Ibis: Rare Birds Spotted in Petaluma

Written by Eric Gneckow for the Petaluma Argus-Courier. Many hundreds of bird species have made an appearance in the expansive wetlands of southeast Petaluma, delighting birders and casual observers alike. But every now and then, one species takes the spotlight. In what one wetlands activist described as a potentially once-in-a-generation event, a group of white-faced […]

The Best Deals of Sonoma County Restaurant Week 2016

Written by Heather Irwin for BiteClubEats. Best. Sonoma County Restaurant Week. Ever. After six years of trial and error, the more than 100 regional restaurants participating in this year’s Sonoma County Restaurant Week (March 7-13, 2016) have dialed it in with great meals at great prices for 2016. I’m more impressed with the lineup this […]
Russian River Brewing Company's Vinnie Cilurzo, with wife Natalie, is a semifinalist for Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional in the James Beard Foundation Awards.

2016 James Beard Award Semifinalists Announced

Two Sonoma County men were among semifinalists announced Wednesday for the James Beard Foundation’s 2016 restaurant and chef awards. Russian River Brewing Co.’s Vinnie Cilurzo of Santa Rosa and Littorai Wines’ Ted Lemon of Sebastopol were among the 20 making the cut for Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional. About two dozen Bay Area restaurants […]

Sonoma County Winery Tasting Rooms to Visit This Winter

  Winter is quiet and contemplative in Sonoma, a time when grapevines go dormant and the wines from the 2015 harvest are at rest in cellars. The countryside can be beautiful, dark golden and gray, without a grape leaf in sight. It’s a fine season to stop in at wineries, which are apt to be […]
Photography by Rebecca Chotkowski.

Petaluma Painter Roberta Ahrens: The Wall is Her Canvas

Whether Roberta Ahrens creates a panoramic mural or an 8-by-8-foot painted canvas, her work is never diminutive. Nature speaks to her in a loud voice, and she translates that inspiration into paintings that are lifelike yet unique. She paints cherubs on ceilings, and lilies, poppies and peonies on cracked linen, bringing vibrancy and boldness to […]
Mensona Kennel Club: This weekend at the Lyttle Cow Palace at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, watch a few dozen smart dogs take part in agility trials. This entertaining event is free to attend, and takes place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find out all the details at mensona.org. (PD FILE)

Things To Do This Week In Sonoma County

  Tuesday, Feb. 2 Jessica Lea Mayfield: Singer-songwriter. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol. $10-$12. 829-7300, hopmonk.com. Wednesday, Feb. 3 ‘West Side Stories’: Five-minute true stories live onstage. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Sonoma Portworks, Petaluma. $8. westsidestoriespetaluma.com. Thursday, Feb. 4 ‘Into the Woods’: Live musical opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; closes Feb. 14. Person Theatre, Sonoma […]
A scene from "American Graffiti." (Photo courtesy Everett Collection)

Big Directors Who Filmed in Small Sonoma Towns

Wine Country’s quaint hamlets and seaside towns have attracted Hollywood hot shots including Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola.  Visitors to Sonoma might think they’ve seen it all before, and they probably have: in films featuring its quaint towns, dramatic coastline, ancient redwood stands, rolling hills and valleys. Hitchcock, Lucas and Coppola were […]