The Box is pretty legendary. Been going for 25+ years? Well, I didn’t see much of Santa Cruz and none of the Boys I saw seemed Lost. Would love to go back and explore that bit of the coast.

So, the club: in an old bar on the main drag called the Blue Lagoon. Walking in it is a standard old bar. To the right is a room with two pool tables. In the back are two rooms next to each other. Each has a stage. The larger, prettier room has a sound booth overlooking the stage and dance floor and it’s here that live gigs take place. That room had 3 resident DJs in it, Exocomp, Zeldris, and Maker, all of whom were spinning great sets. In the second, more punk room were me, DJ Owen, and DJ Mr. White. Mr. White is wonderful! First time we’ve been able to play together! Thank you to Kendra for being a gracious hostess as well.

Goddamn the crowd is enthusiastic. I’m so grateful to have been able to experience this night. There are about 20 people who put together this night, running it by committee.

It was a huge bonus to do that most Goth of outings, the post-club cemetery trip. The little cemetery in Santa Cruz is beautiful and well cared for, and far older than I am used to seeing in Oregon. But oh, man, it was cold and I was tired and I was very happy to get back into the heated car and get my allotted 3 hours of sleep before catching the flight home. Travel hacking to the rescue again, free hotel and flight courtesy of IHG and Alaska Airlines. Without being able to manipulate credit card companies I’d never be able to make trips like this.