Happy Halloween from the Outside Inn.  Are you ready for the trick or treaters that flock to downtown Nevada City?  We are ready and excited.  Stop by and check out our haunted pathway, which starts at our office and runs along our creek and up through our 20 foot blow up cat and out on to Orchard Street.  Beware!!!!

Looking for a place to sit and relax and read the Weekend edition of The Union?  Check out Karma Coffee on Mill Street in downtown Grass Valley.  With both indoor and outdoor seating options, you’re bound to find a place to sit and watch the activity.  Open 6am onwards on weekdays and from 7am on Saturday and Sunday.

The other week I profiled the new Hirschman Trail to the pond, click here to see that post, but another great option is to do the full loop through the new Woods Ravine Trail.  If you stop by the Outside Inn and pick up a map and walk from town the loop will take you approximately an hour and a half.  It’s a great hike or mountain bike ride right in downtown Nevada City.

Bear River Pasta Company in downtown Grass Valley caters to folks who are looking for excellent food, good value and no fuss.  Stop by to eat a sandwich, sample some gelato or pick up either fresh pasta or ravioli.  I went home with the artichoke, gorgonzola and roasted red bell pepper ravioli and fresh pesto sauce and it was divine.  I love the idea that I had a meal ready in under 10 minutes.  Open 10am- 9pm Monday through Saturday, 11am- 6pm Sunday at 109 Bank Street, Grass Valley.

The annual Run Through the Colors event took place in Nevada City today, celebrating its 20th year.  The picturesque loop through downtown Nevada City takes runners and walkers through some of the beautiful fall colors.  The event is a fundraiser for the Sierra Nevada Group of the Sierra Club.  This years event drew a lively group of participants, with approximately 250 people running and walking and countless more volunteers working the streets.  For additional photos from the event please click here.

Fall is a fabulous time to go check out the South Yuba River.  It’s a great time to take the kids for a hike along the South Yuba Trail, pack a picnic, sunbath on a rock or go for a mountain bike ride.

The Nevada Union High School Mountain Bike team recently had their first annual Cross Country Mountain Bike Race.  Besides the Miners, several high schools and middle school teams attended, for a total of 67 enthusiastic teenagers.  The race started with a Le Mans start, the racers running for their bikes, jumping on and jocking past a log cattle chute before taking off for a couple of laps on a 2.5 mile course.  It was good to see a healthy, athletic group of kids having a good time on their bikes.   A grand time was had by all. Photos by Dieter King.

Looking for a nice place to take a walk in Grass Valley, check out Empire Mine.  The extensive trail network is open to walkers, runners, mountain bikers, horseback riders and dog walkers.  Open sunrise to sunset, you can access the 14 miles of trails outside of the Empire Mine State Park hours (10am to 5pm), either by parking at the Penn Gate or the main visitor’s center parking lot.

Looking for a casual place to get a bite to eat in Nevada City, check out Lefty’s Grill on Broad Street.  The restaurant is known for its burgers, pizza and relaxed atmosphere.  If you’re looking to organize a small party, definitely ask them about the Assay Room in the back, which can accommodate up to 40 people.

Looking for a fun night out and some serious laughs?  Go check out the new play I Hate Hamlet, which opened last night at Off Center Stage.  The intimate setting is a great place to see some talented local actors, including Alvis LeGate, Anna Podolak, Heather Vance, Corinne Gelfan, Brandon Johnson and Rodger Hoopman. For more information about Legacy Productions click here to read the nice article in The Union.  I Hate Hamlet plays now through November 6th.