Southern Sonoma Country Life

Sunset Serpentine Wildflower Hike at Tolay Creek Ranch

Sonoma Land Trust Spring season outings offer a variety of wonderful opportunities to take to the great outdoors, meet new people and support the programs of the organization that preserves the land we love best.

How about a Thursday evening April 14th sunset walk that will take you to a rare serpentine wildflower field in full bloom at the Land Trust's Tolay Creek Ranch, nestled conveniently in the south county between Lakeville Highway and Highway 121?

Views of the Bay Area from the ranch are spectacular and the hike is about 3 miles long. There is no trail, so participants must be prepared to walk over large areas with uneven footing. This hike is open to the public and free of charge. For more information or to register, email outings@sonomalandtrust.org.

Where is Amelia? Special Petaluma Museum Presentation this Saturday

Discover the possibilities and ponder the fascinating disappearance of Amelia Earhart this Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 in a special presentation Where is Amelia? at Petaluma Museum as part of its curent exhibition "Flight".

The Archaelogical search for Earhart is an illustrated lecture by Thomas F. King, PhD, co-author of Amelia Earhart's Shoes and author of Thirteen Bones and Senior Archeologist for The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery.

King was recently featured on the excellent Discovery Channel program "Finding Amelia", having conducted numerous recovery efforts with teams of investigators leading to intriguing theories on the whereabouts of the doomed pilot.

Come hear evidence backing up claims and rumors, with forensic analysis that skeleton remains of a perfect match with Amelia Earhart might provide long awaited answers to the plight of what had appeared, in its auspicious beginnings in Oakland, the perfect plane, the perfect crew. 

Where is Amelia? - Petaluma Historical Museum, 20 Fourth Street, Petaluma, CA Saturday April 2nd, 2011, 4pm. Suggested donation $5. Phone 707 778 4398 for more information.

 

OMD - Something Old, Something New

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - remember them? New-wave, post punk, electronic-style masters of some of the most romantic tracks of our teens? At least, those of us born in the 60s are likely to experience colorful flashbacks to fun times set to the tunes of OMD's "If You Leave", "Tesla Girls", "Talking Loud and Clear", even the theatrical "Joan of Arc"!

Back, white shirt, skinny jeans and all, are 51-year-old Brits Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys with the reformation of their classic late 70s line-up. Catching them at the Fox Theater in Oakland on their recent album release North American History of Modern Tour reminded me just how great an era the 80s was for music.

New material from the History of Modern Part 1 album blended seamlessly with blasts from the past. McCluskey joked about his dancing technique with his Bay-Area audience of adoring 40-somethings, though really, he could have stood back stage and sang, his voice is still so drop-dead distinctive. OMD are super good in their come back, a huge relief given the track record of some of their 80s counterparts.

Remembering a Neighbor, Friend and International Art Facilitator, Lowell McKegney

Former neighbor in this Southern SoCo Life, Lowell Mckegney past away this week, at home in the embrace of his wonderful women, wife Carol and daughters Katy and Ali. Having recently reported on his connection's to White House Arts and Humanities Award winning sculptor Mark di Suvero, I have updated the account in honor of McKegney's passing.

Please take a moment to follow this link and read of Lowell McKegney's quiet, yet Internationally acclaimed creative accomplishments. He will be missed.

Fiat 500 USA - a Dash of Euro-Chic and Sporty Economics

Expect to see lots of little Fiat 500's whizzing around California in the coming months as the popularity for the likes of the pint-sized Mini Cooper, VW Golf and several other economy "Eur0-style' cars increases with the escalating price of gas.

I first came across the revamped Fiat 500 a couple of summers ago on a family trip to the UK, in which my teenage sons were amused, yet intrigued by the compact cutie, as un-American a car as they could possibly conceive of.

Today being the day that my middle son, Luc has officially traversed the right of passage in passing his drivers test - it was auspicious in its beginnings with a breakfast-time flick through yesterday's New York Time's sports section. 

For younger drivers in this country, a now dwindling reputation of the Fiat as a "Fix it Again Tony' headache, has little relevance to the global footprint generation growing up with international motoring viewpoints such as Top Gear on TV.

Needless to say, the new driver in the 'hood' aired aspirations over the newspaper this morning for a nifty little Fiat 500 number somewhere in his forseeable future. By the time the new arrivals of the U.S. version hits the used car market he'll have some seasoned driving under his belt! Starting new at around $17,000 for a manual model, all he needs to do now is start saving.

All this talk about the Fiat takes me back to my first wheels stateside, acquired by the Italian husband posting a note on a neighbor's windshield with a modest cash offer to take her battered, converted old Spider off her hands. Although it had trouble in second gear (somewhat of a challenge in expeditions involving the hills of San Francisco), it served us well for the first couple of years in California, where everyone drives an open-top sports car, right? The fact that we haven't driven a convertible, or a Fiat since the Spider eventually bit the dust is neither here nor there. Never say never. Wonder if there's a convertible Fiat 500 in the customization options? 

(California Christmas 1990)

(Ready for the road - Luc aged 4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hollywood Royal Elizabeth Taylor Dies

BBC News captures the essence of the late Elizabeth Taylor . Born in England and raised in Los Angeles, Dame Elizabeth Taylor was the epitime of the 1950s Hollywood star and one of the last of the 'Golden Era'.  Taylor died today at 79.

Slinging in the Rain - Spring Sport Spirit in Petaluma Youth Lacrosse

"I like rain, actually."

Bill Rodgers, American Athlete

Rain, wind, rain and yet more rain did not stop play for these plucky Petaluma Rivercat Boys lacrosse players (U 13 A), this past wet and wild Spring sports weekend. And sideline supporters showed their Petaluma-mettle, undercover of an impressive assortments of brollies and wet-weather bleacher-gear.

This saturated 2011 lacrosse season has certainly brought back memories of soaking wet feet and perpetually dripping foreheads from an assortment of youthful sporting escapades on frozen, distant, muddy fields and sludgy moments of glory. A little rain never hurt anyone, after all.

Field conditions led to a last-minute, well-finagled schedule change from Pleasanton Hurricane's underwater field to the plush, rain-proofed all-terrain turf of Petaluma's St.Vincent de Paul High School, on Saturday.

Sunday afternoon's foray to similarly stylish turf-field surrounds at Marin Academy in San Rafael brought new meaning to the word versatility in Spring sporting get-ups, as supporters donned sunshades in between showers, peeling off drenched outer layers to bask in the rays, only to resort to umbrellas again just as the steam started rising from the ground. 

Such extremes in conditions have an interesting effect on a crowd and a team, as ensuing 'huddling' fast becomes the order of the day. Go Rivercats, go, for in a blink, the turf field that's so appealing on a rainy day will undoubtedly heat beneath the feet to 100 degrees before season's end, blistering player's feet if they're not fast enough off the mark.

Thanks due to Heidi Fowers, ace team photographer who captures all the moments on the field and in the bleachers so beautifully.

 

 

 

 

 

Eyeglass Designer to the Stars Invites YOU to Exclusive Sonoma County Trunk Show

Calling all sight-challenged fashionistas (that includes you sharply dressed boys, too). And no, it's not an oxymoron, for even the most glamorous of Hollywood stars wear glasses. 

Ask Allyn Scura, award winning, Sonoma County eyewear designer and provider of Vintage eyewear to the jet set - the perfect pair of vintage or custom designed frames are the way forward for the truly meticulous trend setter and classic looker, alike. 

Here's an inside scoop for my fellow Southern SoCou's - Allyn Scura Eyewear is opening its Sonoma County Studio to the public for its first trunk show on Saturday, March 26th.

Mark your calendar and go see and try on thousands of eyeglass frames of vintage and original designs. It's a treasure trove of spectacle sparkle. Take your favorite frames home at special trunk show pricing.

Where: Allyn Scura Eyewear Studios, 99 Sparks Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472. From 10 am to 4 pm, 3.26.2011, one day only.

Scura has over 70,000 vintage frames and her own unique designs to share with her adopted Sonoma County Community. Her company is the premier source for authentic vintage and antique eyewear and original eyewear that has frequently been worn in the movies (Sin City, Dream Girls and more) and in national tv commercials by numerous celebrities, including the likes of Brad Pitt, Cindy Crawford, Elton John, Goldie Hawn, Rosanna Arquette.

Allyn Scura Eyewear began in 1988 when Scura started purchasing and distributing original, unused antique and vintage frames. Virtually all of Allyn Scura Vintage Eyewear frames are 'new-old-stock,' which means they've never been worn. In 1993, realizing that unused vintage eyewear is a finite commodity, Allyn began designing her own line of eyewear and in 1999, Target stores selected her designs to represent their premier line of ophthalmic eyewear nationwide.

The west country eyewear company is the leading eyewear provider of vintage ophthalmic brands from around the world, including: American Optical, ArtCraft, Barbudo, Bay State, Bausch & Lomb, Blue Ribbon, Century, Continental, Cottet, Criss, Flair, Foremost, Graceline, Imperial, Jason, Kelley & Hueber, Liberty, Marine, May, MB, Paris Eyewear, Pathway (POP), Rodenstock, Saphira, Seythoux, Sherman, Shoreham, Shuron, Styl-Rite (SRO), Swan, Swank, Tart, Tura, Universal, Univis, US
Optical, Victory, Zylite, Zyloware and more.

You'll find vintage fashion brands such as Alpina, Anglo American, Armani, Balenciaga, Pierr Cardin, Carrera, Cartier, Oleg Cassinin, Cazal, Chanel, Liz Claiborne, Oscar De La Renta, Christian Dior, Courreges, Dunhill, Givency, Oliver, Goldsmith, Gucci, Emmanuelle Khanh, Lanvin, Ted Lapidus, Ralph Lauren, Persol, Playboy, Porsche Design, Emilio Pucci, Ray Ban, Yves Saint Laurent, Silhouette, Tura,
Diane Von Furstenberg, Vuarnet.

The designer was raised in Southern California and studied interior and product design at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Scura and her family moved to Sebastopol so that their daughter could attend Sebastopol Independent Charter School. That's good enough reason alone to spread word of Allyn Scura Eyewear's accessibility to Sonoma County style hounds. Keep the faith! And see clearly where you're going in the meantime.

Shamrock Style - Taking Cutting Edge to the Extreme!

 
The customer's always right. At least when it comes to Irish pride in Petaluma.

Southern Sonoma County Soda Bread & Hot Spots for a Petaluma Saint Patrick's Day

Thank you Cameron for the super snaps of Sonoma County's own Keenan Irish Dancers, performing at Petaluma Moose Lodge's annual St Patrick's Day dinner this past weekend at 300 English Street.

The dedicated troope will take to the boards at McGuire's Irish Pub on Kentucky Street in downtown Petaluma, on Saint Patrick's Day evening.

With 18 beers on tap, McGuire's is certain to have a drop of green beer on hand for the occasion, not to mention the Shamrock Sliders, Celtic Calamari, Bangers and Mash and of course, Corned Beef and Cabbage.

If the fine art of exercising the gray matter is top of your list, alongside a pint of Guinness to help with articulation, grab a group of your smartest party buddies and head on down to Aqus Cafe at Foundry Wharf for Lesley's monthly Trivia Quiz Night 7 pm to 9 pm with its appropriately Irish-twist.

I've seen the prizes - let's just say that Guinness fans should start sharpening the celtic factoid department in readiness. And if you simply can't get enough of the green, Aqus Cafe hosts a Celtic Night with live music every single first Thursday of the month. I've also heard talk (through a translator!) of popuar Irish Language classes at Aqus for the seriously intent - though I'm sure that being able to speak the lingo when on locale in the Emerald Isle, is a smooth move for some memorable hospitality.

Sonoma County Soda Bread

1 tablespoon of butter (cubed)

4 cups of white flour

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 cup of buttermilk

Rub butter into flour. Add salt and soda. Mix well, by rubbing between fingers. Add buttermilk and form a soft dough. Knead dough lightly with floured hands and turn onto a flightly floured baking sheet. Flatten slightly into a 1 1/2 inch thick disc and make a cross in the center with a floured knide. Bake for half an hour at 425 degrees F.