Stucki Jewelers: Free if it snows

“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” – Bing Crosby Imagine receiving free jewelry if it snows one inch during any 24-hour period in December. The crooner himself surely would have applauded that. For the 10th straight year, Stucki Jewelers of downtown Grass Valley, the region’s oldest continually operating jewelry store, is offering a “free if […]

LeeAnn Brook Fine Art

Located at 231 Broad Street in downtown Nevada City, the gallery also incorporates the working studio of LeeAnn Brook, where visitors can see paintings in progress and discuss the art with the artist firsthand. NOVEMBER Menlo MacFarlane, “Life as Art“ Pastels and Mixed Media LeeAnn Brook, Mixed-Media Paintings Opening Reception: Nov. 9, 5-7 p.m. Thanksgiving […]

The Olive Groove: Partnering with local artists, farmers and chefs

“Partnering with local artists, farmers, and chefs is a big part of why we love this work. By focusing on local talent, we are able to offer unique products for our customers and support the thriving creative scene in Nevada County.” — Christina West, owner of the Olive Groove The Olive Groove located in downtown […]

Our Towns

THORTON WILDER’S CLASSIC “OUR TOWN”chronicles life in a small New Hampshire town in the early 20th century. Like the fictional Grover’s Corners in Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, our region’s small towns — Loomis and Lincoln in the valley, Auburn, Grass Valley and Nevada City in the foothills, and Truckee in the High Sierra — […]

Meet the Rainmakers: People who are bolstering our food, wine & art economy

Our small towns are thriving, thanks to some innovative entrepreneurs, chefs, winery owners, arts leaders and dealmakers. JORDAN FIFE The ebullient hotelier is helping to revitalize the National Hotel in Nevada City and The Holbrooke in Grass Valley — two of our region’s most historic hotels. “We are excited to be entrusted with the restoration […]

The Rebirth of Main Street

ONCE THE EPICENTER OF RETAIL, America’s malls are struggling: “An Ode to Shopping Malls — farewell, pleasure palaces of days past,” The New York Times reported. “A historical anachronism,” the New Yorker declared. “The culture that spawned satire like Mallrats seems increasingly dated, ever cartoonish,” The Guardian concluded. Our historic downtowns across America — including […]

Craft Cocktails

SOUTH FORK VODKA A locally made vodka called South Fork Vodka was released this fall — the latest sign of the boom in craft distilleries. “South Fork Vodka is an elegant hand crafted vodka, distilled six times from American corn, and produced in small batches here in Grass Valley,” according to its owners. South Fork […]

Fresh, local feasts

IN THE FOOTHILLS AND TRUCKEE-TAHOE, the possibilities abound for preparing a fresh, local feast for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year’s. We are blessed with local farmers and ranchers, farmers markets, a growing number of artisan food makers, and stores that feature local produce and meats. Here are suggestions for finding the ingredients and preparing […]

Wines for the Holidays

  Pair your holiday menus with these bottles of wines from the Sierra Foothills: SPARKLING WINES Avanguardia L’edonista “The Hedonist” is redolent of established high-end brands, many of them from California subsidiaries of famous European houses (Roederer, Mumm, and Gloria Ferrer) and with some of the best domestic wines (Schramsberg). Pilot Peak Sparkling Cuvée Pear […]

Tasting Notes

FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian tradition. It features seven courses of fish and seafood dishes on Christmas Eve — the freshest catch of the day, as well as clams, oysters, mussels, squid, shrimp and lobster, for example. Avanguardia’s Cristallo is the perfect wine for the occasion. […]

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