As Sonoma designer Cesar Chavez will tell you, interesting lighting fixtures can add instant style to a space. In addition to enhancing the look of a room, the right fixtures can also serve as works of art, says Santa Rosa designer and Íreko proprietor Jim Rascoe. With such hardworking, space-changing design pieces, it’s important to choose well. Thank goodness Sonoma stores have our style backs with many fantastic lighting options to choose from. Click through the gallery for a few finds that will give instant style to your home.
As vacation days and weekends on the water give way to busy school and work schedules, you might ask yourself, “Where did the summer go?” To make sure you squeeze all the sweetness out of summer before the first day of fall, we suggest perfecting your alfresco dining setup at home. Whether it’s a sunny summer lunch or an evening dinner as the sun sets, dining outdoors — for as long as possible — has a way of extending those summer vibes. We’ve lined up a few finds (enormous and small) for inspiration. Click through the above gallery for details.
Gary Saperstein, the founder of Out in the Vineyard tour and events company, has dedicated three decades to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ community in Wine Country.
The Sonoma resident launched his company in 2008 to help make Wine Country a destination for the gay traveler. At the time, he had been noticing a steady increase of LGBTQ people visiting and moving to the area, yet there was a lack of marketing directed toward the LGBTQ community.
“Here we are 45 minutes north of the Castro in San Francisco, and yet nobody is marketing to the gay community,” he recalled thinking. “I wanted to open up the wine community to ours.”
Out in the Vineyard’s first event, Twilight T-Dance, was hosted by Beringer Winery in St. Helena. T-dances, or tea dances, date back to 1950s New York, when it was illegal to dance with someone of the same sex and bar owners risked losing liquor licenses if caught selling alcohol to LGBTQ clientele.
Alluding to the traditional tea dances in the English countryside, the tea dance was reconfigured in New York’s gay community as a format where gay people could dance together under the guise of enjoying afternoon tea. Later, tea dances turned into nightclub events and, thanks to Out in the Vineyard, Sonoma County eventually got its own t-dance, complete with disco music and local wine.
Visitors socialize around the pool during Out in the Vineyard’s Twilight T-Dance at Raymond Vineyards, benefitting Face to Face Sonoma County AIDS Network, during Gay Wine Weekend in St. Helena on June 14, 2014. (Alvin Jornada / For The Press Democrat)
A sign displayed during pool party as part of Gay Wine Weekend at MacArthur Place on Sunday, June 21, 2015 in Sonoma. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Out in the Vineyard’s inaugural Twilight T-Dance benefitted local nonprofit Face to Face, an organization that supports people in Sonoma County living with HIV and AIDS.
“I always knew when I started (Out in the Vineyard) that I wanted it to have a philanthropic arm,” said Saperstein. “I had lived here for almost 15 years and had never heard of Face to Face before Out in the Vineyard.”
Now also serving as Director of Development at Face to Face, Saperstein pointed out that, to date, Out in the Vineyard has raised over $400,000 for the organization through event ticket sales and auctions.
“The work now is focused on ending the HIV epidemic which is far from over … cases of HIV doubled in 2020 in our county and it hasn’t gotten much better this year,” said Saperstein.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Out in the Vineyard routinely organized winery tours, as well as customized day trips and extended stays tailored to visitors’ interests and preferences. The company also produced popular signature events like the annual Gay Wine Weekend, which attracts visitors from across the U.S. and has been named “best summer event” by Gay Travel Awards.
During the height of last summer’s pandemic surge, Out in the Vineyard pivoted from hosting in-person events to online events in the form of virtual wine tours, talks and hangouts. As Black Lives Matter protests swept the nation, Saperstein invited Black vintners to discuss virtually their experiences in the grape growing and wine industry.
As the county began reopening this summer, Saperstein planned smaller in-person events in lieu of the previously larger gatherings organized by his company. In July, Out in the Vineyard hosted a smaller Twilight T-Dance event at Chateau St. Jean Winery in Kenwood. Attendees, required to show proof of vaccination, enjoyed performances by San Francisco drag queen Ruby Red Munro along with Adriana Roy and Madison McQueen. A portion of the proceeds were donated to Face to Face.
“Seeing the joy and love of bringing people together again and being able to see and hug each other again — being with the community, has been really heartwarming,” said Saperstein. “Even though they’re smaller events, it really is what Out in the Vineyard is all about.”
Events planned by Out in the Vineyard this summer include:
Mix & Mingle at Macrostie Winery in Healdsburg — Aug. 22, 4 p.m.-7p.m.
Eco Terreno Wines in San Francisco at a private residence — Sept. 11, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Khom Loi restaurant in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Inspired by the “resilience and creativity of chefs” during the pandemic, Michelin inspectors have named Sebastopol’s Khom Loi as one of 10 notable new San Francisco and Wine Country restaurants in its online guide.
The acknowledgment, chef-owner Matthew Williams said, is appreciated and immediately increased reservations for the Thai restaurant, which were lagging as the fourth wave of COVID, and indoor mask mandates took hold.
“It’s a nice thing for our entire staff at not the easiest time. It’s humbling and great because we’ve put a lot of work in to keep up with health and safety mandates and live up to the mission we planned,” said Williams, who also co-owns Ramen Gaijin, a ramen shop, with Chef Moishe Hahn-Schuman.
The honor, announced Wednesday, comes in advance of the 2021 San Francisco and Wine Country Michelin Guide’s awarding of coveted stars and bib gourmands in late September.
Ramen Gaijin has been a bib gourmand selection since 2016, given to restaurants that are “good quality, good value restaurants,” while the star awards go to higher-end restaurants. Williams said he hopes the recent recognition might be a precursor to a bib gourmand for Khom Loi.
Resilience, however, has lost much of its meaning for Williams, who opened Khom Loi during the pandemic. The restaurant then closed, then opened again, then closed and finally reopened as mandates about indoor and outdoor dining fluctuated throughout the past year and a half. After facing potential power shut-offs this summer, a tough labor market and wildfire season, Williams said he’s grateful for the surprising news from the Michelin team.
Michelin’s anonymous chief inspector of North America called the restaurant’s menu “spiced and seasoned with little hesitation and fresh and electric at the same time.” The inspector also noted Williams and Hahn-Schuman’s passion for the flavors of Thailand.
“Extensive travel throughout Thailand has informed and inspired this team to bring a taste of Chiang Mai to Sebastopol. The house-made Thai sausage is superb; and the paste for all the curries are made in-house, with our favorite being the green curry with Manila clams and potatoes,” the anonymous chief inspector wrote.
The praise from Michelin comes on the heels of a strongly critical essay in the San Francisco Chronicle accusing the chefs of cultural appropriation.
The two chefs, who are white, drew stinging criticism from the paper’s restaurant critic, Soleil Ho, for opening a Thai restaurant after “occasional travel” to Thailand and claiming their food was cooked “as you would find in Thailand.” She also blasted the restaurant for menu inaccuracies and profiting from a “fatuous claim of authenticity.”
Williams takes the commentary in stride.
“The criticism is fair, and I get where it is coming from. We just answer it by saying our travels and experiences around the world influence our style of cooking. Ultimately, we’re running Sonoma County restaurants that showcase local ranchers and farmers and create a place to gather.”
“We look at (Thai and Japanese cuisine) as something we are passionate about. Moishe has been cooking Thai food for 20 years after living, traveling and paying deep attention to the cooks of Thailand. We look at it as a form of advocacy, but it’s certainly a real critique,” Williams said.
Other restaurants included in the “new additions” include Horn BBQ of Oakland, Aurum in Los Altos, Ettan in Palo Alton, North Block in Yountville, Reve Bistro in Lafayette, Top Hatters in San Leandro, and San Francisco restaurants 3rd Cousin, Marlena, and Routier.
Hit the road for produce, meats, and pantry goods fresh from local farms at the height of growing season. Even if your own garden’s production is off the charts this summer, these four spots offer gourmet ingredients worth the trip. Click through the above gallery for details.
Beautiful couple having romantic breakfast with lots of tasty food and wine, sitting together on the picnic blanket at the vineyard on a sunny morning
Travel-friendly jugs and growlers are hallmarks of summer in Wine Country. No longer the place where low-quality plonk gets, well, plonked, jug wines are perfect for picnics and beach trips and days spent on the go. And at a few area wineries, local drinkers can head back to the source for refills—a happy errand if ever there were one.
“Growlers are perfect any time of year, but thrive in spring and summer,” says Kailey Priest of Kivelstadt Cellars in Sonoma. “No need to worry about bringing a wine opener with you—you just pop the top and enjoy.”
The winery’s refillable jug wine program was created by founder Jordan Kivelstadt to reduce waste produced from wine bottles. The refillable growler program now saves the winery over 6,000 pounds of waste every year. And there’s a bonus for for consumers’ wallets as well, says Priest. “The price to fill the growler is the same as the price of a bottle of wine, however, our growlers are 1-liter, versus a 750 ml bottle, so it’s a bit more bang for your buck.”
“Jug wines are a nod to enjoying wine in a more casual, relaxed setting … [it’s] unpretentious, approachable, and fun,” says Johanna Holm of Larson Family Winery in Sonoma. Larson’s jug wines are available in 1-liter glass bottles and—new this summer—500 ml bottles. While Larson doesn’t yet offer refills, the staffers do say they notice customers upcycling the distinctively chunky, poptop bottles into carafes and flower vases.
In downtown Sonoma, Cochon Wines’ tasting bar offers multiple wines on tap, along with 1-liter growlers that have proven popular with guests looking for wines to picnic with on the nearby Sonoma Plaza. Owner and winemaker Adam Webb likes to choose crisp, refreshing whites and rosés for his jug wine program, and occasionally a “highly fruited, juicy red” like the Cochon Cherry Bomb.
The jug wine program at Preston Farm & Winery in Dry Creek Valley is important to founder Lou Preston. “He wants to make wines similar to those his neighbors and mentors made in the early 1970s,” explains the winery’s Ken Blair. Four decades later, Preston still sells his “Guadagni Red,” an old-school blend of traditional Dry Creek grapes, including Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignan, in large 3-liter jugs. The style, as well as the vessel, is a nod to tradition and local agrarian history. Blair says most customers are Sonomans looking for an easy-drinking red wine as a regular dinner-table staple.
“It’s not necessarily about what’s in the jug, but about tapping into a spirit that lives on,” he says.
4 jug wines to try
Kivelstadt Cellars – KC Labs Zinfandel:Bright cranberry and raspberry flavors in a low-alcohol summer wine. Pair with: Sushi compliments the wine’s crisp freshness. Price: $27 for 1 liter. How to buy: Purchase in the tasting room or order online for pickup. 22900 Broadway, Sonoma, (707) 938-7001, kivelstadtcellars.com.
Cochon Wines – Cochon Cherry Bomb:An old-vine Grenache that undergoes a partial carbonic fermentation for simple, extra fruity summer sipping. Best served lightly chilled. Pair with: Grilled hot dogs right off the barbecue. Price: $32 for 1 liter; $4 deposit on the first bottle; deposit waived when growler is returned. How to buy: Available at the tasting room only. 531 1st St E, Sonoma, (707) 934-8157, cochonwines.com.
Larson Family Winery – Wingo White:A blend of Gewürztraminer and Pinot Grigio with notes of floral and citrus. Pair with: Grilled chicken with herbes de Provence. Price: around $20 for 500 ml. How to buy: Purchase in the tasting room or online for pickup, refills not offered. 23355 Millerick Rd, Sonoma, (707) 938-3031, larsonfamilywinery.com
Preston Farm & Winery – Guadagni Red:A traditional red table wine based on California’s heritage grape, old-vine Zinfandel. Pair with: Summery food-truck fare like barbecue, tacos, or falafel. Price: $52 for 3 liters Where: Purchase online; pick up at the winery. 9282 West Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg. (707) 433-3372, prestonfarmandwinery.com.
Wings, fries and sauces at Wing Man in Cotati. Heather Irwin/PD
Joe Trez isn’t hurting for customers at his Cotati chicken wing restaurant. Even so, he’ll be shutting the doors on Aug. 15, after crushing supply chain shortages, ongoing labor scarcity and a general frustration over inevitable power outages and county permitting challenges.
But mostly, he’s closing because he just can’t get any chicken wings.
According to Trez, wings are the most popular part of the chicken these days and demand has far outpaced supply. Local Rocky chickens are simply too small for his meaty wings, he said. Winter storms last February in Texas that killed millions of chickens, COVID-19 shutdowns at processing plants and reduced production by powerhouses like Tyson have more than doubled wholesale prices, forcing restaurateurs like Trez to charge a ridiculous $3 per wing in order to make even a small profit.
Joe Trez of Wing Man in Cotati. (Heather Irwin / Sonoma Magazine)
So he’s closing his brick-and-mortar restaurant at 101 E. Cotati Ave. and retiring his food truck rather than continue to wait for better days.
“I waited it out and waited it out, but things are just getting worse. It’s offensive to charge $18 for a six pack of wings. That’s crazy,” Trez said. Bone-in chicken wings comprise up to 70% of his sales, and unlike other restaurants, he can’t simply take them off the menu and replace them with something else.
Wings aren’t the only problem for the popular Wing Man. He can’t find to-go containers and he worries he could lose a huge amount of inventory during power outages. He said Sonoma County regulations often make it difficult to be a food operator.
“I just wanted to do something different and make everything from scratch by myself. It was just hard,” he said. For now, he’s planning to take some time to ponder his next move and possibly do some catering.
He’s excited, however, for the next building tenant, Jamilah Nixon’s Jam’s Joy Bungalow. Much of the Wing Man staff will stay on to work for Nixon, Trez said.
Nixon announced the second official location for her Southeast Asian fusion cuisine (in addition to her truck) on Tuesday. She’ll be using the Cotati restaurant as a central kitchen to supply her food truck, catering business and Sebastopol location (150 Weeks Way). She previously announced a Santa Rosa location in the works at the corner of Fourth and B streets.
“This is a great spot, and I’m sad to leave, and I hope it’s easier for (Nixon),” Trez said.
“I told the staff that 90% of restaurants fail in first year,” he added. “We made it through two, so at least we beat that. It’s been a wild ride.”
Sonoma Canopy Tours offers three different tours, The Forest Flight Tour, The Tree Tops Tour, and The Night Flight Tour, for guests to choose from when they visit.
You only celebrate your birthday once per year so why not make it a day to remember? Sonoma County is home to world-class wineries and restaurants perfect for birthday celebrations but the area also offers an array of adventurous, unique and outright crazy ways to commemorate your big day. How about jumping out of a plane from 12,000 feet? Or going on a safari on Sonoma’s Serengeti? If this sounds like a great idea to you, click through the gallery for seven fun ways to celebrate your birthday in Sonoma County.
Sonoma County is home to some of the best hiking trails in Northern California and many of those trails end conveniently close to winery tasting rooms. If you’d like to pair a hike with some wine tasting, we’ve listed a few favorite destinations, including guided winery hikes.
Hostess Michaela Codding, left, scanning a QR code to verify COVID vaccinations from guests Michael Estems, 26, right and Katie-Lauren Dunbar, 26, both from Santa Rosa at Fern Bar which is joining a growing list of restaurants now requiring patrons to either show a vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test within the past 48 hours if they wish to enter their indoor space in Sebastopol, Calif. on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.
(Photo: Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)
Fernbar at Sebastopol’s Barlow center will be among the first to enact new rules, according to General Manager Sam Levy. All indoor service, both dining room and bar, requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours.
“There’s just no escape for them, and I have a responsibility for the team and the overall safety of them and their families. I take that very seriously,” he said.
For now, six North Bay restaurants have announced that they are requiring proof of vaccination for indoor dining. If your business is now asking for vaccination cards, please send us an email so that we can add it to this list.
For information about scheduling a coronavirus vaccination, click here or contact your health care provider or local pharmacy. The COVID-19 vaccine is free to all. No insurance is required. Find information about how to get a digital vaccination card here (available for free).
Local businesses that require proof of vaccination
Sonoma County
Fern Bar, Sebastopol: All indoor service, both dining room and bar, requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours. The restaurant will change its reservation system, and check vaccination cards and QR codes (available for free at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov).
Timberline, Guerneville: Will require proof of vaccination before entry ahead of this week’s Lazy Bear Week, an annual event that brings many visitors to the river town. The restaurant will be asking for proof of vaccination to obtain a reservation or entrance to the restaurant. “The health of our employees and that of our patrons are of our highest concern,” said the restaurant in a Facebook post.
R3 Hotel, Guerneville: Will require proof of vaccination for all patrons and employees before entering the property. Guests will be checked in at the front gate or front office and given a wristband before entering. The decision was made out of an abundance of caution and the desire to keep patrons and employees safe, according to a post on the hotel’s Facebook page.
Napa County
La Toque, Napa: Currently requiring proof of vaccination for the safety of the restaurant’s team and guests, according to website.
Marin County
Rancho Nicasio, Nicasio: Will only be admitting fully vaccinated patrons, according to website. This includes the entire restaurant — indoors and outdoors — as well as music events. Patrons should be prepared to show proof of vaccination.
Terrapin Crossroads, San Rafael: Requires that guest show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter the venue, according to website. Effective for events in both the Beach Park and Grate Room. Guest should be prepared to show vaccination card along with ID. Final vaccine dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to the event in order to be admitted.
Find more San Francisco Bay Area venues that require proof of vaccination here.
If your business is now asking for vaccination cards, please send us an email so that we can add it to this list.
