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The sand and surf are sublime, and the boardwalk draws flocks of fans. But there’s more to do in Santa Cruz than lounge on the beach. A number of new downtown attractions have opened recently, offering interesting, fun and downright delicious ways to explore life by the sea.
When Santa Cruz’s Museum of Art and History decided to expand last year, they did it by opening outward, launching a market hall and outdoor community space in Abbott Square, the breezy space adjacent to MAH’s downtown digs. Now happy crowds congregate here, drawn by the live music, buzzy vibe and seven eating and dining venues that range from a stylish craft bar to a poke shop, veggie counter, gourmet ice-pop purveyor and a wood-fired pizza spot with a fresh mozzarella bar.
Within months of the square’s opening last summer, museum attendance had already soared as visitors partied and noshed — and then explored the galleries next door. The 10,000-square foot outdoor space is dotted with tables, market umbrellas and a performance stage, where bands perform each week in an Instagram-worthy setting, capped by the giant red orbs that float above the mirrored entrance to the museum.
The market hall beckons with Milk & Wood’s handcrafted ice pops, Anchors Away’s oysters, lobster rolls and chowder bar, and — personal fave — Pizzeria la Bufala, where the blistered-crust Neapolitan-style pizzas compete for attention with fresh mozzarellas, served with arugula salad and wedges of pizza bread.
Mixologist Kate Gerwin’s Front & Cooper is a two-fer: a chic, sleek wine and beer bar tucked against one wall, and an atmospheric craft cocktail bar around the corner. Gin and tonic devotees, take note — there’s an entire menu section devoted to Spanish-style Gintonic cocktails here, including one made with pineapple, sage and mint, for example, and served in wine glasses.
In addition to all the eating and drinking possibilities, Abbott Square offers events ranging from live music to art workshops, maker classes and wellness sessions, including a recent yoga event dubbed Downward Drinking Dog. And, of course, there’s the museum next door, which just opened a new exhibit inspired by the antics of Coyote, the brilliant trickster of North American indigenous folklore. The immersive, floor-to-ceiling exhibit by Washington artist RYAN! Feddersen is described as half graphic novel and half coloring book, with visitors invited to add their own embellishments using coyote bone-shaped crayons.
If You Go
Abbott Square: Open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays at 725 Front St., Santa Cruz; abbottsquaremarket.com.
Museum of Art and History: Admission to MAH is $8-$10. Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, until 10 p.m. Fridays and 3 p.m. Saturdays at 705 Front St., Santa Cruz; santacruzmah.org.