Beauty and Good Times

Grab a sweater or better yet a hoodie and join us for another gorgeous fall and winter in Humboldt. Both the season and this issue of the Insider are packed with beauty and good times. We might even find you some snow, if you time your visit right.

Let's start with beauty. We'll introduce you to artist, activist and educator Lyn Risling, whose vibrant images and sweet children's books speak to her connection to the thriving Native cultures of the North Coast. In Perfect Trips, you'll see more art in the form of working artist studios and a fresh crop of murals under the Samoa Bridge — even some on local basketball courts. Then there's the natural beauty we never run out of, especially on our local trails — choose your level of difficulty and prepare to swoon.

Time for good times. Your appetite honed, you may want to flip to our story on Sushi Blue, the dining spot in Blue Lake winning over local aficionados with its inventiveness and its sake bar. If you're here for the beer — and Humboldt has plenty brewing — you can't skip Bigfoot Taproom, with its dizzying array of taps. Luckily, it's easier to find than its namesake; we'll show you the way.

If you were wise and left room in your suitcase, the county is full of quaint and quirky storefronts to knock out some gift shopping. We'll take you to Zumbido Gifts in Old Town for a browse through colorful treasures from around the world — from Humboldt to Haiti and beyond.

Those interested in sampling the sun-grown cannabis Humboldt is known for have nearly endless options, too. In our special section, you'll meet the owners of our county's longest running dispensary the Humboldt County Collective, spanning three generations of one family. You can make partaking a little more beautiful, too, as local ceramic artist Cate Be demonstrates with her charming pipes and ashtrays. We'll even take you to an indoor cannabis lounge for a little relaxation.

And as always, you'll find our extensive calendar of events around the county so you can join in whatever good times are happening. We'll see you there.

Jennifer Fumiko Cahill