Best Of Humboldt — Staff Picks

At times, it seems as if you’ve stumbled into a real High Fidelity moment, while other times it feels as if you’re in an existential ‘60s French film (without the subtitles). Regardless, there’s always a killer selection of obscure/rare records in the bins, a few CDs for those still hung up on that format, and hip music from around the globe blasting from the old stereo speakers (along with a staff of true music lovers, a mammoth orange cat and a comfy sofa). What’s not to like?

— Mark Shikuma

BEST KID-FRIENDLY SNOW SPOT

When snow falls in the hills, the conventional wisdom is that it’s time to take the tykes up to Horse Mountain. There, out in the backwoods of the Six Rivers National Forest, down Titlow Hill Road a ways, you will find miles of hiking or cross-country skiing opportunities, as well as a sled-friendly hill.

Here’s the problem. The road into the Horse Mountain parking area is a sketchy one-laner dirt lined on either side by a dirt bank and a perilous dropoff into the canyon. When it’s covered with ice and old snow and dozens of cars trundling back and forth between the main road, you drive it white-knuckled at 5 m.p.h. or not at all. Don’t even think of going without four-wheel drive and snow chains. Even then, your safety is far from guaranteed.

Forget that. What you want to do of a weekend is head up to Kneeland School, the only snow spot in the county with a built-in playground. An adjacent soccer field provides those white, wide-open spaces. The road is frequently plowed, so your chances of returning home whole of body and auto are greatly improved. (9313 Kneeland Rd., Kneeland)

— Hank Sims

BEST LACTOSE WONDERLAND

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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!

→ post a comment

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Today

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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