The folks behind one of the Wine Country’s most popular GLBT social groups, Sonoma Gaydar (which I’ve blogged about in the past), have teamed with Kenwood’s bucolic Deerfield Ranch Winery – noted for its atmospheric 23,000-square-foot wine-cave tasting center – to host a big Halloween fete at the end of the month. The party will take place on Saturday, Oct. {…}
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 {…}
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, {…}
On most weekends, idyllic Johnson’s Beach (16241 First Street) in Guerneville is a favorite hangout of gay locals and tourists sunning along the Russian River. 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 {…}
Two great events are happening in Sonoma County over Labor Day weekend. The Russian River area is set to be a rollicking good time. 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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
The dining room at the charming French Garden Restaurant & Bistro is unquestionably inviting, with its hardwood floors, Oriental rugs, crimson and mustard walls, and white tablecloths. 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 {…}
Given how often I blog about favorite wineries in Sonoma, I thought I’d share a few thoughts on transporting purchases back home. I often make my trips to and from Sonoma by car – I live in Portland, Oregon, and the drive takes 10 to 12 hours. If you’re driving long distances during especially cold or hot times of year, {…}
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 {…}
