4 Favorite Sonoma County Fairs and 5 Worth the Extra Miles

By Sofia Englund & Gabe Meline
The Wave Swinger springs in to action during the opening day of the Sonoma County Fair, Friday July 24, 2015 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

Summertime in Sonoma County means wine sipping on the patio, air that smells like a never-ending barbecue, plazas and parks filled with live music, and fairs popping up like perennial flowers. In other words, it’s time to get outside. For this select list of the region’s summer fairs, we’ve chosen a mix of events to please every palate. We’ve also inched into early fall, because one of the great joys of living here is soaking up summer’s extended stay. Click through the above gallery for fun photos from Sonoma County fairs, more details in the below article. 

June 20-24, Sonoma-Marin Fair, Petaluma: This 5-day event does eclectic like no one else: livestock shows and chef demos, carnival rides and funnel cake championships, wine tastings and pig scrambles — and, of course, the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. This year, to make things even more interesting, ‘90s favorites En Vogue will headline the fair’s concert series. The theme of the fair should be “Free Your Mind and the Rest Will Follow,” but it’s not, instead it is “Beyond the Milky Way.” Oh, well. Admission $12-$18, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, 707-283-3247, sonoma-marinfair.org

June 30-July 4, Marin County Fair, San Rafael: The best thing about fairs? Nostalgia music and cover bands. Before you can say “cotton candy,” you’ve been transported to the lazy days of your adolescent summers. With performances by Leann Rimes, Los Lobos, Eddie Money and a Beach Boys (cover band), there’s time travel to all decades and for all ages. There are additional trips available in the form of carnival rides, firework displays, and more flower/arts/crafts/baked goods exhibits than you can shake a stick at. Admission: $12-$20, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, 415-473-6800, marinfair.org/2018

July 4, Napa County Fair & Fireworks, Calistoga: For the ultimate all-American experience, pair your fair with 4th of July fireworks and a classic hometown parade. In Calistoga, the star-spangled event takes on sepia shades with vintage contests, antique tractors, and old-school games. Kids can be farmers for a day and everyone can get crafty at the “Make & Take Center”— all to the sound of some sweet Americana music. The parade begins at 11 a.m., followed by fair fun, carnival rides from noon, and after sunset fireworks, choreographed to music. Downtown Calistoga, 707-942-5111, celebratenapavalley.org.

August 2-12, Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa: The big kahuna of North Bay fairs adds horse racing, free concerts, a hall of flowers and even a butterfly room to the usual mix of rides, crafts and food that sticks to your ribs for days. Last year’s fair introduced the NorCal Brew Fest, which returns this year on August 4. Don’t forget to check when the Clover booth hands out free ice cream and, for teens who love rides, make use of those discount wristband days. This year’s theme is “Salute to Heroes.” Gates open at 11 a.m. daily; $7-$13. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707-545-4200, sonomacountyfair.com.

August 8-12, Napa Town & Country Fair, Napa: There’s more to Napa Valley entertainment than BottleRock and winery tours. This year’s Town & Country Fair at the Napa Valley Expo, billed as the “Peace, Love and Livestock” festival, promises some down-home fun for the whole family, including a junior livestock auction, competitive exhibits, carnival rides and live music on the Plaza Stage. While this year’s entertainment is yet to be confirmed, we’re suspecting the return of last year’s popular outdoor dance floor and karaoke competition — a mind-altering experience to go with the fair theme. 575 Third Street, Napa, 707-253-4900, napavalleyexpo.com/town-and-country-fair

August 11-12, Gravenstein Apple Fair, Sebastopol: It may take place in a growing city, but Sebastopol’s celebration of all things apple remains “the sweetest little fair in Sonoma County.” The music lineup is a who’s who of local talent, and the culinary offerings are always excellent. Get a piece of the apple pie and sip some cider, wine and microbrews; then head over to the DIY Arena for some cheesemaking and sheep shearing. 500 Ragle Rd, Sebastopol, 707-837-8896, gravensteinapplefair.com

August 30 – September 1, Lake County Fair, Lakeport: Lake County hosted its first fair in 1880, in the town of Grantsville (what is now Lower Lake). The popular summertime event is now held on the shores of Clear Lake at the Martin Street fairgrounds in Lakeport, and takes place over Labor Day weekend. Some 35,000 people attend the fair each year and just about anything you can breed, make or grow at home is eligible for entry into the contest: lightweight rabbits, window box herbs, frosted cakes, fishing lures, fine lady’s sweaters — they all have a division at the Best of Show. For less competitive kinds, there are carnival rides, live music and fair food. 401 Martin St, Lakeport, 707-263-6181, lakecountyfair.com

Sept 14 -16, Mendocino County Fair & Apple Show, Boonville: For those inclined to forget that Wine Country stretches beyond Napa and Sonoma, the Mendocino County Fair serves up Alexander Valley wines as a reminder. Held in the metropolis of Boonville (population 1000), the fair also celebrates “the harvest, farm critters, good food, beer and just plain having a good time.” And good times can be had at the fair’s highlight event — The Sheepdog Trials — and at the Grand Tasting of apples and award winning ciders. 14400 Highway 128, Boonville, 707-895-3011, mendocountyfair.com

October 5-7, Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Santa Rosa: Celebrate the harvest with Sonoma County wines, beer, cider and the legendary World Championship Grape Stomp. This year marks the 44th anniversary of the fair and over 100 wineries will pour wine to thirsty fairgoers at the Grand Tasting Pavilion. The Grand Harvest Tasting ticket lets you sample all of the award-winning wine and food from this year’s Professional Wine and Food Competitions. Each day will offer a slightly new food pairing. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707-545-4203, harvestfair.org

Rosé All Day: How to Add a Splash of Pink to Your Sonoma Life

By Shana Bull

June is almost here, which means it’s time to pop open that bottle of rosé. But did you know that, in addition to sipping your favorite warm weather wine on the patio, there are many more ways to embrace the pink season? From cocktails to cupcakes to frosés to manicures to sundresses – add a splash (or fifty shades) of pink to your life this summer. Click through the above gallery for details. 

5 Sonoma Wine Bars to Check Out Right Now

By Sarah Stierch
Jayme Powers, proprietor of SIGH, on West Napa St. (Photo by Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune)

Wineries and tasting rooms may rule the tourism beat in Sonoma Wine Country, but a growing number of wine bars are arriving on the scene. From glittery sparkling wine lounges to casual seaside patios where the ocean air complements the pinot noir, there’s no time like the present to belly up to the bar. Click through the gallery above to check out five wine bars to visit in Sonoma County right now.

Family General Store Coming to the Barlow

By Karen Kizer

Grace Estrada, a Chicago Art Institute graduate, opened Kitty Hawk Gallery on Sebastopol’s Main Street in 2014 because she was “craving” the aesthetics from home, a style of arts and products she describes as “a little out there.”

In April, Estrada closed Kitty Hawk Gallery and joined forces with her illustrator/artist husband Oliver Estrada to create their expanded retail vision: a general store selling clothing and wares of interest to the whole family.

In mid-June the Estradas will open Scout West County at The Barlow in Sebastopol. The store will feature an expansion of the art and women’s clothing sold at Kitty Hawk, with the addition of men’s and children’s clothing.

Oliver’s original screen printing work in his Sebastopol studio led him toward finding ethically source products: from method of manufacturing to treatment of employees. He looks forward to bringing lines of products made in this manner, including his own printed tees and well-tailored, American-milled Billiam jeans. 

Grace previously exhibited her own and Oliver’s work at Kitty Hawk, as well as that of fellow art institute grads and, of course, local artists. Grace and Oliver say their “out there” style of artwork was accepted by the community, although Oliver says there was “some pushback.”

Grace who paints “in a narrative style” said people had this image of her being “from Marin,” and Oliver said that if you don’t paint “a farm, a landscape or a farm animal” some people don’t see you as being a Sonoma County artist.

The Estradas are currently focused on launching the store, but hope to one day feature their own line of furniture in classic and mid-century styles with their inspiration being Grace’s parents who’ve made a career of designing furniture.

In keeping with the family theme, Grace’s mother is a behind-the-scenes influence on the store. “I trust her eye,” says Grace. And the namesake of Scout West County is the couple’s beloved dog Scout, a three-year-old Samoyed who will fill the role of store dog and lead greeter.

Scout West County is open Sunday – Monday (closed on Tuesday) at The Barlow, 6780 Depot St. Suite 140, Sebastopol,  707-827-6045, scoutwestcounty.com. Follow Scout West County’s story at: instagram.com/scoutwestcounty

 

Everything You Need for Grillin’ It Sonoma Style

By Karen Kizer

Of course we can grill all year long in Sonoma County, but there’s something about summer that makes a barbecued meal extra enjoyable. Getting out on the patio and cooking over flames is a cherished summer ritual, which changes up the dinner-making routine and encourages new flavors and recipes. Here are some Sonoma-based finds to enhance your grilling game – click through the above gallery for details.

10 Best Restaurants in Wine Country, According to OpenTable

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

Looking for the best restaurants in Wine Country? Online reservation service OpenTable has just released its 2018 list of the top 10 restaurants in Sonoma and Napa. This year, a Sonoma County winery took the number one spot (for their wine and food pairing experience), followed by four other five star-rated Sonoma County wineries and restaurants, and five Napa County restaurants (it’s a tie between Sonoma and Napa in this latest face-off). Click through the above gallery to see the top 10 local restaurants, based on more than 400,000 OpenTable reviews. 

Longtime Healdsburg Restaurant Closes, Blaming Years of Construction Nightmares

By biteclub
Left to right, Kristina and Al Wilson serve up scallops at Cafe Lucia on a culinary tour with Tammy Gass, operator of Savor Healdsburg Food Tours on Thursday, August 4, 2016. (JOHN BURGESS/The Press Democrat)

Cafe Lucia is the latest in a spate of restaurant closures in Sonoma County. The 7-year-old cafe owned by Chef Manuel Azevedo and Lucia Azevedo Fincher announced it was throwing in the towel in an email that described a series of construction issues in Healdsburg as a significant reason for depressed business over the last two years.

“In 2016, everything changed for Café Lucia, seemingly overnight. The one-two punch of ongoing work on a traffic roundabout a half-block from our restaurant, and construction of a hotel and underground parking lot next door to us, limited diners’ access to and awareness of Café Lucia. We will never understand why the City of Healdsburg approved these projects for the same time period (as well as other construction work on the 200 block of Healdsburg Avenue), yet we pressed on despite major delays on the roundabout and hotel,” said the owners.

The restaurant also suffered a major business downturn, like many, after the 2017 wildfires. “We pushed through another winter, despite the increasingly difficult economic climate statewide, including increased minimum wages and taxes, and lack of affordable housing for staff at our small, family-owned business,” they said, adding, “…as we face a third season operating in a construction zone, we find ourselves without the financial or emotional reserves to continue.”

The sentiment echoes what many restaurateurs in the county say are ongoing issues with a lack of affordable housing, construction issues and a slow-to-improve economy after the fires.

The Portuguese-inspired restaurant was one of three restaurants owned by the family, including LaSalette and Tasca Tasca tapas bar in the town of Sonoma.

Other recent closures in Sonoma County include Sebastopol’s Vignette, Recherche du Plaisir sweet shop and Rosso Pizzeria and Mozzarella Bar in Petaluma. 

Stone Brewing Opens in Downtown Napa

By Sarah Stierch

Bad spirits beware – the gargoyles are here. The first Northern California outpost of Stone Brewing has opened in downtown Napa.

Founded in 1996, the Escondido-based brewery has made a name for itself with IPAs that satiate the palates of the pickiest of hopheads. The company has seen expansive growth in recent years (perhaps their gargoyle-decorated bottles and cans are indeed warding off bad spirits): Stone beers are among the top selling on the craft market and, with the opening of the new Napa brewery, Stone Brewing now operates in ten locations, including Berlin, Germany.

While wildly popular, Stone Brewing beers are not for the faint of heart: hoppy brews like “Ruination” (an 8.5% AVB Double IPA) and “Stone Ripper” (a 5.7% ABV San Diego Pale Ale in a can) pack a punch – even the brewery’s pilsner is hoppy.

The Napa brewery and taproom, a whooping 9,500 square-feet space, is housed in the historic Borreo building on the waterfront in downtown Napa. The stone structure required a healthy investment from Stone Brewing in order to retrofit and renovate, while preserving the historic integrity.

“Restoring this historic building has been a complex process which we have been careful to steward with the utmost respect,” said Greg Koch, Stone Brewing Executive Chairman and Co-Founder. “So it is with much pride, and no shortage of relief, that we finally open the doors knowing that we took the time to do it right.”

Seven years in the making, Stone Brewing Napa finally opened its doors on May 6, to hundreds of fans – many had spent hours on the road from throughout Northern California for a chance to sip beers and dine on the Napa River.

The brewery has 24 beers on tap, including regular and seasonal offerings, and growlers can be filled a the tasting bar. Beers are brewed on site, with glass windows offering guests a view of the inner workings of the brewery. The two-story building has a bar with ample seating, and a dining room upstairs. Downstairs, guests will find a tasting bar, fireplace lounge and outdoor seating overlooking the river and downtown Napa.

Chef Chris Kurth, who relocated from San Diego to oversee the Napa brewery kitchen, serves up lunch and dinner daily. The menu features locally sourced produce and includes Choripán Argentinian Sausage Sandwich, a Poke Fire Bowl, and the Stone Brewing Impossible Burger – all with suggested beer pairings.

“Seven years after I first stepped foot in the Borreo building,” shared Koch, “this place is just what I dreamed of – a top-notch destination devoted to celebrating craft beer.”

Stone Brewing is open seven days a week and is located at 3rd and Soscol Ave., Napa. 707-252-2337, stonebrewing.com.

Is Paleo Chocolate the Next Big Thing? Sonoma Investor Thinks It Is

By biteclub

The founder of Krave Jerky and SmashMallow thinks paleo chocolate has a bright future. 

Jonathan Sebastiani’s Sonoma Brands has invested in Hu Products’ artisan dairy-free chocolate bars, made with 70 percent stone ground, organic, fair trade cacao. In addition to (mostly) following Paleo diet standards, they are also vegan.

It’s what they don’t have, rather than what they do that makes the difference. The chocolates contain no GMOs, emulsifiers, soy lecithin, gluten, refined sugar, cane sugar or sugar alcohols. To sweeten the chocolate, Hu uses unrefined coconut sugar. Flavors include Almond Butter and Puffed Quinoa, Cashew Butter, Hazelnut Butter, Salty Dark Chocolate and Crunchy Mint.

While most of the chocolate bars conform to paleo diets, a few added ingredients are labeled “primal” rather than paleo.

Locally Sjaaks Chocolate in Petaluma creates vegan chocolate or “melk” bars. In Novato, Sacred Chocolate also has vegan chocolate products.

Carrie Underwood Arrives in Wine Country, Calls It Her ‘Happy Place’

By Allie Porter

Country superstar Carrie Underwood and hockey player husband Mike Fisher have arrived in Napa Valley for a wine country getaway and performance by Underwood at the inaugural Napa festival “Live In The Vineyard Goes Country,” which takes place May 15-17.

The singer-songwriter shared on Instagram earlier today that Napa Valley is her “happy place”. The star also said that she is enjoying “amazing wine” and “beautiful scenery.”

Underwood and family had a “yummy” dinner prepared by Napa Valley celebrity chef Michael Chiarello, with a little help from sous chef Isaiah Fisher – Carrie and Mike’s son. It was a packed first day in Napa, according to Underwood.

Click through the above gallery to see what Carrie Underwood got up to during the first day of her Wine Country stay.