It was a flying visit, but I made it this year for the first time in its four-year history to the absolutely, outrageously brilliant and fantastical Great West End and Railroad Square Handcar Regatta in historic downtown Santa Rosa, late Sunday afternoon.
After a drizzly start to the day and several other must-attends at the end of my weekend agenda, I was determined not to pass by the opportunity to take in the sights, sounds and (thanks to the steam punk future-meets-the-past carnival-atmosphere event's great new Homestead Preservation Society) -tastes and smells of this wildly popular and quintessentially modern SoCo sort of social imagineering.
If you haven't attended the Handcar Regatta (or similarly imagined & also instantly popular Rivertown Revival here in Petaluma), don't be put-off by the steam punk idea. It's not at all an intimidating style. In fact, I was captivated by the creativity amongst the huge crowd of artists and musicians, mechanical geniuses, moms, dads, teens and tots, grandmas in Victorian garb from the attic, a dashing Dr. Livingston with pipe and bible, madcap inventors, bowler and top-hat toting handsome chaps and just about everyone sporting a smile.
Stopped by to see our pal Meloni of A Mouse in the Pantry (pictured above with husband, Ed), mobbed by pie-seeking punters at the second incarnation of her popular Pie Hole Booth that had made its homemade pop-tart and apple-pie debut at Rivertown Revival in August. The Pie Hole also demonstrated traditional pie making in the Homestead Preservation Society, though judging by press photos released this week, the Petaluma proprietress of all things pastry and delicious displayed considerable versatility in her reputation amongst county taste makers as authentic frontiers woman (butchery doesn't faze our Mel).
I was also delighted to run into Bob Peak, Petaluma near-neighbor, fellow backyard grape grower and proprietor of the region's revered The Beverage People. Peak (pictured in stripey tails and top hat above) and his talented crew demonstrated the art of cheese making in the Homestead Preservation area.
Petaluma's WordUp! team (Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds fab event - Sunday, Oct 30th, 2011) were also very well represented with a fun, veggie-racing booth in the family area.
Check out the wacky railroad racers in this frolicsome parallel universe and Utopian Society.
Heather Irwin, of the PD's Bite Club fame championed the Regatta's Homestead Preservation Society. Check out Heather's recap and enlightening shots!
Want to see more? Here's a link to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's photos from the Regatta
Super pix of Meloni & Ed. By the bye, I think you might have gotten a pix of my physical therapist. I am attemping to verify
Posted by: Frank Simpson | Wednesday, September 28, 2025 at 06:16 PM