Gwyneth Barker, 7, left, and Amber Vanoni, 8, taste honey from the Beelove Honey during the West End Farmers Market in Santa Rosa. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)

West End Farmers’ Market Moves to Railroad Square

The West End Farmers’ Market, now in its fourth year, has opened for the season in its new location at Depot Park in Railroad Square, next to the new SMART train station. The young, hip market, which is held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through November, moved from its original site by the […]

Trail of the Week: Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail

Written by Diane Peterson for The Press Democrat. The Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail is a popular destination for dog lovers such as Genevieve Jago of Sebastopol, who hooked up her energetic, 8-month-old English Cocker Spaniel in the Highway 12 parking lot and embarked on a restorative walk on a warm, spring day in early […]
Writer Dana Gioia served as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and was appointed California State Poet Laureate by Jerry Brown in 2015. (JOHN BURGESS / The Press Democrat)

California Poet Laureate Returns to Santa Rosa

Santa Rosan Dana Gioia is the new California Poet Laureate, appointed to the post by Gov. Jerry Brown in December 2015. During his two-year term, Gioia will spread the art of poetry and inspire a new generation of writers while visiting schools and libraries in many of the state’s rural counties. He picks up where […]

BohLux: A Tradition of Luxury in Santa Rosa

Gail Fivis recently shopped in New York City, but not for herself. Instead, she searched for the perfect Cognac-colored ostrich leather for a client’s handbag. It was all part of a day’s work for the co-owner of BohLux, a custom leather goods shop in downtown Santa Rosa. After years of study, Fivis, 64, and business […]

Shady Oak Barrel House Concocting Unique Sour Beers

Steve Doty of Shady Oak Barrel House is one of the most highly regarded newcomers to the local craft beer scene. But it wouldn’t be right to call Doty a brewer. Pulling from his experience in the wine industry, he’s more of a blender, with a little bit of mad scientist thrown in. Since December, […]

Bella Rosa Coffee Company: Building Santa Rosa’s Perfect Cuppa Joe

Four years ago, Jon Bixler and Cynthia Buck didn’t know a thing about coffee, but they did know David Greenfield. A bear of a guy with a shaggy gray goatee, piercing hazel eyes and a penchant for welding together brilliant contraptions for roasting coffee, Greenfield had a million-dollar idea without a home. With more than […]

Wildflowers Blooming in Sonoma County

Written by Mary Callahan for The Press Democrat. It’s early yet, but splashes of color that have recently appeared amid bright grasslands and shaded local woodlands tell of glorious weeks to come, as spring takes hold and this year’s crop of wildflowers bloom into life. Even in a region with the comparatively temperate climate we […]

Santa Rosa’s Secret Breakfast Spot

Written by Heather Irwin for BiteClubEats. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone, but we’ve found a secret Santa Rosa breakfast spot. Local cook Damon Gault slings hash from around 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sunday mornings at Sprenger’s Tap Room (446 B St., Santa Rosa). And by “around” we mean as long as people are eating and his food doesn’t […]

Review of Franchettis Wood Fire Kitchen in Santa Rosa

Written by Heather Irwin for BiteClubEats. Two forks + one bite of polenta cake = friendship on the line. Over a recent lunch nosh-fest my gal pal and I had nearly inhaled a plate of seared polenta with truffle porcini spread, mushrooms, arugula and tiny Peruvian sweet peppers ($14) at the new(ish) Franchettis Wood Fire […]