If you have been online lately looking around for local acts that have broken Humboldt containment into media virality, the odds are even you’ve heard of the country folk act Brett McFarland and the Freedom Riders. Weaving spells of old county tales for the masses out there, this group has garnered enough attention to launch a proper tour and are rocketing off from the Arcata Theatre Lounge tonight at 7 p.m. The early bird tickets are already sold out, so if you want to catch the worm, you’ll have to cough up $35. Enjoy ..read more

This week we've got the sad story of how lead ammo poisoned and killed one of our local California condors. We're also looking at how directives and cuts from the White House are costing jobs, food security and more in Humboldt County. Finally, get some milk for the story of one man's victory at a hot wing eating contest. Hit subscribe for weekly updates on Humboldt stories.  ..read more

Spring is a good time for something old returning and something new blooming. And so I offer you two gigs in that order. Music has returned to Cafe Mokka, and tonight’s intimate show will be courtesy of Irish music trio Ceo, featuring locals Blake Ritter, Alina Lawson and Chris Hinderyckx. No fee and the tunes start at 7:30 p.m. As for the new thing, it’s a fun night at the newest iteration of the old Jambalaya, the Wild Hare Tavern, where you will find former local hero-turned New York City rocker Ellis Wallace with his latest group Uppies. This packed bill features support courtesy of Darre ..read more

On March 15, Fernbridge Café & Coffee Barn owner Kimberlynn Wright posted the announcement she’d be closing the restaurant soon. As the sole owner since buying the spot three years ago, and a server at the café’s previous incarnation for seven years, she says she wanted to give her staff and regulars some lead time. “We just don’t want to catch anyone off guard being open one week and closed the next,” she says. She’s also working on closing her accounts and getting everything paid off before shutting down. “I want everyone to have a fair warning about what’s going on.” Wright says the com ..read more

Charles Minton, 78, passed away peacefully at home in Arcata, California, on Jan. 15. Charles was born in 1947 in Massachusetts to his parents, Catherine and Augustus Minton. His early life was spent moving from Air Force base to Air Force base; at the peak of his career, Augustus Minton was a major general for the U.S. Air Force. He spent a few years in Palm Desert building houses and eventually earned his nursing license. He then moved to Arcata, California, where he built a life rooted in service and adventure. A dedicated ICU nurse, he spent his career and life helping the Humboldt commu ..read more

Justin Grimaldo's wedding videography Being a wedding videographer was never a life goal for Justin Grimaldo. Yet, in the last several years, wedding videos have become the bread-and-butter for his Sightseer Productions. And he couldn't be happier about it. Before entering the wedding world, Grimaldo worked on music videos and other productions, eventually landing a job with a church where he dealt with all facets of video production — including music videos, livestreaming events and more. His filmmaking trajectory changed, however, when a close friend asked him to film his wedding some seven ..read more

Perfect pairings aren't always obvious to us all. It takes a perceptive set of senses and a little imagination, sometimes, to see how things might work in harmony. This issue of The Wedding Guide exercises those senses with unexpected combinations and perfectly imperfect fits. If the thought of bridesmaids and groomsmen bookended on either side of the happy couple in monochromatic, descending height order feels a bit staid, you're not alone. We'll show you how to loosen up the dress code to allow members of a wedding party more individuality, not to mention the couple getting married. A broad ..read more

Joyfully abandoning wedding party rules The dreaded bridesmaid dress. An unholy artifact of the thrift store. Congratulations, you spent $200 on a grotesque amalgamation of taffeta and chiffon that at least six other women in your town own. So unless you were trying to start a fancy gang, you were out of luck re-wearing it. You said you would modify it but you never did. The best future those dresses could see was being found by a local repertory theater costume designer or a creative high school student looking for a prom dress. Fortunately, these days are behind us. The time of the consider ..read more

at the Reception Eyes hidden by the tilt of her cap, Veronica Rudolph pulls a cheese wire steadily through a piece of cheddar the size of a cinder block. As head of the Arcata North Coast Co-op's cheese department, she'll likely slice, chunk and otherwise divvy up a couple hundred pounds of cheese, from soft logs of chèvre to hefty wheels of aged Gouda. And after two decades in the cheese business, including a stint on the co-op's cheese-centric podcast, Rudolph knows her stuff. "It's been mostly me looking things up and seeking opportunities for learning when I can and going to cheese shows ..read more

A celebration of life will be held for Mark Alan Whitman at 2 p.m. on March 22 in Blue Lake. The event will celebrate Mark's life, and allow those attending to make connections with others who knew and loved him. Those who would like to join are asked to meet in front of Mark's shop, 620 Railroad Ave. in Blue Lake, before joining a serenaded walk to the Mad River Grange (110 Hatchery Road), where they will celebrate a life well lived. Attendees are asked to bring a potluck dish to share and a beverage of choice. Coffee, tea and water will be provided. They are also requested to bring ..read more