Lunchtime is usually busy at Mike’s Drive Up, the low, unassuming wood and brick hamburger joint on Broadway and Seventh Street in Eureka. But today, patrons stand elbow to elbow with their backs to the front windows, holding scraps of hand numbered paper as they wait for their chili dogs, garlic fries and milkshakes. Some […]
restaurants
Posted inEat + Drink
Resolutions for a Better Food Life
We talk about our work lives, our family lives, our social and sex lives, so why not a food life? The nourishment, enjoyment, creativity and connection food allows crosses into those other realms and goes well beyond the headings of eating habits and diet. I’m hardly immune to the influence diet industry’s January cash grab, […]
Posted inNews
Empower Workers or Government Overreach? California’s Fast Food Bill Tests Labor Laws
Amid growing awareness of inequality and jobs that don’t pay enough to cover child care and housing, California is considering a radical proposal: Allow the state to negotiate wages, hours and work conditions for an entire industry. Proponents in the state Legislature say one solution to inequality is to empower workers to negotiate through unions, […]
Posted inNews
NCJ Preview: COVID Spike, Omicron’s Arrival and Restaurant Impacts
This week, after a surge in COVID-19 cases, we’re talking about how and why the virus is spreading. We’re also looking at what we know about the Omicron variant that’s been in the county for a couple of weeks and what its impact could be on local resources, including hospitals staff and testing. We’re checking […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Restaurants Brace for Another Surge, Another Variant
On Jan 3., when news came that Humboldt County had a record-breaking 400 confirmed new COVID-19 cases, as well as two confirmed Omicron variant infections, it hit more than close to home for Six Rivers Brewery co-owner Meredith Maier. She was, in fact, at home after having tested positive for the virus. Luckily, she says, […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Old Town Coffee and Chocolates Up for Sale
Outside it’s chilly and misting, but inside the brick-walled Old Town Coffee and Chocolates, it’s cozy. The steamer and the knock of a portafilter drown the low music for a moment and the barista behind the Plexiglas coos at the dog of a regular, scolding it lightly for putting its paws on the counter. In […]
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NCJ Preview: Missed Messages, Card Art and Taco Joy
This week we’re grateful to be able to share the email correspondence between Heather Muller and her mother over the course of the pandemic and some of the issues it raises: How are we talking with and past one another about safety, vaccination and social isolation? We’re also looking at The Card Show, an annual […]
Posted inNews
Newsom is Running Out of Time to Sign Bills
T-minus three days. That’s how much time Gov. Gavin Newsom has left to decide the fate of the remaining bills on his desk — and as the deadline draws nearer, the buildup for big-ticket and contentious proposals is getting more intense. The direct impact of Newsom’s decisions was particularly apparent Wednesday, when he signed a […]
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NCJ Preview: Sally Arnot, Potter Valley and Local Eats
This week we’re talking about the life and legacy of local arts supporter Sally Arnot, who died Sept. 15. We’ll look back on her work fundraising for the Humboldt Arts Council and the Morris Graves Museum. It’s back to the drawing board for the Potter Valley Project and its efforts to take over the dam […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Las Michoacanas’ Regional Redo
Muscle memory still brings the odd patron to Las Michoacanas (1111 Fifth St., Eureka) thinking it’s still Rita’s. Don’t feel bad for them. New co-owners Socorro Sanchez and Perla Sanchez (no relation) have made themselves at home with a full bar (no margarita mix, just the real thing made to order) and a menu with […]
Posted inNews
NCJ Preview: A COVID Survivor’s Regret and the Uncertainty of Dining In
As Humboldt County COVID-19 cases continue to spike, a pandemic denier gets sick and now wants others to avoid his mistake, urging everyone to get vaccinated. And is it safe to dine-in at our favorite restaurants as the Delta variant surges and so many of us haven’t gotten our shots? We’ll also talk about a […]
Posted inNews
NCJ Preview: Vax Efforts as COVID-19 Spreads and Restaurant Transformations
Humboldt’s COVID-19 numbers are climbing. We’re talking about how vaccination, the Delta variant are impacting people in our county. On a hopeful note, we’ve got a cover story on vaccination fairs and True North’s efforts to reach out to the local Latinx community, sometimes one person at a time. And we’ve got the story of […]