Why local stylist Tina Brown keeps you in tip-top fashion shape

Well-known stylist Rachel Zoe probably has a day that unravels like this: A celebrity calls her up and says, “Hey Rachel, I need you to revolutionize my ‘look.’” Or, “Hey, Rachel, I’ve got an awards show coming up.” Or, “Hey, Rachel, I’m going shopping—please come, STAT.” In Hollywood, that’s likely the life of a stylist to the stars. But in Santa Cruz, it’s not that much different for our fashion guru, Tina Brown. The only thing she might do differently than Zoe is charge a more manageable fee for her services, and help us “normal people” in need of a wardrobe overhaul. Meet Brown, owner of Ilka, a one-woman company that offers shopping and styling services. She’ll uproot your closet, kick out the bad stuff and help you see a brand new ‘you.’ Or, she’ll take you shopping to update things, do your colors, analyze your body and give you a new ‘look’ and a new perspective.

Shakespeare Santa Cruz falls in love with ‘Romeo and Juliet’

It’s the love story that never dies. However, in this case, the lovers at the heart of the tale do have a tragic ending, but still, the story at large in “Romeo and Juliet” is one that endures time and spans generational differences. It is the classic tale of boy meets girl, families forbid the love affair, and the lovers go against the wishes of their families. It’s a story about love and what happens when people try to interfere, because, as we all know, don’t tell people what to do when they’re in love.

Former ‘Sentinel’ reporter Dan White pens riveting, hilarious memoir

While Dan White’s first book might be called, “The Cactus Eaters,” it’s no prickly read. Rather, it’s a smooth page-turner, leaving the reader ‘thirsty’ for more. Simply put: You can’t put it down.

Jane Sullivan

To call Jane Sullivan a pioneer might be an understatement. As director of the Santa Cruz Film Festival, she’s a wild ball of energy. And, in the seven years she’s presided over the local film festival, she has managed to pull off phenomenal feats on a very big scale. It hasn’t been without plenty of hard work, too many volunteers to mention and probably a headache or two.

17th Avenue Studios offers a ‘hip’ open house

To say that Lenny Gerstein makes no bones about his artwork is an understatement. He’ll admit that he’s not expecting to make a fat paycheck off his stunning wood sculptures, and that’s just fine with him, thank you very much. He’s already had a successful career—this part of his life is dessert.

Inside a bestseller’s second memoir and why writing is major discipline

Books penned by Isabel Allende usually remain at the top of a “must read” list. Allende’s new English language release of “The Sum of Our Days,” will be no different. Published last year overseas, “Sum” is a sequel to Allende’s first memoir, “Paula,” a story told in a letter to her deceased adult daughter, Paula. This book picks up years after Paula has been gone, and is also told in a letter writing style to Allende’s child.

How Warren Knox works outside—and often on top of—the box

At age 16, Warren Knox was already an entrepreneur. He came up with a one-of-a-kind business venture—making elevated garden boxes for people who couldn’t bend down. In essence, he made them for people like his grandfather who was fond of gardening but either didn’t have the appropriate dirt for planting carrots and such, or simply couldn’t reach a ground-level planter box. Since then, Knox has been building these garden boxes on legs and shipping them across the country.

MAH’s most breathtaking work of the season delves into the art and history of China

Enter. Then clap. Now look around—quickly. Did you catch it? Stand by the eccentric greenhouse sculpture in the main lobby of the Museum of Art & History at the McPherson Center in downtown Santa Cruz. Now clap again. If you’re paying attention, you’ll notice that a horde of fake flowers in cozy pots will dance when you clap your hands. It’s a rather adorable sight, surrounded by a rather not-so-adorable concept: global warming. The piece, “Green House Tent Dress,” is “a comment on how the U.S. and China need to work on our policies of conservation,” says museum spokesperson Theresa Myers. And the twirling flowers that dance? “I think it has to do with paying attention,” says Susan Hillhouse, curator for the museum. “We’re living things and we want to survive.”

Inside the prolific local poet and writer’s latest read, and why it’s one of his biggest milestones yet

I have known Morton Marcus, or “Mort” as his friends call him, for many years now, and I’ve interviewed him numerous times. I can recall two specific interviews in which he helped me enormously in providing an overwhelming amount of information needed for my journalistic assignments. This much I can say about “Mort”: He does things in a grandiose way. Whether it’s through his prolific poetry or serving fine cheeses, coffee and baguettes over two hours of conversing about Santa Cruz writers (that’s story No. 1) or inviting me to join “The Breakfast Club” (story No. 2) with himself, Sandy Lydon, Geoffrey Dunn, George Ow, Jr. and the late Tony Hill, for waffles and fruit at the Walnut Avenue Café for a series of interviews on a book that Ow published a few years back.