Arts & Culture
Over the moon
The hamsa—an open hand with an eye on the palm—is regarded as a powerful symbol in many Middle Eastern cultures, representing good fortune and positive energy. It’s also known for its protective qualities, and is […]
Food
Arts & Culture
Cheese toast time machine
Every time I pass through Yuba City on Highway 99, I am struck by two sights that never fail to excite and bewilder me. The first is the wild chickens roaming and roosting along the […]
Arts & Culture
PB for lunch
To cope with the isolation and existential dread wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Youa Vang—like many other people—turned to baking. She was already an accomplished, self-taught baker and the go-to person for birthday cakes and […]
Arts & Culture
Hot dog summer
In the not-too-distant past, downtown Chico was a wiener wonderland. It used to be possible for us hot dog fiends, at reasonable and even unreasonable hours, to find a fix within a few block radius […]
Arts & Culture
Hot tomato
It’s May, and the initial tomato frenzy has died down. The nurseries have sold the bulk of their tomato starts, and most are likely in the ground, already showing several blossoms. Your tomato plants no […]
Arts & Culture
A tasty scene
The value of a windowed storefront in downtown Chico is—pardon the pun—clear, to business owners and patrons alike. This is especially true for eateries, as it offers built-in curb appeal and a natural sense of […]
Arts & Culture
End of the five-buck meal?
I miss Zot’s. When the Chico News & Review was still downtown (I miss that a lot, too), Zot’s Hot Dogs & Deli was the closest restaurant to our building. It was just a short […]
News
Wine and weeds
By Mark Schapiro This story is produced by the award-winning journalism nonprofit Capital & Main, and co-published here with permission. The Butterfly Effect Ten years ago I met a lepidopterist, a fanatic for butterflies. During butterfly season, […]
News
‘Farm to glass’
This feature is part of the CN&R’s 2023 Entrepreneur Issue. When Bill Weller crafts a new beer recipe, he has an unofficial litmus test for its success. If his wife, Kristin, takes a sip, tilts […]
News
Ice cream dreams
This feature is part of the CN&R’s 2023 Entrepreneur Issue. In 2013, Shenlyn and Martin Svec’s lives were changed by, of all things, a few scoops of ice cream. The couple were vacationing in Texas […]
News
Building a ‘destination spot’
This feature is part of the CN&R’s 2023 Entrepreneur Issue. “Are you aware of the old children’s book with Ferdinand the bull?” It’s a sunny January afternoon, and Scott Barwick is talking as he walks […]
Arts & Culture
New flavor on the block
With the recent opening of Pakistani restaurant Sofi’z Kitchen and Bar, it is now possible to sample food and culture from around the world within just a few steps along the 100 block of Broadway […]
Arts & Culture
Bem-vindo a minha casa
Step into Lili’s Brazilian Bistro most any time when the doors are open, and there’s a good chance you’ll find the restaurant’s proprietor and namesake, Lili Da Silva, somewhere within. If she’s not at the […]
Arts & Culture
The Empire dives back
The roughly six-mile stretch of The Midway between Chico and Durham is a scenic short drive—or moderate-length bike ride—at any time of the year. In spring, the surrounding almond orchards bloom with pink-tinged white blossoms, […]
Arts & Culture
It’s all in the name
A touch of swagger is essential if you want to compete in the barbecue game. It’s a business where, from backyards to brick-and-mortar storefronts, bragging rights and word-of-mouth praise are a grillmaster’s stock and trade. […]