Press Info

TEDxSantaCruz has a limited number of press passes available for events. Interested accredited journalists, photojournalists, photographers, and videographers should request a press pass. TEDxSantaCruz organizers and speakers are available for interviews. If you want more information about TEDx and our events or speakers, please don't hesitate to ask. Contact us in advance for scheduling of interviews or attendance at events.
For further information about TEDxSantaCruz events, to request a press pass, or to schedule interviews with organizers or speakers, please send an email to tedxscruz@gmail.com with ‘PRESS’ in the subject line. 
Please note that TEDx event organizers are not able to speak for the TED Conference. Any journalist seeking comment from TED should contact Melody Serafino at tedxpr@ted.com.
While we appreciate any coverage, we kindly ask that all journalists and/or bloggers be respectful of the difference between the TED and TEDx brands. The ‘x’ in ‘TEDx’ stands for “independently organized events.” Any headline or text which implies “TED” is coming to Santa Cruz is misleading. For more information on TEDx, visit http://www.ted.com/tedx.

Midtown Mingle

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TEDxSantaCruz Radical Collaboration Lunch Experience

We want our TEDxSantaCruz 2015 day-long event to go as smoothly as possible. For this, we have organized a lunchtime “Midtown Mingle” by partnering with eleven (11) restaurants near the Rio Theatre. They will join us in a “Radical Collaboration” to get you — our curious, engaged attendees and speakers — fed!

Lunch is scheduled between 12:00 and 1:45 p.m., where an estimated 650 event participants will enjoy a pre-paid lunch at a pre-selected restaurant from our list of partners (see below), who are offering creative “TEDxSantaCruz” specials that include a fabulous lunch, drink, and taxes.

Basically, you pay online on our Ticket Page, and show up at the restaurant or your choice next Friday to be served. Some of the restaurants will have live music to keep the energy, artistry, and community spirit going strong throughout the day!

Here’s the list of restaurants to choose from:

Crepe Place $25.00
1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
The Crepe Place is a major restaurant sponsor, offering our guests a special VIP Lunch in its garden oasis, where you will be able to meet and speak with the TEDxSantaCruz Speakers while listening to live music. Build your own savory crepe filled with fresh, delicious combinations of hearty fillings.

Charlie Hong Kong $12.00
1141 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
Here you can choose from Asian-inspired organic noodle or rice bowls, and choose any topping. A ginger lemonade is included. Get a Little Dan’s Delight: wok-cooked eggless wheat noodles, organic red and green chard, broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, mustard greens, in a peanut-coconut sauce, and garnished with organic peanuts. Little Dan comes either mild or spicy with choice of hoisin pork, teriyaki chicken, green curry chicken, or with chili garlic tofu. The Rice Bowl has jasmine rice, with choice of hoisin pork, teriyaki chicken,or green curry chicken, garnished with organic carrots, green onions, bean sprouts (gluten-free), or with garlic tofu.

Midtown Cafe $12.00
1121 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
Midtown Café strives to source all of its ingredients from local, organic farmers in Santa Cruz County. The cafe will offer anything off the menu plus drink.

Akira Santa Cruz $12.00
1222 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
This excellent sushi restaurant will serve a Bento Box lunch with choice of beef, chicken, or sushi, served with miso soup, salad, rice, and drink.

Vivas Organic Mexican Food $12.00
1201 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
This is the tastiest Mexican cuisine, without preservatives and only the freshest ingredients — straight from the fields. Your choice of a veggie, chicken, beef, or vegan burrito, and fountain drink.

Real Thai Kitchen $12.00
1623 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz
Excellent Thai Food Buffet with eight entree choices, salads, desserts, and drink.

Seabright Brewery $12.00
519 Seabright Avenue #107
Attendees can choose anything off the regular menu at the Santa Cruz brewpub, from the Jiggy’s Pub Club to the Popeye gourmet burger. A non-alcoholic drink is included.

Buttery Bakery $12.00
702 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
The finest selection of baked goods and European style breads can be found at the Buttery. Choose to “build your own lunch boxes” of Turkey Basil on Croissant, or Farmers Market on Ciabatta, with lettuce salad or a bag of chips, and a peanut butter or oatmeal raisin cookie + drink.

Tramonti Pizza & Pasta $12.00
528 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz
Serving real Italian homemade pasta and amazing salads, Tramonti will give attendees a choice of Penne Pasta with fresh tomato and basil sauce dusted with parmesan cheese, or Lasagna with Meat Sauce, or Vegetarian Lasagna. The lunch comes with either a cup of minestrone soup or a small garden salad, and a choice of iced tea or sodas.

Engfer Pizza Works $12.00
537 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz
One of the newest wood-fired pizzerias in town, Engfer will make a variety of wood-fired pizza slices (vegetarian, meat, vegan, and gluten-free, upon request). Attendees will be served two slices of the pizza of their choice, a small salad, and a soft drink.

Ristorante Italiano $15.50
555 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
At Santa Cruz’s Original Italian Restaurant Since 1982, attendees can choose anything off the menu for lunch. Drink is included.

Please go to our ticket page and choose what you want to eat and where you want to do your Midtown Mingle. Be aware that there are a limited number of seats at each of the restaurants. The earlier you sign up for our lunch, the better the chances are that you will get the place you want. Look for more details to come such as maps, musical acts, and possible transportation.

Bon Appétit!

Nada Miljkovic
TEDxSantaCruz Co-organizer

*The fourth-annual local conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.