A man pulls down hard on a lever and watches as each reel on his slot machine spins and stops: one, two, three. He misses a jackpot by just one cherry. A row of machines over, a woman murmurs, “Come on, baby,” while her nickel slot machine spins. Across the aisle, a dealer places another […]
Feature
Posted inStories
A Room with a View
More than 70 percent of the planet is covered in oceanwater, minimally organized by celestial forces that rhythmically deliver waves, ranging from romantic to cataclysmic. Across the world, roughly 20 million people take pleasure in surfing these waves wherever saltwater meets the shore. For those with their feet on dry land, it’s an enviable hobby. […]
Posted inStories
Shopping the Farm Stands of the North Coast
The one place that’s closer to the source of our scrumptious North Coast fruits and vegetables than our fabulous farmers markets is the farms themselves. And fortunately for us, an increasing number of local farms have produce (and sometimes farm-raised meat) for sale to the public right on their farms. Some also offer pick-your-own, or […]
Posted inStories
Golden Age
To walk through the grand polished-wood and etched-glass doors of the Minor Theatre is to straddle the past and the future. Staircases descend into the small, warmly appointed lobby, filled with ornate items from a bygone era: historic photos, a grandfather clock and a typewriter on which customers peck out cheery thoughts and poems. The […]
Posted inStories
Iron in the Blood
Welcome to my shop. I live at the end of a long dirt road in Ettersburg in Southern Humboldt County. Every morning I pull the chains to open the two large rollup doors, reintroducing the cold steel layout table, the anvil and rows of tongs and hammers to the rich, quiet beauty of the forest […]
Posted inStories
Tolowa Dancers
Shawgeylut “Sis” Coney, of the Tolowa tribe, Alison Osceola and Vivian McCovey, who are both Yurok, dressed in traditional regalia for a demonstration of the Tolowa Feather Dance, or Nay-dosh, at the Bear River Rancheria in September. The dance, traditionally performed near the winter solstice, gives thanks for food sources, ancestors, children and creation. According […]
Posted inStories
Back to the Blueprints
The Benbow Historic Inn, a circa 1926 landmark on the Redwood Highway in Southern Humboldt County, is kicking off an ambitious expansion this summer, one that will draw creatively on its past and complete the original plans of its designers. Over its 90 years, the Tudor-style luxury inn has hosted the likes of Clark Gable, […]
Posted inStories
The Pink Lady
Perched daintily on the corner across from the Carson Mansion is the Pink Lady, a classic Queen Anne Victorian built as a wedding gift from William Carson to his eldest son Milton. (202 M St, Eureka) The Lady feels like the dark green, iron-gated mansion’s flirtatious kid sister, surrounded by a white wooden fence with […]
Posted inStories
Hearth Warming
At Carter House Inn, a welcoming wood fire in the main lobby is lit mornings and evenings nearly year round. Starting at 5 pm, you can sink into leather chairs and sofas with a starter or dessert and a glass of wine from Restaurant 301’s award-winning cellar stocked with 3,400 bottles. You could also order […]
Posted inStories
Fish On
Insider recently had the pleasure of spending time on the water with Captain Matt Dallam of Northwind Charters in Eureka and Captain Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sportfishing, operating out of Shelter Cove. The genuine enthusiasm these guys show for what they do is well — catching! Captain Dallam’s 35-foot boat Fishy Business came here […]
Posted inStories
Eureka’s Mural Walk
Working on a walking guide to Humboldt County over the past year led me to the far corners of our region, but some of the best discoveries turned out to be incredibly close to home. For example, the walk that visits the murals dotting Eureka’s Old Town is a perfect way to get some exercise, […]
Posted inStories
The Ave
Whether it’s a gorgeous summer weekend or a wet, socked-in Tuesday afternoon, Humboldt County’s Avenue of the Giants doesn’t disappoint. It can be undertaken as a whirlwind tour with windshield views of the world’s tallest trees or an all-day destination for a romantic duo. Known by locals as “the Ave,” this 31-mile stretch was formerly […]