Mushrooms & Wine at McCloud Festival – May 23rd & 24th

The McCloud Mushroom, Music and Wine Faire, set for Memorial Day weekend, is a celebration of good food and a local tradition. Local mushroom hunters hit the woods in May, hunting for morel and boleta mushrooms, and the forests around McCloud are a hot spot for mushroom lovers. The two-day Faire sports a $100 cash prize for largest mushroom found locally. The street fair brings in a host of chefs specializing in mushroom delicacies, regional olive and olive oil vendors, wineries, local organic plant starts, herbal body care products and more food booths.

Things kickoff Friday night, with the wine tasting party, featuring Shasta View Vineyards and Alpen Cellars, from 6-8pm in the Great Room at the McCloud Mercantile. Saturday Main Street hosts the street fair, followed by a community BBQ at Pan Exotic Mushrooms on Squaw Valley Road. Live music is scheduled throughout the street fair (10am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday). There will also be a ballroom dancing demonstration and a display of mushrooms found in Siskiyou County.

If you come out for the Mushroom Fair be sure to fully check out the shops and the Museum in historic McCloud. If you’ve still got time on your hands (especially if it’s hot), head out to the McCloud River waterfalls, about 8 miles east of town on Highway 89) for a dip in the really chilly waters (or you can just enjoy the view). Either way, it’s a great time to enjoy the folks and natural attractions of McCloud.

Earth Day festivals and entertainment – April 25th & 26th

There is plenty on the calendar this weekend, and the weather is swinging back to spring, so get out there and enjoy!

Sacramento River Spring Festival – Saturday in downtown Dunsmuir. Check out exhibits by local school kids, local artists, Fish and Game, Fish and Wildlife, Adopt a Tree and Go Batty, and lots more at this annual event put on by the Upper Sacramento River Exchange. Sacramento Ave and Pine Street will host this annual festival. It’s a great time to take a walk at Tauhindauli Park , the site of the Festival’s plant walk at 10am, or the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens. Brown Trout Cafe will be hosting a street BBQ from 11am-3pm and the Kids’ Factory will put on the Waterhed Operetta at 1pm. Head on back to Brown Trout from 3-8pm for a BBQ chicken dinner at live music after 5:30pm.

Casino Night in Weed – The Weed Rotary and Weed Revitalization Committee are putting on the annual Western Casino Night, beginning at 6:30pm in the Weed Mercantile Mall. Craps, blackjack, bingo, roulette, and poker are on tap, and the $20 ticket includes food, a drink ticket and $100 in chips.

Earth Day Faire – Mt. Shasta City Park from noon to 5pm. Check out a number of informatioal booths and workshops, including a talk titiled “Industrial Hemp and its Benefits”, which starts at noon in the lower lodge. At 1pm Fish and Wildlife will give the “Klamath River 101″ presentation that discusses dam removal. At 4pm a nature walk will explore the Park and its plant life.

Check out a full line up live music this weekend – bands are playing Mt. Shasta and Dunsmuir.

The Tweaksters take the stage in Weed on March 29th

Here’s the description of a coming event: The Tweaksters –

Join “The Tweaksters,” two quirky performers with six-pack abs of steel, dancers’ grace, zaniness, and a penchant for juggling, black light and heavy lifting, as they bring the “ooh-ahh” factor in their acrobatic, balletic feats of strength and balance to the College of the Siskiyous theater in Weed on March 29th.
This juggling, balancing, object-manipulating, off-the-wall team is captivatingly fun.  Their innovative mix of acrobatic dance and artistic juggling blends pure athletic creativity with odd objects in a rhythmic, crazy cool performance designed to tweak and delight audiences of all ages.  With the Tweaksters, you can’t imagine what you’ll experience next.  From ping-pong air raids to glow-in-the-dark illusions to skillful feats of strength and balance, this pulse-quickening adventure keeps audiences oohing and aahing.  Sometimes regarded as “The Blue Man Group without the paint,” the Tweaksters use their athletic prowess and fertile imaginations to deftly manipulate flower pots, meteors, luminescent ropes, and galvanized pipes – not to mention each other – tweaking all the way.
The show is Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the College of the Siskiyous Kenneth W. Ford Theater.  General admission tickets are $20, senior citizen tickets (60 years and older) are $19 and children 12 and under are $12.  For groups purchasing 20 or more tickets, the cost is $15 per ticket.  For additional information, call the Weed Campus Foundation Office at (530) 938-5373 or toll-free (888) 397-4339.

Spa Beauty Bash at Sacred Mountain March 27th

Our friends at Sacred Mountain Spa in Mt. Shasta are hosting a Spa Beauty Bash Friday, March 27th from 5:30 to 7pm. Scotty is promising free brow design, chair massage, spray tanning, and makeup application featuring Bare Escentuals, along with music, champagne and chocolate.Yummy.

Sacred Mountain is the place to go, whether you want to soak in a tub, let go of your troubles in the sauna or turn your body over to one of their skilled massage practitioners (everybody has their favorite). They’re also offering a “Stimulus Special” – a 30 minute sauna and a 30 minute chair massage for only $30. I highly recommend it if you’ve only got a little bit of time and you need a pick-me-up. If you’ve got more time, check out the slew of packages the Spa offers, designed to put your in a state of bliss that will last the rest of the day. Let yourself be pampered.

Sacred Mountain is located in downtown Mt. Shasta at 412 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd. Call them at 530.918.9229.

Weed Chinese Auction & dinner set for Feb 21st.

The Weed Chamber’s 25th Annual Chinese Auction & Dinner is set for Feb 21st at Sons of Italy Hall in Weed, with a catered dinner, a fun “oxtion” and dancing till midnight. Participants can purchase a $25 dinner ticket and bring coins to bid on various packages with a range of 25 cents to $5. To really get involved in the fun, diners should buy a $60 “ox box” that includes dinner, 10 drinks tickets and the opportunity to bid on all available packages, like this year’s grand prize of a week stay at a condo in Hawaii. Other tempting items include ski park passes and day spa delights.

Doors open at 5pm Hors d’oeuvres and a no host bar with a fully catered tri tip dinner by The Garden Party to start at 6pm. After the auction, DJ Mark Hofer will play dance tunes til midnight. Get out there and support the chamber, then dance your socks off!

To learn more about the event, call Sheryl Wilson at 530.859.0360. The Sons of Italy Hall is located at 155 Clay Street in Weed.

Grab your sweetie for Valentine’s Day festivities

Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year – how sweet is that? That means a full day of living it up with good times for couples and going out with friends. Here’s a taste of what’s going on:

Friday, February 13th:
The Poetic Erotic Ball (oh, la la):
The Mount Shasta Writers Series will host the Ball at the Stage Door Caberet in downtown Mt. Shasta, beginning at 7:30pm to midnight. The Ball will feature erotic poetry read by local poets and performers, an erotic art auction, a “come in style” costume party, dancing and prizes. If you want to read your poetry (or someone else’s), sign in at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 at the door, $7 if you’re wearing a costume. Under 18 not allowed.

Victor & Allison playing at Mike & Tony’s Restaurant:
Local duo Allison Scull and Victor Martin will play music from their new CD and collected works at this old-standing Mt. Shasta Italian restuarant. Victor and Allison will play from 6-8:30pm on Friday, Feb 13th at Mike and Tony’s (501 S. Mt. Shasta Blvd). For dinner reservations call 530.926.4792.

Saturday, February 14th:
Honey Tasting at Sereni-tea:
Share a taste of delicious local honey from Mowat Apiary with your sweetheart at Sereni-tea from 1-4 pm on Saturday. Meet bee keeper Carol Mowat and chat about the mysterious art of beekeeping. Linney Poo’s Love Bites, tasty little muffins, will also be available to go with your honey and the huge array of teas. Functional pottery, including mugs, honey pots, tea pots and other household vessel, by local artist Coreena Affleck will be on display and the artist will be on site to discuss her inspiration and techniques. Stop by Sereni-tea at its new location at 319 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.

Free Ice Show at the Ice Rink:
Spend the afternoon at the Siskiyou Ice Rink, where you can watch local skaters (ages 4 to 67) perform at 3pm and 7pm, and then take to the ice for a romantic skate with your sweetheart. Public skate sessions are from 12-5pm and 6-9pm and the rink is offering 2 for 1 admission. There will be a sizzling fire and snack bar. The rink is located in Shastice Park at 800 Rockfellow Drive in Mt. Shasta. For more info call 530.926.1715.

Romantic dinner and music at the Dunsmuir Creamery:
A dinner and dance is set for this fairly new restaurant in Dunsmuir. Dinner accompanied by romantic music will begin at 5pm with dance music starting at 8pm. The Dunsmuir Creamery is located at 5740 Dunsmuir Ave. Call 530.235.4585 for reservations.

Live music at Roxy’s Vets Club:
The recently renovated Roxy’s Vets Club at 404 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd will be hosting Sound Advice on Saturda, beginning at 10pm. Cover is $5 at the door; admission is free if you’ve come from dinner at Mike and Tony’s Restuarant.

Evening of Romance:
The Kids Factory in Dunsmuir is hosting an Evening of Romance on Saturday, with the Latin influenced jazz of Victor and Allison. You can sip champagne and sample chocolate at this annual fundraiser that includes live and silent auctions, as well as a dessert silent auction. The Kids’ Factory Ramily Resource Center is located at 4103 Pine Street in Dunsmuir. Tickets ($15) are available at Village Book s in Mt. Shasta, and Brown Trout Gallery and the Kids’ Factory in Dunsmuir.

Live music at Sengthong’s:
The Ron Lovelace Band will perform its blend of blues at Sengthong’s Blue Sky Room Saturday, beginning at 8pm. Come in early for a wonderful Valentine’s Day dinner at this popular Thai restaurant in Dunsmuir then get up and dance to the blues that’s great for dancing. $5 cover for music. Call 530.235.4770 for dinner reservations.

Contra Dance in Montague:
Caller Annie Kramer along with The Highly Paid Professionals Band will bring contra dancing to Montague Elementary for the Valentine’s Day Community Contra Dance on Saturday from 7-9:30pm. The first half hour of dancing will include lessons for those unfamiliar with Contra dancing, a sort of blend of square, English country and Celtic-style dances. Admission on a sliding scale of $5 to $10; admission is free for kids under 12. This is an alcohol-free, family event. For more info call 530.459.3707.

There you have it – there’s plenty to do, so get out there and enjoy yourselves!

Enjoy Valentine’s Day with Sereni-tea’s honey tasting

Another post from Joanne Steele-

Plan a unique Valentine’s Day celebration in Mt. Shasta Country. The crisp winter weather might call for a day of skiing, but it  could also draw you to a cozy fire and the slower pace of a stroll through the shops and galleries of downtown Mt. Shasta.

When looking for pleasant lodging with the option of a fireplace you can choose the Mt. Shasta Ranch B&B which keeps a roaring, crackling fire in the huge stone fireplace in their cozy living room. The lodge at the Woodsman Hotel also features a large fireplace surrounded by comfortable couches as well as several private rooms with their own fireplaces. The Mount Shasta Resort has fireplaces in their luxurious one and two bedroom chalets.

For a unique way to celebrate the day, attend the honey tasting  at Sereni-tea (319 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.) in Mt. Shasta. This European style tea shop run by Swiss-born Daniela Bose, features teas from around the world in a serene, contemporary setting. Tea lovers will find over 130 varieties of teas and infusions. The shop includes an inviting sitting room where customers are encouraged to enjoy a cup of the daily featured teas, or to sample a tea of their choice.

On Valentines Day from 1pm to 4pm, Carol Mowatt from Mowatt Apiaries will be featuring a variety of local honey to be tasted, including star thistle, purple vetch, clover and blackberry. Carol and her husband started keeping bees outside of Weed three years ago with three hives. Their operation has grown to over 400 hives producing different honey flavors depending upon the season and type of flowers in bloom. Bring your honey and bee questions. Carol is an expert on both.

In addition, Sereni-tea will be featuring the unique functional pottery of Corena Affleck.  Affleck’s  splendid tea mugs and pots will be on display and for sale through March. These compliment Sereni-tea’s extensive assortment of tea accessories from Europe, Japan, China and the US, chosen to enhance the experience of a great cup of tea.

No Valentine’s Day celebration is complete without a great meal at one of the many fine restaurants in southern Siskiyou. Café Maddalena in Dunsmuir will be featuring a special menu on Valentine’s Day evening chosen for the occasion by chef, Bret LaMott. Vivify in  Mt. Shasta will be offering a complete menu of Japanese favorites including sushi and tempura as well as a selection of western gourmet dishes.

A mid-winter Valentine’s getaway revives the spirit and encourages us to reconnect with the special people in our lives.  For more ideas and information go to www.VisitSiskiyou.org.

###

Some beta -

Sereni-tea
319 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta
926-1688
www.sereni-tea.net

Shasta Ranch B&B
1008 W.A. Barr Rd., Mt. Shasta
926-3870
www.stayinshasta.com

The Woodsman Cabins & Lodge
1121 S. Mt. Shasta Blv, Mt. Shasta
530-926-3411

Mt. Shasta Resort
1000 Siskiyou Lake Blvd. Mt. Shasta
926-3030
www.mountshastaresort.com

Vivify
531 Chestnut St., Mt. Shasta
926-1345
www.vivifyshasta.com

Café Maddalena
5801 Sacramento Ave., Dunsmuir
235-2725
www.cafemaddalena.com

Things to do in the days before Christmas

In the days leading up to the holiday there are plenty of festival things to do in South Siskiyou County. Here are a few suggestions:

• Acoustic Bluegrass Thursday night at the Weed Alehouse: Sample the tasty Mt. Shasta Brewing Co. brews, now famous for their “Try Legal Weed” bottle caps.  Friday night is Blues Band Friday. Live music Thurs and Fri evenings from 6-9pm at 360 College Ave in Weed. Call 938.2394 for info.

• Open Mic Poetry night: Thurs, Dec 18th at the Stage Door in Mt. Shasta. Readings from 7-9pm. If you’d like to join in with the local poets, arrive at 6:30pm to sign up to read.

• Christmas Carol Sing Along: At this traditional family event you can join your voice with the choir to sing Christmas songs. Well know local musicians Kathy Zavada, Anton Mizerak and Erik Burglund will lead the group event. There is also a silent auction that will benefit an unnamed local family  for the holiday. Fri, Dec 19th at 7pm at St. Barnabas Church at 701 Lassen Lane in Mt. Shasta.

• Mt. Shasta Downtown Merchants open Friday night: Businesses will be staying open until 7pm for extended holiday shopping. The Girl Scouts will be caroling to add to the festival atmosphere.

• Kids gift making in McCloud: Kids can make their own holiday gifts at the Kids Holiday Gift Making Day and Lunch at the McCloud Resource Center on Sat, Dec 20th from 10am to 2pm at 304 W. Minnesota Ave. For ages 5-12, includes pizza and a movie. Call 964.3250 for info.

• Santa on Ice: Saint Nic will take to the ice at the Siskiyou Ice Rink in Mt. Shasta on Sat, Dec 20th for Santa on Ice.  Kids can get their photo taken with Santa, who will arrive at 2pm. Siskiyou Ice Rink is located at 800 Rockfellow Drive in Mt. Shasta.

• Kid’s Factory Holiday Gift Making offers kids another opportunity to make gifts, and includes pizza and a movie. For age 5 to 12, from 10am to 2pm at the Kids’ Factory at 4103 Pine Street in Dunsmuir.

Local art for Christmas in Mt. Shasta and Yreka today!

It’s snowing lightly here in Mt. Shasta – just the kind of flakes that feel nice drifting down onto your cheeks. So get out and about. Today in Mt. Shasta there is an open studio show at 108 Old McCloud (from 10am-2pm) where a number of local potters are selling their wares. The Holiday Craft Fair continues today in Yreka as well, at 412 S. Main Street in the Bottling Works Mall from 10am to 5pm.

These shows offer a great opportunity to buy locally made goods. The show in Mt. Shasta is strictly art -  abstract and realistic paintings, jewelry and lots of pottery: teapots, mugs, bowls, display pieces, spoon holders, decorative plates and more by a group of four local potters. At the Yreka show you’ll see a broader selection, with locally made foods and arts and craft. So get out there and shop – it’s great for all of us!

PS – the Mt. Shasta studio show will be open this coming Mon-Fri, Dec 15th-19th from 3-6pm.

Musher to talk about Iditarod run on Sunday in Mt. Shasta

Breaking news from the Siskiyou Snow Dogs Sporting Assoc –

Sunday evening the Siskiyou Snow Dog Sporting Association is bringing Iditarod Distance Musher, Liz Parrish (The Littlest Musher), to the Woodsman Hotel for a presentation about her 2008 Iditarod run. Liz will be speaking and showing pictures from her 2008 Iditarod run this Sunday, Nov. 30th at 5 PM, in the lobby of the Woodsman Hotel, 1121 S. Mt. Shasta Blvd. to help promote the 2009 Siskiyou Sled Dog Races – California’s First Iditarod Qualifier.  Liz competed in the 2007 Siskiyou 135 Sled Dog Races and has supported the efforts of the Siskiyou Snow Dog Sporting Association since its inception in 2005. 

Liz enjoys a life full of challenges, surprises and more than a few twists and turns.  Her inspiring talk, Lessons from the Dogs: Speak Your Dreams and Your Passions, addresses what it took for her and her team to reach their twin goals of finishing the Iditarod and having fun in the process.  Liz’s team finished the 2008 Iditarod in 14 days with 14 dogs, an extraordinary achievement for a rookie, especially in light of the severe injury Liz suffered early in the race.  Liz will speak to the decade-long effort it took to reach this goal, highlights of the race itself, and share stories from training and the trail.  She will be available after the speech for autographs, questions and answers and will share with the audience what’s next in store for “The Littlest Musher”.

This event is a teaser for the 2009 Siskiyou Sled Dog Races, to be held January 22^nd – 25^th. Admission to see Liz is a suggested minimum donation of $5 for adults and $3 for kids 10 and under. Coffee, tea, and desserts will be available for donation as well.  2009 Race T-Shirts designed by Catherine McElroy will be available.  

 For more information on the presentation by Liz Parrish call the Woodsman at 530-926-3411.  The Woodsman Is the official Inn of the Siskiyou Sled Dog Races.  There will be two musher receptions at the Hotel during the race weekend.  For more information and a race weekend schedule visit www.siskiyousleddograces.net or write to  info@siskiyousleddograces.net or call 530-467-3009 or 530-598-0466.