends are a blast, too. Landmark might have taken The Nick from us, but I will hang onto the Del Mar for dear life.<\/p>\n \u2013 Max Chun<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n 705 Front St., Santa Cruz 95060<\/p>\n Lookout List voters say the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History delivers \u201calways interesting, insightful presentations\u201d across its three floors of exhibits. They commend the museum\u2019s strong support for local artists, diverse art and history programming and the friendly, community\u2011minded atmosphere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 801 High St., Santa Cruz 95060<\/p>\n Parents say MusicalMe stands out because it has spent 29 years serving local families and creates a warm, playful environment where their little ones thrive in music and movement. Voters highlight caring instructors, a nurturing space for beginners and a strong sense of community among families.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 4640 Soquel Dr., Soquel 95073<\/p>\n Locals say Ugly Mug Coffeehouse in Soquel shines with its cozy atmosphere and friendly baristas. The open mic nights are hosted every Monday from 5 to 8 p.m., welcoming music, poetry and original work, with lottery\u2011style sign-ups that give performers a supportive and inclusive stage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 402 Ingalls St. #19, Santa Cruz 95060<\/p>\n 1001 Center St. #1, Santa Cruz 95060<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 95065<\/p>\n Moe\u2019s Alley in Santa\u202fCruz stands out for its lively live music shows where the crowd moves from blues to reggae in a tight\u2011knit, high\u2011energy space. Dancers highlight the venue\u2019s intimate setting, friendly bar staff and strong lineup of acts that turn concerts into memorable nights inside and under the stars on Moe\u2019s back patio.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Listeners say KPIG\u2011FM stands out for its authentic, community\u2011rooted sound that mixes folk, blues, and Americana artists. Voters praise the station\u2019s laid\u2011back personalities, deep music knowledge and \u201clots of play for our local singer-songwriters.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 501 Upper Park Rd., Santa Cruz 95065<\/p>\n Audiences say Santa Cruz Shakespeare delivers consistently world-class productions with brilliant actors and superbly executed performances in a beautiful outdoor setting. Voters highlight the company\u2019s high professional standards, approachable classics, innovative new plays and the welcoming, community-focused atmosphere that makes every show memorable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 9400 Mill St., Ben Lomond 95005<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 2901 Freedom Blvd., Corralitos 95076<\/p>\n Trivia-goers say El Vaquero Winery in Corralitos stands out for its themed trivia nights, mixing audio and visual questions that keep the evenings lively and engaging. Reviewers praise host Michael Gaither for his fun, approachable style, the winery\u2019s excellent selection of wines and the social, welcoming atmosphere that draws both regulars and newcomers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 501 Upper Park Rd., Santa Cruz 95065<\/p>\n The Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park offers theatergoers an unforgettable outdoor setting where the trees and night sky enhance each performance. Nearly every Lookout List voter regarded this venue as \u201cbeautiful.\u201d Visitors also praise the venue\u2019s thoughtful layout with good sight lines, convenient amenities and the relaxed, picnic\u2011friendly atmosphere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source lookout.co \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Grab a ticket, a paintbrush or microphone. Santa Cruz County is buzzing with creativity, and our readers picked the theaters, venues and cultural gathering spots that keep the arts alive and thriving. These 2025 Lookout List: Art & Entertainment winners and runners-up are the places everyone is talking about. Find more Lookout List winners here. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2134284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[22009,406325],"class_list":["post-2134283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-free","tag-lookout-list-2025"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/The-2025-Lookout-List-Arts-Entertainment.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2134283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2134283"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2134283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2134285,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2134283\/revisions\/2134285"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2134284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2134283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2134283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2134283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Favorite Art Class for Adults<\/h2>\n
Winner: Chris Johnson Glass \u2013 Studio Zayante<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Favorite Art Gallery<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a>M.K. Contemporary Art<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Runner-up: Lumen <\/a>Gallery<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n
Favorite Bookstore<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a>Bookshop Santa Cruz<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Favorite Comedy Night<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a>DNA\u2019s Comedy Lab<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Favorite Live Music Lineup<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a>Moe\u2019s Alley<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Favorite Live Music Venue \u2013 Indoor<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a>Kuumbwa Jazz<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
\nFavorite Live Music Venue \u2013 Outdoor<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a>Quarry Amphitheater<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Favorite Movie Theater<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Del Mar Theatre<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Lookout Staff Pick:<\/mark> Favorite Movie Theater \u2013 Del Mar<\/h3>\n
\n
Favorite Museum<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
\nFavorite\u00a0Music Class for Beginners<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>MusicalMe<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Favorite Open Mic Night<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Ugly Mug Coffeehouse<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Runner-up: <\/a>11th Hour Coffee<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n
Favorite Place to Go Dancing<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Moe\u2019s Alley<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n
Favorite Radio Station<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>KPIG-FM<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n
Favorite Theater Company<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Santa Cruz Shakespeare<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nFavorite\u00a0Trivia Night<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>El Vaquero Winery<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n
Favorite\u00a0<\/strong>Venue for Local Theater<\/h2>\n
Winner: <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>The Audrey Stanley Grove<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n