Southern Sonoma Country Life

The Petaluman - A Boutique Hotel in the Heart of Historic Downtown

Plans are in (as of the end of October) for City planners here at the Gateway to Wine Country to review a long-planned proposal for a small, luxury hotel in the heart of Petaluma's historic downtown.

The site on which The Petaluman will sit is an empty, former Chevron gas station on the corner of B Street and Petaluma Boulevard. 

Interestingly enough, this environmentally friendly, mostly Petaluma-made-art-filled hospitality hub fits the bill for every one of the categories I generally cover on Southern Sonoma Country Life, with the exception of my 'Anglo' category - though having said that, I do think that The Petaluman will be of huge appeal to visiting Brits as well as people from all around the world increasingly headed to Southern Sonoma County for our unrivaled agri-tourism tastes and attractions. 

As for us locals, there are roof bars and garden, a cool vantage point for private parties or to watch the Butter and Egg Days parade go by and a new farm-to-table restaurant with subterranean Cave Bar featuring local produce in its food and drinks (some of it grown on the roof)  

Full Story as Featured on Sister Site West Petaluma Living

An official planning application for ‘The Petaluman’, a long-awaited, landmark 54-Room luxury boutique hotel in downtown Petaluma’s bustling historic shopping district was submitted for formal approval to the City of Petaluma Planning Department, on Thursday, October 31st, 2013.

Owner/Architect and Developer, Ross Jones and his Petaluma-based creative team have designed the showcase project as a legacy, landmark property intended to serve the community as a contemporary hub of hospitality and innovation, as well as providing an extraordinary, state-of-the-art respite for visitors.

Speaking to the history of the people of Petaluma, with a refreshing, modern approach, this exemplary, four-story property is poised to transform a prime, empty corner lot of Petaluma Boulevard South and B Street, with a projected opening in December 2015. “The Petaluman is designed to be the heart of soul of downtown,” says Jones, who, along with his project development team, has spent the past seven months working with focused community input to further refine and enhance initial, ambitious plans for a boutique hotel with unprecedented high quality caliber of architecture, building materials, art and service.

Jones anticipates a six-month time frame from submission of plans to the first public hearing. Once City Planners give the green light for groundbreaking, an estimated 150 construction jobs will activate a hive of activity on the empty lot that formerly housed a Chevron Gas station owned by the developer’s grandmother.

“Once The Petaluman is open for business, our focus will be on hiring around 24 full-time employees as hotel concierge/ambassadors with exemplary knowledge of the Petaluma area and its history,” says Jones, whose primary goal is to showcase the agrarian flavor of the city and surrounding communities in a first-class facility built to last and packed to the solar-paneled rafters with original, made-in-Petaluma art and eco-friendly design.

“It’s all about healthy living, providing a warm welcome with extraordinary comforts, community involvement, slow food and friendly service,” says Jones. The hotel’s design team, the hotel’s design team, under the direction of Monica Binsfeld of Petaluma-based Ecco Mi design, has incorporated plans for a 100-person capacity, underground Warm Cave Bar, a farm-to-table themed Streetside Bistro, Rooftop Juice Bar and Cocktail Lounge, rooftop event space for parade viewing, private parties and receptions, plus a Rooftop Urban Farm for youth training and community service.

“The Petaluman will be unique in its value as an amenity within the community,” says Binsfeld. “Picture the sort of sophisticated yet casual boutique hotel with public bar and restaurant with a vibe that you’d expect to find in a city like Chicago.”

“The Cave Bar will be visible from street level and its ambiance is designed to appeal to people of all ages,” says Binsfeld. “That’s the beauty of this hotel.”

Another unique element that incorporated into the plans for The Petaluman is the presence of five designated Wellness Units – rooms that provide a home-from-home environment for guests who might benefit from sleep therapy stays in which the environment is entirely

allergen and mold free, clean air contained, offering aromatherapy, chromatherapy bath or shower facilities and some physical therapy.

Exterior of The Petaluman will feature earth tones and sustainable materials, balconies overlooking Petaluma Boulevard and B Streets and a plaza at the corner of two prominent downtown streets, anchored with a monumental metal art sculpture sourced from contemporary American sculptor, Carole Eisner. “The sculpture we have selected is Eisner’s ‘The Dancer’, currently housed at Syracuse University, in New York,” says Binsfeld

The Petaluman has been carefully designed to represent the best of early 21st Century architecture so that future generations of Petaluma will have a continuing high benchmark in which to aspire in its classic downtown redevelopment.

Fall Gathering Workshop at Petaluma's B Street Mercantile (Followed by Creative Gift Tags & Wrap)

Fall "Gathering" Workshop Wednesday, November 20th, 7pm $10 Materials Fee, Drop-In or Pre-Register   Join the team at B Street Mercantile Co the week before Thanksgiving to create beautiful and simple decorations from found items.  Gather autumn objects such as leaves, twigs, nuts and berries.  B Street Mercantile will provide all the craft tools and materials needed to create seasonal decor such as place cards, napkin rings, candle holders and centerpieces.

Creative Gift Tags & Wrap Wednesday, December 11th, 7pm $10 Materials Fee, Drop-In or Pre-Register   Let the talented team at B Street Mercantile help you add a unique and personal style to your gift wrapping this season. B Street Mercantile will provide all the materials you need to create special gift tags and will share some fun ideas for gift wrap. The store welcome participants to contribute and share ideas and images for the class.  All participants will leave with a stack of gift tags!   For more information on either of the workshops, please visit the store's website

Experience Neighboring Napa Valley from New Heights with Wydown Hotel's New Soaring Over California Package

Wydown Hotel, the stylish, contemporary, 12-room property centrally located on beautiful St. Helena's Main Street, invites you to enjoy harvest season from the sky, in the vineyards, and in the heart of downtown with anew Soaring Over California package and the exclusive “Happy Hour at Any Hour” partnership with La Condesa Napa Valley. 

Soaring Over California enables guests to take in sweeping, birds-eye views of Napa Valley, with optional upgrades to ride through the vineyards by horseback and tour Castello di Amorosa.

The La Condesa “Happy Hour at Any Hour” allows hotel guests to enjoy happy hour prices on cocktails at the bar or 10% off their total bill seated anywhere in the restaurant when they show their hotel keycard.

The Soaring Over California package includes the following for guests who would like to experience Napa at new heights:

• One night stay at Wydown Hotel 
• Pre-flight coffee and pastries at Calistoga Depot
• Transportation to all locations on itinerary (launch site varies)
• Sunrise hot air balloon flight over Napa Valley with views of landmarks such as the Palisade Cliffs, California’s Old Faithful Geyser, the Tuscan castle Castello di Amorosa and Chateau Montelena
• Champagne breakfast at Michelin-starred Solbar at Solage Calistoga

Optional package upgrades The Royal Treatment and Vineyards by Horseback are available for purchase. In addition to the above-mentioned items, The Royal Treatmentupgrade includes the following for an extra $26:

• Tour of Castello di Amorosa, Dario Sattui's authentically-styled, 121,000-square-foot, 13th century Tuscan castle and winery
• Wine tasting including Castello di Amorosa’s current releases and barrel samples

In addition to the items listed in the Soaring Over California package, the Vineyards by Horsebackupgrade includes the following for an extra $120:

• Guided 90-minute horseback ride through the award-winning Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards
• Wine tasting at Chalk Hill Estate Winery

(Packages begin at $424, double occupancy, exclusive of tax and gratuity.)

“Happy Hour at Any Hour” at La Condesa offers Wydown Hotel guests two cocktails per keycard, at happy hour prices, any time the restaurant is open. Guests are also welcome to enjoy a full meal at La Condesa with a 10% discount off of their bill with proof of stay (with a maximum party size of four).

More details about the packages and promotions at the Wydown Hotel may be found on their recently redesigned website: www.wydownhotel.com; or by calling (707) 963-5100.

ABOUT WYDOWN HOTEL:

Wydown Hotel is a singular property, independently owned and operated by Mark Hoffmeister, who manages a professional and welcoming staff of St. Helena locals that are passionate and knowledgeable about the area.

The Hotel offers service at a level of refinement and professionalism generally associated with larger hotels, balanced by the friendliness and “personal touch” of a boutique business, making for an exceptional and unforgettable guest experience.

Wydown Hotel opened in July 2011 after an extensive renovation of the old Eagle & Rose Inn, where the entire building was overhauled and remodeled with luxury custom furnishings and a fresh, contemporary design. The property’s twelve guest rooms fall into three categories: Premium, Premium Atrium and Luxury Corner, and feature king beds, Keurig coffee makers, mini fridges and spa robes.

Guests also have access to a 24/7 front desk staff, complimentary parking, tea and coffee in the Living Room, coupons for coffee at the nearby Napa Valley Roasting Company, wine tastings at the adjacent Materra Tasting Room and Wi-Fi. Wydown Hotel partners with Health Spa Napa Valley, providing complimentary access to their state of the art fitness facility which features LifeFitness, Precor and Cybex strength equipment and a 25-yard outdoor heated lap pool.

Wydown Hotel is located at 1424 Main St. in St. Helena, Calif. For reservations and additional information, please visit wydownhotel.com or call  (707) 963-5100.

American Made - Innovative Shinola Manufacturer Puts U.S. Products Back on Our Luxury Wish-Lists

Fall issue magazines have been gushing over these gorgeous American-made watches by Shinola and I can see why. As a watch-lover, these are modern classics. Hand-me-down-to-future-generation-worthy.

I checked out Detroit-based manufacturer, Shinola to find out a bit more about this stylish new line and happily discovered the innovative company hasn't stopped at watches. 

Responding in a 'timely' fashion to the current strong push for American made quality goods, Shinola shines the spotlight on the beauty of industry with bicycles, leather goods and journals. 

Shinola Factories around the country are able to relive their old glory days in an updated fashion that makes products to stand out from the foreign-made crowd. What a great example for an American revival of quality goods. 

Click here to learn more about Shinola's mission to make the best bikes, watches, journals and bags on the U.S market and to watch short films from the factories. 

 

LE CIRQUE de BOHEME – A Winter Circus Kicks Off Holiday Events, Thanksgiving Weekend at Cornerstone Sonoma

Cornerstone Sonoma invites you to “Bring Your Holidays to Cornerstone” as it kicks off the season with an authentic 1920’s style French holiday circus titled “Le Cirque de Boheme,” for eight special performances beginning on Friday, December 29th and closing on Monday, December 2nd.  

Following the French-style circus, is Cornerstone's 9^th annual Lighting of the Snowmen set for Sunday, December 8th at 3 p.m. with additional holiday highlights including photos with Santa in Cornerstone’s Big Blue Chair, a complimentary gift wrapping station and Christmas carolers.  All of this holiday is unique to Cornerstone where the shops, wine rooms and entertainment are as unique and artful as the gardens. 

A French holiday tradition begins its inaugural run at Cornerstone Sonoma for just eight special performances. “Le Cirque de Boheme” is an old style holiday circus based on the French tradition of the 1920’s, which is filled with the promise of enchantment, thrill and wonder. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 15 and under.  Tickets can be purchased online - click here.  at A portion of each ticket will benefit the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance.

Le Cirque de Boheme is an intimate gathering limited to just 80 guests per show and held under the wedding tent in the magical gardens at Cornerstone.  Show times run daily at 1 pm and 3 pm for four days only, Friday, November 29 through Monday, December 2.

Enjoy world class talent with performances that are deftly woven into “Le Cirque de Boheme,” a story of 10 year-old Luna who takes us on a journey into a long ago time high atop the hills on Montmartre near the famous Le Moulin Rouge in Paris.  Within Luna’s dream, she encounters a sword thrower, contortionist, magician, slack rope walker and other assorted denizens of Paris of the 1920’s.  

“Our production presents the circus performer as a human being, accessible to everyone, and uses the performer’s circus skills to make connections by demonstrating the shared emotional experiences that unite us all,” says Michel Saga, Sonoma resident and ringleader extraordinaire for the circus.  “’Le Cirque de Boheme’ is a unique universe where one is transported, regardless of age, to a magical land full of adventure, innocence and wonder, and is particularly potent during the holiday season.”

To make room for the debut of Le Cirque de Boheme, the 9^th annual Lighting of the Snowmen at Cornerstone was moved to Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 p.m.  Come out and be the first to see what the Snowmen are up to this year!  Festivities include photos with Santa on the Big Blue Chair, a special performance by the Sonoma Ballet Conservatory, live music in the snowflake filled courtyard, classic holiday films in the Olive Grove Cinema, and back for a second year, a traditional German Beer Garden with a variety of beers, German Sausage and Men in Lederhosen.  Admission to the Lighting of the Snowmen is free but because of overcrowding, parking is $5 per car with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance.  Overflow parking is available two minutes down the road at Jacuzzi Winery with a shuttle to and from the event leaving every five minutes.

In addition to wine, food, fun and live music, during the Lighting of the Snowmen event, Cornerstone has incorporated additional ways to support the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance.  Swap portions of a $20 strip of Benefit tickets for gingerbread men and women to decorate, hot chocolate, face painting by Popo the Clown, kid’s holiday crafts, grab bag gifts, wacky holiday games, cotton candy, popcorn balls and more.   The Lighting of the Snowmen has become a favorite tradition in the Sonoma Valley.

Unique shopping options have always been the hallmark at Cornerstone Sonoma.  The site is home to shops and galleries such as Artifact Design & Salvage, A New Leaf Gallery I Sculpturesite, Country by Eurasion Interiors, John Denning Studio & Gallery, Potter Green & Co., and Tesoro Flowers, Home & Garden.  Keating Wines, Meadowcroft Wines and the newly opened Tricycle Wine Company offer tastes of their award winning wines each day.        

In addition to all of the special events and ongoing holiday extras at Cornerstone Sonoma, there will also be a complimentary gift wrapping station on the grounds each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting Thanksgiving weekend and running through to Christmas.  Shoppers can have their gift purchases classically wrapped in an iconic Tiffany blue box (because of the size of many of the sculptures, art objects and other large items, these cannot be included for wrapping).  Additionally, musical groups and choruses will be at Cornerstone on weekends to entertain the guests with holiday carols.  

Nearing its 10^th Anniversary in Sonoma, Cornerstone Gardens is an ever changing series of walk through gardens showcasing new and innovative designs from the world’s finest landscape architects and designers.  The first such gallery-style gardens in the United States, the nine-acre exhibit of some 22 gardens was created as an inspiration and resource for people interested in gardens garden design and art. Cornerstone Gardens are located at 23570 Arnold Dr  Sonoma.

First Ever Pop-Up Flash Dinner Picnic at Sonoma's Cornerstone Gardens a Roaring Success

The Pop-Up Dinner in White made its final rounds of the 2013 season to Cornerstone, Sonoma, October 19th, on a bright and balmy evening worthy of wine country renown.

What fun! What limited organization for any one dashing diner. Flash-mob-style festivities are best shared with friends that are as great as their semi-formal picnic prowess - oh and a few good bottles of wine, too.

This was my first pop-up dining experience and what a delight. Though Bay-Area-based Handmade Events has been putting on these tasty, social and stylish, all-white extravaganzas across the country for the past few years, this was the first in Sonoma County.

Hundreds gathetherd with baskets and boxes and rolling contraptions stuffed to the hilt with baguettes, brie and beurre, all manner of elaborate table decorations, illuminations, crystal, china and gourmet spreads.

I spotted an entire table of Marilyn Monroes, a large, white centerpiece fashioned after the Golden Gate Bridge and two fluffy puppies in white sweaters. Outfits ranged from the casual summer cottons to cricketer's whites, naval officer uniforms and a formal gown or two.  

Super fun to run into fellow Sonoma County blogger and friend Alice, of Alice Dishes, one of my favorite reads. I have a feeling Alice was paying more attention than I to what was being dished up on tables all around. I look forward to reading her post! 

As an inexpensive, elegant opportunity to dine out en-masse, a pop-up dinner simply can't be beat. Put yourself on the e-mailing list for Handmade Events to plan ahead for 2014 dinners in the Bay Area and beyond.

Fertile Ground - A Slice of Petaluma Pride

 

Not that its a secret to those of us who live and work and raise our families here in the heart of Southern Sonoma County, but for those in the Bay Area and beyond who might still have in mind that Petaluma is a bit out in the sticks, Petaluma Design Guild and the city's economic development team have pretty much blown any last lingering cover on one of the country's most understated of small, hospitable and inspiring cities.

Take a look at the terrific new website by the Design Guild, just released, featuring a selection of Petaluma's most outstanding and interesting entrepreneurs, with plentiful visual hooks on why innovative and creative types around the country should seriously consider uprooting both family and biz to put down roots alongside these sorts of good neighbors..

It has to be said that a good percentage of the population in Petaluma would like for it to stay just as it is, uniquely down-to-earth and unpretentious in comparison to other more well-known towns in wine country. Yet, it seems to me that the burgeoning independent business community is, if there must be a way forward, boosting the best of both worlds. 

Brooklyn Bride

Jane had an errand to run in Brooklyn. Lesley and I went along for the (subway) ride. Well, at least until the trains stopped at Bedford Avenue. This seemed as good a place as any to explore. After perusing the Cheese Shop and surrounding indie-retail establishments we wandered down toward the Hudson river that divides Brooklyn from Manhattan and stumbled upon an urban wedding en-route.

To quote Lesley: "If you get married in wine country, you're going to see grapevines in the wedding shots. Get hitched in Brooklyn and it's yellow taxi cabs and graffiti."

Still, we thought it most compelling. And very romantic as the beautiful bride, did indeed, stop traffic.

Between The Moon and New York City

"One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years."

Tom Wolfe

Oh to be in NYC in the Fall before the first hint of the season's chill hits that big city air. I've had the rare and good fortune to have just spent a few, fine and unforgettable October days in Manhattan without very much of a schedule. 

Though I did dutifully carry my laptop and camera with me cross-country with the best of intentions to share, I found myself so enthralled by the chance to traverse so many neighborhoods of Manhattan and Brooklyn by foot, that I didn't download so much as a photo until my return home. 

When I moved to the States from the UK, 23-years-ago, I was California-bound. It has, without question, been a big, ol' love affair between the Golden State and this particular ex-pat, but had I landed, fresh-off-the-boat in New York (or Boston), I'm quite sure I would have been equally smitten. 

Now that I'm quite fully acclimatized to the super-mild transition of Bay Area seasons, I don't think that those East Coast extremes would suit, and so, it's an ongoing Southern Sonoma Country Life for me.

Having now experienced NYC in temperate clime as opposed to the only other occasions that I've spent there in comparitively freezing winter months, it's all about the Fall for future visits. 

Quite simply, I could eat it all up. And I tried my best. Thanks to Lesley and Jane, most fabulous traveling companions, we did Petaluma proud in sheer sidewalk mileage. Only disappointment was the popular Manhattan restaurant "Petaluma" calling to tell me that it was still under renovation. Next time. 

As an ardent reader, NYC is a haven for book lovers. One of our last pit-stops was the treasure-trove that is the epic Strand Bookstore on Broadway. If you're a bookworm, you could spend a whole day, or more browsing the 18-miles of bookshelves in this big apple institution. Everything a book store should be and more. 

(the photo above was not snapped in the Strand Bookstore, but in a fashionable clothing store nearby - looks a bit like home!).

  

 

First time visit to the Chelsea Market. Liked it a lot. Also, do not visit without taking a walk on the wonderful, new and innovative Highline Park, nearby.

Last Call for Secret Destination Pop-Up Dinner Wine Country, October 19th

Photo credit: http://www.sorella-muse.com/

With just over two weeks until Hand Made Events' first ever Pop-Up Dinner Wine Country, Saturday, October 19th, there are a few limited tickets for this white-hot event still available. 

This gorgeous shot was snapped at the end of September at Hand Made Event's widly successful 2013 Le Dîner à San Francisco, in which some 4,500 white-dressed diners, suppered al-fresco at the Civic Center Plaza.

This inaugural Wine Country dinner will be much more intimate in numbers of participants, but promises to be every bit as spectacular. 

Don't stash those summer whites just yet, snap up those last remaining tix and I look forward to seeing you at a destination to be revealed, on the 19th. 

Click here for tickets.