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GOIN’ CHICO 2013

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Your adventure begins WHERE WILL YOU GO ON YOUR CHICO JOURNEY? W

hatever happens over the next few years, there will be stories to tell about your college journey. Thousands of new students come to Chico every year, and, while most will eat at the same pizza parlors and tube down the same section of river, every person’s path will be his or her own. Each year, we here at the Chico News & Review bring together our resources and experience to assemble this Goin’ Chico guide as an introduction for new college students to this city that we love so much. This year, we’re making introductions by way of a handful of stories about locals who have gone before— from students who’ve stayed in town to those who’ve grown up here—as well as a few articles dispensing local knowledge that you can use to find your own way As your school year unfolds, grab a copy of the free CN&R every Thursday to find out more about the people of Chico and the arts, music, politics, activism and fun in which they are involved—and find out where you want to go in your new city. The CN&R is your most comprehensive community resource, and we are committed to sharing Chico’s stories, yours included.

CLUB LIFE

Getting involved with campus organizations at Chico State with Cross-Cultural Leadership Center’s Krystle Tonga

EXPLORING CHICO’S WILDERNESS

Follow adventure down the trails of Bidwell Park

–by Howard Hardee

10 ECO PATH

Sustainability specialist Brionne Saseen makes a green mark in Chico

–by Christine G.K. LaPado-Breglia

12 JUST A TASTE

Kickstart your local culinary adventure for less than $20

–by Jason Cassidy

16 WHERE’S CHICO?

Get your bearings with this photo-map of the city

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22 WORKOUTSIDE

Get fit Chico-style with personal trainer Zach Peek

–by Jason Cassidy

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From dorm rat to dorm management with Sutter Hall dining’s Kirk Seefeldt

–by Vic Cantu

28 ONE FRIDAY NIGHT IN CHICO

CN&R writer’s random night of fun while exploring Chico’s wild brand of nightlife

–by Ken Smith 09

30 JUST A FEW BASICS

A quick primer on Chico lore to bring you up to speed with the locals

–by Jason Cassidy

–by Melanie MacTavish and Jason Cassidy

18 TREASURE HUNTER

Thrift-store guru Christina Ulsh leads us on a second-hand-goods treasure hunt –by Melissa Daugherty

GOIN’ CHICO EDITOR: JASON CASSIDY

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• GOIN’ CHICO 2013 3

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Join the STUDENT PROGRAMS KEY TO CHICO STATE GRAD STUDENT’S SUCCESS

Krystle Tonga

RYSTLE TONGA WASN’T COLLEGE MATERIAL.

So she thought. In fact, Tonga says there was a time when she couldn’t even imagine life outside of her hometown of Reno, Nev. “College was never part of my plan,” she explained. by “Graduating high school Mark Lore was my goal, which is normal in the Pacific Islander community. I wanted to find a job and help my parents.” That was eight years ago. Since that time, Tonga graduated from Chico State with a degree in political science, and is currently working on her master’s degree in public administration. Her proudest achievement, however, might be her role as assistant program coordinator for Chico State’s Cross-Cultural Leadership Center, a campus resource that the 25-year-old says helped her get to where she is today. But getting to that point was a challenge.

IT WASN’T UNTIL TONGA’S FAMILY moved to the Del Paso Heights neighborhood of Sacramento that she even considered the Up ’Til Dawn participants promote the annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICO STATE STUDENT LIFE AND LEADERSHIP

4 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

idea of college. During Tonga’s junior year in high school, one of her teachers stressed the importance of an education. “I was like, ‘OK, I need to get my stuff together.’” Tonga was accepted into a college-track program, but it was right around the same time her family made the decision to move again—this time to the Bay Area. With a little persistence, Tonga convinced her parents to let her stay in Sacramento, where she ended up living with her older brother during the school week, and taking a Grey-

Program coordinator for the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center at Chico State. PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

hound bus to the East Bay on weekends to stay with her parents and to work. Staying put paid off, as she was soon applying to universities in the area, and getting accepted. But a campus tour of Chico State convinced Tonga that this was home. “Chico was the only school where, when we said ‘hi,’ everyone said ‘hi’ back.” Even with the university’s personable atmosphere, Tonga initially found it hard to

get involved in her new community. She recalls one of her advisers telling her: “If there isn’t a Pacific Islanders group, why don’t you just start one?” said Tonga. “I started to think, ‘I can really be myself here.’”

BUT IT WAS THE CAMPUS’ CROSS-CULTURAL LEADership Center—where Tonga has served as assistant program coordinator since December 2012—that she says has helped shape her. The center offers programs in which students of all backgrounds can engage with others, learn about what makes us diverse, and gain leadership skills in the process. Tonga says one thing she’s come away with is that diversity goes beyond race, religion and socioeconomic factors. “When I look at diversity through my lens, I look at it in terms of the different experiences that create your identity. Experiences are what bond you.” Tonga points to the threeday Diversity Summit, which brings together 120 students in Nevada City, as a pivotal experience in her life. The retreat

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There is a lot going on at Chico State, and the Student Life Leadership office (room 190 in the Student Services Center) is where to start your journey beyond the classroom. Call 898-5396 or visit www.csu chico.edu/sll for info. Or visit the office of one of the individual Student Life programs:

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gives students (many of whom are freshmen and transfers) a chance to meet others, and maybe tap into their own talents. “I went up with a group of strangers and came away with a family,” said Tonga of the experience. “That retreat changed my At the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center’s 2013 iLead leadership conference, participant Courtney Silver busts through a “barrier” to success. PHOTO COURTESY OF CSUC CROSS-CULTURAL LEADERSHIP CENTER

entire outlook on what I wanted to do.” She says the summit is a good way for students to build support groups early in their college career, which Tonga explains can be the difference between dropping out and graduating. “That’s what will make or break a student—having someone to turn to when they need it.” Tonga isn’t just dropping hyperbole. She’s proof of the power of a strong support group and mentors. And now she’s paying it forward. “I’m proud to be a Wildcat. I’m proud to be a product of Chico State,” Tonga said. And she doesn’t take her current role for granted. “It’s a great opportunity. It’s a ● privilege.”

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• GOIN’ CHICO 2013 5

A bird’s-eye view of sunbathers gathered at Salmon Hole from the canyon’s edge.

Take a hike THE AUTHOR’S GIRLFRIEND LEADS HIM DOWN THE GREAT YAHI TRAIL INTO UPPER BIDWELL PARK

S SOMEONE WHO CAME TO CHICO STATE FROM Aprogram, Alaska as part of a year-long exchange and then returned to the city to

live after graduating, I can say that the best path to venture down at story and the beginning of your photos by Chico journey is one of Howard those running through BidHardee well Park. There are a howardh@ dozen major trails (and newsreview.com many minor, unnamed ones) throughout the 3,670-acre park, each offering an introduction to the amazing natural resource—and a chance for adventure.

Hannah Dillard

The avid mountain-biker and outdoor enthusiast blazed the trail for the author.

All of the park is worth exploring, but the trails along Big Chico Creek in Upper Park are the most scenic, diverse and— most important in the summer months— cool. Of those, my personal favorite is the Yahi Trail, which begins near Horseshoe Lake and mostly follows the creek upstream for four miles along its north side, providing easy access to popular swimming spots: Alligator, Bear, Salmon and Brown’s holes. If it’s your maiden hike, choosing the Yahi will leave a first impression that will make you want to spend as much of your time as possible in Bidwell Park.

The giant chunks of black Lovejoy basalt formations that have tumbled into the canyon have formed striking pools and warm spots for sunning oneself along Big Chico Creek.

“YAHI IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TRAILS, MAYBE

The dry and dusty portions of Yahi Trail along the rim are quite a contrast to the lush, protected sections near the edge of (the at-times dangerous) Big Chico Creek. 6 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

anywhere, but definitely in Northern California,” said Jon Aull, a naturalist at the Chico Creek Nature Center. “It’s really spectacular; it’s something you’d find in a national park. You have the dramatic scenery in the deep canyon, the volcanic formations, and those sheer cliffs.” On a recent spring day my girlfriend, Hannah Dillard—an avid mountain-biker and outdoor enthusiast—and I decided to take the Yahi together. As per usual, Hannah led the way, keeping the pace brisk and the conversation animated. We opted to begin about a mile in, where the trail runs past the Day Camp

parking lot. Though the trail leading up to Day Camp from Horseshoe Lake—which commonly serves as a starting point for Upper Park adventures—is worth checking out, Hannah and I agreed that the most appealing scenery begins on the roughly half-mile approach to Bear Hole. That’s where you begin to see Lovejoy basalt formations, black volcanic rock millions of years old that stands in stark contrast to the blue creek water. The creek is generally shallow, wide and slow-moving downstream from Bear Hole, but becomes turbulent as it flows through and over the basalt rock (a sign along the Yahi warns of “extreme water dangers”). However, there are plenty of easiPARKS continued on page 8

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GOIN’ CHICO 2013 7

PARKS continued from page 6

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ly navigated side trails leading to relatively tame swimming holes, none more popular than Bear Hole. As Hannah and I passed by, sunrevelers were sprawled on rocks in the water while a handful of kids jumped into the creek from an overhanging rock ledge. For a short stretch, the trail is made of concrete—broken in parts and entirely deteriorated in others—remnants of a New Deal-era project that also includes the diversion dam just up the creek from Bear Hole. The dam offers a high point from which to jump into a deep, clear pool: As we watched, a group of college-age kids took turns diving in. From the dam we climbed a narrow, half-eroded concrete staircase wedged between boulders and continued along the Yahi toward Salmon Hole. Aull said the 1.6mile section of the Yahi between Bear and Salmon holes is his go-to trail when taking visiting friends or family to Upper Park, and it’s easy to see why. The canyon walls turn into cliffs roughly 100 feet high, and the trail follows close to the edge, high above the creek, providing some of Upper Park’s most awesome vistas.

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Salmon Hole, Hannah pointed out a serious rock climber belaying the sheer rock face and suggested (jokingly) we should untie his rope— certainly not considerate park etiquette. Rather, we paused to admire the calm waters of the swimming hole and the canyon beyond. Hannah, being the daredevil she is, chose to diverge from the easy trail at that point in favor of a narrow path along the edge of the cliff, the canyon at a dizzying distance below. Over a particularly tricky spot that required a good hand-hold and a stretch, she paused to shoot me a look that suggested I wasn’t bold enough to

GO WILD:

Your first stop: the Internet, where you can access every trail, park resource, and recreational and volunteer opportunity Bidwell Park has to offer at the following helpful sites. Chico Creek Nature Center/Bidwell Park info center www.bidwellpark.org City of Chico www.chico.ca.us (select “Bidwell Park” department) Friends of Bidwell Park www.friendsofbidwellpark.org

follow. Although I thought I had long since stopped doing stupid things in the name of impressing girls, I crossed the gap and did my best not to look hesitant (or down). From there, the trail took us through a wide-open stretch of dry grass and exposed rock. Though it wasn’t a particularly hot day, taking a dip in the creek began to sound appealing. We left the Yahi at Devil’s Kitchen—a series of pillar-like Lovejoy-basalt rocks popular with rock climbers—and gingerly made our way to the creek, mindful of the poison oak lining the overgrown trail. We found a sandy spot next to the creek and went for a swim. Hannah complained of the cold water, giving me a solid opportunity to call her a “weenie” and so forth. By the time we got back up the Yahi Trail, the sun was touching the rim of the canyon. We decided to head back, reaching Day Camp roughly four hours after setting out. Aull emphasized that as Chicoans, we’re lucky to live in such close proximity to such a “spectacular outdoor area,” and encouraged those who haven’t yet done so to explore the park and seek adventure. As our afternoon hike proved, even a short excursion can be memorable. “You can have those experiences in Upper Park,” Aull said. ●

W E L C O M E, TO CHICO I 'L L B E H E R E ALL WEEK

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The next time you are in the room with 6 people, think about this: • 1 in 3 teens experience sexual or physical abuse or threats from a boyfriend or girlfriend in one year. • 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men were sexually abused before the age of 18. • 1 in 5 men have experienced some form of sexual victimization in their lives. • 1 in 6 women are survivors of sexual violence. • 1 in 3 women will be raped or beaten in their lifetime.

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530.342.rape (24-hour hotline) www.rapecrisis.org Chi co News & Revi ew

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GOIN’ CHICO 2013 9

A greener path FROM STUDENT TO SUSTAINABILITY GURU, YOUNG ECO-WARRIOR IS MAKING A MARK IN CHICO

IN THE DECADE SINCE SHE CAME TO CHICO FROM

New Hampshire to attend Chico State, Brionne “Bri” Saseen has already accomplished quite a lot in the local community. Before moving into by her current post (on Christine G.K. April 17) as the sustainLaPado-Breglia ability and outreach christinel@ coordinator for the newsreview.com Chico Natural Foods Cooperative, the engaging Saseen worked for more than two years as environmental coordinator for Lundberg Family Farms in nearby Richvale. Before that, she worked at Chico State’s Associated Students (A.S.) Recycling as office manager, and served as zero-waste coordinator for the university. She was also program director for the A.S. E-ARC (the Environmental Action & Resource Center) as well as one of two founding students “to envision the Sustainability Resource Center for Butte College,” as she put it during a recent interview. She is also currently employed as a consultant for a local environmentally focused start-up, True Stream Waste Consulting (truestreamconsulting.com), and serves on the board of the Sustainable Food Trade Association, a national nonprofit organiza-

tion focused on the implementation of sustainable business practices. Quite the environmental-activist résumé for a 28-year-old. Saseen—who earned a self-styled interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree from Chico State in human rights and environmental advocacy—was keen to share details of her new duties in her position at Chico Natural Foods, a job she stepped into after the co-op’s previous sustainability and outreach coordinator, Hannah Hepner, left the post to start a farm in the nearby mountain town of Quincy. “I am very excited about the new purchasing guidelines that we are implementing right now,” Saseen said. “Hannah basically built the foundation, and I get to put it into action.” The co-op’s new purchasing guidelines “put a formal methodology to how we evaluate products,” she explained. “For each department in the store—wellness, kitchen, produce, grocery, bulk, specialty—there are ‘best practices.’” Thus, all products ordered are rated according to what amounts to a scorecard that takes into account such things as whether it is organic, where it was sourced, what its ingredients are,

Tyler Hawkins arranging produce for the camera at Chico Natural Foods. PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

packaging, care of animals involved (if applicable), and manufacturing/distribution methods. For instance, an item such as Revive kombucha (a fermented tea drink) ranks high, according to the store’s new guidelines, Saseen pointed out, as it is, among other things, produced in returnable, refillable bottles in not-too-distant Sonoma County and delivered in vehicles that run on biodiesel. On the other hand, a product that is, say, not organic can still pass muster if it’s produced by a cooperative and it meets a specific dietary need, such as being glutenfree. Saseen and the store’s department managers are also currently “in the process of going through all of our [on-shelf] inventory to determine what meets our [new] criteria, and will highlight sustainable products [in the store], as we do in the newsletter,”

“Chico is a wonderful community—a very proactive community in terms of sustainability,” Saseen noted. She named some of her favorite Chico businesses, organizations and events that offer sustainable products and eco-friendly experiences, as well as opportunities for involvement that should especially be of interest to college students: ChicoBag, Klean Kanteen, Lundberg Family Farms, “the co-op, of course,” Bootleg and Three Sixty Ecotique second-hand clothing shops, the university’s Institute for Sustainable Development (which offers internships) and This Way to Sustainability Conference (“Students can get involved early on in the actual planning of the conference”), the Chico Bicycle Music Festival and the Butte Environmental Council, which she stressed is always in need of volunteers—“They do ● wonderful things,” she said.

BRIONNE SASEEN

Sustainability and outreach coordinator for the Chico Natural Foods Cooperative. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE G.K. LAPADO-BREGLIA

JOIN THE LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT: Butte Environmental Council (BEC) www.becnet.org

Butte Environmental Council’s annual Chico Bicycle Music Fest stops in Bidwell Park. PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

10 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

said Saseen. “We want to know so we can provide the most health[ful], sustainable products for our community.” She is also actively at work helping the co-op reach its goal of zero waste. “They’re doing a great job already,” Saseen said, pointing to the recycling and compost bins in front of the store, as well as the produce trimmings that are given away for animal feed. “We do regular waste audits that we involve all our employees in, so they understand our goals.

Institute for Sustainable Development Student Services Center 464, Chico State 898-3336 www.csuchico.edu/sustainablefuture E-ARC, the Environmental Action and Resource Center BMU 301, Chico State 898-5676 www.aschico.com A.S. Recycling 417 Cherry St., Chico State 898-5033 www.aschico.com A.S. Sustainability BMU 301, Chico State 898-6677 www.aschico.com

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GOIN’ CHICO 2013 11

The first five bites FOR LESS THAN $20, YOU CAN TASTE FIVE SIGNATURE LOCAL FLAVORS THAT WILL SET YOU OFF ON YOUR CHICO CULINARY ADVENTURE

OU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DIVE INTO SUCH

important debates as: “Which taco wagon makes the best burrito?” and “Who serves the best hamburger in Chico?” Those will be questions answered durstory and ing your own journey photos by through Chico’s deliciousJason Cassidy ly overpopulated culinary jasonc@ landscape. We don’t want newsreview.com to spoil the fun of discovery for you; we want only to give you a taste, create some excited anticipation about what might be in store. What follows are five perfect bites of local flavors, all of which you can taste for yourself for less than $20.

TACO-TRUCK TACO ($1.00-$1.50)

Some would argue that taco trucks are Chico’s No. 1 feature. And it’s understandable. You can’t go more than a few blocks without running into another truck—or its

kissing cousin, the liquor-store taco window—and nearly every single one of them makes that perfect handheld meal that is your best bargain in town: the soft taco. For between $1 and $1.50 (if they are charging more than $1.50, skip to the next spot) you get meat—usually a choice between carne asada, pork (carnitas or al pastor), chicken, and sometimes even lengua (beef tongue)—cilantro, onions and salsa on two corn tortillas. Besides the price and convenience, the selling point is the fact that they really know how to cook the meat. The flavor of an economy cut of meat that has been cooked slowly and seasoned properly can be as tasty as a bite of prime steak. And combine that flavor with the bite of the salsa and onion, the fresh-tasting cilantro, slightly fried edges of tortilla, the acid from a quick squeeze of lime and you have the simplest, and most-loved food item in town.

A giant, authentic New York slice, found only one block from campus at Celestino’s (pepperoni, $3.25).

A perfect blend of textures and flavors in The Rawbar’s Crusty Roll ($7 for six-piece roll; $6 during happy hour).

SLICE FROM CELESTINO’S ($2.95-$3.50)

We are not saying this is the best pizza in town. There are a variety of great styles being made by many great local pie makers— from the bountiful and classic local flavor of Woodstock’s Pizza to the new crispy-crust artisanal approach of Farm Star Pizza and Grana. But, if you’re looking for an authentic slice of New York thin crust, there are no competitors for Celestino’s. The chewy crust, quality toppings, and mouth-watering tang of the tomatoey sauce—forget about it! Celestino’s New York Pizza—two locations: 101 Salem St. (896-1234) and 1354 East Ave., Ste. 5 (345-7700).

The simple beauty of a carne-asada taco ($1) from Tacos El Paisa at the corner of W. Second and Walnut streets. 12 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

Rico’s tamales ($2 each)—filled with love by owner Tony Flores and (from left) Emily Teague and Tony’s wife/co-owner Juana Estrada.

CRUSTY ROLL FROM THE RAWBAR ($6-$7)

There are so many great places for sushi in Chico that it would take several pages to give a full rundown. This is a journey you must take on your own. We have our favorites, and we’ll get you started by sharing one of the best local bites you can put in your mouth: The Rawbar’s Crusty Roll. It’s filled with rice, shrimp, scallions and almonds, dipped in tempura batter and fried, and then drizzled with tangy tare sauce. Every flavor and texture is in play, and if you get there during happy hour (Monday-Friday, 3-5 p.m.), the normally $7 six-piece roll is only $6. The Rawbar, 346 Broadway, 897-0626.

TAMALE FROM RICO’S ($2)

First off, while Rico’s is undeniably one of the best street-food vendors in town, there are probably a dozen equally great carts, trucks and stands selling food outdoors in Chico that are worthy of being recommend as your first “must-visit” spot—including another tamales vendor, Maria’s Gone Tamales, just up the block from Rico’s during the Thursday Night Market downtown. This is just one amazing, inexpensive, can’t-miss option that will set you on your way to all the hot dogs, BBQ, grilled cheese and kettle corn on your horizon.

SAVOR CHICO

Check out the Chico News & Review’s food reviews and columns every Thursday, and pick up a copy of our twice-yearly local-restaurant guide, Savor .

Let us Make

YOu HappY With the Best Chinese

free entreé buy 1 entree & 2 drinks, get the 2nd entree of equal or lesser value free

Open 7 days for Lunch & Dinner all Credit Cards accepted

SCOOP FROM SHUBERT’S ($2.45)

The second you walk into this icon, you become a local. The family-run ice-cream parlor/candy shop just celebrated its 75th anniversary of providing handmade treats to Chico, and there is no more perfect ending to a hot day than a stroll to the downtown shop for a scoop of Chico Mint— milk chocolate ice cream with chunks of green Shubert’s Chico Mint candies. Shubert’s Ice Cream and Candy, 178 E. Seventh St., 342-7163. ●

HappY GarDen Chinese restaurant

180 Cohasset road • (near the esplanade) 893-2574 or 893-5068

Exp. 08/31/13. Dine in only. Limit one coupon per table. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Not valid on Holidays.

2002-2010

Rico’s owner, Tony Flores, has been making tamales in Chico for a decade, and you can get his pork, vegetarian or sweet pineapple-andraisin corn-husk-wrapped loafs of love at both downtown farmers’ markets as well as for pick-up at his shop on the corner of Cherry and Ninth Streets. Rico’s Tamales, downtown Chico at Thursday Night Market and Saturday farmers’ market, plus takeout at 900 Cherry St., 898-1212.

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GOIN’ CHICO 2013 15 7/13/2012 2:58:34 PM

Find local treasures

NOWHERE Head a few miles north or south on Highway 99 and you quickly realize that you are on the Chico island now: There’s not much for miles in every direction. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

A MAP-IN-PICTURES OF CHICO’S DISTINCT AREAS DOWNTOWN The heart of Chico beats downtown, where the university, local shops (like the legendary Melody Records, at Fourth and Main streets), farmers’ markets, nightlife and the biggest community events all flow into one vibrant area.

THE UNIVERSITY Stop and smell the Rose Garden at Chico State. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

THE ORCHARDS You realize that you ’ve moved into a nut-f lavored county , right? Those rows an d rows of trees you passed on the way into town? Depending on which way you were coming , they were likely either walnuts (pictured) or almon ds.

PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

hances are you’ve already taken a hundred photos of your new apartment building and the cute guys you saw carrying a futon into the place across the quad. It probably goes without saying that there is much more to the picture of Chico than what’s currently on your smartphone. What we’ve done here is provide a dozen or so images that hopefully will provide a snapshot-map of the general areas of your new home. THE FAR EAST It may seem far away, but it’s worth venturing into the area on the east side of Highway 99, where Casey Schmidt (left), Ashley Redding and the rest of the fun staff of local musicians at The Music Connection (973 East Ave.) just might be waiting at the door for you to jam with them. The “old mall” might be gone, but there are plenty of newer (Cinemark 14, Trader Joe’s) and older (Spiteri’s Deli) destinations along East Avenue to make visiting worthwhile.

UPPER BIDWELL PARK k is escape the heat, Upper Par If Lower Park is where we the into nd exte ek cre the ils and where we just escape. Tra Hole, n lmo (Sa s hole ing y swimm foothills for miles, with man the dusty trail. from pite res pictured) offering PHOTO BY JASO N CASS IDY

PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

LOWER BID WEL The tree-lin L PARK ed loop of Lower Park is the city’s oasis, anch or creek-fed Sy ed by the ca in the One-M more Pool ile Recreati Area. on

PHOTO BY MEL ANI E MAC TAV ISH

PH OTO BY JA

THE AVENUES Though it’s largely a residential area, for many people, the center of the Avenues neighborhood which spreads east and west of The Esplanade, is Big Al’s Drive In, with its Happy Burgers and triple-thick shakes.

SO N CA SS ID

THE EAST STREETS The quiet side of the numbered streets gets quieter as you stroll east into the tree-lined family neighborhood along Lower Bidwell Park.

PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

NORSAC The intersection where Nord Ave. is T-boned by West Sacramento Ave. is teeming with businesses geared toward the blocks of student-apartments in the area. As such, there is a glorious variety of inexpensive eating options, including the exotic flavors served up by (from left) Monica Mora and Leah Arreguin at La Flor de Michoacán Palatería y Nevería, the Mexican ice-cream shop in the Safeway Shopping Center. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

THE RIVER A sleepy section of the Sacramento River is just, like, right over there. Only five miles west. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

SOUTH-CAMPUS One of Chico’s older residen tial areas has transformed into a mainly student-populated section of town, home to many of the fraternity and sorority houses, as wel l as the infamous Fifth and Ivy intersection of bar s, cafes and restaurants (including the aptly named Five and Eye).

SOUTH SIDE With the Barber neighborhood to the west and Chapmantown to the east, Park Avenue with its Mexican restaurants and tire shops cuts a wide path through two of Chico’s oldest neighborhoods.

MALL TOWN Blake Brandt and Marcus Payne work at the Lids hat store in the Chico Mall, which is the hub of the chain and big-box shopping district south of town. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

PHOTO BY MELA NIE MACTAVIS H

16 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

Chico News & Review

• GOIN’ CHICO 2013 17

Find local treasures

NOWHERE Head a few miles north or south on Highway 99 and you quickly realize that you are on the Chico island now: There’s not much for miles in every direction. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

THE UNIVERSITY Stop and smell the Rose Garden at Chico State. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

LOWER BID WEL The tree-lin L PARK ed loop of Lower Park is the city’s oasis, anch or creek-fed Sy ed by the ca in the One-M more Pool ile Recreati Area. on

PHOTO BY MEL ANI E MAC TAV ISH

PH OTO BY JA

SO N CA SS ID

THE EAST STREETS The quiet side of the numbered streets gets quieter as you stroll east into the tree-lined family neighborhood along Lower Bidwell Park.

PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

THE RIVER A sleepy section of the Sacramento River is just, like, right over there. Only five miles west. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

MALL TOWN Blake Brandt and Marcus Payne work at the Lids hat store in the Chico Mall, which is the hub of the chain and big-box shopping district south of town. PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

PHOTO BY MELA NIE MACTAVIS H

16 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

Chico News & Review

• GOIN’ CHICO 2013 17

Fin de rs

SCOURING FOR QUALITY USED-GOODS IN CHICO

WHEN CHRISTINA ULSH WAS A KID, SHE WENT TO A

l e a U ra n g t i n self at O ent. r i s her le nm C h ke s r t a b o n s i g m a m fo t C co ree St

yard sale and was drawn to a vintage mustard-yellow lamp. She had to have it, so she forked over a couple of bucks and brought the old thing home. story and “My parents thought it photos by was the most hideous Melissa thing, but I loved it,” she Daugherty recalled, during a sunny melissad@ Saturday while drinking newsreview.com iced coffee at Empire Coffee, the train-car café in the south-campus neighborhood. Then a funny thing happened. Her father, while inspecting its repair job, realized he knew that lamp. That’s because it was in his house when he was a kid. Ulsh was just 9 when that happened, but her serendipitous find left a lasting impression. She really liked items from bygone eras, and today, after years of honing her tastes by perusing yard sales, estate sales, antique stores and thrift shops, the 23-yearold Ulsh looks mostly for specific mid-20thcentury items. Aside from a new television and her computer, nearly every gadget, piece of furniture and décor in her

18 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

kee

Ulsh said she could spend hours looking through the unique and sometimes bizarre items at Orange Street Consignment, such as this super-tall Roman-style statue.

per

home is vintage Atomic and Danish-modern. To envision this, think of the home of television’s The Jetsons, she explained. Ulsh started thrifting when she was about 13, and while these days she is on the lookout only for vintage finds that fit her current sensibilities, she knows the ins and outs of the scene for everything from art and furniture to clothing and entertainment. One of the great things about Chico is that it has so many places to find affordable odds and ends, even on a college student’s budget.

DURING A RECENT MINI TOUR OF THE SCENE, CONcentrating on the places closest to the student neighborhoods, Ulsh—who locals may recognize from playing in Chico bands The Hambones and The Shankers—first headed to Orange Street Consignment, a 15,000square-foot shop along the train tracks. The warehouse is home to an extremely eclectic collection of items, from gorgeous hardwood antique dressers and other well-kept furnishings to odd pieces such as a taxidermy boar’s head and an approximately 12-foot-tall (anatomically correct) Roman-style statue. “I could spend hours here just admiring stuff, but I mostly scan shelves,” said Ulsh, who handled a number of things at Orange Street but purchased nothing on this day. The next stop was Elite Repeat, the Salvation Army’s upscale store at Seventh and Broadway. There, she headed straight to the bric-a-brac section, an area with all manner of antique collectibles, dishes and doodads. She picked up a ceramic cat figurine as well as an old plastic RCA Victor radio, explaining how she’d like to paint it to make it a decorative piece. Minutes later she lit up after spotting a couple of cool vintage can openers but, on closer inspection, realized they were missing some parts. She promptly put them back on the shelves, giving this advice when it comes to purchasing something old: “Make sure it’s complete,” she said. “Don’t bring home a project

unless it’s worth it.” That advice goes for clothing, too, she pointed out. Ulsh doesn’t buy much in the way of thrift-store clothes, but she has in the past. She said the key is to inspect items thoroughly for imperfections such as staining, as well as checking the seams and, if vintage, the threads to make sure they aren’t fraying.

In the end, after debating the condition of the radio compared to a much better, yet more expensive one elsewhere, she put it back. “If you’re not 100 percent sure, don’t buy it,” Ulsh said. “But if you are sure, don’t leave it, because it won’t be here when you get back.” Ulsh prefers shopping at places connected to charities, such as the Salvation Army,

Salvation Army’s Elite Repeat organizes its inventory of women’s shirts by color.

Specialty Pizzas • Pizza by the Slice Salads • Calzones • Hot Sandwiches

Deliberating on buying an antique clock.

CELESTINO’S Authentic New York Pizza Downtown Chico

896-1234

which funds a broad range of causes, and the ARC, an organization that supports those with developmental disabilities. In addition to the feelgood factor of supporting a cause, she finds that charity shops often stock higher-quality merchandise. Ulsh ended up hitting the jackpot on the third and final destination, the Home at Last Thrift & Gift, whose proceeds support a local horse sanctuary. The shop, at Sixth and Walnut streets, though small and full of items, is well-organized. And its prices are very reasonable. After just a few minutes in the shop, she found a framed handembroidered floral wall-hanging that she said fit perfectly into her décor. She picked that up, as well as a couple of VHS tapes and a small, cute owl figurine. Ulsh’s parting piece of advice is to hit up a variety of shops, and often. “If you go consistently, you find ● really good stuff,” she said.

Buy 2 Slices

WHERE TO SHOP:

Chico is home to dozens of places to pick up second-hand goods, from antique and vintage-clothing stores, to thrift and consignment shops. But here are a few places where your purchasing dollars go to charity:

ARC Thrift Store 2020 Park Ave. The Discovery Shoppe 315 Flume St. Home at Last Thrift & Gift 611 Walnut St. (A $10 donation will get you a T-shirt and a card for 10 percent off all purchases in the shop for a year.)

gET 1 FREE

Valid Anytime. One Coupon per Person. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Exp. 8/31/13

CELESTINO’S Authentic New York Pizza Downtown Chico

896-1234

$2 OFF Any Large 18” Pizza or $1.50 Off any 14” Medium Pizza Valid Anytime. One Coupon per Person. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Exp. 8/31/13

Open 7 Days! We Deliver! All Day Downtown Chico • 101 Salem St. (corner of 1st & Salem) • 896-1234

Chicos only Bagel Shop since 1995!

PawPrints Thrift Store 1346 Longfellow Ave. The Salvation Army 1358 East Ave. The Salvation Army-Elite Repeat 700 Broadway The Shop 982 East Ave.

Mounted caribou, anyone?

Hear no evil. See no evil. Eat no evil.

eating bagels should be fun! 25 different bagels • 11 low-fat schmears 6 breakfast bagels • deli sandwiches • smoothies lunch specials • bagel dogs • great coffee blended speciality drink • “hangover helper” special 117A West 2nd Street / Downtown Chico / 345.3443 Chico News & Review

• GOIN’ CHICO 2013 19

Music and theater and comedy all rolled into one band: The Pageant Dads are Chico’s most off-the-wall triple threat. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAGEANT DADS

Inventing a scene TAKING AN ACTIVE VIEW OF THE CHICO ART SCENE WITH ARTS DEVO

ELLO, ARTS DEVO HERE, YOUR FRIENDLY WEEKLY H arts columnist for the Chico News & Review, and I have something to tell you. After spending a couple of decades hanging out in, Arts playing along with, and Devo writing about the local jasonc@ arts and music scenes, I newsreview.com can say with great confidence that you are now in the kind of place where it is possible for you to actually take part in things. You say you have an original script set in a future world where robot monkeys police the streets? You can do that. It’s written specifially for shadow-puppet theater? Welcome to your new home. And you can play two chords and know how to make fliers with clever art? You are going to make a lot of friends in Chico. If it’s interaction and community you’ve been seeking, this is the arts town for you. Chico is big enough to have a college bringing a renewable stream of fresh, creative ideas to town, and still laid-back and affordby

able enough to make doing and showcasing art accessible to anyone who is willing to work on their own behalf. You might not be able to make much money, but you can get inspired and have tons of fun.

YOU COULD HANG YOUR ART IN A LOCAL GALLERY right now. Well, maybe not today, but soon enough. Every month or so, the eclectic group of passionate arts-makers who run the MANAS Artspace on the south side of town host themed open-entry shows in which everyone is invited to take part. Previous themes have included the Everything Green show (green or green-inspired art), BTW Have You Seen My Keys? (art incorporating keys provided by the gallery) and LP Cookie Camp Mystery Mixer (where an old vinyl album and one fortune-cookie fortune are the starting point). All it takes to get in on the fun is to pony up the $5 or $10 entry fee, pick up whatever props might be part of the theme, and make something in time for the opening. Not only is your art on display at a fun space,

Arts DEVO (left, aka Jason Cassidy) writes a weekly arts column for the Chico News & Review.

20 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

Emily McClintick shows off her art and refurbished trailer at the 2013 Art Fiesta. PHOTO BY KYLE DELMAR

but the wild receptions are also a great place to meet local arty types of all stripes. It’s a great asset to have such a regular, accessible outlet for artists, but MANAS isn’t the only opportunity available. Other local galleries—Chico Art Center, Avenue 9 Gallery—have curated open-entry shows as well as annual all-inclusive art events (Open Studios Tour in the fall and Art Fiesta in the spring, respectively), and the longstanding 1078 Gallery often has open-entry fundraising shows as well as the annual invitational group show for its members (become a member for as little as $65 a year). If acting is your thing (or you want it to be your thing), there are dozens of community-theater productions a year, and every theater (see sidebar) holds open auditions. And if you play music, you really could be performing in front of an audience (however small) right now. Seriously, you might be able to get added to a show tonight. If whatever indie, metal, jazz, rock or folk bill scheduled at Café Coda is full, or the punk lineup at Monstros Pizza is already overstocked, or Café Flo can’t add you to the night of folk, give Matt Savage at the new Dex space a call. The

busy little downtown venue has something going on most every night of the week, has a nice sound system, and every experience level and style of music is welcome. And you can always jump on stage with a song or a poem at one of the many local open mics at Has Beans (Thursdays, 7 p.m.), Café Flo (Tuesdays, 7 p.m.) and 100th Monkey Books (Wednesdays, 7 p.m.). For more info on all of the local venues and happenings, see Ken Smith’s story about Chico’s Nightlife on p. 28, and pick up the Chico News & Review every week.

OF COURSE, AS MUCH AS I PERSONALLY DIG A WILD and open range of expression keeping the pulse of the scene quick, it can’t be all experimental art projects and punk bands. There needs to be a foundation of established arts producers and makers to keep venues open and to keep a connection to the culture outside of the island of Chico. My intention here has been to try to inspire newcomers to take part, but I’ve definitely buried many of the local-arts torchbearers— those passionate leaders who keep art alive in Chico—here at the end. Places like the

ARTS DESTINATIONS: On the Walls

Live at Chico State

Chico galleries:

Chico Performances 898-6333 www.chicoperformances.com

Take a journey to the heart of Chico art-ness at one of the many vibrant art galleries on campus and beyond.

1078 Gallery 820 Broadway www.1078gallery.org All Fired Up Ceramic Studio 830 Broadway www.allfiredupchico.org

Live performing arts and music by world-class artists as well as Chico State faculty and student peformers.

School of the Arts 898-5739 www.schoolofthearts-csuchico.com

On the Boards

Art, Etc. 122 W. Third St. www.facebook.com/artetcchicocalifornia

From community theaters to the four stages between Chico State and Butte College, there’s always a new production to discover.

Avenue 9 Gallery 180 E. Ninth Ave. www.avenue9gallery.com

Blue Room Theatre 139 W. First St. www.blueroomtheatre.com

Chico Art Center 450 Orange St. www.chicoartcenter.com

Butte College Dramatic Arts www.butte.edu/drama

Chico Museum 141 Salem St. www.chicomuseum.org Chico Paper Co. 345 Broadway www.chicopapercompany.com James Snidle Fine Arts 254 E. Fourth St. www.jamessnidlefinearts.com MANAS Artspace 1441 Park Ave., Suite C www.facebook.com/manasartspace Sally Dimas Art Gallery 493 East Ave., #1

California Regional Theatre Staged at CUSD Center for the Arts 1475 East Ave. www.crtshows.com Chico State Department of Theatre www.schoolofthearts-csuchico.com

Kick Up Your Feet

Turner Print Museum Meriam Library, first floor, Chico State www.janetturner.org University Art Gallery Trinity 100 and hallway, Chico State www.csuchico.edu/art

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICO PERFORMANCES

Birdcage Theatre 1740 Bird St.,Oroville www.birdcagetheatre.net

Chico State & Butte College galleries:

Butte College Art Gallery Arts Building www.butte.edu

Paul Taylor Dance Co., one of Chico Performances’ impressive shows from the 2011-12 season.

Rogue Theatre www.chicorogue.com

Theatre on the Ridge 3735 Neal Rd. www.totr.org

B-SO Space Ayres Hall, Chico State www.csuchico.edu/art

and high-quality art—some traditional, some contemporary—during the upcoming school year, hopefully further inspiring the brand-new crop of active creative types who will be keeping Chico’s scene fresh for years to come. ●

Chico Theater Co. 166-F Eaton Road www.chicotheatercompany.com

Vagabond Rose Gallery & Framing 236 Main St. 3rd Floor Gallery Upstairs in the BMU, Chico State www.aschico/com/3rdfloorgallery

community theaters and galleries mentioned above, the Chico State galleries and the local art dealers—Chico Paper Co., Art Etc., James Snidle Fine Arts, The Vagabond Rose—showing and supporting the artists. And, of course, the big stages at the Sierra Nevada Big Room, Senator and El Rey theaters (via J-Max Productions) and Chico State’s two prolific production departments, the School of the Arts and the incredible Chico Performances, which brings everything from worldrenowned West African musicians (Baaba Maal, Angélique Kidjo) to icons of dance, theater and American music (everyone from Paul Taylor Dance Company to Willie Nelson) to our little corner of the world. (See the sidebar for full listings of art and performance venues.) It’s these organizations that will be the ones showcasing the bulk of the interesting

Chico Creek Dance Center Classes and performances of modern, hip-hop, ballet and more. 893-9028 www.chicocreekdancecentre.com

Reel World

From multiplex to art-house fare. Cinemark 14 801 East Ave., Suite 2 879-0143 www.cinemark.com Pageant Theatre 351 E. Sixth St. www.pageantchico.com

The Bag O’ Junk Show, one of the multimedia open-entry art shows for which the eclectic MANAS Artspace is known. PHOTO BY KYLE DELMAR

Sarah Rule’s dark and fun contemporary satire, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, as presented by the Blue Room Theatre. PHOTO BY MATT SIRACUSA

Chico News & Review

• GOIN’ CHICO 2013 21

The Chico workout STAY OUTSIDE, KEEP MOVING AND ENJOY THE GOOD, HEALTHY LIFE Adventure Outings-sponsored whitewaterkayaking trip to the Trinity River. PHOTO COURTESY OF ADVENTURE OUTINGS

Don’t call it ultimate Frisbee. It’s just “ultimate,” and it’s played with “flying discs.” It’s also a great, fun way to stay in shape. PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

OU COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING THAT

seeking fitness advice from a personal trainer means that there likely will be a lot of lifting, curling and squatting in your future. But ask local perby sonal trainer Zach Peek Jason Cassidy what he would suggest that newly arrived stujasonc@ newsreview.com dents should do for their first workout in Chico, and he’s more likely to point them and their bikes toward the trails of Bidwell Park or have them meet him at the Chico State soccer fields for a pick-up game of “ultimate” (aka “ultimate Frisbee”). “Gym training has its place,” said the soft-spoken personal trainer from In Motion Fitness, noting that, especially for those who have exercised very little, getting up to speed with some resistance training in the gym is a smart idea. But the 25-year-old Chico State grad noted that, since moving to Chico from Fairbanks, Alaska, for school in 2009 (after a stopover to play baseball at Yuba College in Marysville for a couple of years), he keeps himself in shape as much by taking advantage of this rural area’s many opportunities for outdoor sports and recreation as he does pumping iron at the gym.

“The gym is complementary,” he said. “Most [anything you’d want] is in town, but the mountains are nearby,” Peek said, referring to the availability of everything from mountain climbing and snowboarding, to kayaking and backwoods-hiking in the nearby Sierra Nevada range and surrounding areas. “[But] Butte County is spectacular.” The center of much of the activity is naturally Bidwell Park, with its swimming areas, athletic fields and miles of trails for hiking, running and biking. And there are dozens more parks, courts and playing fields scattered around town and at the university, not to mention a very flat and manageable terrain for bike-friendly commuting. If there’s a philosophy to Peek’s local workout, it’s basically to always be in motion. “I definitely recommend having a bike,” he said. When he first came to town, Peek roomed with fellow Alaskan transplant and sports enthusiast (and current CN&R Assistant News Editor) Howard Hardee. The two of them developed a routine of activity by exploring their new environment. “We both moved in together. He took his bike and I took my skateboard and we just cruised the town.” Not only were the two friends keeping the blood moving by motoring around

Zach Peek

In addition to being a personal trainer at In Motion Fitness, the Chico State grad is a former college (and current rec-league) baseball player. PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

22 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

under their own power, but being “on the street” offered many chance opportunities for being active. “[With a car], you’re less likely to stop for, like, a pick-up game, or something that might just interest you,” Peek said. If he and Hardee saw a group of people playing basketball or stumbled upon a swimming hole (as they did, entirely by chance, at Sycamore Pool that first summer), they

were able to just dive right in. Peek’s current routine includes a steady rotation of ultimate, swimming, riding his bike in town and mountain biking, hiking, disc golf and CARD-league baseball. When people come to him for personal training, in addition to their fitness goals (to lose weight, improve performance, etc.), Peek asks what their job, hobbies and life goals are and tries to help them find activities they will enjoy and will naturally fit into their life. For students, he also

ENJOY

JOIN THE MOVING: Of course, you don’t have to join up with a group to get moving—you can simply spend your days biking, skateboarding or walking everywhere you need to go. But there are plenty of local groups planning outdoor activities that would love to have you join in having fun while staying fit.

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recommends checking out Chico State’s Wildcat Recreation Center (the WREC) and Adventure Outings program for meeting fellow teamsports and outdoors enthusiasts, respectively. Before you set yourself in localmotion, Peek advises being minimally prepared with plenty of water for your journey as well as any gear you might need along the way (cleats, flying discs and so on). And don’t overdo things right away. “Definitely, you [should] kind of ease into anything,” Peek said, adding that, if, say, you are going on a mountain-bike ride on the trails of Upper Bidwell Park, don’t just drive out in a car with your bike, then hop on the trail and go. Take advantage of the flat roads leading out there and take an easy bike ride to warm up as well as cool down afterward. For other activities, a light jog, or standing in place and doing some high-knee and butt-kicker cardio, will provide a sufficient warm-up. And, especially if you haven’t been active in a while, stretching after exercising is essential. “I preach a lot in my training: smooth actions,” Peek said, emphasizing that if you “start slow and smooth” you reduce risk of injury—and eventually “slowand-smooth becomes fast,” creating a foundation for staying in ● excellent shape.

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Ch i c o N e w s & R e v i e w

Food for higher thought A CHICO STATE SUCCESS STORY AT SUTTER DINING HALL

DURING HIS SENIOR YEAR AT CHICO STATE, KIRK

Seefeldt had a slight feeling of panic about his future. It was 2008, and the U.S. economy was just starting its slide into recession. He’d majored in communications with by an option in media arts, Vic Cantu and had several years of cooking and catering experience. “I had lots of ambition but I just wanted a job, any job,” Seefeldt said. So when the position of catering chef at the university’s Marketplace Café in the Bell Memorial Union opened up, he jumped at the chance and was hired. Fast forward five years and the 28-year-old Seefeldt is sitting pretty as assistant manager of Chico State’s 3-year-old state-of-the-art Sutter Dining Center. He’s been able to buy his own home and marry his Chico State sweetheart, who is pregnant with their first child. “It looks like all the stars aligned correctly for me,” he said. Seefeldt is plainly proud to help run the sleek, modern-looking dining hub for Chico State’s residential dining. (In fact, on the day of this interview Seefeldt actually received word that Sutter had won the National Association of College and University Food Service’s 2013 Silver Plate Award for overall residential-dining concept.) As an assistant manager at Sutter, Seefeldt’s duties are mostly administrative, but with 2,500 daily meals to serve to dorm residents, on any given shift you might

KIRK SEEFELDT

Assistant manager at Chico State’s Sutter Dining Center. PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

see him preparing breakfast or serving lunch in order to help his cooks meet the demand. The 635-seat dining center has a clean, modern feel with lots of full-length windows, brightly colored walls, floors and tables throughout. Students can choose from a variety of dining options at the four different food stations—The Main Stage, Hot Spot, Fresh (offering fresh salad options), and Pizazz (where Sutter’s chefs create daily specials)—and from a variety of seating arrangements, including a bar-style area and even a spacious lounge with couches. There are 14 large LCD screens throughout Sutter that diplay menus and nutritional values for all stations. Calling on his background in media-arts education, Seefeldt helped to design the layout, function and content of the screens. Nutrition is given close attention, he said, adding that there are vegetarian and gluten-free options available to students, and staff dietician Amy Gonzales can also be consulted for more specialized needs. Seefeldt also said that they are always trying to improve the food being served at Sutter. At weekly evalutation meetings, residential advisers from the dorms meet with food services and present feedback from students. “If a dish gets really bad reviews we don’t want to serve it again,” Seefeldt said. And if students get bored of Sutter’s many options, they can use their dining card’s “Flex Cash” option at any of the retail dining locations on campus, such as the

BMU’s Marketplace or one of the other campus cafés.

SEEFELDT WAS REARED IN SACRAMENTO BY PARents who both graduated from Chico State and spoke highly of Chico’s extremely fun atmosphere. Even though he knew what to expect when he arrived, he was still surprised to find the people so friendly. “I came from Sacramento, where people go about their own business and are way less personable,” he said. He also fell in love with Chico’s small-town feel, where everything was within 10 minutes’ driving distance. “I’d never experienced anything like it.” Though living in Chico had many perks, Seefeldt says he also loved his classes, especially editing, film, and audio/video production. And his main piece of advice for new students is to immerse themselves in their studies.

The Sutter Hall dorms, with the Sutter Dining Center (below) on the first floor. PHOTO BY JASON CASSIDY

“They will meet great, fun people, and it’s often their first time living away from home,” he explained of incoming freshmen. “But stay focused on your education, because it will get you where you want to go after school.” For dorm life, Seefeldt encourages students to “keep an open mind for people with different ideas, and make as many friends as you can.” He says he’s still good friends with his very first roommate from Whitney Hall. “We still hang out and even play golf together.” Overall, Seefeldt is extremely pleased with the path he chose and that his journey has led to him putting down roots in Chico. “My parents are proud, I love my wife, and I wouldn’t want to be in any other town.” ●

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY HOUSING AND FOOD SERVICE, CHICO STATE

RESIDENTIAL DINING DEETS: Sutter serving hours: Monday-Friday:

Breakfast: 7-11 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner: 4:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: Brunch: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dinner: 4:30-7 p.m.

Menu: During the school year visit UHFS Dining Service’s Facebook page for what’s on the menu each week. University Housing & Food Service 898-6325 www.csuchico.edu/housing

Chico News & Review

• GOIN’ CHICO 2013 25

Chico weekends start here Pick up the free Chico News & Review each Thursday and get plugged into all the music, arts and events that make Chico such a fun place to live. Every week the CN&R is your best community resource, with a comprehensive entertainment calendar, plus in-depth coverage of the local community, from arts and music to environmental, health and university news. Be informed, get involved and go Chico!

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Ken Smith

CN&R writer by day, night- crawler by night. PHOTO BY TIMMY TURTLE

The Alice Peake Experience had the City Plaza moving during the Friday Night Concert. PHOTO BY KEN SMITH

THE ENEMY OF A REWARDING NIGHTLIFE IS

routine. While it’s good to establish your favorite spots—familiar sanctuaries where everyone (or at least somebody) knows your name—it can get awfully droll sitting in the same by Ken Smith space, sipping the same drink, staring at the same kens@ newsreview.com faces while listening to the same old band or songs on the jukebox. Luckily, Chico is full of opportunities to make any evening unforgettable, or at the very least a break from the ordinary. There really is something for everyone, which I set out to prove on a Friday night the week before finals last spring. My trusty pal and fellow intrepid explorer, Timmy Turtle, and I mounted our bikes and, with a rough course plotted allowing plenty of space to let the night take us where it wanted, set out in search of adventure.

OUR FIRST DESTINATION WAS THE INAUGURAL Friday Night Concert of the season in the downtown Chico City Plaza. We arrived in time to catch the last song of the Alice Peake Experience’s set, a cover of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” that had the masses moving. Whether or not the featured band is suit-

28 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

ed to one’s particular sensibilities, these Friday-evening events offer a fascinating glimpse of a cross-section of Chico’s denizens. Several families staked their spots on grassy areas, children frolicked in the fountain, and Average Joes joined hippies and homeless folk as they swayed and twirled before the bandstand. The group’s namesake rocked a pan flute, backed by her capable band of middle-aged merrymakers. As the crowd slowly dispersed, we pedaled on toward our next planned destination.

All the funky creatures were out at MANAS Art Space: (from left) Christine “Sea Monster” Fulton and David “Dragonboy” Sutherland. PHOTO BY KYLE DELMAR

Welcome to Fre ako

WHILE EN ROUTE TO CHICO’S SOUTH SIDE, WE RAN

into a few friends outside the new craft-beer bar, the Winchester Goose, at the corner of Eighth and Broadway. They invited us into the yet-to-be-open bar (scheduled to open in early summer 2013) to check out the inside and introduce us to coowner Steven Hall. Hall showed us some

T H G I N ALS A U Q E O C I H C LUS P Y A D FRI of the amazing work done on the interior of the space, including a solid black-walnut bar. Next, we headed farther south, down Park Avenue, to where MANAS Artspace was hosting a reception for one of its open-submission art shows, the LP Cookie Camp Mystery Mixer, in which artists were prompted to create something based on a random vinyl record and a fortune-cookie filling. The art was great, and the vibe at MANAS is fantastically strange. The artspace’s ringleader, a man called Dragonboy, shared two poems he’d prepared for the occasion (“Potent and rich, with the light-weighted screeching love of a billion seagulls, you are …,” began one poem). The small audience sat or stood enrapt, one

NIGHT CRAWLIN’

Pick up the Chico News & Review every Thursday and follow along as we cover the entire local music scene. Turn to the Nightlife section for all the beats, jams, mosh pits and freak shows in town.

man slowly moving his hands above his head like an evangelical in church, another rolling and crawling around on the floor as if emerging from the womb. I snacked on free garlic and almonds, and sipped a $2 glass of wine, thinking I maybe should have ordered whatever those dudes were having. After that, we headed a couple blocks down the road and popped into the Maltese Bar & Tap Room. On Fridays, the Maltese hosts an LGBTQ Dance Party, Chico’s only regular event tailored toward the gay community. The dance floor was mostly empty, as we were there on the early side of the evening, so we took a breather on the bar’s excellent back patio and enjoyed the lovely weather. The Maltese hosts live music and various events, and has a wonderfully diverse clientele throughout the week.

All the party people throwin’ their hands in the air at The Beach. PHOTO BY KEN SMITH

while a friend grabbed some reenergizing grub from the Weiner Man’s cart at Second and Broadway. After a bit of replotting and course correction, we decided to hit The Beach. The Beach is actually three bars in one at the corner of Second and Wall streets—The University Bar in the basement, Panama Bar and Café on Second Street, both interconnecting with The Beach. The main area is Chico’s closest approximation of the club scene you might expect in bigger cities. Two dollars buys entrance to all three and a handful of $1-off drink tickets. Though not my normal scene, The Beach was an interesting break from my usual routine, and The U-Bar offers a respite from the more chaotic upstairs. We’d planned a few other stops—a punk show at Monstros, 2 a.m. slices of pizza at Franky’s, maybe hit a house party—but never quite made it. More stops for our next adventure. In closing, I urge everyone to keep an open mind, check out places you might not normally, stay safe and—please—leave the weaponry and the bad attitudes at ● home.

IES T I L I B I SS O P E H GT N I R O L OF EXP ON OUR WAY BACK DOWNTOWN, WE STOPPED AT A PARKING lot adjacent to the Senator Theatre where a number of cyclists had gathered for an outdoor showing of Breaking Away (which a friend recently referred to as “The Karate Kid of cycling movies”). The event was hosted by the Butte Bicycle Coalition to celebrate Bike Month. We missed the film, but chatted with attendees who stuck around to help clean up, and with organizer Karen Goodwin, who said it was a great success. After a quick drink with friends at the Towne Lounge (RIP—closed as of May 31), we took a quick lap around downtown, passing the college-age kids dressed to the nines waiting in line at LaSalles on Broadway

Marke Skytte on the dance floor at The Maltese. PHOTO BY KEN SMITH

Breaking Away projected on the side of the Senator Theatre to celebrate Bike Month. PHOTO BY KYLE DELMAR

Chico News & Review

• GOIN’ CHICO 2013 29

Chico’s favorite son, Aaron Rodgers. PHOTO BY MIKE MORBECK

Chico lore INTERESTING (OR JUST PLAIN WEIRD) STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS LITTLE COLLEGE TOWN

F ALL YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS LITTLE

city you are about to dive into is that it gets hot during the summers, that it’s where Sierra Nevada beers are brewed, and that it has a Jason Cassidy reputation as a jasonc@ destination for newsreview.com those seeking a degree in the “social arts,” then you don’t really know Chico. Those are just three of the broadest strokes in the picture of this isolated Northern California outpost and, as with any city, there are many more colorful facts that make up the complete portrait. So, to quickly bring you up to speed, we’ve compiled some of the more interesting—and offbeat—bits of institutional knowledge to help give you a better grasp of the lay of the land.

BIDWELL PARK: IT’S A REALLY BIG PARK Situated right in the middle of Chico, Bidwell Park provides that rare getaway that is only a five- or 10-minute bike ride away from most anywhere in town. And at 3,670 acres (the 14th-largest city park in United States), it doesn’t take much riding or hiking to get completely lost in nature. Bequeathed to the city in 1905 by Annie Bidwell, the wife of Chico’s founding father, John Bidwell, the century-old “gift” is the definitely the “crown jewel” of Chico. Visit 30 GOIN’ CHICO 2013 • Chico News & Review

www.bidwellpark.org for more info and for maps of the park.

FAMOUS CHICO Maybe you already knew that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers grew up in Chico and was a star at Pleasant Valley High School and Butte College before becoming the highest-paid player in NFL history (so far). But did you know that the signature Robin Hood flick, 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn, was filmed in Bidwell Park? Or that one of The Daily Ishi demonstrates spear-fishing in Deer Creek, 1914. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CALIFORNIA INDIAN LIBRARY COLLECTION

The echo spot at Chico State. CN&R FILE PHOTO

Show’s multiple-Emmy-winning writers was from Chico? (Yep, Jason Ross not only grew up here but he also used to work at the Chico News & Review.) A few other notable locals who’ve done Chico proud: Actress Amanda Detmer (Saving Silverman, Final Destination); Olympic bobsledder Emily Azevedo; former NFL players Jeff Stover (raised in nearby Corning, and current Chico resident) and Mike Sherrard; and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Lohse (who is from nearby Hamilton City).

NOTORIOUS CHICO And just to keep us honest, there are those historical blips that we’ll never shake so we might as well embrace them. Nearly as enduring as the inflated party-school rep that was fueled by Playboy magazine naming Chico State the nation’s No. 1 party school in 1987 is a famous dig by famed S.F. Chronicle columnist, the late Herb Caen, who

noted that Chico was the kind of place that stocked Velveeta cheese in the gourmet-foods aisle. From then on, every reference Caen made to Chico included the tag: “Velveeta capital of the world.” There was also the time in 1996, when Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole made a campaign stop in Chico and, leaning down to shake hands with supporters at the local Elks Lodge, tumbled off the stage when a decorative railing gave way under him, putting Chico on the national radar once again.

IT’S PRONOUNCED: “AMMEN” Almond trees are one of the biggest crops filling out the orchards surrounding Chico, and the real locals call the tasty nut an “ammen” (like salmon), not “all-mond” (like “palm frond”) or “ah-men” (like “common”).

SPELL YOUR WAY HOME In the student-heavy south-ofcampus neighborhood, if you’re having trouble memorizing the order of the five streets leading up to the railroad tracks, just remember that the first letters spell out “Chico”: Chestnut, Hazel, Ivy, Cherry and Orange.

YOU’VE ENTERED A NUCLEAR-FREE ZONE According to Section 9.60.030 of the Chico Municipal Code, “No person shall produce, test, maintain, or store within the city a nuclear weapon, component of a nuclear weapon, nuclear weapon delivery system, or component of a nuclear weapon delivery system.” You can now rest easy tonight.

HOME OF THE “LAST WILD INDIAN” In the summer of 1911, a man believed to be the last “wild” Native American in the United States emerged from the wilderness near Oroville. Named “Ishi” by the UC Berkeley anthropologists who took him in, the then 49-year-old Yahi (and possibly half-Maidu) Indian has since become the face of Butte County’s Native American culture and historical legacy.

Is the Velveeta still in the gourmet aisle?

A four-stop local-oddity tour: • Echo chambers: There are two. Stand right in the very center of either the big circular slab of cement on top of the Roth Planetarium at Chico State or the one in front of Tri-Counties bank (at Fifth and Salem streets), talk and listen. • World’s Biggest Yo-Yo … museum: The 256-pound “Big-Yo” is no longer the biggest functioning Yo-Yo in the world, but The National YoYo Museum in which

• The park with no visitors: Head south on Broadway until it splits in two, take the left fork (which becomes Oroville Avenue for a block, then Main Street for another block for some reason), and just before it blends into Park Avenue, you’ll see a lovely shaded triangle of grass on the left, complete with a water fountain. Trouble is, there is no legal path leading to the lost island of a park. You can’t park on the street, and there is no crosswalk leading to it. • Norm’s house: Head down Ninth Street a few blocks, turn left on Orient Street and you won’t be able to miss the polka-dotted masterpiece known as Lumina. The outside and inside of the house at 821 Orient have been covered with the colorful pointillist paintings of its owner, Norm Dillinger—even the windows! HGTV’s Offbeat America series even did a segment on the place in 2006. Stop by and gawk from the sidewalk, or knock on the door and ask ● Norm for a tour.

Signs point to CHICO.

YOU’RE WELCOME, NATURE.

STRANGE ATTRACTIONS

it’s housed (at the back of the Bird in Hand gift shop, at 320 Broadway) claims to have the “largest public display of Yo-Yo’s and Yo-Yo memorabilia in the country.”

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