48 Hours in GVNC: Exploring Culture & Art

By Jesse Locks

In 2017, when the California Arts Council announced the 14 districts that would serve as California’s inaugural state-designated Cultural Districts, only four were from rural communities, and two of them just so happened to be in Nevada County – Truckee and the combined small towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City.

It was a moment that signified something both locals and frequent visitors already knew about the infamous gold rush towns–the Grass Valley Nevada City (GVNC) Cultural District has a long history of being at the epicenter of arts (all forms visual, literary, media, healing, etc.), culture, and technology in California.

From one of the greatest American poets, Gary Snyder, to progressive journalist Jennie Carter; filmmakers Jonathan Dayton (Little Miss Sunshine) and Adrian Molina (Coco) to professional skateboarders John Cardiel and Chris Senn, snowboarders Tina Basich Haller; and let’s not forget the bevy of musicians (Utah Phillips, Roger Hodgson, Joanna Newsom, Jonathan Richman, and Hunter Burgan), dancers (Lola Montez, Alison Clancy), and artists (Charles Woods and David Osborn, Rose Freymuth-Frazier, and Tahiti Pehrson) are just a few who have called this place home.

Maybe it’s the vibes we feel unconsciously from the granite and gold quartz reverberating all around, or the sounds of the whispering pines, or the sheer number of people making art professionally and for fun–but art doesn’t just grow here, it thrives and flourishes.

From the moment you step out onto Mill Street in the heart of Grass Valley you are surrounded by charming shops, an array of dining options, and public art on every corner.

 The iconic spire of the Del Oro Theatre can be seen at various downtown vantage points while stunning large-scale murals tell unique local stories. They include the open “Mine Shaft” at 165 Mill Street by John Pugh, the iconic Grass Valley sign at 101 Mill Street by Justin Lovato, “A New Dawn” at 105 S Church Street painted by Miles Toland, Ursula X Young’s one-of-a-kind take on the famous dancer Lola Montez can be seen at 121 Neal Street, and the Nisenan mural “Solim Ni–I sing” painted by Nikila Badua at 305 Neal Street.

Check out local art and artisans at Artworks Gallery or Make Local Habit. Pick up that impossible to find LP from Clocktower Records or Ron’s Real Records, your next favorite page turning novel at The Bookseller or something more obscure at Booktown Books, cables for your guitar amp or a new guitar at Foggy Mountain Music, or specialty yarn at Heathered Yarn Co.

Sip local and regional wines at Cork 49, New West Wines, or Sierra Starr Winery or a beer at Grass Valley Brewery. Maybe it’s something sweet you are craving. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a French pastry from Cake, hand dipped Lazy Dog Ice Cream or something delicious AND gluten free from Corvus Bakery.

Pick up lunch or a picnic from Backporch Market, Tess’ Kitchen or El Barrio Market before heading over to Empire Mine State Historic Park. Just over one mile away from downtown Grass Valley, Empire Mine is the site of one of the oldest, deepest, and richest gold mines in California. Here you can tour the lush grounds or take a more vigorous hike along its many trails.

Finish up the evening with a hand-crafted, custom-blended cocktail at the Iron Door Saloon at the beautifully renovated historic Holbrooke Hotel. Or enjoy some live music, comedy, dance or theater at the Center for the Arts.

Just four miles away is Nevada City, originally named Nevada (Spanish for “snow-covered”) after a particularly snowy winter in 1850. The word “City” was added in 1864 to relieve confusion with the nearby state of Nevada.

Historic Victorian homes and their heritage gardens line the winding streets here. The town’s main corridor, Broad Street, looks like something from a movie set, perfectly preserved and a reminder of bygone eras. Stop by the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce and pick up a walking tour or a tree map to fully acquaint yourself.

On the weekends the streets come alive with visitors heading downtown for dinner, a movie or to take in some live music or theater.

The historic Nevada Theatre–the oldest continuously operated theater venue on the West Coast–is home to several theater companies including Community Asian Theater of the Sierra (CATS), Sierra Stages, LeGacy Presents, and The Lyric Rose Theatre Company. On Sundays The Onyx Downtown screens classic, repertory and independent films. The theatre recently underwent an extensive interior renovation which includes a stunning, must-see, large-scale, completely original mural spanning the entire auditorium painted by artist Sarah Coleman.

Every Thursday, musicians from near and far gather together to play traditional Celtic music at The National Exchange Hotel bar. The sister hotel to the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley, the National also recently went through an extensive renovation and hosts an array of events including Drag Queen Brunch, karaoke, music and more.

Walking through town, music spills into the streets from live music venues such as Golden Era, The Fern, Chief Crazy Horse, The Headquarters, and The Stone House. Even the local radio station KVMR 89.5 FM has music and interviews airing outside their studios on the corner of Spring and Bridge Streets.

Across the street from KVMR is a hub of arts and culture in Nevada City–the Miners Foundry Cultural Center. Once a foundry that repaired heavy machinery for the mines, the space was reimagined in the late 1960s and 70s as the American Victorian Museum by two San Francisco artists, Charles Woods and David Osborn. The Miners Foundry has since hosted everything from the annual Robert Burns Scottish Celebration to a secret concert by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Enjoy a pint from local brewery BrewBilt at their new beer garden Brewhaus or Three Forks Brewery and Bakery. If local art with a glass of local wine is more your style, stop into Nevada City Winery or Szabo Winery where both have monthly exhibitions of local artists.

 If you are packing a picnic for a local hike or bike ride along the Pioneer Trail off Highway 20, go to Communal Café, Java Johns, or SPD for all the essentials including tasty sandwiches.

Shopping in Nevada City is more like treasure hunting. Field Day is a local dress shop that sells tailor made clothing from reclaimed and locally-sourced materials. KitKitDizzi stocks local handmade jewelry and home goods. For something entirely original check out artist Holly Dilley’s Crush Gallery with its combination of taxidermy and roller-skating items. Looking for something fun or funny? Novelty shops The Gray Goose or Mountain Pastimes do the trick. And no respectable burner heads to the playa without visiting vintage stores Rainbow Rocket and Solstice.

Just outside downtown Nevada City is the Seven Hills Business District where you will find even more restaurants, retail stores, two bike shops, Elevation 2477' Cannabis Dispensary, one of the best sushi restaurants around–Sushi In the Raw, vintage store Enid and Edgar, and The Onyx Theatre, a jewel box art house movie theatre screening both blockbusters and independent films.

Both Grass Valley and Nevada City are home to vibrant farmers markets, along with a jam-packed calendar of art walks, street fairs, car shows, brewfests, parades, film festivals and more. During the holidays, Grass Valley celebrates its Cornish history with Cornish Christmas, while in Nevada City, Victorian Christmas is a Christmas card come alive with vendors and attendees dressed up in Victorian-attire.

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Header image: Grass Valley mural by Justin Lovato.

Four Seasons in the GVNC Cultural District

By Heather Heckler

Fall at In Town Campground outside of Downtown Nevada City. Photo by Kial James.

Residents and visitors are inspired by our beautiful environment and in Nevada County we orient our lives around four distinct seasons, each one bringing a new way to see, explore, and appreciate our Sierra Foothills home.

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Winter

Mill Street Promenade in Downtown Grass Valley. Photo by Gold Country Photos.

From crisp clear blue skies to misty rains to full-on snowstorms, winter in Nevada County brings low temperatures and the chance to cozy up in our bakeries, coffee shops and bars with friends or a good book from one of our many used and new bookstores.

Start with a hearty breakfast at South Pine Cafe, known for its breakfast specialities like the Blackstone Benedict, tofu or egg scrambles, and freshly squeezed juices. Add champagne for a delicious Mimosa.

Stroll along the Mill Street Promenade and browse the many unique shops along the way, including the Book Seller, a local favorite since the 1970s. Book lovers will get lost for hours in the nooks and crannies of Booktown Books, featuring used and rare books, records, and ephemera from 14 independent booksellers over 4000 square feet. Gamers of all ages will love Grass Valley Games, which features a large selection of games and comic books and serves as a friendly gathering place.

For a taste of Nevada County’s Cornish heritage, stop by Marshall’s Pasties for a savory handmade pasty just like the ones miners took with them for a long day of work underground.

Head over to Nevada City for an afternoon of sightseeing in the historic district. Grab a richly delectable House Cacao at Choquiero Cacao Cafe and visit the many unique shops on Broad Street. Grab a cocktail at the National Bar, a historic haunt serving up Victorian ambiance along with craft cocktails before sitting down to a delicious meal at Lola, the National Exchange Hotel’s fine dining restaurant.

Spring Tulips at Ananda Village. Photo by Gold Country Photos.

Spring

Celebrate Spring with brunch at Lika’s Quarter Cafe, where the patio’s massive cherry tree provides a spectacle each spring. From there, set off for a drive into the South Yuba River canyon and up to the San Juan Ridge, where Ananda Village’s Crystal Hermitage welcomes the public each Spring to enjoy the riotous color of 19,000 tulips in bloom. The garden provides a rare view across the wild and scenic Yuba River canyon far below.

Wildflower enthusiasts will love the Buttermilk Bend Trail, a gently winding accessible path that follows the South Yuba River upstream for about a mile. Stop in for a sandwich at local favorite Blue Cow Deli in Penn Valley before heading to Bridgeport at the South Yuba River State Park for beautiful views of the river from hillsides exploding with colorful wildflowers. Free docent-led walks are available on Saturdays and Sundays in the Spring.

Lovers of literature won’t want to miss the annual Sierra Poetry Festival, a day of readings, workshops, and discussion with some of today’s most exciting local, national, and international poets and performers. Be on the lookout for pop-up poetry events throughout the month of April as the festival’s popular “SPF Fringe” celebrates National Poetry Month.

Spring also heralds the beginning of outdoor farmers markets and festivals, such as Grass Valley’s Thursday Night Market, which brings food and craft vendors, farmers, and entertainers out into the downtown streets to share their talents with locals and visitors alike. Enjoy a delightful iced latte from Cake Bakery & Cafe while enjoying a front row seat of the action on their Mill Street patio.

Summer

Dragon Ride at the Nevada County Fair. Photo by Gold Country Photos.

Along with an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, summer brings with it street fairs and festivals of every flavor. Art lovers won’t want to miss Nevada City’s First Friday Art Walk, which features the work of local artists in shops throughout the downtown historic district and live performances on the streets.

Start your Saturday at the Nevada City Farmers Market, which features seasonal organic produce all grown within 50 miles. Check out the food court for a rotating selection of hot food and pastries and grab a cup of coffee from the Outer Heaven Espresso booth before settling in for some great people-watching in Robinson Plaza.

From there, head to the Deer Creek Tribute Trail, which includes interpretive signage recognizing our native Nisenan people and the contributions of Chinese settlers. A suspension bridge—Nisenan Tribute Bridge or “Anqkula Seo—spans a beautiful section of Deer Creek, connecting to the Environs Trail on the other side.

For a sweet treat, head to one of our picturesque downtowns for a cup or cone of ice cream from Lazy Dog Chocolateria in Grass Valley or Treats in Nevada City–two local gems serving cool treats.

After a day in the sun, grab a refreshing beverage and watch the sunset from the balcony of the National Exchange Hotel, the best perch in town from which to watch the world go by.

If you happen to be in town in mid-August you won’t want to miss the Nevada County Fair. Beloved by locals of every stripe, this five-day combination ag show, community gathering, and carnival has something for everyone, from baby animals to local art to monster trucks. Make sure to brave the line for a corn dog from the Job's Daughters booth–a local favorite on Treat Street!

Fall

Fall brings welcome cool air after a long hot summer and beautiful fall colors throughout the Cultural District. The Wolf Creek Trail in Grass Valley provides a lovely easy trek along the creek. Start at the North Star Mining Museum for a great historical overview of the mining industry in the area.

Wine aficionados will love downtown Grass Valley, which boasts five tasting rooms representing the best of the Gold Country, including Avanguardia, Cork 49, Lucchesi, Sierra Starr, and New West Wine Co. If it’s beer you prefer, head over to BrewHaus in Nevada City and sit by the fire pit with a haus pretzel and a craft beer from local brewery BrewBilt.

Fall is also a great time to start thinking about holiday shopping. For patrons of the visual arts, Open Studios is an annual treat, as scores of artists welcome visitors into their private worlds for tours, workshops, and demonstrations on the second and third weekends of October. The Winter Craft Fair at the Miners Foundry and Kodo Art’s bi-annual sale of Japanese antiquities are also great spots to pick up unique gifts for the art lovers in your life.