Southern Sonoma Country Life

Carin Jacobs Inaugural Life By Design Events Kicks Off at Griffo Distillery Petaluma 7pm June 13th 2023

A Revamp of the Tomales Hotel & Event Space & Coastal Writing Update

Tomales Hotel has new owners, Bill and Rachel Bonini. Bill grew up in the tiny coastal hamlet of Tomales and has a special place in his heart for the Gold-Rush-era main street and its Victorian architecture. 

As I've written about Tomales and the Marin-meets-Sonoma (Fog Valley) coastal history at length over the past decade or so, in my non-fiction, reporting and also in my fictional stories, I too have a fondness for this remote little coastal treasure.  

And so when an invite popped into my inbox last week alerting me to the recent upgrades to the storied Tomales Hotel, I jumped in my car and headed out west to check it out for myself.

If you're a local and a Dillon Beach-goer you too most likely share my experiences of having driven by the hotel on many occasions and wondered at its historic austerity. I couldn't imagine booking an overnight, even though I love its proximity to the beach, the bakery across the road, neighbor bar The William Tell before its recent closure. 

But it was crying out for attention and since the call was heard by a former local, it's really cool to see the authenticity of a mid 1800s hotel paired with modern amenities such as wifi and its own authentic and rustic event/party space across the street. 

Bill and Rachel have refreshed all of the rooms, which are all super spacious. There's a wheelchair accessible suite on the ground floor too. If you'd like to experience staying overnight in a western coastal hotel that hasn't altered all that much since its inception during the mid Victorian era, then this is the place for you. And it's well priced compared to most other properties along Tomales Bay and the coast. If you don't know the area well, Tomales is about four miles inland from Dillon Beach. 

The Bonini's also own the lot across the street from the hotel, recently rebranded as The Lot 95. I took a few photos of it staged for visitors and I can imagine some fun and original parties for small-sized celebrations with the hotel taken over by wedding and big birthday parties. Don't you love the table linen? Apparently it was sourced from downtown Petaluma's iLeoni. 

Click here for more info on Tomales Hotel

TOMALES HOTEL

26985 Highway One
Tomales California 94971
Tel: 707-888-9991
[email protected]

A couple of days later I was back out at the coast, this time to Doran Beach and up to Bodega Harbor and north to Jenner and back. I'm getting stuck into my physical research for my new novel Floating in the Middle, set along the Sonoma Coast.

I keep thinking I'll cast my net a little wider for the next story, but if a story is calling my name and it's set in Sonoma County, then I can't very well hang up and head elsewhere, can I? I hope you're ready for another one. It'll take me at least a year but I have this one well thought out so I am hoping it doesn't take me as long as the last one to complete. We'll have to see. The characters will tell me if they think I need to explore deeper. 

One thing I can tell you is that one of the characters arrives in a boat moored in Bodega Harbor. I stopped by to check out where he would have one of the other main character's pick him up for a long weekend reunion on the coast.

If you drive the Sonoma Coast regularly, you'll be aware of the reconstruction of the highway in parts due to cliff erosion. It's this that sparked my intrique initially. I drove up and down and in and out of the various beach parking lots to figure out in my mind's eye where all the action takes place in my new story. It remains a figment of my imagination however, so don't go looking for any specific house as I truly am building it from the ground-up as a made-up-place. 

I've been thinking a lot about where my stories come from. There's a distinctive thread through all my writing that ties together my connectedness to this place, my sense of being an immigrant, even after more than three decades. I write about where I am. I'm here for longer periods of time than anywhere else, though I'm equally at home back in my native England. This time I have a British protagonist. Not me, but someone I understand for her attachment to two countries, two cultures and two coastal regions. 

Thanks for sticking with my Southern Sonoma Country Life posts. They've been few and far between of late with my book endeavors and my extended family time in the UK. I hope to keep you posted on things that spark my interest in the area this summer. 

 

 

Marvelous Montecito — Read my Story on Weekending Like a Royal in Coastal Californa

Photo: Frances Rivetti 

I'm back in California and dipping my toes in the water to get back to my writing. Here's a super fun clip from an article I wrote for The Royal List prior to leaving for the UK. Please do click here and read the full story . . . 

 

Montecito, the peaceful, super-private, panoramic enclave of a not-so-secret roster of ultra-elite residents, is home-sweet-multi-million-dollar-home to Harry and Meghan’s family of four. And if it’s good enough for the Sussexes, it’s good enough for us.

A winding, two-hour drive north of Los Angeles brings you to Montecito. We soak in its subtle Southern California vibe and pleasant, Mediterranean climate with a drive-by of its upper-village gates of gorgeously-landscaped, lavish, hillside estates of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their star-studded neighbours, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Lowe, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and Orlando 

History and Sybmolism of King Charles III’s Coronation Clothing — Sacred Robes & Glittering Regalia

(image credits Royal.uk)

Preparations for the historic occasion of King Charles III's May 6th Coronation are in full swing here in the UK where I am currently back in my home country. It's looking a little more restrained than celebrations for the Queen in recent years, however there is still over a week to go. As a history buff and a fashion lover, one key element that I'm most interested in with regards to the Westminster Abbey service will be the monarch’s outfits, including the Coronation robes, which I've read are to carry potent, personal and national symbolic meaning.

Celebrated designer Sir Jony Ive KBE has created a circular coronation emblem featuring a floral design, in honor of the King’s ‘love of the planet, nature, and his deep concern for the natural world’

The king is anticipated to arrive at the service in military uniform, his initial attire for the ceremony. Although formal and official, it’s widely considered that the outfit will be more suitable for today's modern age than the flamboyant silk stockings and breeches of past male monarchs. Charles' mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, wore a Norman Hartnell gown embroidered with emblems that represented the dominions over which she was monarch. 

 

King Charles is backing British craftsmen, according to the Daily Mail, having reportedly chosen artisan tailors to make his Coronation outfits, including a Savile Row tailoring of his Royal Navy military trousers. For the anointing, he will reportedly be wearing a silk undershirt made by Turnbull & Asser, the collars and cuffs hand-embroidered with acorns and oak leaf detail. I like the look of the company's James Bond Collection, so I'm looking forward to seeing detals of the King's collars and cuffs. 

 

The garment is believed to have been made in Gloucestershire using English homespun silk.

 

Savile Row shoe shop Gaziano & Girling is likely responsible for creating  luxurious slippers – ‘opera pumps’ made by hand and crafted in Northampton using Swiss calf leather that the King is said to be wearing on his Coronation day. The sole leather of the slippers is sourced from a tannery in Devon that uses ancient methods. These sound gorgeous, I'm keen to see pictures afterwards. 

The Telegraph has reported that the Coronation robes will play a key role, as dictated by the 14th century Liber Regalis, or Royal Book, setting out the order in which the sacred garments should be worn. 

 

Although elements of the Coronation ceremony – from the smaller number of attendees to the welcoming of different faiths – have been updated to be more in keeping with the times, Buckingham Palace is making it clear that the occasion remains a most ‘solemn religious service’ and will be ‘rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.’

The sumptuous clothes that Charles will wear for his Coronation certainly promise history and symbolism woven into each and every thread. This rich and ancient history is as important now as ever, maybe even more so as many question the concept of royalty. There's no denying that Charles has worked closely and tirelessly with many organisations, publicly supporting a wide variety of causes relating to the environment, rural communities, the built environment, the arts, healthcare and education.

Apparently, new robes are traditionally made for each Coronation, with the exception of the Supertunica and the Robe Royal, which date back to the 1821 Coronation of King George IV. Both will be worn during the investiture, with the Robe Royal donned at the moment of crowning, bearing enormous symbolic weight in evoking the divine nature (or, in plain speech, the point) of monarchy. This coronation is expected to be shorter than those in the past and Charles may don a few less robes during the ceremony than his mother did. He's also asked attendees to leave their own titled regalia at home in favor of a more streamlined, business formal attire. 

According to Tatler: "Buckingham Palace has also now released details of the Coronation Regalia that will appear at the event: the ‘sacred and secular objects which symbolise the service and responsibilities of the monarch’, which ‘have played a central role in Coronation Services for hundreds of years’. Part of the Crown Jewels, these exquisite artefacts are typically on public display in the Tower of London. The Regalia belongs to the Royal Collection and is held in trust by the reigning monarch on behalf of the nation."

"The key components include two Maces, made of silver gilt over oak, which date from between 1660 and 1695. The Palace explains that these pieces are the ceremonial emblems of authority which are carried before the Sovereign at events such as the State Opening of Parliament.

Several more swords, sceptres, orbs and and staffs will be carried in the Coronation procession. One sword is much like another to me, I'm more intrigued by the embroidery that has been painstakingly undertaken for the Coronation emblem. 

 St Edward’s Crown will be used to crown King Charles III in keeping with centuries of tradition. It was created for King Charles II in 1661 by Vyner to replace the previous medieval crown, which was melted down in 1649. Although today’s crown is not an exact replica, it nods to the medieval design, with its four crosses-pattée, four fleurs-de-lis and two arches and is crafted from a solid gold frameset with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines, with a velvet cap and an ermine band. The crown is topped with an orb and a cross, ‘symbolising the Christian world’. The same crown was worn by Charles' mother at her Coronation in 1953.  

The Coronation Emblem - which will feature throughout May's historic celebrations - pays tribute to The King’s love of the natural world, depicting the flora of the four nations in the shape of St Edward’s Crown.

 

 

The King's Breakfast & Buckingham Palace — Two Classic Poems by A. A. Milne & My Current Mindset

With the fast approach of the May 6th Coronation of King Charles, I've been reminicing quite a bit about my childhood in England and the classic stories and poems that populated my early years. The poems The King's Breakfast and Buckingham Palace by A.A. Milne keep popping in a timely fashion into my head. As they're in the public domaine, I thought it would be fun to share them. 

Alan Alexander Milne (1882 - 1956) was an English author, most famously known for his books about Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh and for various children's poems. Milne, who was educated at Cambridge University and graduated in 1903, wrote 18 plays, early screenplays, three novels and collections of childrens stories before the enormous success of Pooh overshadowed his previous work.

I'm headed over to the UK and will be posting a little of my (predominantly family) visit here and there on this site and my other social media. The concept of royalty amidst the gravity of current global concerns gives me much to ponder. While a large part of it appears ridiculous these days, there's a lot more than meets the eye to think about when we look at the merits of history and heritage, tradition and change. Especially for an ex-pat like me. So I will bring you my honest thoughts and feelings in my posts along the way. 

Photo by Calum Lewis on Unsplash

The King's Breakfast

 

The King's Breakfast
The King asked
The Queen, and
The Queen asked
The Dairymaid:
"Could we have some butter for
The Royal slice of bread?"
The Queen asked the Dairymaid,
The Dairymaid
Said, "Certainly,
I'll go and tell the cow
Now
Before she goes to bed."

The Dairymaid
She curtsied,
And went and told
The Alderney:
"Don't forget the butter for
The Royal slice of bread."
The Alderney
Said sleepily:
"You'd better tell
His Majesty
That many people nowadays
Like marmalade
Instead."

The Dairymaid
Said, "Fancy!"
And went to
Her Majesty.
She curtsied to the Queen, and
She turned a little red:
"Excuse me,
Your Majesty,
For taking of
The liberty,
But marmalade is tasty, if
It's very
Thickly
Spread."

The Queen said
"Oh!:
And went to
His Majesty:
"Talking of the butter for
The royal slice of bread,
Many people
Think that
Marmalade
Is nicer.
Would you like to try a little
Marmalade
Instead?"

The King said,
"Bother!"
And then he said,
"Oh, deary me!"
The King sobbed, "Oh, deary me!"
And went back to bed.
"Nobody,"
He whimpered,
"Could call me
A fussy man;
I only want
A little bit
Of butter for
My bread!"

The Queen said,
"There, there!"
And went to
The Dairymaid.
The Dairymaid
Said, "There, there!"
And went to the shed.
The cow said,
"There, there!
I didn't really
Mean it;
Here's milk for his porringer,
And butter for his bread."

The Queen took
The butter
And brought it to
His Majesty;
The King said,
"Butter, eh?"
And bounced out of bed.
"Nobody," he said,
As he kissed her
Tenderly,
"Nobody," he said,
As he slid down the banisters,
"Nobody,
My darling,
Could call me
A fussy man -
BUT
I do like a little bit of butter to my bread!"

 

Photo: roberto-catarinicchia-unsplash.jpg

 

Buckingham Palace

 

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
"A soldier's life is terrible hard,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
"One of the sergeants looks after their socks,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We looked for the King, but he never came.
"Well, God take care of him, all the same,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
They've great big parties inside the grounds.
"I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
A face looked out, but it wasn't the King's.
"He's much too busy a-signing things,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
"Do you think the King knows all about me?"
"Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea,"
                                     Says Alice.

Pre-order Bliss Road — Bay Rea Author Martha Engber's Much Anticipated Memoir About Living a Lie and Coming to Terms with the Truth — The Complicated Path of a Neurodiverse Family – June 2023

Bay Area Author Martha Engber is not alone as the neurotypical adult child of an undiagnosed, neurodiverse parent. Times have changed with today’s mass identification and testing of previously categorized “quiet” and/or “quirky” or “overactive” personalities, yet Engber’s story is likely mirrored by millions of people who were unwittingly raised in the psychological minefield of a mother or father with life-long, undetected Autism Spectrum Disorder.

I'm honored to have read Bliss Road pre-publication and can't wait to see it on print in June. 

Martha Engber's poignant and profound memoir, Bliss Road, trailblazes with painstaking precision and humility through the psychological minefield of growing up with a handsome, brilliant, blue-eyed, socially awkward and peculiar father whose seemingly invisible battle with ASD is beginning to emerge as its own phenomenon.

Reference to historical landmark studies in the Autism Spectrum highlight the fact that the focus has always been on identifying and helping neurodiverse kids and their parents, but the spotlight has yet to acknowledge the suffering endured by the surviving children of neurodiverse parents.

Engber’s story is a powerful coming-of-age in her fifties, as she came to terms with the complex environment of her formative years and its impact on her own life, marriage and kids. A must-read for better understanding neurodiversity and the case for never again attempting to sweep it under the carpet.

Click here to Pre-order now. 

Petaluma Gap Winegrower's Alliance Invites All Producers of Petaluma Gap AVA Wines to Be a Part of its Annual Festival Celebrations at the 2023 Wind to Wine Festival, August 5th

Photo: Kim Badenfort

The Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance (PGWA) invites all producers of Petaluma Gap AVA wines to participate in the annual festival celebrating the distinct wines grown in the wind-driven Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area (AVA) by pouring their highly- awarded wines at the Wind to Wine Festival on August 5, 2025 at SOMO Village.

The Alliance anticipates another sold-out event with over 400 attendees and 25+ wineries participating. In addition to a wide array of Petaluma Gap wines being poured, the festival will include nibbles to complement the wines, a story corner showcasing Petaluma Gap winegrowers, live music, and attendees will be able to purchase the wines tasted onsite, directly from the participating wineries.

New this year is the addition of satellite Wind to Wine events hosted by individual vintners and allowing attendees to participate in intimate winemaker dinners and hosted experiences.

PGWA encourages all producers of Petaluma Gap wine to sign up to be part of the Wind to Wine Festival starting March 1, and work with the alliance to promote their own Wind to Wine event in conjunction with the AVA festival.

“Once again the Wind to Wine Festival will feature the AVA’s signature varietals--Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah--with additional wines offered from winemakers who push the cool-climate envelope with their Albariño, Pinot Gris, Grenache, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, among others” said Tom Gendall, Director of Winemaking for Cline Cellars and President of the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance (PGWA) Board of Directors.

“Over the last year, the number of 90+ Point Wines from the AVA has substantially increased, and many will be offered for tasting at the festival. In addition, several winemakers who do not have tasting rooms will participate, so this is a rare opportunity to taste their wines before purchasing,” Gendall said.

A menu of delicious bites from Sally Tomatoes, selected to complement the wines, will be served in the charming Fireside event space along with an array of artisanal cheeses from Point Reyes Cheese Company, whose dairy farm is located along the Pacific near the edge of the Petaluma Gap AVA.

Back by popular demand, guests will be entertained and informed by a story corner, featuring tips and tales from Petaluma Gap winemakers and growers. And the venue’s Redwood Grove will be the site for live music, enjoyed under the shade of the towering 80-food redwoods.

“The Petaluma Gap Winegrowers would like to thank American AgCredit, returning as Presenting Sponsor for Wind to Wine,” Gendall said, “and we look forward to new partners, co-sponsors and guests joining us for another successful and fun event.”

Tickets will go on sale starting on Monday, May 15, at 12 noon.

To be notified when ticket sales open and get updates on the event, including the Winemaker Dinners, please join the PGWA list here.

Photo: Fabian Jauregui

 

New For Spring in Sonoma County — Life Opens Up

With awe-inspiring views, coastal redwood trees that are older than most buildings, and countless opportunities to immerse oneself in nature, the natural surroundings of Sonoma County invite us  to stop and pause. And it is within this pause that the magic happens. At that moment Life Opens Up and mindful travel, or for those of us who are lucky to live here, staycationing begins. For inspiration, ideas and itineraries visit Sonomacounty.com. 

New in Accolades for Sonoma County

• More than fourteen properties in Sonoma County made U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 list of “Best Hotels in the USA.” The list, which evaluated over 6,000 hotel properties nationwide, includes Timber Cove Resort (590), Vintners Resort (656), The Stavrand (842), Gaige House (849), The Farmhouse (850), The Lodge at Bodega Bay (1106), Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn (1216), Kenwood Inn & Spa (1250), The Madrona (1611), The Astro (1840), Graton Resort & Casino (2265), Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine County (4967), and the Flamingo Resort (5518). 

• TripAdvisor has unveiled its Travelers' Choice Destinations Award for the Top 10 Trending Destinations in the U.S. in 2023. Rather than relying on a cadre of tourism editors to tout what they believe are the best destinations worldwide for a vacation, TripAdvisor's rankings are based on insights from millions of real travelers who visited these destinations in the past year and left their feedback. Wine tasting through Sonoma Valley is among the top 10. 

• Slow Food in Sonoma County is an international program that recognizes food-related businesses that excel in sourcing, environmental impact, cultural connection, community involvement, and business values. In addition to fourteen current businesses, the 2023 Snail of Approval awardees include Americana, COOKIE...take a bite!, Corner Project Ales & Eats, Gold Ridge Organic Farms, Petaluma's Lunchette, Maison Porcella, Sunray Farm, and Taub Family Outpost. 

New in Restaurants  

Chef Mark Malicki's pop-up dinners have launched at The Tea Room Cafe, Western Avenue, Petaluma, Tuesdays 5pm to 8pm. No reservations, get in line! See photo above. 

Little Saint Reopens with New Food Program  

Healdsburg’s Little Saint has reopened with a more casual all-day food program. Changes include a new menu from chef Bryan Oliver highlighting their 100% plant-based, vegetable-forward cuisine, driven by what is grown seasonally on local Sonoma County farms. The wine list has been transformed with emphasis on an expanded collection of small-producer wines. A new bar program offers a creative take on both spirits-based and non-alcoholic cocktails. 

The Roadhouse Collective 

The former Fork Roadhouse in Sebastopol has been reimagined as a food collective. The growing cast of food businesses at the renamed Roadhouse Collective include Fork Catering, Just Eat Some Plant-Based, Bayou on the Bay, Happy Cat Pizza, and SubHuman, a sandwich shop. The food collaborators will share the space as an event venue, commissary kitchen, and pop-up space for their concept restaurants. The Roadhouse Collective believes collaboration is key to a thriving and sustainable food business model. 

New in Hotels 

Astro Adventures 

The Astro has launched its inaugural season of weeklong “Astro Adventures” in partnership with chefs, master sommeliers, mixologists, and authors, and their restaurant, The Spinsters Sisters. Each week the adventure is hosted by a different expert who guides the group through Sonoma County. The Astro Adventure package includes lodging at the midcentury motor lodge, several meals at The Spinster Sisters tasting fees, transportation, and goodies to bring home.  

Extended Stay Promotion in Sonoma County 

The late winter-early spring months are far from sleepy in Sonoma County. In fact, it is an excellent time to feel like visitors are getting Sonoma County all to themselves, especially mid-week. Check out Sonoma County’s deals page for cool trip ideas. Or if visitors prefer more buzz balanced out by time to relax, they may consider extending their weekend stay and saving more. 

New in Wine 

WildWood Wine gives back to the community 

WildWood Wine is selling its wine in partnership with community-based non-profit organizations that improve lives and contribute to the well-being of people in the Sonoma County community. For every bottle they sell, WildWood Wine is donating 25% of the purchase price to one of the partnering non-profits to create a new funding stream for the non-profits. Customers choose online which organization they wish to support. WildWood Wine has four initial partnering organizations currently committed to the program. They include Food For Thought, Ceres Community Project, Social Advocates for Youth (SAY), and Forget Me Not Farm. 

Winemaker Dinner Series by Santé  

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn’s Executive Chef Jared Reeves, in partnership with some of Sonoma's most renowned winemakers, are collaborating for a 2023 winemaker dinner series at Santé at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. Each experience begins with a sparkling wine reception commencing at 6:00 pm followed by a 4-course wine-paired dinner presented on the patio under the Fairmont’s famous water tower. The winemaker dinner series features: 

• April 26, 2026 – Dan Kosta, Convene Wines  

• May 31, 2025 – Michael Sebastiani, Highway 12 Winery 

• June 28, 2025 – Alison Smith Story, Smith Story Wines 

• July 26, 2025 – Erich Bradley, Sojourn Cellars 

• September 27, 2025 – Silver Oak Winery 

New in Events 

Early Spring Activities in Jack London State Historic Park 

A slate of outdoor events is taking place at Jack London State Historic Park this spring. Here are a select few: 

• Deborah Large, creator and keeper of the Jack London Park “Blooming Now” wildflower guide, will lead the “An Eye for Wildflowers” hike to locate the wildflowers featured in the current issue of the online guide. The distance will be determined by the location of the wildflowers on the day of the walk and should be one to three miles in length. March 18. 10:00 am.  

• A variety of uplifting musical selections will be presented by the Jack London Piano Club, a talented group of volunteers at Jack London State Historic Park, in its Springtime Piano Concert. The music will be performed on Charmian London’s 1901 Steinway piano, located on the second floor of the House of Happy Walls, Charmian’s former home and now the museum of Jack and Charmian’s life together. March 19. 2:00 pm. 

• Award-winning author, scientist, and nature guide Rebecca Lawton will lead a two-hour literary bird walk from Jack London State Historic Park along the trails of Sonoma Mountain. The group will take a leisurely stroll to the site of Jack London’s Lake looking for wild birds and musing on seasonal and long-term changes in water and wildlife. Lawton will also talk about writing on the mountain before, during, and after Jack London’s time. She will share samples of ancient and contemporary language about the mountain and wildlife (birds, specifically), in part exploring how London himself described them. March 25. 8:00 am. 

Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen is operated and funded by Jack London Park Partners, one of the first non-profit organizations to be entrusted with the management of a state park on behalf of the people of California. 

Transcendence Theater Company 

Transcendence Theatre Company is Sonoma County’s premiere live entertainment experience. With three original outdoor musical revues produced every summer, the company’s mission is to create extraordinary evenings featuring the best talents from Broadway and beyond. Evening performances begin with a picnic dinner surrounded by the lush scenery of Jack London State Historic Park. It culminates with an electrifying, fully staged evening of song and dance, set within the majestic ruins of a former winery, all against a moonlit, star-dotted night sky. Subscription and single ticket sales begin March 3. 

Sonoma International Film Festival 

Celebrating its 26th anniversary in 2023, the five-day Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) offers the best in film, food, wine, and fun in one of the most intimate, engaging, and inspiring settings on the film circuit. The festival is dedicated to promoting the best in independent film and filmmakers from around the world, inspiring savvy film lovers, and introducing the power of film to student filmmakers. March 22-26. 

California Artisan Cheese Festival 

Meet award-winning California cheesemakers, local winemakers, brewers, and distillers at the 17th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival. Sample and buy artisan cheese and other handcrafted products perfect for pairing with cheese; taste beer, wine, cider, and spirit. This year’s Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace will feature over 80 artisan producers showcasing their products. March 24-26. 

IPA 10K Brewfest & Beer Mile 

This one-of-a-kind celebration combines distance running, craft beer, and more.  The IPA10K and 3K start with a beer and cider toast before taking runners on a scenic loop course north of The Barlow. After the races, browse the Brewfest, which features local craft brewers plus wine, food, bands, and exhibitors. April 15. 8:00 am. 

Petaluma Butter and Egg Days Parade 4oth Anniversary April 22, 2023.  

The 2023 parade highlights 40 years of tradition in Petaluma and is an opportunity to celebrate our community, our history, and our great sense of fun!  This year  join in celebrating the Ruby Jubilee Anniversary and the theme “There’s no Place Like Home” which will incorporate artistic visions from the Land of OZ, Ruby Slippers, our amazing Earth (as it’s also EARTH DAY), and what makes Petaluma such a special Hometown.  This year’s parade should inspire and bring smiles to the masses.  The parade will showcase over 100 units with approximately 3,000 participants and 200 volunteers. The popular antique faire takes place the following weekend, Sunday April 30. 

Apple Blossom Festival 

The Apple Blossom Festival in Sebastopol is a quintessential Sonoma County event. The festival kicks off with a small-town Americana parade down Main Street featuring local participants celebrating the rich agricultural heritage and spirit of the community. At the conclusion of the parade, the crowd makes their way to Ives Park in Sebastopol for the festival. Bustling with activity, it includes live music, a children's play area, artisan crafts, and food booths. Two entertainment stages will feature a variety of musical acts. April 29 – 30. 

Costeaux French Bakery 100th Anniversary  

Costeaux French Bakery is commemorating its 100-year anniversary with various year-round celebrations throughout 2023. Programs include a call for personal Costeaux stories, a pop-up dinner, a family-friendly community event, an exclusive luncheon for wholesale accounts, and a 1920s-themed party. Each month, a Costeaux golden ticket will be placed in cakes and bread bags. The individual who finds the Costeaux Golden Ticket will receive complimentary baked goods and special commemorative items celebrating the 100th anniversary of this beloved Sonoma County bakery. 

Interfaith Relationship Spotlight — Jewish Decorative Paint Specialist and Design Consultant Ruby Newman Celebrates Three Decades of Creative Expression and Partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Petaluma

When a religious sanctuary in our modern age makes room to provide a place of spiritual worship, solace, commune and prayer for people of all peaceful faiths, beliefs and viewpoints, it is to be celebrated. After all, inclusion and open-minded conversation is a powerful magnet for bridging the divide within our diverse communities and it's a wonderful thing to behold when a different point of view on cultural and/or religious or spirituality is openly welcomed and respected.   

Building such respect for religious differences encourages communication and understanding, reduces prejudice, misconceptions, hatred and violence. Religious leaders of different faith in Sonoma County are increasingly called to come together in the most difficult of times during this era of wildfires and other natural disasters, sharing places of worship and other vital resources for their congregation and communities at large. And a religious sanctuary is capable of providing shelter and safe haven for even the most devout non-believer and all those in between. 

And so it is especially heartening to revisit the story of Jewish artist Ruby Newman's 30-year relationship and deep-rooted commitment as the decorative paint technique specialist and design consultant to historic St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (circa 1927) in Petaluma. 

Photo: Frances Rivetti — Artist Ruby Newman in the entrance to St. Vincent de Paul Church on Liberty Street, Petaluma, CA.  Bullnoses of exterior columns have been re-gilded and gold-leafing refreshes and brightens the ornate design above the church doors. 

"The parish totally trusts me and embraces me," says Ruby, who was born and raised in a Jewish household in Northern New Jersey. "It's a lovely relationship."

Photo: Ruby Newman — The entrance to St. Vincent de Paul Church before Ruby Newman's faux marble finishing of the columns and decorative painting of the architectural details in 1993. 

"The exterior paint has held up well," said Ruby during my visit to the church this late February. I first met with Ruby 11 years years ago to write about church refurbishment and her remarkable work, in my former column in the Petaluma Argus Courier. Now in her seventh decade, she is still spritely enough to climb to lofty heights in the almost 100-year-old building in her mission to create and embellish beautiful spaces that open people's hearts.

However: "I do take the tower steps to get to the top of the 13-story-scaffold," she shared. Ruby has a sense of humor and wonder in her exuberant life's work, which she came to following an early career in theater arts after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. 

Ruby was inspired to paint and draw as a young child by her mother, Lucille, a graduate of Pratt Institute. During this early period she developed her skills in pen, watercolors and pastels.

"I was exposed to the galleries and arts museums in New York City throughout my formative years," Ruby shared. "My mother owned Lucinda Ltd, Fine Art Gallery . . . which gave me my first exposure to the inner working of the art world. She featured high-quality contemporary NY area artists whom I had the opportunity to meet when I accompanied her to their studios."

She also assisted in organizing and hanging shows in her mother's gallery. 

Ruby is no longer taking new commissions for decorative interior painting and faux finishings, in which she has a prolific body of work, including religious centers such as Spirit Rock in Marin, Victorian homes throughout the Bay Area, restaurants, wineries, spas and other commercial buildings, though her portfolio will forever burst with stunning skies, scenes and effects. She's happiest now painting abstract, plein air landscape, figurative and still life studies in her art studio in rural West Petaluma. And yet she's not quite ready to set aside her brushes and tools and trowels that she depends upon to upkeep her three decades of artistic devotion within the sanctuary of St. Vincent's. 

The artist, whose enthusiasm for her work shines through a broad smile when she  talks on the subject, studied classical figurative drawing with Charlie Mazussian (BFA Pratt). "This foundation has given me a strong ability to capture the human figure and nature alike. I delight in creating work from live models, candid portraiture of musicians in performance and listeners," Ruby explained. 

Faux painting, popular since classical times, when an artist apprenticed for a decade or more with a master faux painter, tricks viewers into believing marble and ancient stone work effect, especially, is real. Faux painting reappeared in commercial and public spaces in the neoclassical revival of the nineteenth century and the Art Deco style of the 1920s and in the case of St. Vincent de Paul's inner and outer sanctuary, completely transformed a cold, bland and colorless environment into one of warmth and texture and depth. 

"I was originally hired by an interior designer who had volunteered to work with the late Father George and the church," Ruby explained. "The faux finisher they were considering first wasn't available so they took a chance on a little Jewish girl. I believe they've never regretted it!"

It was board member, the late Don Ramatici who told her, years after the finishings were complete how much the Church appreciated and valued her work.

Ruby described the original "before" interior of the church as chalky, grey white. "It looked like a mortuary, it was very grim." Plaster had cracked in the arches and so she set about faux finishing ancient stone effects to disguise the fixed cracks as well as around the doorways and plaster surrounding the stained glass windows, rosettes and Stations of the Cross. Ten columns were transformed by a marbling effect that complimented the original marble in the Italian prayer railing. 

Boyd Meacham, now owner of Spurgeon Painting assisted the artist in execution of the color washes back in the 90s. "He's still so great to work with," she said.

Photo: Ruby Newman — Before photo in St. Vincent de Paul Church in the early 90s. 

Photo: Frances Rivetti — Interior of St. Vincent de Paul Church Petaluma Feb 2023

Photos: Frances Rivetti

 

Parishioners may remember the The Stations of the Cross in St.Vincent's before Ruby's color infusion brought the scenes refreshingly to life. The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man. According to Catholic.org, The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to station. At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from Christ's last day. Specific prayers are recited, then the individual moves to the next station until all 14 are complete.

 

"The priests have helped me with the 14 Stations," Ruby recounted. She started with painting the sky at the top of each scene, beginning with sunshine and blue skies and progressively moving toward a stormy sky above the last day. Colors of the time depict the scenes in a vivid tableau of which the artist is especially pleased with from an art history perspective.

 

"Church goers experience the feeling of walking through Jerusalem," explained Ruby. "Embellishment really makes people stop and take a look. As a public works artist, my heart is focused on putting good things in the public eye, creating feelings of harmony and peace."

 

Stained glass windows made in Germany are being meticulously cared for and maintained as with the interior and exterior in general by the church caretaker Ignacio Romo, who sets up ladders for Ruby and keeps a loving, watchful eye on the entire facility.

 

When it came time for new altar furnishings at St. Vincent's five years ago, the now-retired Father Gary Lombardi turned to Ruby for advice. "I told him that we could do better than simply ordering from a catalog."

 

"I love being in the creative process and problem solving."  She designed the altar tables, chairs and holy water cabinet, sourcing Italian marble that complimented the original marble inset into the prayer railing and commissioned fellow Petaluman, master craftsman Andrew Jacobson of Design In Wood to build the individual, one-of-a-kind pieces with cherry wood, marble and burl.  

 

 

 Photos: Frances Rivetti - altar furniture designed by Ruby Newman and crafted by Andrew Jacobson of Design in Wood. Original Italian marble in prayer railing used as inspiration in the artists' faux work.

 

 

The print of a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, Catholic title of Mary, mother of Jesus associated with a series of five Marian apparitions, which are believed to have occurred in December 1531 and a venerated image on a cloak enshrined within the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, was sourced by the artist with support of the Parish to promote inclusion of the church's extensive Spanish-speaking community.

 

Even the glass of the chandelier lanterns has not escaped the artist's discerning eye. Ruby transformed the dark glass of the original fixture by donating her time for the faux marbling replacement glass for a softer light to shine over the congregation and choir. 

Ruby is also restoring the far-right column on the front entrance to the church since mold and calcification has occurred. "Next to it, I’ll also be repairing some major cracks in the small columns . . . probably due to little earthquakes and/or movement in the 100-year-old building in general.

At Carnegie Mellon University, Ruby majored in Theatrical Design under the direction of Cletus and Barbara Anderson. She received a B.F.A. and The Bess Kimberly Award for best costume designer of her class. She worked for the Santa Fe Opera, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the International Opera Barga in Italy.

To quote Ruby from her website: "I then turned my attention to public art and devoted over ten years to projects from the San Francisco Arts Commission. These included several public mural works and the restoration of the 1914 Golden Gate Park Carousel.  I oversaw the restoration process and personally hand-painted the 62 wooden menagerie figures, decorative panels and masks."

She received numerous awards and recognitions for this effort. Following this commission, she spent two years as a resident artist at the Headlands Center for the Arts in Marin County, where she had the opportunity to focus on her fine art work. 

Since 1977,  Ruby has used her talents to create an assortment of unique commercial decorative painting applications. The mastery of Trompe l'Oeil, custom murals and decorative painting has won the artist several national awards, including the decorative finishes for Petaluma's St. Vincent de Paul Church and the Reutlinger Mansion in San Francisco. Many custom size prints of her images have been chosen by the Healthcare Industry for hospital art because of their positive, uplifting energy. 

Ruby's advice for young artists: "Follow your spirit, believe in yourself. There will be rejections, but move on, you don't belong where you've been rejected. Knock on new doors, the worst they can do is say no." 

There have been many a 12-hour-day in the past when Ruby Newman has been so thoroughly immersed in her work within St. Vincent de Paul Church. When she first started, there were the major religious holidays to work around to deadline. At one stage she blew out her meniscus — knee cartilage torn by clambering up and down scaffolding and steps. These days she is much more aware of the physical demands on her body and is more mindful of her own self-care.

"It's been an extraordinary story in the length and breadth of our relationship," she said, as she lovingly checked to make sure the lights were off as we left the sanctuary of the church and headed back outside into the afternoon rain. Ruby was on her wayback to her studio to work on her latest fine art assemblage series "Paint Slices" until the weather warms and she''' be back at St. Vincent's to continue on the restoration of the main entrance. 

Join Illustrator of The House on Liberty Street Gail Foulkes and Myself, Author of This Local Best Selling Novel for Supper, Conversation & a Reading at Aqus Cafe, Petaluma, Thurs Evening, March 16th, 2023

Please join Gail Foulkes and myself at our favorite neighborhood gathering spot, Aqus Cafe at Foundry Wharf on Thursday evening March 16th. We'll be hanging out at Aqus during the Art Alive monthly walk-about, eating supper, chatting about our collaboration on this latest novel of mine and enjoying a glass of wine prior to my reading at 7pm. 

The House on Liberty Street continues to make its way out into the world and has been the best selling book at Copperfield's Books in Petaluma this past month. Apologies to Prince Harry for knocking him off his best seller perch locally, but somehow I don't think he'll notice. There's only room for two British Americans in that lofty position in Petaluma right now and I get to share these 15 minutes of fame with fellow Brit, Gail! 

We'll be at Aqus on the 16th from 5.45 pm, so please do mark it on your calendar and join us for a (no-host) libation or two and/or an appetizer or light meal and conversation. We're grateful to Lesley, John and team at Aqus for their support of us and opening their inviting space to so many local creatives over the years and so it's important for us to be reciprocal and encourage additional custom prior to and during the March 16th reading. 

Here's a link to view Gail's gorgeous slideshow of the many images she made around historic West Petaluma during the months we were talking about the cover illustration for The House on Liberty Street.

Framed images are now on show at Aqus Cafe — do stop in for coffee and a bite to eat next time you are in the area and also on the evening of  March 16th. We'd love to see you!  

Thank you to the Petaluma Argus Courier and P360 for the great article on me and my books this February. Click here to view/read. 

If you've read The House on Liberty Street and enjoyed it, I would greatly appreciate it if you'd leave a brief review on Amazon. It doesn't matter if you didn't buy it on Amazon as long as it's a genuine review. And that's the place where number of reviews help to elevate a book out into the world at large.