Nevada
How to Spend 24 Food-Filled Hours in Nevada City Like a Local
Head just a few hours west of Lake Tahoe and you’ll find Nevada City, California’s best-preserved Gold Rush town. It also happens to be a hidden gem for food and drink enthusiasts. As if that isn’t reason enough to visit, it’s also home to numerous pristine biking and hiking trails, as well as California’s oldest still operating theatre where Jack London, Mark Twain, and other celebrities once appeared on stage. All these reasons might explain why the small town happens to be a popular destination for people moving out of San Francisco.
So, whether you decide to stop for a night, or pack all your worldly possessions into a trailer, here are the spots not to miss when eating and drinking your way through Nevada City. But, visitors, beware: One day may not be enough.
8 a.m. Grab a coffee and a bite before hitting the trails
233 Broad Street, Nevada City
Communal Cafe, a cool coffee house where artists, farmers, activists, and tourists all come together to break bread, is located on the corner of Broad and South Pine streets. You can listen to live music, grab a fresh pressed juice, a mushroom coffee, or a cappuccino. Plus, fuel up with various house-made pastries (such as lemon walnut bread), breakfast sandwiches, morning rice bowls, or sourdough French toast.
10 a.m. Take a morning ride
457 Sacramento Street, Nevada City
Tour of Nevada City Bike Shop has been helping visitors explore the trails around Nevada City since 1969. Whether you’re looking for a casual pedal through the crunching leaves to the postcard-perfect bridge of the Nisenan Tribute Trail or a serious sixteen-mile dash across the Red Dog Loop, there are multiple terrains for riders at any level.
12 p.m. Refuel with some killer sandwiches and meats
821 Zion Street, Nevada City
The Ham Stand takes sandwiches to another level. It’s a family-run butchery and salumeria that knows how to feed hungry customers. The most popular sandwich, hands down, is the Reuben — and it takes only one bite to understand why. It’s made with thick slices of hot pastrami, melted Gruyere cheese, locally made sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread. The Ham Standard, made with house-cured Italian cold cuts (currently capicola, mortadella, and salami cotto), also shouldn’t be missed. All of the meats, sauces, and accouterments are made in-house. Be sure to save some room for dessert.
1 p.m. Get a sugar fix at Panadería Matilija
110 York Street, Nevada City
Pastry chef Stephany Gocobachi, formerly of Bi-Rite and 20th Century Cafe in San Francisco, recently moved to Nevada City after stumbling upon a charming bakery that had been operating since the 1850s. Visitors to her Panaderia Matilija will find a wide array of Mexican desserts, including hibiscus, vanilla, and chocolate conchas. Be sure to try the seasonal cakes by the slice, as well as the Mexican wedding and masa cookies. During sunny days guests can grab a table on the patio, sip on a pour-over coffee, and eat their way through the pastry case.
2 p.m. Explore the streets of Nevada City
Nevada City Chocolates, 236 Broad Street, Nevada City; Winnie Superette, 315 Commercial Street, Nevada City; Treats, 210 Main Street, Nevada City
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The perfect way to burn off some calories, and justify consuming a few more, is a stroll. Start out at the Nevada City Chocolate Shop for some homemade chocolates. Next, swing by Winnie Superette to purchase some cool Asian condiments from brands such as Woon and Queens SF, plus locally made ceramics by Saskia Ceramics. After leaving, head down the road to Main Street, where you’ll find Treats ice cream shop, offering handmade ice cream with local and seasonal ingredients. They have all the classics as well as some unique and not-to-be-missed flavors like candy cap mushroom and saffron rose pistachio.
4 p.m. Start the evening with a drink
321 Spring Street, Nevada City
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After all that walking, kick back and relax with a glass of wine at Nevada City Winery. The tasting room offers a diverse selection of varietals that can be enjoyed as a flight, by the glass, and by the bottle. Sit and relax in the tasting room or explore the rotating art gallery, covered patio, or wine garden. The barrel room and production facility are both on-site, so if you get a second wind, you may be able to participate in some grape-crushing experiences.
7 p.m. Enjoy a stylish dinner in a historic hotel
211 Broad Street, Nevada City
Restaurant Lola is located in the National Exchange Hotel, which recently got a new lease on life after undergoing a three-year renovation. With a historic bar and fabulous libations, it’s the perfect spot to wind down the day. The dinner for two is great for a date night out. Or if you’re flying solo, the fried chicken with gravy, green beans, and Fresno peppers is a staple on the menu and never disappoints.
11 p.m. Dance the night away at Golden Era bar
309 Broad Street, Nevada City
For premium spirits and live music, check out the historic Golden Era cocktail bar, which has been serving spirits and beers in the heart of Gold Country since 1856. All of the cocktails made at this iconic watering hole are created using house-made syrups and bitters are reminiscent of the 20th century and Prohibition-style drinks.
Nevada
North Las Vegas man charged with killing girlfriend dies while in Nevada prison
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A North Las Vegas man awaiting trial for allegedly killing his girlfriend during a fight is dead, according to Nevada prison officials.
Markeem Benson, 30, died at High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs on Monday, Dec. 22, the Nevada Department of Corrections said in a statement.
An autopsy has been requested, according to the department.
Benson was serving time for an attempted robbery conviction from 2024, for which he was originally sentenced to probation with a suspended prison sentence.
He was also charged with the murder of 33-year-old Renise “Nene” Wolfe.
Renise Wolfe is pictured in this undated photo. Police allege Markeem Benson shot and killed Wolfe in a North Las Vegas apartment. (Photo provided)
North Las Vegas Police arrested him in December last year. According to an arrest report, Benson’s father called 911 saying Benson wanted to turn himself in for murder.
The father told detectives that Benson called him saying, “I killed her; I think I killed her” and “told him something to the effect of ‘she’ came at him with a gun, there was some kind of ‘tussle,’ and then the gun went off,” the report states.
An grand jury indicted him for murder and possession of a gun by a prohibited person. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the indictment, his probation was revoked in March, and he was incarcerated at High Desert State Prison to serve a term of two to five years.
A jury trial was scheduled to begin in April next year for Wolfe’s murder. Instead, prosecutors have asked for a hearing on Dec. 30 in light of Benson’s death, per court records.
Nevada
28-year-old inmate at Southern Nevada prison dies
A man serving time at the Southern Desert Correctional Center for felony reckless driving died last month, the Nevada Department of Corrections said Tuesday.
Shiloh Walker, 28, died at the Indian Springs facility on Nov. 24, a news release said. Cause of death was not listed.
Walker was serving a sentence of up to six years after a plea agreement was reached in 2022 following a DUI crash that happened May 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, according to online court records.
An autopsy was requested following Walker’s death, though results were not available as of Monday evening. Attempts to reach Walker’s family members have been unsuccessful, according to the department.
Contact Bryan Horwath at bhorwath@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BryanHorwath on X.
Nevada
Is USPS breaking vow not to use Sacramento for Northern Nevada mail?
After widespread condemnation last year, the U.S. Postal Service backed away from plans to move its Reno mail-processing operations to Sacramento — but did it stay true to what it told the public?
The question arose recently after letters sent from one Carson City address to another in Carson City were both postmarked in Sacramento.
Northern Nevadans did not want first class mail sent from one Northern Nevada address to another going first to California. They sent a unified message to the USPS all the way up to the postmaster general.
Critics of the USPS plan were especially worried about delays from mail having to go back and forth over the Sierra during winter.
The Washoe County District Attorney’s office filed a lawsuit over the plan, the Washoe County Commission voted to oppose the plan, public comment was universally opposed, and Democratic and Republican elected officials from across the state joined to stop it.
Could it possibly have happened anyway? The answer is yes, temporarily, for a brief time.
How letters sent in Carson City came to be processed at Sacramento USPS facility
A reader told the Reno Gazette Journal they’d twice had letters internal to Carson City postmarked in Sacramento, so we asked USPS if the policy had changed.
“Mail processing for First Class mail that originates in Northern Nevada and is destined to Northern Nevada has not changed,” USPS spokesperson Sherry Patterson responded by email.
“However,” she added, “without the specific mail piece and class of mail, we cannot determined if there is an issue.”
The reader then supplied a photo of the two envelopes postmarked Nov. 5 in Sacramento, and this was shared with USPS.
“Our processing machine in Reno was temporarily out of service while we awaited a replacement part,” Patterson said after viewing the postmarks to nail down the specific date the letters went through Sacramento.
“To ensure that mail was not delayed during this time, we implemented a contingency plan that involved routing certain mail to our Sacramento facility for cancellation and processing. This measure allows us to maintain service continuity and minimize disruptions for our customers. We understand that this may cause some confusion, and we are committed to ensuring that all mail is processed efficiently and accurately.”
Bottom line: Regarding first class mail that’s being sent to and from Northern Nevada addresses, it’s still USPS policy to process that in Reno at its Vassar Street facility, she said.
The path these particular letters took, Patterson added, “is indeed an unusual occurrence.”
Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.
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