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Anarchist café, bookstore, and performance space announces grand opening on November 1st
Santa Cruz, CA – October 27, 2008 – SubRosa, a new community space in downtown Santa Cruz, today announced its grand opening event on Saturday, November 1. The event will include an art show, live music, food, and an exciting first look inside this vibrant new social space.
SubRosa is a non-profit, donation-funded space for art and radical projects run by a collective of volunteers from the local anarchist community. It offers gourmet JavaBob’s coffee, anarchist books and literature, performance and a weekly open mic, gallery art by emerging local artists, and a welcoming garden courtyard.
Those looking for a good, strong, inexpensive cup of coffee are in luck. SubRosa is a refuge for the nearly extinct $1 cup of coffee served in your own mug. Literature for sale includes anti-authoritarian, ecological and anarchist books and zines. The space also houses the Anarchist Lending Library, featuring books on anarchy, Situationists, history, politics, ecology, indigenous studies, feminism and psychology that might not be available in the local library.
SubRosa is located next to the Bike Church, at Pacific Avenue and Spruce Street. Volunteers transformed a run-down warehouse space and bleak parking lot on lower Pacific into a cozy community and performance space with a large patio surrounded by a beautiful garden. Inside and outside, people gather around small tables for coffee and conversation, reading, talking, meeting, and enjoying performances and art. Free wi-fi and public computers are also available for use. A variety of radical community events will be held at SubRosa, including monthly art shows, Free Skool classes and a weekly Open Mic on Thursdays at 8pm.
While volunteers are drawn from a broad community of supporters, the SubRosa collective is composed of some of the same people who brought Guerilla Drive-In, Free Skool, and the Last Night DIY Parade to Santa Cruz. Members of the long-extinct performance space What Is Art? are part of the effort. “These are people you already know in Santa Cruz,” said Jennifer Charles, a collective member, “People involved in local art, politics, community and DIY events for years and years.”
The grand opening events will start at 4pm on Saturday, November 1, with an art opening for local artists Charlie and Hunter, followed by food and a poetry slam at 5:30pm. At 7pm, music will begin with the Hail Seizures, a Collective of Dirt, Chin Up, Meriwether and local anarcho-punk string-band street sensation Blackbird Raum. There will be a $10 donation for the music, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
SubRosa: A Community Space is located at 703 Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. It is open 7 days a week, 8am-1pm and 3pm-8pm. For more information, contact: Jennifer Charles, SubRosa Collective, subrosa [at] riseup.net, 831-430-6791.
Those looking for a good, strong, inexpensive cup of coffee are in luck. SubRosa is a refuge for the nearly extinct $1 cup of coffee served in your own mug. Literature for sale includes anti-authoritarian, ecological and anarchist books and zines. The space also houses the Anarchist Lending Library, featuring books on anarchy, Situationists, history, politics, ecology, indigenous studies, feminism and psychology that might not be available in the local library.
SubRosa is located next to the Bike Church, at Pacific Avenue and Spruce Street. Volunteers transformed a run-down warehouse space and bleak parking lot on lower Pacific into a cozy community and performance space with a large patio surrounded by a beautiful garden. Inside and outside, people gather around small tables for coffee and conversation, reading, talking, meeting, and enjoying performances and art. Free wi-fi and public computers are also available for use. A variety of radical community events will be held at SubRosa, including monthly art shows, Free Skool classes and a weekly Open Mic on Thursdays at 8pm.
While volunteers are drawn from a broad community of supporters, the SubRosa collective is composed of some of the same people who brought Guerilla Drive-In, Free Skool, and the Last Night DIY Parade to Santa Cruz. Members of the long-extinct performance space What Is Art? are part of the effort. “These are people you already know in Santa Cruz,” said Jennifer Charles, a collective member, “People involved in local art, politics, community and DIY events for years and years.”
The grand opening events will start at 4pm on Saturday, November 1, with an art opening for local artists Charlie and Hunter, followed by food and a poetry slam at 5:30pm. At 7pm, music will begin with the Hail Seizures, a Collective of Dirt, Chin Up, Meriwether and local anarcho-punk string-band street sensation Blackbird Raum. There will be a $10 donation for the music, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
SubRosa: A Community Space is located at 703 Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. It is open 7 days a week, 8am-1pm and 3pm-8pm. For more information, contact: Jennifer Charles, SubRosa Collective, subrosa [at] riseup.net, 831-430-6791.
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Good luck, it's a positive thing. Hard(er) times are coming, people will need spaces like this more than ever to gather, connect, discuss, plan.
Music poured out into the rainy night, as people cramped tightly together to share in the musical performances at the grand opening of SubRosa. The small, but cozy space was filled with a vibrant youthful crowd. Event goers snacked on piles of free bread, and coffee from reusable ceramic mugs. Artwork from local artists covered the freshly painted walls, as well as a colorful display of ‘zines, and a lending library. The set had almost everyone jumping and singing along. The space will be a home to future performances, open mics, and Free Skool workshops. Stop in for a steaming cup of coffee and check out the extensive library.
Please, when you get the chance, share specific ways the community can be involved, lend support, and help sustain the hard work and commitment that made this possible. I missed the grand opening but I'd like to attend the 10 year anniversary party!
Thank you!
Thank you!
I had a lot of fun last night, but would have appreciated a "Wet Paint" sign regarding the wall I was standing by. Sage-green latex paint left a prime meridian down the backside of the winter jacket I just got. Selah.
in defense of the people who painted that wall, it was marked with little "wet paint" signs earlier. But it sounds like it didn't hinder your enjoyment too much.
So much thanks to the people who have invested so much in the space!
So much thanks to the people who have invested so much in the space!
An announcement was made at the opening about how people can contribute to SubRosa. A major need right now is money so that rent can be paid every month. It would be amazing if people who can provide money each month did, so that this space will still be here. (No one is paid--it is a volunteer-staffed non-profit).
There is also a list of supplies needed hanging around the space; if you take a trip out to SubRosa and say hi, it will be a lot easier to coordinate everything! (and check out a book while you're there..)
There is also a list of supplies needed hanging around the space; if you take a trip out to SubRosa and say hi, it will be a lot easier to coordinate everything! (and check out a book while you're there..)
My partner attended this opening with my daughter, after her retelling of the events of that night i was a little confused. Instead of wording my complaints as a rant ill submit to the public here on indy a few ideas to improve the way that the cafe sees itself and also the way that the community sees the cafe. as an anarchist institution(theres really no way of labeling it as anything other in the situation it is in now) it is essential to the cafe and its visitors to remain aware of the community around it, not all share its ideals, and to assume so would be arrogant. The people visiting the cafe are hopefully diverse and therefore not everyone subscribes to the same system of thought as those who have the loudest voice. Parents and children are a vital part of this society and will always be, the relationship that we have with with those in our community is reflected in the relationship that they have with there children and vise versa, it is of great importance that a space is created in which anarchist and non-anarchist families do not feel like they are at a mall with people coming in and out with little interaction or connection. if anyone has anyhting to add to this dont be afraid or feel like you dont have valid points, it is vital to communtities and relationships alike to share emotions and ideas. thank you or the space to do this.
Heartwoods
Heartwoods
SubRosa Weekly Open Mic
Thursday 8-10pm
(signups at 7:30)
Harkening back to the long-lost Santa Cruz performing arts venue, What Is Art?, a weekly open mic at Santa Cruz newest community space and anarchist infoshop. An opportunity to connect with friends and showcase the incredible creative talent in our community. Music, poetry, and performance. From the mundane to the jaw-droppingly inspirational. Signups for performance at 7:30. Bring your creativity and artistic genius.
SubRosa - a community space
703 Pacific Ave
Downtown Santa Cruz
$5 at the door
no one turned away for lack of funds
Thursday 8-10pm
(signups at 7:30)
Harkening back to the long-lost Santa Cruz performing arts venue, What Is Art?, a weekly open mic at Santa Cruz newest community space and anarchist infoshop. An opportunity to connect with friends and showcase the incredible creative talent in our community. Music, poetry, and performance. From the mundane to the jaw-droppingly inspirational. Signups for performance at 7:30. Bring your creativity and artistic genius.
SubRosa - a community space
703 Pacific Ave
Downtown Santa Cruz
$5 at the door
no one turned away for lack of funds
if i had known about this at an earlier date i would have liked to attend. i would have done so by myself since it was a new thing.
i've attended a few free skool "classes", attended the diy parade and have strolled past the bike church a number of times with my family.
the best experience was by far the parade, a very social event that seemed to be very diverse in memers of the community who chose to participate and observe.
the class was just that, a class, but the bike church was never a place i wanted to visit, let alone take my kids, even with a bike that could use some tlc with little funding available. i never got the impression it was open to everyone to just stop in.
an environment 'like a mall' has been my experience at a number of events in town. i don't think every event needs to be or should be open to all ages of the community, but the ones that are should take the time to be accomodating to all who might just drop in.
any opportunity any of us has to positively influence the youth (future) should jump on it.
and who doesn't dig having legos and story books laying around?
i've attended a few free skool "classes", attended the diy parade and have strolled past the bike church a number of times with my family.
the best experience was by far the parade, a very social event that seemed to be very diverse in memers of the community who chose to participate and observe.
the class was just that, a class, but the bike church was never a place i wanted to visit, let alone take my kids, even with a bike that could use some tlc with little funding available. i never got the impression it was open to everyone to just stop in.
an environment 'like a mall' has been my experience at a number of events in town. i don't think every event needs to be or should be open to all ages of the community, but the ones that are should take the time to be accomodating to all who might just drop in.
any opportunity any of us has to positively influence the youth (future) should jump on it.
and who doesn't dig having legos and story books laying around?
Way to go! Bringing a chic starbucks-esque environment to the community!
I just wanted to throw out that there were a good number of families at the opening, and there have been lots of folks with kids stopping in since the opening. I'd say they were a good mix of anarchist and non-anarchist parents/families. There were folks of all ages, from infants to folks who were retirement age. Its probably also worth noting that the grand opening ended with a show with several bands. This is not how the space normally feels (though there will probably be more shows and special events in the future). Its usually a pretty mellow place with a library, free internet access, coffee, and tea.
The space was created as to share anarchist ideas, which implies that those who would come by don't already prescribe to anarchist thought. Everyone is welcome at SubRosa; anarchist or not. Come by and check it out when you get a chance instead of just walking by. I guarantee it will feel different than when you're at the mall. But don't knock it until you've experienced it folks! You're smarter than that.
The space was created as to share anarchist ideas, which implies that those who would come by don't already prescribe to anarchist thought. Everyone is welcome at SubRosa; anarchist or not. Come by and check it out when you get a chance instead of just walking by. I guarantee it will feel different than when you're at the mall. But don't knock it until you've experienced it folks! You're smarter than that.
Anarchism goes capitalist? thats funny. really. i mean it.
You are seriously misguided. There is not a single person involved in the SubRosa project making a dime off of it. In fact, most people involved are donating money/time/energy to see the place succeed.
And your comment is hardly worth responding to. But either you've never been to Starbucks or you've never been to SubRosa. I'm guessing you've never been to SubRosa.
There's nothing quite like a troll to brighten your day.
You are seriously misguided. There is not a single person involved in the SubRosa project making a dime off of it. In fact, most people involved are donating money/time/energy to see the place succeed.
And your comment is hardly worth responding to. But either you've never been to Starbucks or you've never been to SubRosa. I'm guessing you've never been to SubRosa.
There's nothing quite like a troll to brighten your day.
I, for one, am aware that in bringing a sweet little community space and garden to lower pacific we are playing a part in gentrifying this rundown neighborhood. It is a hard realization, that we are inadvertently "cleaning up" what we joking referred to during our work on the space as crack and hookers corner.
What we discovered during our long days working at the space was that the neighbors and the neighborhood was awesome. Folks hanging around and working that corner were friendly and supportive of what we were doing. And of course, they are welcome to come in and enjoy SubRosa with the rest of the community.
Our intention from the beginning was to create a space that a lot of different people could enjoy: families, poor folk, anarchists, radicals, students, wayward youth, and our elders.
It is hard to know that by creating something beautiful we are potentially gentrifying a neighborhood, but we are also drawing together and strengthening communities, hopefully to challenge the forces that make economic oppression and exploitation possible.
What we discovered during our long days working at the space was that the neighbors and the neighborhood was awesome. Folks hanging around and working that corner were friendly and supportive of what we were doing. And of course, they are welcome to come in and enjoy SubRosa with the rest of the community.
Our intention from the beginning was to create a space that a lot of different people could enjoy: families, poor folk, anarchists, radicals, students, wayward youth, and our elders.
It is hard to know that by creating something beautiful we are potentially gentrifying a neighborhood, but we are also drawing together and strengthening communities, hopefully to challenge the forces that make economic oppression and exploitation possible.
Gentrifying the neighborhood? Gentrifying the neighborhood implies that we are moving into a low rent neighborhood, bringing affluent tenants in, raising the rents, and pushing the old residents out. I don't know which Subrosa you're talking about, but the one on the end of Pacific avenue is in a pretty wealthy area. Our neighbors are primarily college students who have gentrified the neighborhood years ago. This isn't Williamsburg Brooklyn, this is Santa Cruz, you know? The one with the massive university and 50,000 median income.
Having watched the anarchists brag about their vandalizing of assorted businesses in Santa Cruz including Wells Fargo, Greenspaces, UCSC, McDonalds, etc......is it fair game for capitalists to now do the same to SubRosa?
You ask, since all people who identify as anarchist all believe precisely the same things, support precisely the same actions, all conspire and consent to every action by every anarchist?
Or is it possible for you to entertain the idea that a broad political and social philosophy encompasses many ideas, beliefs, variations, and tactics?
People who identify as Christian have for two thousand years been responsible for genocides in the near east, Africa, and the Americas. By your logic, should righteous people everywhere return the favor and kill all the Christians and burn all the churches?
Or is it possible for you to entertain the idea that a broad political and social philosophy encompasses many ideas, beliefs, variations, and tactics?
People who identify as Christian have for two thousand years been responsible for genocides in the near east, Africa, and the Americas. By your logic, should righteous people everywhere return the favor and kill all the Christians and burn all the churches?
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