BEST OF!

THANKS, Chico, for honoring The ChicoLaura Team with #1 Best Real Estate Agent in the Chico News & Review 2009 "Best Of Chico" issue!  What a delightful surprise.

Congrats, too, to my friend and associate Becky Prater and to W. M. Campbell Real Estate, for placing 2nd in Best Real Estate Agent and Best Real Estate Office, respectively.  For an office that has only been in existence for 3 years (but with MANY decades of combined experience!), I think that's pretty awesome recognition by our Chico community!

Just want to congratulate some other local businesses I truly admire for earning their special places in "Best Of":  Bidwell Perk (coffee shop), Karen Escott (chiropractor), Pullins Cyclery (bike shop), Lyon Books (book store), Aqua Azul (day spa), Christian & Johnson (florist), Collier Hardware (hardware store), Little Red Hen (nursery), Nantucket (Home Furnishings), Arc Thrift Store (thrift store), 5th Street Steakhouse (local restaurant), Upper Crust (bakery), Priya (International cuisine), Grilla Bites (vegetarian), Shubert's (ice cream), Blue Room (performing arts), Sierra Nevada Big Room (live music), Christian Michael's (happy hour), and Ken Grossman (Leader in Sustainability--what an incredible attribute to Chico!).

Congrats to ALL!

Sierra Nevada Brewery Shines!

Browsing through the March issue of Vegetarian Times, I was pleased to see a "carrot" (kudos) given to our local Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. for being a leader in "green" industry. The brewery recently added solar panels to existing fuel cells that will provide about 75% of its power. Sierra Nevada is also a model of sustainability with its innovative programs in recycling and carbon dioxide recovery. Not only is founder/owner Ken Grossman dedicated to operating the award-winning brewery in as ecologically clean and efficient a manner as possible, he consistently supports our community in everything from small fundraisers for education to our local NPR radio station. And added bonus is the lovely outdoor patio dining and the gorgeous "Big Room," offering fabulous live music from such world-renowned performers as Elvin Bishop, Dave Brubeck and the Brubeck Brothers, and Tommy Emmanuel, to name just a few. Thanks for all you do and for helping put Chico on the map, Ken! (Check out the ChicoLaura web site: www.ChicoLaura.com )