On May 16th, the AMGEN tour of California will start in Nevada City, and roll through downtown Grass Valley before heading out past Alta Sierra on the way to Auburn and Sacramento.
Nevada City will also see the 50th running of the Nevada City Classic cycle race in 2010. In 2009 the race was won by none other than Tour Def France winner Lance Armstrong!
Friday night we had dinner for two at the New Moon Cafe in Nevada City. We have enjoyed the New Moon for years – they never disappoint! They have a seasonally changing menu with lots of Nevada County local organic food. The wine list is excellent, with one of the best selections in Nevada County. There are a variety of wines from many regions, locally and throughout the world. You can always find a food and wine pairing to satisfy your palette. The desserts are decadent.
I ordered the Meyer Lemon Chicken dish for my entre and found the chicken to be cooked perfectly and the veggies were tasty. My husband sampled the ravioli of the day, which was filled with cheeses, olives, sundried tomatoes, and lots of other good stuff. We shared a crab cake for starters which we both enjoyed.
Next time you’re looking for a great night out in Nevada City, make reservations at the New Moon Cafe.
Because of our location, geography, and variances in elevation, I often find it difficult to get accurate forecasts and information about our local Nevada County weather from the major weather websites and other weather news sources. But, there is a local man who is a weather expert and studies and posts almost daily information (and often several times per day) for a hobby that can benefit us all!
Visit this local Nevada County weather blog for weather predictions, videos, photos, and information about current weather in the Grass Valley and Nevada City areas.
Wondering what to do for Valentine’s Day in Nevada County? This year Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday, so that makes for a fun full day or weekend! These are some of my ideas:
Go wine tasting. Tour our local vineyards dotted around the foothills for a tasty day and lovely scenery. Many of them are open to the public for wine tasting on weekends. Visit Northern Sierra Wine Country for information and maps. Or, like the sound of wine tasting, but wishing to stay in town? The Lucchesi Winery tasting room in downtown Grass Valley is putting on a Valentine’s Day event. There will be wine tasting, music, hors d’oeuvres, chocolate, and flowers! Visit thisisnevadacounty.com for details about this event.
For a romantic outdoor dining adventure, pack a creative picnic and head to the South Yuba River. Or if you prefer to go out to eat… In downtown Nevada City, try the fondue at Friar Tuck’s, Thai at Sopa Thai, or everything is good at the New Moon. In downtown Grass Valley, Italian always has a romantic flair, so go to Villa Venezia.
Whatever you plan to do on Valentine’s Day, there are many local shops with the Valentine’s Day gifts and treats you need. In downtown Grass Valley, stop in Dorado’s for chocolate, Foothill Flowers of course, Sierra Starr Winery for champagne, and Aimee Taylor’s on Mill Street has some unique jewelry, prints, and other gifts.
Why does this rural area of California have so many Victorian homes? Gold and gold mining. To give you an idea of how rich the area was, the Empire Mine in Grass Valley produced 5.8 million ounces of gold between 1850 and 1956, when it closed. It’s currently on record as the oldest, largest and richest gold mine in the state of California.
Nevada City and Grass Valley were boom towns during this period, and many fine houses were built. Although there were a number of fires in both towns, many Victorian houses survived them, and more importantly survived the redevelopment of the towns in the 20th century. Then the end of mining operations in the 1950s ushered in an economic downturn for the area, with some of the Victorian properties falling into disrepair at this time, but the economic revival that has taken place in Nevada County based on tourism and an influx of high technology companies has been accompanied with a new appreciation for these wonderful properties. Many have been renovated and restored, and in turn they provide visitors with one more thing to appreciate in our local area.
The best way to see the Victorians in Grass Valley and Nevada City is to walk through the neighborhoods surrounding the downtown areas.