What's New: Fall 2006

RENOVATIONS AT FOUR-STAR RESORT COMPLETE
Santa Cruz's Chaminade Resort and Spa is proud to announce the completion of a $5 million renovation. The property's newly designed 156 guest rooms, including 44 suites, mix relaxation and creativity for a new generation of conference resort. Contemporary Spanish furnishings, granite bathrooms, rich fabrics and innovative color palettes intertwine with the natural beauty of the California Coast. Located on a bluff above Santa Cruz, Chaminade brings the perfect mix of luxury and relaxation to any stay. Views of the ocean complement newly renovated rooms and flexible, full-featured meeting space.

LEGENDARY SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
In 2007, the West Coast's premiere seaside amusement park and a state historic landmark will celebrate its centennial year. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, California's "original beach party", was rebuilt in 1907 after a devastating fire. Designed in part by famed architect William Weeks, the attraction featured a new Casino complete with ballroom, the Plunge indoor swimming pool, a pleasure pier, and boardwalk. The Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster was added in 1924 and still thrills visitors today. And 70 hand-carved horses still prance proudly to the music of a 342-pipe Ruth band organ, built in 1894.

NEW VISITOR CENTER CELEBRATES PACIFIC MIGRATIONS AT HISTORIC "CHINA BEACH"
New Brighton State Beach, in the small city of Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz, was once the site of a Chinese fishing village beginning in the 1850s and continuing until the mid-1880s. Located just east of Capitola's Depot Hill, most of the fish were dried and shipped to markets along the coast and across the Pacific, while the catch of the day was sold in local towns by Chinese fish peddlers. In 1933 the state of California purchased the property where China Beach had been located and the land immediately north of it for a state park. Today, the 93-acre park offers spectacular views of the Monterey Bay, and a family-oriented campground which sits on the towering bluffs high above the Pacific Ocean. Finally, thanks to a unique collaboration between the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, and a team of historians and fund raisers, a new Pacific Migrations Visitor Center offers insight into the lives of the Chinese immigrants who played a significant role in the county's history. In addition, the center features displays and information on the Ohlone Indians, Spanish-speaking Californios, Yankees, Italians, Japanese, Filipino and Mexican immigrants, who have all played a role in the regional economic development of fishing, agriculture, transportation, business and even early tourism.

ART IN THE ATTIC CELEBRATES 1ST YEAR
Fresh from its one-year anniversary celebration, The Attic has established itself as a fusion of fresh cuisine and a community venue for the many artists that call Santa Cruz County home. Creating a community atmosphere where art, performance, and an elegant yet casual dining experience come together under one roof, The Attic is also home to the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts. An ever-changing venue, this 5,000 square-foot loft with its skylights and open-air feel hosts monthly art exhibits, and a wide range of performances from talented local artists to world class performers. The Attic's menu ranges from classic to eccentric, providing affordable fine dining featuring organic, market-driven cuisine. A tea bar offers over 50 different kinds of whole leaf teas, brewed and served to perfection.

PERFUMER'S APPRENTICE MAKES SCENTS. LITERALLY!
Are you a Jean Nate or a Chanel No. 5? Now you can find out, at a new fragrance boutique in downtown Santa Cruz. Designed with a vintage apothecary in mind, The Perfumer's Apprentice can assist you with finding your signature scent during a fragrance session. Sip tea from fine china, browse through books on natural oils, and uncover your personality profile, olfactorily speaking, of course. Offering over 300 essential oils and perfumery ingredients, fragrance sessions include a consultation, a 5ml bottle of your creation including a customized label, your choice of one body care product to carry your new scent, and tea and cookies. Why wear a celebrity's scent behind your ears when you can opt instead for a custom-blended creation using ginger lily, pink lotus, or coffee flower? The finer points of blending are all explained, including top notes (scents perceived a few minutes after the application of a perfume); heart notes (the scent of a perfume that emerges after the top notes dissipate, appearing 10 minutes to 1 hour after the application), and base notes (the scent following the departure of the heart notes, ususally not perceived until 30 minutes after the application). In addition, guest speakers and workshops on creative writing and even wizardry all help visitors get in touch with their imaginative side. The Perfumer's Apprentice is also a perfect place for a one-of-a-kind bridal shower, birthday party or other special events.