Southern Sonoma Country Life

One Day at Aqus — Capturing the Faces of Our Community — Seven Photographers — Friday October 22, 2021

If you're an Aqus Cafe friend, fan, regular or occasional, you're part of a one-of-a-kind community. If you've yet to discover one of the friendliest little cafes in town, then now's the time to head over for breakfast or lunch, a coffee and pastry on the patio in the sunshine or a glass of something fun with a friend during happy hour on a mellow late afternoon. 

It's really great to share that One Day at Aqus, a fabulous photo marathon capturing the faces of our Aqus community, is happening again, some eight years after the inaugural. I don't look quite as youthful as I did in my smiling square, but I'm still smiling and I'm super happy that the eclectic and welcoming Aqus crowd is still smiling too and thriving after all of the challenges of the pandemic. Lesley, John and team are an institution. 

Be there or be square, or maybe I should say, be there and claim your square! 

 

Looking for a Recharge? Introducing Art and Nature Retreats in Bucolic West Petaluma

Are you dreaming of living and working differently? Change is certainly in the air this fall and I've had lots of conversations with friends and family members who are opening their minds and hearts to new ideas for moving forward as we make our way through the end of a long, dormant phase and into something more grounded and yet dynamic.

If you're in the camp of positive change and you're in the North Bay or have easy access to it, here's something terrific to tap into to get you started — Art and Nature retreats in peaceful, rustic west Petaluma. 

When is the last time that you put everything aside and took a long slow sip of fresh air, sat down with a paint set and let yourself doodle your way to life-changing insights? Where do you have your best ideas? In moments in between things or in the midst of things? Why not let go of the midst of all busy things and jump into a “between” space, to find some clarity on what's next for you?

Elizabeth Durney, master facilitator, artist and Petaluma native, will lead these experiences where participants unwind, paint, draw and engage in proven leadership exercises that will help you break through whatever is holding you back so that you can be happier and more effective in work and life.

Current offerings located in the bucolic, oak-studded Asombrosa gathering space on rural I Street, include:

• One-day Workshops: Autumn 2021- October 15 (This Friday! A few spaces still available!) and Nov 1st 
• The Journey Retreat Series: January-April 2022

Here’s to reclaiming yourself pandemic experience and getting clear on where you are you going. What are you waiting for? Invest in yourself! 

Here's a link to share with others: www.elizabethdurney.com   

For more info, opt in to Elizabeth's newsletter list.

Travel Tuesday — Exploring The North East Corridor By Rail — Part 1 Boston

Photos — Frances Rivetti 

"In Boston they ask, 'How much does he know?' In New York, 'How much is he worth?' In Philadelphia, 'Who were his parents?'." — Mark Twain 

Despite an ardent adoration of my adopted American West, I've long since had an enduring crush on the North East. My domestic travels in over 30 years of living in the States (Northern California) have taken me to the East Coast on seven or eight occasions, but I'm always open to excuses to up my number of visits. It's been New York mostly, though Boston and Philadelphia now, twice each. This may not amount to a whole lot of time spent on the East Coast for many, though I'm grateful for any and all time spent.

The thing about being a naturalized American is that to become one, you have to hail from somewhere other than the United States to start with. Most of my trips out of the state of California over the past three decades have been to the UK to visit my parents and family and mostly with my husband, Timo and our three boys or one or two of them sometimes, making for travel planning skills that varied in scope according to who was flying into and out of several different airports once they'd gone to college and graduated. Three times we've made it to Italy to visit Timo's extended family since we've lived in the States and there have been a few other European pit-stops in between.

My point is, carving out time in the American North East hasn't been much of a thing, especially as all three of our sons attended university in their home state of California. Fast forward all the hectic years of school and sports and kid-raising activities, followed by pandemic lock-down and here I am with a bit more opportunity to take a closer look at places I'd like to spend more time exploring. 

Boston I'd fallen for when the boys were young and we'd spent a sweltering Fourth of July week traversing the city and surrounding beach communities up and down the New England coastline. I inadvertently booked our flight home during the soccer world cup that year and have still not been allowed to live that one down. I've been looking for a good reason to return to Boston for years.

My cousin, Alicia, subsequently arrived from the UK into Boston in January 2020. She found herself an apartment and was all ready to launch into her American adventure with the British-owned travel company job she'd crossed the continent for. It wasn't many weeks before she was shut into her high rise in a new city, zooming a new job in an entirely new country. Thankfully, she managed to make it out to California during that first summer of the pandemic and valiantly worked East Coast hours from my house for a few weeks. It was a sanity saver for her and for me to have her company as we wondered, like everyone else, if we'd ever see our folks back in the UK again (we did). 

I promised Alicia I would visit her in Boston as soon as it was safe to do so and she could show me the city through her eyes. It was exciting to finally book my flight for September 2021, while the weather was still mild. I had extra incentive to head east since my youngest son, Dom, had driven across country with a group of friends he'd met at UC Davis, mid-summer. They'd graduated in the thick of things in 2020 and are collectively exploring various music and fashion and art opportunities in New York City. With a short term lease in Brooklyn, Dom and friends had established a base and figured their way around by September, so a mom pit-stop was timed appropriately for a couple of days of checking in and hanging out in his new hood.

My sister-in-law Francesca has her own hair salon in Philadelphia where she's lived for the past twenty plus years. As there's only one of her in Philly and five of us in California, Francesca generally flies to us for holidays and family events. Or we meet her in the UK. The last time I was in Philly was fifteen years ago, which is so so long, I just had to extend my trip to pay her a visit at home.

The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that if I was to weave my way down the North East corridor, then it would be a pity to miss out on my first ever visit to Washington, DC. The boys had been on 8th Grade trips, but I never had and Washington has been one of my top must-see cities, stateside anyway. 

I'm not wild about air travel. I've covered many miles over the years, especially with the transatlantic flights and the biggest splurge I've ever made has been premium economy. There's simply no way around it, long distance air travel (at least in coach) is still akin to herding cattle. It verges on the inhumane. And so one cross-country flight (even though half the length of air travel to the UK), either end of my trip was more than enough. Amtrak, I figured, was the way to go in between.

Map — Amtrak

I've taken dozens of trains in the UK and Europe but life in Sonoma County, Northern California has not presented itself as practical or convenient for rail travel of any significant distance. It felt old-fashioned and a little bit romantic to plan a multi-city train trip here in the States, especially as I was to travel solo. 

According to the website, Amtrak's North Eastern Route advertises itself as inviting seamless travel to the heart of the cities that shaped American history. The prospect of following the Freedom Trail in Boston, then boarding for NYC and afterwards, retracing the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia was exciting. What's more, the idea of standing before Washington DC’s monuments that honor the  Founding Fathers as well as 20th century icons such as Martin Luther King, Jr. in person was enticing enough to jump in and book my seats.

Rail travel, I figured, would drop me in the heart of the action in each city, quickly, while consuming less of a carbon imprint than if I'd flown from city to city. 

Amtrak, I learned, was originally established by a Congressional Rail Passenger Service Act in 1971, consolidating the country's existing 20 passenger railroads into one. Today, interstate passenger rail covers 46 states and with high speed trains along the busiest routes, the North East Corridor, from Boston to Washington, DC. 

To me it was a little like boarding the Polar Express. These trains are huge compared to those I'm accustomed to in the UK. The front of the train is designed to look like an airplane to give passengers the feeling that this is a viable comparison. It works. High speed trains are so much more comfortable than air travel in my opinion. Train stations in the North East are large and spacious and a lot less harried than airports. Seats are bigger, there's more legroom and space to walk around. I was more than happy to look out of the window and watch the eastern seaboard from town to town. 

First day in town, the Boston Tea Party ship and museum was closed for a private event the afternoon that we walked over to check it out. This happened a lot during my trip. It seems that private parties are all the rage again and I can't blame venues for accommodating them after being shuttered for so long. If there's a museum or a special place that you really wish to visit on your travels, do check ahead online or by phone to make sure that it's going to be open when you're there. I wasn't too worried about this one, but it might have been nice to have taken a spot of refreshment in Abigail's Tea Rooms. 

If you're reading outside of the States and you're not familiar with the Boston Tea Party of 1773 — this was the singularly most important event that led up to the American Revolution. 

The Old State House, site of the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, stands today as an emblem of liberty in Boston. It was built to house the British colonial government and presided over the center of events that led to the American Revolution. Tensions were running high when Redcoats were sent to Boston to quash a fresh round of riots following the passage of the Townsend duties and to protect customs officials. The Townshend Acts were a series of measures, passed by the British Parliament in 1767, that taxed goods such as tea, imported to the British colonies. The British government considered this as a way that the colonists would help pay the cost of their protection. When a strike in the face of Edward Garrick by the musket of one private White led to the onset of a furious mob, troops forced their way onto an angry, hostile crowd. A 'horrid and bloody massacre' ensued, resulting in five deaths. A ring of cobblestones marks the spot. 

Alicia and I walked the Freedom Trail on a sunny Friday with plenty of room to explore given that fall tourism wasn't as full-on as in summer when schools are in recess. She described to me from a printed guide I purchased how the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people from the Old State House balcony on July 18, 1776 when the building became home to the newly formed government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

It's intriguing to consider that this historic cupola was then the tallest point in the city. 

Boston Public Library, established in 1848 by an act of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts, was the first large free municipal library in the United States. It's such a beautiful building that it warranted a visit all of its own. 

In 1986, the National Park Service designated the McKim building a National Historic Landmark, citing it as “the first outstanding example of Renaissance Beaux-Arts Classicism in America.”

Within the McKim Building are exquisite murals series by John Singer Sargent, Edwin Austin Abbey, and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. There's a peaceful inner courtyard and additional works of famed sculptors and painters that can be viewed via the library’s daily art and architecture tours. It was tempting to wait for a courtyard table to open up and simply while away the rest of the day. But we had lots more to see. 

Bates Hall, the iconic reading room located on the second floor of the McKim building, is named in honor of Joshua Bates, a London merchant banker born in Weymouth, MA, who in 1852 donated $50,000 for the library’s establishment and another $50,000 for the purchase of books. He was the first major benefactor of the BPL and initiated that its services be “free to all.” I can't imagine a finer reading room for study. 

Alicia lives close to Beacon Hill so I made myself at home in this historic neighborhood. I fell in love instantly with the steep, gaslit streets lined with red brick Federal and Georgian style homes, cobblestones and one after another of the most gorgeous and meticulously tended planter boxes. The entire neighborhood is a Designated National Historic Landmark. Boutique stores, bakeries and wine bars on bustling Charles Street welcome visitors and locals with charm and classic style. 

The Black Heritage Trail begins on Beacon Street at the Monument to the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts. I learned how the first Africans in Boston arrived in February of 1638, eight years after the city's founding. They were purchased as slaves in a Puritan colony off the coast of Central America, called Providence Isle. It was a turning point of the American Revolution in which many Blacks fought alongside white people at the battles of Bunker Hill and Lexington and Concord. By the end of the conflict, free Black people outnumbered those still enslaved, thus changing the course of history. 

This specific walking trail weaves through some 14 locations that are connected to a core element of Boston's heritage. Free National Park Service Ranger-led tours are available. I wish I'd been able to take the full tour, but pandemic schedule restrictions didn't work out, so I walked it myself for the most part and plan to read more about the underground railroad this winter.  

One of the highlights of my visit was taking in the Rose Kennedy Greenway a lively, vibrant and adventurous modern park that curves through a mile and a half of Boston's city center heartland. Its lushly landscaped parks are made for walking and resting with a fantastic range of public seating, including the wonderful metal swings pictured below. I loved watching little kids run through the splash fountains, students tap away at laptops, friends lounging in the sun with their morning coffees. Every city needs a Greenway with its carousels, grassy fields, frisbee matches, revolving art exhibitions and events and sense of space and serenity.

Tea being the operative word in Boston, one of my top treats during this visit was the ultimate contemporary afternoon tea. None of the stuffiness of the formal tea parlors of old. Reservations are strongly recommended to score a weekend-only tea time at Trifecta, the Four Seasons Hotel at One Dalton Street's stylish new cocktail bar space that lends itself perfectly to the most picture-perfect tea-taking spot. 

There are two Four Seasons in Boston. If you go and you book a tea, don't make the mistake that we did of showing up at the Hotel Four Seasons Boston by the Common and then having to leg it across town for fear of forfeiting the coveted table. We made it in time, thankfully. I've enjoyed some fabulous teas around the world over the years and I have to say, this one ranked up there as one of the most memorable and best. Each bite was delicious. We especially enjoyed a little shot of Baileys with the bubbly (included). 

Alicia nailed it by booking the Trifecta tea and next time we're going to try afternoon tea at the library to see if it compares. If I could do this every Sunday afternoon, I would! 

Back to the Freedom Trail and we'd veered off track a few times in the North End as it was such a lovely day and it felt like we were in Italy. We were chatted up by two old fellas who were seated outside in the sunshine at the Italian community center. It's nice to know that there are pockets of the neighborhood still inhabited by earlier generations of immigrant offspring, although they told us that most of the restaurants in the tourist zone are no longer authentic. That's okay, there's room for everyone and we found a couple of fantastic Italian delis, one old-school, one chic and modern and we were more than happy to lunch a little (well, maybe a lot) before continuing on with our history trail.  

If you search best place for an Italian deli sandwich in Boston there are plenty of contenders. We stumbled on Table Mercato as we were making our way out of the North End. I didn't want anything too touristy and as if by magic, this marvelous establishment appeared before our eyes. I could've eaten just about everything on the menu. We settled for splitting the aptly named "The Italian" with homemade chips. Ten stars for this tasty spot with a lovely outdoor patio area. I appreciated all the aromatic Italian herbs planted in the dining parklet.

Boutique hotels are the way to go in Boston if you have the budget. Shop direct with hotels such at The Whitney, on Charles Street, walkable to everything. There's no such thing as a bargain stay during good weather months, but if you're open to traveling off-season, there are deals to score for sure. 

If You Go: 

When traveling by train, especially solo, it's important to be adventurous, but prepared. Travel as lightly as possible. Keep your valuables and documents in a  backpack and your clothes in a carry-on sized roller case that's easy to lift and store close to your seat. Make sure your travel documents are easily accessible and if you're digitally inclined, copied on your phone. A good thing with Amtrak travel is that there are charger outlets by each seat. Tuck a charger into your pack and you won't run out of juice on longer journeys when you may choose to make the most of the free wifi to connect with loved ones and research your next destination. 

Travel with confidence. Be aware of your surroundings. Give yourself lots of extra time to get to the station and find your platform. Talk to transport staff if you're unsure of platforms and stops. I had one fellow passenger ask me multiple times if we were arriving at New York next on my first journey from Boston. Despite announcements, she was more nervous of missing her stop and rolling on through to Philly and DC. It's okay not to be cool! I'd rather come across as a newbie traveler than suffer a panic attack that I've messed up any carefully made plans. I've found that most people are more than happy to point a person in the right direction when floundering, which happened to me a couple of times on the NY subway. I look for someone with a kindly face who appears more at home in their surrounds than me and isn't in too much of a rush! 

Ride share apps are a godsend when traveling. Walking is great when feasible, but after an eight mile day, taking an occasional Lyft back to the hotel is an affordable treat for the feet and most sensible after dark if you're not sure of the safest route. The ability to call up a ride from any obscure spot you may have found yourself in at the end of a long day is super reassuring when setting out to sightsee during evening hours or eating dinner in an unfamiliar part of town. 

Leave your backpack and valuables in your digs and reduce whatever you need to carry around with you when sightseeing to a fanny pack or a smaller cross-the-shoulder bag. Stock up on disposable masks. You'll be wearing masks for long periods of time if visiting museums and indoor venues for the immediate future and you shouldn't wear the same one for more than a few hours. Carry a pack of sanitizer wipes as opposed to lotion. These are handy for wiping off hands, face and suspect looking surfaces you may have to utilize while out and about. 

Book ahead and book early for best prices on Amtrak. Business class is quite reasonable if booked early and worth the extra dollars. 

How to ride Amtrak for the first time? Click here. 

Click here for info on Amtrak's North Eastern Route. 

The Sea Ranch Lodge Reopens Its Dining Room After a Multi Million Dollar Renovation

If you tried looking for mini-breaks along the Sea Ranch coastline during the peak of the pandemic, you, like me, left your laptop search without much joy. The iconic Sea Ranch Lodge had been shuttered for a while and wasn't looking likely to reopen any time soon. And beach house rentals in Sea Ranch, even if you were able to snag one, don't come without considerable financial investment.

No wonder this is the most sought-after beachside stay on the North Coast. 

Well, one thing that's looking up in the region is the fact that The Sea Ranch Lodge has opened the doors to its culinary and artisanal offerings after a multi-million-dollar renovation. The Dining Room delivers a rugged refined dining experience complimented by stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and a menu celebrating fresh local harvests.

The Bar + Lounge offers a cozy social environment with fireside cocktails and small bites. The Café serves health-conscious breakfast and lunch, and at The General Store, there are treasures crafted by local makers and a selection of literature highlighting the history and culture of The Sea Ranch. 

Don't be planning on sleeping over until 2023, according to the Lodge's website, extensive renovations are still underway for accommodations. 

For more info, click here.

 

Take a Preview Look at Sonoma County's Newly Acquired Carrington Ranch Park — a Critical Future Segment of the 1,200 California Coastal Trail

The Sonoma County Regional Parks is previewing its newly acquired property set on 335 rolling acres on the Sonoma Coast, Carrington Ranch Park.

On preview days, the public is invited to enjoy a self-guided hike on the property and learn more about the master planning process that will lead to the park’s permanent opening.

Once fully open, the park will provide a critical segment of the 1,200-mile California Coastal Trail and link to public lands to the north and south. 

Take in sweeping views of the Sonoma Coast from these 335 rolling acres recently transferred to Regional Parks from Sonoma County Ag + Open Space. This property, known as Carrington Coast Ranch, will eventually open to the public as a regional park and open space preserve just north of Bodega Bay and Salmon Creek.

On the  upcoming final two ark preview days, the public is invited to enjoy a self-guided hike on the property and learn more about the master planning process that will result in the park’s permanent opening. 

Due to limited parking, a passenger shuttle will transport you from the Bodega Bay Community Center at scheduled departure times. Parks staff and volunteers will be available to answer questions before and after your self-guided exploration. Current health protocols will be followed. Onsite private vehicle accommodations can be arranged in advance for visitors with Disabled Person placards or license plates. Registration is required for this event. The cost is $5 per person in county and $7 out of county. For more information, contact John Ryan at John.Ryan@sonoma-county.org.

 

• Saturday, Oct. 16 
  Register
• Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022 
  Register

Click here to Learn More 

 

Also, The Sonoma County Regional Parks has completed a new trail that leads to the top of Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve: The Sky Lupine Trail.

As part of ongoing improvements to the park, the new route replaces the much-used Eastern Trail's straight-up climb with a pleasant meander, which reduces erosion, provides greater ease of travel, and offers a more scenic trip to the 1,400 foot summit.

The park's 1,100 acres include sweeping grasslands, oak woodlands, several creeks, and provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife. From the summit, visitors can see central Sonoma County, the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the Coast Range, the Mayacamas Range and other North Bay Landmarks.

The parkland was used for ranching for many years and cattle grazing continues in the park

http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/Taylor-Mountain-Regional-Park-and-Preserve/

Travel Tuesday — Staycation at Sonoma County's Newest Historic Estate Resort — The Stavrand, Russian River Valley

   

Check out the Russian River Valley's new kid on the Redwood block — The Stavrand, a luxury retreat nestled under the canopy of giant trees, which has recently undergone a complete renovation transforming the former and dormant Applewood Inn near Guerneville into a chic, new resort with the character of a boutique hotel. 

Back in March of 2020, Emily Glick, the now-General Manager of the Stavrand, oversaw the temporary closure of the 131-room Kimpton Buchanan Hotel she had helmed in San Francisco for over 6 years.

 

Just as the pandemic turned the entire hospitality industry upside down, it also brought exciting new opportunities for creative folk like Emily to follow their dreams. Rewinding to childhood, she had long since dreamed of hosting guests at her very own hotel where she could shape each aspect of their experience to create a one-of-a-kind property. 

 

Emily and her husband, Sam, enlisted friends and family to help acquire the (dormant) Applewood Inn and made good use of the first half of 2021 to fully renovate the old hotel into The Stavrand, Russian River Valley.

 

Fall and winter is a great time for a staycation and with introductory rates, why not book yourself a couple of nights as a home-away-from-home only with lots of luxuries and amenities and the redwoods for peace and quiet?

Built in 1922 and thoughtfully renovated in 2021, the property's main Belden House is the elegant and charming heart of the hotel. This historic mansion (registered Sonoma County Landmark No. 129) was designed by famed architect John Carl Warnecke as the country home of Ralph “Rooster” Belden, who resided in the property with his wife and son. The Belden House features lots of new designer touches, including chic wallcovering, custom artwork and upscale, modern furnishings that complement inherited antiques.

Guests are invited to lounge poolside, ride bikes, kayak or float on the river in the warmer months. How does toasting marshmallows fireside after a relaxing massage and an outside cedar hot tub sound?

Designed to complement the style of the historic Belden House, the Cazadero building was constructed several decades later. The 2021 remodel completely reimagined these spacious (330 sq. ft.) rooms, including a new luxury look for all bathrooms. Every room in Cazadero offers direct access to surrounding nature and many feature some combination of gas fireplaces, freestanding soaking tubs and outdoor cedar hot tubs with views of the open sky.

The Stavrand's culinary team is all set to delight your palate with farm-fresh California cuisine from hot breakfast through nightcap. Guests enjoy exclusive access to a signature daily breakfast, all day dining, and intimate dinners designed to showcase the best of the property's culinary garden. Chef’s dinner menu is set each morning, calling upon the bounty of the moment, seasonal inspirations and even the weather forecast.

Weddings and Private Parties

Reserve the entirety of the Stavrand’s 6 acres, 21 guestrooms, and common spaces for your next big celebration. Wouldn't it be wonderful to treat family and  friends to an entire weekend (or weekday) at your own private estate? The Stavrand team plans to foster connections and celebratory relaxation by welcoming everyone to experience events-within-the-event under the redwood trees. This lovely property is large enough to meet the needs of mid-sized weddings and parties.

For work from home team escapes, the Stavrand boasts gigabit fiber optic internet, sun-soaked meeting space in the Sun Room or Stavrand Hall, opportunities for indoor or outdoor break-out areas, food & beverage plus luxe accommodations to infuse some fun and comfort into your meeting.

Book direct for special offers. 

Meanwhile, in other news from the Russian River Region, The Madrona Manor renovations led by Jay Jeffers are underway and the 22-room hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant will relaunch as The Madrona with fantastical animal motifs blended with natural woodlands and antiques in early 2022.

Alice By Design

Looking to remodel or refresh your living space, indoors or out? It's a daunting task for many, even with the best of taste and ideas. I've several friends in the North Bay who are interior designers and it always amazes me how much they enjoy taking someone else's room or a house or business and transforming it often beyond recognition. It's a skill that comes with years of practice and know-how, contacts and savvy, not to mention a calm and capable demeanor. 

A fellow British American friend, Petaluma-based taste maker Alice Chan has long had a fascination with how to help a space express its soul and reflect the personalities of those who inhabit or use it. 

"When I look at a space for the first time, I inevitably look through the lens of my multicultural background—from the UK, to California, and Hong Kong," explains Alice. "I’m passionate about taking cues from a building’s external environment, whether that’s a bustling city, a tranquil coastal setting, or a small town."

Alice has lived in historical houses for much of her  life and blending history with modernity is at the heart of many of her projects from San Francisco to Petaluma.

"I believe that creating harmony—with our lifestyle, our physical location, and the environment of the space itself—is the key to an end result you’ll love," she says. "Practically speaking, I love ‘interior’ design – by which I mean, how do you design an interior space to be the most in tune with the flow and needs of your life."

Alice has launched into designing for others and is available for new clients currently. If you’d like help bringing your vision to life – reach out to Alice at alice@alicedishes.com.

Click here for Alice's website

Alice grew up with parents who had distinct and definitive design sensibilities. There was always some kind of DIY project going on at home. "Whether my dad was hanging Laura Ashley wallpaper, or my mum was picking out colored cabinets for our kitchen—dark green paneling as I recall—it was impossible not to absorb some of their passion and interest in interiors as I developed my own personal style," she recalls. Fast forward many decades later, and Alice has remodeled a number of her own homes, tweaked interiors and put together seemingly incompatible patterns, colors, and textures.

"And now I want to do this for others. I take my main inspiration from the interior and exterior environments that envelop a space," she says. "If you listen closely, a room will “tell you” what will work best to create a stunning, yet comfortable place to be."

Mention Southern Sonoma Country Life to Alice for a complimentary 45-minute consultation. 

Travel Tuesdays — Walking Holidays in the UK & Sicily

Dreaming of travel?  British slow travel specialists Inntravel have introduced a trio of enticing new walking holidays this fall, just as travel begins to open up. There’s a pair of new UK breaks, taking in the diverse charms of Snowdonia and the Fife Coastal Path ahead of the latter’s 20th anniversary in 2022. Also introduced is a trip to Sicily’s western corner, including the dreamy Egadi Islands with their distinct North African accent and a gentle pace of life. Inntravel’s program of self-guided walking holidays offers tempting trails in all corners of Europe. Each is meticulously researched and is accompanied by detailed walking notes and maps. The focus is on a slow, immersive form of travel, enjoying local food and welcoming hotels, and discovering the culture. There are all kinds of short and intermediate and long walking tours to chose from with options for guided walks too. I like the idea of hotel to hotel walks, personally and have been talking with girlfriends about planning one in the UK for years now. If cycling is more your thing, Inntravel offers itineraries from easy to moderate to more challenging throughout Europe.   Snowdonia: from Sea to Summit With Snowdonia in the headlines with concerns of over-tourism, this new self-guided walking holiday showcases some of the National Park’s quieter corners and more surprising attractions. Beginning in the coastal town of Porthmadog, guests will walk past Glaslyn Estuary, where giant leatherhead turtles can be seen, and pick their way among quiet sandy coves, each perfect for a wild swim, to the town of Criccieth on the Llyn Peninsula. Riding the historic steam-pulled Welsh Highland Line, guests travel further into the mountains with a two-night stay in Beddgelert, where a circuit takes walkers to a Victorian copper mine and past the waterfalls of Afon Cwm Llan. The final two nights are spent in Llanberis, reached after a walk from Rhyd Ddu through one of the National Park’s remotest landscapes, an area little-touched by roads. From Llanberis guests can strike out for the summit of Snowdon on foot or by train, or escape the crowds with a lakeside circuit of Llyn Padarn. Price: from £690pp sharing, including 6 nights’ B&B accommodation, 2 picnics, 2 dinners, route notes and maps and return transfer to car. Available 15 September to 31 October 2021 and 1 March to 31 October 2022.  Fife’s Coastal Corner In 2022, the Fife Coastal Path, which runs for 116 miles between Newburgh and Tayport, celebrates its 20th anniversary and Inntravel has introduced this new short walking break that takes in some of its very best bits. Beginning in Anstruther, a timeless seafaring village, the walks give guests the chance to discover everything that makes the region so special: quaint fishing villages; dramatic ruins that hint at a far-reaching history; an abundance of marine and birdlife; and some really excellent local food and drink – visit smokehouses, distilleries and a rather wonderful chocolate shop. The final two nights are spent in the university town of St Andrews, where there is a ruined castle and cathedral to explore, plus two glorious beaches and a world-famous golf course. Price: from £345pp sharing, including 4 nights’ B&B accommodation, luggage transfers, route notes and maps and return transfer to car. Available from now until 31 October 2021 and 1 March to 31 October 2022.   Wonders of Western Sicily On this new self-guided walking holiday from Inntravel, guests will discover the quiet charms of Western Sicily and the Egadi Islands, where the history is as rich as Genovese, the local cream-filled shortcrust pastry. The trip begins in the medieval hill-town of Erice, with its stunning views and maze of narrow alleyways. The highlight here is the Castello di Venere, a 12th-century Norman fortress perched perilously high on an outcrop. The following day’s walk descends from Erice to vibrant Trapani, where an hour’s ferry takes walkers to Marettimo, the remotest and furthest-flung of the Egadi Islands. Three nights here, in a comfortable apartment just outside the island’s main village, enable visitors to slow down, enjoy long leisurely al fresco lunches and soak up the distinct North African vibe. Inntravel’s suggested walks take in Punta Troia, a craggy headland dominated by a Spanish fortification, and up thyme-scented slopes where peregrine falcons and Bonelli’s eagles swoop overhead. After the ferry ride back to Sicily, the final two nights are spent in the charming coastal village of Scopello, within easy reach of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, with its rich variety of flora and fauna. Price: from £775pp based on 2 sharing, including 7 nights’ B&B accommodation, 1 picnic, return ferry Trapani to Marettimo, luggage transfers, transfer on day 5, route notes and maps. Available from now until 31 October 2021, 1 April to 15 June 2022 and 1 September to 31 October 2022.

Book travel with confidence. Click here for latest COVID info.

For more information on Inntravel, visit inntravel.co.uk or call 01653 617000.

The Space Orchestra's Tribute to Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs with Dead Roses at the SOMO Grove Sunday Oct 3rd 2021

If you've been waiting for the right moment to resume live music going, now's the time. This masked and socially distant wild rock and roll show, an annual highlight of a musical extravaganza of super talented regional artists takes place outdoors at the terrific SOMO Village on Sunday October 3rd, with dinner included by Heirloom Cafe.

The Space Orchestra's Tribute to Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs with Dead Roses at the SOMO Grove

Doors 4pm, Show 5pm

Seated and outdoors at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park

Dinner included in the price of the ticket

$35 9/3-9/26

$40 9/27-9/10/3

Groups that would like to be seated together must purchase as a group.

All ages

On a cosmic night in April 2018, fourteen North Bay musicians took the stage in front of a sold-out crowd to recreate the legendary night in March 1970 when twenty stars converged at New York’s Fillmore East. Featuring songwriter Leon Russell as bandleader and up-and-coming British vocalist Joe Cocker, the New York show was recorded and released as the live album Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs and Englishmen, now a rock-and-roll classic.

Like the original, Petaluma’s Space Orchestra is an eclectic mash-up of all- stars known for their stellar work in other top Bay Area bands. With a three-piece horn section, four back-up singers and a powerhouse rhythm section of two drummers plus a percussionist, the group recreates the mighty sound of the live album, in exact order, side A through side B.

Husky-voiced Sebastian Saint James of The Highway Poets brings Cocker’s lead vocals roaring back to life, driving the band through hits by the Rolling Stones, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan and more. Highlights include Delta Lady, Space Captain, Feeling Alright, and an unforgettable version of She Came in through the Bathroom Window. This is big sound at its best. 

Pamela Joyce of Foxes in the Henhouse and Chris Chappell and Katie Schuch of The Incubators are just two more of the much loved local talent in the lineup of the Space Orchestra.

Dead Roses (Formerly Dead Bugs) is Petaluma’s premier Grateful Dead cover band. What they bring is a unique energy that captures the vibe of late 80’s stadium shows and also the mid 70’s crispness that The Dead were known for. Headed by guitarists Todd Bugbee (Flytrap, The Melt) and Zach Jones (Lovin’ Dead), the band is quickly making a huge mark on the jam scene.

"Our goal is to give the crowd just a percentage of the feeling you had going to see the Dead back when Jerry was alive. We just want to tap that energy and channel it, funnel it to the crowds. They are the ones carrying the torch, our goal is to be a conduit."

Location

Sally Tomatoes

1100 Valley House Drive

Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Click here for tix

Vibe Gallery — A Vibrant New Art and Makers Gallery in Downtown Petaluma

The idea to create an innovative, urban art gallery in the heart of downtown Petaluma began at a spontaneous gathering around the kitchen table. Collectively, the owners of the newly opened Vibe Gallery on the corner of Petaluma Boulevard and B Street in the heart of historic downtown Petaluma's shopping district all felt driven to share their  art and the artwork of their friends and family with the public on a larger scale.

Their energy, enthusiasm, passion and ideas flowed into action. Nine days after their first exuberant meeting, they secured the ideal location in the midst of a thriving artist community and VIBE Gallery was born. 

​VIBE, a chic gallery/gift shop offers a unique experience that will raise the spirits of customers and community. Aligned with the group's vision, an eclectic mix of gallery art and gifts are diverse, creative, socially relevant, hand crafted and made by both well established and emerging artists.  

The work of VIBE’s owners will be displayed along with supporting and featured artists. In addition to the art and gifts, VIBE will be hosting live music, events, classes, workshops, community collaboration.

There's a comfortable seating area with an array of books written by local authors, including signed copies of Fog Valley Winter and Big Green Country on sale for holiday gifts (my last two books). My friend Suzanne Maggio's memoir The Cardinal Club is also in stock. We're both releasing new books in the coming months so this will be a wonderful spot for readings.

I think that the opening of VIBE is ideal given that we're all looking for authentic and original items for gift giving and for ourselves and our homes these days. Who wants to go to the mall? Stay in town and shop local. Support local artists. 

For Featured Artists line-up click here. 

Click here for more info on the gallery's ​owners: Artists Maude Bradley, Margo Gallagher, Jessica Jacobsen and Rachel Usher share a compelling background in North Bay creative scene and are excited to meet you. 

 

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