Do you squeeze a vacation into a 24-hour sprint? If so, you’re in good company. It turns out that day-trippers are the largest segment of tourists in Napa Valley — 66.2 percent. And, naturally, they fancy wine tasting – with an average of 3.1 tasting room visits on their itinerary, according to the latest study by Destination Analysts.
Here’s my itinerary for a perfect one day wine-cation through Napa Valley:
Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery in Yountville. (Photo Courtesy thomaskeller.com)
Begin with breakfast at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville and be sure to order an authentic Parisian croissant, followed by a macaron for dessert. Dessert for breakfast? You bet, when the macarons are this irresistible.
Bouchon Bakery, 6528 Washington Street, Yountville, 707-944-2253, www.bouchonbakery.com.
After you’ve filled yourself up with Parisian treats, you’re off for a day of wine tasting. Here are my 3.1 (plus) Napa Valley tasting rooms to visit right now:
The Hess Collection courtyard in Napa Valley. (Photo Courtesy The Hess Collection)
The Hess Collection: This Napa Valley winery is best known for its Mount Veeder Cabernet, but give other varietals a try in its highbrow Hess Small Block Series. The winery houses a significant portion of founder Donald Hess’s contemporary art collection and hosts a series of “exclusive experiences,” including a vine to table tour and luncheon prepared by Executive Chef Chad Hendrickson.
The grounds at St. Supéry in Rutherford. (Photo Courtesy St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery)
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery: This is the largest family owned, sustainably farmed and estate produced winery in Napa Valley. The winery hosts a “Vineyard to Glass” tour as well as a series of educational “Interactive Wine Experiences,” including a tour of the estate gardens. Certified Napa Green, St. Supéry makes knockout Sauvignon Blancs – make sure to taste its best effort yet: the Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc.
8440 S St Helena Hwy, Rutherford, 707-963-4507, www.stsupery.com
The oak terrace at Mumm Napa. (Photo Courtesy Mumm Napa)
Mumm Napa: The roots of this sparkling wine maker can be traced back to leading international French champagne brand GH Mumm. Established in California in the late 1970s, Mumm Napa follows traditional French wine making techniques in creating hand-crafted sparkling wines – the Blanc de Blancs is a tasty bottling not to be missed. It’s vibrant with notes of apple, almond and mineral.
Domaine Chandon in Napa. (Photo Courtesy Domaine Chandon)
Domaine Chandon: This Napa Valley winery, founded in 1973 by Moet & Chandon, is located within minutes from the quaint town of Yountville and serves a variety of sparkling wines. The Chandon Sparkling Red is a winery exclusive – it has the body of a still wine, with the refreshing character of a sparkling wine.
Oakville Grocery Co in Napa Valley. (Courtesy thelongweekender.com)
At some point during your day of tasting, stop in at gourmet food store Oakville Grocery Napa Valleyfor picnic provisions. A house special is the Chicken Gruyere sandwich — sophisticated comfort food at its best.
During your picnic, be sure to pull out your tasting notes so you can talk “taste,” the favorite conversation in Wine Country. No doubt, your palate will have plenty to say.
Perennials are a great choice when planting a palette that you can rely on seeing again next year. They are also portable enough that you can dig them up for repositioning in your garden, if you desire some change. Just make sure to plant them in good soil, because they’ll be growing in it for awhile. These five flowering plants are perfect for the hot summers and wet winters that Sonoma County is known for, and will make a stunning, long-lasting addition to any garden.
Sedum
Also known as Stonecrop, Sedum requires very little care after planting and is a perfect addition to a drought-tolerant garden. (Image via garden.org)
Flower colors for Sedum include red, pink, gold, yellow, and white. (Image via shawnacoronado.com)
While Sedum is a great filler for larger gardens, it works just as well on a smaller scale for container gardens. (Image via Flikr.com)
This flower offers long lasting blooms that show in late summer through the fall months. This is not a year-round bloomer, but well worth the wait each season. (Image via knoxnews.com)
While purple is the most widely cultivated, Agastache has flowers in a wide variety of colors that attract hummingbirds and butterflies throughout the summer. (Image via gardenharvestsupply.com)
These tall plants are a perfect backdrop for other, shorter perennials or ground cover. (Image via Atlantic Avenue Garden)
Get this perennial: Sonoma Valley Wholesale Nursery, 19655 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, sonomavalleynursery.com
Bearded Iris
This perennial flower comes in a variety of colors including pink, yellow, blue, red, and purple. They do best when planted mid-summer to early fall. (Image via bssbank.com)
Bearded Iris blooms in early summer, while some varieties that will re-bloom in the late summer as well. (Image via The American Iris Society)
Irises are known for their fragrance, so if you do a lot of outdoor entertaining, they can help create a pleasant atmosphere for your guests. When I’ve entertained inside, I always make sure to add a fresh Iris to my flower arrangement – and guests consistently comment on the lovely smell. (Image via Dave’s Farm)
Peonies aren’t only easy to grow, you’ll never have to worry about the peonies in your yard dying off anytime soon – a well-tended Peony can survive for up to 100 years.(Image via shltrip.com)
The long lived flowers have a history behind them. They are the state flower of Indiana, the 12-year anniversary gift, and the national flower of the republic of China. (Image via Ann McMullan)
Because of their gentle coloring and large blooms, Peonies are a popular choice for wedding bouquets, and they go a long way toward decorating your indoor living space. (Image via Etsy.com)
This is one of the perennials that needs a bit more attention paid to it. Because of the height of some varieties, it will often require staking. In addition, the heat of the North Bay summers may prove challenging to the flowers – shade and frequent watering are key.
Delphinium are nectar-rich, and happy bees will soon be buzzing in your garden if you plant them. This is especially helpful if you, or your neighbors, dabble in beekeeping as a hobby.
The stateliness and elegance of the Delphinium are best used to complement an English ‘cottage’ garden or a more formal outdoor sitting area.
Get this perennial: Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, 3995 Emerald Dr, Petaluma, cottagegardensofpet.com
Note to self: Never greet a reporter with a private family album that includes a handwritten recipe for your Uncle Sanders’ secret recipe.
In a giant whoopsie, the nephew of Colonel Sanders apparently was showing a photo album to Chicago Tribunereporter Jay Jones, when a hand-written recipe with 11 herbs and spices caught the reporter’s attention.
When asked if it was “the” recipe, Joe Ledington (whose Aunt Claudia Sanders was the Colonel’s second wife) answered, confirmed that it was, and added that he’d often mixed up batches of the 11 herbs and spices in his youth.
The big secret? White pepper.
“The main ingredient is white pepper,” Ledington is quoted as saying. “I call that the secret ingredient. Nobody (in the 1950s) knew what white pepper was. Nobody knew how to use it.”
The Colonel’s chicken recipe has long been a mystery, with the company claiming the original is locked in a vault and suing those who have claimed to have it. This just may be the real deal, but since the story was published, KFC has denied it, and Ledington has backed away from his original assertion.
Ready to get your drank on? We asked Lisa Mattson of Healdsburg’s Jordan Winery, a writer and publicist with a keen eye for new restaurants, bars and destination-worthy spots throughout Wine Country for her fave local bars. She responded with three wonderful cocktail spots–Geyserville Gun Club, Alexander Valley Bar and Duke’s Spirited Cocktails–in the Alexander Valley. Conveniently, Jordan Winery sits at the very center of this tipsy triangle, and Mattson wasn’t about to let that fact go unnoticed to Healdsburg visitors. Having sipped through many of their best drinks, she’s a terrific authority on the Healdsburg cocktail scene. You can find much more of Mattson’s musing at blog.jordanwinery.com.
GEYSERVILLE GUN CLUB BAR & LOUNGE
Geyserville Gun Club, Courtesy Lisa Mattson
Located in a narrow brick space known to locals as the Odd Fellows Building, Geyserville Gun Club quietly opened its doors in March 2016 and has been wooing regulars ever since. (The Healdsburg zip code extends to within 2.5 miles of downtown Geyserville, so we can’t help but include them in the list.)
Owner Dino Bugica, whose popular Diavola’s pizzeria is situated next door, remodeled the space to create a combination of modern-hip with kitschy hunting lounge. (Kitsch in a good way). The wall-mounted taxidermy somehow melds with the exposed brick, patina walls and wrought-iron chandeliers. It may be the maneki-neko greeter, the porcelain Dumbo figurine on the back bar and the fully restored juke box that bring Geyserville Gun Club’s eclectic vibe together, but in reality, it’s the delicious drinks and the people.
During happy hour, you’ll find local grapegrowers in cowboy boots and Wranglers bumping elbows with city hipsters sporting skinny jeans and trucker hats (“blend in” is the motto, right?). The people watching alone is worth the drive 10 minutes north of Healdsburg. Light bar fare (ahi crudo, ceviche and beef tartare) is intermingled with mainstays, such as chicken wings, ribs and the “cold” pizza—all served through a window Bugica created to allow Diavola’s kitchen to prepare. The cocktails are crafted by serious mixologists, replete with beards and stylish bar aprons. Ingredients run the gamut from local to exotic, flavors are smooth and preparation on par with the best bars in San Francisco and New York.
The bar menu changes regularly, but my personal favorites this month are the Paper Plane (pictured above) —Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Cappalletti and lemon—and the Wolfman’s Delight, a blend of Brown Butter Washed Monkey Shoulder Scotch (say that three times fast), raw ginger, honey, lemon and peat monster. Beers on tap and an esoteric wine list are also available and continue the Gun Club’s adventurous theme. (Many regulars are still shocked there isn’t a single Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon on the list.) There’s also a courtyard patio being constructed behind the bar, similar to Diavola’s—one of the best-kept secrets for outdoor dining in all of Sonoma County. Gun Club’s patio is expected to open later this year.
Geyserville Gun Club Bar & Lounge
21025 Geyserville Ave, Geyserville
Open Thursday-Monday at 4:30 p.m www.geyservillegunclub.com
ALEXANDER VALLEY BAR
Alexander Valley Bar, Courtesy Lisa Mattson
Five years ago, the historic Alexander Valley Bar—which began in the 1920s as an integral part of one of the three original country stores that provided livestock feed and other provisions in the Healdsburg area—was reinvented once again.
The building is unique in wine country—it’s the only business you’ll find where a bar with a full liquor license and a winery tasting room share the same premises. The owners of Medlock Ames Winery renovated the dilapidated old store (and its attached bar room), leaving a single wall intact that would allow them to keep the bar license operating with a tasting room also situated on the charming corner surrounded by grapevines between the Russian River bridge and Jimtown Store. The caveat: Only one of the two bars can be open at a time.
When the tasting room closes at 5 p.m., the theatre of staff closing down and maneuvering through the bottom of a barn-style door into the Alexander Valley Bar is fun to watch for tourists. Finish sipping a taste of Sauvignon Blanc on a covered side porch overlooking the organic herb garden, olive orchard and bocce ball court before stepping into the century-old hideout at the back of the mocha-painted structure with a farmhouse design.
The dimly-lit bar is described as “a cross between a turn-of-the-century saloon and modern cocktail den.” Seasonal cocktails inspired by garden ingredients picked each afternoon are the biggest draw, next to the Sunday afternoon concerts with food trucks each summer. My current favorite seasonal drink is the Derby Days (pictured above), made with Bullet Bourbon, lemon, ginger beer, bitters, a sugar cube, and muddled strawberries and mint from the bar’s garden—all garnished with freshly picked, flowering mint sprigs. The Medlock Mule is a perennial favorite always found on the ever-changing cocktail menu.
Once home to the beloved local bar, John & Zeke’s, this outpost on the north side of the Healdsburg square has been serving libations since 1933. Three Spoonbar alumns (Tara Heffernon, Laura Sanfilippo and Steven Maduro) took over the space last year and realized their dream of creating a hangout for locals and visitors alike where the craft of artisanal cocktails is celebrated alongside the important role bars play as community hangouts.
Heffernon (pictured above) takes DIY very seriously as an artist and businesswoman. She grows all her own herbs and flowers for drinks (including wormwood for bitters), makes seasonal tap root cocktails from scratch (served on tap) and paints the walls with mosaic prints of historic photographs of the building and Healdsburg. Fruits and vegetables hail from Sanfilippo’s garden. Heffernon says that tap root cocktails are force carbonated, allowing the aromas and flavors to shine through, a process that takes longer than making each drink from scratch—but pays off on the palate.
The Bitter Root (Leopold’s Aperitivo, Cocchi Rosa, Cappelletti, sparkling wine and blood orange bitters) and Fool’s Paradise (Frida Kahlo Tequila, clarified passionfruit, Dolin Blanc Vermouth and bay laurel) are already local favorites. Other craft cocktails made to order include the Daily Tot—an island-inspired blend of Plantation 5 Year Rum, Delord Armagnac, Brazil Nut Orgeat, Angostura Amaro, orange, lime and allspice—and Barely Legal, which combines Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka, Giffard lychee, yuzu, lemon and grapefruit.
Duke’s is a place, like Geyserville Gun Club, where you’ll find local farmers in checkered shirts and jeans at one table and San Francisco daytrippers in sundresses at the next. Heffernon’s passion for ingredients, and her tutelage under legendary mixologist Scott Beattie (now at Meadowood), has made Duke’s an immediate success since its opening in June 2016. Bar snacks, such as pickled vegetables, rosemary mixed nuts, marinated olives and chips with salsa verde, are also served. Luckily, the space is quite large, so it doesn’t always feel too crowded.
Duke’s Spirited Cocktails
111 Plaza Street, Healdsburg
Open from afternoon until late seven days a week (hours vary) www.drinkatdukes.com
Also, don’t miss a few of the more established restaurant bars in Healdsburg, also mixing serious drinks. Valette has a new mixologist who makes his own amaro and tobacco-infused vodka,Spoonbar has upped its tiki game this summer with scorpion bowls and Barndiva’s Studio Gallery Bar reinvented itself this spring as Barndiva Gallery Bar & Bistro, adding a French country menu, more seating, a gallery garden and new artisan cocktails.
The synthesizer sounds of Australian indie-rock band Tame Impala resonated through a sold out Greek Theatre in Berkeley on Saturday. While many were away on a mystical Burning Man journey, frontman Kevin Parker and Co. propelled the Bay Area audience into a psychedelic trip — covering a swaying sea of fans with confetti, instead of playa dust.
Against a backdrop of mind-blowing multicolored projections and bright lights flashing across the sky, Tame Impala brought out the confetti by the second song on the setlist, “It Can Happen,” a single from the band’s most recent album “Currents.” Kevin Parker is the mastermind behind Tame Impala lyrics and recordings, his latest work – a wistful exploration of heartbreak, longing and change – was powerfully contrasted by the polychromatic stage show.
Tame Impala at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, Saturday, September 3, 2016.
It is stage antics like these that made tickets for the Aussie band’s two-night performance at the Greek Theatre disappear months in advance. Selling out an 8,500 capacity arena is no easy task. Yet, the demand for Tame Impala tickets was so high that they were going for $140 dollars and more on StubHub on the day of the show.
Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker on stage at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, Saturday, September 3, 2016.
During their live performances, Tame Impala creates the perfect mix of dreamy melodic beats and vibrant visual art. Halfway through the set — smoke clouds, strobe lights and sonic waves in the air — I left my seat to grab a beer and walked past a girl who ecstatically exclaimed: “I can feel the colors.”
When the band revisited their first studio album Innerspeaker with the song “Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind,” I understood what the ecstatic girl had felt. While I enjoyed the tour’s focus on “Currents” – an album with a dance-pop inspired theme different to previous releases – it was nice to hear the band reach back to its roots.
A series of dreamily engaging and transcendent moments continued to bewitch the Berkeley crowd, even when the light show came to a temporary halt during “It’s Not Meant To Be” and Kevin Parker stood on a dark-lit stage, his back against the crowd, strumming the same chords for over two minutes.
Awash in color, Tame Impala also delivered raw emotion and a sense of yearning with every song; a brutal honesty that seemed to resonate deeply with the audience. During “Yes I’m Changing” (a song about personal transition), a man in front of me closed his eyes and held his hands over his heart as he sang: “Yes I’m changing, can’t stop it now and even if I wanted I wouldn’t know how. Another version of myself I think I found, at last.”
Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker on stage at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley.
That same honesty was present when Kevin Parker addressed the audience at the end of the Saturday set. During what was supposed to be the last song, “Apocalypse Dreams,” Parker told the crowd how grateful he is for his fans and how they are the reason he’s able to continue playing show after show — especially after a night out in Oakland. “It may be all the painkillers, but I’m pretty sure it is you guys,” Parker said.
Once the song finished, the crowd of 8500 people broke into a reverberating roar that lasted until Tame Impala reentered the stage and finished the night with “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” and “New Person, Same Old Mistakes.” The two extra numbers created a blend of distortion pedals, confetti canons, and cheering fans.
At the end of the night, transported to a dimension of great waves of sound and flashes of vibrant color, it was hard to acclimate to the real world. On my drive back to the North Bay, I found myself thinking, “I wonder if this is what coming back from Burning Man feels like?”
View more photos from the Tame Impala Saturday set at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley below. Photography by Estefany Gonzalez.
Ann Kay of Santa Rosa sways to the music of the Jimmy Breaux & The Cajun Cottonpickers band during Saturday’s Cajun Zydeco Music Festival in Sebastopol, September 7, 2013. (Conner Jay/The Press Democrat)
Cajun Zydeco & Delta Rhythm Festival coming up in Sebastopol on Saturday. (Photo by Conner Jay)
Looking for something to do this labor day weekend? We have a few ideas. Revisit the days you wish could be forgotten when the ‘Lost 80s Live” tour brings ‘80s music to SOMO Village. Get your fill of little yellow guys when “Minions” hits the big screen at Howarth Park. Celebrate all things creole at the Zydeco Festival in Sebastopol. All this and more is in our list of things to do.
FRIDAY, Sept. 2
Lost 80s Live: The decade of bad fashion, neon lipstick and aerosol hairspray is making a comeback this Friday when the Lost 80s Live tour makes its way to SOMO Village. Taking the stage are Flock of Seagulls, Berlin, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew and more. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $42.50. Find out more at somoconcerts.com.
Movies in the Park: Get your fill of a bunch of little yellow guys when “Minions” hits the big screen at this Friday’s Movies in the Park event at Howarth Park. The free event offers pre-show entertainment, with the movie starting around 7:45 p.m. Vendors are available with food for sale. Find out all the details at pd2go.net/HowarthMoviesInThePark.
Wine Country Weekend: Meet the people who make and grow your wine and food at a weekend celebration dedicated to the bounty of Sonoma County. This weekend’s events kick off Friday with dancing, drinks and food at Coppolla Winery for Sonoma Starlight. Then on Saturday, enjoy samples from over 200 wineries and chefs at the Taste of Sonoma. The event concludes Sunday with the ever-popular Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction, a fun-filled event that supports kids in the community. Find out all the details at sonomawinecountryweekend.com.
Get a taste of Sonoma at Wine Country Weekend. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
SATURDAY, Sept. 3
Melissa Etheridge in Rohnert Park: The soulful rock music icon will perform live at the Weill Hall this Saturday as part of the Green Music Center’s Summer Concert Series. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 lawn, $40 outdoor table and $45-$75 indoor. Find out all the details at gmc.sonoma.edu.
Zydeco Festival: This weekend, head to Ives Park in Sebastopol for the Cajun Zydeco & Delta Rhythm Festival. Benefiting West Sonoma County Schools, the 2-day event features nationally known and critically acclaimed bands, delicious Cajun foods, regional artists and more. Tickets are $30-$50, and kids under 12 are free. Find out more at winecountrycajun.com. (Sept. 3 -4)
Ann Kay of Santa Rosa sways to the music of the Jimmy Breaux & The Cajun Cottonpickers band during Cajun Zydeco Music Festival in Sebastopol, September 7, 2013. (Photo by Conner Jay)
SUNDAY, Sept. 4
Petaluma River Marathon: Boaters will take part in a marathon and half-marathon on the Petaluma River, followed by a post-race potluck on the Foundry Wharf lawn. The event is free to watch, and $25-$150 to participate. Find out more at www.regattacentral.com/regatta/?job_id=4410.
MONDAY, Sept. 5
White Denim: Rock band, ‘Live at Lagunitas,’ 4:20 p.m. Monday, Lagunitas Brewing Co., Petaluma. Free, RSVP required. Full, call for wait list. 778-8776, lagunitas.com.
More Upcoming Events…
Don’t miss National Heirloom Expo, Tuesday-Thursday, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. (Photo by Brian Dunne)
Friday, Sept. 2
A Case of the Willy’s: Funk, soul, rhythm and blues, ‘Funky Fridays’ season finale, 7 tonight, Hood Mansion, Santa Rosa. $10. 833-6288, funkyfridays.info.
Camila, ‘Tour Elypse’: Grammy-winning romantic Latin pop duo, 8 tonight, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $48-$126. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Ruthie Foster: Gospel blues, ‘Friday Night Live’ season finale concert, 7 tonight, Cloverdale Plaza. Free. 894-4410, cloverdaleartsalliance.org.
‘Capacity’: Dramatic play about Mileva Maric’S and Albert Einstein’s passionate marriage, 8 tonight, Main Stage West, Sebastopol. $15-$25. 823-0177, mainstagewest.com.
Saturday, Sept. 3
Paperback Writer: Beatles tribute band, noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
Dginn: High-energy dance band, original songs and international covers, 8 p.m. Saturday, Occidental Center for the Arts. $10. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Sunday, Sept. 4
Pleasant Valley Sunday: The Monkees tribute band, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
‘Last of the Red Hot Tenants’: Lois Pearlman’s one-woman play, 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Occidental Center for the Arts classroom. $10. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Tuesday, Sept. 6
‘SEED: The Untold Story’: Documentary film, filmmaker Q&A follows, 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Summerfield Cinemas, Santa Rosa. $8-$10.50. 525-8909, summerfieldcinemas.com.
National Heirloom Expo: Heritage food exhibits, speakers, contests, tastings and kids’ pavilion, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. $15-$30. 773-1336, theheirloomexpo.com.
Wednesday, Sept. 7
Brad Meltzer: New York Times-bestselling picture-book biography series author, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Copperfield’s Books, Petaluma. Free. 762-0563, copperfieldsbooks.com.
Ray LaMontagne: Best folk album Grammy Award winner, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $59-99. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Thursday, Sept. 8
Dirty Cello: High-energy spin on blues and bluegrass, 5-8 p.m. Thursday, The Barlow Street Fair, Sebastopol. Free. 824-5600, thebarlow.net.
Tainted Love: Top music of the 1980s, 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
Friday, Sept. 9
Tamin Ansary: Afghan-American author at World Affairs Council of Sonoma County luncheon presentation, noon, Sept. 9, Flamingo Hotel, Santa Rosa. $34. wacsc.org.
‘Gala Celebration’: Transcendence Theatre Company’s ‘Broadway Under the Stars’ season-ending showcase, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9, Jack London Park, Glen Ellen. $42-$79. (877) 424-1414, transcendencetheatre.org.
‘Hook’: Fantasy adventure, ‘Movies in the Park’ outdoor series, dusk Sept. 9, Howarth Park, Santa Rosa. Free. Bring low-back chairs or blankets. bit.ly/1DCVlLy.
Saturday, Sept. 10
Carl Hiaasen: Copperfield’s Books and Sonoma County Library host ‘Razor Girl’ author, 7 p.m. Sept. 10, Central Santa Rosa Library. Free. copperfieldsbooks.com.
‘Beer on the Plaza’: Unlimited specialty beer tastings, food, live music by The Pulsators, 2-6 p.m. Sept. 10, Healdsburg Plaza. $15-$50. sihealdsburg.org.
Boston Rocks: ‘Rockin’ Concerts’ series, noon-3 p.m. Sept. 10, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival: 10 a.m. Sept. 10-11, Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville. $10-$190. 869-1595, russianriverfestivals.com.
‘Art in the Park’: Petaluma Arts Association art show and sale, live music and food, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10-11, Walnut Park, Petaluma. Free. petalumaarts.org.
Wanda Sykes: Stand-up comic and ‘Alpha House’ and ‘Black-ish’ actress, 8 p.m. Sept. 10, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $49.50-$59.50. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
‘A Love of Wonder’: Pianist and vocalist Tammy Hall performs Stevie Wonder songs, 4 p.m. Sept. 11, Queen’s Lane Gardens, Petaluma. $30-$35 includes picnic. 763-8920, cinnabartheater.org.
‘Celebrating Fountaingrove’s Nagasawa’: Wine, appetizers and program on Kanaye Nagasawa’s role in Fountaingrove’s history, 4-7 p.m. Sept. 11, Paradise Ridge Winery, Santa Rosa. $45. 579-1500, sonomacountymuseum.org.
Jennifer Harris, organizer of the Farm to Fermentation Festival on the web series, Spoiled to Perfection.
Ready, set, pickle! It’s time for the annual Fermentation Festival, where brewers, picklers, cheesemakers, chocolatiers, ciderists, winemakers and other enthusiastic fermenters share their passion for all things preserved. Here are six reasons to get thee to the Fermentation Festival…
1. Drink Booze: Let’s be honest, beer, wine and spirits beat out pickles any day, I don’t care who you are. As one of the world’s oldest fermented foods, alcohol gets the VIP treatment at the event, with more than 20 brewers, wineries, ciderists and distilleries pouring. Some faves include Shady Oak Barrel House (a newcomer with great sours), Henhouse, Tilted Shed,Sonoma County Distilling Co., Wrangletown Cider Company, Frey Vineyards, Bear Republic and many more. (VIP tickets required for the Libation Lounge”).
2. Root Beer Floats: Triple Root Beer from The Kefiry and ice cream from Staus Family Creamery(and non dairy ice cream from Coconut Bliss) go together like, well, root beer and ice cream. Get in my belly!
3. Killer Kraut: All the cool kids are making their own sauerkraut these days, and you’ll have a chance to try plenty of them, along with kimchi, pickles and other fermented yumminess. Home kraut makers can compete to become the King or Queen of Kraut. What a crock!
4. Create Some Curds: Private classes from cheese celebrity Janet Fletcher and Julia Berner of Tomales Farmstead Cheese teach you how to turn a gallon of milk into fresh ricotta, chevre or homemade yogurt. It’s actually a whole lot easier (and cheaper) than you think. Plus, tastings!
5. Bean to Bar Chocolate: Yes, chocolate is a fermented food as well. Chocolate makers Jonas Ketterle of Firefly chocolate and Liam Blackmon of CACOCO Drinking chocolate give you a tour of the delicious world of cacao.
6. Find the Fountain of Youth: Well, okay, we might be overselling it, but the probiotics in fermented foods are proven to be powerful superfoods. Karen Diggs of Kraut Source explains why fermented foods are an anti-aging secret, Kombucha Mamma Hannah Crum talks about healthy gut bacteria and nutritionist Mary Shiela Gonnella shows why our bones love fermented foods.
Farm to Fermentation Festival 2016, Saturday Aug. 27 from 11a.m. to 5p.m., Finley Center, Santa Rosa. General admission tickets, $25; VIP Tickets, $45, children under 16, free. Tickets at the gate are $30. Additional tickets may be required for some talks, $20 each. More details online at farmtofermentation.com.
A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the Sebastopol Grange Hall’s commercial kitchen upgrade.
Check out Farm to Fermentation Festival organizer Jennifer Harris on the web series, Spoiled to Perfection.
Featured photo is a still from the Spoiled to Perfection series.
Burlesque dancer Audrey Von Price perform with the North Bay Cabaret. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)
Vaudeville, which laughed, danced, juggled and sang its theatrical way into American hearts in the early 1900s, is back.
Fueled by the burlesque revival of the mid 1990s, “neo-vaudeville” has become a regular feature of bars and clubs across the Bay Area with its fresh approach to merging poetry, risqué performance art and eclectic entertainment.
In Sonoma County, you can now catch vaudeville and burlesque performances at a number of venues, including Annie O’sand Whiskey Tipin Santa Rosa, and at Hop Monk Tavern in Sebastopol.
Rouge Dance Company at North Bay Cabaret’s Hot August Knights event. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)
The North Bay Cabaretis a local neo-vaudevillian troupeled by Jake Ward that stages a series of variety shows with a rotating cast of entertainers and artists. Their flagship event entertains on third Fridays, at the Whiskey Tip in Santa Rosa. (In November, the show will move to Annie O’s in Santa Rosa).
Comedienne and guitarist Samantha Gilweit performs with the North Bay Cabaret. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)
The cabaret typically begins with sketch comedy, spoken word, and musical performances by artists such as Slaperoo Percussion player Andy Graham. The show progresses with high energy performances from fire art and belly dancing to burlesque.
Eva D’Luscious, of Cabaret de Caliente, performs with the Sonoma Show Girls during the Whole Lotta Love Burlesque show (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)
Cabaret de Calienteis a prolific production company, run by husband and wife burlesque team Eva D’Luscious and Will Longfellow (stage names), that stages burlesque and cabaret performances.
D’Luscious and Longfellow met in San Francisco and quickly became part of the city’s vibrant performance art scene.The couple then moved to Sebastopol to begin performing shortly after the North Bay town’s only cabaret show folded.Their show continues to grow in popularity and D’Luscious and Longfellow now perform in Portland, but return to Sonoma County for occasional performances at Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol.
For information about upcoming Cabaret de Caliente shows, visit: cabaretdecaliente.com
The North Bay Cabaret recently put on Hot August Knights, a medieval variety show, at Annie O’s in Santa Rosa, check out some of the performances:
Aerial acrobat Amanda Grace performs with the North Bay Cabaret during their Hot August Knight’s medieval variety show at Annie O’s in Santa Rosa. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)The Albion School of Defense at Hot August Knights. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)North Bay Cabaret producer Jake Ward. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)Prince Arthur Dancers at Hot August Knights event. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)Rouge Dance Company at Hot August Knights event. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)North Bay Cabaret dancer Jesi Ringofire. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)Burlesque dancer Patty La Melt. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)Burlesque dancer Dangerous Dollie. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)Rouge Dance Company at Hot August Knights event. (Photo by Estefany Gonzalez)
From a wall-high flower made of driftwood and copper to a 5,000-pound cloud built of LED lights, the work being done at Chimera Arts & Maker Space can’t be neatly categorized by artistic genre — and that’s exactly what its founder intended.
Headquartered in a 3,000-square-foot warehouse in Sebastopol, Chimera provides access to costly tools donated by local artists and engineers. It’s similar to a co-working space, where members pay modest monthly fees. But instead of desks, it’s stocked with 3-D printers, a laser cutter and welding equipment.
“The tools are what drew me in,” said shop manager and silversmith Sugar Chuck, the artist behind the giant flower, adding that the cost of purchasing the torches, buffing wheels, saws and other equipment she needs would far exceed the monthly membership fee. Her work also creates a lot of noise, making Chimera’s industrial setting ideal.
Sugar Chuck works on jewelry at the Chimera Art Space in Sebastopol. Chimera mascot Deeogee sleeps it off. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat)
Dana Woodman, Chimera’s founder, envisioned a nonprofit place that provided tools and space, and allowed artists from various disciplines to mingle.
Chimera opened in December 2013, its logo a lion head, goat body and snake tail serving as a metaphor for the eclectic community of jewelers, knitters, woodworkers and software developers that Woodman hoped to assemble.
Chimera moved from a trailer to its much larger home in April, evidence of the growing need for space in which artists can work. Classes are also offered.
“We’ll have a welder come in and bump into an electrical engineer,” he said. “Together, they’ll come up with ideas that neither of them would have had on their own.”
Chimera Art Space, 6791 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707-861-0278, chimeraarts.org
One quick and easy way to give a room a makeover is to add an area rug. A well-placed rug can change the feeling of any space, but it’s important to choose a rug that’s going to complement or accentuate your decor – not overwhelm it. Here are a few things to consider when choosing your rug:
Shape
A circular rug creates the illusion of more space and adds an appealing soft contrast to the sharp angles of the room and edges of furniture. Create a sense of harmony by combining a round furniture piece, like a table, with a round rug.
Get the Look: Border Round Jute Rug in Sand, $179, potterybarn.com
A square rug accentuates the symmetry of a space by complementing the angles of the room. Pick a rug that is slightly smaller than the area covered by furniture, this way the rug will anchor the furniture without taking over the space.
Get the Look: Tile Wool Kilim Rug in Aquamarine, Special $129 – $799, westelm.com.
A rectangular rug can act as an invitation to enter a room or accentuate the length of a space. This Morroccan Berber rug adds softness and style to this breakfast nook, and creates a relaxed outdoor living space. Depending on the size of the room and the furniture layout, you can choose to place all furniture legs on the area rug, or just place the front legs of the furniture on the rug.
Get the Look: Moroccan Berber rug available at Chateau Sonoma, 23588 Arnold Dr
Sonoma 95476.
Size
Large rugs can serve different purposes. They can protect hardwood flooring or cover up old and unattractive flooring. They can make a room softer and quieter. In bright colors and patterns, they can liven up an otherwise muted color scheme. Neutral area rugs can create a sense of calm and space.
Get the Look: Hand-Loomed Shine Rug in Ivory, $999, westelm.com.
A medium size accent rug can add an interesting touch to a room or a piece of furniture, without changing the overall look. Add a pop of color to a room that is otherwise neutral, or pick an attractive pattern as a complement to solid colored furniture.
Get the Look: nuLOOM Traditional Intricate Persian Purple Rug, $184.87, overstock.com
Material
Wool is one of the most popular rug materials, appreciated both for its attractive look and for its durability. Layering rugs in a room – mixing patterns, textures and shapes – is a popular design trend.
Get the Look: Nell Oasis Wool-Blend Rugs, $399.00 – $2,199.00, crateandbarrel.com
Silk rugs are well suited for spaces that do not get a lot of casual use, and can add a warm and elegant touch to an otherwise neutral color scheme.
Get the Look: Hand-Knotted Immanuel Rust-Ivory Saree Silk Rug, $1,017.99, overstock.com
Cotton rugs are both pretty and practical; they absorb dye well and can be washed when needed. Cotton is a good material if you have kids and pets, and is suitable for high-traffic areas, like hallways, breakfast nooks, living rooms – even bathrooms. Patterns and colors also help camouflage wear and tear.
Get the Look: Flatweave Colne Moroccan Trellis Cotton Rug, $118.99, overstock.com
A Jute rug is perfect for indoor/outdoor rooms, adding an earthy natural vibe. If the room is large, don’t limit your choices to just one rug or one type of rug. Instead, add several rugs in complementary colors and materials to define different spaces in the room.
Get the Look: nuLOOM Handmade Eco Natural Fiber Chunky Loop Jute Rug, $93.49, overstock.com.
Color
A neutral rug works well in living areas when there’s already a lot happening, such as brightly colored window treatments and walls, patterned furniture or colorful art on the walls.
Get the Look: Jute Chenille Herringbone Rug – Natural/Platinum, $249 – $679, westelm.com.
A bold rug gives you the opportunity to add a personal touch and warmth to a room, without having to commit to repainting your walls or changing your window treatments.
Get the Look: Hand-knotted rugs fromWorld Market, 2685 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa 95401.
Style
Traditional rugs, usually called “oriental rugs,” can create a more classic look in a room. They can complement antique or vintage furniture, or add an interesting contrast to contemporary design pieces.
Get the Look: Safavieh Vintage Persian Pink Rug, $187.84, overstock.com
A contemporary rug with geometrical shapes or sharp lines can give a room a modern edge, without being overwhelming.
Get the Look: Roar + Rabbit Wabi Sabi Circle Wool Rug – Blush, $99.99 – $514.99, westelm.com.
A novelty rug can add a whimsical or sweet touch, depending on the look you want for the room. Novelty rugs that incorporate popular cartoon characters is a fun option for kids rooms.
Get the Look: nuLOOM Handmade Bright Giraffes Kids Nursery Red Rug (5′ Round), overstock.com
