The much anticipated CocoaPlanet factory, chocolate tasting room and café have finally opened after months of construction and all sorts of the usual inspector delays.
But the result is spectacular for a small gluten-free French café and chocolate factory. Check out the blue background lighting, glass table tops, white marble walls, tasteful stone and total wheelchair accessibility as testified by Jeanne Allen of Incredible Accessible on Facebook. And when the weather turns sunny again, the large flower-surrounded patio in back will be perfect for sipping, nibbling and even entertaining.
Sonoma resident Anne McKibben’s CocoaPlanet produces her healthy chocolate candy and French delights on Broadway in the building that housed Sonoma Print Shop for decades.
Anne McKibben with CocoaPlanet products.
McKibben grew up in Paris, London and Tucson, and became an international marketing executive for Hewlett-Packard, traveling to 40 countries.
She eventually developed fabulous chocolate candies that her now-late French mother could enjoy after she developed diabetes.
With a background in manufacturing and marketing, McKibben visited her Los Angeles chocolate manufacturer, took apart their machines so she could add her “pearls of flavor” such as mandarin orange, deep dark truffle, vanilla espresso, salted caramel and CocoaMint. In her new CocoaPlanet factory on Broadway she makes chocolates on state-of-the-art machines she has designed and patented.
The entire building is a gluten-free facility, even the Parisian-style café where guests can indulge in quiches, charcuterie, cheeses, salads, soups, sandwiches and occasional cassoulet and other stews in the tasting room or on the elegant patio.
McKibben’s CocoaPlanet chocolates are 64 percent cacao dark chocolate, under 100 calories with net carbs of 9 grams or less and only seven or eight grams of sugar. They are all non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and free-trade certified.
McKibben says you can put a wafer in a cup, add heated milk, and have great hot chocolate, which servers will do in the café.
For chocolate tastings, you can try individual tastes, a mini flight of morsels of each taste, or a “Power Nibble” with two chocolates, almonds and sharp white cheddar cheese.
Don’t miss the gluten-free desserts such as mandarin orange chocolate almond cake, Edible Dirt, apple walnut tarts, Deep Dark Chocolate brownies and Sweet Scoops vegan sorbets. All of the pastry recipes were converted from conventional flours to gluten-free by Kathy Gori.
Also on the menu are charcuterie and cheese platters, a hummus plate, gougères, Castelvetrano olives, warm tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwich, Paul’s Produce Little Gem salad with Cypress Grove goat cheese, a Sonoma Chef’s Salad, Quiche Sonoma with a salad, pizza Provençal, crêpes, and a quinoa bowl – all gluten-free. $6 to $18.
921 Broadway, Sonoma. 343-7453. cocoaplanet.com
Fans of vintage-inspired clothing should make a mad dash to Andrea DeTrindad’s Sebastopol boutique Mad Mod Shop in The Barlow. Filled with carefully curated items —clothing, accessories, even some home décor items — shoppers step back in time to an era when women’s clothing was designed to flatter figures of all sizes.
Cute cherry purse at Mad Mod Shop at the Barlow in Sebastopol.
Carrying well-known brands Laura Byrnes and Stop Staring, as well as pieces from local retro-chic designer Nikki Marie Apparel, the common theme is classically tailored silhouettes that range in size from XS-4X.
But what’s really exciting is that Andrea just launched her first in-house label under the store’s name. Her first design is a sweet little black dress with fun details including a collar, 12 buttons and my favorite feature; pockets!
Owner and designer Andrea DeTrindad wearing the first dress from her new line.
An entrepreneur at heart, Andrea has always been passionate about fashion. When her imagination became filled with images of garments she couldn’t source, she realized she needed to bring her ideas to life. Next on her list is a second dress that will be introduced later this summer in…wait for it…a flamingo fabric! Be still my retro-loving heart.
Fruit inspired clothing and accessories are really popular this summer.
What does the future hold for the Mad Mod Label? Shoe design! 15 years ago Andrea secured a provisional patent on a shoe design that she’s eager to launch in the store, along with separates and of course, more dresses (with pockets, I hope!).
Brightly colored petticoats add extra oomph to dresses and skirts.
Why Vintage-Inspired?
Figure Flattering – classic silhouettes flatter all shapes and sizes (XS-4X)
Stylish – skin may be in for romper-wearing millennials, but the rest of us want to be chic (and not necessarily trendy)
New to You – for those who love the look of vintage, but prefer to purchase new clothing in easy-to-care for fabrics
High-waisted swimwear is in. Ruching details on side are very forgiving and flattering.
Cue up some tunes from The Rat Pack to get in the mood, and swing by the shop for all of your summer needs, including high-waisted swim suits reminiscent of Hollywood bathing beauties of the 40s and 50s.
Mad Mod Shop, 6780 McKinley Street #140 Sebastopol CA 95472 | 707-329-6113
Check out the gallery below for inspiration.
Be the hit of the farmer’s market when you stroll the streets with this life-size watermelon straw purseMad Mod Shop Size Chart.Pineapple purse with retro latch.Hand painted locally, these butterflies are wearable art.
Summer sun, water, wind and chlorine may leave your hair feeling brittle and looking dry and unhealthy. As we get into fall, now is a good time to improve the condition of your tresses and perhaps consider a new hair color.
I asked a couple of hair experts in Sonoma County for tips on how to restore hair after a long hot summer and what hair colors are trending for fall:
Photo Credit: Cheveux Salon of Sonoma
Fall Hair Health: How to Repair Summer Hair
Kimberly Michalik, hairstylist and owner of Dolce Vita Salon in Santa Rosa, share her tips for getting hair back to health post-summer:
1. Snip off those split ends. Regardless of what hair product companies have you believe, the only way to get rid of already-split ends is to cut them off! Book an appointment with your professional hairstylist for a healthy trim.
2. Treat your hair to a salon conditioning treatment. Most stylists offer intense conditioning treatments that will help bring your lifeless locks back to health. Treatments can last up to 10 washes.
Kimberly’s in-salon deep conditioning favorites are “Fusion Dose” by Kerastase, which are customized concentrates formulated to repair your hair concerns, and the antioxidant-rich “Born.Again” treatment by Kevin Murphy, which contains vegetable and plant proteins with over 26 amino acids to strengthen the internal hair shaft while making the outside soft and supple.
Both treatments are available in a professional salon only and can be followed up with a take home mask to support and intensify your results.
What if you can’t make it to your hair stylist right now? Kimberly has some advice for repairing your summer hair without going to your stylist:
Start with a clarifying shampoo. This will help to get rid of any product build-up that might be weighing your hair down. Kimberly suggests using Kevin Murphy Maxi Wash.
After cleansing your hair with clarifying shampoo, slather on a generous amount of a moisturizing professional hair mask. Kimberly recommends Kerastase Masque Thérapiste, a repairing ‘bandage’ mask to repair very damaged, over-processed hair and provide intense hydration while taming the frizz and breakage.
Fall Hair Color Techniques
Once your hair begins to restore its strength and moisture, consider changing your hair color for fall. Sharna Haver, hairstylist and owner of Cheveux in Sonoma, shares the latest trends in hair color techniques for this season:
Color Melting is a hair coloring process that creates highlights that transition and blend seamlessly with the base color of your hair. Color Melt will not create defined lines of demarcation that traditional highlights can, but rather color that is distributed in a more natural looking way, even if the color itself is not natural looking and a bit wild.
Color Melt Hair Coloring. Photo Credit: Cheveux Salon of Sonoma
Take blonde, sun brightened summer hair into fall while still maintaining blonde locks by color melting with slightly darker shades. But leave the ends charged with summery brightness to create a naturally grown out look.
Blonde for fall. Photo Credit: Cheveux Salon of Sonoma
Balayage is another a hair color technique that has been popular the last few years. This season, the look is less dramatic and softer than in years prior. Like color melting, balayage creates natural-looking highlights that are painted on hair to add interest and dimension without creating the harsh lines of traditional highlights.
Fall Hair Color Trends
Kimberly Milachik sees the color trends for fall leaning toward warmer and richer tones than previous years. She says these are hair color terms to be on the look out for:
Bronde
For another blonde look for fall, Milachik suggests trying “Bronde”, a combination of brown and blonde. This hair color starts with a brown base and adds caramel highlights, mixed throughout the hair. It’s the ideal color for the blonde who is ready to give up the commitment of touch ups in the salon every six weeks. It’s still blonde, but more natural looking for the season.
Photo Credit: Dolce Vita Salon
Ronze
If warm, red tones are more your style, give “Ronze” a try. Ronze is a mixture of copper, cool red and brown tones. It can also be described as amber or jewel tones to your colorist.
Photo Credit: Dolce Vita Salon
How will you transition your summer tresses into fall?
To celebrate the upcoming holiday, Local Barrel taproom in Santa Rosa will serve up a Thanksgiving Eve party on Wednesday, November 23, at 8 p.m.
Local Barrel- “what’s happening now” board. (Photo by Tim Vallery)
The Thanksgiving Eve event will have a lot of fun on tap, including a live music performance by the super popular, insanely funny and energetic “let’s get this party started” Pat Jordan. This is your chance let loose before you need to shift into “host” or “guest” mode on Thanksgiving Day. Get ready to rock out in a friendly place; this party is “all about hugs not drugs,” says Pat Jordan. The Santa Rosa taproom will also have live music with TJ Hoops on Saturday, November 26 at 8 p.m., and The Gypsy Trio on Sunday (Funday), November 27 at 5 p.m.
The Local Barrel tap list on November 21, 2016. (Photo by Tim Vallery)
The Local Barrel has quickly become a popular downtown hangout and afterwork hotspot since it opened in mid June of this year. Owners Drew and Caitlin Ferrente are no strangers to the Sonoma County beer scene; both previously worked at Russian River Brewery – Drew was one of the first employees hired to work at the pub when they first opened over ten years ago.
Cards Against Humanity at Local Barrel, Santa Rosa. (Photo by Tim Vallery)
The Santa Rosa taproom has a daily “Local Hour” from 3-4 p.m. ($1.50 off pints and wine) and a daily “Happy Hour” from 4-6 p.m. ($1.00 off pints and wine). They have live music every Sunday from 5-8 p.m (no cover charge), three big screen TVs and plenty of games -choose from ping pong, darts, cards against humanity, and many more.
The games at Local Barrel, Santa Rosa. (Photo by Tim Vallery)
The Local Barrel, 490 Mendocino Ave #104, Santa Rosa, California, 95401, Phone: (707) 890-5433, Facebook.com/TheLocalBarrel
The great room is warmed by the house’s original fireplace.
A couple comfortably separates work from life in a smaller living space in Sonoma.
Being able to stroll a few blocks to Sonoma’s bustling plaza for dinner, while living alongside a creek on a half-acre that feels rural and remote, is what makes Josh Heiser and Steve Burns love their country-with-urban-benefits lifestyle.
A small pool with plenty of space for two.
Their property is perfect because it has two buildings: a tiny cottage not far from the sidewalk where they work, and at the far end a building they remodeled into 1,100 square feet of home sweet home. Their work commute involves walking a limestone path past the pool and lovely outside living area to the partners desk in the cottage, which houses their wine marketing and strategic planning firm, O’Donnell Lane.
Steve Burns and Josh Heiser’s cottage office is just steps from the courtyard entrance to the main house.
Prior to moving there eight years ago, they lived and worked in a much larger home in Glen Ellen that was wrong for two reasons — living under the same roof as their office made them feel like they never left work, and Glen Ellen was a little farther out of town than they wanted to be. They appreciate walking to the bank and the farmers market, and leaving their Mercedes Benz convertible parked in the driveway.
“Now the office is so close, but yet so far, and we can walk to Cafe La Haye and Whole Foods,” Burns said. “And we like living small.”
Heiser, with his degree in construction management and experience remodeling and flipping houses (which they did seven times while living in Seattle), designed and reframed their one-bedroom, one-bath home himself, with an emphasis on maximizing every available inch, including high built-ins reachable only by a ladder that hangs artfully on the kitchen wall.
The great room is warmed by the house’s original fireplace.
The great room has a white-beamed ceiling that soars to 14 feet and the original brick fireplace. A custom-made Ralph Lauren rattan sofa divides the living and dining areas, and cowhide throw rugs partially cover the rich walnut flooring.
A table for two is perfect for intimate dining.
The round dining table, which seats eight crowdedly, is from Sonoma Country Antiques in Sonoma and is surrounded by gray chairs from Cost Plus. Heiser, who sidelines as an interior decorator, found the hutch at Artefacts Design at Cornerstone, also in Sonoma. The antique hanging dish rack is from Chateau Sonoma and holds a collection of plates that were a gift from a dear friend for the couple’s 20th anniversary earlier this year, which they celebrated by spending a month in Spain.
The high ceiling lends an airy feel to the compact gallery kitchen.An antique dish rack is filled with cherished plates.
The galley kitchen has Thermador appliances and soapstone counters with a white porcelain cottage sink. There’s a small table with two chairs for everyday dining and a painting of sheep that the couple acquired on a recent trip to Cuba.
“When you travel and return to Sonoma, you realize that this is a very special place. There is a reason why people come here to vacation,” Burns said.
The master bedroom with sliding French doors that open to the view.
From the kitchen, it’s just a few steps up to the bed, bath and laundry area, where French glass sliders fill one bedroom wall, allowing a view of native bay and willow trees and the murmur of Nathanson Creek. “It’s like being out of town in town,” Heiser said.
There’s a comfy lounger in the cottage office.
They entertain often, and the cottage office with its king-size bed and compact kitchen can double as a guesthouse. The brick courtyard has four large armchairs with a cocktail table on one side and a dining table and chairs on the other. A vibrant-yellow square umbrella moves on wheels to shade either area, and matches the welcoming Dutch door of the home and the two Adirondack chairs beside the pool.
“We wanted to create a tranquil transition between the office and where we live,” Heiser said; the trickle of a fountain built into a tall rock wall speaks of their success. Chickens roam the raised vegetable planting beds, figs and lemons hang from trees, and Heiser and Burns planted olive and palm trees, too.
To get from the office back home, they walk through an antique iron gate from Belgium, closing their work life behind.
Photography by Rebecca Chotkowski.
Steve Burns, left, and Josh Heiser with their pet chicken, Beautiful.
Three-hundred-year-old doors discovered in France welcome guests into Paul and Margie Denning’s home, which could be set in Provence in 1812, or perhaps Tuscany, circa 1771.
The European-style chateau in Kenwood is so expertly achieved that only the posh, pristine powder rooms, ne plus ultra appliances and oh-so-chic interior décor whisper 2016 reality.
The home is the triumph of Jon Reiter, who built it to speak of history and feel as if it’s been standing for a century or two. He and his wife, Susan, who live in Kenwood, scoured Europe for hidden treasures, finding gems such as the kitchen’s antique white marble sink, the wrought-iron, olden-day garden gates and the fireplace that once warmed a family in Italy.
Margie and Paul Denning.
Reiter, who owns Reiter Fine Home Building, worked with Sonoma architect Vic Conforti to make this luxuriously imagined abode into a meticulously precise masterpiece. When Reiter hung the for-sale sign in 2009, the Dennings happened upon it and knew they belonged there.
“We were smitten with the place,” Paul said. Margie took it up a notch: “We fell in love with it.”
Loggia.
The Details
The 3,600-square-foot stucco home, named Maison de Renard, sits on 6 acres rich with native oaks and bay trees. Italian cypress and olive trees were planted for the European touch, and the ivy covering the façade reaches up to the salvaged French handmade roof tiles.
The foyer with a tall armoire from Foster-Gwin Art & Antiques in San Francisco.
The chateau is the perfect backdrop for the antiques the Dennings have acquired through the years from Foster-Gwin Art & Antiques in San Francisco, including a tall armoire placed in the 25-foot-high foyer.
For the rest of the furnishings, the Dennings relied on Lindsay Brier, a Dartmouth-educated designer who founded Anyon Interior Design in San Francisco. Brier brought relaxed, earth-toned elegance to the expansive great room, off-kitchen dining space and downstairs den.
Master bedroom.Master bedroom sitting area.
The three bedrooms are upstairs, and the master suite, with its draped poster bed, fireplace and seating area, is as inviting as a fivestar hotel. From this room and its adjoining bath, the views across the vineyards of the Valley of the Moon to the Mayacamas are spectacular enough to rivet one to the room forever.
Master bathroom.View from master bathroom.
The steep stairways can be avoided by taking the discreetly placed elevator, although the Dennings zip the stairs with ease. The lore is that when construction was underway, Reiter’s realtor, Maurice Tegelaar, gave him the tip that the buyers would probably be older or on the way there soon, and wouldn’t be interested in a home that involved a hike.
Guest cottage.
The guesthouse is alongside the long, serene, lawn-surrounded pool, with a view of the vineyards. The below-ground stone wine cellar holds 1,500 bottles and has room for a tasting table. Paul, who works in private equity funding, is currently collecting 2012 and 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons.
Besides the furniture, everything in the house was brought in by Reiter, including the Ethiopian pantry door and antique marble sink.
Outdoor kitchen and wine cellar entry.
The outdoor kitchen includes an Alfonso pizza oven, though the Dennings admit they haven’t yet perfected pizza-making. The three-car detached garage was built from on-site stone.
Wine cellar.
Family History
Although they long lived in San Francisco, where they raised their four children in a Pacific Heights Victorian, the Dennings epitomize the cheerful charm of Iowa, where both were born and spent their childhoods. Even in their opulent surroundings, they are welcoming in a way that makes guests feel they can grab a beer from the Sub-Zero fridge, kick back by the pool or engage in a boisterous game on the bocce court.
View to the south.
The Dennings have three grandchildren who love to gallivant here. The close family connection is evidenced by the portrait gallery of their children in the upstairs hallway: three large-format photographs of each, taken 10 years apart (childhood, teen years and in their 20s). It is an striking display, worthy of an art gallery.
Maison de Renard is built to last for generations. Paul and Margie Denning hope their family will live on there for 200 or 300 years.
Photos by Rebecca Chotkowski.
Swimming pool.Sitting area outside guest cottage.Den.Garage.
Have you been invited to a dinner party, open house, or family celebration this fall and are stumped for what to bring as a host or hostess gift? I have 10 gift ideas that will make any host or hostess happy you were put on the guest list!
Photo Credit: The Taste of Tea
Blooming Teas
Tea lovers will be delighted with this gift: a heat resistant wine glass and three blooming teas, each enclosed in a colorful silk fortune cookie, from The Taste of Tea in Healdsburg. This gift comes wrapped in silk!
A Hand Crafted Scented Candle
This hand-crafted soy candle from Chateau Sonoma will add ambiance, charm and a lovely scent to your hosts’ home. Called “Eau de Chateau”, the scent is based on what people experience when they enter the shop, which is located at Cornerstone in Sonoma.
Pumpkin Spice Hand Soap and Autumn Kitchen Towels
Bring the fragrance of autumn into your hosts’ kitchen with this Pumpkin Spice natural hand soap with cinnamon and nutmeg scents. Add a pair of these darling cotton-linen blend towels featuring a pumpkin design. Both products are exclusive to Sur la Table and available at their Montgomery Village location.
A Tin Full of Cookies
Who doesn’t love a delicious cookie? This “Premium Variety Tin,” filled with 30 delectable cookies from Cookie…take a bite!, is a sure-to-please gift for your hosts. Cookie…take a bite! is a boutique bakery based in Sonoma County. Their “Premium Variety Tin” includes the bakery’s award-winning “Sonoma Trekker” cookie with cashews and cranberries. Sounds like the perfect cookie for fall!
A Box of Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate lovers may try to bypass the main course and skip right to dessert when this box of fruity Harvest Blend truffles is presented. This assortment of 12 creamy truffles includes raspberry, orange, apricot and dark chocolate flavors. Wine Country Chocolates’ Truffles are formed, hand-pressed and carefully covered in a generous amount of dark chocolate, making them irresistibly delicious. Hopefully your hosts will want to share!
Bring a Pie, Gift the Dish
Bake a pumpkin pie for your hosts in this festive ceramic pie dish from The Martha Stewart Collection at Macy’s – and let them keep the dish. Include your own pumpkin pie recipe or use Martha’s, which is printed inside the plate!
Martha Stewart Pumpkin Pie Dish, Macy’s, $19.99
Macy’s Santa Rosa Plaza, 800 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, (707) 523-3333
Macy’s Coddingtown Mall, 555 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, (707) 579-3333
A DIY Succulent Arrangement
Most of us would agree that a handmade gift can be the most meaningful present. This DIY Pumpkin succulent arrangement is not only a beautiful addition to any fall table but it’s fun to make too. Follow the detailed, and easy, instructions for making your own here.
Find Mini Pumpkins at most grocery stores this time of year or visit your favorite Sonoma County pumpkin patch. Buy succulents at Prickett’s Nursery (prices vary). Find the other materials at Village Art Supply or Michael’s on Santa Rosa Avenue.
Photo Credit: Wine Glass Writer
A Bottle of Wine and a Handy Wine Accessory
Heading to a dinner party at the home of your favorite wine lovers? Pick out a great wine for fall – perhaps an earthy Pinot Noir or a jammy Zinfandel – and include a pack of Harvest Colors Wine Glass Writers from Marin County. These handy pens are made with non-toxic ink that stays on for the life of the party, then washes off with soapy water. Your hosts will not only appreciate guests keeping track of their wine glasses, saving wine and time re-washing wine glasses, but they can add more entertainment to your evening. Encourage your fellow guests to get creative with their Wine Glass Writers!
A Cookbook
To say that local TV personality and self-proclaimed “Cook-A-Holic” Laurie Figone loves to cook is an understatement. Laurie regularly competes in cooking and recipe competitions for which she has won several national and international awards. Her cookbook is the ideal host or hostess gift for the home cook or aspiring chef and includes 30 of Laurie’s most loved recipes.
Premium Artisan Coffee
If your hosts are coffee aficionados, they will love sipping on Carta Coffee Merchants 100% Kona coffee. Carta Coffee, based in Kona, has its roots in Sonoma County. Founder Scott Burr purchased a coffee farm last year after spending two decades in Sonoma County as a wine expert and consultant. Scott has applied the knowledge and skills he gained from his career in the wine industry to Kona coffee growing and roasting. He sustainably produces handcrafted 100% Kona Coffee that is sold online, right from the farm, lowering the cost of this premium, small batch coffee.
Helen Putnam Regional Park. (Photo Courtesy shiftingthebalance.com)
Helen Putnam Regional Park. (Photo Courtesy shiftingthebalance.com)
Hiking Helen Putnam Regional Park near Petaluma is an antidote to a gluttonous Thanksgiving meal and a month of sweet December indulgences.
A looped trail system lets hikers create walks of varying lengths and difficulty, making Putnam an excellent choice for beginning hikers looking for an opportunity to burn some calories. The six miles of trails are also open to cyclists and horseback riders. A large fishing pond is stocked with feisty bluegill, and a gazebo, picnic area and playground are near the parking lot. The energetic, and the not-so-much, will be happy here; even bring the dog (licensed and leashed, of course).
The 216-acre park has eight well-marked trails that weave through grassy hillsides and groves of heritage oaks. Ridgetop trails provide panoramic views of Petaluma, the southern Sonoma countryside and Chileno Valley in Marin County.
All this beauty and fitness potential costs just $7 per vehicle in the parking lot. 411 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma, 707-539-8092, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
Explore the hiking trails in Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa.
Sonoma County’s coast, redwood forests, stunning mountain vistas and historic homes and barracks will be free to visit the day after Thanksgiving — but only for those who act fast to take advantage of the inaugural Green Friday promotion.
California State Parks has teamed up with two advocacy groups to offer 13,000 passes good for free admission and parking at 116 of the state’s 279 state parks on Nov. 25. Nearly every state park in Sonoma County is on the list, including the Sonoma Coast State Park, Trione-Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve near Guerneville, Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen and Sonoma State Historic Park.
Commemorate Jack London on the 100th centennial of his death by visiting Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen.
The event is the perfect antidote to Thanksgiving gluttony, officials said, and maybe a way to steer the family conversation away from controversial subjects, such as the recent presidential election.
A full list of participating parks is at www.greenfriday.org, which is also the site where people can download and print out passes.
Online distribution began at noon Wednesday and will continue on a first-come, first-served basis based on each park’s capacity. Only one pass is needed per vehicle.
Take a “forest bath” in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve.
Most state parks in Sonoma County charge between $7 and $8 for parking. Sonoma State Historic Park is the only park included in the Green Friday promotion that charges admission fees of $3 for adults and $2 for children.
The first-ever Green Friday promotion grew out of similar events aimed at getting people outdoors after Thanksgiving. For the second year in a row, retailer REI will be closed Nov. 25 to give 12,000 employees a paid day off. The company has encouraged others to jump on board the #OptOutside campaign.
Popularly known as the Islands in the Sky, The serenity of Ithe Willow Creek addition to Sonoma Coast State Park is not lost to a snoozing hiker.
For Green Friday, Save the Redwoods League and the California State Parks Foundation are splitting the $130,000 cost representing the amount of lost revenue in parking and day-use fees for that day.
The Redwoods League last year doled out 5,000 passes to 48 parks where the majestic trees are a prominent feature. The group is now hoping to make Green Friday an annual event.
“Most importantly, we want to inspire people to reconsider how they spend that special family day,” said Sam Hodder, president and CEO of the Redwoods League.
Of the 279 sites in the state park system, 171 charge fees. Admission to the others is free. Jack London and Armstrong Redwoods will be offering special events and activities Nov. 25 in addition to the free access for pass-holders.
Organizers are asking the public to share their experiences on social media using the hashtags #GreenFriday and #CAStateParks.
Fern Necklace by MIchelle Hoting. Photo Credit: Michelle Hoting
Fern Necklace by Michelle Hoting. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)
Few objects symbolize the beauty of autumn better than fall leaves. Rarely do we examine a leaf’s intricacies – its veins, curves, ridges and imperfections. But study a fallen leaf up close and you may agree that they are nature’s works of art. That is how Santa Rosa jewelry artist and organic metal sculptor, Michelle Hoting, views leaves, petals, acorns and other flora found here in Sonoma County and in her travels.
Autumn Oak Necklace by Michelle Hoting. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)Eucalyptus Lariat Necklace by Michelle Hoting. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)
Michelle Hoting designs distinctive wearable art – for every season – in her Santa Rosa studio and is among the artists selected to participate in Sonoma County Art Trails 2016 Open Studios, beginning October 8th.
Michelle Hoting in her Santa Rosa studio.
Natural leaves are one of Hoting’s favorite subjects when creating her one-of-a-kind pieces, inspired by her love for nature and the outdoors.
Grape Leaf Cuff by Michelle Hoting. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)
Using leaves from oak and ginkgo trees, grapevines, sage leaves and other flora that catches her eye, Hoting carefully and meticulously casts these delicate items in her studio with a special technique she developed.
Gingko Neckpiece. (Photo by Adrienne Shubin)Grape Leaf and Tendril Chain Necklace. Recycled Fine Silver, Sterling. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)
Hoting calls her techinique “Lost Leaf Casting” which uses pure silver Hoting sources from recycled electronics. This technique brings out even the subtlest of details in the leaves. Hoting describes this technique as similar to nature’s way of creating a fossil, only in Hoting’s case it doesn’t take 10,000 years to create, thankfully.
Fern Leaf Necklace by Michelle Hoting. Recycled Fine Silver. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)
No two pieces of Hoting’s are alike, including her sets of earrings. While they may compliment each other and appear symmetrical on the wearer, they are separate pieces cast from individual leaves.
Oak Earrings by Michelle Hoting. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)
The day I visited her studio, she was working on casts of two similar ivy leaves that would soon be a pair of earrings. Nearly identical yet with their own characteristics, Hoting has an eye for finding just the right leaves to compliment one another and more importantly, the fortunate wearer.
Ivy Earrings by Michelle Hoting. (Photo by Adrienne Shubin)
Along with her Lost Leaf Casting, Hoting works with gem stones, rocks, antique pieces, and wood. Her career in jewelry has spanned 25 years and includes positions as jeweler for Cartier, manager at Bulgari, and manager of the jewelry repair department of a well-known jewelry firm.
Hoting majored in Geology and Fine Art at The University of Texas at Austin before attending the Gemological Institute of America where she focused her studies on diamond grading and colored stone identification. She also studied metalsmithing at the Glassell School of Art.
Peony Brooch by Michelle Hoting. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)
Originally from Texas, Hoting moved to Santa Rosa with her husband four years ago. It was then that she decided to pursue a career that unites her love for nature and the outdoors, her finely honed jewelry making skills and her passion for art.
Moth Necklace by Michelle Hoting. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoting)
Today Hoting is an accomplished and much sought after artist with a thriving business and many returning customers who collect her pieces.
Agate Drop Earrings by Michelle Hoting. (Photo by Adrienne Shubin)
Stop by Michelle Hoting’s studio-boutique during Sonoma County Art Trails Open Studio event at 321 Buena Vista Dr. Santa Rosa, CA, October 8-9 and 15-16, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hoting’s Art Trails location is #124
Visit the Sonoma County Art Trails website for maps and more information about the artists participating in this free self-guided artists tour.
You can also visit Michelle’s workshop by appointment by calling 707-791-4680 or shop pieces from her collection at Corrick’s on Fourth Street in downtown Santa Rosa. michellehoting.com
The much anticipated CocoaPlanet factory, chocolate tasting room and café have finally opened after months of construction and all sorts of the usual inspector delays.
McKibben’s CocoaPlanet chocolates are 64 percent cacao dark chocolate, under 100 calories with net carbs of 9 grams or less and only seven or eight grams of sugar. They are all non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and free-trade certified.
