Bistro 221


bistro
I was honored to be invited to a “friends and family” dinner at Bistro 221. It’s the newest eatery in downtown Nevada City located at the old Lefty’s site.

Melissa, the owner, along with her wonderful staff and chef, Christian, presented a fabulous feast! They serve down home, comfort food…like your mother’s, only better! The staff is like one big happy family, most having worked together over the years at Cirinio’s.

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We were generously served samples from their menu starting off with creamy Deviled Eggs, a delicious Clam Chowder in a warm bread bowl, a Wedge Salad and a Caesar Salad. Next up was Mac n Cheese with Chitlins, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Herbed Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Short Ribs with Goat Cheese Polenta, and a Bacon Avocado Burger. My head was spinning from all the great taste sensations! Of course, dinner would not be complete without dessert which included a Lemon Curd Tart, Flourless Chocolate Ganache, Crème Brulee and German Apple Cake.  Choosing a favorite would be impossible…maybe they should offer a dessert sampler on their menu!

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Bistro 221 opens this Friday so be sure to drop in! You won’t be disappointed and you will most certainly leave with a warm heart and a full belly!

August Events

The Food and Film Series, put on by Miners Foundry and the Nevada City Film Festival, present Sideways, on Friday August 3 at the Miners Foundry. Doors open & wine tasting begins at 4:30pm, film at 5:30pm, dinner & music at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at www.minersfoundry.org or The Nevada City Box Office at 530-265-5462. Tickets are $40 for Miners Foundry & Magic Lantern Film Society Members and $50 for non-members. Make Your Reservations by July 30th! Next month’s film is Mamma Mia! For more information, click HERE.

The Nevada City Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Vintners are proud to announce their second annual Nevada City Uncorked, August 4 from 1-5pm in historic downtown Nevada City. With over 20 wineries and food vendors plus over 500 attendees from neighboring Foothill communities, we expect this event to be bigger and better than last year.

Check out the Nevada City Craft FairAugust 5, 10am-8pm at the Miners Foundry, Nevada City, CA! The independent, juried craft fair showcases the local region’s top Etsy vendors, artisans, do-it-yourself crafters, feat. their unique, handmade, original & vintage items. All-ages are welcomed and encouraged. Entrance fee is $3, children free.

The Nevada County Fair is from August 8-12 this year. Get homemade corn dogs, caramel corn, ice cream, and so much more delicious food on Treat Street. Enjoy rides and entertainment, like the famous Demolition Derby. You don’t want to miss out on our old time county fair!

The Nevada City Film Festival is a great way to get introduced to new short films and filmmakers. The festival runs from August 16-19 at various venues in Nevada City. The fun festival is a great way to experience Nevada City from a local’s perspective.

Synthetic Unlimited, the people who brought us One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, present William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra, from August 23-September 15. With a little action and a little romance, everyone will enjoy this local production.

Cool Runnings Jamaican Grill

Cool Runnings Jamaican Grill, a new restaurant with a reggae feel, opened in Nevada City this week on July 27th, the opening day of the Olympics. This new grill has a unique menu unlike any other in town. Cool Runnings has a wide variety of traditional Jamaican dishes, including curry chicken, curry goat, jerk chicken, jerk pork, roast fish, brownstew chicken, brownstew fish, fried chicken, escovitch fish, oxtail, rasta pasta, ital stew, festival, plantain, and fried dumplins.

We tried the jerk chicken, which has a little bit of kick, the fried chicken, which was hot out of the frier, and brownstew chicken, which was sweeter and fell apart in your mouth. Each of our meals had a generous serving of the main dish. All the meals include tasty rice and seasoned cabbage and carrots. Meals are $5-$12 and sides/small dishes are $3-$5. This new grill will be opened for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.

Cool Runnings Jamican Grill on Urbanspoon

The Curly Wolf Espresso House in Nevada City

Nevada City local, Joshua Henry, has opened Curly Wolf Espresso House, a fun new coffee shop on Broad Street, near Lefty’s Grill and the National Hotel. They got the name “curly wolf” from old miner slang for a tough or rugged man. The general manager, Stephen, is an experienced barista. He takes much pride in their beautiful Slayer espresso machine, hand built by a two-man crew in Seattle.

 

They brew Caffé Vita coffee, a dark roast from a small company also from Seattle. At Caffé Vita, the coffee is roasted by hand in small batches on a 1930s Probat cast metal roaster The coffee is freshly ground cup-by-cup in a Mahlkönig coffee grinder. The German company founded in 1924 specializes in high-quality grinders that concentrate on emphasizing the natural flavors of the coffee.

 

This new coffee shop has a very comfortable and elegant atmosphere, with couches and window seat, perfect for reading a book or catching up with friends. Curly Wolf is set apart from the rest of the cafés in town by staying open late until midnight on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends. They hope to eventually stay open 24 hours in the summer. Curly Wolf will be a great place for locals and tourists to go after a late dinner or a movie. Check out more photos on our Flickr HERE.

 

The coffee shop held a soft opening tonight with live music at 7:30 with a $5 cover.

You can find Curly Wolf Espresso House at 217 Broad Street, Nevada City, California.

The Curly Wolf on Urbanspoon

April 2012 Events

Come see over 10,000 tulips at the Crystal Hermitage Gardens Tulip Open House. The  dates this year are April 7 & 8 and April 14 & 15 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. This is a free event with live music, refreshments and gardening questions and answers. The Crystal Hermitage Gardens are located in the Ananda Village, just 15 miles from the Broad Street Inn. It is also possible to see the tulips on self-guided tours throughout the month of April between 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Check out our pictures of the tulips from last year on Flickr!

Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS) opens its 18th season with The Teahouse of the August Moon. This Tony Award winning play was first adapted by the 1951 novel, then opened on Broadway in 1953, and later MGM produced a movie in 1956. This comedy takes place in a tiny Okinawa village from 1945 to 1952. It is a clash of cultures as Captain Fisby begins the process of “Americanization”. The play runs from April 12 through May 5 at the Nevada Theatre. Show times and tickets are available HERE. (You may have seen CATS’ incredible production of The King and I last year.)

Take a hike! Docent guided Wild Flower Walks will be held every weekend beginning March 17 through May 13 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the South Yuba River State Park. Bring a lunch, snacks, good walking shoes and a camera. Take in the flowers and views of the South Yuba River on the Buttermilk Bend Trail. For more information call the Park Visitor Center at 530-432-2546 or visit their website at www.southyubariverstatepark.org. This is a fun, family event and you can support our local park by donating a suggested $3.

For a new way to see Nevada City, go on a food tour! We highly recommend Local Roots Food Tours for a fun and interesting way to discover Nevada City for first-time tourists or return visitors. Read our blog on our food tour experience by clicking on the blog tab above or clicking HERE.

Once a month, join local bird expert Bill Cortright on a birding expedition along the South Fork of the Yuba River. The 2012 schedule is posted on the South Yuba River State Park website or click HERE.

March 2012 Events

Ewing Venture Productions presents Harold & Maude from March 1 through March 25 at Nevada Theatre. Based on the 1971 film, this cult comedy tells the tale of Harold, a young man obsessed with death, falling in love with Maude, a 79-year-old woman who feels she’s lived her life. In their time spent together, Maude teaches Harold some of life’s greatest lessons. Tickets range from $15-$25 and can be purchased online HERE.

The 2nd Annual Burnal Equinox takes place on March 3 from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. at the Miners Foundry. This event features Burning Man related vendors, food, costumes, mini camps, and more. There will be live entertainment, including Albino! a 10-piece Afro-funk band from San Francisco. Purchase tickets in advance online HERE.

Come join us at the 23rd Annual Psychic Fair where you will enjoy lectures, workshops and readings. There will also be vendors offering artisan jewelry, clothing, lotions and potions,  and gems and crystals. Entertainment includes music by Lasher Keen, The Blackbird Quartet, the Billzillionairs, and belly dancing. This event takes place on March 24 from 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. and March 25 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the Miners Foundry and costs only $5.00 per person.

Take a hike! Docent guided Wild Flower Walks will be held every weekend beginning March 17 through May 13 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the South Yuba River State Park. Bring a lunch, snacks, good walking shoes and a camera. Take in the flowers and views of the South Yuba River on the Buttermilk Bend Trail. For more information call the Park Visitor Center at 530-432-2546 or visit their website at www.southyubariverstatepark.org. This is a fun, family event and you can support our local park by donating a suggested $3.

For a new way to see Nevada City, go on a food tour! We highly recommend Local Roots Food Tours for a fun and interesting way to discover Nevada City for first-time tourists or return visitors. Read our blog on our food tour experience by clicking on the blog tab above or clicking HERE.

Once a month, join local bird expert Bill Cortright on a birding expedition along the South Fork of the Yuba River. The 2012 schedule is posted on the South Yuba River State Park website or click HERE.

January Events

Looking for something fun to do when you come to town? Check out what’s happening!

Come into town for SYRCL‘s 10th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival! This year, the three-day environmental film festival is on January 13, 14, and 15 in and around Nevada City. Each year, the Festival draws in top filmmakers, celebrities, leading activists, social innovators and well-known world adventurers to the largest film festival of it’s kind. The films show all over Nevada City, including the Miners Foundry, the Nevada Theatre, the Veterans Hall, and many more locations (almost all are walking distance, too!). This is one of Nevada City’s biggest events and is worth going to! If you plan on coming next year, make your reservations as soon as possible. Accommodations fill up as far as one year in advance. We hope you can join us for this fabulous, one-of-a-kind festival!

The Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, Nevada County Arts, and SYRCL present the 2012 Wild & Scenic Art & Wine Stroll on Saturday, January 14 from 4:30-6:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for the Wine Stroll, but art is on display throughout the town (free for viewing). The Wine Stroll includes 7 local wineries, including BYOB, Szabo, Clavey, and Nevada City Winery; art is on display at over 30 local businesses and buildings. The Art & Wine Stroll is a great way to stretch your legs after a long day of film watching!

Off Broadstreet Theater is bringing back by popular demand the musical comedy, Angry Housewives. Set in Seattle in the early ’80s, this cult classic tells the story of four conservative, middle-aged women who start a punk rock band. This performance is directed at an adult audience and may not be appropriate for the whole family. Catch a showing on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:15, January 13-February 18 (plus Sunday January 29th at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $22 on opening weekend, $24 for the Sunday matinee, and $27 for all of the other showings. We highly recommend making reservations well in advance.

For years, John McCutcheon has been performing annually in Nevada County. His lively concerts show off both his musical talents and his amazing storytelling. McCutcheon is in town for just one night–January 19. Doors open at 7:00 pm and the show starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $18 for KVMR members, $20 in advance, $22 at the door, and $30 for an advance reserve ticket which includes early entry and a free beverage. You won’t want to miss this entertaining and enjoyable performance!

The Gold Country Celtic Society is hosting the 21st annual Robert Burns Celebration: Dinner and Ceilidh on January 21 at the Miners Foundry. Doors open at 4:00 pm and dinner seating begins at 5:30 pm. After dinner will be a traditional Scottish Ceilidh featuring the music and singing of The Trinity Ensemble and The Ingersoll Family Pipes and Drums. Tickets are $55, which includes dinner and a show!

Sierra Stages presents Death of a Salesman at the Nevada Theatre starting January 25. This famous 20th Century drama is playing in town until February 12. There is one Wednesday showing, on January 25 at 7:00 pm, then it plays every Thursday at 7:00 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays (February 5 and 12 only) at 2:00 pm. Tickets are only $18 if purchased before January 27, $20 on or after January 27, and $30 for reserved seating. Tickets are available online (HERE for general admission, HERE for reserved seating), Nevada City Box Office at Miners Foundry, The Book Seller, and Briar Patch Co-Op, or by calling 530-346-3210.

Coming Soon! The annual Masquerade Ball and Mardi Gras Parade are on Saturday, February 18, and Sunday, February 19, respectively. Make your arrangements soon!

This information is also available on our events page at broadstreetinn.com/events. Also, check out the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce events page at www.nevadacitychamber.com/blog.

Local Roots Food Tours

Looking for a way to learn about Nevada City? Whether you’re a local, a first time visitor, or a regular in town, a food tour is a great way to learn about the history of Nevada City, try the different restaurants, and feel truly immersed in the town. Eric and Lisa have a food tour business, Local Roots Food Tours, where they take patrons on a tour of the town, while incorporating food and history. Eric and Lisa are locals who live in Grass Valley and started doing food tours in Sacramento. They saw how successful it was down there, that they decided to expand their business to Nevada City.

I joined in on Eric’s tour last weekend and learned so much about the place I call my hometown! The tour meets at Calahan Park, then heads over to Cafe Mekka. Cory, the owner, gave each person on the tour a taste of three of his favorite coffees. He also talked about where he gets his coffee, which is from Temple Coffee Roasters out of Sacramento, (we buy our coffee from him, so if you stay with us, you can taste some of the delicious Temple coffee!) and why he prefers it over other roasters.

  

Eric then took us over to the National Hotel where he talked about the history of the hotel and its significance of the town and the Gold Rush. We then went to Lefty’s Grill where we tried their delicious Italian Butcher pizza. Lefty’s has won awards for their Napa Style Pizza, which has a balsamic drizzle over pears, gorgonzola, mozzarella, olive oil, and fresh herbs. Their flat bread pizzas are all grilled in the pizza oven.

  

The tour moved on to Nevada City Winery, and on the way Eric talked about the Powell House which has just been recently remodeled. Each of the patrons on the tour were welcome to try the many different kinds of wine that Nevada City Winery offers. While at the tasting room, we were also offered to try Calolea Meyer Lemon Olive Oil and their Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. (Interested more about the wine at Nevada City Winery? Read my blog about the day I watched them press the grapes HERE.)

   

Once we left Nevada City Winery (which took much coaxing!), Eric talked about the history of the Miners Foundry. We then headed up to Elevensies where we got to try both sweet (Pumpkin Pie) and savory (The Petey Pie) crepes. (Read my blog from when Elevensies first opened, HERE.) While everyone was munching on their crepes, Eric led us up to our place, where everyone got a brief tour of the Broad Street Inn. We headed back downtown and enjoyed some delicious homemade treats from the Nevada City Chocolate Shoppe. They gave us samples of their famous Gold Miners’ Delight and a pecan turtle. After everyone finished–and after a few bought some fudge–we headed over to Sopa Thai. They brought out a few of their most popular dishes, which were all big hits.

 
 

We were running short on time so we didn’t go up Coyote Street. We then went to Deer Creek Inn where we were offered yummy homemade cookies. The tour then ended at the Stonehouse. The tour was 3 hours long, but went by very quickly. Patrons leave full of delicious food and a good idea of places they would like to return to. We highly recommend going on this tour whether you know the town like the back of your hand or it’s your first visit to Nevada City! Don’t forget about their food tour in Sacramento too!

For more photos from the tour, check out our Flickr page HERE.

Read their awesome reviews on TripAdvisor or write a review if you loved your tour!

SYRCL's Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Come into town for SYRCL‘s 10th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival! The three-day environmental film festival takes place on January 13, 14, and 15 in and around Nevada City. Each year, the Festival draws in top filmmakers, celebrities, leading activists, social innovators and well-known world adventurers to the largest film festival of it’s kind. The films show all over Nevada City, including the Miners Foundry, the Nevada Theatre, the Veterans Hall, and many more locations. This is one of Nevada City’s biggest events and is worth going to! If you plan on coming next year, make your reservations as soon as possible. Accommodations fill up as far as one year in advance. We hope you can join us for this fabulous, one-of-a-kind festival! If you’ve never been to the festival, check out this article “How to Festival” for tips and answers to the most popular questions. Tickets are available online now. Volunteers are always needed at the film festival. If you want a free pass for films and love to help, consider volunteering at the festival! You can register HERE.

SYRCL (South Yuba River Citizens League) has been working hard to protect and restore the Yuba River since 1983. Read more about the organization on their website.

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm

One of the greatest things about this area is the abundance of farms. This weekend we visited Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland, which is only about 45 minutes from Nevada City. Bishop’s has a ton of fun activities for the whole family! Parking is $10, but there is no admission fee. The food was delicious, homemade, and very affordable (we got 3 cinnamon rolls, a caramel apple, a water, and a cookie for $11). They have turkey legs, grilled corn on the cob, corn dogs, and sweet treats like cinnamon rolls and cookies. Mrs. B and Farmer Bill are the owners, and Mrs. B sells her famous pies. There is a fun train ride that goes through the pumpkin patch and flower garden (where you can pick your own flowers for a bouquet). There’s a corn maze and a sunflower labyrinth that require tickets (as does the train) but are pretty reasonably priced. The corn maze was so big, we didn’t have time to do it. You can pick your own pumpkin or pick one off of the wagons on the way out. They had at least 20 different varieties of pumpkins. Bishop’s is a great day trip to take with the family and is less than hour from Broad Street Inn! Check out pictures from our adventures on our Flickr HERE. If you are looking for something closer to Nevada City, every weekend in October, Bierwagen’s Pumpkin Patch is only 15 minutes away and offers fresh pressed cider, homemade caramel apples, and pumpkins on their farm in Chicago Park. The family-owned and run apple farm sells their apples, cider, and other produce. Happy Fall!