Hot days draw us outside to have fun and make memories that see us through the chill of winter. And having the right gear will maximize comfort and enjoyment. Seize the sunny days with these seasonal finds – click through the gallery above for all the details.
U.S. News & World Report, best known for its influential best colleges and hospitals rankings, has listed the best small towns (with a population fewer than 100,000) to visit in the USA – and the town of Sonoma came in on #1.
Sonoma made the number one spot on the U.S. News list based on votes from users, or “users score” (50 percent weight) and “editors score” (50 percent weight) taking into consideration elements such as restaurants, attractions and “unique character.”
U.S. News says Sonoma “boasts all the charms of a rustic yet refined locale without the crowds and high price tags of its larger neighbor, Napa” and advises “before heading to the wineries, spend the day exploring the shops and restaurants along the 8-acre Sonoma Plaza.”
(When you click on the “read more” tab, U.S. News seems to confuse the town of Sonoma with the county of Sonoma – a mistake often made by visitors, and often pointed out by locals).
See the full list of “best small towns in the USA” here.
Sonoma has a new shopping destination: Sonoma Roadside. Located just south of downtown Sonoma, the self-described “modernized mid-century rest stop” aims to attract shopaholics, foodies and oenophiles with two retail stores, a wine tasting lounge, and a culinary garden.
Sonoma Roadside is host to Fat Pilgrim, a contemporary general store focused on Sonoma-made accessories, gifts and foods, and Harvest Home, a furniture store with an emphasis on American-made furnishings.
Both stores will be familiar to locals: Harvest Home relocated to Sonoma Roadside after years on the Sonoma Plaza and Fat Pilgrim has re-opened at it’s original site after renovations.
Craig Miller, owner of Harvest Home and Fat Pilgrim, made extensive upgrades and changes to the property. “We’d always dreamed to enlarge the space and unify the Harvest Home and Fat Pilgrim concepts,” Miller shared.
The Fat Pilgrim building received a facelift and “still houses all the great local gift items and décor as it did before,” according to Miller. As for Harvest Home, the new location has provided an expanded space to showcase customizable furniture and Miller has expanded their offerings to include outdoor furniture and décor.
Miller also recruited long-time friend Sondra Bernstein of the girl & the fig to transform a portion of the property into a culinary garden, which provides organic vegetables and fruit for Bernstein’s restaurants, food truck and catering company. Visitors to Sonoma Roadside can explore the gardens and interact directly with gardeners. Chickens roam here too, adding to the modern farmstead feel of the property.
Later this year, the Rhône Room, operated by Bernstein, will open. A wine tasting room and lounge, it will focus solely on Rhône varietal wines.
Miller hopes that the new Sonoma Roadside will have something for everyone, and between the shops, the wine lounge, and the gardens, it sounds like it is on the way to doing just that.
Sonoma Roadside, 20820 Broadway, Sonoma 95476.
Summer’s coming, so let the sunshine in… Mark the golden anniversary of the Summer of Love in your own fashion this season. A cultural event that brought a pendulum swing in thought, art and music, Summer of ‘67 can be commemorated with these local outfits and treasures that reference the spirit of the San Francisco-based revolution.
CLASSIC CAFTAN
Does your tailored suit seem too restrictive? Or does your tight-jeans couture feel too oppressive? It might be time to set your inner flower child free in this flowing stonewashed cotton block print dress. Complete with tassles and delicate pink accents, this piece gives a toned-down nod to the freeing fashion of the 60s and 70s. Nomad Chic in Sonoma Cornerstone, has fashion finds from around the world. $95, Nomad Chic, 23588 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, 415-381-9087, nomadchic.mx
ARTISAN HOODIE
Wear your art on your sleeve with this artful zip-up jacket. A favorite in festival wear, this “sublimation”-printed design is a stunning piece of the Visionary Art movement. You can find it at Funk and Flash in Sebastopol, a true one-stop shop for festival garb, with clothing and accessories that are, quite literally, funky and flashy. From ruffly bellbottoms to a unicorn headband, your sartorial imagination can soar in this spot. $98, Funk and Flash, 228 S Main St, Sebastopol, 707-829-1142, funkandflash.com
MAKE MUSIC
Join the ukulele nation with this Hawaiian Koa-wood concert uke, hand made by luthiers at Kala Brand Music Co. in Petaluma. An excellent entry-level instrument for the budding music-maker, the ukulele’s popularity has soared in the last decade. In a few hours, with a few YouTube-torials, you could begin strumming your way to a more peaceful, if not groovier, place. $649, Stanroy Music Center, 850 4th Street, Santa Rosa, 707-545-4827, stanroy.com
THIS LITTLE (ONYX) LIGHT OF MINE
Keep light shining through this exquisite Karachi onyx stone lamp. Hand carved from semi-precious stone, this piece holds a socket for a 40-watt bulb, which illuminates a soft glow. Each lamp is made by Pakistani artists working for a Fair Trade group in Karachi, Pakistan that pioneers in fair-hiring practices. $185, One World Fair Trade, 104 Matheson St., Healdsburg, (707) 473-0880, oneworldfairtrade.net
Drinking and driving is never a good idea, and being the designated driver isn’t much fun, either. What’s a beer lover to do? If you happen to live within 15 miles of Ernie’s Tin Bar in eastern Petaluma, you can call the free shuttle.
That’s right: The bar will send a car (a Toyota RAV4) to pick you up Friday through Sunday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. When you’ve had your fill of Ernie’s selection of 20 draft beers — many of them local — fully insured driver David Perez will take you home.
If you’ve ever stopped by the funky roadside bar founded in 1923 on Lakeville Highway and Highway 116, you know why the shuttle makes so much sense. The Ernie’s parking lot holds only a few cars, so most patrons park alongside Highway 116. When it comes time to leave, they must play a dangerous game of chicken with lumbering big rigs and other vehicles on Lakeville Highway. It’s a tricky maneuver, even for the sober.
“We wanted to provide a service to our customers and reduce the risk for people on the road,” said Ernie’s bartender Christine Nardone, who said that before launching the shuttle service last summer, proprietor Ernie Altenreuther would sometimes drive tipsy people home in his van.
Perez, who may be Sonoma’s only in-house designated driver, added: “We do this because Ernie’s cares.”
Ernie’s Tin Bar, 5100 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, visit on Facebook. Call or text 707-478-0586 for pickup.
A beloved Sonoma institution will close at the end of July: the Annex Wine Bar.
The bar opened its doors in August 2012 next to its sister business, the Community Cafe. Chef-owner Margie Brooke created the wine bar and beer garden to serve as a casual gathering place for winemakers, musicians, locals and tourists alike.
Management announced the news on their Facebook page. The announcement was a shock to locals, who flock to the bar for Brooke’s comfort food meals, exclusive “locals only” wine list, ever-changing kegs of NorCal beers, and dog friendly patio with the biggest fire pit in town.
From classic rock to folk rock, belly dancing to acapella, the Annex’s live music series was a popular draw too, which featured an ever changing cast of local and regional musicians. Don’t forget the famous Peep, the chicken owned by Brooke, who made a frequent appearance at the bar.
The Annex will continue to serve up live music, food and drink until July 30, when they plan on “going out with a bang” with a grand party.
We have reached out to management for a comment.
The Community Café next door, also owned by Brooke, will continue business as usual. annexwinebar.com
Here are few items to check off on your summer fashion survival list. This week, let’s look at colorful Bermuda shorts and some solid shoe options to pair with them, all available in Sonoma County stores.
Seize the late evening light and head outside for dinner. Whether you’re grilling just a couple of veggie burgers or you’re making a multi-course meal, an outdoor setting can enhance the experience. Here are a few items from Sonoma retailers to help you set the scene.
Fans of baseball and fine food will flock to the Sonoma Stompers home game on July 18 to rub elbows with celebrity chef and bestselling author Ayesha Curry. The Stompers, Sonoma’s professional baseball team, will host Curry as part of ZÜPA NOMA Night.
Curry’s a spokesperson for ZÜPA NOMA, a Sonoma-based ready-to-sip organic, veggie and superfood-based soup. She’ll be throwing out the first pitch of the game and giving out freebies of the soup to fans.
The Stompers have made history, not only with their celebrity connections (from Curry to baseball legend Jose Canseco), but with their roster.
Last year the team introduced the first female baseball battery in professional baseball history, by signing Kelsie Whitmore and Anna Kimbrell to the team. The Stompers also signed the first openly gay professional baseball player, Sean Conroy.
Tickets for ZÜPA NOMA Night start at $8. stompersbaseball.com
