Welcome to the spring edition of 209 Magazine. There are a lot of things to celebrate in spring — green rolling hills, blooming wildflowers and the perfect weather for outdoor activities. Another great thing about spring are all the berries that are ready for picking. In this issue, we feature local you-pick berry farms, as well as tips for growing your own berries.

In our Hey Bartender feature, Karisa McCuistion shares the secret of her must-try Berry Good Martini, the perfect drink the celebrate the fruit of the season.

Another locally grown produce that is ripe in spring is asparagus and at the Stockton Asparagus Festival you can sample and celebrate all things asparagus. For more details about the festival, look on page 16.

Spring is also a good time to get out and enjoy an art exhibit or play. Sierra Repertory Theatre is presenting sci-fi classic “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Historic Park through the end of April. Starting May 9, Sierra Rep’s East Sonora Theatre will present “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a Golden Age musical.

The Tuolumne County Museum will present a new exhibition that highlights California’s Mexican period, which lasted from 1822-1846, and holds them up alongside the fantasy depictions used by early stakeholders. “Telling Stories of Mexican California: Real Life & Myth Making” opens April 7 and runs through June 2.

Climbing Yosemite’s ‘Little Big Wall,’ aerial arts classes at The Fix and clover lawns are also featured inside this issue of 209 Magazine.

We at 209 Magazine appreciate your time in reading this issue. We welcome your comments, calendar events and stories. We hope you will support the businesses and charities that have chosen to partner with us. We appreciate them and look forward to being the most relevant magazine in your home, a place called 209.

Hank Vander Veen

Publisher/Owner 209 Magazine

hvanderveen@209magazine.com