Cover Story
A Saturday at the Rodeo
Saturday, July 19, was a good day at the 104th annual Fortuna Rodeo to watch and photograph the talented athletes and their skilled animals compete in several events. And on this day, the bulls won — not a single rider lasted eight seconds. A 6-year-old cowboy won a belt buckle and a new hat, however, for best ride…
Music Tonight: Saturday, Aug. 2
The Miniplex is hosting Los Angeles band Dummy tonight at 8:30 p.m. The group is relatively new, with its 2021 record Mandatory Enjoyment on Trouble in Mind records making a big splash in the underground music scene for its excellent stitching of ambient landscapes filled with pop guitar song work. Sacramento’s San Kazakgascar is as…
Music Tonight: Friday, Aug. 1
It’s the first day of the mighty month of August, and as good a day as any to celebrate festival culture. If you are headed down to the 36th installment of Reggae on the River, or interested in such, I hope you have a great time. There’s plenty of info about it found elsewhere, so…
Music Tonight: Thursday, July 31
The last day of July seems like a fine time to mention the free Eureka Summer Concert Series on Madaket Plaza at 6 p.m. This week’s talent is a band called Rash, which, despite the name, isn’t a crust punk band, but a Rush tribute band. Fans of that now decommissioned trio, take note.
Photos: Folklife Festival Strings Along
The Humboldt Folklife Society’s 46th annual Humboldt Folklife Festival featured a talented mix of performances by local musicians last week (July 22-26) under the sunny, then foggy, then sunny, then foggy … and finally sunny skies on closing day in Blue Lake. It was another successful festival, said longtime Folklife Festival volunteer and emcee Patrick…
Music Tonight: Wednesday, July 30
Cory Hanson of psych-band Wand fame, blew a very big hole into the landscape for himself two years ago with the release of his acclaimed record Western Cum on Drag City Records. Since then, he has been only building on his fascinating take on psychedelia and rock weirdness. This is wall-melting death trip music, with…
FOURTH UPDATE: Tsunami Advisory Cancelled for Humboldt County
FOURTH UPDATE: The tsunami advisory for Humboldt County has been cancelled, according to the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services. “The advisory was lifted following updates from the National Tsunami Warning Center and coordination with state and federal emergency partners,” an OES release states. “While there is no longer a tsunami threat to Humboldt County,…
Sheriff’s Office Identifies Suspect Killed Near Blue Lake
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man killed after being shot by deputies near Blue Lake on July 26 as Jared Randell Nelson, 35, of Eureka. A press release states Nelson was shot after firing a handgun at deputies who were pursuing him on foot and the “three HCSO deputies involved in the…
Joseph Clay Gilbert: 1939-2025
Friends and family were sad to see the passing of Joseph Clay Gilbert this last May. He was a friend to many who always enjoyed his company. He was born on December 24, 1939, to Robert and Essie Gilbert as the third of eight children. He often talked about growing up in Promise Land, Tennessee…
Fatal Shooting of Suspect in Blue Lake Under Investigation
Sheriff’s deputies fatally shot a man near Blue Lake last night as deputies prepared to serve an arrest warrant, according to a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Police released few details immediately about the incident that occurred around 8 p.m. on the 1300 block of Glendale Avenue. A press release from the…
Music Tonight: Friday, July 25
A lot of mini-festival fun, unique in ways which are purely Humboldt County ways, is happening today and into the weekend. Starting at 3 p.m., it’s the first day of Outer Roominations outside of Loleta — more on that in Sunday’s entry — but my suggestion is a trip to Blue Lake, where at 7…
Music Tonight: Thursday, July 24
The Creative Sanctuary’s fine cadre of jazz musicians continues rolling along with their excellent series celebrating the various satellite musicians associated with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Tonight’s gig at 7 p.m. at the Arcata Playhouse is a celebration of tenor sax player Benny Golson, whose brief stint with the Messengers produced the 1958…
New at the Zoo
Things have been busy behind the scenes at the Sequoia Park Zoo lately. While not out and about quite yet, several recent arrivals are in quarantine after coming on board this summer, including two goats, four spider monkeys — with one making a return appearance — and a rescued bear cub that was unable to…
Good Trouble on the Bay Trail
On Thursday, July 17, an estimated 250 local demonstrators walked/rollerbladed/bicycled/rolled/skateboarded on the newly opened Humboldt Bay Trail across the Eureka Slough Bridge and north for a mile and back along the trail paralleling U.S. Highway 101. Dubbed Good Trouble Lives On Day by protesters, the nationwide event honors Congressman John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat who,…
Storytellers
I’ve been all over the place in these pages lately, writing about everything from the excellent Eureka Symphony, the Spanish Civil War, the architectural history of our own rapidly expanding police state and the incumbent circumstantial depression that comes with it, to some of the music from years past which I have overlooked or had…
What’s Good: Ice Cream Sandwich Edition
I have had some good days playing hooky. An easy top-five entry is the afternoon I spent with a dear friend on a park bench facing the water, eating vanilla ice cream sandwiches, the wax wrappers moving gently in the breeze. In the last summers of the 1800s, some genius in New York City swapped…
Trinidad Art Night
This townwide walk includes a variety of art exhibits, live music, artist receptions, face painting, skate ramps, pop-up sales and oyster, cider or wine tastings. Forbes & Associates and Westhaven Center for the Arts present Sarah Corliss. For more info, call (707) 834-2479 or visit trinidadartnight.com. THE LIGHTHOUSE GRILL 355 Main St. Genise Smith Memorial…
Crabs’ Backs Against the Wall After a Tough Series
Last week’s big story was the San Francisco Giants drafting the Humboldt Crabs’ Elijah McNeal, the 18-year-old, 6-feet-3-inch, 180-pound infield prospect out of Dublin, California. Having graduated high school in May, McNeal joined the Humboldt Crabs for the summer. Now, McNeal has signed with the Giants organization and went from batting practice in Arcata to…
The Superman of Our Time
SUPERMAN. As a kid, I imprinted on Christopher Reeve’s Superman like a baby chick. And when, in my 20s, I saw him in a trench coat on a Metro North train, tossing a patient if perfunctory grin at a drunk shouting, “Superman!” across the car, my attachment felt vindicated. Whether David Corenswet carries the mantle…
The Conductor
Editor: At the conclusion of the final symphony concert of the 2024-25 season, Carol Jacobson performed a simple but profound gesture (“The Conductor,” July 17). She had just conducted a marvelous rendition of Beethoven’s 7th symphony and she returned now to the podium to face a rousing standing ovation. But before acknowledging the audience or the…
Blue Lake Recall
Editor: Over the past decade, a strong partnership between the city council and a highly competent City Manager produced numerous projects that Blue Lake residents enjoy today. This success stemmed from a clear understanding of governance — councils respected staff roles and did not interfere in day-to-day operations. This collaboration led to progress, including plans…
Donor States
Editor: To build on Frances K. Ransley’s letter of July 17 (Mailbox), more than a third of the federal government’s income comes from the four most populous states. According to USA Facts, there are a total of 19 states that receive less than they pay for, if you wish to look at it that way.…
