Hand painted label on the MORA Estate Rosato.

unless held up to the light. What does stand out is the art: Each bottle bears a hand-painted design. This one looks like a impressionist fishing fly, or a ballet dancer; no, wait—it’s a lavender-clad lute player at a masked ball! Already this wine is fun, and we haven’t even popped the cork.

MORA Estate is a new venture by local chef Fabiano Ramaci. Little wonder that a chef would choose Barbera. In Italy it’s been an important grape for centuries, but in Sonoma County mainly shows up as part of old-vine “field blends” that were popular with Italian farmers in the 19th century. In hotter regions, it’s valued for retaining high acidity all the way to harvest, and that’s where the chef comes in.

The 2009 Rosato has a racy aroma of dried fruit snack, jam, and smoked meats; with juicy flavors of watermelon and red licorice that accent the core—no, the wall of mouthwatering acidity that falls across the palate like a sheet of rain; finishing crisp and firm. Folks, I think we’re ready for some seafood now. Look, sardines! I don’t think that these are the kind that come in the little tin that my mother gave me last year with the express wish that I get more Omega-3 fatty acids in my diet—but it’s worth a try!

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Stuffed Fried Sardines Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

From Chef Fabiano Ramaci

2 tbsp. chopped raisins

1 1/2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 large scallion, minced

1 tbsp. chopped mint

1 tbsp. dry bread crumbs

1 1/4 cup finely chopped serrano ham

1 1/2 tsp. ground fennel

salt and freshly ground pepper

16 sardines, butterflied, spines removed, heads and tails removed (optional)

all-purpose flour for dredging

2 large eggs

1 tbsp. water

extra virgin olive oil for frying

1 In a small bowl mix the raisins with lemon juice, scallion, mint, bread crumbs, chopped ham and ground fennel. Season with salt and pepper. Open a sardine and place a rounded teaspoon of the filing on one side of the fish. Close the sardine, pressing the halves together firmly. Repeat with the remaining sardines and filling.

2 Spread flour in a shallow bowl. Place the eggs in another shallow bowl and beat the water into the eggs. Dredge the sardines in the flour, then dip them into egg mixture to thoroughly coat, letting the excess off. Dredge the sardines again in the flour and shake off any excess.

3 In a large skillet, heat 1/4 inch of olive oil until shimmering. Add half of the sardines and fry over moderately high heat until holden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Drain sardines briefly on paper towels and transfer to plates. Repeat with remaining sardines.

Serve with lemon wedges and microgreens.

The Rainbow Cattle Co. has been "the spot" for gay nightlife in Guerneville since 1979. Photo by Andrew Collins.

There are so many things to love about the Rainbow Cattle Company, it’s hard to know where to start. This rough-and-tumble, rollicking saloon on the main drag in downtown Guerneville opened its doors more than 30 years ago, in the summer of 1979 to be exact, just as this sleepy, redwood-shaded town in western Sonoma County had begun to truly solidify its reputation as a weekend vacation mecca among gays and lesbians in the Bay Area. The town, and the surrounding Russian River region, has remained a magnet for GLBT tourism ever since – its reputation now spans far beyond northern California, and although funky Main Street is still largely free of franchises and fussiness, Guerneville has become slightly more upscale and urbane in recent years.

Not so for the venerable Rainbow Cattle Company, the one gay bar that has weathered Guerneville’s many changes over the past three decades. This super-friendly, unabashedly cruisy watering hole is open 365 days a year “come hell or high water” (per its website, with the raffishly loveable URL “queersteer.com“). Locals and visitors tend to party ardently, and the amiable bartenders – an age-varied mix of ruggedly handsome bears and regular Joes that mirrors the clientele – pour some mighty stiff drinks. Patrons with attitude or pretentions are the rare exception here, and guys into leather, western gear, and motorcycles will likely the most at home. You can bet that during Guerneville’s popular Bear Market weekend, coming right up from July 29 through August 2, the Rainbow Cattle Company will be packed with bearish sorts.

Whatever your style, gender, or taste, all are made quite welcome here at Guerneville’s most neighborly of gay neighborhood bars.

Udon Noodles at Senju are fragrant, filling and full-bodied. Photo by Carey Sweet.

include wood tables and chairs, and a wood sushi bar topped with a wood pagoda-style roof.

Even the accents look like shiso leaves lining a bento box – the seats, table insets, and carpets are hunter green. Overhead hang square-shaped paper lanterns.

And inside the downtown Windsor restaurant is what makes a bento box so appealing: a myriad of delicious dishes, in a rainbow of flavors, textures, temperatures and colors.

Perhaps that’s why, though sushi is front-and-center on the lengthy menu (77 rolls listed, plus endless special chef creations), I was first drawn to the bento box dinners. There are 13 choices ($17.50-$19.95), all anchored by tempura, a serving which could be a full meal in itself, brimming in a mound of green beans, two meaty prawns, huge knobs of squash and broccoli, and long, fat wands of sweet potato chunks and soft, steamy carrot.

After sipping a savory bowl of tofu-studded miso soup, you choose your bento components. There are the usual suspects: teriyaki meats, crispy meats in spicy sauce, and sashimi, plus a few Chinese-style recipes like lemon or ginger chicken, and walnut prawns. To round things out, the chef adds a generous green salad and a scoop of rice.

I lived in Tokyo for three years during my childhood, and one of my favorite dishes, then and now, is tonkatsu. Senju’s version ($14.25 a la carte/$17.50 bento box) is spot-on. The thick-sliced pork cutlet remains juicy beneath its thin, crisp-breaded shell, all the better to soak up drizzles of tangy katsu sauce.

Though Senju is tucked in a strip mall facing a busy street, you won’t notice it once you’ve settled in and are sipping your green tea or sake. Rice paper covers the windows, white Christmas lights twinkle above the peek-a-boo kitchen, and gentle Japanese string music strums in the background. Usually, chef-owner Koji or his wife Jou greet you, dressed in short kimono jackets and offering a slight bow.

A Dragon Roll at Senju with shrimp tempura & unagi. Photo by Carey Sweet.

Koji, who likely will prepare your sushi, has the basics covered — silky, succulent tuna nigiri (both maguro and premium o’toro); buttery yellowtail; spicy tuna rolls that take sinus-singe to a serious level; and California rolls that come packed with real, creamy crab, not that fake surimi. More interesting are the Jou rolls ($14), California-style models upgraded with poki tuna and tobiko, and the Dragon roll ($13.95) of shrimp tempura capped in salty epaulets of eel.

I’m not a big fan of American kitchen-sink style sushi, but Koji shines even with the weird stuff. A Tori roll is ($6.50) sacrilege for sushi purists, but it’s extravagant, tucking a plump chunk of fried chicken alongside crisp cucumber and cream cheese. It’s a mouthful to manage, but a worthwhile one, contrasting crunch and cream, silk and salt.

A Mango Tango roll ($10.50) is even better, layering lush hamachi, tuna, and sweet mango all prettily wrapped in soy paper. Don’t overlook the 49’ers roll ($13.50), meanwhile, because of its goofy name. The chef starts with a log of rice, and packs it plump with snow crab. Over this he drapes a sheer coverlet of salmon, slivered with transparent slips of lemon. Add in the yin and yang of brain-splitting fiery wasabi and salty soy sauce, and it’s riveting.

Senju also wins my heart for offering an entree that, while nothing fancy, isn’t all that common in Sonoma. That would be udon ($14.95), in fat tangles of white wheat noodles bobbing in soy-based broth. Fragrant, filling and full-bodied, the soup swims in a choice of chunks of Black Angus beef, tempura, or small but sturdy shrimp, scallops, mussels and cotton-candy-pink rounds of fish cake. You slurp, you splatter your shirt, you’re happy.

Other entrees are engaging — in particular the sea bass steamed with ginger mushroom sauce ($18.50), or the meaty teppan prawns sautéed on a sizzling platter ($16.95).

Senju cuts little creative swaths with appetizers. Fried tofu ($5.50) and crisp fried calamari ($8.50) are better bypassed for shiro maguro ($13), in a small but precious serving of albacore tuna sashimi, or amaebi ($7.50), jumbo raw prawn with the fried head served separately.

I’ve never been a big fan of dessert in Asian restaurants, either – green tea or mango ice cream ($4.50) just isn’t that special. But a Senju meal ends on a high note of mochi ice cream ($4.50), or roasted seed ice cream ($4.75), for intriguing smoky notes married with freeze.

A box? Senju may resemble one, and is certainly a master of the bento. But for a few recipes outside of the box, Senju delivers those very nicely, too.

Details: Senju Japanese Restaurant, 8960 Brooks Road South, Windsor, 707-836-1699, senjusushi.com.

The tonkatsu bento box is spot on. Photo by Carey Sweet.

Spend the day with Steve Judkins, Mz Dee, Alabama Mike and The 3rd Degree, the Nick Gravenites Band, Eric Lindell with Thomas Johnson, and finally Charlie Musselwhite. Presented by KRSH – Wine Country Radio and the Sonoma County Fair, the festival is a part of the fair and will play at the Redwood Theatre from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $12 plus fair admission.

If you’re up for more, head over to the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa’s Historic Railroad Square area for the Sonoma County Blues Festival After Party, presented by Steve Judkins and Seydel Harmonicas. Tickets are only $10 and are half price with your Festival ticket stub. More than just an after party, the evening also brings the Nor Cal Blues Harmonica Summit and features Bill Noteman, Sonny Lowe, Steve Judkins, Sky O’Banion, and Dave Chavoya. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and show starts at 9 p.m.

Jacquelyn Buchanan, Director of Culinary Development at Laura Chenel.

Prior to her career in the culinary arts, Jacquelyn was an executive at a large real estate firm in San Francisco. Despite her success, she realized she didn’t derive much pleasure from her work. Over time she began to observe what truly ignited her passion: learning about food and wine. Shortly thereafter, she enrolled at the California Culinary Academy and never looked back. “To keep our culinary traditions alive, we must pass them on,” she says. “In this hands-off world, it’s important to stay in touch with how to nourish ourselves. My approach emphasizes respecting your ingredients, knowing your sources, and putting joy into what you do.”

Today, as Director of Culinary Development for another legendary Bay Area food company, Laura Chenel’s Chèvre, Jacquelyn’s enduring interest in the art of fine cheesemaking overlays her sensibility when it comes to educating others about artisan cheese. “I let the cheese dictate what should be done with it,” she says. “I remember discovering Laura Chenel’s Chef’s Chèvre early in my career and falling love with it. Chèvre is incredibly versatile in addition to having many health benefits. Sonoma County has such a bounty of local, seasonal, and artisan foods, and I’m excited to work with a company that helped to pioneer that movement.”

Jacquelyn lives in Petaluma, California.

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Frozen Lemon Chèvre Cookie Bites Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

Makes 24 small cookies.

8 oz Laura Chenel’s Chef’s Chèvre or Chabis

8 oz lemon curd (prepared or favorite home made recipe)

1 box Belgian waffle cookies

1. Mix equal portions of Laura Chenel’s Chèvre and lemon curd.

2. Top a Belgian waffle cookie (Trader Joe’s work well) with a generous spoonful of the chèvre/curd mixture, close with another cookie to make a sandwich. Continue making cookie sandwiches until all the filling is used. Place cookies in layers in a plastic container and freeze. When ready to serve, take frozen cookies out of the freezer and cut on a diagonal to make a graceful “bite.”

To serve: The frozen cookies will melt quickly so serve immediately after removing from the freezer or refresh the plate with more as needed.

Make in advance: The cookies can be made a week in advance, wrapped tightly in foil and frozen.

Serving Suggestion:  Offer these cookies with a spoonful of fresh seasonal berries.

That era, however, is almost over, with the store set to close on July 31.

While the on-site pickings probably will be slim for the last few days, Owner Kathy Flynn promises she’ll offer candle-making classes up until the very last moment (provided, of course, that requisite supplies last).

These classes are certainly a kid-friendly activity. Kids can select from a variety of shapes, colors and scents, and they sit around a table as Flynn gives instructions on how to combine wax and wick into something special. Kids pour wax, mold candles and watch as their creations come to life.

All participants also get to take the candles they make home with them. Each class lasts about 30 minutes, and classes are available just about every day. The price? $12 per person.

For those who’d rather not perform manual labor, Creative Wick also sells a bunch of homemade candles made by Flynn and others. Again, the store is closing next weekend so be sure to swing by before it’s too late.

That’s what you might ask as you’re driving by the Isis Oasis Sanctuary at the southern entrance to Geyserville these days. Because a life-size Egyptian mummy has just popped up on the roadside, and she’s acting as an unofficial Goddess for an entirely unexpected dining experience in Sonoma County.

It’s a new restaurant called Mummy’s Kitchen, and it offers a specialty of Egyptian-Asian fusion cuisine, served in a colorful café tucked away on the grounds of the spiritual retreat and spa.

Inspired, indeed: the eatery is the brainchild of Isis Arch Priestess and temple director “Lady Loreon” Vigne, along with chef Yaa’ Holwell, who formerly owned Thai Time Asian Bistro in Cloverdale.

The setting may be unlikely – you’ll dine in a pavilion next to an exotic cat sanctuary and in front of the resort’s pool and hot tub, beneath palm frond umbrellas in the shade of a 500-year-old tree, and with the occasional parrot flitting by.

Lady Loreon may stop by your table to offer her blessing, and if she invites you take a tour of the property after your meal, jump at the chance. She’s been a follower of the Egyptian-theme retreat since its founding in 1980.

She may share the story of the restaurant’s invention – how she keeps an inflatable mummy in her kitchen, how she always wanted to open a restaurant, and how Holwell has long been a family friend.

“When Holwell’s place closed, it seemed destined,” Vigne explains.

However whimsical the mood, the kitchen talent is firmly grounded. Cleopatra’s catfish comes decorated with lotus roots ($16), Egyptian sesame chicken is bright with local vegetables over couscous,  ($15) and Asian Emerald salmon swims in green curry ($16), served with the black ‘Forbidden Rice’ once reserved only for emperors.

Some dishes meld Vigne’s trove of Egyptian recipes with Holwell’s Thai signatures. Mummy Wrap ($6), for example, can be had Egyptian style with hummus, baba ghanoush and falafel wrapped in lavosh with tahini sauce; or Asian style, as rice paper stuffed with purple cabbage (purple is Isis’ royal color, Vigne notes), carrot, watercress, mint, lettuce and peanut sauce.

Then, there’s the ostrich patty with sliced eggplant on a toasted bun ($14), Tom Ka Gai soup ($5), vegan Egyptian stew with couscous ($12), and red pumpkin chicken curry ($12, lunch/$14, dinner). Wrap things up with“Mummy Yummys” like homemade coconut “isis cream” with seasonal fruit ($5).

Mummy’s Kitchen is open for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Look for longer hours and an expanded menu sometime later in the year.

Mummy’s Kitchen: in the Isis Oasis Sanctuary, 20889 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville; (707) 857-4747 or isisoasis.org.

Bath tubs in the Zen Suites at the Gaige House.

designed urban properties, most of them set through the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Orange County. The majority of these hotels have more than 100 rooms, but one exception to this rule is intimate Gaige House, which comprises a restored and reimagined turn-of-the-20th-century house containing 10 guest rooms along with 13-stand alone suites. Set in the Valley of the Moon village of Glen Ellen – a small town blessed with several outstanding restaurants and food shops – the Gaige may differ from the majority of Joie de Vivre properties in size and setting (it’s also among the most expensive), but it shares a decidedly hip, understated elegance that typifies the brand.

Rooms in the Queen Anne-style main house mix period-style elements with the serene, East Asian aesthetic that prevails throughout the property and is most evident in the spa suites, whose Zen-like interiors were executed by noted New York interior designer Paul Davis. These spacious, uncluttered cottages have granite soaking tubs or Jacuzzis, and fireplaces, and each has a private entrance that opens to a private Japanese garden. In keeping with the embrace of utter relaxation, the hotel offers a wide range of massage treatments, from hot stone to couples, which can be enjoyed in a tent in the Zen Garden, on a redwood deck overlooking gurgling Calabaza Creek, or in the privacy of your room. Rates include an extensive Continental breakfast as well as wine tastings in the hotel “living room.”

Doran Beach has a 2 mile stretch of sand perfect for a picnic, flying a kite or building a sand castle. Photo by Robert Janover.

funding, and it’s been bad).

Wonderfully, though, we in Sonoma County are blessed with a resource that’s just as beautiful and just as cheap (or even free): More than 40 regional parks.

These open spaces vary in size from a few dozen acres to a few thousand. They are situated just about everywhere across the county, from down in Petaluma all the way up to Cloverdale, the Napa County line out to Bodega Bay.

Here are our three favorites (in no particular order):

Riverfront Regional Park, Windsor

Formerly a gravel quarry site, this park sits on Eastside Road along the banks of the Russian River and is equidistant between Healdsburg and Windsor. The park comprises two lakes, redwood grove picnic areas and more than two miles of trails. Visitors can use electric boats (no gas engines) to fish for bass and other species in the lakes.  From the trail, there’s great wildlife viewing and birdwatching—in summer, you might even spot a bald eagle or two. Parking is $6 per day.

Crane Creek Regional Park, Rohnert Park

This 128-acre park features rolling grassland meadows and a seasonal creek in the Sonoma Valley foothills east of Sonoma State University. The park’s open space is bordered by stands of California Buckeye, White Alder, Black Oak and Maple. The park offers outstanding vistas of Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa. Trails are available for hiking, bicycle riding and horseback riding. There are picnic tables and restroom facilities at the trailhead, and more picnic tables throughout. Parking is $6 per day.

Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay

Just past Bodega Harbor Golf Course, this is one of Sonoma’s only beachfront regional parks. The open space comprises a 2-mile stretch of sandy beach and is a popular place for visitors to picnic, build sand castles, fly kites, surf, fish and stroll. A rock jetty at the harbor mouth provides access for fishing, crabbing and exploring sea life. The boat launch can accommodate up to 20-foot boats. A parking lot is located adjacent to the launch and can handle 30 vehicles with trailers. Parking is $6 per day.

For a map of all the regional parks in Sonoma County, visit http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/ParkMap.htm.

Sonoma County’s campgrounds offer a full range of opportunities – campgrounds complete with cabins (for those who think “roughing it” is a hotel without room service) to primitive tent-only parks that bring you close to nature. This range means exploring Sonoma County is affordable for any budget.

Alexander Valley RV Park & Campground
2411 Alexander Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 431-1453
www.alexandervalleycampground.com
This beautiful campground is situated near the Russian River in scenic Alexander Valley.  It offers access for swimming, fishing and bicycling and has a convenience store on-site.
Pet Friendly

Canoe trip on the Russian River at Burke's Canoe

Bodega Bay RV Park
2001 Coast Highway 1
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
(800) 201-6864
www.bodegabayrvpark.com
Stay on the Pacific coast in this full service RVs Park, situated in a wind protected area, just a 5 minute drive (or half-hour walk) from the beach. No tent camping available.
Pet Friendly

Burke’s Canoe Campground
8600 River Road
Forestville, CA 95436
(707) 887-1222
www.burkescanoetrips.com
Take a canoe trip on the Russian River and camp near the river or in the redwoods.  Tent camping only with hot showers and clean restrooms.

Tent camping at Casini Ranch Family Campground

Casini Ranch Family Campground
22855 Moscow Road
Duncans Mills, CA 95430
(800) 451-8400
www.casiniranch.com
This nicely laid out campground is situated on the Russian River, near the Pacific Ocean.  Campground activities include outdoor movies, beach bonfires and hayrides. There is also a convenience store on-site. RVs and tent sites available.
Pet Friendly

Cloverdale Healdsburg KOA Camping Resort
1166 Asti Ridge Road
Cloverdale, CA 95425
(707) 894-3337
www.winecountrykoa.com

Cloverdale Healdsburg KOA Camping Resort

Nestled in the hills overlooking Alexander Valley, the campground offers all the amenities of the comfortable KOA campgrounds, plus Wi-Fi at every site.
Pool | Pet Friendly

Dutcher Creek RV Park & Campground
230 Theresa Drive
Cloverdale, CA 95425
(707) 894-4829
www.dutchercreekrv.com
This wine country campground stretches atop the hills overlooking Alexander Valley near Lake Sonoma, the Russian River and River Rock Casino.
Pool | Pet Friendly

Johnson’s Beach & Resort
16241 1st Street

Johnson's Beach & Resort

Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 869-2022
www.johnsonsbeach.com

The campground is situated on the beach of the Russian River near downtown Guerneville. The beach below the campground has a snack bar plus canoe and kayak rentals. The resort has rustic cabin-type rooms, with a game room, laundry and barbecue area. RVs and tent sites available.

Liberty Glen Campground at Lake Sonoma
3333 Skaggs Springs Road
Geyserville, CA 95441
(707) 431-4533
www.spn.usace.army.mil/lake_sonoma/camping.htm
This popular recreational area is nestled in the beautiful coastal foothills of wine country. With more than 2,700 acres and 50 miles of shoreline, there is plenty of hiking, swimming, boating and fishing.  The drive-in campground is available for tents and RVs; there is no electrical or water hook-ups.  Boat-in and hike-in primitive campsites are also available.
Pet Friendly

Ocean Cove Campground

Ocean Cove Campground
23125 Coast Highway 1
Jenner, CA 95450
(707) 847-3422
www.oceancove.org
This scenic Pacific coastal campground is situated around a sheltered cove and offers oceanfront site on the bluff or secluded camps tucked in the trees.  It is near Stillwater Cove Regional Park and Salt Point State Park.  There is a boat ramp at Ocean Cove and a store nearby. RVs and tent sites available.  Great place to watch a sunset!
Pet Friendly

Petaluma KOA/San Francisco North
20 Rainsville Road
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 763-1492
www.petalumakoa.com

Playground at Petaluma KOA

Plenty to do for everyone at this popular Wine Country KOA campground, including a petting farm, haywagon rides and new pool, bounce pillow and climbing wall.  Full KOA amenities including full-service lodge and free wireless Internet.
Pool | Pet Friendly

Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park
1500 Bay Flat Road
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
(707) 875-2354
www.portobodega.com
RV park with boat launch, dry storage, open slips and waterfront sites.  No tent camping.
Pet Friendly

River Bend Resort
11820 River Road
Forestville, CA 95436
(707) 887-7662
www.riverbendresort.net

View on the bluff at Ocean Cove Campground

In Russian River Valley, this RV and tent camp is on the Russian River, near Korbel Champagne Cellars and Armstrong Woods.
Pet Friendly

Schoolhouse Canyon Park
12600 River Road
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 869-2311
www.schoolhousecanyon.com
Tucked into the redwoods near Korbel Champagne Cellars, this family-run campground is part of the original Ridenhour Ranch.  Tent camping only.
Pet Friendly

For more places to stay in Sonoma County, visit www.SonomaCounty.com.

Rock on in Petaluma to the sounds of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), Poor Man’s Whiskey and a variety of other bands.  Sip and sway to the music, with Petaluma’s Lagunitas brews and local wines. This years festival will be an intimate, relaxed and upbeat celebration on the grassy area of the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma on Saturday, August 7, 2010.  It’s a family friendly event, with food and craft vendors and music for all ages.

Answer the following questions correctly and you will be entered into a drawing to win two free tickets.  Post your answers in the Comment Section below.  Comments won’t be approved until we pick a winner so don’t be surprised if you don’t see your entry.  The winner will be announced Wednesday, July 28.

1. What is the former name of the Petaluma Music Festival (in 2008 & 2009)?
2. Who headlined the very first Petaluma Music Festival in 2008?
3. Where did the members of ALO originally meet?
4. How old is Trombone Shorty and where is he from?
5. What musician will have played at all three Petaluma Music Festivals (2008, 2009 & 2010)?

Preview of this years festival - watch the video

Petaluma Music Festival
Saturday, August 7;  11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sonoma-Marin Fairgounds,  Petaluma, CA  94952
For more information and a complette list of bands playing, visit  www.PetalumaMusicFestival.org
General Admission – $25
VIP Premium – $75 – shaded reserved seating, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine, and beer
Ticket prices will increase $5 on the day of the event
To buy tickets, click here

All proceeds benefit the music education programs of all Petaluma area schools.

See all of your favorite characters and get sentimental over the songs in this semi-professional cast version. Watch as Annie determinedly searches for her parents, despite the meddling of conniving Miss Hannigan, and manages to find a new family with Oliver Warbucks and his personal secretary, Grace Farrell.

The 1930′s comic strip will be brought to life with the set design in the GK Hardt Theatre. Avonlea Martin and Natalie Rubin will alternate as Annie, alongside Norman A. Hall as Daddy Warbucks, Brenda Reed as Miss Hannigan, and the Summer Theater Workshop Kids Ensemble as Annie’s fellow orphans.

The 6^th Street Playhouse is located in the beautiful, historic Railroad Square area, where you can find restaurants and bars and a warm ambiance.  If you’re in town on Saturday, August 21, you could take in Taste of Railroad Square as well from noon to 4 p.m., featuring an afternoon of sampling delicacies, wine, shopping, and music – all benefitting 6^th Street Playhouse.

For all of comic strip Annie’s travels, not to mention dangerous adventures, she’s lucky to finally wind up in Sonoma County and we’re lucky to have her.

Annie
Aug. 13 – Sept. 12, 2010
8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday
2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday matinees
(Saturday matinees begin Aug. 21)

6^th Street Playhouse – GK Hardt Theatre
52 W. 6^th Street
Santa Rosa, CA
Box Office: 707-523-3544
www.6thstreetplayhouse.com

The Historic Union Hotel in the beautiful Hamlet of Occidental. Photo by Andrew Collins.

along the coast or through the Russian River, or wine-tasting in nearby Forestville or Graton. The community of about 1,200 was established as a stop on the old North Pacific Coast Railroad, which used to chug through the region from Sausalito to Cazadero. Secluded though it is, Occidental is also easily reached from several directions, and all by scenic country roads – it’s just 12 miles south of Guerneville on the Bohemian Highway; 12 miles northeast of Bodega Bay via Hwy. 1, the Bodega Highway, and the Bohemian Highway; and about 10 miles west of Graton and Sebastopol, via several different routes.

There aren’t many key points of interest in this quiet, picturesque town with a small commercial district comprises just a few square blocks, but Occidental has been a popular dinner destination since its founding in 1879. You’ll find a few good places to eat here, from the romantic French Bistro des Copains to the bustling Barley and Hops Tavern, but the community is most famous for its two historic, old-school Italian restaurants, Negri’s and the Union Hotel, which have been doling out considerable portions of family-style red-sauce fare for generations.

These venerable dining operations are across the street from each other, the Union Hotel in a tan-clapboard building that was built in 1879 to serve railroad passengers, and Negri’s in an early 1970s building. Long-time fans routinely debate the merits of these competing eateries, both of which offer hearty, stick-to-your-ribs cooking: spinach lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, baked polenta, pizzas, minestrone, chicken parmesan, and the like. Of the two, the Union Hotel has a slightly more contemporary options, such as Sonoma flat bread topped with pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella, and arugula, and more unusual pizza toppings like jalapenos and linguica sausage. Negri’s has a couple of house specialties of particular note, however: anitra arrosto (a half-duck slow-roasted with rosemary and vegetables and served with mushroom gravy) and Noni’s zucchini pancakes. What you can be sure of, regardless of which restaurant you choose, is that you won’t leave either establishment still hungry.

A group of quirky kids gather for the Spelling Bee, with high hopes for winning and making it through to the National competition in Washington, D.C. Each one of them has a story of how they came to be there, be it parental pressure or a love of words, and a unique spelling method. The adults running the Bee are as eccentric as the kids.

A further quirky side to this play is the audience participation. Four volunteers from the audience are called up as the play begins. On the night I saw it, they did an admirable job with their spelling efforts, asking for definitions and usage in sentences.

The entire cast embraces their characters very well.  It’s fun to see familiar faces in the SRT productions, in the range of plays they do through their season. Hannah Ray Darcey again stuns with her voice, playing the director of the Bee, Ms. Peretti. Kelvin Hewlett does a great job as the comfort counselor, Mitch Mahoney, especially when he serenades the final eliminated audience participant. Sarah Smithton impresses with her vocals, playing the youngest participant, lisping and earnest Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere.

Although the characters are adolescents, the play involves mature themes and it’s worth being aware that it’s recommended for 12 years and over.

The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Still Playing:
7:30 p.m. July 20, 23, 24, Aug. 1
2:00 p.m. July 25

Summer Repertory Theater
Burbank  Auditorium
Santa Rosa Junior College
Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA
Box Office: 707-527-4343
www.summerrep.com

At the Windsor Certified Farmers Market, however, there’s a great way for children to experience the twice-weekly shindig in style: The “Kidz Dig It” club.

The club started in toward the end of last decade as a way to teach kids about local (and sustainable) produce and get them more involved in the process of purchasing homegrown food to eat.

Traditional kid-oriented draws, such as the Zucchini Races (part of the larger Zucchini Festival), have been subsumed by this program and are still mainstays of the market.

There are new programs, too. This year, for instance, Market Manager Glenda Castelli has expanded the program to include a monthly cooking class. During the class, kids will join “Market Chef” Mei Ibach (who, by the way, is a culinary arts instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College) and learn how to shop a market, talk to the farmer, and cook the produce they obtain.

Participating kids will receive special “market bucks,” good for purchase of fruits and veggies only. Those children who ride their bikes to the market will receive another $2 in market bucks.

Upcoming “Kidz Dig It” events include the aforementioned Zucchini Races on July 25, as well as classes on making Gravenstein apple pies (Aug. 8) and on making pesto (Sept. 26). For a complete schedule of club events, visit www.windsorfarmersmarket.com/KidzDigIt.html.

The Gourmet Hike and Art starts in the Group Picnic Area with champagne and an appetizer, while listening to bluegrass by The Mighty Chiplings and watching artists at work. Meander down the Pioneer Trail to mingle with more artists, savor more appetizers, taste wine, hear Celtic and Americana tunes by the local band Happenstance, and get a little education from one of the park’s docents. The hike concludes at the Redwood Forest Theater, where you can get a final appetizer with paired wine, and dessert with coffee or tea, while viewing the art exhibition and listening to music by Jim Ocean and Edgehog.

The entire Hike and Art is $35 per person or $65 for two people. There is also an option to partake only in the Art and Dessert for $10 per person, where you can head straight to the Redwood Forest Theater to have dessert with coffee or tea. Regular day-use parking fees apply for the park, $8 per car. From River Road in Guerneville, travel 2 miles north on Armstrong Woods Road to reach the park entrance.

What a way to spend a warm, summer afternoon in the cool shade of the redwoods.

Chef Robin Lehnhoff-McCray works as Executive Chef in charge of special events and the Korbel Delicatessen and Market.  She takes pride in carefully pairing foods prepared with fresh local ingredients with wines for smaller intimate groups up to thousands of people for events at all of  Korbels’  family of wineries  She is often challenged to prepare meals that aren’t traditionally thought to pair well with wines. Chef Robin enjoys the challenge and the opportunity to show people that you can enjoy many different wines with many different foods.

Orzo Pasta with Dry Fruit, Nuts, Asiago and Tangerine VinaigretteNote: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

Pair with Korbel Brut Rosé

2 pounds Orzo or Rosamarino pasta, cooked, cooled

½  cup dry apricots, chopped

½ cup golden raisins

½ cup dry cranberries

1 bunch fresh mint, chiffonade

1 T fresh chopped garlic

4 ozs. Grated asiago cheese

½ cup toasted pinenuts

½ cup toasted chopped walnuts

1 cup Tangerine Vinaigrette (recipe below)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Chill for 1 hour then serve.

Tangerine Vinaigrette

1 T tangerine zest

1 T whole grain mustard

2 T tangerine juice

½ cup white balsamic vinegar

1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped

1 ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Combine zest, mustard, juice, vinegar, and parsley. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

It’s a one-pot wonder, even if that pot is the size of a wading pool. For professional paella chefs, it seems, the larger the pan, the better the dish.

You can check out that theory at the 18th Annual Catalan Festival being held July 24 and 25 at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards on Hwy. 121 in Sonoma.

That’s when some of the North Bay’s most talented chefs will gather to create a paella feast, stirring and simmering the Spanish rice wafting in enticing aromas of seafood, chicken and sausage steamed with deeply fragrant spices. In most cases, the pan will dwarf any traditional skillet you’ve ever seen, showcasing that this is a dish best enjoyed with lots and lots of friends.

While paella is classic, the recipes are open to a chef’s personal interpretation, often based on what’s available seasonally, in an everything-but-the-kitchen sink mélange. The only must? A healthy pinch of precious saffron.

Showing that individual style will be Jose Castaneda El Toro Market in Healdsburg and Castaneda’s Market in Windsor, a chef who is known for his bolder, bigger flavors, including spicy homemade chorizo. It’s a “New World” approach for an “Old World” food that was born long ago as a rustic meal for vineyard workers in Spain and designed to be scooped by hungry hands directly from the pan.

Also cooking: Sabor of Spain, B44 Catalan Bistro, and Barlata.

As a celebration of Gloria Ferrer’s Spanish roots, there will be plenty of Carneros wine, too – in sparkling and still – plus live classical guitar and flamenco dance.

Details: Taste of Spain, The 18th annual Catalan Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 24-25, at Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards, 23555 Highway 121, Sonoma.

Cost: $50 adults; $42.50 for guests under 21, kids under 5 free. Visit gloriaferrer.com or call 707-933-1999.

This modest community center, founded in 1993, has as its purpose to develop “innovative and practical approaches to the pressing environmental and economic crises of our day.” The center accomplishes these goals with regular classes on sustainability, reuse, conservations and all-around eco-consciousness, as well as a core of eight other programs.

Some of these programs include curricula in permaculture, intentional communities, arts, Mother Garden biodiversity, wildlands biodiversity and a number of important international institutions as well.

The place certainly practices what it preaches; the main office was fabricated from an old, ramshackle chicken coop, and even the structure of the center’s land ownership is sustainable.

A conservation easement through the Sonoma County Land Trust was recorded on the property to run with the deed and restrict the use of the land in perpetuity. This unique easement prohibits the use of herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers on the site’s organic gardens.

The property is also structured as a no-equity cooperative. This means it’s owned in equal shares by the ten original owners, many of whom still own the land.

Despite the center’s push to establish a local community, it is not open on a regular basis for drop-in visitors. Instead, interested parties can get involved by volunteering, taking tours, selling plants, and studying in some of the recurring courses.

Also, a number of Bay Area social justice and environmental organizations use the OAEC facility for strategy retreats and workshops for their staff and boards.

Considering the karma after years of visitors, there may be no better place on Earth.

Hikers can find all of this and more at 850-acre Shiloh Ranch Regional Park in Windsor.

The park, situated at the city’s far eastern edge, is a former cattle ranch that was converted to into open space in 1988.

Today, it boasts a bunch of trails that wind through oaks and grassland. The trail gains a total elevation of 600 feet, making it easy to moderate for parents with children in backpacks. Perhaps most important, parts of the tromp are shaded from the sun.

Our favorite hike is a 3.7-mile loop that comprises Bigleaf, Ridge, Pond and Creekside trails (though another loop that incorporates Canyon Trail is pretty neat, too).

As the name suggests, the most incredible views come from the top of Ridge Trail. As you climb, keep eyes peeled for deer prints in the dirt. As soon as you spot them, look up—you very well might find yourself face-to-face with the very deer responsible (for some reason, deer have frequented this park for the better part of the last two decades).

Deer or no deer, there’s a great bench at the top that makes for a good picnic spot.

Also of note is Creekside Trail. This is the final leg of the journey and the most shaded portion of the hike. It’s also a great opportunity for toddlers to scan the creek bank for frogs, toads and other little critters.

Naturally, our normal handful of recommendations and warnings for hiking with children apply. Be sure to apply lots of sunscreen and take extra water in case the kiddies get thirsty.

Also, even though the hike is less than four miles, bring a first-aid kit, just in case someone takes an unforeseen tumble. As they likely teach your kids in Brownies or Boy Scouts, it’s better to be prepared than be sorry. With scenery this beautiful, it’d be awful to miss a gorgeous vista for a scraped knee (or worse).

Photo by Andrew Collins

I’ve noted a few great spot for enjoying a picnic lunch in some of my blogs over the past year, most recent Armstrong Woods, up in the hills above Guerneville. Within the Russian River region, as well as nearby, there are plenty of other scenic summer spots to set up a spread of gourmet victuals and perhaps a bottle of wine, and enjoy the scenery. You might try Goat Rock Beach, overlooking the Pacific in Jenner, or dining alfresco along the actual banks of the Russian River in downtown Guerneville.

Once you have a pleasant picnic venue chosen, there still remains the question of finding the perfect snacks and beverages to accompany your adventure. Here are a couple of spots in the Russian River that I’m a big fan of. In the heart of tiny Monte Rio, just a few miles southwest of Guerneville on Highway 116, Sophie’s Cellars carries and exceptional selection of locals wines as well as cheeses, pâtés, crackers, and other snacks. The shop has extremely knowledgeable owners when it comes to both wine and cheese – in fact, they’ll happily connect you with some of the lesser-known, smaller wineries in Sonoma, if you’re planning on doing some tasting as area vineyards during your trip.

Photo by Andrew Collins

Another excellent option, both for picking up prepared foods, sandwiches, and champagne to go, or for dining on-site, is Korbel Champagne Cellars, which lies just a couple of miles east of downtown Guerneville on Highway 116. The producer of Korbel’s esteemed California champagnes (I’m partial to the Blanc de Noirs), this beautifully situated, ivy-covered, redbrick winery offers tours of the facility as well as the adjacent gardens. For noshing supplies, drop by Korbel’s on-site deli, which sells prepared salads, house-made soups, outstanding sandwiches (try the salami and Brie with roasted peppers and olive tapenade), artisan cheeses, cured meats, espresso drinks, and tempting sweets. If you dine there, perhaps on the evergreen-shaded terrace behind the deli, you can also order champagne and wine by the glass, as well as mimosas and delicious pomegranate bellinis.

While these spectacles are not unheard of during this time of year, they are pretty rare; usually the best shore-based whale-watching occurs in the spring when gray whales make their way up the western coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska.

Experts suspect the ones spotted off the coast recently aren’t grays but humpbacks—a cousin but much more far-ranging species.

And according to some local researchers (including Jonathan Stern, a friend of this blog who teaches at San Francisco State), if there truly are whales within eyeshot of the coast, they most likely are looking for food.

Park rangers in the visitor center at Point Reyes National Seashore could neither confirm nor deny the sightings, but one said it’s “entirely possible” that the whales are here.

If you hit the coast this week (or weekend), be sure to bring binoculars and take a peek.

Good spots for watching include Salt Point (of course), as well as Sea Ranch, Gualala Point Regional Park (south of Gualala, which is in Mendocino County) and Bodega Head in Bodega Bay (be sure to hit the bluffs, as you can’t see much of anything from the actual town of Bodega).

They are harried and have a slightly glazed look that says, “How can I keep these kids entertained and still have a knock-out vacation in wine country?”

Never fear; Sonoma Insider is here. Bumper boats, anyone? Tearing up the track in an Italian sports car? Paint ball wars? Hole-in-one off the windmill or on the seventh tee? Bowling your first strike?

Rohnert Park is the destination that caters to children and adults alike. The entire family can enjoy Driven Raceway, Scandia Family Fun Center, Escape, Double Decker Bowling, and Foxtail Golf Course.

And, for the after-party that’s sure to please everyone: Send the teens and older kids to Mary’s Pizza Shack, while the parents head across the parking lot to Latitude Grill, a tropics-inspired eatery that is sure to please.

Activities in Rohnert Park:

Watch the video of Driven Raceway

Driven Raceway
4601 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-585-3748
www.drivenraceway.com

Driven Raceway is Sonoma County’s premiere indoor kart racing and family entertainment facility. This European-style racing has the most sophisticated and high-speed electric karts available today. Watch the video to see for yourself the thrills of the indoor track!

Escape
5195 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-585-8000
www.escapesonomacounty.com

Just opening this week, Escape offers indoor paintball and equipment rental. The facility will soon have Q-Zar (laser tag) and Airsoft Arenas. There is more than 25,000 square feet of indoor paintball playing fields. For paintball, must be 10 years old; Q-Zar, must be at least 6 years old.

Scandia Family Fun Center
5301 Redwood Drive,
Rohnert Park, CA  94928
707-584-1398
www.scandiafunland.com

Tee off on one of two miniature golf courses and try your luck against the feared windmill. Besides miniature golf, there’s a grand arcade that boasts the hottest new games, batting cages, Lil’ Indy Raceway and bumper boats. There’s more than enough to keep the entire family busy.

Double Decker Lanes
300 Golf Course Drive
Rohnert Park, CA  94928
707-585-0226
www.doubledeckerlanes.com

Double Decker Lanes is the largest and most modern bowling facility in the North Bay, featuring 50 state-of-the-art lanes with bumpers and automatic scoring. A full-service lounge and sports bar with big screen TVs, a snack bar serving everything from burgers to pizza, a banquet/meeting room available for all events, and a video arcade of the coolest games – complete with pool tables.

Foxtail Golf Club
100 Golf Course Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-584-7766
www.playfoxtail.com

You can also schedule a lesson at the Greg Anderson Golf Academy. There are special lessons for young golfers too. Summer specials, group and private lessons are available at this popular wine country links. www.gregandersongolf.com

Dining

Latitude Island Grill
5000 Roberts Lake Road
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-588-1800
www.latitudegrill.com

Chill out on the patio at Latitude Island Grill, overlooking Roberts Lake and a nice view of the mountains. It’s a fun lively atmosphere reminiscent of the tropics, with a cascading waterfall bar.

Happy hour is every day from 4 to 8 p.m.  Listen to jazz under the palms every Friday.

Mary’s Pizza Shack
101 Golf Course Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-585-3500
MarysPizza.com

Sonoma County legend, Mary’s has the best in Italian homemade food including pizza, pasta, sandwiches, soups, and salads. With the open kitchen, you can watch the chefs make the pizza and pasta. It’s a friendly atmosphere with a little touch of home.

Other fun places for kids and teens outside of Rohnert Park

Sonoma Canopy Tours
6250 Bohemian Highway
Occidental, CA  95465
888 4 ZIP TOUR (4 947-8687)
www.SonomaCanopyTours.com

Nestled off the coast of Northern California and deep in the redwood forest, Sonoma Canopy Tours is high adventure and completely unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Come enjoy a two-and-a-half hour guided tour that includes seven zip lines, two sky bridges, a majestic spiral staircase, an 80-foot rappel, and the unparalleled beauty of the world-famous California coastal redwoods.

Sonoma Canopy Tours from Sonoma Canopy Tours on Vimeo.

Safari West Wildlife Preserve & African Tent Camp
3115 Porter Creek Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-579-2551
www.safariwest.com

On 400 acres in the heart of California’s wine country, Safari West is home for more than 400 exotic mammals and birds. Not a zoo, not a drive-through park, it’s a wildlife preserve where the whole family can experience some of nature’s most beautiful animals in a natural habitat. This is an extraordinary world where people have the rare opportunity to feel the spirit of Africa, right in the heart of northern California’s wine country.

Lodging

With a new and expanded playground – with a bounce pillow, rock wall – fabulous pool, bicycle rentals, activities, and tours, the Petaluma KOA/San Francisco North is the perfect spot for active families. If camping isn’t your thing, the resort has a lodge and cabins available. It’s only seven miles from Rohnert Park.

Petaluma KOA/San Francisco North
20 Rainsville Road
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-763-1492
www.petalumakoa.com

Other lodging in Rohnert Park

Doubletree Hotel Sonoma Wine Country
One Doubletree Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-584-5466
www.dtsonoma.com

Hampton Inn & Suites – Rohnert Park
6248 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-586-8700
www.hamptoninn.com

Budget Inn
6298 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-584-4448
www.budgetinn.com

Good Nite Inn
5040 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
800-648-3466
www.goodnite.com/rohnert-park

Motel 6 Rohnert Park
6145 Commerce Blvd.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-585-8888
www.motel6.com

Rodeway Inn Wine Country
6288 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-584-1600
www.rodewayinn.com

Having recently lost their jobs, Buffalo buddies Jerry (Matt Bradley) and Dave (Ben Knoll) can’t bear to stoop to the mall jobs that are on offer and decide to have a go at performing a striptease to make some cash. The theory being that if the women they know spend money watching Chippendales dancers, surely they would pay even more to watch their husbands and friends go ‘the full monty.’ Money-strapped Jerry and overweight Dave get their old supervisor, Harold (Teddy Spencer), and a new troubled friend, Malcolm (Rob Rodems), in on the act and together recruit questionably endowed “Horse” (Kelvin Hewlett) and unquestionably endowed Ethan (Drew Mason). With their heartfelt performances, watching these men overcome their personal obstacles and become such good friends was a treat, not to mention absolutely hilarious.

Ben Knoll as Dave has particularly good comic timing and great one-liners. Like icing on the cake, Vanessa Gibens gives a fantastic performance as Jeanette, the multiple times married, name-dropping, musician who simply invites herself along to the auditions. She provides far more than musical support with her witty, experienced insight. Hannah Ray Darcey plays Dave’s wife very well and has a great singing voice.

Every year, the SRT does a commendable job with their sets, which are completely moveable to work around the different plays they put on during their short season. The mobility of ‘The Full Monty’ set was really impressive.

If you’re up for a good, uplifting laugh, you don’t want to miss this show!

The Full Monty
7:30 p.m. July 6-8, 16-18, 27-30, Aug. 5-7
2:00 p.m. July 7, 18, 28

Summer Repertory Theater
Burbank  Auditorium
Santa Rosa Junior College
Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA
Box Office: 707-527-4343
www.summerrep.com

Take the family along to Windsor’s Summer Nights on the Green each Tuesday evening for a free kid’s movie. Take chairs or blankets to sit on and you’ll find food and beverages available to buy there. The movies start at 15 minutes after sunset.

Petaluma Movies in the Park shows a free family film every Friday evening at Lucchesi Park. Live entertainment starts at 6:30 p.m. with the movie beginning at dusk. They also have kid’s activities, food and drinks available, and even raffles.

St. Francis Winery is about to launch their first annual “Stars Under the Stars” Outdoor Film Festival, with sommelier Christopher Sawyer introducing and pairing St. Francis wine with the films. Take blankets and a picnic and find a place on the lawn of the lovely visitor center in the heart of Sonoma Valley. Admission is complimentary and both the featured wine by the glass and popcorn will be available for purchase. Thursday, July 8, see Hitchcock’s classic thriller “The Birds,” which was filmed locally in Bodega and Bodega Bay, paired with St. Francis Wild Oak Chardonnay 2008. Thursday, July 15, watch Academy Award winner “Chinatown” paired with St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel. Seating begins at 7:30 p.m., screening is at 8 p.m.

Moshin Vineyards presents Pictures on the Crush Pad, with “The Blues Brothers” on July 24 and “Blue Hawaii” on August 14. Join them under the stars for a state of the art DVD projection right on the crush pad. Admission is $20 per person and includes a glass of wine and a bottomless bag of popcorn. Picnics are welcome and chairs are provided.

The whole family is invited to watch “Ghostbusters” at DeLoach Vineyards’ Pinot and Popcorn on July 22, 7:30 p.m. Take chairs and blankets and watch Dan Aykroyd fight the ghosts of New York City. They’ll be pouring their exclusive Dan Aykroyd Chardonnay and Cabernet. The $15 ticket includes one glass of wine, unlimited popcorn, wine discounts, and they’ll be doing raffles.

Gundlach Bundschu’s Annual Summer Fun Film Festival is August 7 and this year features “Swingers” with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. A local, high-energy band will begin the night at 7 p.m. and the movie will roll at dusk. Tickets are $10 advance and $15 at the door. You can pick up a gourmet picnic at the winery.

Warm, sunny days tend to turn to cool, refreshing evenings here in Sonoma County, so don’t forget to take along some warm layers.

The current exhibition at Petaluma’s Pelican Art Gallery features paintings by two of their Masters of Today: watercolorist, Christopher Schink, and plein air painter, Camille Przewodek, through August 7. In conjunction with Petaluma’s Second Saturday Art Walk on July 10, the gallery will host a poetry reading and concert from 4-7 p.m. to raise funds for the pelicans and people affected by the Gulf oil spill.

Gallery One presents “Artful Garden,” a juried invitational, multi-media art exhibition in Petaluma. An Artists’ Reception will be held Saturday, July 10, 4-7:30 p.m. Works are displayed through July 31.

Also in Petaluma, Calabi Gallery presents their Summer Selection Exhibition along with a new format. They’ve added another tier of paintings to create a salon style effect, allowing them to display more art. They’ll be serving light refreshments during the Second Saturday Art Walk.

Take a journey to Cuba with the Sonoma County Museum’s exhibition, “Polaridad Complementaria: Recent Works from Cuba,” running through August 29. The touring show features more than 40 works of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video, and installation art by 24 Cuban artists who have earned international attention.

This summer at Graton Gallery, you’ll find the exhibition “Nature’s Inspiration” from July 6 through August 15 as well as the season-long festival “Art in the Garden,” where each weekend features a different artist. “Nature’s Inspiration” presents works by Linda Ratzlaff, Katherine Fell, Caroline Hipkiss, and Cynthia Hipkiss. Join the Artists’ Reception on Sunday, July 11, 3-6 p.m.

Forestville’s Quicksilver Mine Co. presents a show by Santa Rosa artist Louisa King Fraser, “Sojourns: Paintings and Drawings 1988-2010,” from July 9 through August 15. An Artist Reception will be held Saturday, July 10, 4-6 p.m. and the artist will be in the gallery to talk about her work and travels on Thursday, August 5 at 7 p.m.

The Windsor Arts Council’s juried show with the theme “All Things Red” is on display through the summer at the Hembree House Gallery with paintings and photographs by member artists.

Take in the beautiful coast with a drive up Highway 1 and find three new exhibitions in Gualala at Studio 391. Through August 22, check out Chip Hooper’s photography in “California Pacific,” paintings by Chris Henry in “Connections,” and sculpture by Andy Rogers in “Nature Observed.”

Pedroncelli 2008 “Mother Clone” Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ($15) is a good old, traditional Dry Creek Zin. Toasty oak and menthol blow off to reveal strawberry jam and big brambleberry fruit flavors. Zingy on the tongue, but not hot on the finish, wrapping up firmly with dry, chalky tannin. A sold example of the genre, and priced so well you can get two bottles–one for the recipe and one for the cook!

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Beef and Mushrooms Stew Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

Ingredients:

2 lbs stew meat, trimmed of fat and in 1 ½ inch cubes

1-2 T olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

flour

finely ground black pepper

salt

1 lb mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

1-1 ½ ounces dried porcini mushrooms

2 cups beef broth

2 cups Mother Clone Zinfandel

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Soak dried mushrooms in hot water for 20 minutes, strain, reserving soaking water, rinse mushrooms and set aside. Heat dutch oven to medium high. Pour ½ T of olive oil into pan, add onion and sauté for 10 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 2 more minutes.

Scoop out onion mixture and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat to medium high. Roll beef cubes in mixture of flour, pepper and salt (to taste). Add beef cubes in batches and brown on all sides. Take meat out and set aside.

Pour all mushrooms into pan and sauté for 5 minutes. Add onions and beef to pan. Pour in beef broth, reserved soaking water and zinfandel. Secure lid and put in oven for 1-2 hours—the longer the better. Check halfway through to add liquid (stock, water, wine or a blend thereof) if necessary. Serve over pasta, polenta or rice.

By January, however, Bousquet and his wife Bryan (she’s also the restaurant’s wine director and general manager), were back to making everyone happy, with the opening of Bistro M. The eatery took over the former Langley’s on The Green space just around the corner from Mirepoix, and its menu is laden with reasonably priced signature favorites at lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

Familiar belly-fillers are in abundance, like coq au vin ($15) and steak au poivre ($20), crepes Suzette ($11), Caesar salad strewn with real anchovies ($9), and a hamburger ($9). It’s also one of my favorite destinations for expertly done staples like boeuf bourguignon ($18), cassoulet ($19), mussels in white wine broth with frites ($12), and sole meuniere ($17) atop fingerling potatoes and spinach.

Flash forward to summer. A recent re-visit to Bistro M reminded me that, amid all the comfort fare, this café brims with big city dishes that would be at home in any stylish Parisian neighborhood.

Nicely chewy escargot swimming in garlic butter ($12)? Bien sur. French onion soup ($9)? But of course, all sweet and rich and hot and gooey, draped in bubbling cheese. I picked frog’s legs ($14) clean, pleased with the tender meat reminiscent of chicken or catfish.

The Gallic mood starts at the foyer, with its French-pane doors and windows hung with sheer embroidered curtains. You can relax with a cocktail at the six-seat bar, or vie for one of the coveted five seats overlooking the peek-a-boo exposition kitchen, where you’re mere inches away from the cooks.

The bar is also a great place for a cocktail and charcuterie ($12), presented in displays of house-cured salmon, artisan salami, pork pate, trout rillettes, duck liver mousse and prosciutto. For the freshest seafood, check the olive green shutter-framed chalkboard listing oysters-of-the-day ($1.75 each).

If you crave authentic sweetbreads, chef Ben Davies has you covered. The original talent of Mirepoix, he had left two years ago to take sous-chef positions with The Restaurant at Meadowood and Murray Circle at Cavallo Point. But he’s now back in the kitchen at Bistro M, and he has a skilled hand with the savory thymus glands, offering them au natural with frites ($11), and as a creative brunch dish, fashioned into a Benedict ($16).

Digging into a platter of lamb neck ($12) may not seem immediately appealing, but it’s extremely tender, flavorful meat thanks to collagen that dissolves into silky texture and sauce. For a more approachable meal, lamb shank ($19) arrives in fall-apart chunks over caper-olive risotto, tomato confit and Swiss chard; it’s one of the best renditions I’ve had in the North Bay.

A Sunday special of bouillabaisse is a great tribute to the seafood mélange and a bargain at $17, while duck confit ($17) gets some welcome crunch from walnuts, plated with spinach, dainty mushrooms, P’tit Basque cheese and picked onions.

If you’re in the mood for butter, meanwhile, you’ve hit the jackpot. A Croque Madame ($10) tastes nearly fried after its turn on the grill, the long, slender slab of toast stuffed with tangy cheese, buried under Mornay sauce and a fried egg. Interestingly, the sandwich I got one afternoon was stuffed with shaved roast beef instead of the expected ham, but either way, it’s a filling meal, paired with a crisp salad and a generous pile of thin-cut herbed frites alongside aioli for dunking.

When Mirepoix changed its concept, Bryan promised that some cherished dishes would be resurrected at Bistro M, and indeed, the butterscotch pudding ($6) is back in all its buttery-brown sugar glory.

For another dessert pick, “saddened” chocolate cake ($6) is actually a joy. As my cheerful server explained, the confection gets its cute name from the fact that that the round is depressed in the middle, where the rich, crusty exterior collapses to a warm center of molten fudge.

At Mirepoix, the Bousquet family wows with remarkable culinary tricks like goat cheese foam poufed atop onion tart layered with beets and arugula and drizzled in balsamic. The multi-course tasting menu changes nearly every night – though ingredients may remain similar, Bousquet switches how he presents them – lobster and pork belly as a thick slice of braised pig with a small lobster tail one night, for example, and as lobster-truffle ravioli with lardons the next.

And that’s magical.

Yet sometimes, you’ve just got to have a simpler, soul-satisfying chicken paillard ($12), quiche Florentine ($12) or tuna Nicoise ($13).

For that, you’ll be hard pressed to find any better piece of Paris than Bistro M.

Details: Bistro M, 610 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-838-3118, thebistrom.com. Restaurant Mirepoix, 275 Windsor River Road, Windsor, 707-838-0162, restaurantmirepoix.com.

Courtyard & gardens at Chateau St. Jean. Photo by Andrew Collins.

I don’t care how pretty a winery is, it can’t mask mediocre wine. But a winery with both exceptional wine and a stunning design excites multiple senses. Aesthetically, two of my favorite Sonoma wineries lie just a short distance from one another, at the northern end of the Sonoma Valley, often dubbed the Valley of the Moon. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards and Chateau St. Jean both occupy Mediterranean-inspired estates, the former built in the style of California’s famed red-tile missions, and the latter resembling a grand French medieval chateau. Both wineries produce highly acclaimed wines with prolific distribution throughout North America – they’re not exactly hidden gems. But despite their immense popularity, both properties cultivate a surprisingly peaceful, welcoming vibe – they’re perfect venues not only for tasting stellar wines but for strolling and picnicking amid the leafy grounds.

A church bell hangs in the tower that rises above the stucco tasting room at St. Francis Winery – the visitor center, with its

Bell tower entrance at St. Francis Winery. Photo by Andrew Collins.

three tasting bars and surrounding gardens, opened in 2001. A sculpture of St. Francis of Assisi anchors the courtyard, and large arched windows in the high-ceilinged tasting room overlook acres of vineyards. At St. Francis, you can dine as well as sip – the winery offers wine-and-food pairings two to three times per day, depending on the day of the week, and in summer, chef David Bush prepares a Charcuterie on the Patio experience from  10 am until 4 pm daily – local cheeses and meats are served along with a flight of red or white wine. The cost is $25, a great price for a wonderful culinary experience.

The beautifully landscaped grounds at Chateau St. Jean, which produces an impressive and extensive variety of whites (the 2008 Viogner is a standout) and reds (the reserve Cabs and Merlots are justly famous, but don’t overlook the bargain-priced Pinot Noir that’s remarkably well-balanced). You reach the tasting room by walking through a formal estate garden, one of the most picturesque of any in Sonoma County.

You might consider ending your day of tasting at these two noted wineries with dinner at one of the better restaurants in the region, the Vineyards Inn Bar & Grill, which is close to both properties and serves superb Spanish-inspired Wine Country cuisine. Favorite dishes include classic paella Valenciana with house-made chorizo, and hearty Basque-style lamb shank braised for hours in a heady stew of tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and mushroom-wine sauce.

As part of the county’s 2010 Summer Reading Club “Make a Splash, Read!” event, the library hosts storytime sessions every Tuesday and Wednesday. The Tuesday sessions are geared toward older kids (ages 5 and up), and include singing or arts & crafts. The Wednesday sessions are crafted for babies and preschoolers (and are therefore shorter in length).

Yours truly took the 13-month-old to a recent “Baby Time” session (for children ages 0 to 2). Tykes and their parents (dads, be warned: the crowd was mostly mommas) sat in a circle on a colorful mat while a librarian read various children books aloud.

At one point, the librarian broke out into hushed song. Some of the babies clapped their hands.

We lingered for a bit and stayed for the first few minutes of “Preschool Storytime,” a similar ritual geared for slightly older kids. Then the baby got cranky.

From now until July 28, Baby Time is every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., and Preschool Storytime follows at 11:30 a.m. The Tuesday events generally are held at 2 p.m. (though the event on July 13 stretches from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). For more information about any of the upcoming events, visit www.sonomalibrary.org or call the Windsor Library at 707/838-1020.

Imagine my surprise and embarrassment when I realized caving in wine country didn’t require my carbide headlamp, crampons, or rope. I was woefully over-equipped for the expedition.

Hans Fahden Vineyards Wine Cave

And the “life” forms in this cave? No stalactite or stalagmites here; just other travelers seeking to experience the ultimate in Sonoma County spelunking: Dinner in the Hans Fahden Winery’s cave.

Whether by verbal directions, GPS, or a paper map, we 21st century explorers all found our way into the upper reaches of the Mayacamas mountain range; 1,000-foot elevation and a mere 600 yards from the county’s eastern edge.

As most wine country visitors know, you pretty much have to be invited to a wedding, special event, or corporate meeting in order to dine in a wine cave. Not anymore. Hans Fahden Winery opens the cave to diners each Thursday evening through September.

Third-generation landowner Antone Fahden greeted guests with glasses of amazing cabernet sauvignon (the only varietal produced here) and led us on a tour of the property that’s been in his family since 1912.

Hans Fahden Vineyards Gardens

The gardens enticed with bright colors against the evergreen backdrop of Douglas firs. Tucked around the ponds were seating vignettes that reminded the strollers to sit and enjoy the peaceful, beautiful environs for a while.

The property is popular with brides. The amazing vistas and wild gardens give new meaning to the word “picturesque.”

No bridezillas for us to contend with tonight, just fabulous wine and delicious food. Antone’s staff joined forces with Hilton Sonoma Wine Country’s chef, Rene Jakushak, for an amazing catered meal. Guests can purchase cab from the winery or bring their own bottle, no corkage.

The first of a three-course dinner was lolla rosa and organic apple salad, with Laura Chenel goat cheese and Sonoma Vinegar Works white balsamic vinaigrette.

The main course was paired with the perfect reason to stick with the Hans Fahden cab: grilled petite filet mignon and Dungeness crab Oscar, served with fava beans, braised greens, and German butterball potatoes in sauce Bernaise. It was delicious.

And the dessert course epitomized the phrase “saving the best for last.” “Valrhona Chocolate Budino” with caramel sauce, whipped cream, and pistachio tuile. While several people at our table requested coffee, I found the rich, dark chocolate paired perfectly with Antone’s 2000 cabernet sauvignon.

Find more about the cave dinners, or book your own experience, at www.hansfahden.com. Reservations can be made up until noon Thursday for that evening’s dinner.

Hans Fahden Vineyards
4855 Petrified Forest Road
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-6760
www.hansfahden.com

Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves

Other wineries in Sonoma County offer tours of wine caves, either as part of a regular tour or by appointment. Here are a few examples:

Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves
9711 West Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg
CA 95448
(707) 473-9171
www.bellawinery.com

Benziger Family Winery
1883 London Ranch Road
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 935-3000
www.benziger.com

Deerfield Ranch Winery
10200 Sonoma Hwy.
Kenwood, CA 95452
(707) 833-5215
www.deerfieldranch.com

Deerfield Ranch Winery

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
23555 Carneros Highway 121
Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 996-7256
www.gloriaferrer.com

Gundlach Bundschu Winery
2000 Denmark Street
Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 938-5277
www.gunbun.com

Nicholson Ranch Vineyards and Winery
4200 Napa Road
Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 938-8822
www.nicholsonranch.com

Check out our online calendar listings for more events.  Lodging, festival, and activity specials are listed here:  Sonoma County Special Deals

Get more bang for your holiday buck by visiting www.sonomacounty.com to start planning your Sonoma County adventure today.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Saturday, July 3

Fireworks at Bodega Bay
July 3; 9:30 p.m.
Westside Regional Park
2400 Westside Road
Bodega Bay

Fireworks will fill the night sky in Bodega Bay. The presentation is free of charge to the public and can be seen from almost anywhere surrounding the bay! Sponsored by the Bodega Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

Two celebrations in Windsor
July 3; 7-10 p.m.
Windsor High School
8695 Windsor Road
Windsor
www.ci.windsor.ca.us

Fireworks start at dark; Kettle corn, snow cones and hot dogs available for purchase.  Parking at Windsor High School; lawn chairs and blankets welcome.  Cost is $1 per person.

July 3; 5 – 10 p.m.
Windsor Town Green
701 McClelland Dr.
Windsor
www.ci.windsor.ca.us

Live music by Sugarfoot! Food, beer & wine available for purchase.  Games and jumpies for the kids.   Fireworks show (fireworks launched from Keiser Park at 9:30 p.m.) Admission is free

Fireworks in Sebastopol
July 3
Analy High School
6950 Analy Ave.
Sebastopol
707-823-1511

Live music by the Mighty Chiplings, Love Ruslters and Buzzy martin and the Buzztones..  Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; fireworks begin at dark.  Adults $7; children 6-11 $3.

Reds, Whites & BBQ at Benziger and Imagery
July 3;  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Benziger Family Winery
1883 London Ranch Road
Glen Ellen
www.benziger.com

Join Benziger Family Winery and Imagery Estate Winery for a celebration of July 4th and their newly released white wines. Perfect for hot summer days, they’ll have special offers on the newest vintages of Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays at Benziger and White Burgundy, Wow Oui and Viognier at Imagery. They won’t forget those who prefer the red all year long. Savor Pinot Noir, Syrah, Barbera and Sangiovese with tasty BBQ.  $20 per person

5th Annual All American Zin Day
July 3
Various Locations
Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg
familywines.com

Celebrate Independence Day with a progressive party in Dry Creek Valley. $20 charge includes food, great wines, and a glass. Participating wineries include Amista, Mazzocco, Rued, Wilson, and Family Wineries Dry Creek, will be featuring zin meatballs, barbecue chicken, sausages, and chipotle tri-tip steak.

Independence Celebration at Landmark

Landmark Vineyards

July 3; 12 noon – 4 p.m.
Landmark Vineyards
101 Adobe Canyon Road
Kenwood
www.landmarkwine.com

The accomplished guitarist, Carlos Herrera, with Stan Adela on bogos will play Latin music in the Courtyard from 1 – 4 p.m.  Chicago Hot Dog will be at Landmark from 12 – 4 p.m. serving an Overlook Chardonnay Hot Dog, Steel Plow Syrah Hot Dog, and an authentic Chicago-style Hot Dog.  All hot dogs include a bag a chip ($6 each).  Wine will be available by the glass or bottle.

Enjoy the breath-taking view of Sugarloaf State Park from Landmark’s verdant courtyard with a glass of wine and All-American hot dog while you listen to live music.  Enjoy a game of bocce and stay for the afternoon.  Complimentary Horse-drawn Wagon Tours from 1-4 p.m.  Children are welcome.

Summer Concert at Medlock Ames Tasting Room
July 3; 1 p.m.
Medlock Ames Tasting Room
3487 Alexander Valley Road
Healdsburg
www.medlockames.com

Join Medlock Ames for their first summer concert, featuring bluegrass musicians, The Easy Leaves. Their first set will start at 3:30, with sets continuing until 6:30. A perfect afternoon outing for those who want to sip wine in the tasting room and then wander over to the bar for a garden inspired cocktail afterwards. Seasonal pizzas paired with wine flights, starting at 1 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, July 3-4

Watch fireworks over the Russian River
July 3-4
Monte Rio
Beach parking lot / Rio Theater
www.mrrpd.org

Celebrate Independence Day in Monte Rio at the Russian River.  The fun begins on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Big Rocky Games for kids and the barbecue from noon to 5 p.m. at the Monte Rio Fire House.  Watch fireworks over the Russian River, the Water Carnival Boat Parade and the one and only Water Curtain, beginning at dusk.  The Big Rocky Games continue on the 4^th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Games for kids of all ages.  Admission is free!

Bella’s Zindependence Weekend Celebration
July 3 – 4
Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves
9711 West Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg
www.bellawinery.com

Bella’s Zindependence Celebration will add the bang to your Fourth of July weekend with the swinging soulful roots/blues sounds of Brother Cat, tasty food bites, and lots of delicious Zinfandels.

Sunday, July 4

Charity Car Classic at B.R. Cohn Winery
July 4
B.R. Cohn Winery
15000 Sonoma Highway
Glen Ellen
www.brcohn.com

Visit B.R. Cohn Winery’s tasting room and see a collection of classic and hot rod cars along with Bruce Cohn’s cars. The winery will also offer picnic items from the gourmet food shop to enjoy with award winning B.R Cohn wines.

Petaluma’s Fourth of July Celebration
July 4
Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds
175 Fairgrounds Drive

Arrive early to enjoy food, drinks, and desserts. Bring low lawn chairs, blankets, warm clothes, and flashlights. Fireworks by Zambelli, music by Randy and the Special Agents and more.

Guerneville Independence Day Celebration
July 4
16209 First St.
Downtown Guerneville
www.russianriver.com

The celebration begins with the Community Crafts Faire from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Guerneville Plaza.  Enjoy great food at the Russian River Rotary BBQ from 12 noon to 8 p.m. in Lark’s parking lot.  Pick a spot in the Plaza, on the pedestrian bridge or along Main Street to view the grand finale… spectacular fireworks show over the River.

Red White & Boom 2010
July 4
Sonoma County Fairgrounds
1350 Bennett Valley Road
Santa Rosa

Celebrate Independence Day at the biggest Fourth of July party in the North Bay, with great food, fun, and entertainment by Wonderbread 5 and a world-class fireworks extravaganza.

Cloverdale Firework Show
July 4
Cloverdale High School football field
509 N. Cloverdale Blvd.
cloverdalelionsclub.com

The show begins at dusk; admission is free.

The farm, situated at 2179 Yoakim Bridge Rd., is open from noon to 5 p.m. on weekends from June to September. It is the last remaining fruit farm in the Valley and the only dedicated, certified organic peach farm in Sonoma County.

The farm has been around for more than 50 years (though only has been selling peaches exclusively since 1990).

All of the farm’s fruit is organically grown, tree-ripened, hand-picked and hand-packed. Among the varieties: Heirloom yellow peaches, white peaches, refreshing nectarines and exotic plums. The farm sells different produce, as well: Nectarines, plums, figs, persimmons and Meyer lemons, to name a few.

Other products include a variety of peach jams, which can be shipped across the country and around the world, and peach wood, which can be burned in fireplaces and grills.

Brian Sullivan and Gayle Okumura Sullivan are the current owners of the farm, and when they’re not working the modest little store on-site, they’re probably tending their booth at local Farmers Markets.

With this in mind, Dry Creek Peach and Produce represents what we at this blog like best: family-run farms with a work ethic that’s second to none. Check them out.

Forever Plaid

In this play by Stuart Ross, the promising future of a ’50s boy band is cut short by a freak accident just before their first real gig. Watch as Sparky, Smudge, Jinx, and Frankie, miraculously get to perform the show that never was, with hit songs like Three Coins in a Fountain, Day-O, and Love is a Many Splendored Thing.

Peter Pan

Here’s a chance to acquaint your kids with the lovable characters of J.M. Barrie’s classic story. Travel to Neverland with Peter and the Darling children and experience the magic once again. Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, and the notorious tick-tocking crocodile await you.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

William Finn’s musical is about six quirky adolescents competing in their school Bee. Volunteers from the audience will get to join them, as they learn that winning isn’t everything. With mature language and themes, this one is recommended for 12 years and older.

The Full Monty

Terrence McNally’s and David Yazbeck’s musical about unemployed steelworkers and their gutsy plan to make a bit of quick money is back at SRT by popular demand. Seeing how much their wives like watching male strippers, the men decide to try it themselves. While preparing for their striptease show, they find renewed self-respect, strength in friendship, and lots of fun.

Dangerous Liaisons (with Vampires)

In this new adaptation by SRT’s Artistic Director, James Newman, the characters from the 1782 novel are imagined as immortals. Watch as the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Mertueil play their treacherous, seductive games over centuries.

Summer Repertory Theater Burbank and Newman Auditoriums 
Santa Rosa Junior College 
Mendocino Avenue 
Santa Rosa, CA 
 
Box Office: 707-527-4343

One of the farmers in the piece: Emmett Hopkins, who runs Foggy River Farm in Healdsburg.

Hopkins and his wife, Lynda, sell produce at farmers’ markets around the county. They also run a small-but-healthy Community Supported Agriculture program, through which they sell fresh fruits and veggies to certain customers every week.

Foggy River isn’t big—Hopkins and his wife currently are farming about three acres of vegetables and one acre of pasture for animals. All told, the land has been in Hopkins’ family for three generations: his grandparents farmed prunes and pears and his parents farmed grapes before he took over about last decade.

Still, the farming is hard work.

“Although I grew up here, the type of farming that we’re doing was actually pretty new to us when we started,” Hopkins wrote in a recent email. “As a kid I was around vineyard a lot, but never vegetable farms.”

Average days begin at 6 a.m. After a morning cup of coffee, the duo spends 30 minutes on animal chores such as letting the chickens out, feeding and milking the goats and doing a general check-up on everyone’s health. Next it’s on to vegetable chores, which range from weeding and thinning seedlings to rotating crops in and out of the greenhouse.

Some days, however, are busier than others. On Tuesday and Friday evenings, Hopkins harvests produce, which takes a couple of hours with the help of a small crew.

Saturdays are spent at the Healdsburg farmers’ market, and Wednesdays are spent washing and sorting vegetables for the big CSA pick-up, which takes place on the farm on Wednesday afternoon.

While Foggy River Farm isn’t raking in big bucks, Hopkins and his wife have managed to find a strategy that works, and they plan to stick with it.

“We’re in this for the long-term,” he says. “I believe that some years down the road, as fuel costs rise, more and more of our food will need to come from very nearby, so the more we can help to develop farming resources in Sonoma County the more self-sufficient the region will be in the future.”