They say the best movies about American culture are made by foreigners, the logic being that it takes an outsider’s eye to really see things objectively.
I’m not sure if I buy that, but I will say that this piece on Humboldt County from today’s New York Times (by Canadian-born, North Carolina-raised author Wells Tower) really captures some of the distinct particulars that make this place special — from our gorgeous landscapes and Victorian houses to the bigfoot enthusiasts, reclusive pot growers and noodle-dancing free spirits.
An excerpt:
In my touristic career, I’ve grown numb to the presence of hammerhead sharks, giant tortoises, grizzly bears, blue-footed boobies and pilot whales, but in the awe department, coast redwoods seemed to have no point of diminishing returns. Each tree revealed some astounding new characteristic of girth, bark tone, branch anatomy or moss couture. The forest’s crisp, misty air made breathing a thrilling novelty. It seemed to inhale itself.
On top of his writing chops, Wells is a good guy to share a couple beers with. He stopped by the Journal offices during his visit and gathered some local wisdom from former editor Hank Sims (and bar suggestions from the rest of us).
The piece is not receiving universal acclaim from locals, however. Check the post and comments over on Kym Kemp’s blog.
This article appears in dummy March 2011 (North Coast Journal).
Like it or not, a piece on Humboldt County in the New York Times will shape how outsiders view our area for years to come. Other than the $72 steak inaccuracy, I think this piece is pretty good. Reasonable people may disagree.
Full disclosure/Why I might be rooting for this article: I met Wells Tower while he was here working on this piece. We had a beer. Cool dude. Had I not met him, maybe I’d think him a d-bag and this article to be crap. People/me are weird like that.
Great article. Southern Humboldt marijuana industry was well represented. The effect and fear of legalization, Proposition 19, on the pot price bubble bursting and dependence of so many businesses on the locally laundered pot money. Turkey bags advertised on roadside billboards. I’ve often wondered what tourists think when they see turkey bags advertised for packing pounds of pot buds in advertised on the billboard in Fortuna? Hey, the old Fortunal PL millsite would be a great location for a PotMart.What a hoot! Great article.
Mr. Wells Tower’s New York Times piece is a good read moving along at a fast gallop. Yours truly enjoyed the view looking from the outside in.
It was good of the NCJ to note Kym Kemp’s Redheaded Blackbelt site and her many reader’s comments there. Kym, in turn, kindly tipped her hat to Kevin Hoover of the Arcata Eye. She also helped correct a detail Mr. Tower and his fact checkers overlooked in describing the finest restaurant and establishment in Garberville, Cecil’s,… NOT the home of the imaginary $72 steak mentioned. Mr. Tower raved about Cecil’s in his article, judging from the stuffing of himself and glowing words afterwards. Just sayin’.
Many readers posted interesting comments at Kym’s corner. Ernie’s Place weighed in with his own always interesting historical observations, and Hank Sims noted his brief thoughts and further link into Mr. Tower’s other imbibing article of the Dutch marijuana coffee shops in Amsterdam for the timidly curious.
Having her cake frosted with a deliberate innaccuracy, Becky of Cecil’s corrected the record saying all good Humboldt folks know her restaurant, Cecil’s, has great food at good prices– but no forest elves handpicking chanterelles, adding, “ Humboldt County is not only my home, but the home of many intelligent, creative and innovative people, we take great pride in living here.”
Don’t mess with these Humboldt folks. They’re a tight bunch. Nice article and thanks for reporting it, Mr. Burns.
Well, Humboldt got some major press, folks.
Matt Drange reported today this New York Times Style magazine article, The High Life, had ‘a million peeks.’
With 1.4 million subscribers and the magazine available in 53,000 retail outlets, the article was a major push forward introducing Humboldt and its gloriously wacky wonders to the nation, whether one likes it or not.
The East Coast just met the North Coast. If it wasn’t well known enough before, SoHum and Humboldt County certainly are the buzzwords of the day for the Big Apple– and everywhere in between.
Cecil’s fine food garnished with chantrelles and elves are equally famous, too, no doubt. What’s next? I’m sure Guy Fieri will be coming by soon to check it out.
Humboldt used to be a well kept secret. Not anymore.