Southern Sonoma Country Life

A Visit to The Great West End & RailRoad Square Handcar Regatta 2011

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

SoCo's British Ska Band - The Hoovers Bring Skin and Blisters Lyrics to Wetstock 2011

I'll probably take some flack from The Hoovers' Bill Sell for not getting in his face and taking any close ups of the band as they took Wetstock 2011 by storm. Fact was, I was having too much fun.

And talking of storming, it was a good thing we didn't see too many more unseasonal rain clouds over head as  I have a feeling that Sell and this great British Ska band are a bit out of practice for performing to welly-wearing crowds of muddy, Glastonbury-style fans.

What they're not out of practice in, is outstanding delivery of not just one but two excellent sets of ska-beat dance numbers for friends and family and lots of adoring Brits at an only slightly autumnal rural West Petaluma artists enclave, Wetstock 2011.

Think Madness, English Beat, the Squeeze, only better, right? Paul Whiting, William "Bill" Sell, James Manning and Larry Gonzales are The Hoovers. Originally from London, and led by singer Paul Whiting and guitarist Bill Sell, The Hoovers currently describe themselves as a California rock band of mostly English descent, with overtones of British ska, folk music, reggae and punk.

Their critically acclaimed debut album "Skin and Blisters" received rave reviews throughout the U.S. and has become something of a collector's item among hardcore fans of 2tone and ska.

The Hoovers have toured extensively, providing band support for such legends as Madness, The Police, Squeeze, Eric Burdon, Level 42, Mott the Hoople, Bronski Beat, Big Pig, Chris Isaak and Men Without Hats. They stay very busy writing new songs and performing around the Bay Area, though catching them live at Wetstock is about as good as it gets.

A new studio album, Sooty, Jimmy and Carl is available soon.

Homestead Pie Contest

Bake and bring your best Autumnal Equinox Pie for the Great West End and Railroad Square Handcar Regatta's first ever Homestead Pie Contest, this Sunday, September 25, 2011.

Entrants must arrive with pie in hand by 11:30. Judging to be completed by 1 pm. Winner takes home a Blue Ribbon Rolling Pin and a Cash $$$ prize!

The sensational, wildly popularm steampunk-inspired exposition of mechanical wonders   Handcar Regatta 2011 is held at Wilson and Third Streets in the heart of Santa Rosa, California.

A Mouse in the Pantry's Mel is the mastermind as well as master baker behind her pop-up booth, the Pie Hole that launched amidst a cloud of flour this summer at Petaluma's Riverside Revival -  on the road north today to slay Regatta goers with downright deliciousness.

All you bakers out there in SoCo land, roll up your sleeves, don an apron and whip up a winning pie...

Head to the Society for Homestead Preservation area at the Regatta. New this year, is a vibrant display of homesteading featuring everything from butchering demonstrations to fermenting tips and tricks, a kombucha bar, beer and cheese making, a spice bazaar, coffee-roasting, pie-making, apple pressing, preserves and a live animal or two. With Heather Irwin of the Press Democrat's Bite Club Eats as ringleader, this cooperative culinary society promises to "inform, delight and astound the minds and souls of participants".

 

 

Picture Perfect Day for a West Petaluma Pinot Harvest - And the Birds Were Happy, Too!

Photos: Teela Ridgeway

If you like to line dry your freshly laundered sheets in the great outdoors, as I do, you'll have a steady supply of clothes pins to anchor your linens against the infamous Petaluma Gap winds.

Should you have found yourself in the market for replacement supplies of clothes pins this past month, you might have been out of luck. For West Petaluma Pinot farmer, Michael Ridgeway spent an entire Sunday afternoon this late summer scouring every single clothes pin in Petaluma stores.

"Our damage from birds and yellow jackets was minimal this year, as Mike took extra care in netting a little earlier than usual and placing yellow jacket traps all throughout the vineyard," said Teela Ridgeway, in the midst of yesterday's abundant harvest at the Ridgeway's D Street extension estate.

"One challenge we always face is the wild birds that die after becoming tangled in the nets, so this year we made sure the nets were properly closed at the bottoms so that the birds couldn't get in. I think Mike purchased EVERY clothes pin in the county! We have thousands of them!  It was all so clean and tidy out there that bird loss was minimal this year. We have also provided more wild bird seed on the property so that the birds were not so tempted by the grapes."

As stewards of the land and nature's visitors, the Ridgeways farm a total of about 10 acres of premium cool climate Pinot Noir. Yesterday's harvest, on the last day of summer, yielded around 14 tons of fruit. The majority of this year's fruit trucked directly to Rhys Vineyards in Los Gatos. "We also sell to a few local Garagesites as well as a customer in Vancouver and one flies in from Wyoming to crush with his son in Napa," said Teela. "It looks like we have more crop this year than last, but one never knows until the last of the grapes are weighed in." 

The Ridgeways, like most all cool climate Pinot Noir farmers within the Petaluma Gap microregion of the Sonoma Coast Appellation, reveled in this past week's heat spike that brought the sugars up on crops for an optimal pick. Three quarters of the Ridgeway's vineyard was harvested yesterday, with the remainder scheduled to be harvested later this week.

Southern Sonoma Country Community of Petaluma Raises the Bar for Funding the Future of the 21st Century Classroom

Petaluma Educational Foundation 2011 BASH photos - Pete Leabo for PEF

Desite the country's ongoing economic struggle and political debate, the future of education continues to take center stage. Here at the gateway to Sonoma County, a mobilized community is taking the lead in its own dynamic and innovative approach to preparing for the schools of tomorrow. 

This Thursday (September 22nd, 20011), the The New York Times brings together 400 of the most influential leaders in teaching, tech, government and industry for a one day, live stream conference on innovation and best practices to shape schools of the future. 

It's reassuring to know that our own unique, non-profit, Petaluma Educational Foundation has already set powerful wheels in motion throughout our community at home to fast track locally many of the ideas being discussed for the future of educationon a national level.

For full story on sister site West Petaluma Living click here.

 

Tomatorama - A Southern Sonoma Country Style September Supper

One of my absolute favorite aspects of American life is the pot luck. Best thing since (way before) sliced bread.

The Ladies of the (Heritage Salvage crafted) Long Table's September supper was seasonally and sublimely, tomato themed.

A dozen or more dishes of heritage and cherry tomato infused fayre could not have produced a more delightfully surprising array of delectable dishes - not to mention the week-long vodka-soaked chunky tomato Bloody Mary's.

 

 

Mid-September Vines

Late afternoons mid-September here in Southern Sonoma County are almost unbearably beautiful. It's not quite fall looking, almost, on-the-cusp, yet the strength of an Indian Summer sun is not so oppressing as mid-Summer, perfect for strolling the hillsides and taking in the views of golden hills and blue skies.

Each time I pay a visit to the hillside vines in my backyard I'm amazed at the depth of color and intensity of flavor bursting forth towards what will probably be a late October harvest this year.

Home crafted yellow jacket traps are in place and nets will have to go up to protect the juicy fruit from pests and birds, this weekend.

Kite, the 15 1/2-year-old Corgi followed me up the hill but has trouble getting back down these days and I photographed him in his role as vine patrol trooper, making his way downhill, avoiding those stone steps.

 

 

Go Behind the Scenes of 1950s BBC Newsroom in Brit-Style Mad Men Series 'The Hour'

Meet the press, Wednesdays at 10pm Pacific Time, as BBC America's stylish and highly promising new offering 'The Hour' takes us behind the scenes of one of its own newsrooms, circa 1950.

An aspiring team of broacast journalists decked out in slightly less flamboyant attire than their American Mad Men advertising peers are up to their news hound ears in a ground-breaking political news show, a passionate love triangle and unfolding murder mystery, to boot.

When it rains it pours, all the decent tv pickings at once, it seems, come September's longer nights. Though I will give a word of advice in recommendingt 'The Hour' - be sure to digitally record episodes so as not to endure extraordinarily dreary and overpopulated BBC America commercials.

 

Award Winning HBO Drama Boardwalk Empire Returns

Hear ye, hear ye. Season Two of  HBO's gritty, gloriously cast and costumed, lavish 1920s Prohibition era New Jersey drama Boardwalk Empire  finally makes its much-anticipated debut at 9pm on Sunday, September 25th, 2011.

Seriously, the only thing worth watching on the tele' in months, I've already instructed my junior in-home technical assistants to set the recording.

Steve Buscemi at Nucky, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Pitt and Michael Shannon return to star in this phenomenal period drama series that knocks the socks off any American-made competition this fall. The only thing that dares to compare is Season Two of British made, divinely juicy period drama series Downton Abbey, scheduled to start airing on PBS here in the States on January 8th, 2012.

Back for an 8th season is the inimitable, Cambridge educated Brit, Hugh Laurie as uber-eccentric rare disease specialist MD in House, airing with a no doubt enlightening post-imprisonment episode number 1 on October 3rd, on Fox. When it rains it pours.

 

Life is a Special Occasion

Today, at lunch time, I drove across town to the Hallmark Store. This is a rare occasion for me. I'm not your typical Hallmark-greetings type of girl.

But there are times in our lives when the chic blank missive, sporting vintage black and white shot from French Vogue just does not fit the bill.

I'm sure you know what I mean. Much as I attempted to supress a loud series of involuntary gags upon perusal of the sickly sweet Hallmark selection for most of life's 'occasions' , I knew there'd eventually be something more suitable for an unprecedented variety (at this point in my life) of reasons I need to send an old-fashioned, heartfelt card or three or four, this week.

Waxing lyrical and penning an original piece is all well and good, but there are proving to be times when a corny, pre-versed card and envelope is far more the order of the day.

Of course I'll be adding my own very personal message, but in the meantime, in the midst of my afternoon's work, I've been wandering by this Hallmark paper bag quite oblivious to its quite blatant message. Once the crinkled bagged message caught my attention I have to agree. Yes! Life is a very special occasion and generally, just being there for one another is all that counts.