Drove all the way down here for my best friends wedding last month, the barista working was a very…read morepale blonde, I think her name was Ruth? She made me the best oat milk flat white I've ever had, with the little dot on the top being a heart. She really made my day and entertained my screaming children, and I've been thinking about her since. If heaven has a starbucks, I just know that she'll be my barista.

I am so happy every time I see a bookstore. It is nice to see Barnes & Noble where I used to spend…read moreimmeasurable hours before they became a rare sighting. Great helpful staff and I bought a few books here.

This place is so cute! It reminds me of Powells Books in Portland. Its open and full of little…read morenooks and has fun recommendations and stands. You can spend the whole day looking around and exploring. It also has tons of fun stationary, or kitchen decor things, like the fun stuff for your home or office, not necessarily the stuff you need, but the stuff thats going to make you smile (so, the things you need). I also loved that there were two doors. I know that is silly, but I liked that you can park in the back, walk in, go shopping, then walk out the front and you're now in downtown. It is a bit overwhelming, but, super cute and I would recommend any age stopping by for something you'd like.

This bookshop is one of the stores I *must* stop into when I'm downtown. It calls my name! It has…read morea huuuge variety of books -- the usual suspects, but also some interesting subjects that are very à la Santa Cruz, like LGBTQ themes, and then there are the huge number of gift items as well as a UCSC section, which is always fun to look through. The staff is lukewarm-friendly, but overall I find them talking amongst each other behind the register like they're at a Sunday backyard BBQ, so if I have a question, I am disrupting their conversation. They'll help me out but they aren't too happy about it. That's how it feels anyway. I wish there was a self-price scanner and a way to find books more easily, so it takes out the need for customer service. All in all, the Santa Cruz Bookstore is a place you can easily spend an hour or longer to kill time or to meander after dinner. It's really fun, and is a perfect place for the loner types who don't like people talking to them... because usually staff won't approach you here on their own. (See? This can be a positive!)

The Friends of the Capitola Library Bookstore is located in the Capitola mall. This bookstore is a…read moregreat place to pickup pre-owned books, CDs, DVDs, and other media. There is a wide variety of offerings of mainstream as well as obscure subjects. Books are grouped by subject matter and interests and are well laid out. From classical art to crafts, from English literature to foreign language editions, from outdoor gardening to interior remodeling, the bookstore's offerings are plentiful and diverse. Most books and media looked in excellent condition. At the time of our visit, prices were $1 for most paperbacks, $2 for hardcover editions, $1 for CDs, and $2 for DVDs. This family-friendly bookstore has something for all ages. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. All proceeds benefit the Capitola Library.

Wonderful eclectic selection of books, *well organized* and attended by pleasant volunteers. Very…read moreaffordable prices, mostly $1-3! They will take donated books you bring to them. Go here first to find a book or CD or DVD you might be seeking.

Very friendly small business with a wide selection of books, some toys and games, and a few odds…read moreand ends that were interesting (tumbled rocks by the cash register, pens in the shape of wrenches, etc). I will be back. We need more businesses like this one in the Morgan Hill-Gilroy area.

I was in Morgan Hill to meet up with some friends recently.  I was early to the event, so I had…read moretime to check out BookSmart before they closed on a Saturday.  Nestled in a busy shopping center, there's plenty of parking in the lot (even though it was a busy weekend afternoon/evening).   While the store isn't the largest, there are plenty of books adorning the walls and lining the shelves in the middle aisles.  There are plenty of the normal best sellers available, but also plenty of treasured finds.  Though I only spent 20 minutes in browsing the stacks, I stumbled upon an independently published sports book as well as 2 childrens books I haven't found elsewhere, all of which will make great holiday gifts.   Coincidentally, the day I visited was also BookSmart's 30th anniversary party!  They had complimentary glasses of champaign as well as a photo booth for their regular customers (both of which I politely declined).  It's great to see an independent bookstore thriving in this community.  The next time I'm in the area, I will stop by and take more time to check out the inventory!

Store is really clean. Great selection of newer comics. Comic don't come with a bag and board which…read moreis a little odd. Second room has some back issues and a few 50 cent bins. Always fun to look through those. Staff was super friendly.

I've been on a hunt for a specific back issue of Dr. Strange so whenever I see a comic book store,…read moreI need to swing in. I'm so glad we just happened to park in the large parking lot next to this store. It was a delight. The store is much larger than it appears from the outside. Mainly because there's a whole second half you might not realize is there until you come in. The selection here is wonderful and the lay out newer issues in a very easy to browse way. The back issues are in your traditional long box that you need to flip through, but they're all labeled in a way that makes it easy to narrow down your search. While they did not have the specific issue I was looking for, they happily went online and found an online retailer that had it for a reasonable price. That's great customer service that no other store has ever shown me (including my own local comic book shop where I've been a regular for 10+ years). Even when I told them they didn't have to do that they insisted and had a site for me within a minute or two. I really appreciated that. The two workers were so friendly and helpful. When I mentioned I was from Los Angeles they asked where my local store was & immediately knew it and had nice things to say about the owner. You could tell they really loved what they did and the comic book community as a whole. While I don't know how often I will be in the area, if I am ever even remotely close I will absolutely come by again. This is one of the best shopping experiences I've has at a CBS outside of my area.

Came here to share a bottle of wine with my son who is a student at UCSC. what a pleasant surprise…read morewe got when we ordered food. This was some of the BEST FOOD that I have had. We pride ourselves in eating in some of the best places all over. Bad Animal exceeded our expectation of a 'wine bar' food menu. We had Oysters Miso Black Cod Crostini And I never order dessert it with every bite of food I couldn't pass the opportunity to try what they had to offer. We went with the lemon verbena gelato with fresh blueberries Our server ( we sat at the bar) was very knowledgeable about the wine and food. He took his time explaining every dish which made the experience much more enjoyable. Whenever I get a chance to visit Santa Cruz, I will Make a point to eat here.

Bad Animal was almost the perfect meal…read more.. We started with the gougères, which were light, airy, and absolutely addictive, the kind of bite that sets the tone for a great meal. The king salmon crudo was beautifully composed, fresh and bright, and the peaches were a standout, simple but perfectly executed. The chicken schnitzel was crispy, well-seasoned, and satisfying in all the right ways. The NY Strip was where things got slightly complicated. The seasoning and flavor were genuinely excellent; the spice profile was spot on and the crust had great character. However, about a third of the cut was too fatty to eat, which was disappointing at that price point. It didn't ruin the experience, but it did feel like a quality-control miss on what was otherwise a beautifully cooked piece of meat. Also, put this steak over something else besides elaborate mixed greens. Service was warm and knowledgeable, and the space has a wonderful energy. Bad Animal is doing something right (for the most part). Hopefully I'll make it back but hoping for a better trim on the steak next time.

Unfortunately, their website states that they have permanently closed their doors. I wish I had the…read moreopportunity to visit this bookstore before they closed, from the other reviews, it seemed like a special place.

This hidden gem of a bookstore is a great place to read, attend a workshop and stop by for a chat.read more