This year Gay Wine Weekend takes place from Friday, June 15, through Sunday, June 17. It’s a great opportunity to hobnob with like-minded fans of vino and the stunning Sonoma Valley countryside that produces many of the world’s most celebrated wines.

Highlights of the event-packed weekend include a Wine & Dine OUT dinner at which local winemakers pair wines with delectable treats from three of the area’s top restaurants, a meal and wine tasting at beautiful B. Wise Vineyards and Estate Restaurant, a cabaret night featuring drag-tastic “Russian opera diva Katya Smirnoff-Skyy” at Sebastiani Vineyards, a Winery Vista Tour at Gloria Ferrer and Nicholson Ranch Winery, a Twilight T-Dance to benefit the Sonoma County AIDS Network, the Big Gay Wine Auction & Brunch, and several more events. You can purchase tickets to events here, and I wouldn’t waste any time, as a few have already sold out.

Accommodations for the big bash are throughout  Sonoma Valley, including the retro-cool Flamingo Resort and Spa with one of the largest swimming pools in Wine Country.

Special rates starting at $169 for Gay Wine Weekend June 15 -17. For reservations call (707)-545-8530 and mention Gay Wine Weekend For more information about The Flamingo Resort & Spa visit www.flamingoresort.com

Check out the write-up on last year’s event to get a further idea of what this great celebration is all about.

Photo by Andrew Collins

At the southeastern edge of Sonoma County, just a few miles outside of downtown Sonoma on the main road toward Napa, SCRIBE Winery (2300 Napa Rd., Sonoma, 707-939-1858) makes for a refreshingly distinct, stunningly situated wine-tasting experience.

I stopped in not long ago, motoring up the long drive to the winery’s tasting room, on a sunny hilltop overlooking acres of loamy vineyards in amid the breezy Carneros flatlands.

I couldn’t help noticing the property’s fashionably faded hacienda, which the owners happily showed me and my friend around following a relaxed outdoor tasting. They’re slowly but surely renovating this dilapidated Mission Revival home, built in 1915, which served as a hideout among bootleggers during prohibition and later, for many years, a turkey farm. It’s now the site of occasional parties and events, but someday it will house the winery’s tasting room.

Photo by Andrew Collins

The charming, handsome, and young brothers Andrew and Adam Mariani run this small-production winery that’s quickly earned a reputation for its handful of elegantly polished yet happily rustic wines – two whites (Chardonnay, and a Chardonnay clone) and three reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot Noir), but they’ve also planted Riesling and the unusual (in these parts) varietal Sylvaner, of Alsace origin.

Both of these grapes were grown by the property’s German-immigrant owners in the late 19th century. The guys, and their handful of tasting-room staffers, are easy going, unpretentious, and happy to welcome visitors for tastings (best to call ahead for an appointment), which in good weather typically take place on a shaded patio.

If you’re seeking a fantastic spot for lunch while out this way, check out Fremont Diner, which I blogged about several months ago.

Wells Fargo Center

The fabulous, hard-working Russian River Sisters’ Pride Planning Committee has announced a few details about Sonoma Gay Pride this year, which takes place just two-and-a-half months from now, on Sunday, June 3, in the inviting village of Guerneville.

The festival commences at noon and runs until 6 p.m., and it takes place on the grounds of Guerneville Lodge (15905 River Rd., 707-869-0102), the gay-popular hotel and camping resort set with a beautiful park-like setting on the swift-moving Russian River.

As it did last year, Pride will include a colorful parade through town; a Radical Fairie Village (18-and-over only) with everything from performance art to cabaret; a gathering of vendors and community organizations; and a wine-tasting terrace featuring several local wineries.

The same weekend will also feature a Pride Comedy concert at Santa Rosa’s Wells Fargo Center for the Arts (50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600), this year featuring the hilariously funny and provocative comedian and actress Margaret Cho. The concert takes place June 2, at 8 p.m., at the Person Theater.

Speaking of the Wells Fargo Center, make a note on your calendar that queer-fave rockers the B-52s will be performing here later in the month, on Sunday, June 24, as part of their 35th Anniversary Tour.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

Some of the region’s top inns have introduced enticing discounts and specials this winter.

With its outstanding dining room, relaxing spa, and elegantly appointed rooms, the Applewood Inn and Restaurant (13555 Hwy. 116, Guerneville) is a perfect place to savor a long weekend – many rooms even have fireplaces.

If you book a weekend stay (Friday and Saturday nights) in one of the Junior Suites (rooms 10 through 19) between now and March 31, you’ll receive a third night (either Thursday or Sunday) gratis.

Note that included in your rates is one of the most spectacular breakfasts in the county – French toast, buttermilk pancakes, huevos rancheros, eggs Benedict, and asparagus-gruyere omelets are among the offerings, and Sonoma’s own delicious Flying Goat coffee is served.

The Applewood Inn is tucked down a tree-lined drive surrounded by gardens and lawns, and just a short drive from the funky shopping, gay nightlife, and great restaurants of Guerneville.

The spacious rooms are designed in the style of an Italian country house, some with pitched ceilings, fireplaces, and private patios. All include cable TV, robes, free Wi-Fi, CD player/clock radios, and fine Italian linens.

There’s also a seasonal pool and year-round hot tub, an intimate full spa offering a range of massage and body treatments, and the outstanding aforementioned restaurant.

The party will take place at the Glen Ellen tasting room of the excellent Hop Kiln Winery, which many visitors to the area know well from their distinctive, original winery and tasting room on Westside Road, just a 20-minute drive from Guerneville.

Festivities take place on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 6:30 until 9 p.m., and will include plenty of opportunities to sample wine and taste outstanding food provided by HKG’s sister property, the Kenwood Inn & Spa.

Hop Kiln’s HKG Glen Ellen Tasting Room, which showcases the winery’s highly acclaimed premium label, HKG, is right in the heart of charming Glen Ellen (at 13647 Arnold Dr., 707-938-7622), next to the Garden Court Cafe and Bakery and just down the street from other culinary favorites like the Glen Ellen Inn and the Fig Cafe.

HKG is renowned for estate wines using grapes grown in their 250-acre Russian River vineyard – they include a Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay. Also be sure to keep an eye out for Hop Kiln Winery’s Thousand Flowers white blend, Big Red blend, and Zinfandel.

Each month, she features the products of a different artisan chocolatier, and the walls of establishment are always hung with works for sale by talented artists.

The shop’s current art exhibit is “When Life is a Drag – Be a Queen,” featuring the glamorous photography of Karen Massing, who specializing in campy, elegantly stylized portraits of female impersonators – she meets many of her subjects as she travels to different International Court System (ICS) events throughout the North America.

The ICS is one of the world’s largest GLBT charitable organizations, raising funds chiefly by presenting lavish drag pageants and galas throughout the year.

You can view Massing’s striking photography through Feb. 8, and on Saturday, Jan. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m., you can meet the artist during a reception.

Viva Cocolat carries a wide range of high-quality chocolates, truffles, and desserts, and the cafe also serves espresso drinks, drinking chocolates, smoothies, and other treats.

There’s a seating area in front of the shop, shelves and cases filled with beautiful edibles throughout, and a room for small receptions and events – hung with more artwork – in the very back. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the cafe hosts chocolate fondue parties (reservations are recommended).

Note from photographer Karen Massing: The photo of the young lady with the large curly/frizzy hair is Landa Lake. Landa is a past monarch of the San Francisco Ducal chapter of the International Court System.

The photo of myself in the Normal Rockwell triple portrait satire is part of a series I have been working on entitled “What if _____ _____ was a Crossdresser?”

Photo by Andrew Collins.

There’s a nice article this month in Sonoma County online gay newspaper, We The People, encouraging shoppers to check out some of the area’s many shops and galleries owned by members of the GLBT community. You may have already done your holiday shopping, but it’s worth checking out this story for retail ideas throughout the coming months – here’s the link – including art supplies from Art & Soul of Sebastopol.

I’ve been to a number of these places, and some others I’ve added to my list of shops I plan to check out on my next visit. In downtown Sebastopol, Milk & Honey is terrific one, in part because it has a great little cafe, The Goddess Lounge, which opened in 2010. Here you can browse the for all kinds of gifts, many with bent toward spirituality, feminism, and the environment: there’s jewelry and pendants, eco-friendly Tibetan prayer wheel candles, herbal elixirs, art nouveau vases, and sensual-massage oils and lotions.

Another one from the article I recommend is Up The River, a funky little gift shop along the quirky main drag of Guerneville, in the Russian River area. Behind the weather-gray clapboard exterior, you’ll find shelves packed with every imaginable gift and goodie, from rainbow flags to key chains to irreverent greeting cards and cheeky adult-themed toys. In fact, the entire several-block stretch of downtown Guerneville has become a hub of intriguing, one-of-a-kind retail, well worth browsing any time of the year.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

A few months ago I wrote about southern Sonoma County’s sterling Fremont Diner, which occupies a drive-in known previously as Babe’s Burgers. The owners of the Fremont have taken the humble diner/drive-in concept and raised it to new heights, serving inspired farm-to-table versions of comfort-food classics.

I love what they’ve done here, but that’s not to say I don’t still appreciate the old-fashioned, low-frills drive-ins that still populate the Sonoma landscape, serving inexpensive short-order fare in happily old-fashioned buildings.

One of my favorites in the region is Pick’s Drive-In (117 S. Cloverdale Blvd., 707-894-2962), along the unpretentious main drag of downtown Cloverdale. Opened in 1923, the simple white building with green trim and vintage Coca-Cola signs is within a short walk of several shops and galleries in town, and there’s dining at green picnic tables.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

The menu is typical burgers, including turkey, black-bean, and a few other variations. Root-beer floats are a dessert specialty, and the kitchen uses high-quality ingredients. It’s a good bet for a quick meal if you’re out exploring, as Cloverdale is the last stop in Sonoma County before you turn onto Highway 128 out to the coast.

In the Russian River community of Forestville, Carr’s Drive In (6533 Covey Rd., 707-887-7053) is another fine representation of the genre. This low, hip-roofed building makes a tasty chili cheese dog, luscious chocolate malts, and perfectly fried onion rings, plus hefty cheeseburgers.

A bit farther south in Sebastopol, D’s Diner (7260 Healdburg Ave., 707-829-8080) doesn’t call itself a drive-in, but it definitely looks the part, with its outdoor counter stools and picnic tables – a funky retro neon “D’s Diner” sign lights up against the angular roofline.

There’s more seating inside, too. D’s is famous in these parts not just for hefty burgers (available with numerous toppings) but also for tender, slow-cooked, applewood barbecue – pork ribs, chicken, Cajun-style hot links, and sloppy Joe-style pulled pork, all served with barbecue beans, coleslaw, or fries.

The kitchen uses three barbecue sauces, and most regulars favor the sweet-apricot version (which you can fire up a bit by adding on a bit of the spicy sauce).

Photo by Andrew Collins.

Open for nearly 30 years, the unassuming but handsome Vineyards Inn (8445 Kenwood Hwy./Hwy. 12, 707-833-4500) is both a seasoned culinary institution and a cutting-edge experiment in sustainability.

The rambling roadhouse-style restaurant set amid some of Kenwood’s most celebrated vineyards is along busy Highway 12, which cuts through Sonoma’s fabled Valley of the Moon. Steven and Colleen Rose are the proprietors – Colleen runs the bar, and Steven prepares superb and healthy Wine Country-influenced Spanish cuisine in the kitchen (he refers to himself, aptly, as Chef Esteban).

I stopped by the Vineyards Inn for dinner with a couple of friends earlier this year, but before we commenced feasting, Steve led us on a quick tour of his Rose Ranch, where he grows much of the produce he uses in such ethereal treats as stuffed kale rolls, gazpacho, stuffed jalapeños, bounteous salads, and Basque-style lamb shank braised in tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and mushroom-wine sauce.

The ranch is certified organic and has obtained Demeter Biodynamic Certification. Other ingredients that Steve sources off-site are also local and raised according to the highest standards of sustainability, from butter and cheese produced by Spring Hill Farms in Petaluma to beef from Lunny Ranch near Point Reyes National Seashore. The fish is always line-caught in the wild.

When you sit down to dinner at in the casually convivial dining room of the Vineyards Inn, you’re eating the best foods raised in the Sonoma County region.

Of course, as you’d expect at a restaurant with strong Spanish influences, the house specialty here is paella – you can choose from the traditional Valenciana style (with seafood, chicken, and chorizo), the Pacifica version (strictly seafood), and del Jardin (vegetarian, with roasted veggies from the garden).

We tried a variety of tasty dishes during our meal – line-caught fish-of-the-day crudo, fire-broiled organic artichokes, organic beets and mozzarella salad, lamb skewers, and hefty portions of that exceptionally flavorful paella Valenciana. Colleen Rose mixes fantastic cocktails in the bar – I strongly recommend basil-mint mojito.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

The Roses also rent out a sumptuous one-bedroom guest suite, Casa Verde, which has its own private entrance, jetted tub, gas fireplace, and patio. Rates start at $250 for one night but come down as low as $1,000 weekly in winter (and $1,200 weekly in summer).

Sonoma County’s deliciously successful fundraiser Dining Out For Life, which raised more than $105,000 last year, will take place again exactly one week after Thanksgiving (perhaps by then we’ll all be hungry again?).

On Thursday, Dec. 1, dozens of restaurants will donate 25 or 50 percent of the food portions of your meal tab, and a handful of eateries pledge the same amount in alcohol sales, too. The recipient of these efforts is Food For Thought, the Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank, which has been serving the region for nearly 25 years.

Among participating restaurants (here’s a full list), those donating the upper amount of 50 percent include Agriculture Bar & Kitchen at Dawn Ranch Lodge in Guerneville, Corks Restaurant at Russian River Vineyards in Forestville, the new Forchetta/Bastoni in Sebastopol, Jo Jo Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Santa Rosa, Roasters Espresso Bar in Forestville, and Trio Restaurant & Bar in Guerneville.

There are many other terrific eateries taking part and donating a still considerable 25 percent to this great cause.

Of course, whether or not you’re able to participate in this night of eating, you can always make a monetary or food donation to Food For Thought, or you can shop the organization’s 3,200-square-foot FFT antiques shop, which carries the wares of 10 different vendors. It’s at 2701 Gravenstein Hwy. S, in Sebastopol (707-823-3101), and it’s open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

With this in mind, I’d like to recommend a few stories Alison has created that help give a basic overview of the Sonoma Wine Country while also providing visitors – whether they’re first-timers or regulars – some helpful guidance on how to begin a wine-touring adventure.

A good place to start is with Sonoma California Wineries: The Basics, which outlines the different AVAs in the county. Next take a look at the guide to Russian River Valley Wineries, including an up-close look at three that Alison and I have toured together, Korbel, DeLoach, and Merry Edwards. Other articles detail some of the noteworthy wineries along the Russian River’s West Side Road, such as Porter Creek and Moshin, and there’s an article on Dry Creek Valley, with details on the legendary Mauritson Family Winery, which developed the Rockpile AVA.

For more information about Sonoma Wine Country, you can order a free visitor’s guide or sign-up for the Sonoma Insider email.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

Wine Road, the popular Wine Country resource I blogged about recently, is producing the 13th Annual “A Wine & Food Affair,” Nov. 5-6, celebrating vintners and restaurants in Sonoma County’s Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valley areas.

Wineries involved each have contributed a recipe to the event’s official cookbook, and you’ll have the chance to sample these treats as well as wines at each winery you visit.

More than 100 wineries will be participating, from some of the region’s most prominent vineyards (Clos du Bois, Francis Ford Coppola, Kendall-Jackson, Korbel, La Crema, Rodney Strong) to a number of smaller, artisan properties (Dutcher Crossing, Graton Ridge, Moshin, Raymond Burr, and many others). Here’s a full list of participating vineyards.

The event takes place the first weekend in November, on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Tickets cost $70 to attend both days, $50 for just Sunday, and $30 if you’re the non-sipping designed driver — this gets you a wristband for tasting, a tasting wine glass, and a cookbook (designated drivers receive the cookbook and will be offered alternative non-alcoholic beverages).

You must purchase tickets ahead (they’re not sold at the door), and you can order here at the WineRoad.com website. If you’re unable to attend but still wish to obtain a cookbook, any remaining books will be available online for $29.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

For many of us, myself included, a great winery visit is as much about the overall experience as it is about the wine.

Set back along a remote, windy road in the Dry Creek Valley, Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate has quickly become one of my favorite tasting stops because of its passionate staff, ethereal setting, and striking architecture.

The winery also produces fantastic wines, most of them produced in small enough numbers that they’re difficult to find outside the area. It’s making a special effort to visit this red-tile-roofed Spanish Mission-inspired winery, set on a one of the higher, westernmost slopes of the Dry Creek Valley, and specializing in fine-crafted Bordeaux varietals.

You enter the winery through a heavy door, beneath a Moorish-style archway, which leads into a central courtyard fire with shrubs and gardens and anchored by a tranquil pool. At one end of the courtyard, you’ll find the inviting tasting salon, which is staffed by some of the most knowledgeable and helpful wine experts in the region.

The tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and a sampling of four wines costs $10 per person. It’s worth coming by for one of the hour-long estate tours and tastings, given at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily (by appointment). These cost $20 per person and include an extensive look at the wine-making process, from strolling the gorgeous hilltop vineyards to exploring the cellar and vinification room. More extensive tours are available, too. (And for regular readers, you’ll know that Michel-Schlumberger is one of nine Sonoma wineries that offer free vineyard walks, part of self-guided tours called Sonoma County Vineyard Adventures.)

Michel-Schlumberger (pronounced mee-shell shlum-bair-zhay) produces Bordeaux and other French-style wines with an approach that deftly balances new- and old-world traditions – current releases include a Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Pinot Blanc.

The party will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 7 until 11 p.m., and the theme is a perfect one for fans of sexy costumes: “Calling all Super Heroes.”

That’s right, dress as your favorite super hero – or maybe invent one of your own? There will be dancing and wine sold by the glass and bottle.

Deerfied Ranch produces a wide range of wines, most of them in the $18 to $35 price range, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.

Tickets cost $25 and include light hors d’oevres, and you must be at least 21 to attend. The organizers suggest RSVP’ing as soon as possible, as space is limited. Email Gary@Outinthevineyard.com for more information, and to reserve your space.

For information on future Sonoma Gaydar events, be sure to check out the organization’s Facebook page, which is updated regularly.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

Rural as it is, Sonoma County has a handful of neighborhoods that capture the energy and urbanity you might expect of a sophisticated city.

One of my favorites is Railroad Square, in downtown Santa Rosa, a neighborhood teeming with cool coffeehouses, swanky bistros and wine bars, and several fine hotels. The most historic of these lodgings, the boutique-y Hotel La Rose, has developed a guest package, good through mid-July 2012, that takes full advantage of Railroad Square’s big-city charms.

Just request the hotel’s “Rosie Deal”, and for rates starting at $210, two guests receive overnight accommodation in one of the 47 tastefully furnished rooms, a $50 certificate toward dinner at nearby Jack and Tony’s Restaurant and Whisky Bar, and two tickets to attend a show at the acclaimed 6th Street Playhouse.

Built in 1907 with a still-stunning facade created by Italian stonemasons, the hotel overlooks Railroad Square and includes accommodations in the main building as well as in a slightly fancier carriage house across the street (rooms in this building have patios or balconies).

Jack and Tony’s is renowned for classic steak-house fare – chops, filet mignon, braised lamb shank, Maine lobster, and a terrific wine list. In the Whisky Bar, you can sample more than 240 whiskies as well as tasting flights.

The acclaimed 6th Street Playhouse presents a mix of musicals and plays among its two venues throughout its season. Over the coming year, these presentations include “Kite’s Book”, “A Christmas Story,” “The Drowsy Chaperone”, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, “Illyria: A New Musical Based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night”, and “The Producers.”

Photo courtesy of Wine Road.

I first became aware of one of the best sources of wine and travel information in Sonoma, Wine Road, several years ago when I used one of the company’s handy maps to plan a day of visiting vineyards along Westside Road.

Since then, the WineRoad.com site has become a standard “go to” for me when I’m seeking information on wineries, hotels, and other things to see and do in the parts of the county that fall within the company’s focus – the Dry Creek, Alexander, and Russian River valleys.

At WineRoad.com, you’ll find a number of handy resources – a listing of key events, some of them produced annually by Wine Road (the Wine and Food Affair in November, Winter Wineland in January, and Barrel Tasting in March); information on dozens of area wineries and lodgings; detailed maps; and a fantastic online concierge with tips on everything from local dining to wedding planning; and the Wine 101 section, which provides advice on tasting, different varietals, common wine terms, and even how to read the labels on wine bottles.

I talked recently with Tracy Logan, the highly knowledgeable Wine Road concierge and author of the site’s blog, “Wine Time With Tracy,” about Wine Road’s history and how visitors to the area’s can use it as a resource.

Here’s what Tracy had to share with me:

“Wine Road Northern Sonoma County was founded in 1976 with nine wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys and has now grown to a lively organization of 191 wineries and 56 lodgings in these three AVAs (American Viticultural Areas). Our mission statement:

“The mission of the Wine Road is to increase awareness of Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys through education and marketing while promoting Sonoma County as the year-round wine country destination.

“To this end we maintain and present a website, a free Wine Road Map, and an iPhone app (there will soon be a Droid version) – our website is designed to help guests to our area plan a perfect getaway, from winery visits to lodging to restaurants, recreation, spas, and more.

“We also offer me (tracy@wineroad.com) as a concierge. My blog helps show guests that we truly are 191 wineries and 56 lodgings clustered within a 30-mile radius – we’re Heaven condensed.

“We maintain fun, helpful, and strong presences on Facebook and Twitter, too.”

But at the end of September (the weekend of the 24th and 25th, to be exact), this historic beachfront hosts the 35th Annual Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival, an event that continues to grow in stature and attendance each year.

Musically, the event is divided into a Jazz Festival on Saturday, featuring Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Norman Brown, Richard Elliott, Jeff Golub, Kim Nalley, and Shade; and a Blues Festival on Sunday, where you can witness a performance by 85-year-old blues legend B.B. King, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy, and such luminaries as Jackie Greene, Ana Popovic, and Lightnin’ Malcolm.

Listen to B.B. King perform a guitar solo.

In addition to taking in the first-rate music, attendees can enjoy beverages from a Wine Garden, sponsored by Rodney Strong Vineyards, where funds raised from tastings are used in part to help the Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank, Food for Thought.

There’s also an international food court, an arts and crafts market, and the opportunity to rent kayaks and paddle boats on the river. The festival always makes a memorable finale to the Russian River’s joyous summer season.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

River Area Gal Society (RAGS) Heads for Rainbow Cattle Company
The Russian River has its own social group geared toward women in the community, and each month the River Area Gal Society, aka RAGS, holds an informal gathering at one of the area’s bars, restaurants, resorts, or other businesses.

The next RAGS gathering is Friday, Sept. 2, at Guerneville’s legendary gay bar, the Rainbow Cattle Company. Past events have taken place at Trio Restaurant, Russian River Pub, McT’s Bullpen, and other popular hangouts.

On Friday, Oct. 7, RAGS convenes at the historic Village Inn in Monte Rio. The Nov. 4 event is at Guerneville’s beloved bar and restaurant, George’s Hideaway.

Although many RAGS events take place at bars, the organizers make a point of welcoming women of all stripes – plenty who attend these events drink only non-alcoholic beverages. There’s no cost to attend, and newcomers are always welcome – those who attend are encouraged to donate $1 to defray the group’s costs.

You’ll find both singles and couples at RAGS events, and those visiting the area are free to stop by and these monthly get-togethers. For a good sense of what these events are like and who attends, check out the RAGS website and scroll through the photo gallery, which contains pictures from past gatherings.

* * *

Russian River White Party, ‘The Blizzard,’ Set for Labor Day Weekend

Sunday night, Sept. 4, the redwood-shaded resort community of Guerneville hosts what’s been billed “The Blizzard” Russian River White Party at Jerry Knight’s Historic River Theater, in the heart of downtown.

As the slightly cooler, but still mild, late-summer nights of the Russian River take hold, Labor Day weekend is a perfect time to weekend at one of Guerneville’s many gay-popular resorts and B&Bs.

The Blizzard party aims to add a night of high-energy to the weekend, kicking off at 9 p.m. and running till 2 a.m. DJs James Calemera, LuE, and John Parker will spin the tunes, and beer and wine will be served. There’s a cover charge of $10.

The 7,000-square-foot River Theater is one of Guerneville’s landmark buildings, a venue that’s operated as a theater and nightclub over the years, hosting everybody from Jerry Garcia to Green Day. It’s been handsomely remodeled and now hosts a variety of parties and live-music events.

Inside you’ll find a good-size dance floor, pool tables, and two different bars. The building lies just a few steps east of the intersection of Main Street (Highway 116) and Armstrong Woods Road, an easy walk from popular downtown eateries and hangouts like the Boon Eat + Drink and Rainbow Cattle Company gay bar.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

The friendly little town of Cloverdale lies at the northern edge of Sonoma County, in the fertile Alexander Valley, which is one of the most celebrated of the region’s AVAs. It’s a charming, easy-going community that’s far enough from the busier parts of the county to feel utterly relaxing. But it’s within close proximity of numerous wineries and just a 10-mile drive up the U.S. 101 freeway from Geyserville.

If this sounds like you’re kind of town, consider also that Cloverdale is home to a great B&B, Auberge on the Vineyard, a handsomely restored Queen Anne-style Victorian that sits atop a bluff overlooking acres of pristine vineyards. Genial innkeeper Roxanne Kolbe moved from Colorado to run Auberge, and she’s quickly become an expert on the region and a passionate booster of Cloverdale. She knows all the best spots for wining and dining, including some you might not easily discover on your own.

Rooms at Auberge on the Vineyard are set in the original Victorian house – with its inviting covered verandah – and in a neighboring carriage house, which has a slightly more modern yet classically elegant vibe. The carriage house also has an expansive deck that’s perfect for watching the sunset. The three rooms in the main house are done with period antiques and have large windows affording beautiful views of the countryside. There are three rooms, plus a suite with a two-person Jacuzzi, in the carriage house, which can also be rented in its entirety – a fun option for a group of friends visiting Sonoma together. All rooms have private bathrooms, and rates include a lavish three-course breakfast, which you can enjoy in the dining room of the main house, or in the serenity of the garden or gazebo.

Auberge on the Vineyard
29955 River Road
Cloverdale, CA 95425
(707) 894-5956
www.sonomabedbreakfastinnwinecountry.com

Auberge on the Vineyard view from the veranda. Photo by Andrew Collins.

Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel. Photo by Andrew Collins.

I met knowledgeable and charming concierge Ramon Meraz a couple of years ago during my stay at Santa Rosa’s Hyatt Vineyard Creek (here’s my blog based on that visit).

He provided me with great advice on the area’s restaurants and wineries, and I continue to rely on him for inside tips during my research tours of Sonoma. In addition to working for the Hyatt, Ramon is employed as concierge for Beautiful Places Luxury Villa Rentals, which I wrote about earlier this year.

I recently asked him about what guests request of him the most. He says many questions relate to wine-tasting and restaurant advice, as one might expect – he can give everything from quick suggestions to detailed multi-day itineraries.

Speaking from personal experience, if you express an interest in a particular wine varietal, a part of the county, or a style of cuisine, Ramon can immediately rattle off names of several terrific options. He can set up tours of wineries, and through his considerable connections, he can even sometimes score last-minute reservations at hot restaurants.

This is an important point to remember: A good concierge isn’t just a font of information, she or he can often get you into an establishment that you’d have little luck with yourself.

Setting up transportation and guided winery tours is another of his specialties. He can line up just the right company, based on your budget and specific interests.

For the best results, Ramon suggests contacting your concierge as soon as you arrive, or even emailing ahead of time (if you’re planning a stay at the Hyatt, you can reach Ramon at ramon.meraz@hyatt.com).

Even if you’re not sure in advance what kinds of services or guidance you may be seeking, it’s worthwhile – at the very least – to ask about any events or festivals that may be taking place when you’ll be in the aera. A concierge can suggest those you might want to attend, or help steer you away from the traffic that might be present at a festival you’re not interested in.

Ramon, who’s openly gay, notes that he does receive plenty of questions from LGBT guests wondering about the local nightlife and places to hang out.

“People are more and more willing to ask directly about the gay scene,” he said. “If they’re interested in dancing and bars, I usually send them to the Russian River.”

In Santa Rosa, he points out that many of the mainstream bars around the city have a mixed following and are – at the very least – highly welcoming toward gay and lesbian patrons.

If you’re unsure about tipping etiquette as it concerns concierge services, you’re not alone. Ramon is quick to point out that gratuities are certainly never required, and he understands that many guests are limited by their budgets.

For quick advice or simple tasks – a standard restaurant reservation or a few winery suggestions– it’s customary to leave anywhere from $1 to $5, depending on how complicated your request is. If you’ve asked your concierge to arrange a full itinerary over a couple of days, a $20 gratuity is common.

But Ramon is especially appreciative when guests leave comments on travel websites like TripAdvisor.com, recommending or expressing appreciation for his services. That’s one token of gratitude that will cost you nothing but is of tremendous value to a hardworking concierge.

On a sunny day, however, there’s no place I’d rather dine than at one of the granite-top tables on the restaurant’s breezy patio, which is fringed by floral and herb gardens. Umbrellas and a wooden trellis provide shade.

You can dine outside or in, enjoying lunch or dinner as well as brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (the restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday). There’s also a lively bar to one side of the main dining room, where you can listen to live music (there’s no cover charge) and order from a lighter menu.

From their farm to your table - a delicious way to dine.

Of course, the setting means only so much without terrific food to go with it, and here the French Garden absolutely excels. Opened in 2006 to showcase the organic produce raised on the owners’ 30-acre Sebastopol farm, the restaurant specializes in classic French- and Mediterranean-inspired  regional cuisine.

The menu changes with the seasons, but a recent lunch featured smoked salmon rillette with chive creme fraiche, and Creekstone hanger steak frites with garlic butter. Fava beans served with mint and truffle butter stood out among several daily vegetable sides. If you come for brunch, consider the exceptional poached eggs with Dungeness crab and a piquillo-pepper hollandaise sauce.

Tuna tartare topped with tobiko caviar and micro greens at The French Garden.

Dinner is every bit as popular here. Starters like tuna tartare topped with tobiko caviar and micro greens (pictured here) and a blue cheese beignet with prosciutto, arugula, honey-mustard vinaigrette, caramelized walnuts, and fresh pear make for stellar appetizers.

The Oz Farm rabbit confit with sage tagliatelle, bacon lardons, and creamy shiitakes is a first-rate main course, as is classic trout almondine with fried shallots and sauteed Swiss chard.

For dessert, you can select a plate of local and imported cheeses or try hand at a signature dessert, Chocolate Heaven, which comprises frozen dark-chocolate mousse, a galette, warm-white chocolate ganache, dried cranberries, and toasted almonds.

Details: French Garden Restaurant & Bistro, www.frenchgardenrestaurant.com, 707-824-2030, 8050 Bodega Highway, Sebastopol, CA 95472

As far as carrying wine back with you on planes, you cannot take wine (or any liquids) with you in carry-on luggage, even if they’re sealed in boxes. However, you can pack wine in your checked luggage (if you’re traveling internationally, be aware of any customs duty taxes that apply when importing alcoholic beverages). I’ve successfully packed as many as three bottles in my 27-inch suitcase on numerous occasions without any breakage, but you’re obviously taking a chance transporting wine this way. If you do pack bottles in your luggage, place each bottle in a waterproof bag, wrap the bag with clothing or bubble wrap, and make sure there’s plenty of cushioning in between each one. Then pack bottles as close to the center of your luggage as possible.

You can also buy shipping boxes (these can hold 6 or 12 bottles, and the best ones have Styrofoam inserts that mold to the shape of bottles). These are sold at shipping-supply stores and from most wineries and can be checked as luggage. Assuming you aren’t paying high checked-luggage fees, this is the most economical way to carry more than two or three bottles of wine home with you.

The most hassle-free way to transport wine home, assuming you live in a state that permits wine shipments (a handful do not), is to use a shipping service. One of the most reliable of these in Sonoma is Wine Country Shipping, which has an office in Windsor and can ship ground, air 2-day, air overnight, and international. Cost varies according to how many bottles you ship and how far, but figure on about $25 for shipping six bottles within California or to Oregon, and as much as $65 or so to ship 12 bottles to a state on the East Coast.

Wine Country Shipping provides excellent packaging at no extra charge, and insurance for up to $100 (it costs $1.50 per each additional $100 of declared value). You can drop your shipment off at the company’s office in Windsor (open weekdays 8 to 4:30), or you can arrange for them to make a pickup at your hotel or the winery where you purchased it. By using this service, you avoid having to haul huge amounts of wine halfway across the country. They also transport everything in temperature-controlled vans, and they have a state-of-the-art storage facility, where you can keep purchases from multiple wineries before having everything shipped.

Main gallery wall at the much beloved Charles Schulz Museum. Photo courtesy Charles M. Schulz Museum.

One of Santa Rosa’s most famous residents, the late Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz is the subject of one of the city’s most enduring attractions, the Schulz Museum. This 27,000-square-foot museum and research center contains more than 7,000 original Schulz strips as well as outdoor gardens, and a theater with regularly scheduled events and programming.

Through December 11, the museum is presenting “Pop’d From The Panel,” a exploration of how comics and cartoon art have influenced the modern pop-art movement. The nearly 20 artists with works in the exhibit include provocative Mexican-born Enrique Chagoya, modern “street artist” Ron English, and such iconic contemporary figures as Roy Lichtenstein, Gottfried Helnwein, Wayne Thiebaud, and Christo. There are 26 two- and three-dimensional works in the exhibition, which is in the Downstairs Changing Gallery.

A number of intriguing exhibits are slated for the next couple of years, including “The Flip Side of Schulz’s Art: More Than Peanuts,” which presents some of the artist’s most interest non-Peanuts works, from advertising illustrations to drawings for friends – this begins October 5 and runs through January 9, 2012. And starting December 17 of this year and lasting until July 8, 2012, “Leveling The Playing Field” is timed for the 40th anniversary of Title IX and shows Peanuts works that have presented girls playing sports.

One of Santa Rosa’s most famous residents, the late Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz is the subject of one of the city’s most enduring attractions, the Schulz Museum. This 27,000-square-foot museum and research center contains more than 7,000 original Schulz strips as well as outdoor gardens, and a theater with regularly scheduled events and programming.

Through December 11, the museum is presenting “Pop’d From The Panel,” a exploration of how comics and cartoon art have influenced the modern pop-art movement. The nearly 20 artists with works in the exhibit include provocative Mexican-born Enrique Chagoya, modern “street artist” Ron English, and such iconic contemporary figures as Roy Lichtenstein, Gottfried Helnwein, Wayne Thiebaud, and Christo. There are 26 two- and three-dimensional works in the exhibition, which is in the Downstairs Changing Gallery.

A number of intriguing exhibits are slated for the next couple of years, including “The Flip Side of Schulz’s Art: More Than Peanuts,” which presents some of the artist’s most interest non-Peanuts works, from advertising illustrations to drawings for friends – this begins October 5 and runs through January 9, 2012. And starting December 17 of this year and lasting until July 8, 2012, “Leveling The Playing Field” is timed for the 40th anniversary of Title IX and shows Peanuts works that have presented girls playing sports.

Hill top overlooking the pond at Windsor Oaks Winery.

It takes a little effort to find 710-acre Windsor Oaks Vineyards & Winery – the sunny property in the foothills of the Russian River Valley enjoys a beautiful, secluded setting up a long, happily winding unpaved lane. More than half of the property has been preserved as open space – much of the rest is planted with the Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir grapes that go into the winery’s highly prized, artisan wines. The property is only open to the public a few weekends each year, during special events. And the next one of these, the 2nd Annual Nature Walks & Wine weekend, is coming up soon: Friday through Sunday, August 5 through August 7.

Visitors are encouraged to come as early as 8:30 each morning to hike the property’s rugged terrain, although “relaxing by our winery pond” has been presented as a relaxing alternative to those uninterested in moving about too much. Then from 11 until 5, there’s wine-tasting (the fee is $10 per person, which is refundable with purchase) as well as picnicking on the grounds. Bring your own food, or you can order a box lunch ahead of time. It’s a perfect way to spend an August day.

Windsor Oaks is 12 miles north of Santa Rosa, just off the Arata Lane exit of the U.S. 101 freeway (here’s a map to the property).

The organizers also have occasional T Dances by the motel’s pool on Sunday afternoons, and this Sunday (July 17), there’s an especially big celebration poolside from 2 until 8 pm by the Days Inn pool. Cover charge is $5, but if you arrive before 3 it’s free. Festivities at this Bottoms Up 1 Year Anniversary shindig include DJ music by Lue and Monika, live entertainment, go-go dancers, wet T-shirt and briefs contests, and cocktails and barbecue will be available. Event organizers note that towels will not be provided, so be sure to bring your own.

The Days Inn is a 10-minute drive south of downtown Santa Rosa, and a 35- to 45-minute drive southeast of Guerneville in the Russian River.

The patio at Gold Coast Coffee is a perfect way to start your day. Photo by Andrew Collins.

I often make the beautiful drive between the Russian River and the Sonoma Coast, cruising along the lazy, redwood-shaded curves of Hwy. 116 on my way out toward Jenner, and then motoring happily along the similarly windy yet spectacular Hwy. 1 up toward Fort Ross to the north, or Bodega Bay in the other direction. These roads are made for relaxing country drives, especially in summer. A ritual for me on most road trips is stopping for coffee, ideally someplace with character and strong java, and Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery in the tiny village of Duncans Mills has become my go-to for this.

I’ve written about Duncans Mills before – it’s a cool little collection of vintage wood-frame buildings spanning Hwy. 116 and containing a number of galleries, boutiques, and cafes. Gold Coast is on the south side of the road (on your left if you’re headed out toward the ocean, near the historic train depot). It’s next to Russian River Outfitters, where you can rent kayaks for paddling along the Russian River, which meanders just behind this little complex. As is typical at small-town coffee shops, Gold Coast is a gathering spot for the community – on any given afternoon you may see local artists, gay couples from nearby Monte Rio, the local sheriff, and usually a few tourists touring the countryside. On warm days, I’ll order an iced coffee (if you’re feeling decadent, they offer a sweetened option mixed with cream and topped with whipped cream) and enjoy it from the tranquility of a weathered Adirondack chair on the red-brick back patio. Gold Coast also carries a nice mix of house-baked pastries, croissants, and pizza, all of it prepared in a wood-fired oven.

Photo by Andrew Collins.

Along Hwy. 12 in the southern part of the county, between the towns of Sonoma and Napa, the dining options are slim – this is a beautiful stretch of road, close to some excellent wineries, including Homewood Winery, Nicholson Ranch, and a gem of a newcomer, Scribe, that I’ll be blogging about later this summer. There aren’t many businesses along this stretch, but for the past two years, the old drive-in road-house formerly known as Babe’s Burgers has been enjoying new life and a glowing culinary reputation in its current incarnation as the Fremont Diner, at Hwy. 12 junction with Hwy. 121. This modest building with a corrugated-metal awning and a beat-up ’40s pickup truck parked out front is no ordinary burger stand, although chef-owner Chad Harris does turn out a perfectly grilled, juicy burger made from Marin County grass-fed beef.

What Harris is perhaps best known for, however, is barbecue – from the in-house

Photo by Andrew Collins.

smoker, Harris produces exceptional black-pepper brisket topped with tangy barbecue sauce and served with collard greens and pickled red onions. Other treats include po’boy sandwiches made with local Drake’s Bay oysters and topped with house-smoked bacon, crisp-fried artichoke fritters, and perfectly blended vanilla malts. My two friends and I shared one shake, which was presented to us in three good-sized old-fashioned parlor glasses, with a dollop of fresh-whipped cream atop each one.

The Fremont’s rustic tile floor, wooden picnic-style tables, and walls hung with vintage license plates, signs, and Americana fit perfectly with the restaurant’s faithfully rendered classics from all around the U.S.A.

The Red, White & Boom fireworks are the largest in Sonoma County.

The 4th of July is a Monday this year, and that’s helped some communities around Sonoma to stagger their Independence Day-related festivities and fireworks shows. This is great news if you’re a fan of pyrotechnics displays and all the revelry that comes with these annual celebrations.  You can see all the events happening around the 4th here.

July 2: The Coast:

On Saturday night, cruise down the breathtaking Sonoma Coast to the friendly village of Bodega Bay for Fireworks Over The Bay, at 9:30 pm. This light show and party at held at Westside Park, just beyond Spud Point Marina, and it caps off full a day of Bodega Bay Block Party activities, including the Bodega Bay Firefighters Pancake Breakfast in the morning and a Flea Market throughout the afternoon and into the early evening – these latter two gatherings are at the Bodega Bay Grange at 1370 Bodega Avenue.

July 3: The Redwoods:

In the Russian River community of Guerneville, the region’s top vacation spot among GLBT visitors, there’s a full slate of parties planned for Sunday, including a Crafts Fairs from 10 until 6 on the downtown Plaza, the Russian River Rotary BBQ from noon until 7, and an all-day Block Party downtown that culminates at sundown with a spectacular Fireworks Show.

On the chance you’d like to stick around the Russian River on Saturday, keep in mind that just a few miles west in Monte Rio, there’s also Volunteer Fireman’s Association BBQ, water carnival boat parade, and evening fireworks.

July 4: The City:

Independence Day falls on Monday, and in Sonoma County largest community, Santa Rosa, you can attend the largest of the area’s 4th of July parties, Red, White and BOOM! This epic gathering, held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, commences at 4 pm and includes live music, food and drinks, games and activities for kids, and – as a grand finale at 9:30 pm – an enormous fireworks show.

Proceeds from all of these events go toward a variety of local organizations.

Spud Point award-winning chowder and crab roll. Photo by Andrew Collins.

On one of the warmest, sunniest spring days along Sonoma’s rugged coast, my friend Pennie and I drove out along Bay Flat Road, just off Hwy. 1, around the west shoreline of sheltered Bodega Harbor. We were hungry, and I’d promised Pennie a look at the town and harbor immortalized on film in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 thriller, The Birds. As we ventured toward Spud Point Marina and admired the rows of yachts and fishing boats, we pulled in front of the tiny seafood shack that I’d told by more than one reliable source serves the best clam chowder in Northern California, Spud Point Crab Company.

This is mostly a take-out operation – you walk into the small shop and place your order from a limited menu posted on the wall. Once you’ve paid and picked up your food, you can do as we did and take a seat at one of the few picnic tables out front, which look across the street at the bay, or you can drive to some nearby spot with a view and make a picnic out of it. Just a couple of hundred feet down the road, Westside Regional Park has picnic tables overlooking the harbor, or you could head back to Hwy. 1, turn north, and devour your feast at one of the many cliff-top pullouts overlooking the ocean between Bodega Bay and Jenner.

View from the picnic tables at Spud Point Crab Co.

Back to the food: Spud Point Crab Company is run by the Anello family, who opened the retail operation in 2004 and whose descendants came from Italy to Bodega Bay more than a century ago to make their livelihood fishing. The Anellos set out at dawn during the fishing season to catch the very super-fresh crab and salmon they sell at their shop, along with several other items. Pennie and I each tried the New England-style clam chowder, which is, indeed, outstanding – loaded with chopped clams and with a smooth yet rich consistency, and nothing of the heaviness that sometimes mars chowders. They also offer a red-style tomato-broth chowder, which I aim to sample next time. We shared the other item for which the shop is most renowned, an elliptical, lightly toasted bun packed with ultra-fresh, faintly sweet Dungeness crabmeat. It’s simple a simple creation, devoid of filler, heavy seasonings, or anything else to distract from the purity of fresh seafood.

Spud Point’s menu also includes shrimp, barbecue tri-tip (which I hear good things about), meatball, and breakfast sandwiches, as well as chili dogs, crab or shrimp cocktail, and crab cakes. They also smoke their own fresh-caught salmon and sell whole-cooked crabs (they’ll clean them for free for you), picked crab meat, and bay shrimp and prawns.

Photo by Andrew Collins

I have a slightly sentimental appreciation for the rustic Highland Dell Lodge, which sits along a peaceful stretch of the Russian River as it winds down through the village of Monte Rio on its journey to the ocean. The rustic 1906 lodge, the first in Sonoma County to provide guests with hot running water, lies between the river and a grove of soaring redwoods – its brown-shingle façade and steep-gabled green roof recalls something out of the Bavarian Forest but looks just right in this woodsy, rolling section of Sonoma County. Alas, proximity to the occasionally volatile river has resulted in severe flood damage in recent decades, but current owners Herb and Ingrid Loose, themselves from Germany, completed a stunning top-to-bottom renovation in 2007.

Overnight guests can choose from among 12 rooms, which come in a range of sizes and configurations. The simplest ones, which have rates starting around $100 nightly, are cozy but smartly furnished, while more elaborate suites offer more space as well as private balconies overlooking the river. All have private baths, satellite TV, and Wi-Fi, and rates include a substantial Continental breakfast. Set just across Bohemian Highway bridge from the Russian River’s main road, Highway 116, the inn is just 5 miles south of the gay nightlife and quirky retail of Guerneville, and about 15 miles northeast of coastal Jenner and Sonoma Coast State Beach.

The Highland Dell also makes for one of the most romantic dinner venues in the area – it’s open every day but Tuesday and Wednesday. On Sundays there’s a Bavarian-inspired all-you-care-to-eat “beer garden” buffet served throughout the afternoon and into the early evening, and live music is offered on Friday nights. Otherwise, dinner is a mix of classic German and modern California fare: smoked wild salmon with honey-mustard-dill dressing and potato pancakes, Jaegerschnitzel pan-fried with a creamy mushroom sauce, a Bavarian sausage platter with braised red cabbage and apples – you won’t go away hungry. The wine list is well-priced, featuring plenty of local choices.

Here’s the format for contestants: You arrive at the event as yourself, in every-day attire, and interview with the events charming hostess, Sister Saviour Applause. Next, you and your assistant will be led backstage and be given exactly one hour to fully transform yourself into a drag queen or king (all genders are welcome to participate). After the hour is up, you’ll be invited back out to the stage, where you’ll lip-sync a catchy ditty while clad in your new persona, and then chat again with Sister Saviour Applause. Judges will then score each contestant, and the final tally will take into consideration the roaring cheers of the audience. What could be more fun? Admission is $10, and the funds will be split among charities chosen by the contestants.

Rio Nido Roadhouse is at Canyon 2 Road in Rio Nido, and as this is a grown-up establishment with a full liquor license, nobody under 21 is permitted.

The luxury villa rental agency, Beautiful Places, has signed on as one of the weekend’s official partner accommodations and is making a special deal to guests who book for that week. Stay three or more nights at one of Beautiful Places villas in Sonoma County, and each guest receives a free ticket (valued at $75) for the Saturday-night Twilight T-Dance on June 18. Alternatively, if you’re purchasing one of the all access VIP passes, good for all of the events that weekend and normally costing $295, you can buy this pass for just $245 per guest.

Beautiful Places has a number of posh, spacious villa rentals available at any given time – most of them around the Glen Ellen and elsewhere in the Sonoma Valley. These magnificent homes range from Mediterranean Revival estates to sleek, contemporary hilltop hideaways.

Depending on the unit, they sleep from 4 to 14 guests, and they rent for several hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars per night. Unquestionably, this is an upscale lodging strategy, but it’s not as expensive as you might think, especially if you’re going in on a villa with several friends. Compared with any of the area’s higher-end hotels, the nightly per-person rates are competitive and in some cases better when you factor in the extra costs often associated with hotels (parking, housekeeping, resort fees, and so on).

All of the villas in the Beautiful Places portfolio have fully equipped, gourmet kitchens and plenty of common dining and socializing areas – most have pools or hot tubs. And virtually all of them have breathtaking settings and stunning views to go along with their swanky interiors.

The staff at Beautiful Places offers a full range of concierge services, from stocking kitchens in advance with groceries to arranging private wine tastings to setting up outings throughout the area. The company also has villas in a number of other exclusive spots around the world, from Nantucket to Tuscany.

About two-thirds of Aubergine, which formerly housed an apple-processing plant, is dedicated to housing what the owner’s claim is the largest retail collection of vintage clothing in the state (it’s open daily till 6 p.m., closing an hour earlier on Sundays).

The rest is a bar and restaurant with a large stage – bands play here six nights a week, and you can drink and dine until midnight most nights, and 1 a.m. on weekends. Think fun cocktails, and casual bar food – chicken satay, salads, and pizzas (try the Swiss Alps, topped with caramelized onions, Gruyere cheese, and a balsamic drizzle).

Aubergine draws an eclectic, engaging crowd any night of the week, and recently, DJ Lori Z of Z Productions, began presenting a monthly LGBT party at the club, called Fresh. The next installment takes place the weekend of Sonoma Gay Pride on Saturday, June 4, from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Lori Z will be spinning funk, house, and club classics till 1 a.m.; the cover charge is $10.

The following month, a special “Freedom Rings” Fresh party takes place on Sunday, July 3, from 7 p.m. until midnight – it’s the same night as downtown Sebastopol’s fireworks celebration.

Take a self-guided tour at Rodney Strong Vineyards. Photo by Andrew Collins.

One of my favorite wineries either for kicking off or wrapping up an afternoon of touring and tasting is Rodney Strong Vineyards. The spacious, elegant tasting room is surrounded gardens and evergreens, and it fronts a small pond with two gurgling fountains.

Although it’s one of central Sonoma County’s larger-scale winemakers, the staff is always low-keyed and friendly, the tastings are complimentary, and there’s more to a visit here than merely sampling wine.

Guests can explore a parts of the winery on their own, reading through informative pictorial signs that provide a helpful history and understanding of the operations. And each day at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., guided tours offer a more in-depth look at Rodney Strong’s impressive facility, as well as giving a more detailed background on the winery’s 14 estate vineyards, which span from Alexander Valley to the Sonoma Coast.

Especially as a first winery to kick off your wine-touring, Rodney Strong is ideal not only because there’s so much here to learn, but also because it’s centrally located – just off of U.S. 101, between Windsor and Healdsburg. From here, you’re just a few minutes’ drive from Westside Road’s outstanding Russian River wineries, or only slightly farther from the Dry Creek and Alexander Valley regions.

In terms of varietals, the winery’s single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons are highly acclaimed – they’ll also set you back $75 per bottle. At the other end of the price spectrum, you can grab an excellent 2009 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Estate Vineyards, for just $20, and Rodney Strong’s 2009 Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc is a steal at $13.50.

You’ll also find Chardonnays, Zinfandels, Merlots, a Red Meritage Bordeaux blend, and several other Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Sauvignons of varying complexity, sold along a considerable price spectrum. Consistency is a hallmark of this winery that’s been going strong since it was established in 1959.

Details: Rodney Strong Vineyards, 11455 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 431-1533

Pride Weekend is June 4 and 5 and comprises three key events: a Pride Comedy Night at Santa Rosa’s exceptional performance venue, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts – this takes place on Saturday. And then the following morning, Sunday, June 5, the Sonoma Pride Parade and Celebration – with this year’s theme “Gay Sera, Syrah” – take place in the Russian River community of Guerneville.

This year’s parade, which kicks off at 11 a.m., is led by retired Grand Marshal Keith Kerr, one of the highest ranking openly gay military officers in the country.

From 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., the Pride Celebration takes place on the verdant lawns of Guerneville Lodge and will be hosted by co-founder of San Francisco’s deliciously notorious Trannyshack, Pippi Lovestocking. Pride organizers have announced a vast and varied entertainment lineup that includes Coyote Grace, Sistas in the Pit, ANANTA, The Deadlies, “In the Know” with Kristen Van Dyke, Joshua Klipp, Simone Campbell, and many other talents.

New this year is a Radical Faerie Freedom Village and Lilith’s Lounge, and local chefs and wineries will be inviting guests of Pride to partake of a wide assortment of locally produced treats, from wine to cheese and chocolate.

There are also a handful of events related to and leading up to the big weekend. On May 1, the exceptional Guerneville French restaurant Chef Patrick’s is the site of a delicious “Doris Day May Day Brunch from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Then on May 8, the funky Rio Nido Roadhouse is the site of a film screening, “Le Dolce Vespa”, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Additional events are slated for Pride Weekend, including a Russian Rivers Sisters’ Closet Ball, and LGBTQ Country Dance, a Pride Dance, and more. Check the official Calendar of Pride & Pride Related Events for details.