What's New

Do a Google search for What's New and you come up with a somewhat surprising list of links, to new blogs, new tasks that keep the Gmail team busy, new things on Snopes, updates on the H1N1 flu, and all manner of other things.

The topmost link is to Google's list of definitions of new on the Web:

•not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered; "a new law"; "new cars"; "a new ...
•fresh: original and of a kind not seen before; "the computer produced a completely novel proof of a well-known theorem"
•raw: lacking training or experience; "the new men were eager to fight"; "raw recruits"
•having no previous example or precedent or parallel; "a time of unexampled prosperity"
•new(a): other than the former one(s); different; "they now have a new leaders"; "my new car is four years old but has only 15,000 miles on it"; "ready to take a new direction"
•unaffected by use or exposure; "it looks like new"
•newfangled: (of a new kind or fashion) gratuitously new; "newfangled ideas"; "she buys all these new-fangled machines and never uses them"
•in use after medieval times; "New Eqyptian was the language of the 18th to 21st dynasties"
•Modern: used of a living language; being the current stage in its development; "Modern English"; "New Hebrew is Israeli Hebrew"
•(of crops) harvested at an early stage of development; before complete maturity; "new potatoes"; "young corn"
•newly: very recently; "they are newly married"; "newly raised objections"; "a newly arranged hairdo"; "grass new washed by the rain"; "a freshly cleaned floor"; "we are fresh out of tomatoes"
etc. etc.

New is often considered something special and attention getting. This is why many companies love to tout "New" in their ads when able, because it seems to be a hot button for consumers. Many major trade shows have a section for new products. And magazines, too, often have a "What's New" section because readers want to know. In fact, it sometimes seems like the only thing better than what's new is "What's Next" which magazines like Wired and Popular Science use to great effect.

Last fall in-flight mag I was reading had an article on the Top Ten New Restaurants of 2009. I'd like to add one more to the list: Jeffrey's Hillside Cafe. One of Santa Rosa's most popular chefs the past two decades, Madura opened his own new dining spot this past summer adjacent to The Hillside Inn on 4th Street straight east from downtown. The menu is to die for, as they say.

Jeffrey's Hillside Cafe is a breakfast and lunch event, and when we were there just before Christmas it was packed. On Christmas eve day there were perhaps 18 people out front at one point. I've always believed an empty restaurant is a bad sign and one where people are willing to wait is a good one.

The cafe has an intimate feel and all the windows face south to capture that sunshine which makes any experience a better one, especially dining with friends. I insist that you follow this link and check out the breakfast and lunch menus. Then allow your mouth to water a bit as you think about how to afford a trip to California so you can eat a meal in Paradise.

The image at top right in of the trees outside Jeffrey's, and below is a view through to the kitchen, Chef Jeffrey in the window, with the sign above that let's you know you're always welcome here.