Best of Arts & Entertainment

Best Karaoke: Richards' Goat Tavern & Tea Room

Is this thing on? When Mr. Bennett of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice said, "For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?" the sentiment uncannily foretold the joys of karaoke. Add to that laughter the unconditional applause and woo-hoo-ing, the singing along to the most tenacious earworm. Oh, how I've missed scrolling the songbook to belt out power ballads with my neighbors.

To the miraculous bonding of friends and strangers add the wonder of Richards' Goat Tavern and Tea Room wresting the Best Karaoke title from the powerhouse casinos. How did this comparatively small venue woo the karaoke faithful — theater kids, secret singers and that one friend who pretends to be reluctant but is actually dying to bust out Missy Elliott, which they absolutely will about a half a cocktail in — onto its stage?

If you're fully vaxxed, you can find out on Sunday nights — though the venue is aiming to add a Saturday for two nights, thus shrinking crowd size and upping the number of Stevie Nicks tunes I get to. There's also a Plexiglas barrier, germicidal wipes for the mic and an industrial fan for air circulation. Be warned: That barrier will protect you from my aerosols but not my stirring rendition of "Landslide." Bring a hankie.

Jennifer Fumiko Cahill

Best Local Sports Program: Humboldt Crabs Baseball

Ah, the crack of the bat, a baseball soaring to the outfield and ... (is it? will it? can it?) oh yeah, it's over the fence and freeway bound, baby. Burgers and beer, Crabs hats and hoodies, kids running the bases on Sunday, you running into every single person you know in Humboldt. Yep, it's a Crabs game. From the rowdy hecklers on the first base line and the World Famous Crab Grass Band honking out "Immigrant Song" and "Sweet Caroline" to the errant foul balls flying out onto F Street and the poor souls who don't know (yet) to NEVER PARK THERE — not to mention posing for pics with Crusty, those Slice of Humboldt Pie 7th inning treats, and some of the best and coolest college athletes gracing us with their talent from June to August. There's no finer time to be had than a Crabs game at the Arcata Ball Park. It's no wonder you voted your Humboldt Crabs as Best Local Sports Program. Play ball!

Kali Cozyris

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

Art Exhibit

Morris Graves Museum of Art

636 F St., Eureka,

442-0278, humboldtarts.org

Art Gallery

Morris Graves Museum of Art

636 F St., Eureka,

442-0278, humboldtarts.org

Artwork Mural

Blake Reagan's "Diva's Grace"