Publisher's Note

“More dance parties,” a friend said to me sagely as we tentatively gathered, battling the physical awkwardness of hanging out with people again. And I agree. After more than a year of being sequestered in our homes and social bubbles, it does feel like there is hope on the horizon. It’s the kind of promise summertime always holds, but this season it feels different, accentuated, turned up to 11. More dance parties—yes! But also more outside, more barbeques, more beach days, more friends, more family, and more genuine celebration. After all, we’ve made it through a global pandemic, and that’s reason enough to let loose.

This summer I have more appreciation for the things we used to take for granted, a sentiment I hear echoed everywhere I go. The pandemic forced us to do more with less, and many of our neighbors drew on impressive reserves of creativity and determination. The Plowshares community kitchen and garden has not only survived the pandemic, but has also expanded their meals and services to assist even more people (p 11). The Fort Bragg treasure Piaci Pub & Pizzeria (p 7) has spilled out of its tiny restaurant space onto the parking lot, turning up the heat with live music and some of the best pizza around. (This outdoor space may be the perfect place for one of those dance parties …)

We are also sharing the stories of those who are doing things differently. A self-serve farm box has taken the place of a traditional roadside farmstand at Good Things Farm (p 33), using an honor system that has created both access to the farm’s bounty but also a fierce loyalty from the neighborhood. And we highlight people who are accomplishing crazy things! On the edge of the West Coast, a visionary fellow is growing avocados in Humboldt County (p 45). Shelter Cove, where this farmer lives, is certainly worth a summertime visit.

Like me, you may want to drink up all those experiences you had to forgo last summer. Now is the time to venture out and visit that winery you have always wanted to visit, like Weatherborne in Anderson Valley (p 25). Or try your hand at catching dinner on the high seas with Anchor Charter Boats (p 35). There is no end to the potential experiences, and the key is to relish them. Let us appreciate the friends and the moments this season will bring. Let’s kick off our shoes and wiggle our toes in the grass (or the sand). And we absolutely need more dance parties.

Holly Madrigal, Publisher