Like most people I suspect, Jamie W. and I came upon this little house quite by accident since we…read morewere making our way to the headlands from the town center off the main thoroughfare. I was immediately struck by the bright teal color contrasting with the faded red of the steps (see my photo). We knew it wasn't your standard clapboard, "Murder She Wrote" cottage, and yet we were wondering how the owner violated the all-white, Cape Cod-style conformity of the rest of the homes. As it turns out, it's a Taoist temple built by the first Chinese settlers in the early 1850's. In fact, it's the oldest Taoist temple in the state. The temple is dedicated to the Chinese god of war, and the outside of the building has a sign that says from (right to left) "mo dai miu", translates to mean "Temple to the Military God". It's open on weekends but only between May and October. For the rest of the year, you have to turn into a lookie-loo like me and unapologetically peep through the windows. They don't mind....I think.

If You drove into town, you probably wouldn't even have known a temple like this existed because it…read moreis not on a Main Street and it is tiny!! I actually found this temple through yelp. My grandmother likes to visit temples and we were going to be in the area so I decided to take her here. I like going as well, gives me a sense of calming. There isn't much to see here. And there is only one lady who works here, who is absolutely the sweetest lady. She told us the history behind the temple and how her great grandfather had built it long ago. Her father entrusted her with the temple so now it is her duty to protect and look over it. You probably can't tell but she's actually part Chinese! FYI there are no restrooms there but a nice art center two blocks up offered their restroom :)

For a few years, my Dad was an artist in residence here during the summer months. He revived their…read moreprintmaking studio, created new work, collaborated with artists that worked in other mediums, and taught classes. I visited him each summer. It's just a couple hours from San Francisco. Of all the places my Dad visited and taught at around the world, Mendocino was his favorite place. It's a magical place perched above the cliffs facing the Pacific Ocean, just beyond the Headlands. There's a courtyard that connects each studio, the gallery at one end. There's paintings, pottery, photography, lithographs, glass sculptures, etc. During these times, the art center is closed but you can view current artists' work on their website. Some pieces are available for purchase. You can even see a little bit of its magic through the screen.

No heat, no power, old squeaky beds and sheets. Really disappointed. They really need to upgrade…read more Never again.

This may be the most important museum in Fort Bragg. Truly an inspirational place! The window…read moredisplay caught my eye. The museum documents the life's work of the enigmatic Larry Spring who mixes science and fiction with his own broad strokes. There are events that happen here too. I've heard of puppet shows and concerts, fairs, and movie screenings. Could this be ground zero for the burgeoning art scene of Fort Bragg?

Ok so I admit that the "school" was closed when I happened upon it walking around Fort Bragg BUT…read morethe display and items described in the windows were just SO FASCINATING. I was a little disappointed that larry wasn't around (hey, it was NYE so I'm sure he was busy) but perusing the website elicited the fact that his various contraptions and the things I saw at his shop were in fact, for sale. And not very cheap either. I especially liked the fact that he had a declaration in one of his descriptions about how he doesn't have peer reviews of any of his new discoveries because that would be contradictory to a new discovery (how can anyone who has never seen it before [aka a "peer"] review something?). ok, the dude seems a little kooky but I like that he set up shop and that he had all the wherewithal to make all his declarations. It adds to the charm of Fort Bragg I'd say.

Great place to stop and learn and let the kids play. Perfect pit stop for shopping with kids. They…read moreget some energy out and have fun learning about the marine life. Free for kids and just an easy $5 for adults. It is small but very cool to see all the skeletons and all the information is great to learn. Definitely a place to make a stop.

Unfortunately, I wanted to share feedback from a recent visit to the NOYO Center for Marine Science…read moreduring our trip to FB. After seeing a post on Instagram, we were excited to visit and planned our afternoon around arriving at 2:30 p.m. on a Friday. Although the posted hours were 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., we found the Center closed with a sign indicating it would reopen at 3:10 p.m. We waited, ordering a smoothie at a nearby shop and returned shortly after reopening. Upon entering, I noticed the "No food or drinks" sign. Wanting to respect that policy, I asked the staff member at the front desk if there was a trash can where I could dispose of my smoothie cup. Rather than directing me to a nearby receptacle, she instructed me to use a public trash can outside and then began lecturing me about single-use plastics after noticing my disposable cup. The interaction was abrupt, unsolicited, and delivered in a tone that felt dismissive rather than welcoming. After locating a public trash can several storefronts away, I returned hoping to put the interaction behind us. While we were browsing the front area, the same staff member went outside to address a family near the entrance. From inside the Center, her tone and gestures appeared more like a reprimand than a courteous request, creating an atmosphere that felt unwelcoming. When I approached the desk to purchase admission, I mentioned that I work for a large land conservation organization that restores habitats, builds trails, protects open space, and supports sustainable agriculture. I told her, "We're on the same team." I shared that not because I expected different treatment, but because it underscored an important point: every visitor deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect, regardless of their background or profession. Staff members are often the public face of an organization's mission, and the way they interact with visitors directly influences how that mission is perceived. This experience did not diminish our support for marine conservation or the important work your organization does. However, it did leave us with a negative impression of the Center and, unfortunately, reflected poorly on the organization as a whole. I hope this feedback is received in the constructive spirit in which it is intended, as I believe a welcoming visitor experience is essential to building lasting public support for your mission.

NOT CLOSED. I'm a musician and I've played at the Festival for several years…read more Great shows, nice venue and close to many restaurants and bars. Tip: the orchestra rehearsed during mornings and you can just wander in and listen for free.

Huge shout out to Sparkely for the tip on this!…read more You really can just walk into the tent during rehearsals and it's exactly as described in the previous review. The next day, we brought over some food and sat outside on the picnic benches (there was a concert going on this time). We soaked in the sun, had a great view of the water and listened to the music. Both afternoons were wonderful!

I've been following this farm on Facebook and expected to see more when I finally visited yesterday…read morebut it's small. We bought radishes and chard. There wasn't a lot of variety. Apparently you can buy geese and other animals.

Absolutely the best, sweetest farmstand on the Mendocino Coast. I saw the other review and as an…read moreavid fan and customer I can say seasons change and sometimes there will be packed produce and sometimes it's just what's in season. They always have the best quality and all organic. Also, customers are lined up at the gate at the opening so if you make your way in the evening you will miss out. That's how small, organic community driven farmstands work. I've never had better greens or eggs in my life and if that's all they have when I stop I will take it! Enjoy your stop at an historic homestead property where quality always trumps quantity.

Beautiful collection, but.... We recently bought a print, ordered a custom frame, and had it…read moreshipped. It just arrived and the frame is not the one we chose. Similar tone, but with a rough and dominating texture we would never have selected in a million years. Clashes with the refined print, compromising the entire piece. Perhaps the one we chose was unavailable and they substituted something else. Perhaps this seemed to them like a good solution rather than losing the sale entirely, as we live out of town and couldn't easily come in to make another selection, but we're crushed. We would much rather have received the print alone, with a refund for the frame that couldn't be provided.

This is a light, airy gallery which features local artists of exceptional talent. We appreciated…read morethe staff knowing as much as they did about the artists featured in their gallery. Being closed on Wednesday caught us off guard but that is on us since their hours are posted on the door. Recommend stopping by on your visit to Mendocino.

Imagine an inimitable shift in the universe that causes a door to the 4th Dimension to open that…read moreallows you to peek inside for ninety minutes; what you see would probably resemble a performance by The Fort Bragg Footlighters. I have seen a lot of theater, concerts, ballet, opera, and live performances in my lifetime and nothing, and I mean NOTHING prepared me for what I witnessed on stage. It was as if John Waters' Dreamlanders made a clandestine move from their hometown of Baltimore and set up production in Fort Bragg, California. The performance I attended was titled, "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" or "Oh, Whoa is me!" The story is about a dastardly opportunist who strategizes the fleecing of a widow out of her home unless she can produce the deed that was hidden by her late husband. Chaotically spinning around the story are a handful of vaudeville-type vignettes involving a ghost, an escaped mental patient (played authentically by Jamie Medley) pursued by two inept hospital medics, a Keystone Cop who's in love with a snarky chambermaid, an "Egg Lady" (Yes, you read that right), a damsel in distress, and orchestrating all this madness is the show's host, Joseph Servko, who also plays the villain and is the apparent glue that holds this labor of love together. There are also three sing-along numbers where the audience is required to sing all three songs...twice! "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" was performed on the stage of the Footlighers Little Theatre and from what a couple of the actors told me before the performance, the story of how the building was nearly fleeced from them by a local television studio uncannily mirrors what is played out on stage (you can read about it here: https://www.mendocinobeacon.com/2009/08/13/footlighters-suing-community-tv/). The theater is old and in need of repair; shingles are detaching from the façade, the top layer of one of the plywood exit doors has completely peeled away, the outside desperately needs a coat of paint, but when you enter the building, you are transported back to a time when vaudeville was king. David Lynch and Harmony Korine only wish they had the innate genius to create something so pure and genuine. The Fort Bragg Footlighters perform every Wednesday and Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day and if you are visiting from out of town, it would be a crime to miss their truly one-of-a-kind musical extravaganza. I completely LOVED what I witnessed and if I lived in Fort Bragg, I would attend each performance by The Footlighters every time they stepped on a stage.

i caught a show earlier this year.it was funny.well put together.the audience loved the encouraged…read moreinteraction with the performers(singing along ,clapping, ect.) my boyfriend and i sat behind the very talented pianist.costumes were awesome.all together a great time and perfect date night idea. great job putting it all together joseph!your the man!!!