My first time
(June 28, 2007) Anticipating my first summer in Arcata is like waiting for the lottery lady to pick the winning numbers. In this case, I’m hoping to win more than a few warm, sunny days and some social gatherings that include people other than my husband and me. I’ve heard mixed reviews on Arcata summers — enough bad reviews, in fact, to make me reconsider. Here are a few sound-bites from longtime locals:
Arcata sucks in the summer.
Everybody leaves.
The fog gets worse, not better.
It’s f&@king freezing.
After spewing these intimidating opinions, the aforementioned locals urged me to “Get the hell out of here. Go somewhere warm.” Since I’m a student and have no choice, I’m staying, and so far, I haven’t wanted to drown myself in the Eel. Here’s why.
Just as number 2 reads: Everyone leaves! This is a good thing. The annoying dudes with loud, hot rod cars have abandoned their usual cruising tendencies and The Plaza is virtually free of noxious noise. Likewise, the lines to Café Brio that used to run out the door and into the nearby Bank of America have been trimmed down to a nice five-minute wait. People can finally sample their giant chocolate cupcakes and homemade muesli without worrying about spilling coffee on their neighbor. This is something to celebrate.
Also, because many businesses have shut down for the summer — Humbrews, for one — I have found new loyalty toward the establishments that stayed open. Muddy’s Hot Cup, for example, never fails to supply early morning brew (coffee or beer, for those of you that drink in the morning), and, even better, Internet that works. While my favorite night at Muddy’s, the Menstrual Mondays Ladylike Open Mic, is sadly shut down for a while, they still have live music most weekend nights, as does The Alibi, Jambalaya and other bars that have made the tough decision to remain open.
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Label GMOs Signature Gathering Training
meetings / 4 p.m. Sun Yi's Academy of Tae Kwon Do, 1215 Giuntoli Lane, Arcata. Help gather valid signatures to get the 'California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act' on the 2012 ballot. E-mail northernhumboldtlabelgmos@hotmail.com. 223-0424.
Open Celtic Music Session
music / 3 p.m. Cafe Veritas/Mosgo's, 180 Westwood Center, Arcata. Informal monthly gathering of musicians playing Irish and other Celtic music. Hosted by Seabury Gould. seaburygould.com. 845-8167.
Nonviolence Action Camp
etc. / 10 a.m. Chinmaya Mission near Piercy. Weekend-long direct action orientation features workshops, role playing, seminars, ceremonies and field trips. Bring food, bedding, warm clothes, signs, banners, bikes, drums, acoustic instruments. Pre-register. saverichardsongrove.org. 932-5898.
Audubon Society Field Trip
outdoors / 9 a.m. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta. Meet at Refuge Visitor Center off Hookton Road. Leisurely, two- to three-hour trip intended for people wanting to learn birds of Humboldt Bay area. 822-3613.
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