Venue: UCSC

University of California, Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz Monument Sign

UC Santa Cruz, located just above Monterey Bay on California’s Central Coast, is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and agriculture. Just 45 minutes from the high-tech center of Silicon Valley and 25 minutes from the fertile farmlands of Watsonville, our geographic placement has helped us practice our social justice values as we seek to develop technology for the social good.

In addition, the Santa Cruz area’s diverse community and vibrant cultural scene mean students live among towering redwoods and misty ocean fog while also being close to city happenings, social engagement, cultural events, and opportunities for learning, growth, and recreation.

Getting to Santa Cruz

1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Airports

UCSC is about 75 miles south of San Francisco. The closest airport is San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC). San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is also an option. Highways 1 and 17 serve Santa Cruz.

Uber or Lyft is typically the easiest way to get to Santa Cruz from either airport. Depending on traffic, you can expect it will take 45 minutes to get to Santa Cruz from SJC, and 1 hour, 30 minutes from SFO.

Getting Around Town

Recommended bus stop: McLaughlin Drive (UCSC - College 9/John R. Lewis)

Parking

Find all the information you need about on-campus parking. The main parking garage is the Core West Parking Structure. If you need a parking pass for a rental car, please contact Brant Robertson (approximately $10/day).

Around Santa Cruz, most parking is paid using the Park Mobile app (App Store, Google Play Store).

Bus System

The bus stop nearest to the on-campus meeting location is the McLaughlin Drive (UCSC - College 9/John R. Lewis) bus stop.

There are several bus routes that serve UCSC - 11, 16, 18, 19, and 20. Please note that if you intend to take the bus to campus from the east side of Santa Cruz (i.e., east of the San Lorenzo River), you will take one route to the River Front Metro Center in downtown Santa Cruz, then transfer to one of the routes serving campus, as listed above.

The Santa Cruz Metro system lets you buy bus tickets on their Metro SPLASH Pass app (App Store, Google Play Store).

Additionally, you can view live information about the bus routes and stops using the Transit app (App Store, Google Play Store).

Note: The buses will be very crowded. Our meeting is taking place during the first week of the UCSC Winter Quarter, so there are more students trying to get around during this particular week.

Biking

With good weather, Santa Cruz is a beautiful place to bike around - you can rent an e-bike through BCycle to see the sights! A 30-minute pass costs $7, and can be purchased via their app (App Store, Google Play Store). There are BCycle docks located throughout the city and campus.

On-Campus Meeting Location

1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Walking is often the best way to experience campus. Shuttles and buses provide convenient transportation across campus and between the colleges and academic centers.

Campus Location

Our meeting space is in the Interdisciplinary Sciences Building. This building is located on Science Hill, about a 5-minute walk from the Core West Parking structure and a 2-minute walk from the College 9/John R. Lewis bus stop.

The main meeting room is on the ground floor, ISB 102.

Work Spaces

ISB 102 has been reserved for the duration of our meeting - our main Sessions will take place there. People are free to work there during the afternoons. Additionally, other rooms have been reserved for breakout groups:

CfAO conference room
ISB 126
ISB 165
ISB 221
Sandy's office CfAO 101

These rooms should remain unlocked throughout the meeting - if needed, Brant and Sandy have keys.

Lodging

Local Hotels

Most hotels in Santa Cruz are located in three areas throughout the city. Here is a list of recommended hotels; Brant has personally been to each of these hotels and they are all safe, clean, and comfortable. Lodging can be quite expensive. From these hotels, transportation to campus varies. The Westside and Main beach hotels are served by city busses that go directly to campus, but many have free or inexpensive parking and a rental car would be convenient. The Ocean Street hotels would likely require a rental car or daily rideshare.

1) Westside -- near campus

2) Main beach -- near the Boardwalk and beach

3) Ocean Street -- usually cheaper, farther from campus

Dining

Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Wineries, and Breweries

Santa Cruz is a town of about 60,000 people, but has a surprisingly good culinary scene and a very healthy bar and brewery scene. We also have lots have high-quality coffee shops. Here are some recommended places in town, based on location.

1) Westside -- near campus

Humble Sea Brewery -- hipster pride of Santa Cruz, terrific casual brewery, usually has a food truck and small plates to order.
Cat and Cloud, Swift Street -- where Brant orders his monthly kilo of coffee beans
Verve Coffee, 1010 Fair Avenue -- great coffee, but the hipsters call Brant "sir"
Rexford Winery -- owned by former UCSC Astro professor Joe Miller
Marianne's Ice Cream -- 1201 Fair Avenue, amazing ice cream including the infamous Otter 841 blend
Venus Spirits Cocktails and Kitchen -- Venus is our local hipster gin distillery, and this is their kitchen and cocktail spot.
Copal -- Oaxacan food with great mole, and amazing mezcal selection
Companion Bakeshop -- very good bakery, serves great coffee
Bantam -- high-end pizza place, pastas, indoor and outdoor seating

2) Downtown Santa Cruz / Pacific Avenue

Taqueria Jalapenos -- burritos are terrific here
Birichino Winery Tasting Room -- Brant is a member here, best known for Petillant Naturel (roses and white) but has great red grapes including zinfandels, cabs, pinots, mourverdre, cinsault,
Abbot Square Market -- communal restaurant and live music space, outdoor + indoor by the Santa Cruz Art Museum, includes the Front and Cooper cocktail bar, many pizza / burger / salad / poke / sushi places, often live performances.
Gabriella Cafe -- one of the best small restaurants in Santa Cruz
Alderwood -- high-end fancy place
Walnut Street Cafe -- breakfast + brunch place, omletes, waffles, etc.
Verve Coffee, Pacific Avenue -- great coffee, but the hipsters call Brant "sir"
Bookshop Santa Cruz -- not a restaurant, but definitely worth shopping here, local icon
Pizza My Heart -- local chain of large-slice pizza, surf theme, good for the price
Zoccoli's Delicatessen -- local deli with sandwiches
Hula's Island Grill -- drink away the appropriation with a Blue Hawaian
Pretty Good Advice -- Or "PGA" to the locals, this is one of the best sandwich and casual (take-out) dining places in Santa Cruz, has healthy vegetarian and vegan friendly options

3) Midtown / East Side

Sante Adarius Rustic Ales Portal -- amazing brewery, wide variety of beers
Ike's Love and Sandwiches -- terrific hoagie / sub style sandwiches and a ton of vegetarian and vegan options
Bookies Pizza -- located inside the Sante Adarius, best pizza and maybe food anywhere in Santa Cruz

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