The Incomplete List of Things to Do in a Small Town

362/365, a photo by jessieroth on Flickr.

Visit the public parks and have a picnic
Go to the movies
Go to the library
Walk (run or bike) the nature trails
Visit the local museums
Go to the lake
Wander through the mall
Visit the cemetery
Drive around aimlessly
Take up photography
Drink coffee
Go to local restaurants
Visit a dive bar
Explore abandoned buildings
Go get frozen yogurt
Climb onto the roof of a building
Play board games
Cook dinner with friends
Make a film
Read in the sunshine

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

Untitled by Gaby J Photography

I've been looking at bikes online so much lately. It all started with For the Love of Bikes, an adorable biking blog.  I really don't know very much about bike brands and this blog has a lot of neat bikes that the author sees out and about.  Also, if you happen to live in Redding, you should check out the Healthy Shasta site.  Healthy Shasta has some useful bike trail maps and information about local bicycle events.

Rodeo Wrap Up

tender, originally uploaded by owlgardens.

On Saturday, my friends and I went to the Redding Rodeo. It was my second time going, but it was still just as ridiculous as the first. Here are the highlights:

• We don't fit in at the rodeo and we probably never will.  A group of cowboys said that J looked like a "douche bag."  We might look like hipsters to them, but it's kind of awesome being made fun of by a bunch of men in Wranglers.
• Throwing kettle corn down an old man's pants.  This led to a kettle corn fight.  Cover your drink and guard your cleavage!
• I was showing off by slipping off my wristband that indicated that I am over the age of twenty-one.  Then a huge employee of the rodeo came over and roughly ripped it off my arm!  I was amused, but K wasn't so he told the police officers who were standing by chatting.  They of course didn't care or even reprimand the employee who stood by looking guilty.  Now, J and K refer to this as the time I was "manhandled."

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's St. Patrick's Day and regrettably, I am not allowed to go to the Squire Room anymore. I'm not sure exactly why, but I did come up with a few possible reasons.

• Falling on the ground then proceeding to lay there and stroke the carpet.  It seemed so soft and not at all dirty or disgusting while I was down there.

• Getting a lap dance from a man and loudly proclaiming that it was the worst I've ever had.

• Throwing a lit cigarette at a car.  The couple in the car were just discussing the lap dancing incident so I feel like this was justified.

• Using the phrase "He has more money than Jesus!" This led to an uncomfortable conversation with the bartender in which he explained that Jesus didn't have any money and that he was loved by everyone. Well, except maybe me and J. Also, that K has the features of Jesus and a soft voice so you know he's a good person.  I was also told that I "lie every Friday" whatever that means.

• Dancing badly to "Banquet" by Bloc Party.  I generally avoid dancing, being seen dancing, and drinking so much that I start dancing.

• Showing up an hour before closing after drinking too much at another bar. Discussing the Animal Collective in a loud obnoxious manner. Swearing continuously. Rubbing people's matching short hair.

Thai Restaurant Rundown

Shrimp Pad Thai, originally uploaded by fakeginger.

A Review of Thai Restaurants in Redding, California


5. Five Thais
Interestingly enough, Five Thais comes in at number five- bottom of the list.  This is not only the worst Thai restaurant in Redding it is just a disgusting restaurant in general.  It's located in the old TCBY and very little has changed inside.  Seating and ordering is awkward.  The food was beyond nasty.  I ordered Pad Thai and it tasted predominantly of red pepper flakes.  I was starving when I went otherwise the food would be pretty much inedible.

4. Racha Noodle
I had heard a lot of good things about Racha Noodle and was eager to try it.  The restaurant itself was nothing special.  It sort of reminded me of a laboratory in college.  Institutional pink painted walls, exposed pipes, and travel posters from Thailand.  I feel like the food was slightly off.  Everything that usually tastes sweet was just not very sweet.  It wasn't terrible, but I don't have any desire to return there.  In addition to the mediocre food, they only take cash and checks.  Who takes checks?

3. Thai Cafe
I haven't been there recently because they have weird hours, but this was an okay place.  A lot of my friends really like it.  I've heard some people complain that they don't like how the tofu is cooked.  This is the sort of place I would probably go to if my friends really wanted to, but I probably wouldn't take the initiative to go on my own.

2. Kanya Garden Thai Cuisine
I really like Kanya Garden.  It's pretty small and located close to Racha Noodle.  I think that it's a good place to take people who haven't had Thai food.  The food is delicious! The waitresses are really nice and always have good recommendations.


1. Nipa's Thai Cuisine
Nipa's is my current favorite.  It's a bit more expensive that Kanya Garden, but I think it's worth it.  They serve a vegetarian soup along with the entrées, everything I've eaten was amazing, the people that work there are great, and they have exotic birds outside to look at.  I mean, really what more could you want?

Redding Rodeo

Woodland Fairy Tale, originally uploaded by inmost_light.

I went to the Redding Rodeo for the first time. If you didn’t go this year or have never been, here is what you may have missed:

• Critiquing the treatment of the animals. Don’t worry the calves were wearing helmets.
• A gay rodeo clown attempting to flirt with your male friend.
• Eagerly watching angry animals attempt to injure humans. Oh, the bloodlust!
• Being so close to the ring that dirt flies on you when the animals run by.
• Drinking too much then searching the ground for change to buy more drinks.
• Watching an elderly lady have ice thrown on her.
• Seeing your friend nearly run over his drunken sister.

Good times! 

Werewolf Riots in Redding

It hurts so good., originally uploaded by ღMaybeSomedayLoveღ.

To my delight, on May 4th, "Dead in the Family," the tenth novel of the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series was released. The book mentions, "there had been demonstrations and riots in Redding, California..." regarding the rights of werewolves.

What a random reference! Has there ever even been a riot in Redding? I can't think of any. I suppose that if we lived in a world with werewolves and vampires, some of the religious nuts in Redding would probably riot.

A Terrible Insult

Catalina Prieto /// Diseñadora, originally uploaded by -- RANDY --.

Bars really aren't my favorite places, but they are somewhere to go at night when you and your friends are bored. We were extremely bored last night when our plans fell through, and we ended up at the Rusty Nail. The Rusty Nail is sort of a strange bar that is attached to the mall. I'm not sure how to describe it. It has sort of a sports bar feel with a couple of large aquariums.

I noticed some obnoxious people sitting on top of the bar. This classy group was being loud and taking body shots off each other. No big deal, until my friends and I realize that we know one of the individuals. . . .my misogynistic ex-supervisor! He is the reason I quit my last job and I am part of the reason he got fired. I definitely don't want to run into him, but of course he comes stumbling right up to our table! He's grinning despite his obvious rage and when I ask him how he is doing he mistakenly thinks I'm asking "What the fuck are you doing?" After a while, he cools down to some extent, and keeps remarking about how strange it is to see us. He then proceeds to "whisper" in my male friend's ear, "Are you guys fucking?" He is beyond wasted and we ask him about why exactly he was fired. He slurs when he tells us (these are his words) about how he fucked an attention whore who worked with us and was caught flipping the bitch off on camera. Wow, what a lovely way to describe your seventeen year old subordinate coworker!

My ex-supervisor's drunk girlfriend comes up to the table and introduces herself.

You look just like Tina Fey!

No, you are probably just saying that because of the hair.

No, you must get that all the time! I bet you could even dress up like Palin like she does!

No. . .

Talk about adding insult to injury!  My friend and I quickly left and vowed never to go to the Rusty Nail again.

Cruel April Nights

garage life, originally uploaded by hey mr. eric.

I don't understand Redding's fascination with classic cars. It probably has something to do with the huge population of elderly people here. I'm fine with people liking classic cars, really I am. I just hate it when they have to shut down all the main roads in Redding to have their Cool April Nights parade. The name is somewhat misleading anyway. Cool nights in Redding?! I could understand Cool December Nights or Mild April Nights. They should really change it to Cruel April Nights because it's almost impossible not to get trapped in the middle of the parade route.

Highly Suspicious

, originally uploaded by Thabata Guerra.

The other night my friend and I went out to dinner. After leaving the restaurant we notice a traffic jam up ahead. Sobriety checkpoint. For no apparent reason, my friend turns down a side street to avoid the checkpoint. This looks bad. Suddenly, we are surrounded by four police cars. Yes, four! They were shining lights into the car from every direction. Pretty unnerving, right? Well, as he pulls over, my friend manages to hit the curb twice. I'm trying not to laugh because I know that by now the cops are certain the driver is drunk. The cops want to know the last three places we were at. A restaurant that doesn't serve alcohol, my house, and his house. The cop treats us like children then lets us go.

Don't try to avoid sobriety checkpoints!

Fear and Loathing in 2010

A Beauty Study / Paula Magazine, originally uploaded by Simon Pais-Thomas.

On New Year's Eve, I was in a bad mood. My friend and I decided to go to the local casino. The place was packed! We had to park in a gravel area next to the place. The line at the bar was excruciatingly long so, thinking this would probably be my only drink of the night, I ordered a Long Island iced tea. We then met up with my boyfriend and his dad at a poker table. Interrupting me, and taking great interest in our conversation, is a middle aged woman in a gold party hat. She demands to know if my boyfriend's father is my father and starts raving about how beautiful I am. She tells me that I could be a model. Whatever. She is drunk, right? No, according to my boyfriend she isn't drunk, but she is a bad poker player. After I leave the table, the woman continues talking about me to the young man next to her. He agrees with her and tells her that I am hot. The woman says that she is not a lesbian, but she thinks I am smokin'.

Somehow, a couple seats open up at the bar and we sit down and I order a lemon drop martini. I really wanted something lemon flavored. We walked around and talked with some people we knew, and soon enough I was pretty drunk. There was a nightmare line for the bathroom and an employee would personally direct you to a stall.

People watching becomes horrific and I feel like I am living out a scene from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I think that this is only partly due to the alcohol, and mostly a result of all the Redding freaks that are out for the night. As we are leaving, we push through the crowd and I see a finger point at me as someone shouts, "I know you!" I look up to see the woman in the party hat and I quickly escape.

Favorite Places in Redding

Cal's Books
Located in warehouse-like building behind a car lot. I always thought the sign said "Cat's Books." It's the kind of old fashioned bookstore Barnes and Nobel is trying to imitate. (minus the Starbucks) There are shelves stacked to the ceiling and jazz music is always playing. This is not the average, romance novel filled, used bookstore.

Bog Bean
Mostly sells used CDs, but also has used books, DVDs, software, and video games. Decorated with kitsch and a mismatch of rugs, it has sort of a hippie vibe. A fun place just to browse and has good deals on used games.

The Squire Room
A total dive bar. This bar is strangely charming with it's '70s motif and red lighting. A good place to escape from hip hop music while drinking. The bartender, Frank, is entertaining.

Sue's Java Cafe
The best coffee I've had in Redding. More on the expensive side. Drab mauve walls and shabby seating. Features local artists and musicians. Plenty of vegan treats and awesome employees.

Los Gordos Taqueria (not pictured)
Delicious Mexican food! I could eat there everyday! Cheap prices and great service. The tiny restaurant is located downtown. You can watch the Spanish station on their flat screen TV.