Awhile back I linked to an article in Bay Nature, a quarterly based in Berkeley, and exchanged a few e-mails with its editor, Dan Rademacher, who offered to send me a copy. I figured what the heck and dashed off the delivery details. Got it in the mail the other day and must confess I’m duly impressed.

It’s well written, beautifully illustrated, cleanly designed. An article on perhaps the least-adventurous outdoor pursuit — going on a picnic — is full of gems about the history of picnic areas in the Bay Area and the peculiarities of local picnickers. You have to buy the magazine to get to the best part: one local park had to ask a group of Afghan immigrants to refrain from slaughtering a goat at their cook-out. Another passage tells of brazen raccoons that steal food while it’s cooking on the grill. (The article’s by Chris Clarke, blogger and science/environmental writer).

Another article on sea kayaking made me want to go out and buy one: it depicts nature photographers drifting right up next to sea lions and otters (perhaps too close, truth be told). Hikers never get this close to wildlife.

All this and I haven’t even gotten to the cover story, and in-depth look at habitat restoration along the North Bay. Nice work, Dan.

Here’s the link for grabbing a subscription.