(Sept. 10, 2009) Fifty-one weeks of the year we peer into your closets, nose into your affairs, spotlight your indiscretions, rat on you, question your integrity, demand answers, point fingers, get other people to point fingers, trot out your victims, laugh at your big ideas, nod seriously, expose your weaknesses, tap your knee, wipe a judging finger along your moldy sills and generally treat you most despicably, dear, dear Humboldt County. We are a newspaper.
Enough! This week we are being nice. Because, we do love you. All 2.3 million acres of you. Very, very much. And just because we’re a newspaper doesn’t mean we can’t say the L word now and again about the place we live.
So here it is, a Valentine in September, wherein we lavish praise and sentimental gop all over the things that make us get up in the morning, throw open the salt-smeared window and shout, “Good morning, everyone!” We asked readers to join in the lovefest, too, and vote on some of the bigger themes in life: best food, best store, best reason to live here (you’ll be surprised), best politician, best activist and more.
Here, take it: The Best of Humboldt.
— Heidi Walters
BEST BURL BEAR
Until a few years ago, I thought burl bears were dumb. Too cutesy. And they’re not even burl — just plain old redwood chunk or whatever. Tourist traps!
Then one day I wandered into Bill Ward’s shop, Creative Woodworks, on the far north end of Orick (121397 S. Hwy 101) — the last shop on the right as you leave town. And a young man from Crescent City walked in with a gleam in his eye. He said he’d been saving his money for six months to buy a bear, and now he finally had it. He wanted his bear. And — whew — the one he’d coveted was still there, waiting for him. Eagerly, judging by its cute face.
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STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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NINE Comments
Comment / By jordan rollins / Sept. 10, 2009, 11:09 a.m.
i must say that i too love that jacob nunes from dutch bros. hes a keeper for sure!
Comment / By Tim Daniels / Sept. 10, 2009, 6:20 p.m.
I concur with the choice of best single-track. I think it’s some of the best single track trail in the country. Of course, my opinion is heavily biased.
Comment / By M’Aerie / Sept. 12, 2009, 12:19 p.m.
yes! Jacob Nunes from Dutch Bros is a wonderful young man and I so much enjoy his enthusiasm, his singing to the loud tunes, and his memory of what I like to order. He takes one look at me in the morning and knows if I want decaf or regular. What a darlin!
Comment / By Carol Ballard / Sept. 12, 2009, 7:09 p.m.
Where is the best reason to live here?
Comment / By Ryan Burns / Sept. 13, 2009, 5:44 p.m.
It’s in the readers’ picks section, Carol.
Comment / By Carol Ballard / Sept. 13, 2009, 9:27 p.m.
Thanks!
Comment / By BTP / Sept. 16, 2009, 6:58 a.m.
This was the most entertaining, funny, and interesting ‘best of’ i have ever seen! Well done! Thanks to NJC for trying to remind people why we all live and love here. I wish the Times-Standard would write like this….
Now, if only Mike Dronkers would call me and discuss how I can get paid to report on the happenings between Trinidad and Orick! Mike?
Comment / By Bill Moehnke / Sept. 18, 2009, 3:57 p.m.
Thanks Jennifer for proclaiming the library “Best place to be seen”! I would like to point out, however, that the library owns a copy of “Party girl”. You can check it out for a week with a valid library card.
Comment / By wendy / Jan. 5, 10:30 a.m.
Best Bar in eureka is The BOILER ROOM!!! Lots of booze, frendship and single people!