The Top Drawer on Mill Street in Grass Valley offers lingerie, sleepwear and gifts.  A perfect place to host a girls night out, call today to set up a private evening for a bridal party or special celebration.  Their claim to fame is a bra “for every body,” stop by and have one of the staff members help you find the right option for you.  With Mother’s Day coming up, stop in and buy the special Mom in your life a treat.  And to help you with your shopping the Top Drawer has offered one lucky Outside Inn blog reader a $20 gift certificate.  Please post a comment on this blog post, tell us your favorite Mother’s Day tradition, Bridal Party story or why you love the Top Drawer.  And for a second chance at the … Read More »

There’s a new shop in Grass Valley called Green Light that specializes in recycled and repurposed furniture, lighting and accessories.  All of the items in the shops are upcycled, ranging from Further bath products (recycled glycerin from biofuel distillation process) to unique light fixtures made from scraps destined for the landfill.  Keep an eye out on their Facebook page for news on their grand opening.  Green Light is open 12-6 every day but Wednesday and located at 257 Colfax Ave in the old gas station building.

© 2013 InnSide Nevada City

Tess’ Kitchen cooking classes range from desserts, to pizza, to Thai food.  For those of you who missed out on the recent cast iron cooking class, Tess’ Kitchen has just added another one to their busy cooking class schedule, click here to sign up online.  Roberta walked us through some techniques for cast iron skillets, while cooking a delicious meal (which I’m happy to report we cooked for dinner guests shortly after taking the class).  So, for those of you who are looking to expand your culinary skills or who want to have a fun night, it’s time to get cooking.

© 2013 InnSide Nevada City

If you’ve lived in Nevada County for any period of time you’re probably familiar with Carolines Coffee Roasters.  This month the local company celebrates their 31st birthday.  I had a chance to talk to Holly Fike, Carolines Coffee Roaster’s Manager, about the history of the shop and the strong family connection.  Carolines Coffee Roasters “originally started selling coffee because the family saw a niche market for small batch, fresh coffee, and bought a coffee roaster.  The family at that time would have been Caroline, her husband Chuck who had recently retired from the Forest Service, and their son Trace (photographed above in the mid 1980′s).  Perhaps the biggest change over time is that as we expanded and this area has grown, we’ve become more and more local and community focused.  We used to sell coffee from Redding to Yosemite, … Read More »

Looking for a place to meet a friend for a coffee?  Perhaps you need a new second hand book?  Stop by Sierra Mountain Coffee Roasters on Maltman Drive in Grass Valley.  Open Monday through Friday 7am-5pm and 8am-3pm on Saturday, the bustling coffee shop offers great coffee roasted on site.  Tomes, the second hand book store connected to the coffee shop, hosts a large selection of used books, ranging in topics from local authors, crafts, literature and history.  Be sure to check their calendar for upcoming events and poetry readings.  Sandy, the owner of Sierra Mountain Coffee Roasters, has offered up 3 lucky InnSide Nevada City blog readers a latte and a scone, please post a comment on your favorite type of coffee drink and I’ll announce the winners on Friday, February 15th.

© 2013 InnSide Nevada City, Photos by Erin Thiem … Read More »

The Miners Foundry, together with Joy of Life Events and NC Weds put together A Wedding Affair for all seasons.  Local merchants and services were showcasing their talents and services.  Photographed here today are Wendy Van Wagner, of In the Kitchen, Illuminated Invitations, Tess’ Kitchen Store, Emily’s Catering & Cakes and the Magickal Florist.  For some fun photos of local weddings click here to see the post I did earlier in the month about this event.  If you’re planning a wedding in Nevada City you have so many choices, click here for the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce’s list of services.  No mater what time of the year you’re tying the knot, it’s bound to be a special.

© 2013 InnSide Nevada City

The Grass Valley Wine Company, a joint tasting room for Pilot Peak Vineyards, Solune Winegrowers and Bent Metal Winery, have launched a new partnership with Artists’ Studio in the Foothills (ASiF)  Showcase.  Really, who can turn down the opportunity to drink local wine while celebrating local artists?  Stop by GV Wine Co and check it out over 40 different pieces of art, they’re open Sunday through Wednesday, 1-6 p.m and Thursday through Sunday, 1-7 p.m.  And if you miss this show, keep tuned for the next installment.

© 2013 InnSide Nevada City

Alicia Funk and Karin Kaufman’s book Living Wild, has recently been released with an expanded selection of native plants.  The eco-friendly book showcases gardening, cooking and medicinial uses for native plants throughout the Sierra Nevadas and California.  I asked the Nevada City authors for some of their favorite local plants.

Alicia wrote that her favorite wild plants in Nevada County are, ”Since I love all of our native landscape, it is hard to pick favorites. But these are a few wild plants that I use regularly as part of trying to live a local, habitat-friendly lifestyle.

California Bay: Wonderful as a spice for winter soups and stews, delicious ice cream made by Treats in Nevada City and as a natural, household cleaner. Make your own cleaner by filling a mason jar with fresh or dried bay leaves and then steep overnight. … Read More »

The ultimate Nevada City giveaway… I’ve decided that I’ve had so much fun on the blog this year, that why not end the year by going big.  We live in the an amazing community and I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing a slice of our world, so I wanted to give one big huge thanks to all the folks who I’ve promoted, plugged, photographed and gotten to know over the last year.  My basket started with a few left over goodies from previous giveaways and took on a life of its own…  It’s now turned into the ultimate Nevada City weekend.  I’ve got photos of all the goodies in the baskets below, but here’s a breakdown of what’s included.

One night stay at the Outside Inn
$30 gift certificate to Ike’s Quarter Cafe
$40 gift certificate to South Pine Cafe
$20 … Read More »

Tess’ Kitchen Store in downtown Grass Valley launched their cooking school this evening with “Wow Desserts.”  Roberta and crew seamlessly taught the class the start to finish process of Linzer Tart, Mousse Parfait and Pecan Tartlets.  The class was a sweet treat for all who participated, with useful information on kitchen basics to more advance techniques on impressing your next dinner party.  Steve, owner of Tess’ Kitchen, has offered up a special giveaway to help celebrate the new classes. Post a comment on this blog post about what kind of cooking class you’d like to take and I’ve got four $10 off coupons towards a class, I’ll draw the winner Wednesday, December 12th.  And the winner for the Yuba Blue giveaway is Erin Dixon.

© 2012 InnSide Nevada City