Frivolity
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Photos: Witch-raft on the Bay
Posted By Mark Larson on Wed, Oct 26, 2022 at 1:36 PM
Despite a windy, rainy forecast again for this year's third annual
Witches Paddle on Humboldt Bay, an energetic coven of witches showed up with
stand-up boards and paddles in hand to enjoy what turned out to be a breezy,
sunny day. In addition, a quartet of witches showed up at the put-in boat ramp
to provide a Witches Dance sendoff for participants.
Earlier in the week, organizer Jody Himango, an avid weather watcher, had put out warnings on the event's Facebook page about possible cancelation due to high winds but the collective witches' spells came through with good weather. See the slideshow below for highlights.
Just after 2 p.m., the witches paddled out from the Eureka
Public Marina along West Waterfront Drive against an outgoing tide, but with
the wind at their backs. They headed east past the Adorni Center, where the
Party in Pink Zumbathon was raising money for the Breast and GYN Health
Project in Arcata, and the Woodley Island Marina.
After circling around offshore from Halvorsen Park, the witches headed back west to the take-out, assisted by the outgoing tide.
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Flash Fiction Returneth!
Submit your entries by Monday, Oct. 31
Posted By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on Tue, Oct 4, 2022 at 6:27 PM
Crack your neck, crack your knuckles, and crack open that laptop or notebook. The Journal’s annual 99-word Flash Fiction Contest is on. Share your original stories of 99 words or fewer (not including title) for a chance at small-scale literary greatness and publishing your brief and beautiful work in a special issue of the Journal. Send up to three entries in the body of an email (no attachments or links, please) to [email protected] with your full name and contact information (sorry, no pen names) by midnight on Monday, Oct. 31. Come on, it’s only 99 words — just like this.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Photos: A Brimming Hat Day at the Races
Posted By Mark Larson on Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 4:32 PM
The wild array of inventive and beautiful hats came in useful on a warm, sunny day at the 10th annual Ladies Hat Day at the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale on Saturday. The organizers offered free admission to the fair and an array of attractive prizes to lure the hat wearers to the horserace grandstands. (See the slideshow below for highlights.)
The "Hatagories" for those persons seeking the prizes included: Best Couple or Group; Best Racing Theme; Most Glamorous; Best Youth (12 & under); and, Funniest or Most Outrageous. This year's Grand Prize winner was Carolyn Polasek, of Ferndale, for her inventive, handmade, massive display of fair food items on her broad-brimmed hat. Other prize recipients included Joanna Nagan for Grand Prize Runner Up; Amber Reiners for Most Glamorous; Willow Seely for Funniest or Most Outrageous; Karen Aldrich for Best Racing Theme; Fun girls with Fungi for Best Couple or Group; Best Youth – Margot and Teddy Nims for Best Youth; and Betty Mack, Juliann Stell, Ceva McWhorter Memorial and Heather Ulrey with Honorable Mentions.
After more than 70 women registered at the entrance, they wandered the grandstand area and posed for free photos at the Forget Me Not Photo Booth. Next the contest participants lined up on the dirt racetrack for the Parade of Hats after the fifth race for review by the judges and horse-race attendees. Then the winners were announced after the sixth race and invited into the winner's circle for photos prior to the last race of the day.
The "Hatagories" for those persons seeking the prizes included: Best Couple or Group; Best Racing Theme; Most Glamorous; Best Youth (12 & under); and, Funniest or Most Outrageous. This year's Grand Prize winner was Carolyn Polasek, of Ferndale, for her inventive, handmade, massive display of fair food items on her broad-brimmed hat. Other prize recipients included Joanna Nagan for Grand Prize Runner Up; Amber Reiners for Most Glamorous; Willow Seely for Funniest or Most Outrageous; Karen Aldrich for Best Racing Theme; Fun girls with Fungi for Best Couple or Group; Best Youth – Margot and Teddy Nims for Best Youth; and Betty Mack, Juliann Stell, Ceva McWhorter Memorial and Heather Ulrey with Honorable Mentions.
After more than 70 women registered at the entrance, they wandered the grandstand area and posed for free photos at the Forget Me Not Photo Booth. Next the contest participants lined up on the dirt racetrack for the Parade of Hats after the fifth race for review by the judges and horse-race attendees. Then the winners were announced after the sixth race and invited into the winner's circle for photos prior to the last race of the day.
Friday, August 19, 2022
Astronomical Fun in Bridgeville
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Aug 19, 2022 at 5:00 AM
Oh yes, it’s back! From outer space. The universe-renowned BridgeFest and Flying Saucer Contest returns this Saturday, Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a day of fun in the hot August sun (free). Where else can humans compete against aliens in a flying saucer throwing contest all in the name of outrageous fun? The contest is in a slightly different spot this year and we are told the landing coordinates are the school yard at Bridgeville School on Kneeland Road (just past the old bridge). Plus, all the usual, out-of-this-world festivities you know and love: live music, tasty food and drink, an alien parade, raffle, Wild Kidz zone, contests and a craft fair. Far out, man!
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Photos: Flying High at the Redwood Coast Kite Festival
Posted By Mark Larson on Wed, May 25, 2022 at 4:10 PM
For an event that members of Humboldt Kiters didn’t start planning until three months ago, the Redwood Coast Kite Festival in Eureka on Saturday, May 21 turned out to be an artistic display of kiting and kite creation. It was also a whole lot of fun for those who attended on the first day of the two-day festival. Event planners also had a bit of weather luck on Saturday, given that the high winds of Thursday and Friday had subsided to almost perfect kite-flying conditions under sunny skies.
Local members of Humboldt Kiters revived the Kite Festival in Halvorsen Park along Humboldt Bay this year decades after it had been moved to Oregon in the 1990s. Group members who regularly fly kites at Halvorsen Park and elsewhere locally had quickly organized a team effort among local sponsors, the Ink People Center for the Arts and local artisans who sold kites and other offerings in vendor tents at the event.
Friday, April 22, 2022
Get Your Fruit On! Papaya Lounge Takes Over Septentrio Winery Tonight
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Apr 22, 2022 at 10:49 AM
Let’s get ready to ruuuummble! The saucy show you’ve been jonesing for is back. Things get fresh and fruity at the Papaya Lounge Rumble Royale Septentrio Winery Takeover, Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23 from 7 to10 p.m. at Septentrio Tasting Room ($30). The “raucous and opulent cabaret set in a seedy lounge run by some seriously sexy people” returns for more debaucherous fun. Get there at 5 p.m. when the doors open for cocktails and food served from the Nosh, then settle in for some serious fun courtesy of host Velvet Q. Jones and her friends Nancy Schwartz, Musty Beaver and Papaya's house band, the Enthusiastic
Consents.
Consents.
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Locally Filmed 'The Sky is Everywhere' Trailer Drops
Posted By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 3:20 PM
The trailer for A24's film adaptation of Jandy Nelson's YA novel about a high school girl navigating grief over her sister's death and budding romance has just been released and is bursting with Humboldt scenery. Redwoods, Old Town shops and coastal views abound with dream-like high school-theater effects, young lovers floating into the sky and supersaturated shots of roses in bloom. The Sky is Everywhere, which stars Grace Kaufman, Jason Segel and Cherry Jones, is looking as wholesome as a PG13 musical drama can be, and it streams on Apple+ starting Feb. 11.
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Photos: Witches on the Water
Posted By Mark Larson on Tue, Oct 26, 2021 at 1:46 PM
Participants in the second annual Witches Paddle on Saturday afternoon were invited by organizer Jody Himango to "wear your best witchy water outfit to artistically express the power of women while celebrating Halloween." But those who showed up in the blustery weather under cloudy skies faced the power of Mother Nature and possible cancelation of the event.
"This year, the weather made the planning a bit more challenging," said Himango. "I'm a very dedicated weather watcher so that is part of the fun for me. The timing of the rain finally stopping gave us the perfect break in the weather to go ahead with the event." See the slideshow below for highlights.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Photos: Baduwa't Festival Gathers the People
Posted By Mark Larson on Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 11:47 AM
Last Wednesday through Sunday, a memorable Baduwa't Festival: A Gathering of the People (formerly known as the Mad River Festival) took place in Dadiqhoughuk (Blue Lake) at Dell’Arte’s outdoor performance spaces. To the chagrin of a few turned away at the door, a well-publicized policy required a vaccination card or proof of a recent negative COVID-19. See highlights of the events in the slideshow below.
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Oyster Festival Express this Saturday!
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 9:54 AM
Oh, the sweet sounds of live music returning to our clubs, bars, street festivals and farmers markets. And now, outside the Creamery Building for the Oyster Festival Express. Come down to the Creamery District on Saturday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to hear the Latin Peppers at 10:15 a.m., Amber Soul at 11:45 a.m., Grateful Getdown at 1:15 p.m. and the Paula Jones Band at 2:45 p.m. as part of this year’s virtual/in-person Oyster Festival mix.
Pick up your pre-sale oyster package (two dozen oysters and a 2021 Arcata Bay Oyster Festival T-shirt for $50, online), grab a map showing all the oyster specials in Humboldt County and check out the lively art market. The event will be live streamed at www.ArcataMainStreet.com, too, with music, oyster calling contest, best oyster contest, special guests and more.
Pick up your pre-sale oyster package (two dozen oysters and a 2021 Arcata Bay Oyster Festival T-shirt for $50, online), grab a map showing all the oyster specials in Humboldt County and check out the lively art market. The event will be live streamed at www.ArcataMainStreet.com, too, with music, oyster calling contest, best oyster contest, special guests and more.
