Krista Minard
For the Love of Lit
In the past, 916 Ink’s major fundraiser—Hot Literary Nights—has been a fun-packed evening on location at the organization’s Imaginarium and described by founder Katie McCleary as “a whimsical adult school carnival.” Complete with readings by youth writers, literature-themed...
Hike Wednesday: Tomales Point Trail
In the wilds of West Marin County, within two hours’ drive of Sacramento, the Point Reyes National Seashore is home to many windswept trails. This one is a favorite for its visible wildlife, historical...
Strawberry Season
Look, nothing against those huge, not-quite-ripe grocery store strawberries, but come May, it’s time for some sweet local strawberries—the ones that are red all the way through, so juicy they run down your chin...
Two Monterey Valleys
It’s tempting to go to the Monterey-Carmel area and think only of the coastline. Cannery Row, fronting the bay. Pacific Grove, with its ocean-splashed trail and blooming ice plant. Carmel Beach, where dogs and...
Touring Tuolumne
It was, as they say, a step back in time. We parked just off Parrotts Ferry Road, seeking coffee, and wandered into a town that could’ve been straight out of “Little House on the...
Weekender: Point Reyes
Take a couple of days to rediscover this region of natural beauty and culinary bounty in West Marin.On one of the first clear days of spring, Olema Creek tumbled past the gnarled gray tree...
At the Water Line
Spend the night in one of Mendocino’s historic water towers.“Isn’t it a little ironic,” said my husband, Mike, “that we’re going to stay in a water tower and this is what’s happening?”What was happening...
Because Everybody Loves a Bargain
It’s been funny to watch people’s eyes light up. Mention this new store out in Carmichael, Falling Prices, and they wait to hear the rest: On Tuesday, everything costs $6. On Wednesday, everything’s $4....
Peak Solitude
Whether you go glam (or glamping), Yosemite in the wintertime brings a special quiet beauty and the place to yourself.Six years ago, inside what was then The Ahwahnee hotel in Yosemite Valley, while January...
City Lights
It’s cold—it’s San Francisco, after all. It’s also crowded—it’s Union Square—but that adds to the happy energy. Your ankles are wobbly, and you don’t dare look up at the window decorations on the top...