Mount Saint Helena is the tallest peak in Sonoma County at 4,339 feet. It is located in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park north of Calistoga, at the intersection of Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties.
A 5.3-mile trail winds through the undeveloped park to the volcanic mountain’s North Peak. The route utilizes a long and sinuous fire road on a south-facing slope, exposed to sun and wind.
The popular hiking and biking route steadily climbs but is never steep. The long distance and substantial elevation gain, however, make it a strenuous hike.
Throughout the hike, the views are spectacular. From the summit are 360-degree vistas that extend across Napa Valley to Mount Tamalpais, to San Francisco and the twin peaks of Mount Diablo in the south, Mount Lassen and Snow Mountain in the north, the Vaca Mountains in the east and the coastal ranges and the ocean in the west.
To the Trailhead
4625 Lake County Hwy., Calistoga
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park is located in Napa Valley, northeast of Calistoga on Highway 29. Three main routes access Napa Valley from Sonoma County.
From the north, access is via Highway 128 out of Geyserville and Healdsburg. From Santa Rosa, access is via Calistoga Road off of Highway 12 (15 miles). From the south, access is via Highway 12, south of the town of Sonoma.
From Highway 29 and Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga, drive 8.5 miles northeast on Lincoln Avenue (Highway 29), through town and up the winding mountain road. Park in the parking area on the left at the road’s summit.
Additional parking is in a larger parking area directly across the road.
Sunset and Moonrise over Mount St. Helena. (Photo by Chad Surmick)
The Hike
Walk up the steps to a flat, grassy picnic area and posted trailhead. Head up the forested hillside on the rock-embedded path. Six switchbacks zigzag up the forested mountain. In a shady flat at 0.7 miles is the Stevenson Memorial, a stone monument by a mossy rock formation. Climb two more switchbacks to the Mount Saint Helena Trail, a T-junction with a service road at 0.85 miles. The right fork loops down the hillside back to Highway 29 (Hike 50).
Go to the left on the Mount Saint Helena Trail. The trail/fire road climbs 1,600 feet over the next 4.5 miles. As the trail climbs up the hillside, the views open to Napa Valley and the surrounding mountains. Pass above Silverado Mine on the left, which is no longer visible.
At 1.6 miles, on a horseshoe right bend, is weather-chiseled Bubble Rock, a pock-marked igneous formation that is popular with rock climbers.
Continue up the well-graded road cut into the chaparral-covered slope, with views across Napa County and Sonoma County. The exposed terrain is dotted with manzanita, small oaks, knobcone pines, bay laurel and greasewood.
Make a sweeping left bend at 2.25 miles, passing fractured rock columns. Cross under power lines and continue a half mile to a road junction on a saddle at 3.6 miles. The left branch leads 0.5 miles to 4,003-foot South Peak, the lower summit.
Continue north (straight ahead) between North and South Peaks, with a view of Lake Berryessa on the right. Continue to a ridge at 4.5 miles. Veer left, entering Sonoma County, and head west toward the peak. Pass through groves of sugar pines and Douglas firs, then leave the forest for the final ascent.
At the summit, pass a group of communication structures to the rocky north face above Rattlesnake and Bradford canyons. After resting and savoring the views, return along the same route.
Amy and Fred Groth plan to offer their limoncello as well as an assortment of Sonoma-made brandies at the Prohibition Spirits tasting room at Cornerstone Sonoma.
Wine is fine, but liquor may be a quicker way to profits – at least that’s what a growing number of local spirits companies are hoping. Two Sonoma Valley companies, operating at either end of the craft-spirits market, are both opening tasting rooms in Sonoma Valley this summer.
Amy and Fred Groth plan to offer their limoncello as well as an assortment of Sonoma-made brandies at the Prohibition Spirits tasting room at Cornerstone Sonoma.
Owners of Sonoma’s first modern-day operating distillery, Fred and Amy Groth have officially opened the doors on their new Prohibition Spirits tasting room at Cornerstone Sonoma. Their permit enables them to pour more than a dozen of their locally inspired craft spirits, with more to come in the months ahead.
The full line from Prohibition spirits as of today. But tomorrow there will likely be more.
Just two miles east on Burndale Road, Hanson Organic Vodka of Sonoma has opened a tasting room in the Carneros Brewing complex.
Chris Hanson opens the door to on the vodka “bubble top” at the Hanson Distillery in Sonoma.
Also making waves in the spirits category are a handful of Sonoma companies which have or plan to introduce new spirits brands this year, including August Sebastiani’s 3 Badge Mixology and Donny Sebastiani’s Don & Sons. A handful of local importers, including Sal Chavez’s Licores Latinos portfolio of Mexican spirits, have also thrown their hats in the liquor ring.
The product line now available through Sonoma’s 3 Badge Spirits.
The craft spirits market echoes the boom in craft beers back in the 1980s, says Cris Steller, executive director of the California Artisanal Distillers Guild. His phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from Northern California companies interested in launching spirits brands.
There are three components to launching a spirits brand in the United States: making it, distributing it and selling it directly to consumers. The catch, according to rules established by the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), is that no company can do all three, only two of the three. To complicate matters further, there are different rules for spirits made from grain versus those made from fruit.
Two tequilas being offered by Donny Sebastiani.
The advent of tasting rooms is thanks in part to a new state law that allows small distilleries to apply to legally provide tastings of distilled spirits to consumers.
“The laws are confusing and constantly changing,” said Groth, “but basically everyone seems to have found a way to do what they want to do.”
Hanson’s award-winning lineup of spirits in the new tasting room in Sonoma, June 9, 2016. (Photo by Julie Vader)
The biggest “Sonoma” spirits brand today is certainly Hanson Organic Vodka. The company has enjoyed meteoric growth since its first splashy end-cap displays showed up at area supermarkets in 2013.
The company makes its organic vodka from locally sourced Sonoma grapes with flavor infusions like cucumber, espresso and ginger. While its sales may soon exceed the “craft” category limit of 52,000 cases, as of right now, each Hanson bottle is distilled and bottled on site and hand-stamped, numbered and signed by a family member.
Scott Hanson works alongside his four grown children. They branched out this spring to offer distillery tours and the new public tasting room. “We’re excited to get the community involved with our brand,” said Hanson.
With his brand an early success in the craft market, Hanson has already been approached to sell the company. But he said, “We loved the idea of a family business so that we could work alongside our grown kids.”
Fred and Amy Groth in the Prohibition Spirits tasting room at Cornerstone Sonoma Monday, June 13, 2016. The elk on the wall is known as “Heinrich.” (Photo by Julie Vader)
Fred and Amy Groth still have little kids, and their company is the definition of a “small batch” producer. Since launching their Limoncello line in 2009, their distillery on Eighth Street East has produced and hand-bottled small quantities of a dazzling array of Sonoma-themed brands – more than two dozen at latest count, including a rum, rye whiskey, a clear corn whiskey, bourbon, brandy and vodka, all made with local ingredients. A new line of ready-to-go bottled cocktails will be available this month.
Visitors to the Groth’s new tasting salon two miles from town at Cornerstone Sonoma can try the company’s extensive line of more than a dozen brandies as well as their soon-to-be-introduced lines of gin.“We’re working hard but we’re having so much fun” said Amy. “Everything we do is very hands-on.” The pair hired their first real employee this spring, Sonoma Valley High School graduate Juliette Witous.
Having revived the old firehouse near the Plaza on Patten Street, Sonoma’s 3 Badge Mixology is not a distillery – but owner August Sebastiani has been in the spirits distribution business since 2012 and his company has launched a broad array of brands including Masterson’s Whiskey, Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin, Kirk and Sweeney’s Dominican Rum and Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon.
This winter, August also launched Pasote, a line of Mexican tequilas made from pure blue agave. “The spirits market is just exploding,” he said. “We’re working on striking a balance between where the market is going and where opportunities exist on the supply side.”
August’s younger brother, Donny Sebastiani, is a newer entrant into the spirits business. His company, Don & Sons, is also bringing to market a limited production blue agave tequila line which he’ll launch this summer in select markets nationally.
Local businessman – and current president of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board – Sal Chavez has also dipped his toe into the wholesale spirits distribution business with his company, Puente- Internacional, which sources and markets food, wine and spirits. His inaugural product launch is the Licores Latinos Portfolio of Mexican spirits.
Chavez aims to provide “Latin-sourced spirits for those who embrace the Latino culture,” he said. He currently offers three craft spirits from Mexico – a mescal, a tequila and a rum.
What lies ahead? Local bars are getting in on the action, as evidenced by the craft cocktail menu at the Starling on the former site of Blue Moon Saloon, and Murphy’s Irish Pub’s new craft-cocktail bar opening soon. Much of the trend is fueled by the tastes of trendy millennials who drink a wider variety of spirits than any previous generation, according to Beverage Daily.
Fred Groth has been attending the American Distillers Institute annual meeting since 2000.
“The first year I went, there were 45 people there,” said Fred. “This year, there were 2,000.”
To the casual observer, the surfboard may seem like a simple object. You put it in the water, climb on and ride the waves. Shouting “Cowabunga!” is rather out of date, and therefore optional.
Of course, surfing isn’t that easy, and neither is making a great surfboard. Richard Kenvin, curator of the “Surf Craft” exhibit at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, maintains that creating surfboards is an art in itself.
The downtown Sonoma exhibit features more than 60 colorful surfboards, from handmade Hawaiian boards from the early 19th century to the sophisticated hydrodynamic designs of today. But these objects are not just pretty artifacts.
“This is not art for art’s sake,” Kenvin said. “Surfboards are beautiful, but they are put to use. Then when you pull them out of that context and put them in an exhibit, they take on another life as well. These stand up as well-designed objects.”
“Weird Board”, a single fin stinger shaped by Hans Newman, 1972. Made of Polyurethane foam, fiberglass, and resin. Hand painted. 5’2” x 19.25: x 2.75”. Collection of Hans Newman.
Kenvin bears the unique, self-invented title of Surf Historian. He originally put together the exhibit two years ago for the Mingei International Museum in San Diego and wrote the book “Surf Craft” to accompany it.
“There’s no formal curriculum for that, is there?” Kenvin conceded. “But I’ve been surfing all my life, and I dabble in making my own boards.”
A longfish collaboration between Skip Frye (board), Stanley Pleskunas (fins), and Larry Gephardt (side-bites), 2004. Made of polyurethane foam, fiberglass, pvc foam, and pvc. Collection of Skip Frye.
Now 55, Kenvin has lived in the San Diego area since boyhood, writes for The Surfer’s Journal and has made an extensive study of surfing’s most influential board designers.
“I’ve been researching these boards, and in particular a surfer named Bob Simmons, who was active in the late ’40s and early ’50s, and died in a surfing accident in 1954 at Windandsea here in San Diego, which is where I surf,” Kenvin said.
“Simmons is prominently featured in the exhibit and the book because his work was ahead of its time, but maybe too ahead of its time, so it never really caught on then. About 10 or 12 years ago, I started researching that and finding his old boards. He was one of the first surfboard makers to use Fiberglas and resin.”
Surf bathing board from the early 1900’s made of balsa, and painted canvas. Unknown craftsman. Collection of Richard Kenvin.
Schooled in engineering and math at Caltech, Simmons was disabled in a cycling accident when he was hit by a car.
“Simmons almost lost his left arm, and there was an old paddleboard surfer in the bed next to him at the hospital, who told him to try surfing to rehabilitate that arm,” Kenvin said.
“What was available then were these solid planks that weighed a hundred pounds, and right away Simmons started applying his knowledge to making a better vehicle for riding waves. He basically laid the foundation of what is now the modern surfboard.”
Classified as disabled and exempt from active military service during World War II, Simmons worked as a machinist on aircraft manufactured in the Los Angeles area, “so he had access to all these new materials that were coming out of the aerospace industry,” Kenvin said.
“So now surfboard design is in a really big renaissance as far as surfboard performance and what surfers are doing. It’s just exploding in a way that it never has before. There are more craftsmen making their own boards, while at the same time there’s more and more sophisticated mass production, with much better product.”
Simmons had a lot to do with that, Kenvin said, and people are going back to paying more attention to what he was doing.
“Weird Board”, a single fin stinger shaped by Hans Newman, 1972. Made of Polyurethane foam, fiberglass, and resin. Hand painted. Collection of Hans Newman.
Kristine Bodily-Gallagher, chef and owner of Savvy on First, has brightened Cloverdale’s culinary scene with her farm-fresh dishes served in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. (Photo / Christopher Chung)
Thirty years ago, they whispered this about Healdsburg: “It’s the next St. Helena.” Could Cloverdale be the next Healdsburg? Some Cloverdalians think so.
Kristine Bodily-Gallagher, chef and owner of Savvy on First, has brightened Cloverdale’s culinary scene with her farm-fresh dishes served in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
Despite its could-be-anywhere name, location in the northernmost edge of Sonoma County and reputation for lacking amenities and Wine Country culture, Cloverdale is coming on. New restaurants and boutiques. A coffeehouse that’s a community gathering place. A burgeoning arts scene. Fresh ownership of tired businesses. Summer concerts on the plaza that draw 2,000 adults and kids. City slickers, drawn by the rustic beauty and calm, are relocating to Cloverdale — some bringing high-end businesses with them.
More evidence: The city, chosen by Budget Travel magazine in 2010 as one of “America’s Coolest Small Towns,” co-hosted, with Geyserville, the inaugural Alexander Valley Film Festival last October. On the same weekend, the Red Bull Aces skydiving competition was held at Cloverdale Muncipal Airport, with 40 competitors jumping out of helicopters and “flying” through an aerial course in winged suits. Motels, bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants, bars and shops were packed.
Savvy on First has brightened Cloverdale’s culinary scene with farm-fresh dishes served in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
Kristine Bodily-Gallagher is but one example of how the town is changing. The Healdsburg resident ran her catering business, Savvy, in a rented kitchen at St. John’s Catholic Church in the ’Burg. She outgrew the space and ended up on First Street in Cloverdale, in December 2013. Catering morphed into a restaurant, Savvy on First. Of the first four Cloverdalians asked on the street where to eat, all said Savvy.
“Everyone in Cloverdale seemed happy for me to be there,” Bodily-Gallagher said, “and it snowballed from there. I listened to what the locals wanted, and the menu is based on that.”
“That” includes all-day breakfasts, brunch, sophisticated yet comforting salads and sandwiches for lunch, and dinners whose menus vary by what’s fresh and seasonal: steak frites, roast chicken and a glorious burger are among the offerings, and as good as anything served in Healdsburg. Residents are eagerly waiting for The Trading Post Market & Bakery to open this spring. Matt Semmelhack, owner of the AQ and Bon Marché restaurants in San Francisco, and his Smuin Ballet-dancing wife, Robin Cornwell, already sell artisan breads baked on-site, while renovations are completed on the restaurant and beer-and-wine bar.
An Aztec hot chocolate at Plank Coffee in Cloverdale. (Photo by Beth Schlanker)
Marne Dupere left her Los Angeles furniture and design store, Orange, and eventually found her way to Healdsburg. She and Mike Morisette opened 14feet, selling vintage furniture and eclectic home decor. But they wanted to buy a home, and the price was right in Cloverdale. Once there and craving great java, they opened Plank Coffee in 2012. It became an instant magnet for locals to hang out. Eventually they relocated 14feet next door to Plank.
Nearly 9,000 folks live in Cloverdale, a mix of old-timers and newcomers lured by attractive real estate prices when compared with Healdsburg, Sonoma and Sebastopol. The slower, agrarian pace of life is a draw. The city got a boost in 1997, when Del Webb Corp.’s Clover Springs housing development made Cloverdale a haven for seniors, and word began to spread that the town had its charms.
Mary O’Gorman left San Francisco for Cloverdale in 1999, building a successful real estate business. She tipped off her son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Alexandra O’Gorman, to the availability of an 1870 Victorian home on north Cloverdale Boulevard. They bought it in 2000 and moved from Berkeley.
A work called “Purple Shades of Summer” by artist Tyson Barbera is part of the Sculpture Trail in Cloverdale. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
“We weren’t looking for it, but Cloverdale was such a small town and we knew we wanted that,” Alexandra said. “We didn’t have kids then, but we thought it would be a great place to raise them.”
Liam and Sophia O’Gorman are now 12 and 10, and their parents have communications jobs in the wine industry. They are deeply involved in Cloverdale’s arts community and praise Mark Tharrington, executive director of the Cloverdale Arts Alliance and longtime member of its board, for getting folks excited about their city.
In 2013, the alliance joined Geyserville’s Sculpture Trail, with rotating works installed in the towns and along the 101 corridor between them. The Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, opened in 2007, offers theatrical, dance, music and other arts opportunities. The alliance’s headquarters includes an art gallery and event space, where jazz and Americana music concerts are held.
New Clover Theater owners Kathryn and Ryan Hecht, former New York actors, spiffed up the place and show first-run, independent and children’s films. The gourmet ice cream counter in the lobby is open even when the theater is not. The Hechts founded the Alexander Valley Film Festival in 2015; Bodily-Gallagher made caramel popcorn for screenings.
Yet it’s Friday Night Live, the O’Gormans said, that has provided the most energy to Cloverdale. Tharrington books a wide range of live music acts, including local harmonica virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite, for the free concerts, held every Friday evening on the plaza in summer and joined by a farmers market and food trucks. Seemingly, the whole town shows up.
“Friday Night Live,” Alexandra O’Gorman said, “has given everyone a reason to stay home in the summer.”
Roberto Perdomo rolls out dough to make fruit-filled empanadas at his Cloverdale bakery, Panaderia El Palomo, which he and his wife, Adriana Lara, opened in 2005. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
In the 1990s, what could have spelled death to Cloverdale’s downtown turned out to have a silver lining. Highway 101, which cut through the center of town and forced drivers to make stops at some intersections, became a proper freeway in 1994, rerouted east of town. Many businesses suffered or closed after the diversion, so city officials launched a $4 million redesign of downtown (arts alliance founder Joyce Mann led the efforts) to include a plaza, upgraded storefronts and walkways. Like Healdsburg’s plaza, Cloverdale’s provides a place for residents to meld into a singular community.
It’s all a far cry from Cloverdale’s early days, when sawmills, manufacturing and citrus groves dominated the landscape.
“Cloverdale used to be a logging town,” explained Rich Blasi, a Cloverdale auto serviceman, as he watched a construction crew add the finishing touches to Papa’s Pizza, which owner Mike Nixon expanded and relocated from First Street to Cloverdale Boulevard. “Until 1960 or so, there were 13 sawmills and 13 bars. It’s all changed so much.”
Roberto Perdomo rolls out dough to make fruit-filled empanadas at his Cloverdale bakery, Panaderia El Palomo, which he and his wife, Adriana Lara, opened in 2005. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
In the 1890s, acres upon acres of oranges and lemons were planted, and the area became known as the “Orange Belt” (Healdsburg was the “Buckle of the Prune Belt”). But killing frosts and competition from Southern California groves forced ranchers to turn to peaches and apricots. After Prohibition, it was wine grapes, and today there are seven winery tasting rooms and an American Viticultural Area, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak, in the region. Yet the Citrus Fair remains, having marked its 124th birthday in February.
Cloverdale isn’t teeming (yet) with tourists, but the trickle has increased to a babbling brook, generating welcome tax revenue. A train station was built in 1998, though service was never established. However, SMART plans to extend its rail line from Santa Rosa to Cloverdale in the future, likely bringing more visitors.
Even as the town changes, longtime traditions like the Cloverdale Citrus Fair remain a big draw for the community. (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)
Vestiges of old Cloverdale remain. The Dante, which began life in 1888 as the New Toscano Hotel, continues to draw a colorful mix of those who drink by day and those who drink by night. Pick’s Drive-In has served ice cream, burgers and hot dogs since 1923. The Cloverdale Historical Society resides in the 1880s-built Gould-Shaw house. Stately Victorians still line Cloverdale Boulevard. One lumber mill remains, Redwood Empire Sawmill.
Healdsburg was once called “Hicksburg,” and look at it now. “Clovertucky” is still heard occasionally to describe Cloverdale, though the joke has worn thin. Some residents are concerned that the city will become too much like Healdsburg, where parking has become difficult and downtown winery tasting rooms have replaced shops that once catered to locals.
“Cloverdale is developing exactly as it should, with its own personality separate from Healdsburg, yet distinctly Sonoma County,” Christopher O’Gorman said. “It’s a perfect blend of rural authenticity and Wine Country. It’s a great family town, a great place to invest, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.”
It’s summertime in Sonoma County, when everyone wants to be out and about. From parks to museums to hanging out in the backyard, here are some cool ideas to add more pleasure to the season.
Refresh Yourself
Any drink will look refreshing in this nautical-theme Nantucket Beverage Jar. It may have an East Coast vibe, but it’s comfortably at home on a Sonoma patio. Infuse water with fresh fruit from the farmers market or take it up an adult notch and add a distilled spirit for an enticing combination.
$50, Sur La Table, Montgomery Village, 2323 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-566-9820, surlatable.com
Stylish Sight
Here’s one of Oprah’s favorite things at an affordable price. Peepers by Peeperspecs come with a case and range in power from 0.00 to 4.00. Available as sunglass reading glasses, bifocal sunglasses and no-power glasses, there are so many shapes and colors that you’ll want a different pair for every day of the week.
Picnic Perfection
Going glamping or planning an Instagram-worthy picnic?
Pick up Clos du Bois winery’s Joie de Vin Collection, with high-end paper goods from Idlewild Co. This chic set includes everything you need for a celebration for 10. A colorful patterned canvas tote keeps it all neatly stowed, including paper plates, napkins, placements, coasters and two reusable plastic stemless wineglasses. And of course, a bottle of Clos du Bois California Chardonnay.
Good with S’mores
On the scene since 2015, Revive Kombucha’s Campfire blend is brewed with a Japanese tea called genmaicha, a rustic green tea mixed with toasted rice. A perfect refreshment for the end of a long summer day, it is tasty, refreshing and made in Windsor.
$3.99, Whole Foods Markets
The Big Green Egg Family
What’s Cookin’?
Is it a grill, an oven or a smoker? The Big Green Egg may be the only outdoor cooker you’ll ever need, because it does it all. With its bright green color and distinctive shape, it’s also a conversation piece. It includes the nest with casters, folding side shelves, 20 pounds of organic lump charcoal, ash tool and fire starter.
$1,582, Buck Stoves Pools & Spas, 225 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa, buckstoves.net
Glass with Class
Make every day a special occasion with these handmade goblets. A work of art in their own right, they’re produced by Paulo DeLima, a glass artist known for using a centuries-old Venetian method to create artistic lighting, goblets and decanters. They come in a variety of styles and colors.
$175-$1,100, Studio Bel Vetro, 101-C Plaza St., Second Floor, Healdsburg, 617-686-4194, studiobelvetro.com
Sign in Here
Pick up this cheerful, vintage-inspired sign to add some local love to your decor, indoors or out. Available in two sizes, it comes in wood and metal models.
$100, Tiddle E. Winks Vintage 5 & Dime, 115 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-939-6933, tiddleewinks.com
Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (Photo by BASE Landscape Architecture)
Childs’ Play
A membership to the interactive Children’s Museum of Sonoma County is perfect for families with kids 10 and younger. They can climb a spiral staircase and explore a Victorian house, or learn how air travels when they pull the handle of the air cannon. Outside, there’s water play, nature trails and even a 1940s tractor ready for climbing.
$145 annual family membership, 1835 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-546-4069, cmosc.org
Take Flight
Climb aboard a restored vintage airplane for the memory of a lifetime, soaring over vineyards, rolling hills, San Pablo Bay and more in a World War II biplane with Vintage Aircraft Co. Experience the thrill of flight in a 1940s Navy version of the famed AT6 Texan.
Get Rollin’
Leave your car behind and take the bus. Explore Sonoma with Clipper, a convenient card that gives riders access to the entire county public transit system. Simply preload it with cash value, and Clipper automatically figures out the cost of your ride. Even better? Sonoma County Transit takes you to the trailheads of more than 30 regional parks.
355 W. Robles Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-576-7433, clipperecard.com. Also available at Sonoma County Walgreens stores, and Raley’s in Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa.
Cast Away
Need an excuse to get away and appreciate the natural surroundings? Take up fly-fishing with the Sonoma Traveler Trout Fly Fishing Outfit from Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters. It includes an 8-foot rod, Leland Pliny fly line, reel and leader, all zipped up in a nylon-covered rod tube for easy storage. Sign up for private casting lessons at the shop.$499.95,
24120 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-939-6910, lelandfly.com
White sapphires pearls and shark tooth at Jam Jar.
From flashes of turquoise and Yves Klein blues to burning copper and crimson reds, we are getting set for sunshine with bright colors, bold gemstones and cute creative pieces. Take a look at our top summer jewelry picks sourced from Sonoma County and other parts of California – all available in local boutiques.
Copper Cure-All
For thousands of years, people have used copper as a natural remedy for sore joints. Jury’s still out, but don’t let that stop you from picking up these stunning copper bracelets. Made by a local artist, choose from a variety of styles and widths—all affordably priced at $35 each. Available at Perlé in Sonoma.
Made Locally with Love
This statement necklace from Forestville artist Kate Joseph of Clouds and Ladders, is bound to bring compliments. Made from brass and polymer clay, the Half Moon Bunting necklace is 16 inches long and comes in a variety of colors. Available at Jam Jar in Santa Rosa.
Feel Good Retail Therapy Love Heals is a family run business that makes handmade jewelry in Ojai, California. This is retail therapy you can feel really good about. For each design sold, Love Heals will plant 10 trees in impoverished regions in Africa. Available at Perlé in Sonoma.
Give it Away
Want to feel inspired? Pick up a necklace by The Giving Keys, a Los Angeles company on a mission to spread inspiration. Featuring a single key, with an engraved word designed to inspire the wearer or those around them, words include breathe, create, fearless, courage, and others. Available at Danielle Nicole in Healdsburg.
Bay Area and Beyond
Oakland based Tangleweeds Handmade Jewelry makes these Drop earrings in many gem stones. Made from brass, copper, steel and sterling silver the line features semi-precious stones, vintage and recycled materials. Available at Jam Jar in Santa Rosa.
Natural Elements
Healdsburg artist Morgania E. Moore (M.E. Moore) makes these magnificent necklaces. Morgania is a treasure hunter with a love and fascination for the natural world. She fills her studio with unique objects and materials, allowing her to create pieces spontaneously. Her jewelry collections range from simple brass and copper to necklaces collaged from salvaged objects, and she often mixes natural elements such as bone, minerals and glass. Available at Jam Jar in Santa Rosa.
Message in a Bottle
Designed by Kris Nations, these fun California necklaces are made in the USA. Made from recycled brass with sterling silver or 14k gold overlay, the “message in a bottle” packaging is reusable and just plain clever. Available at Danielle Nicole in Healdsburg.
Necklaces in a bottle by Kris Nation. Photo by Tenaya Fleckenstein
Love Heals necklace. Perle, SonomaNecklace by Love Heals. Perle, SonomaHandmade brass cuff bracelets from M.E. Moore Jewelry. Jam Jar, Santa RosaNecklaces at Danielle Nicole, Healdsburg. Photo by Tenaya FleckensteinNecklaces at Danielle Nicole, Headslburg. Photo by Tenaya Fleckenstein
Two Birds One Stone has opened in St. Helena, Napa, with Michelin-starred chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon. Heather Irwin
It’s been a while since we’ve has seen Top Chef Master’s winner Douglas Keane in a restaurant kitchen. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been hard at work behind a stove.
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After the closure of his Michelin-starred restaurant and a brief chicken wing adventure at Graton Casino, he put all of his eggs into a new basket: Two Birds/One Stone in St. Helena. The casual Japanese-inspired pub recently opened in the luxuriously remodeled Freemark Abby, giving Keane and his co-collaborator Sang Yoon (LA’s Father’s Office, Lukshon) a playground to showcase California-style izakaya (basically pub grub to pair with sake, wine or beer).
Like the boisterous but culinarily disciplined Keane, Two Birds/One Stone is a wonderful tangle of contradictions: Flip-flop casual with white napkin service; a menu where creamed corn and soft-serve ice cream happily co-exist with cherry blossom gelee and Wagyu beef short ribs.
Duck Egg Custard with uni and crab at Two Birds One Stone in st. helena, a project of Chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon. Heather Irwin/PD
Two Birds/One Stone isn’t sushi rolls and tempura. Keane is a devotee of Japanese cuisine and culinary arts having studied things like dashi (fish and seaweed broth), tofu-making and tweezer-perfect presentation over decades. If you’re not a regular at Japanese restaurants, it’s easy to find some of the flavors are very unfamiliar — briny sea vegetables, miso, spicy ginger, yuzu (a Japanese citrus somewhere between a lemon and an orange), sesame and rice wine. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get adventurous. Prices for the small plates range from $4 to $14 (okay, the Wagyu is $17), so it’s worth a little experimentation.
Pork belly yakitori at Two Birds One Stone in st. helena, a project of Chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon. Heather Irwin/PD
Host Nick Peyton is a familiar face in the dining room, moving from table to table with charm. “We really learned how to make chicken wings,” he jokes about the brief casino experience. An eclectic wine list from Master Somm Kevin Reilly includes on-tap wines made by top name vintners exclusively for the restaurant, along with sake and a craft cocktail program that compliments the Japanese cuisine. Corkage on one bottle of Napa or Sonoma wine is free.
Won ton chips at Two Birds One Stone, opened by chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon in St. Helena, Napa. Heather Irwin.
What to eat
If, like me, you’ve been a fan of Keane through the years, you’ll see some familiar old favorites like his wonton ‘chips n dip ($5) from Healdsburg’s former Shiso Modern Steak House; crispy chicken wings with chili-yuzu glaze ($9) from the short-lived eatery at the Graton Casino, or the precious silken tofu ($10) with chilled shiitake broth, sea grapes, and salmon pearls ($10) very reminiscent of Cyrus.
The famous chicken wings at Two Birds One Stone in St. Helena. Heather Irwin/PD
If we were to pick two can’t-miss dishes, the first would be duck egg custard with fresh uni, crab and lemon verbena ($14) that’s as comforting as pudding, but with a savory, ocean-y flavor unique to Asian cuisine. The other is the creamed sweet corn ($6), a humble dish that reaches epic deliciousness with white miso, lots of pickled ginger and cilantro.
Foie gras with cherry gelee and popped sorghum at Two Birds One Stone, opened by chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon in St. Helena, Napa. Heather Irwin.
Foie Gras Parfait ($12): Foie gras mousse, cherry gelee and popped sorghum that’s almost too decadent to eat. Almost.
Silken Tofu with chilled shitaake broth, furikake, sea grapes and salmon pearls at Two Birds One Stone in St. Helena, Napa. Heather Irwin/PD
Silken tofu ($10): This is a chilled dish, with flavorful and earthy shiitake mushroom broth poured tableside. Sea meets terra firma with this luxurious dish that could easily come from the Cyrus menu.
Savory Japanese Pancake ($14): You won’t be able to eat this delicious frisbee of a dish, but it’s a whole lot of fun trying. Made with green onion, duck ham, eggs, and a topping of bonito flakes (dried shrimp), it’s even better the next day. Keane says this dish is definitely a creation of Yoon, and Doug insisted it be on the menu.
Tucker’s Daily Harvest at Two Birds One Stone, opened by chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon in St. Helena, Napa. Heather Irwin.
Tucker’s Daily Harvest ($13): Fresh baby produce is skewered and placed atop edamame puree and aerated tofu (really a sort of tofu sauce). The restaurant has a special relationship with Jackson Family Wines, who own the property, and along with that comes a bounty of produce from Kendall-Jackson’s resident farmer, Tucker Taylor.
Wagyu beef at Two Birds One Stone, opened by chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon in St. Helena, Napa. Heather Irwin.
Yakitori: These little sticks of meat are seminal to the izakaya experience. We tried the pork belly with spicy yuzu and kimchee ($11); Jim’s duck breast with figs and spicy tamarind ($13) and wagyu short rib ($17), which were all tender, juicy and lush.
Matcha soft serve at Two Birds One Stone, opened by chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon in St. Helena, Napa. Heather Irwin.
Matcha soft serve ($7): Japanese seem to love ice cream, but here it’s infused with green tea. More exotic is the “peaches and cream” ($4), liquid nitrogen “dots” that melt on the tongue.
Specialty cocktails like this five spice mai tai at Two Birds One Stone, opened by chefs Douglas Keane and Sang Yoon in St. Helena, Napa. Heather Irwin.
Cocktails: Don’t miss the insane selection of Japanese and American whiskeys, the impressive wine list (this is Wine Country, after all), five spice mai tai or whiskey sour with yuzu honey and lemon.
It’s great to see Sonoma County’s truest celebrity chef back in the kitchen, creating Japanese-California cuisine that only Doug Keane can do. Even if it is in Napa.
We’ve all seen them on home decoration and cooking shows; in glossy magazines with radiantly smiling women: neat and tidy kitchens with not a spatula or stray spoon in sight. But few of us have actually seen them in reality. And most of us can’t even find the counter beneath the clutter.
As I’m currently going through a move with my family to a smaller home, there are quite a few things I’ve had to take a more stringent look at to decide whether they stay or go – with a lot of them going. But no matter how far I’ve pared down the number of appliances and utensils, without a set of good habits the kitchen ends up exasperating.
After much trial and error, I’ve found six foolproof tips and tricks to conquer the kitchen clutter.
1. Clean Daily
It’s easy to become involved in other household activities and leave dishes in the sink or coffee mugs on the counter. The problem is that the dishes can keep piling up…
The best routine to ensure that a mess doesn’t get out of control is setting time aside each day to make sure all the dishes are put away, counters wiped down, and boxes of food placed back in the pantry. (Remember to involve other family members in this routine).
2. Assess Your Appliances
Most kitchen cupboards will contain a waffle iron that’s only been used twice in the past five years, a toaster as well as a toaster oven, and a Panini press still in the box. If an appliance hasn’t been used in the past six months, it should be donated.
With unused appliances out of the way, the cabinets will be more spacious and easier to organize.
3. Clear The Counter
Don’t let your counter become a catch-all. Random items placed on a counter add up quickly and create a chaotic, unattractive space.
Clearing the counter at the end of the day means you can wake up to a clean, restful space to enjoy your morning coffee in.
4. Utilize Your Sink
An over the sink cutting board keeps prep work off the counter, and food scraps easy to clean up. It can also help to discourage plates being left in the sink.
Additions like an over the sink shelf can help to keep often-used products like paper towels and sponges close by so they don’t end up scattered around the kitchen.
5. Get Creative With Organizers
These airtight glass containers are an attractive way to store and display cooking essentials. The uniform sizes and shapes create order and balance.
Magazine holders become an innovative way to keep food and plastic wrap categorized and neat.
6. Set Aside A Day To Deep Clean
For two hours on a weekend morning, we band together in my house and get down to the nitty-gritty. Mopping, scrubbing the oven, and even wiping down the walls will all be done in one day, leaving the rest of the week for the small chores.
Giving the kitchen a good, deep cleaning once a week prevents dust, dirt and crumbs from gathering in corners and keeps the kitchen smelling fresh. Once it becomes a habit, living with a clean kitchen will become the norm instead of the exception.
Hold on to your hats, folks — this weekend is filled with fun to be had. This Saturday, head to Petaluma for the annual Rivertown Revival on the banks of Steamer Landing Park. On Friday and Satuday, laugh yourself silly at the Sonoma County Comedy Fest at the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa. And take a step back in time at the 17th annual Civil War Days in Duncans Mills. All this and more is in our list of things to do.
‘Fantastical Family Night,’ part of ‘Broadway Under the Stars’ series, plays Friday at Jack London State Historic Park, Glen Ellen.
FRIDAY, July 15
Sonoma County Comedy Fest: Two nights of comedy are coming to the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa when Crushers of Comedy presents the Sonoma County Comedy Fest. On Saturday and Sunday evenings, enjoy hilarious stand up comedy from celebrated Bay Area comedians like Priya Prasad, Ronn Vigh, Kevin Camia and more. Tickets are $40 one day, and $70 for both. Festival attendees get a discount on music and dancing at the Lounge at the Flamingo each night after the show just by showing their wristband. Find out all the details at www.crushersofcomedy.com. (July 15 – 16)
Parks Make Life Better Bash: July is National Parks & Rec Month, and the city of Santa Rosa is celebrating with a party at Howarth Park. From 5-8 p.m. this Friday, enjoy free entertainment such as animal barn tours, stage entertainment, fun giveaways and more. The Sonoma County Traveling Fair will also be there to offer a preview of the upcoming fair. Find out more at pd2go.net/ParksBash.
Festival Napa Valley: Ten-day festival opener, Kristin Chenoweth recital, 6 p.m., Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga. Sold out. 346-5052, festivalnapavalley.org.
Royal Jelly Jive: Swingin’ soul jive, ‘Friday Night Live’ outdoor concert series, 7 p.m., Cloverdale Plaza. Free. 894-4410, cloverdaleartsalliance.org.
The Rock Collection: Melvin Seals, Greg Anton, Stu Allen, Lebo and J.P. McLean, 8:30 p.m., Mystic Theatre, Petaluma. $25. 765-2121, mystictheatre.com.
‘Merrily We Roll Along’: Opening night, Stephen Sondheim musical, Summer Repertory Theatre, 8 p.m., Burbank Auditorium, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa. $15-$25. 527-4307, summerrep.com.
‘Fantastical Family Night’: ‘Broadway Under the Stars’ series, 5 p.m. picnicking, performance 7:30 p.m., Jack London State Historic Park, Glen Ellen. $29-$134. (877) 424-1414, ttcsonoma.org.
The Rivertown Revival festival takes place 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. (Photo by John Burgess)
SATURDAY, July 16
Rivertown Revival: This Saturday, turn back the clocks for an old-timey celebration on the banks of the Petaluma River. Steamer Landing Park will be transformed into a town that time forgot with costumes, music, art boat races, $5 weddings and more. The festival takes place 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and admission is $10 adults, and $5 kids 17 and under. Find out all the details at rivertownrevival.com.
Civil War Days: In its 17th year, the largest Civil War reenactments in Northern California returns to Duncans Mills. On Saturday and Sunday, take a step back in time as history is portrayed by hundreds of reenactors. Battle times take place 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $12, kids 6-12 are $6, and kids under 6 are free. Parking is $5. Find out all the details at www.civilwardays.net. (July 16 – 17)
Art is Medicine Show: Celebrating 8 years of bilingual, bicycle-powered theatre, this traveling theater company is embarking on Southwest Community Park in Santa Rosa for an afternoon of storytelling. Starting at 4 p.m., kick back on the grass and enjoy as this free program by the Imaginists entertains. They will also perform Friday night at Landpaths/Bayer Farm. Find out more at theimaginists.org/2016tour.
Alive!: All-women’s jazz quintet reunion concert, 8 p.m. Saturday, Occidental Center for the Arts. $25. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Midsummer Garden Tea: Song of Sonoma Chorus, hat contest, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, Santa Rosa. $50. 524-5445, lutherburbank.org.
The Babys: British rock group, plus local rock duo V², 8 p.m. Saturday, House of Rock, Santa Rosa. $40-$55. 791-3482, rockstaruniversity.com.
‘West Side Stories Presents Bil Lepp’: Nationally renowned storyteller with host Dave Pokorny, 8 p.m. Saturday, Mystic Theatre, Petaluma. $15. westsidestoriespetaluma.com.
Cheeseballs: Top San Francisco dance band, Bastille Day ‘Dance on the Lawn,’ noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Chateau St. Jean Winery, Kenwood. Free. 257-5784, chateaustjean.com.
The largest Civil War reenactments in Northern California returns to Duncans Mills on Saturday and Sunday. (Photo by Beth Schlanker)
SUNDAY, July 17
Poetry at the Bean Affair: This Sunday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., the Bean Affair in Healdsburg presents poet Russ Messing who will read from his most recent book of poetry,
“Midnight’s Breathing:” Following his reading, the stage will open for anyone else who would like to read poetry or brief prose. Find out more at hbglitguild.org.
Jess Petty: Trumpeter and vocalist, the Michael Brandeburg Jazz Trio, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
Valley of the Moon Music Festival: Sixteen-day chamber music festival opener, 4 p.m. Sunday, Hanna Boys Center, Sonoma. $20-$40. valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org.
A Peek at Next Week…
The Sonoma County Fair opens July 22. (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)
Monday, July 18
‘Mr. Schulz Goes to Washington’: Presidential-themed Peanuts comic strips and memorabilia, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa. $5-$12. 579-4452, schulzmuseum.org.
Tuesday, July 19
Hot Summer Nights: Hear four local authors read from their books 7-8 p.m. every Tuesday in July at Copperfield’s Books, 775 Village Ct. Santa Rosa. redwoodwriters.org, copperfieldsbooks.com.
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons: Legendary singer of hits like “Grease” and “Sherry,” 7 p.m. Tuesday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $79-$125. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Wednesday, July 20
Marian Palaia: ‘Books & Brews’ book-talk series with ‘The Given World’ novelist, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Calistoga Inn. Free. 942-1616, copperfieldsbooks.com.
David McCarroll: Beethoven with Festival Orchestra 2 featuring the violin virtuoso, Mendocino Music Festival, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Tent Concert Hall, Main Street, Mendocino. $12-$49. 937-2044, mendocinomusic.org.
Soul Fuse: Funk, soul and fusion band, ‘Peacetown Summer Concert Series,’ 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Ives Park, Sebastopol. Free. 823-1511, peacetown.org.
Thursday, July 21
Native Elements: Reggae and Caribbean beat, ‘Rockin’ the River’ outdoor concert series, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Guerneville Plaza. Free. rockintheriver.org.
Toronzo Cannon: Chicago electric blues guitarist, ‘Krush Backyard Concert Series,’ 6 p.m. Thursday, KRSH radio, Santa Rosa. Free. krsh.com.
Friday, July 22
Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express: Folk rock band, ‘Friday Night Live’ outdoor concert series, 7 p.m. July 22, Cloverdale Plaza. Free. 894-4410, cloverdaleartsalliance.org.
Sonoma County Fair: Opening day July 22, (runs through Aug. 7, closed Mondays), admission 11 a.m.-9 p.m., ABBA tribute band at 7:30 p.m., Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. $6-$12. 545-4200, sonomacountyfair.com.
Grace Potter: Alternative rock musician and her band, 8 p.m. July 22, SOMO Village Event Center, Rohnert Park. $39.50-$42.50. somoconcerts.com.
Hollywood Vampires: Hard rock with Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry, 7:30 p.m. July 22, Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $40-$135. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
George Lopez: ‘Thats True Comedy Tour,’ 8 p.m. July 22, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $55-$250. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
The BluesBurners: Funk, rock, electric blues and rhythm and blues band, ‘Funky Fridays’ outdoor concert series, 7 p.m. July 22, Hood Mansion, Santa Rosa. $10. 833-6288, funkyfridays.info.
Saturday, July 23
Jack Stuppin: ‘Past Tense, Present Tense’ exhibit reception for nationally known Sonoma County painter, 5-8 p.m. July 23, IceHouse Gallery, Petaluma. Free. 778-2238, icehousegallery.org.
‘Dancing Under the Stars’: Salsa lessons 6:30 p.m., live music by Orquesta La Original 7-10 p.m. July 23, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Geyserville. $25-$30. 857-1400, francisfordcoppolawinery.com.
Shawn Thwaites Rebel Quartet: Jazz, hip-hop, funk, calypso and reggae ensemble, 8 p.m. July 23, Occidental Center for the Arts. $15-$18. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
‘Forty Years of Cheers!’: Wine Road festival with live music, food, wine, kids’ activities, art and crafts, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. July 23, outside Healdsburg City Hall. Free. wineroad.com.
Ingrid Michaelson: Indie pop and folk musician, 7 p.m. July 23, Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville. $80-$110. (888) 769-5299, robertmondaviwinery.com.
Smokey Robinson: Acclaimed Motown singer-songwriter in concert, 5 p.m. July 23, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg. $80-$129. 431-1533, rodneystrong.com.
‘Blues at the Green’: Taj Mahal, Hot Tuna and Marcia Ball, 7:30 p.m. July 23, Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $25-$65. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
The Sun Kings: Beatles tribute band, ‘Rockin’ Concerts’ series, noon-3 p.m. July 23, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
Dr. John & The Nite Trippers: New Orleans’ musical legacy, 8 p.m. July 23, Uptown Theatre, Napa. $40-$50. 259-0123, uptowntheatrenapa.com.
Sunday, July 24
‘Werther’: Recorded live presentation from The Royal Opera in London, 1 p.m. July 24, Summerfield Cinemas, Santa Rosa. $16-$20. 525-8909, summerfieldcinemas.com.
The Disorderly House Band: Americana/folk rock and electric, ‘Music on the Lawn’ series, 2:30-4:30 p.m. July 24, St. Francis Winery, Santa Rosa. Free. 538-9463, stfranciswinery.com.
Hot Rods: Classic oldies tribute band, 1-4 p.m. July 24, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.
Reckless Kelly: Austin-based alternative country and rock ’n’ roll band, 8:30 p.m. July 24, Mystic Theatre, Petaluma. $22. 765-2121, mystictheatre.com.
Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers: Pop vocalist and saxophonist, 7:30 p.m. July 24, House of Rock, Santa Rosa. $50-$65. 791-3482, rockstaruniversity.com.
Marcia Ball: Texas boogie-woogie, ‘Sundays in the Park’ concert series, 6-8 p.m. July 24, Todd Grove Park, Ukiah. Free. 463-6231, cityofukiah.com.
Steele and Hops, a brew pub in Santa Rosa, has opened. Heather Irwin
Santa Rosa’s newest sud stop , Steele and Hops Brewpub, has opened, with a more than 20 beers on tap and a menu that includes a house smoked beef brisket sandwich with homemade bbq sauce on a brioche bun, house ground burgers, fried cheese curds, pizzas and other beer (and wine) friendly grub.
Steele and Hops, a brew pub in Santa Rosa, has opened. Heather Irwin
Restaurant veteran and co-owner Cully Williamson has given the former Heritage Public House a makeover, adding a 10 barrel stainless steel fermentation tank behind the bar, and plans to continue brewing beer on location in 2017.
Steele and Hops, a brew pub in Santa Rosa, has opened. Heather IrwinSteele and Hops, a brew pub in Santa Rosa, has opened. Heather IrwinSteele and Hops, a brew pub in Santa Rosa, has opened. Heather IrwinPizza at Steele and Hops, a brew pub in Santa Rosa, Heather IrwinBeecher cheese curds at Steele and Hops, a brew pub in Santa Rosa, Heather Irwin
Biteclub checked out the soft opening, and loved the cheese curds and pizza on the abbreviated menu. I’ll report back when the kitchen has had a few days to settle in, and the full menu is out. But all signs point to the third time being a charm for this family-friendly watering hole.
Steele and Hops, a brew pub in Santa Rosa, has opened. Heather Irwin
At 1.6 miles, on a horseshoe right bend, is weather-chiseled Bubble Rock, a pock-marked igneous formation that is popular with rock climbers.
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