For years I resisted developments in pesto. A purist, I was suspicious of change and, frankly, hostile towards new-fangled assumptions that the perfection of basil pesto should be tampered with. Even the phrase “basil pesto” still makes me cringe a little; it’s redundant! Alas, relentless onslaughts from Nigella Lawson and Fine Cooking Magazine have beaten […]
Section Feature
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Polo for the People
At 6:30 on a warm Wednesday evening, the Humboldt Hard Court Bike Polo crew adjusts helmets, tightens shin guards and makes sure mallets and bikes are tuned for friendly competition atop faded tennis courts in Eureka’s Highland Park. Laughter peppers the crew’s pregame safety check, and the setting sun lights up late-summer clouds punch orange […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Antique Light
He’s been obsessing over it for half an hour. Standing motionlessly under a lightproof shroud, Vaughn Hutchins peers through his wooden, 100-year-old Empire State No. 1 view camera, tinkering with tiny changes and contemplating every compositional detail. The accordion folds protruding from his cloak keep the lens at just the right distance from the antique […]
Posted inNews
Honeydew’s Hangout
For decades Honeydew has been a one-stop town: one stop sign, one school and one store. At the height of the logging boom in the 1950s there was a community center, a church and a service station, but for as long as many locals can remember, the only site for congregation has been Honeydew’s general […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Bay Trail Update No. 7
What a wild roller coaster ride this past week for those of us who support the Bay Trail, a proposed bicycle-and-pedestrian path along the bay between Arcata and Eureka. First, the Arcata City Council changed its position on the Caltrans 101 Safety Corridor Project, which comes before the California Coastal Commission in Eureka Thursday, from […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
At Age 3, a Detour
My journey into parenthood has been strange and trying, but absolutely fulfilling. From infancy, my daughter, Ivy Pearl, was remarkably quiet and detached. In retrospect, this was not just good karma for my difficult pregnancy. As she grew older, she would have meltdowns if she was wet or dirty. At an age when most toddlers […]
Posted inMusic
Back in the World
I write the Hum on Sundays. But hearing of the crossbow killing and subsequent manhunt in the dunes near my house, instead of writing up music haps, I locked my doors and called my neighbors. But the next day, sunshine lit up the outside world, laughter emanated over fences and the day progressed with all […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Can It, You!
There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Canning can be a long, hot and occasionally frustrating process, especially if you’re new at it. But is it worth it? I don’t know, how do you feel about having a rainbow of local fruits and vegetables all arrayed in vintage glass jars lining your shelves, fruits and vegetables […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Just Cuz You’re Paranoid …
“This is the beginning of the end of marijuana prohibition.” That’s what a Denver dispensary owner told the New York Times last week in response to what’s being called (by some) a historic memo from Attorney General Eric Holder. In his long-awaited response to the legalization of weed-for-fun in Colorado and Washington, Holder said the […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Between the Black and White
Emotions and identity are tricky. They’re even trickier when attempting to put them into words. It’s one reason why art exists — it allows people to describe the human experience in ways that words don’t, giving voice to the often conflicted, contradictory and complicated nature of living and being. For artists Thaddeus Zoellner and Michael […]
Posted inMusic
Shows Big and Small
Those who work in entertainment media tend to fall into one of two camps. The first camp tells people about what they already know and enjoy, the idea being that the public likes the comfort of familiarity. The second camp figures that people prefer the thrill of discovery. I’m hoping you’re adventurous types, so I’m […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Sushi for the Gluten-challenged
That tiny protein that holds wheat together is a lot easier to avoid than it used to be. As long as you’re willing to spend a bit more, even mainstream grocery stores carry a handful of gluten-free items. Local co-ops and health food stores are a practical wonderland of gluten-free delicacies. But dining out is […]