Back to business

With all of the excitement around the Oroville Dam and some special news items that dominated this space in recent weeks, I’ve missed some regular business! So, this week I intend to get back on track. We’ve gotten past the post-holiday slump and things are really starting to happen around town. I may be most excited about Petra Cafe opening just a few short blocks from my office (at 162 E. Second St.). The shawarma is out-of-this-world and the hummus will keep you coming back for more. ’Nuf said.

Stitch and bitch I came across the name of this event, over at Acapillow (830 Broadway), and just had to click on the link (see Facebook). What I love most of all are some of the suggestions for sewing projects—the event invites people to bring their sewing, crochet, knitting, etc. They range from crochet beards to a pretty gangsta needlepoint wall hanging. Fun! The Stitch and Bitch happens Saturday (March 4), 1-3 p.m.

Closing up shop After seven years on the edge of downtown Chico, Three Sixty Ecotique—a regular winner of Best Place for Vintage Threads in CN&R’s Best of Chico readers’ poll—is calling it quits. The store, which offered a mix of hand-picked vintage clothes and locally made clothing and accessories, had its last day Saturday (Feb. 25).

O-Town update In the wake of the spillway crisis last week, after CN&R published its annual Business Issue highlighting historic downtown Oroville, several of those old buildings—including the Oroville Inn—fell victim to a rising water table. At one point, according to inn owner Bud Tracy, there were 3 feet of water in the basement. The sump pump failed, and Tracy said as of last week that two to three (of five new ones) were still running at any one time, removing the water that continued to pour in.

“We had about $8,000 in electrical repairs, cleanup, and new sump pumps, and a lot of people 24/7 from 3 a.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Friday to beat it, but we did it!” he wrote in an email. Let’s hope the area gets some relief going forward.

Looking for a pet? Those hoping to adopt a cat or dog in the near future may want to check out the Butte Humane Society on March 18. That’s because it’s Empty the Shelters day. As a way to encourage adoptions, the Bissell Pet Foundation (named after Michigan dog lover Cathy Bissell, also the face of her family’s cleaning company), will pay all adoption fees at select shelters that day.

Get on the bus Starting this week, the B-Line (Butte Regional Transit) has a new route, 52, that starts in Oroville, stops at the Chico Transit Center downtown, and then makes several express round trips throughout the day to the Chico Municipal Airport. At the end of the day, it heads back to the Oroville Transit Center. Sounds like good news for all the folks working out at the airport!