A camera follows a pair of white sneakers as they walk across a black floor. The sounds of whistles and cheers off camera grow louder. The sneakers stop at a microphone. A man's voice cuts through the din. "Hi. I've got a tape I wanna play." A boombox is lowered to the floor. A finger presses a button. And so begins one of the greatest concert films ever made.
I saw Jonathan Demme's Stop Making Sense in 1984 at the Arcata Theater back when you could sneak a smoke or drink in the farthest rows (I remember the distinctive sound of an empty beer bottle clanking to the floor and rolling all the way down to the front). People didn't sit still for this movie. There wasn't any armchair rocking — they stood on the seat cushions and danced. And the ushers didn't tell any of 'em to knock it off. They were mesmerized, too, standing at the back doors, staring at the spectacle on the screen, bobbing their heads and grinning at the genius of David Byrne, Tina Weymouth and the rest of the Talking Heads. From the opening guitar riff of "Psycho Killer" to the haunting "Heaven" and rousing "Life During Wartime" to perhaps its most popular song "Burning Down the House," this film took us places no turntable or Walkman had. Demme doesn't rely on flashing lights, pyrotechnics, fast camera cutaways or crowd shots — he just opens his lens and candidly captures a wiry, frenetic man in a huge suit (that gets increasingly larger throughout the concert), his fellow bandmates, and the superb back-up vocalists and masters of funk who join them onstage. It's 100 minutes of some of the best music of the time, and now, 30 years later, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 at the Eureka Theater, ($5), you can bet it will be — same as it ever was — electrifying, cutting edge and damn near impossible to sit still through.
Don't wanna be owl by yourself Friday night? No worries, mate. There's a big ol' barn party in Bayside and you're invited. Barntini – martinis in the barn – the annual fundraiser for the Jacoby Creek Land Trust and the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center is set to raise the roof this Friday, Aug. 28 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Kokte Ranch and Nature Preserve.
Sip martinis or cosmos made with Farm Horse Vodka from Blue Lake's Dutch & Dewey Distillery. Or (and?) partake of mojitos, home-brewed beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. Rub elbows with birds of a feather while you crunch on tacos from the deluxe taco bar (featuring all fresh and local ingredients including meat grown right on the ranch and handmade tortillas), indulge in barbecued oysters, then shake a tail feather or two to the sweet tunes of Beatles tribute band Silver Hammer. You can also try your hand at bocce, chat with friends around the fire pit or a take a walk down by the creek.
Food, fun, games, music, dancing and drinks, all benefitting a great cause? Hay, hay, hay! Not a bad way to spend a late summer evening in Humboldt. Purchase advance tickets ($30) at Wildberries or online at www.jclandtrust.org and www.birdallyx.net, or get them at the door ($35).
The Humboldt County Fair has been thrilling kids, feeding folks and awarding Best in Show ribbons for 119 years. 119 years, people. That's a lot of cotton candy. The fair flings open its gates Aug. 20 through Aug. 30 and welcomes you to enjoy 10 jam-packed days of all the fair food fun you can stomach ($8, $6 seniors, $4 kids 6-12, free to kids under 6).
This year's theme is "All Aboard — A Salute to our Coastal Heritage," and includes special days like Everything Humboldt on Monday, Aug. 24 and Tuesday, Aug. 25, when you can browse arts, crafts, foods and products, pick over the produce at the farmers market and enjoy live music by the Lyndsey Battle Trio and Humboldt Harmonaires. On Wednesday, Aug. 26 the fair goes Everything Coastal with Mayor of Flavortown Guy Fieri heading up the Surf and Turf Barbecue Contest in the grandstand from noon to 5 p.m. Later that night, he's emceeing the Battle of the Bands on the midway stage at 7 p.m. Cowboy action takes over the Grandstand with the Bull-O-Rama on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. ($10, free for kids under 6) and kids Games like mutton bustin', animal scramble, sack races and more at 5:30 p.m. (free).
In addition to horse racing at the track ($3), you can catch Cavallo Equestrian Arts, Popovich Pet Theater, Live Stingray Encounter, Lucha Libre Wrestlers, sheepdog trials, pony rides, camel rides and the World Record Balloon Stunt Show. Then head inside to tour the exhibits and vendors showing everything from livestock to flowers, baked goods to fine arts. And let's not forget the carnival, open each day from noon to 10 p.m. Local bands Don's Neighbors, Eureka Brass Band, Uptown Kings, Buckshot Possum and others take the stage, too. And then there's the food — not just corndogs and funnel cake, but fancier fare like apple crisp with warm whiskey cream from Sweet Basil Bistro.
Admission for events varies and package ticket deals are available online at www.humboldtcountyfair.org.
— Kali Cozyris
Oh, Arcata. With your love of re-purposing and art, of course you took an old defunct creamery and refashioned it into a thriving collection of buildings that house artists, tinkerers, dancers, welders, merrymakers, actors and musicians. And of course, since you are a college town, you love to party! This weekend, The Creamery Arts Festival puts on a show to make any Arcatan proud from Friday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Aug. 23.
Friday night welcomes Mendocino's Flynn Creek Circus (billed as a "human-only circus") with a special one-hour show at 7 p.m. ($12-$50) followed by Elemental: An Outdoor Pageant Spectacle at 8 p.m. (free). Not kidding about the spectacle: fire twirling, lanterns, giant puppets and more. Later, get hot and salsa-y with the Latin Peppers at the Holly Yashi Dance party at 9 p.m. (free). Saturday's festivities begin at 11 a.m. with live music from the Humboldt Music Academy Fiddlers, the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir, Firesign, Bandemonium and the Jim Lahman Band. You can stroll among stilt walkers and giant puppets as you check out the food vendors and arts and crafts booths (free). There's a Kid's Area by SCRAP Humboldt and more performances by the Flynn Creek Circus at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ($12-$50). In the evening, catch the adult physical comedy performance of Camel Camel at the Arcata Playhouse at 9 p.m. ($10, $8). Wrap up the fun with more performances by the Flynn Creek Circus on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. ($12-$50).
— Kali Cozyris
It's late August, your tan is starting to fade, students are arriving by the busload, Starbucks is already boasting the arrival of Every. Thing. Pumpkin. Dear God — not the end of summer! If this is you, fear not, fair weather friends, there's a festival to cure what ales you.
This Saturday, Aug. 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Fortuna's Rohner Park, 35 breweries featuring more than 125 beers will do their best to make sure you get happier by the hour. Grab your shades, your lawn-chair and your designated driver. It's time for Hops in Humboldt ($45, $35 advance, $10 non-drinker).
In addition to the stouts, lagers and porters that are yours for the downing (pace yourself), the event features Beer Games, like beer bottle ring toss and Drink-O (think Plinko) for prizes. For the serious minded, there are the esteemed Hops Awards in categories "Best of Hops," "Mayor's Choice" and "Best in Humboldt." Peruse local crafts and provide a nice foundation for all that beer at any of the eight food vendors selling pizza, pretzels, Indian tacos, Mexican food, kebobs and more. While you're drinking and dining, Jimi Jeff and the Gypsy Band, Doug Fir and the 2X4's, Beau Gardner, and April Moore and Ranch Party provide the soundtrack. Organizers suggest you bring a chair or blanket, cash for food, and, oh yeah, don't forget your ID! But, please leave kids and dogs at home. If you can't round up a designated driver, transportation from Fortuna to McKinleyville is available via Redwood Transit for $3 and free shuttles run throughout Fortuna. Summer's not over yet.
— Kali Cozyris