Boston Terriers by Tim Shorten. (Courtesy of The Alchemia Gallery)

The Alchemia Gallery is Fostering Creative Gifts in Petaluma

For the artists who show at The Alchemia Gallery in Petaluma, art is not only good for the soul, it’s a pathway to independence and self-empowerment. Opened in 2010, the Kentucky Street storefront showcases the work of a unique collective: adults with a wide range of developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome, autism and cerebral […]

Things to Do This Week in Sonoma County

Written by Crissi Langwell & Dan Taylor for the Press Democrat. Ready for some springtime fun this weekend? We have a few ideas. On Saturday take a hike up Bald Mountain. And all weekend long there will be Easter egg hunts, galore. All this and more is in our list of things to do. Looking […]
Joe McDonald and his tree house Airbnb rental in Petaluma on Tuesday March 15, 2016. (SCOTT MANCESTER / ARGUS-COURIER STAFF)

Petaluma Airbnb Visitors Stay in Style

As short-term rentals gain popularity across Sonoma County, some zany options for accommodations have emerged in Petaluma, including one that’s nestled about 30 feet up in a tree in Cherry Valley. The treehouse, owned by Petaluman Joe McDonald, can be booked through Airbnb, a website offering nightly accommodations from hosts in more than 190 countries. […]

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 […]