Russian River Brewing Company's Vinnie Cilurzo, with wife Natalie, is a semifinalist for Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional in the James Beard Foundation Awards.

2016 James Beard Award Semifinalists Announced

Two Sonoma County men were among semifinalists announced Wednesday for the James Beard Foundation’s 2016 restaurant and chef awards. Russian River Brewing Co.’s Vinnie Cilurzo of Santa Rosa and Littorai Wines’ Ted Lemon of Sebastopol were among the 20 making the cut for Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional. About two dozen Bay Area restaurants […]
The 50's are back in style at the Santa Rosa Barber Shop. Owner Eric Gardea runs pomade through the hair of Cody Garzini. (JOHN BURGESS / The Press Democrat)

The Barber is Back in Sonoma County

Men are flooding back to barbershops, lured by the prospect of a clipper cut and beard trim in the company of other men. Changing hairstyles have provided some of the fuel. Salon-driven ‘70s feathered hair styles and ‘80s mullets have been replaced by the fades and pompadours that are the specialty of old-school barbers, delivered […]
Jaclyn K. Nesbitt Designs, Santa Rosa. 415-948-1626.

Sonoma Florists Create Drought-Friendly Arrangements

Written for the Sonoma Weddings Issue by Abigail Peterson Photographs by Emily Hagopian Styling by Abigail Peterson and Tamara Apple Shot on location at Annadel Estate Winery California’s weather challenges have proved to be a creative gift for our region’s top wedding florists. While the classic look of peonies and other water-demanding blooms never goes […]

Eye Candy: Sonoma Doctor Seeing Vision of Chocolate

Written by Heather Irwin for BiteClubEats. Eye Candy Chocolatiers: Chocolate is Dr. Sonja Schluter’s happy place.  The Sonoma ophthalmologist spends her days working with patients facing serious vision problems, primarily glaucoma. So her off-time passion for making beautiful chocolate truffles has become an outlet of beauty, precision and, of course, deliciousness. But after 20 years practice […]
Photography by Rebecca Chotkowski.

Petaluma Painter Roberta Ahrens: The Wall is Her Canvas

Whether Roberta Ahrens creates a panoramic mural or an 8-by-8-foot painted canvas, her work is never diminutive. Nature speaks to her in a loud voice, and she translates that inspiration into paintings that are lifelike yet unique. She paints cherubs on ceilings, and lilies, poppies and peonies on cracked linen, bringing vibrancy and boldness to […]
Pliny the Younger line - fans waiting in line for the famous beer release

Pliny the Younger – Live updates from the big beer release in Santa Rosa

Pliny the Younger, Russian River Brewing Co.’s super-hoppy triple India pale ale is coming to town. Its 12th-annual release is expected to bring thousands of self-proclaimed beer geeks — and their money — to downtown Santa Rosa beginning Friday February 2nd. Curious about the whole thing? Don’t want to stand in line? Follow the live […]

Zydeco Music Sensation in Sonoma

Close your eyes and you’d think you were in a bar on a Louisiana bayou. The dance hall is packed. The band plays zydeco, which melds French and Caribbean music styles, with accordions and washboards front and center. Dancers fill the floor, quickstepping and stomping. Beer flows, and the high-energy beat surges through everyone. But […]
Keelyn Walker, right, peeks from under a lion costume while Brook Szczekocki greets guests arriving for a Chinese New Year celebration at the Veteran's Memorial Building in Santa Rosa on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. The Redwood Empire Chinese Association hosted the event honoring the year of the Ram. (Jeremy Portje / For The Press Democrat)

Events to Celebrate Year of the Monkey in the North Bay

The Chinese will welcome the Lunar New Year starting Feb. 8, and the unpredictable Year of the Monkey promises to be a lot more fun than the last 12 months of the steady, surefooted Goat. Occupying the 9th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Monkey is curious, mischievous, clever and playful. Those born in the […]