Poor dad. You’ve given him 400 ugly ties, 10 humorous golfing calendars
(despite the fact that he doesn’t play), gallons of outrageously stinky cologne
and had to Fedex ‘Happy Father’s Day’ cards (late) more times than you can
remember. And yet, he still wires you money in Cancun,
fixes your car and tries to be consoling when you break-up with your boyfriend
for the twelfth time.
You owe him. Big. Redeem yourself this weekend.
Best bets:
– Free Beer w/Rubdown: Dad may be a little queasy about getting a facial,
massage and foot ‘ritual’, but when it comes with beer and pretzels, well,
there’s no shame in a little self-gratification. On Father’s Day, the Montecito
Health Club & Resort (at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa) offers spa services with dad’s
favorite beverage.
– King of the Castle at Ledson: Wine, BBQ, classic cars and live music. What
more could dad ask for. Ledson Vineyards, 7335 Sonoma Hwy (Hwy 12), Kenwood, 11am to 4pm, June 17, $25.
– Paella Party on the River: Paella Prince Gerard Nebesky throws one of his
outrageously fun outdoor culinary feasts on the Monte Rio Beach, $85. Call Relish
Culinary School
for details and availability. 877.759.1004
– Food & Wine Pairing Class: My dad has become a monster, throwing around terms like ‘long finish’ and ‘smokey with a hint of pepper’ with absolute abandon after taking a wine class. Give your papa the gift of at least appearing to know what’s swirling around in his glass. SRJC offers several courses, including a food & wine pairing.
Passion for Purple
And hey, if dad’s big on flowers, take him to the various lavender events
’round town this week. Or, uh, just get mom out of his hair for a while.
– Sonoma Lavender Festival: Indulge your senses a fragrantly festive
celebration of the purple plant with cooking demonstrations, farm tours and
lunch in the lavender field of Chateau St. Jean on June 16.
– Lavender Bee Farm in Petaluma offers guided tours of their farm and 5,000
lavender plants Saturdays and Sundays at 9 AM and closes at 1 PM. Click here
for details
– Annual Days of Wine & Lavender: Though the June 23 event at Matanzas Creek
Winery it’s sold out, you can get a sneak preview and sniff a whiff of the
hundreds of lavender plants blowing in the breeze.