Sonoma County Town Named Best Small Town to Visit in the USA

By Sonoma Magazine Staff

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. 

New Shopping Destination Comes to Sonoma

By Sarah Stierch

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.

Find Your Summer of Love Style in Sonoma

By Karen Kizer

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.

From classic caftans to onyx stone lamps, commemorate the summer of '67 with these local outfits and treasures.

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

From classic caftans to onyx stone lamps, commemorate the summer of '67 with these local outfits and treasures.

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

From classic caftans to onyx stone lamps, commemorate the summer of '67 with these local outfits and treasures.

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

From classic caftans to onyx stone lamps, commemorate the summer of '67 with these local outfits and treasures.

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

Drink, And Get a Free Ride Home, At This Funky Petaluma Bar

By Tina Caputo
Owner Ernie Altenreuther, left, talks with regulars at the bar. (Photo by Conner Jay)
Traffic along Highway 116 passes by Ernie's Tin Bar in Petaluma on Thursday, July 18, 2013. (Conner Jay/
Traffic along Highway 116 passes by Ernie’s Tin Bar in Petaluma. (Conner Jay)

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.

Mechanic Kenneth Altenreuther, right, works in the garage that adjoins Ernie's Tin Bar in Petaluma.
Mechanic Kenneth Altenreuther, right, works in the garage that adjoins Ernie’s Tin Bar in Petaluma.

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.

Bartender and owner Ernie Altenreuther, center, talks with regulars at Ernie's Tin Bar in Petaluma on Wednesday, July 31, 2013. (Conner Jay/The
Bartender and owner Ernie Altenreuther, center, talks with regulars at Ernie’s Tin Bar in Petaluma. (Conner Jay)
A deer head hangs from the wall at Ernie's Tin Bar in Petaluma on Wednesday, July 31, 2013. (Conner Jay
A deer head hangs from the wall at Ernie’s Tin Bar in Petaluma. (Conner Jay)

“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.

An overflow crowd sits in garage in the back of Ernie's Tin Bar in Petaluma.(Conner Jay)
An overflow crowd sits in the garage in the back of Ernie’s Tin Bar in Petaluma.(Conner Jay)

Sonoma’s Annex Wine Bar, Loved by Locals, to Close

By Sarah Stierch

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

Ayesha Curry to Appear at Sonoma Stompers Game

By Sarah Stierch
Ayesha Curry arrives at the Autism Speaks to LA Celebrity Chef Gala at Barker Hangar on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)

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

A Super Secret $2K Dinner in Sonoma You’re Not Invited To

By biteclub

By Shannon Brown

Who would toss around $1000 for a dinner for two, $500 for a beverage pairing, $172 for tax and $435 for a tip (running a hefty $2,107)? Turns out plenty of folks wanting to dine at a remote Sonoma County location with three-starred Michelin chef Joshua Skenes.

But exactly where the dinner is, who is invited, and what’s on the menu is a closely guarded secret.

It was recently reported that Skenes, widely known for his San Francisco restaurant Saison, was taking reservations for his new project, Skenes Ranch (reservations are now closed, sorry, but you can request an invite). The only official description of the experience was through the booking website Tock, stating that guests “retreat to wine country for an evening of wild foods under the stars and around an open fire.”

Pictures of the ranch show a rustic, outdoorsy scene with horse drawn carriages, monarch butterflies and a cobblestoned patio outlined by fields of vineyards. Inside the dining room, a long wooden table with chairs draped in animal fur face a large, stone fireplace that align with the evening’s theme of opulence.

This all started last fall, when Skenes posted on Instagram under the username ‘skenesranch.’ Since then, the page has featured pictures of his hunting escapades and food preparation. All but one of the pictures has a caption.

So what exactly are diners getting for such a large price tag? Well no menu has been released but speculation has been swirling about Skenes serving the animals he hunts.

Before reservations were made open to the public, food influencers were invited to the Sonoma County ranch in September to experience it for themselves. Meals served to them included bison heart, bison ribs and raw lobster, while desserts were wild strawberries and a smoked pecan sundae with smoked caramel. No substitutions will be made for dietary restrictions.

Required beverage pairings, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will run you $500 and reserved wines for $1500 each person. Non-alcoholic drinks include infusions, elixirs, teas and juices.

There are overnight accommodations upon request and transportation can be arranged after you solidify your spot.

After making the reservations, guests are provided coordinates to meet a chauffeur who will take them to the location. The ranch is set in Sonoma County and is about 15 minutes from Downtown Sonoma.

Luxury dining isn’t new to Skenes as Saison costs around $400 per person and requires a payment for reservations.

In all this intrigue, one thing seems to remain certain; diners are paying for luxury. With high praise for his seasonal, fresh ingredients, chef Skenes is creating an atmosphere worthy of notice.

Where to Celebrate the 4th of July 2017 Around Sonoma County

By Dan Taylor
Roy Cole, center, rides an antique tractor during Penngrove’s 39th annual “Biggest Little Parade” on Sunday, July 5th 2015, in Penngrove, California.

Year after year, regardless of the state of the union, Americans can agree on one thing. The Fourth of July is worth celebrating.

Every community stages its own tribute to independence, patriotism, nostalgia and old-fashioned fun. And of course, there will be fireworks.

This year, July 4 falls on Tuesday, and typically, some celebrants aren’t willing to wait that long.

You’ll find Independence Day parties scattered all over Sonoma County throughout the weekend as well.

SATURDAY, JULY 1

Independence Day Celebration Guerneville: Barbecue, live music on Main Street in downtown Guerneville. 4-8:30 p.m. Fireworks start at about 9:30 p.m. Free. 707-869-9000, russianriver.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 2

Penngrove Parade: “Biggest Little Parade in Northern California,” 11 a.m. Sunday, Main Street, Penngrove. Free. Barbecue, live music noon-4 p.m., Penngrove Park. 707-794-1516, penngrovesocialfiremen.org.

Fireworks Over Bodega Bay: Fireworks display, 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Westside Park, Bodega Bay. Handicap parking only, views from surrounding vicinity. Free, donations taken. visitbodegabayca.com.

Monte Rio Celebration: Big Rocky Games at noon, Boat Parade and Water Curtain at dusk, fireworks follow, Sunday, Monte Rio Beach. Free. 707-865-6100, monterio.org.

MONDAY, JULY 3

Sebastopol Fireworks: Gates open 5:30 p.m. Monday, Analy High School football field, Sebastopol. Soul Fuse, Frobeck at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9:40 p.m. $5-$10. 707-823-1511, sebastopolkiwanis.org.

Windsor Kaboom Independence Day: The party starts at 3 p.m. Monday at Windsor’s Keiser Park, with live music by Color Me Badd and McKenna Faith at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks. $3-$5; kids 3 and under free.

TUESDAY, JULY 4

4th of July Fireworks Spectacular: Concert by Grammy winner Kathy Mattea and the Santa Rosa Symphony at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks. Weill Hall and Lawn at the Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park. Tickets start at $25. gmc.sonoma.edu, 866-955-6040.

Petaluma 4th of July Fireworks: Opens at 6 p.m. Tuesday with live music, food and beer vendors; fireworks start after dark. Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, Petaluma. Free. 707-778-4399, visitpetaluma.com.

Kenwood Fourth: Pancake breakfast 7 a.m., footraces 7:30 a.m., parade 10:30 a.m., family fun and barbecue 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Kenwood Plaza Park. Free, fees for food. kenwoodparade.com.

Cloverdale Fireworks: Lions Club fireworks show around 9 p.m. Tuesday, Cloverdale High School football field. Free, donations accepted. cloverdalechamber.com.

Healdsburg Fireworks: American Legion 40-minute fireworks display approximately 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Healdsburg High School football field. Free, donations accepted. 707-953-7242, healdsburgfireworks.org.

Sonoma Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday on Sonoma Plaza, with parade at 10 a.m. Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters’ Association fireworks display at dusk Tuesday, Gen. Vallejo Home field, Sonoma. Show approximately 45 minutes. Free, donations accepted. 707-996-2102, sonomavolunteerfirefighters.org.

Red, White & BOOM!: Live music including Wonder Bread 5, kids’ activities, 3:30-10 p.m. Tuesday, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. Fireworks approximately 9:30 p.m. $5-$10. srboom.com.

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. Read his Arts blog at arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. Press Democrat Towns section writer Dianne Reber Hart also contributed to this story.