Photo by Dana Curley.

Saturday, Feb. 2 – Tommy Castro and the Pain Killers
Even after more than two decades on the road, 14 recordings and collaborations, multiple blues music awards, personal and professional breakthroughs, Tommy Castro takes nothing for granted. Still inspired by his blues guitar and R & B vocal contemporaries, Castro has brought together an all-new band he calls “The Painkillers.”

Foregoing the horns this time out, Castro returns to a more stripped-down lineup that recalls the earlier days of the band and even features original bassist Randy McDonald along with new band mates Byron Cage on drums and James Pace on keyboards.
Venue: Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5876

Saturday, Feb. 2 – Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack
They were style with substance, swing with swagger, and a non-stop party that everyone wanted to attend.

Now audiences can experience this critically acclaimed, hugely entertaining theatrical production that includes exciting new arrangements of the classic songs everyone knows and loves and spot-on impersonations of the “Rat Pack:” Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Dean Martin.
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600

Saturday, Feb. 2 – Brothers Comatose
Literally brothers, Alex and Ben Morrison, of The Brothers Comatose, grew up in a house that was known for its music parties.

“The Morrison house was a gathering place for local musicians, everyone would bring an instrument, call out tunes, call out changes, and just play for hours” said Brothers Comatose bassist and Morrison music party goer, Gio Benedetti. “I learned more in that living room than in any class I ever took.”

The brothers took this generous, inclusive and rowdy attitude and brought it to stages all over San Francisco. With the addition of members Philip Brezina and Ryan Avellone, the string quintet brings their original string music and the feel of an intimate music party to audiences all across the United States.

Venue: Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, Cloverdale - 707- 894-3222

Tuesday, Feb. 5 – The Wood Brothers
Two brothers decide to form a band, adapting the blues, folk and other roots; music sounds they loved as kids into their own evocative sound and twining their voices in the sort of high lonesome harmony blend for which sibling singers are often renowned.

While that’s not a terribly unusual story, the Wood Brothers took a twisty path to their ultimate collaboration. Indeed, they pursued separate projects for some 15 years before joining forces. Their paths diverged after those teenage explorations, but the two brothers continued pursuing the musical adventure they’d begun in childhood.

For although their paths diverged for many years, and they forged very different careers in disparate places, the Wood Brothers are never far from the musical currents that formed their musical impulses in the first place.
Venue: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, 707-765-2121

This is the final post for Inside-Sonoma.com, Sonoma County Tourism’s award-winning blog site.

On Monday, Feb. 4, we’re hitting the switch to a new and improved www.SonomaCounty.com, and all your favorite Insiders will be moving there. Inside Sonoma will go dark the same day.

Since 2008, we’ve sent out our most talented writers, photographers, and videographers to document the best in Sonoma County. We’ve made you laugh, made you cry, and, hopefully, sparked a desire in you to visit and explore Sonoma County for yourself.

Make sure you visit us at www.sonomacounty.com/sonoma-insiders after Feb. 4. You’ll find such topics as Wineries & Wine, Local Secrets, Food & Restaurants, Art, Entertainment/Events/Festivals, Outdoor Adventures & Eco Tourism, Music, Wellness, Shopping & Lifestyle, Gourmet Recipes, Chef’s Recipes, Weddings, and Meetings & Groups.

Once there, take a few minutes to subscribe to you favorite blogs. Existing subscriptions won’t transfer.

Thank you for being a fan of Sonoma County. We’ve enjoyed entertaining you with tips, hints, and local secrets about Sonoma County. We’ll see you soon on www.SonomaCounty.com.

Inside-Sonoma, laid to rest January 30, 2013. She was 4 ½. Her contents were subsumed by SonomaCounty.com

At its conception it was to be named “Extreme Grape Juice.”

Originally discussed as a one of the Skunkworks projects of an over-caffeinated and under-regulated marketing department of a brand-new tourism organization, it was never really going to see the light of day. Rather, it was bandied about as a way to reach “millenials” or to “crack the whip on the long tail” or “other marketing terms yet to be named.”

Birthed with a little bit of money and a lot of naiveté, she started off quietly enough with the first post, innocuously titled “Goat Cheese Revolution!” Fellow travelers and in-the-know foodies took notice, but outside the realm of comrades-in-wine and other SonomaSymps, few took notice.

The little blog had one mission, and one mission only: to cover things of interest to Sonoma County aficionados. And to post something roughly every day. In the early days there were one or two lonely writers, usually banging out some purple prose while heavily Pinoted late at night at their homes, or reworking old press releases discovered in the archives, the purple prose in this case being the mimeographed type that was rapidly fading from the paper.

No subject was too racy, too outlandish or too controversial for the blog, which had a way of scooping the bigger, fancier guys. The story about the caged-death match between chefs and a cuddly lamb was first unveiled on its pages, and it was the first (and possible only) to have not only a food-and-wine tattoo contest but to have an actual polling place where voters could choose the winner. The blog took sophomoric delight in achieving ever higher google rankings for ever lower topics. A simple google image search for Bruce Willis still yields to a post about the appearance of his Yippikayyaness at the Sonoma International Film Festival. And, of course, the blog mentioned that the acronym for said festival is still one of the best around, if only because it is so catchy.

Yippekayyay! We hold spot number 9 for Bruce Willis on Google.

After a while, Inside-Sonoma grew far beyond the dreams of its creators. Professional writers were hired, topics were formalized, there were talks of “editorial calendars” and “content fluidity.” While the quality went up, and the awards from the industry piled up with it, it became evident that the blog could not keep up with the breakneck pace of multiple posts daily on several different topics. It was like the last 10 minutes of a “VH-1 Behind the Music” special, but without anyone getting arrested for indecency whilst hanging out the roof of a limo.

She hopes to be remembered for what she was – a bit of humor and irreverence and love letters to and about Sonoma County. She was birthed out of a crazy idea, raised by manic parents and stumbled through her adolescence with help from her friends: Carey, Miguel, James, Duane, Keri, Andrew, Suzie, Jen, Tina, Tyffani, other James (the one with the beard), David, Serena, Lynda, Siouxsie, Jenntern, Matt, Travel Andrew and the anonymous cast of thousands.

The best of Inside-Sonoma will be moved to the new and improved SonomaCounty.com, which will take the essence of the blog, the rebelliousness, the delight in the absurd and joy of living and preaching about Sonoma County, to an ever greater audience. And the rest, the posts about King Lear, or in praise of doing nothing, or picking a fight with a blimp, or lamentations about Pluto’s fall from grace… they will live on in the hearts of the readers. And hopefully archive.org.

In lieu of flowers, please send coffee.

Santé in Sonoma has just closed, but worry not, those signature $215 wine-paired chef’s tasting dinners will return in April, served in a new setting that the restaurant’s spokeswoman promises will “better reflect the sophistication of his inspired Sonoma Valley cuisine.”

The AAA Four Diamond destination inside the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is undergoing extensive renovation, updating the historic mission-style architecture of the property that began life as a commercial hot springs on 1840, then became the Boyes Hot Springs Hotel in 1900.

Both the Santé dining room and adjacent lobby bar are getting a nip-tuck. Look for a “minimalist design” featuring more “space and light” and a bit more casual setting of exotic woods, local art and contemporary furniture, says the resort’s regional director of public relations, Michelle Heston.

A particular highlight will be the patio, which is being expanded and fancied up for views of the resort’s geo-thermal mineral pool and fire pit.

Chef Andrew Cain doesn’t plan to mess with his successful California Wine Country cooking, though. First day of new service is scheduled for April 2.

Details: Santé,100 Boyes Blvd. (at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa), Sonoma, 707-938-9000, fairmont.com. (www.fairmont.com/sonoma/GuestServices/Restaurants)

New and Improved Santé Coming This Spring

Santé in Sonoma has just closed, but worry not, those signature $215 wine-paired chef’s tasting dinners will return in April, served in a new setting that the restaurant’s spokeswoman promises will “better reflect the sophistication of his inspired Sonoma Valley cuisine.”

The AAA Four Diamond destination inside the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is undergoing extensive renovation, updating the historic mission-style architecture of the property that began life as a commercial hot springs on 1840, then became the Boyes Hot Springs Hotel in 1900.

Both the Santé dining room and adjacent lobby bar are getting a nip-tuck. Look for a “minimalist design” featuring more “space and light” and a bit more casual setting of exotic woods, local art and contemporary furniture, says the resort’s regional director of public relations, Michelle Heston.

A particular highlight will be the patio, which is being expanded and fancied up for views of the resort’s geo-thermal mineral pool and fire pit.

Chef Andrew Cain doesn’t plan to mess with his successful California Wine Country cooking, though. First day of new service is scheduled for April 2.

Details: Santé,100 Boyes Blvd. (at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa), Sonoma, 707-938-9000, fairmont.com. (www.fairmont.com/sonoma/GuestServices/Restaurants)

But I had no idea that the Sonoma Coast, which includes the Russian River Valley, is held in such comparatively low regard by informed, high-end wine consumers, until I was recently exposed to new consumer research.

There’s no reason for that, although the Sonoma Coast appellation is a much larger area than the RRV, and larger than the “true coast.” It’s shaped a bit like a Sphinx, except tilted to the Northwest, and maybe wearing a cast on its foot, reminding me of “Paw Paw” in the independent 2011 movie, The Future. Poor Paw Paw. I know it was preciously ironic and all, but I’m going to be sad now.

What was I talking about? Let’s just open this bottle of Pinot.

The La Crema 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($25) is my favorite of recent efforts. 2011 was supposed to be a difficult vintage, but you don’t hear many Pinot winemakers complaining, and the results are turning up quite well.

The 2011 leads with sandalwood and fresh-crushed, dried herbs, taking on Mexican baking chocolate spiciness after a little breather. Fruit aromas are candied, but alluring, like La Vie raspberry candies, and the tingly-sweet finish slinks off just slowly enough, you start to miss it before it’s gone. It cools in fruit character, while the spice deepens, after being open a day or so.

Recipe pairing follows; romantic fools take note, La Crema also suggests a “floral pairing” of chocolate cosmos or amaranths.

____________________________________________________________

Pan Seared Duck Breast with Wild Rice, Glazed Onions and Spiced Roasted Plums

This mouth-watering recipe owes its success to the timeless pairing of red fruit and wild winged game. The acidity in the wine serves to not only foil the richness of the duck but also enhances the spiced roasted plums.

The La Crema Pinot Noir from Monterey, with its subtle notes of earth and minerality, pairs perfectly with the anise in the Chinese five-spice and leads to a long elegant finish.

INGREDIENTS

•     3 Tbsp vegetable oil
•     1 strip bacon, finely chopped
•     1 cup wild rice
•     2 bay leaves
•     ½ onion, diced
•     6 cups chicken stock, at a simmer
•     6 firm plums, quartered
•     2 Tbsp Chinese five-spice powder
•     1 bag white pearl onions, peeled
•     2 Tbsp honey
•     2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
•     3 Tbsp butter
•     3 Tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
•     2 Tbsp fresh sage, chopped
•     4 duck breasts, cleaned and trimmed
•     Freshly ground black pepper
•     Butter to taste
•     Salt to taste

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 350° F. Place a 4-quart pot over low-medium heat and add 2 Tbsp. oil and bacon. Sauté until bacon begins to brown, approximately 3 minutes. Add the rice, bay leaves, onion and slowly pour in the simmering chicken stock. Simmer for approximately 50 minutes or until most of the rice begins to split open. Drain rice and reserve liquid.

In a small mixing bowl, add the plums, five-spice and 1 Tbsp. oil. Toss well to distribute seasoning. Pour the plums onto a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

Place onions in a 2-quart pot and cover with water. Add honey, 1 Tbsp. butter and vinegar. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove lid and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Once onions have cooled slightly, add 1 Tbsp. butter. Reserve onions and keep warm.

In a skillet over medium heat, roast duck (skin side down) until golden and skin has rendered its fat. Flip the duck breast over and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to rest. In a medium sized pan, over high heat, add 1 Tbsp. of butter (or more, if desired). Once the butter has melted, sauté the rice. Keep cooking liquid on hand to moisten the rice. Add sage and season to taste.

To serve: spoon rice onto plate and top with roasted plums. Place duck breast on the side and spoon onions on top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Greg Bjornstad, owner and winemaker of Bjornstad Cellars. Photo courtesy of Bjornstad Cellars.

Coaxing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir’s natural beauty and personal charm out into the open is Greg Bjornstad’s talent.

“Single vineyard wines are very much personality driven,” said Bjornstad, owner and winemaker of Bjornstad Cellars, an artesian winery located in Sebastopol in Sonoma County.

Wine connoisseurs interested in tasting Bjornstad Cellars’s Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, can make an appointment at his cellar, or look for him at events, such as upcoming Out in the Vineyard’s Big Gay Wine Train (where he is regularly featured) in March; Sonoma Pride, and other LGBT events.

Pensively and carefully selecting his words, he described the process as “character” the “thing that goes a little deeper is the variation that we see going from vintage to vintage” reflecting nature.

“Nature expresses itself in a wine,” Bjornstad said.

Every year is different, yet the “personality of the wine are essentially the same,” noted Bjornstad, discussing the vintages terroir, the French concept for how vineyards capture a moment in time like a snapshot through the climate, geology and geography that is reflected in the fruit.

In another sense, Bjornstad compared the process to how people age.

“It’s not unlike individuals,” Bjornstad said. “As we age a year older we go through different stuff and we kind of become like different people and yet are the same person deep down inside the whole time.

“That is the part that is interesting to me,” he continued, admiring the journey and the memories created. “When [I taste] wine, I remember back to the vintage and what kind of conditions we are going through. It really shows, it really varies from year to year and that for me is really the captivating part of the winemaking.”

The Bordeaux style leads to “more personality than pretty,” Bjornstad believes.

A Rocky Mountain man, Bjornstad, a 52-year old gay man, was more familiar with Coors than Cabernet. His mother worked for the iconic American beer company.

His world wasn’t absent of wine, growing up he was exposed to Andre Cold Duck, Lancers, and Mateus wines, but it wasn’t until he began working in restaurants that his interest in wine took hold.

“It was a whole new world for me to see the difference between Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. I became intrigued by it,” explained Bjornstad, who began taking wine selling workshops and eventually enrolled at the University of California, Davis’s viticulture and enology graduate program.

It was a natural fit for Bjornstad, who held a degree in agronomy, the study of field management and production. He completed his wine studies as the first intern to study at Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux and another internship in Montpellier, France.

“It was very exciting. What a great way to get started and it was very instrumental in my professional development,” said Bjornstad, who carries on his French training through the cultivation of his own wines and consulting for other vineyards through his consulting agency.

“I learned that people in Europe were making great wines because they were growing great grapes from great vineyards,” explained Bjornstad, who traveled around Europe visiting friends he made while studying at U.C. Davis.

Beyond his professional life, Bjornstad was also seduced into the wine lifestyle, discussing varietals of grapes from planting to harvesting and tasting wines from dawn to sunset during his time in France.

Enraptured, living in France changed his life, he noted.

“It left a strong impression on me,” said Bjornstad, who is always sampling wines made by friends when he isn’t drinking his own wines.

One of the key things he looks for when tasting wine is the personality of the wine, ultimately the vineyard to the winemaker, to find the story.

“If you are paying attention and looking at their wines you know it’s a story,” said Bjornstad, who savors the social aspects that comes naturally to wine.

“I enjoy wine these days always over food. That’s a great social thing for me to do to have people over and if they are in the wine industry they will bring a bunch of bottles of wines. We will pop corks and we will try them over dishes, so we’ve got more stories, flavors and combinations to experience … eating simply, drinking well and enjoying each other’s company.”

Bjornstad has worked with some of Napa and Sonoma counties most respected wineries. He immediately went to work for Joseph Phelps Vineyards after his return from France. He then moved onto work for Newton Vineyard, Flowers Vineyard and Winery, where he fell in love with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

After nearly a decade in the wine industry, in 1999 Bjornstad struck out on his own. He launched a vineyard consultancy agency where he guided grape growers and winemakers through the process from seed to bottle. In 2001, he had a crush facility and launched independent wine label, Tandem, with a partner. In 2005, he left that venture to fully venture out with his own wine label, Bjornstad Cellars, in conjunction with his consultancy agency. He hasn’t looked back since.

In his first year he produced 400 cases. Today, Bjornstad produces an estimated 800 cases of about seven or eight different labels a year, he says.

“My bias is toward the vineyard and toward its personality and its characteristics, so the hope is to let that vineyard’s personality shine through into the wine,” said Bjornstad, who works with vineyards located on the Sonoma coast and in the Russian River Valley.

Bjornstad also doesn’t filter or refine his wines or use too much oak during the fermentation process, he simply lets them allows them to be what they are, he says about the Bordeaux style he learned in France.

It appears that people appreciate the Bordeaux style.

“People are very kind appreciative of the style,” said Bjornstad, who works closely with sommeliers in restaurants looking to pair wines with foods.

“My wines will never over power the meal, but will be a good complement,” he noted.

His wines are also on select restaurants wine lists, wine merchant shops and wine bars around the Bay Area and wine country, he said.

Get a taste of Bjornstad Cellars at www.bjornstadcellars.com.

The Cloverdale Citrus Fair is in its 121^st year in 2013. Each year the event offers new surprises and a great time for the whole family by combining modern fun with old-fashioned charm.

This year’s Fair will be held over Presidents’ Day Weekend (Feb. 15-18) at – where else? – the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds.

The 2013 Fair theme, “Polynesian A’Fair,” promises to bring a touch of the South Seas to Sonoma County with, for example, Sunday afternoon shows that feature Polynesian dancers.

The Fair’s many events include the always-popular opening-night queen pageant on Friday (Feb. 15) at 7:30 p.m. Participants are Cloverdale Township schoolgirls, 16-19, who maintain a minimum 3.0 grade average. The Pageant awards a $1,200 scholarship to the winner; $750 to the first runner-up; $250 to the remaining contestants; and an additional $100 to Miss Congeniality.

A big parade starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 16), with horses, tractors, floats, marching bands, the Pageant Queen, a kiddie and pet contingent, and a bevy of local characters and color. You can download a parade route map here.

More than a dozen rides – in some cases extremely thrilling rides – will be on hand in 2013:

• Super Shot Drop Tower loads 12 passengers into a circular station and secures them with shoulder harnesses. Their station ascends to a 90-foot tower, where it is released in an accelerated free fall, allowing riders to experience G-Forces 3.5 times above normal.
• 1001 Nachts is a platform ride that, according to the publicity, “goes completely up and over in a circular fashion as riders leave their stomach behind.”
• Eagle 16 is a good ol’ 16-seat ferris wheel offering great views with your stomach left intact.
• The Gravitron spins at 24 RPM to “sweep you off your feet.”
• The Wacky Worm is intended for an entire family; it’s a two-level roller coaster that resembles a bright-colored worm.

Other events include two performances of “Polynesian A’Fair” by the Cabaret Players, a talent show with four age categories, a baby derby, animal competitions, 4-H exhibits, a juried art show, a photography exhibit and a great deal more.

And of course citrus comes in for major attention, particularly in the various citrus-centric competitions: citrus exhibits, citrus cooking contests (Orange Surprise and Lemon Delight desserts), citrus sculptures …

Those delightfully eccentric, three-dimensional citrus exhibits turn out to be one of the Fair’s smash hits every year. Volunteer groups – churches, schools, community groups – come up with a design, build its framework, and then cover it completely with citrus fruit wired to the frame.

Rules stipulate that an exhibit requires a minimum of 90 dozen citrus fruits, of which half must be oranges. No empty space is allowed; in non-citrus spaces the exhibit must be completely covered with something that’s edible (but mostly by citrus).

And here’s the icing on the citrus: lots of food, craft and other concessions arranged in a walkable outdoor arcade format.

See you there!

What you need to know:

• What: Cloverdale Citrus Fair
• Where: Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds, 1 Citrus Fair Drive, Cloverdale
• When: Feb. 15-18; Friday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday/Sunday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Monday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Tickets: general (13 and over)/$7, seniors (62+)/$5, juniors (6-12)/$5, kids 5 and under enter free. Season pass and other rate information available here.

Even if gifts aren’t part of the event (many modern showers are simply about a joyful gathering) it’s a magical time for everyone to celebrate a milestone in an important life.

Which often leads to the question of “where?” Restaurants, wineries, clubs and private homes are always popular. But here’s a thought: make a day of it, in an out-of-the-way locale that is a destination waiting to be explored. That can mean a shower packs in even more fun than simply sipping wine, eating, and chatting.

Valley Ford is often thought of as drive-through town, stretching just 2.6 miles in a tiny burg east of Bodega Bay and northwest of Petaluma. But it’s packed with secrets for a savvy party planner.

Notably, the former Dairymen’s Bank of 1893 has been renovated and revived into a lovely, one-of-a-kind venue for private parties.

Adding to the convenience, the Bank’s owners Brandon and Shona Guenther also own the Valley Ford Hotel and Rocker Oysterfeller’s Kitchen + Saloon next door.

For a long while, the red brick building on Highway 1 sat empty, silent with historic stories of when it operated just as its name suggested – as a bank for area dairymen, ranchers, fishermen and other pioneering spirits.

Then, in 2008, the Guenthers purchased the property, intending to use it as an additional venue for their Firefly Fine Catering. But the U.S. economy made catering events scarce, and so they operated the space as a retail fish market.

Yet in the past few months, catering and private dining inquiries have picked back up enough that the Guenthers closed the fish market and re-debuted as private event space for wedding showers, birthdays, wine dinners and such.

The space brims with charm, still featuring its original bank vaults, chandeliers, skylights and towering ceilings. Thanks to the proximity of the seven-room hotel and award-winning restaurant, it also offers extra draws.

“It is also a great option for wedding parties that take over the property as a perfect spot for a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding,” said Brandon Guenther. “We can arrange for day trips to wine country, the Sonoma Coast or spa days for accompanying spouses.”

Imagine a guest’s delight when opening that shower invitation, and discovering that the party includes some fascinating west Sonoma County discovery, too.

Details: Dairyman’s Bank/Firefly Catering, 14415 Hwy 1,
Valley Ford, 707-876-1942, fireflycatering.net.

Friday, Jan. 25 – Pride & Joy
During its 25 years of playing the Bay Area, Pride & Joy has remained one of the most popular bands on the local music scene. The act plays the timeless pop and soul music hits from the ’60s to the ’90s in a show that pulls the audience directly into the heart of their performance.

“It’s always been natural for us to reach out and draw in the audience. We make the people feel they’re part of the performance because they are,” says Pride & Joy founder and bandleader Coleman Burke. Be prepared to dance all night.

Venue: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, 707-765-2121

Friday, Jan. 25 – Kingsborough
Determined to help revive authentic, soulful rock music, Kingsborough has become one of the North Bay’s most entertaining and fastest rising acts. The band’s influences range from The Allman Brothers and Bill Withers to Rage Against the Machine and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, resulting in a beautiful hurricane of widely diverse original material.

Armed with heart-pounding rhythms, dazzling guitar solos and powerful vocal harmonies, this powerhouse five-piece is living proof that rock n’ roll is still alive and well.

Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300

Friday, Jan. 25 – Twang Ditty
If you miss the era of great traditional country music, Twang Ditty will take you back with pure vocals and sparkling guitar licks. The band has been entertaining the Bay Area at numerous venues since winning the Colgate Country Showdown in 2007.

Twang Ditty plays country music of the ’50s through the ’70s, delivering hits by legends like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, along with favorites from country queens such as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. Their broad repertoire covers musical territory from Nashville to Bakersfield.
Venue: Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5876

Friday, Jan. 25 – David Scott and Collaboration
Originally from Australia via Tahiti, David Scott now calls Sonoma County home. He grew up listening to and appreciating the compelling sounds of Louis Armstrong and other New Orleans jazz greats and has the chops show it, playing tenor sax and flute in multiple musical styles, including jazz, zydeco, rock and even big band.

For the past 20 years, Scott has been a lead instrumentalist and vocalist for Sonoma County’s zydeco dance band, Gator Beat. Expect to be wowed by Scott’s command of the saxophone.

Venue: A’Roma Roasters, Santa Rosa, 707- 576-7765

Saturday, Jan. 26 – Yo-Yo Ma with Kathryn Stott
Yo-Yo Ma has recorded more than 75 albums, received more than 15 Grammy Awards, and remains one of the best-selling classical recording artists. Celebrated both as a soloist and chamber musician for his flawless technique and rich tone, he has collaborated with artists across diverse genres, serving to reinvigorate the world of music.

Venue: The Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040

Saturday, Jan. 26 – Dead Set
Dead Set, acoustic duo John Wilson and David Fields, is unlike a Grateful Dead cover act. Well, they do play some Dead songs, but their music is more inspired by the Dead than a cover act. Playing the area since 2003, the act has many original tunes under their belts to keep you entertained. This is an afternoon show starting at 3 p.m.

Venue: Lagunitas Beer Sanctuary and Taproom, Petaluma, 707- 778-8776

Saturday, Jan. 26 – Crossfire
Crossfire is a big dance band in the classic format, and plays rhythm and blues, classic soul, Motown, classic rock, ’70s disco and more. The band can lay down a range of grooves from smooth jazz for the cocktail-dinner set to the full blown house rockin’ show band with choreography and special effect lighting. Expect to be dancing long before the show ends.

Venue: Flamingo Hotel, Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530

We’re talking massages, of course, and how absurdly joyful and relaxing the treatments are, even when we’re being pounded by Vichy jets, sort of like being in a car wash.

Doing this with our significant other or a close friend can make the experience even more lovely, as we share the fun of body exfoliation and mummy wraps, and melt in the steam room and sauna.

But massages for two are an art – they require a special setting and some extras that make them more special than simply two beds side-by-side. Here are some of our favorite destinations with extra flair:

Osmosis, Freestone
Renowned as a healing sanctuary in Sonoma County’s coastal hills, this is the only day spa in the U.S. that offers the Cedar Enzyme Bath, a rejuvenating heat treatment from Japan.

Tucked on five secluded acres in a scenic valley, the retreat brims with beautiful bonsai and bamboo gardens, centered by a Japanese tea garden, for a ceremony where tea is mixed with enzymes made from more than 25 different, organically grown plants.

Slip into the soothing cocoon of cozy wooden tubs filled with a fragrant blend of finely ground cedar, rice bran, and plant enzymes imported from Japan, then surrender to stillness. To complete the experience, many guests choose a massage, and again, the experience is out of the ordinary.

Treatments range from 75, 90 or 120 minutes for deep relaxation, and include Reiki and reflexology for holistic wellness. For the couples massage, the cost is simply an additional $5 per person in a shared room.

Details: 209 Bohemian Highway, Freestone, 707-823-8231, osmosis.com.

Fairmont Sonoma Mission, Sonoma
This famous inn centers around natural mineral hot springs, and the Willow Stream, a 40,000-square-foot spa set with fireplace, private mineral baths and a Watsu pool.

Signature treatments include the Bathing Ritual, featuring exfoliating shower, two mineral water soaking pools, herbal steam, dry sauna, and cool down showers followed by relaxation in the bathhouse lounge and the outdoor spa loggia.

For couples, one of the most sumptuous experiences is the 90-minute Organic Lavender Kur, offering a luxurious lavender bubble bath with petitgrain and seaweed extracts to soften the skin, a botanical body wrap to improve circulation, and a full-body massage infused with lavender essential oil.

And if you’re ready for some introspection, indulge in the 60-minute Relationship Reading that brings new perspective with your significant other through a private, educational awareness analysis.

Details: 100 Boyes Blvd., Boyes Hot Springs, 707-938-9000, fairmont.com/sonoma.

The Kenwood Inn and Spa
This elegant and intimate country inn is nearly hidden on the edge of a lovely hillside, yet it contains a full service spa facility featuring a variety of massage styles including aromatherapy and Ayurvedic.

Drawing from its surrounding vineyards, spa treatments showcase grapes, including oils extracted from grape seeds, and vinotherapy such as red wine extracts, Chardonnay and Riesling oils.

The Ti Amo package is designed exclusively for couples, bringing a romantic, 80-minute treatment of a candlelit, side-by-side Swedish massage in the privacy of your guest or spa terrace, finished with a bottle of sparkling wine.

Details: 10400 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-1293, kenwoodinn.com.

Boon Hotel + Spa, Guerneville
This boutique spa on the edge of Armstrong Woods State Park is known for its local organic products and Reiki –complimentary with any massage – for channeling healing energy to unblock, activate and recharge.

There isn’t technically a couples’ massage since the treatment rooms are small, but the tiny property offers such an intimate setting that feels like the two of you are in your very own private spa.

Details: 14711 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, 707-869-2721, boonhotels.com.

Today we’re taking a look at a much larger hotel with a highly-recognizable corporate name, The Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma Hotel (Petaluma).

A certified Bay Area Green Business since 2009, Sheraton Sonoma County has undertaken numerous Green initiatives. Among them:

• An efficient irrigation system utilizes low flow sprinkler heads on a time in all landscaped areas.
• Guests get to choose going Green by deciding how often their linens and towels should be laundered. This helps to reduce the use of energy, chlorine, detergent and water.
• Recycling on property includes paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, cooking oil, and batteries.
• Recycled paper accounts for 30 percent of paper used on property.
• Thermostats with motion sensors adjusts temperature to conserve energy when guests are not in the room.
• Off-peak time temperature setbacks are used on boilers to conserve energy.
• Energy efficient lighting is used throughout the hotel.
• Motion sensors on vending machines turn off cooling when foot traffic is low.

And all this environmental sensibility is wrapped in handsome, conveniently-located surroundings. Perched on the banks of the Petaluma River and overlooking the Marina, the Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma Hotel has the look and feel of a relaxed waterfront resort – yet it’s close to downtown Petaluma, with its turn-of-the-century architecture, art galleries, fine restaurants, and boutiques.

It’s also a mere hour from one of the nation’s most exciting cities: San Francisco. No wonder it was named by Travel & Leisure Magazine as one of the nation’s “Top 10 Getaways Near a Major City.”

Among many amenities, this pet-friendly hotel offers an outdoor whirlpool and heated lap pool, a fitness facility, complimentary Internet access in all guest rooms, a daily social hour, and dining in-house at award-winning Tolay Restaurant.

Not one, but two new Snow White movies released within months of each other. Not one, but three new Hobbit movies, to be released over the next few years. Not one, but three new movies about Abraham Lincoln – one in theaters now, one that is yet to be released, and one that depicts the 16^th president of the United States as a vampire hunter.

I could go on but you get the picture. Given this tendency is it any real surprise that Alfred Hitchcock is enjoying a major renaissance of sorts at the moment?

The new film Hitchcock starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, and Scarlett Johansson is lighting up theaters right about now and getting all sorts of awards season buzz, primarily for Helen Mirren who has earned nods for her portrayal of Alfred Hitchcock’s wife Alma Reville from the Golden Globes, the Screen Actor’s Guild and the London Film Critics Circle, among others.

This all comes on the heels of the release of HBO’s The Girl which stars Toby Jones as Hitchcock and Sienna Miller as his beleaguered muse, Tippi Hedren.  The latter film is of particular interest to fans of Sonoma County because it is largely about the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding Hitchcock’s classic film The Birds, the most memorable bits of which were shot in and around Bodega Bay.

Though there are some inconsistencies between the film and real life, fans of the The Birds and HBO’s The Girl will be pleasantly surprised to find that many of the landmarks from the film are still intact and easily recognizable.

The Potter Schoolhouse, for instance, is not on the bay as the film suggests, but it still stands proudly on a hill in the town of Bodega, practically begging to be photographed (though it is closed to the public these days).

And of course there is St. Theresa’s Church – also in Bodega – and Bodega Bay itself to experience along with all the quaint shops where there is no shortage of Hitchcock memorabilia. (Bodega Bay is the name of the bay and the name of a separate town from Bodega. Yes, confusing, I know.)

Given that Bodega Bay is one of the most romantic spots in Sonoma County, this renewed interest in the locale only offers yet another reason to pay a visit. Maybe combine a little sightseeing and trinket shopping with dinner at The Duck Club at sunset?  Just a thought.

Diehard Hitchcock fans might also want to pop over to Santa Rosa and visit the house at 904 McDonald Avenue, where Hitchcock shot much of his film Shadow of Doubt which preceded The Birds but inspired the director’s love affair with Sonoma County.  He apparently loved Santa Rosa so much he had to come back. Sound familiar?

Friday, Jan. 18 – The Temptations and the Four Tops
It’s Motown night at the Wells Fargo Center, where there is literally not a bad seat in the house. Thanks to their fine-tuned choreography, and even finer harmonies, The Temptations became one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records.

During the group’s five-decade career, these Grammy winners have charted numerous No. 1 hits including “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Get Ready,” “Just My Imagination,” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” among many others.

The Four Tops teamed up in high school and spent over four decades without a single personnel change to become one of Motown’s most consistent hit makers. “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” and “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)” are just some of their well-known hits.

Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600

Friday, Jan. 18 – California Honeydrops
Since their formation four years ago in the subway stations of Oakland, the California Honeydrops have completed six European tours, toured the United States  and recorded two full-length albums of original music, all without the help of a record label or major booking agency. Digging deep into the roots of American music, the act embraces the traditions of blues, gospel, second line New Orleans jazz and early R&B.

Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300

Saturday, Jan. 19 – The Poyntlyss Sistars Rockin’ Show Band
When the act formed in the mid ’80s, they started as a four-person female karaoke act in a nurses unit at a local hospital, then became a loose knit tribute to the Pointer Sisters, but having the actual act so close by, the name and act has changed over the years.

Now a powerhouse dance band that enjoys a broad fan base throughout the SF Bay Area, the show features familiar dance hits from the ’50s through current genres, including costume changes and a fully choreographed stage show.

Venue: Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5876

Saturday, Jan. 19 – Hannah Miller
Hannah Jern-Miller is the real deal, folks, and she has been bringing her sultry blend of folk, blues, and vintage rock music to her native Sonoma County for more than 10 years.

Born into a musical family, singing came naturally, and she flourished in Petaluma’s country setting. It was with her father’s old Yamaha guitar that she felt instant comfort, and was inspired to write songs.

As a teenager she began performing at local venues where she quickly gained recognition. After traveling and graduating from UC Berkeley, she continued performing and honing her skills as a musician.

She now lends her vocals, along with her guitar, harmonica, and tambourine skills, to the good-times roots music band, Old Jawbone, along with her solo act. This is an afternoon show, starting at 3 p.m.

Venue: Lagunitas Beer Sanctuary and Taproom, Petaluma, 707- 778-8776

Sunday, Jan. 20 - Bay Area Youth Orchestra
An invitational event hosted by the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra, the best of the Bay Area’s young musicians from five area Youth Orchestras, come together for a special performance including Movement IV of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1.

Venue: The Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040

Yet there I was in the heart of winter, tramping happily through the dense trees and underbrush at the top of a remote mountain in Fort Ross, a new companion to a man I’d just met at Timber Cove Inn on the Sonoma Coast an hour ago. He had told me of something called “candy cap,” and promised he could lead me to the magical stuff.

OK. I should point out that I was with a dozen other people, the man was renowned mycologist David Arora, and he was leading our merry band on a mushroom appreciation trip through the forest surrounding Fort Ross Vineyard.

The candy cap is a type of mushroom, favored by chefs because it tastes a bit like maple syrup, and we were all out prancing in the rain in search of fungi to be prepared for dinner that night by the Inn’s chef Ben St. Clair.

Quick summary of what I learned: Some 3,000 types of fungi thrive in the North Coast area through the September through May season. Yet, because only about 500 kinds are safely edible, and perhaps only 50 taste good, it’s much better to leave the hunting to the experts who can tell the difference between candy cap and the aptly named death caps.

Thank goodness, too, that chef St. Clair wasn’t really relying on us for his ingredients, because as Arora dug through our harvest later that day, sifting hundreds of mushrooms we proudly dumped out for him on a table while sipping Pinot Noir at the Fort Ross Winery tasting room, he found perhaps a dozen that we could actually eat.

Mushrooms are one of the great joys of winter at the Sonoma Coast, so beautiful in their rainbow colors. We had filled our baskets with remarkable variety, as Arora poked under mossy logs and shared with us the wisdom of that led him to write “All That the Rain Promises and More …” plus “Mushrooms Demystified,” and teach about wild mushrooms since the early 1970s.

Truffles aren’t mushrooms, he explained, since they grow underground and are “dependent on animals finding them, eating them, and passing along the spores.” Besides, we were here to look at trees first, he insisted, since mushrooms often can be identified by their hosting plant. Delicious porcini like pines, while deadly fungi favor live oaks, he explained.

After scratching through leaves, digging in the dirt and then dodging an actual wild boar that was foraging too, we came up with no porcinis.

Instead, we had lots of the prettily-named and tasteless Plum & Custards, Shrimp Russulas that actually smelled like seafood, Bleeding Milkcaps, and delicate puff balls that burst with spores when touched.

There were white chanterelles, Elfin Saddles, something called Witches’ Butter and looked like fluttery jellyfish, and, I’m not making this up, a Hideous Gomphidius.

It was obvious to him, but certainly not to me, as Arora noted the differences on several identical-looking mushrooms as “some with sponge, some with gills, some with veils, some with stripes” but they were all, well, brown.

Mushrooms are superb to stuff in ravioli, plop on pizza, stock in stews, and roast with lovely meats, whether they porcini, chanterelles, morels, clamshells, hedgehogs, or Portobellos. This I knew.

By then I learned this: All mushrooms should be cooked. Arora admitted that once, he had made some friends sick by drying but not cooking some mushrooms and serving them like potato chips.

Mushroom hunting is an exacting (if C.Y.A.) science, I decided, as again and again, Arora decreed that a mushroom I had so proudly found was “undetermined edible” and therefore better not risked.

Much better for an amateur like me to forage in the produce bins at Oliver’s, G&G or Pacific Markets.

Pick Your Foraging Partner

• The Timber Cove “Forage for Fungi” adventure may become a regular offering, given that Arora found a little treasure trove of edible mushrooms right on hotel grounds. Check timbercoveinn.com for availability.

• Intrepid gatherers can also contact David Arora for private/group hunts, at davidarora.com.

• The Sonoma County Mycological Association (SOMA, somamushrooms.org) hosts monthly mushroom field trips to collect wild mushrooms with knowledgeable fungi folk like Charmoon Richardson and David Campbell of Wild About Mushrooms (wildaboutmushrooms.net) in Forestville.

Mmmm-mushrooms

Try this sumptuous recipe from Timber Cove Inn’s chef Ben St. Clair.

Mushroom and Crab Chowder

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 3 oz finely chopped red bell pepper
• 3 oz yellow bell pepper
• 1 green onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
• 1-1/2 cups sliced wild mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• dash pepper
• dash ground nutmeg
• dash cayenne pepper
• 1-1/2 cups cooked crabmeat
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry

In a heavy skillet, heat 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the onion, green pepper, and mushrooms. Sauté until onions are softened. Add the green onion and parsley and continue cooking for 2 minutes longer. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour until smooth; gradually stir in the milk. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne.

Cook, stirring, until thickened. Add the sautéed vegetables and half-and-half or light cream, and cook, stirring, until hot and bubbly. Stir in the cooked crabmeat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the sherry just before serving.

Which means 33 destinations across the state have created special restaurant week or month-long promotions showcasing gourmet prix fixe menus, wine pairings and special culinary themes.

Sonoma County has enjoyed its very own restaurant celebration for several years now, and this year, Sonoma County Restaurant Week runs March 18 through 24 (we’ve got so many great eateries, we had to hog the month all to ourselves). That’s when more than 100 local restaurants will offer three-course prix- fixe dinners for $19, $29 or $39.

Yet there’s no reason to wait until spring to get in on the great savings. Our restaurants roll out great prix fixe specials through winter, so let’s all pick up our forks right now, and dig in. Just keep in mind, with bargains this delicious, reservations are always wise.

Bistro 29, Santa Rosa, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights

Chef-owner Brian Anderson delights his customers with his Breton-French cooking jazzed with Sonoma County seafood and produce. But for extra thrill, he puts together a three-course meal every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night, priced at $29 and enhanced with an amuse-bouche. The line-up changes weekly, but a recent bill of fare featured an amuse of feuilleté of spinach, caramelized onions and Gruyère, a soup of carrot, coriander and butternut squash dolloped in crème fraiche, a pan roasted bistro filet with thyme roasted potatoes, blue cheese and sherry reduction, and dessert of Gateau Breton with persimmon jam and cinnamon cream. Wine pairings cost about $11 for two glasses, each matched to a course.

620 Fifth Street, Santa Rosa, 707-546-2929, bistro29.com.

Bistro des Copains, Wednesday through Sunday nights

Thursday nights are locals’ nights, with free corkage on Sonoma County wines. Add in each evening’s three-course, prix fixe special, and you’ve got a beautiful deal on chef Ty Wong and Melissa Frugone’s French cooking. You need to call ahead to hear about the nightly-changing offering, but it might be poached fish quenelles in a white wine broth, pan roasted quail with farro and broccolini in dried apricot sauce or pan roasted California halibut on roasted red pepper purée with braised fennel and oven-dried olives, and roast pear over puff pastry with persimmon sauce.

3782 Bohemian Highway, 707-874-2436, bistrodescopains.com.

Three Squares Café, Santa Rosa, Tuesday through Sunday nights

Chef Josh Silvers has done it again, with this second reinvention of his original Syrah, which morphed to Petite Syrah, and is now an upscale American comfort food hangout. One of the most attractive amenities is the “Square Meal” concept, bringing a full supper available after 5 p.m. each night until the kitchen runs out. Start with soup or salad, finish with house-made ice cream, and in between, indulge in superb eats such as Tuesday’s molasses-coffee glazed duck leg with creamy grits and bacon Brussels ($21.95), Wednesday’s Yankee pot roast ($21.95), or Thursday’s fried chicken over mashed potatoes and braised greens ($22.95). Friday brings fisherman’s stew dunked with garlic bread ($25.95), while Saturday means pork chops with applesauce, mashed potatoes and green beans ($23.95). Then, ready your appetite for Sundays, and brace yourself for the crowds that converge for the luscious Prime rib, complete with loaded baked potato and creamed spinach ($27.95).

205 5th Street, Santa Rosa, 707-545-4300, thethreesquarescafe.com.

Olive and Vine Restaurant, Glen Ellen, Wednesday nights

This gem began life in catering, then evolved into fine dining, in a gorgeous, rustic-chic bistro that brims with charm and sophistication. There is live music on some nights, and always something magical emerging from the tidy expo kitchen. But the real secret is the Wednesday Neighborhood Night, when chef-owner Catherine Venturini offers two of her favorite dishes for just $22 and no corkage fee. What will supper be? It’s up to the chef, but a peek at the regular menu finds good, eclectic things such as black cod and bok choy dumplings in lemongrass kaffir lime broth with chili infused oils and fresh pea shoots, a Petaluma Liberty duck three ways: confit, pan seared breast, and grilled smoked sausage, with Forbidden black rice and dried cherry jus, and dessert of flourless walnut cake with mascarpone Chantilly cream and caramel.

14301 Arnold Drive, 707-996-9152, oliveandvinerestaurant.com.

Applewood Inn, Guerneville, Sunday nights

This Michelin-starred restaurant and country lodge is a destination as much for its views as for its food, presented in a romantic upstairs dining room with cozy fireplaces and a solarium overlooking a courtyard and babbling fountain below. But Sundays are extra special, with Russian River Night “for friends and neighbors” (really meaning that it’s actually open to everyone). Gather for fine French-California cuisine among the redwoods at incredible savings, with a three-course meal for just $30, plus glasses of preferred wines for $6-$8 and no corkage on any Russian River wines. Luxuriate in for weekly-changing menus like this past week’s salad of fennel, blood orange, wild greens and house cured bacon in sherry vinaigrette; house-made rabbit sausage with caramelized cipollini onions and Yukon Gold potato puree atop huckleberry reduction; and spice cake topped in warm caramel sauce and vanilla whipped cream. Many ingredients are drawn from the Inn’s own two-acre organic kitchen garden as well as the farms and ranches scattering the Sonoma County countryside.

13555 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-869-9093, dineatapplewood.com.

River’s End, Jenner, Monday nights

The Community Nights Staff Meal aren’t technically pre-fixe since they are single course, and they are advertised as being only for locals, but the dinners are plenty filling, and we’ve never been frisked for ID at this rustic wood-trimmed spot overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The featured dish changes weekly (i.e., a “staff meal” is what the chef prepares to feed his staff), and prices are low. Just one example is leg of duck in chipotle sauce for $9.50, offered with two specially priced wines, a red ($6) and a white ($4). Other dishes may include oysters, a burger, crab cake, fish and chips, and there are periodic prix fixe themes as well, such as Dungeness crab tasting menus.

11048 Hwy 1, Jenner, 707-865-2484, ilovesunsets.com.

RUSTIC, Francis’s Favorites, Geyserville, Tuesday nights

If you haven’t heard of a tavola, you’re missing out on a whole lot of fun. Meaning “to the table,” a tavola (pronounced a tah-vah-la) is a casual dining experience inspired by restaurant owner Francis Ford Coppola’s favorite way of enjoying a meal – impromptu plates, in family-style portions. Every Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m., the mood of the already friendly destination inside the winery relaxes even more. Instead of setting a firm menu, the chef prepares a variety of his own preferred dishes and sends them to your table. The evening morphs into a family dinner party, with all customers sharing an array of meat, poultry and fish specialties, plus pastas, pizzas, salads and desserts. You eat as much or as little as you’d like, with pricing determined per serving ($30/adult minimum), and add in as many different wines as you care, in two-ounce pours, full glasses or bottles. In what has to be the most creative extra of any Sonoma dinner, Coppola brings a touch of theater to the table, too. Servers take on the roles of various Italian family members, in full costume. Offering Oscar-worthy performances are characters like Cousin Giorgio, who’s saving up for an engagement ring to give to his sweetheart by playing barkeep for the evening; Uncle Roberto, making his way from table to table with stories as colorful as his bowties; and a very pregnant hostess, seating guests in between sips of her martini, oh my.

300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, 707-857-1485, franciscoppolawinery.com.

Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, Forestville, Monday nights December through April

While this celebrated restaurant has a regular a la carte menu, it’s true that dining here can be a pricey proposition, unless one goes with the generous prix fixe options. It’s still the same focus: the bounty of Sonoma County in a mouthwatering marriage of Italian, French and Asian, sourced from organic and sustainably farmed seasonal ingredients. But the price is a rub-your-eyes steal at $49 for three courses, plus an optional specially priced sommelier chosen wine pairing. The offerings change each week based on what’s best from local artisan purveyors, but some recent standouts on the regular menu included black rice crusted ahi with pickled Chiogga beets, green olive tapenade and roasted Meyer lemon emulsion; and the signature Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit of applewood smoked bacon wrapped loin, roasted rack and confit of leg in whole grain mustard cream sauce with Yukon potato.

7871 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-3300, farmhouseinn.com.

Vineyards Inn, Kenwood, The second Thursday night of each month, one seating at 6:30 p.m.

Chef-owner Steve Rose has combined his love of the Spanish delights served at his cozy restaurant on Hwy. 12, with chef Esteban Rose’s celebration of his Basque heritage, in this monthly Chef’s Basque Dinner series. It’s impossible to beat the value of seven courses complete with wine for $45, featuring old family recipes served on platters and in tureens for all to share at one long table. Because the limited seating dinners sell out so quickly, reservations are mandatory, beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m. (it’s not uncommon for fans to reserve their place months in advance). Menus vary – the Roses have their own organic farm, and love to share the harvest through their recipes – but some regular menu favorites include lime-garlic calamari, skewered and flame-broiled fish in Spring Hill butter, fire-broiled artichoke, lamb-beef meatballs in sofrito sauce, and the famous paella.

8445 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-4500, vineyardsinn.com.

Social Club, Petaluma

Monday nights are extra friendly at this warm and welcoming neighborhood grill, because that’s when the chef temps with homemade meatloaf or crisp ‘n’ juicy fried chicken, both paired with mashed potatoes for $12. Add in all-day happy hour, and what’s not to love? Sometimes the cozy-chic wood trimmed room rocks with live music, too.

132 Keller St. Petaluma, 707-238-0158, socialclubrestaurant.com.

Zin Restaurant, Healdsburg

Winter nights just got warmer with the return of Taste The Place, an annual Regional American Dinner Series offered through the chilly season on Wednesday nights. Choose a three-course meal at $29, or $39 with 2 wine pairings, with a different theme featured every week. A recent menu included “The Creole Flavor of New Orleans” of NOLA BBQ Gulf shrimp, Creole Jambalaya with chicken and housemade andouille sausage, and Bananas Foster topped in vanilla bean ice cream. As always, chef-owner Jeff Mall puts sparkle in his classic American cuisine with Sonoma County produce plus housemade condiments, handcrafted bacon and charcuterie, fresh cheeses, artisan breads, homemade ice creams and homemade sorbets.

344 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-473-0946, zinrestaurant.com.

Big Bottom Market

It’s a dash of high style for this kickback river town. Picture a bit of Dean & DeLuca, a splash of wine boutique, a cosmopolitan café, and plenty of art and live music. The locals particularly love the Wednesday Night Market Dinners, when chef Tricia Brown cooks up a whole bunch of lovin’ in three course suppers for $25/person (entrée only $15/person), plus wine of the evening for $6 a glass or $18 a bottle. The menu changes each week, always including a vegetarian option, but set your eyes on these pretty pairings: cauliflower soup with parsley oil, beef tenderloin or roasted Portobello steak with cannelli beans, roasted fennel and tomatoes in thyme balsamic reduction and bread pudding with tart cherry compote; or organic mixed greens with toasted cumin vin, cotija and spiced pepitas, green chili turkey meatloaf or spiced mushroom-lentil loaf with chipotle sweet potato mash and cilantro slaw, and Mexican chocolate pot de crème.

16228 Main St., Guerneville, 707-604-7295, bigbottommarket.com.

Details: sonomacountyrestaurantweek.org.

Owner Frank Stephenson may be new the area, coming from his from his other restaurant, Boar’s Breath Restaurant and Bar in Middletown, but he says he’s had his eye on the café since the summer of 2005 after driving past the red clapboard, green-trimmed cottage on his Harley-Davidson during vacation.

What first caught our eye on the lengthy lunch and dinner menu was spaghetti and homemade meatballs. Then it was Petaluma Farms Rocky chicken roasted, de-boned and served with potatoes and savory pan jus. Simple dishes, yes, but when they’re done correctly, they’re the stuff of dreams.

The everyday offerings lean toward familiar favorites, such as fried calamari with chipotle aioli, pan seared salmon in lemon beurre blanc, pesto fettuccine and grilled prawns in creamy basil sauce, and a Portobello-eggplant parmesan panino. But specials get fancier, like pizzas made on handcrafted crust from 16-year-old organic grape sourdough starter, and the kitchen lovingly slow smokes the St. Louis style pork ribs paired with baked beans, mashed potatoes or fries.

Already, Sundays nights are proving popular for the fried chicken feature, delivering half a Rocky bird rounded out with buttermilk mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, jalapeño cheddar corn bread and green beans, for $15.

But hold onto your wallet for Wednesdays, when Stephenson posts his extra-specials, like hamburgers, spaghetti marinara, turkey burgers, pulled chicken or pork sandwiches, ribs, or whatever else strikes his fancy from 5 to 9 p.m. or until the kitchen runs out. The bill? Just $5 for each entrée.

The idea for the nearly-free meals is “to thank our loyal patrons and get new butts in the seats to check us out,” says Stephenson.

And then, of course, to have us all come back.

Details: Beaudry’s Roadhouse, 4550 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, 707-829-7500, beaudrysroadhouse.com.

With its new “Women on Wine – Unfiltered” series, guests can get up close and personal with their favorite game changers, while enjoying excellent food and wine.

Next in the spotlight is Joy Sterling, CEO of Iron Horse Vineyards in Green Valley (Sonoma County), hosting a supper and informal seminar Jan. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The $60 ticket brings an intimate look at Sterling’s success, alongside samples of her 2010 un-oaked Chardonnay and 2008 Wedding Cuvee, plus bites from Big Bottom Market chef Tricia Brown.

“Women are thriving in all areas of today’s wine trade,” said Sterling. “It’s terrific when we are able to come together and share our stories.”

Beyond the winery, Sterling is the author of four books: “A Cultivated Life,” “Vintage Feasting,” “Vineyard: A Year in the Life of California Wine Country,” and “A Vintner’s Guide to Red Wine.”

In between all that, she is an adventurer, having climbed Kilimanjaro, run white water rapids on the Bio-Bio River in Chile and the upper reaches of the Yank Sing River in China, trekked in Tibet and Bhutan, and completed a road trip to Timbuktu.

The Women on Wine series takes place every other month through 2013; the next event is in March.

Details: Women on Wine with Joy Sterling of Iron Horse Vineyards, Jan. 17, 6 p.m. at Big Bottom Market, 16228 Main St., Guerneville, 707-604-7295, bigbottommarket.com. For tickets, email info@bigbottommarket.com.

Cabernet Sauvignon is, after all, French for “prom king.” And Chardonnay roughly translates as “cheerleader,” I’m fairly certain, in some Burgundian village dialect or other.

And everywhere in the world that Cab and Chard go, they’re the center of attention.

So what about Syrah? Syrah is that oddball. Nerd or goth? Depends on whom you ask. Pushed into the limelight too fast, too soon, Syrah faltered and, like the herd animals that they are (I’m still riffing on the high school thing here), retailers shunned the grape.

This is a great time to take another look at the Syrah that’s stuck around. Syrah may be unhip, but it’s alluring. Syrah smells of lavender and leather; wears a leather jacket over a flower print dress. Earthy, blowzy, yet beautiful, Syrah’s a little on the wild side.

That said, the Balletto Vineyard 2009 Russian River Valley Syrah ($28) is a fine example of how cool-climate Syrah’s fresh, plush fruit flavors can be a different animal from that saccharine, cheap Shiraz that flooded the market in the 1990s, with barely a hint of the varietal’s more feral qualities. Hued a deep magenta, full of creamy, blueberry juice flavor, with sticky, furry tannin, it’s easy to like. And it won’t bite.

_________________________________________________________

Speaking of straying from the flock, Syrah often pairs well with lamb.

Winter Shepherd’s Pie with Veggie Option

Filling:

• 1/2 lb. ground lamb
• Substitution:
• 1 package of soy “veggie ground” (like Yves or Lightlife brands)
• 2/3 cup gravy (whether homemade, or a package of vegetarian gravy, should be a dark, mushroom or beef style gravy, not chicken)
• 6 oz. peas (generally half package if frozen)
• 1 large, or 2 thin carrots
• 1 large, or 2 small parsnips
• 2 medium-large shallots
• 1/2 tsp. ground thyme, or sprig of fresh
• salt, pepper
• olive oil

Mashed potatoes:

• 2 large Russet potatoes, scrubbed but not peeled
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• salt and pepper

Heat oven to 350. Slice potatoes in thirds, boil until a knife easily cuts through; drain and mash with butter and half-and-half on very low heat, add salt, pepper and whip until smooth. Should be fairly thick, not pourable.

Boil one cup water with gravy mix and whisk, or prepare another gravy according to recipe.

Sautée veggie ground or ground lamb with thyme and coarsely chopped shallots in olive oil, on medium heat, until lightly browned. Spread on the bottom of a 9-inch baking pan, add carrots, parsnips, and peas. Salt and pepper to taste. Distribute evenly. Pour gravy evenly over the filling. Finally, cover with potatoes over top. Cover with foil and bake for about 40 minutes, then remove foil to brown mashed potatoes for ten minutes.

Allow to cool five minutes before serving with spatula—it won’t stay together like a pie, just do your best.

Sonoma Land Trust offers public and member outings as a way to connect people with the land. These hikes always take place at one of the Trust’s preserves and other protected sites, many of which are not ordinarily open to the public.

The Trust protects more than 25,000 acres of environmentally significant land in (and adjacent to) Sonoma County: Jenner Headlands, Sonoma Baylands, the Estero Americano Preserve, Little Black Mountain, and many more locations.

You’ll need to register for hikes online (see below). These hikes are free, but any donation you choose to make helps support the Trust’s protected lands. Here’s what Sonoma Land Trust has lined up for February 2013:

• Feb. 10 (Sunday), 10 a.m.-1 p.m., San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival Raptor Walk at Sears Point Ranch. On the 17th annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival, you’ll hike the hilly grasslands with long-time raptor enthusiast Larry Broderick. Hikers will search for resident and over-wintering raptors while learning how to identify the different raptor species. If the day is clear, you’ll enjoy panoramic views over San Pablo Bay to San Francisco, Mt. Diablo, and Mt. Tam. Bring your binoculars! (You’ll encounter steep inclines on this trail.)

• Feb. 17 (Sunday), 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Raptor Walk at Tolay Creek Ranch: Tolay Creek Ranch is home to a resident golden eagle, as well as several other raptor species. On this hike you’ll accompany Larry Broderick in the riparian zone and atop the hills for a glimpse at bird species the different habitat types support. The 1,665-acre Tolay Creek Ranch preserve links a habitat corridor that extends from the wetlands fringing San Pablo Bay to the foothills of Sonoma Mountain, and is soon to be incorporated into the adjacent Tolay Lake Regional Park. (You’ll encounter steep inclines on this trail.)

• Feb. 23 (Saturday), 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Explore Manzanitas!: Each February at Sonoma Valley’s historic Glen Oaks Ranch, prolific Manzanita blooms color the air. Join assistant project manager Kara Caselas for a walk on hillside trails, where you’ll delight in the sights and scents of the Manzanita flowers. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the flowers and get to explore the well-developed trails so lovingly cared for by the Glen Oaks Ranch trail crew. (Trail includes some inclines.)

Here’s what you need to know:

• The public Sonoma Land Trust outings discussed above are free, but require registration. To register, visit sonomalandtrust.org/join_in/public_outings.html.

• Learn more about or become a member of Sonoma Land Trust at sonomalandtrust.org. Members have access to many more hikes and events.

In becoming the Casa, construction took more than a year to revamp room after room in the cavernous building, to update the sizeable bar, several dining nooks, a patio and enormous special event space.

Yet for whatever reason, the Mexican enterprise never really took off. Perhaps because of its mostly residential location, or more likely because of its timid seasonings in meat, chicken- and veggie-based tamales, chile rellenos, fajitas, and all the other Sonoran staples.

Recently, the owners – they also run El Terasco taqueria in Sebastopol – updated the menu, and now, Casa del Mar seems to have found its footing as a true destination.

Through several visits after its opening three years ago, I kept getting the feeling that the Casa wasn’t complete. The décor seemed slapped together, and the servers clearly didn’t know the lengthy menu, from shrimp, fish, octopus, oysters and langoustine done up as enchiladas, cocktails, brochettes, tostadas, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, empanadas, soups and salads, to the Pancho Villa molcajete, offering grilled steak, Mexican cactus, avocado, cambray onion, tomato and jalapeño.

Now, however, the ambience is stunning, elegant with walls painted in terra cotta color and adorned with pottery, the rough stone floor set with dark wood tables, and an open ceiling painted in red chile color and lined with exposed duct work and hardwood. The bar is simply breathtaking, glittering in backlit bottles.

The only hint that things might still be a bit incomplete is the hours – the place is open for lunch and dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, only, and the event space rocks with live music on Fridays and Saturdays, when customers come to dance until 1:30 a.m.

It’s difficult to not love a place that offers such passion with its menu. Selections have been streamlined, and spices amped up, and service, if often slow, is confident with recommendations on stand-out dishes.

To start, we could go for a shrimp cocktail ($13.95), described as “A Casa del Mar take on a classic recipe – We call it ‘Shrimp Heaven!’ An extra large goblet filled to the brim with juicy shrimp in a tangy, homemade sauce, enhanced with fresh Mexican spices, fresh cilantro, crisp onions, avocado, and vine-ripened tomatoes. Layers upon layers of fresh shrimp flavor in every bite!”

Those are all the menu’s words, not mine, but it’s hard to resist, isn’t it?

Instead, we give the chef more of a test, with the aguachile ($13.95). In this regional dish, the butterflied shrimp is presented raw, but cooks ceviche-style in a vinaigrette of lime juice and spices. We scoop it with chips alongside bites of marinated onions, crispy cucumbers and orange slices.

Raw oysters are first-rate ($8.95 for 6, $15.95 for 12), and a mixed tostada offers plenty of variety, topped in chopped fish filet, shrimp and octopus sprinkled in diced tomato, jalapeño and avocado.

Caesar salad actually is a Mexican recipe, created in Tijuana. This version is just what we want for a palate cleanser, the crispy romaine hearts tossed in homemade Caesar dressing, topped with crunchy croutons and sprinkled with Parmesan ($6.95).

As an entrée, the molcajete remains one of the Casa’s best dishes, served in a volcanic rock bowl bubbling with a spicy salsa fresca stew stocked with tender beef. We bundle it into burritos of homemade corn or flour tortillas, dunk it in the exquisite juices, and round things out with sides of black beans and rice (chicken $13.95, beef $14.95, shrimp $15.95, super $16.95, any 2 meats $15.95). It’s a meal that takes a long time to eat, so our waitress keeps us supplied with excellent, not-to-sweet margaritas.

Okay, so I feel kind of ridiculous ordering a gringo chimichanga in a place where the chef clearly prefers to work with more authentic dishes like grilled filete de pescado ($12.95). But what the heck, I love a good chimi.

I’m not let down here. The flour tortilla is stuffed with tender carnitas, rice, beans, and cheese, then deep fried crispy golden and drizzled with sour cream under a flurry of shredded cheese and crisp marinated cabbage with salsa fresca and guacamole ($10.95). It’s so large, I’m fed on the leftovers for two more meals.

Dessert isn’t often a highlight of Sonoran dining, given the huge portions and big flavors of the cuisine. But Casa del Mar makes its own flan ($2.95), and it’s worth the extra calories, nicely creamy-custardy and drizzled in caramel sauce.

If it’s taken this Mexican restaurant a while to find its footing, it’s been worth the wait. There’s nothing flashy, nothing far-out, just first-rate food in a gorgeous setting.

Details: Casa del Mar, 3660 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, 707-541-6140. casadelmarsantarosa.com. Hours: Friday – Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dance club is open Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

A self-described “healing sanctuary,” Osmosis is a deeply spiritual retreat known for being the only destination in the United States where guests can indulge in a cedar enzyme bath – the spa’s signature rejuvenating heat treatment from Japan.

The one-and-a-half hour treatment begins in a private Japanese Tea Garden where guests are served an organic herbal tea made from more than 25 different organically grown plants blended to complement the enzyme bath treatment.

Next, an attendant directs guests to the private bath area where they are plopped down in massive wooden tubs filled with a fragrant blend of finely ground cedar, rice bran, and plant enzymes imported from Japan, and gently covered up to their chins in all that natural goodness for up to 20 minutes.

Time did not permit me to actually partake in one of the baths on my last visit to Osmosis, but the theory behind the treatment is that the ingredients heat naturally by fermentation, creating “biologically generated warmth that mimics the body’s natural metabolic process,” which ultimately delivers a deeply restful and relaxing experience.

Judging from the satisfied, stress-free faces of the patrons I observed meandering about the spa post their treatments, I would say the bath looks to be quite successful. However if all those relaxed faces hadn’t been enough to convince me of the bath’s benefits, my tour of the spa with its Zen-like owner, Michael Stusser, most certainly would have.

Stusser is a deep believer in the treatment, not least of all because he says it cured him of a chronic ailment. In fact, after discovering the cedar enzyme bath and its benefits in Japan more than three decades ago, Stusser had the vision to bring the treatment to American shores which he finally did in 1985 when he first opened the doors of Osmosis Day Spa on the grounds of what was formerly a junkyard.

Today, it is hard to imagine that the five painstakingly maintained acres that now house the Osmosis compound were once used for salvage but such is that case. Where junk once filled this corner of a picturesque valley, there now sits a stunning meditation garden designed and built under the direction of renowned British horticulturalist, Robert Ketchell; an Ox and Oxherder garden, a 10-stage walk through sculpture inspired by the famous Chinese Zen parable; and a field of over-sized, cushioned, dream-inducing swinging hammocks.

It is all quite surreal.  In fact, I never thought there was much to escape from in Sonoma County until I set foot inside the Osmosis Day Spa and found myself transported to an even happier, more peaceful place.

For a romantic getaway or just because, grab your partner or BFF and book in at Osmosis to unwind, cleanse, reconnect, pamper, meditate or whatever your soul requires. Transformation guaranteed.

Find out more about Osmosis Day Spa at www.osmosis.com.

Osmosis Day Spa, 209 Bohemian Highway, Freestone, Calif. 95472, Phone:  707-823-8231

Friday, Jan. 11 – Sugarfoot
Sugarfoot is an energetic seven-piece band, featuring three-part harmonies and a super tight and funky rhythm section, laying down rhythm and blues, rock and funk. You’ll be dancing and singing along to the songs in no time at all.

Venue: Flamingo Hotel, Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530

Saturday, Jan. 12 – Lovefool
Lovefool’s presentation is simple, sleek, elegant, and fun.

With over a decade of experience playing together in venues worldwide, Lovefool delivers a precise sound that offers a faithful reproduction many hits.

This five-piece act includes colorful costumes, stage production and light show. At a Lovefool performance, the audience becomes part of the show, and the band makes everyone feel that every night is New Year’s Eve. Look for a fun night of dancing to the hits of many generations.

Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300

Saturday – Sunday, Jan. 12 – 13 – St. Clair conducts the Santa Rosa Symphony
Carl St. Clair is the internationally distinguished conductor and celebrated music director of the Pacific Symphony for the last 23 years and takes the podium for an array of well-known and well-loved works, starting with Beethoven’s jubilant fanfare.

Brilliant young pianist Andrew von Oeyen steps in at the last moment to replace violinist Karen Gomyo, who cancelled due to illness. He performs Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, marking his first performance with the Santa Rosa Symphony.

Venue: The Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040

That’s right. Much of the nation’s sparkling budget is blown during the holidays, to be sure, but I like to think of the remainder of January as “sparkling wine month,” a time to explore the finer iterations of this delightful beverage in quieter moments.

No need for a special occasion. I submit, for your consideration, this idea: Why shouldn’t next Sunday afternoon be a special occasion?

That being said, this wine was created by Kathleen Inman to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary, and during a recent tasting of small-production sparkling wines like this, it was roundly praised as a “perfect wedding wine.”

The 2009 “Endless Crush” Brut Rosé Nature ($68) has a very light, pink rose hue, aromas of fresh-baked fruit muffin, distillation of cherry. The mousse is quite active, and although no dosage was added, the palate is creamy, tart and balanced, not austere, flecked with cherry, strawberry flavor. Made from Inman Family Estate’s vineyard on Olivet Lane, totaling just 138 cases.

Perhaps it is priced for a special occasion, after all, but if you’ve made it this year’s resolution, just for example, to spend more freely on delicious, small-batch Sonoma County bubbly to enjoy with a friend or lover while picking the flesh out of a pair of ragged claws for the express purpose of baking crispy little crab cakes, this is the one.

_________________________________________________________

Crab & Scallop Cakes

From Kathleen Inman: “I made these little crab and scallop cakes for the party we had at the vineyard in May, and several guests asked for the recipe, so here it is. They can be made small, to serve as passed hors d’oeuvres or slightly larger to serve 6 as an appetizer.”

1 shallot, finely minced
1 large red pepper, diced small
10 large scallops
2 cup crabmeat, (tinned lump crab will work)
1/2 c. heavy cream
2 egg whites
1 1/2 c. cracker meal
1/2 cilantro, coriander, chopped
3/4 green onions, chopped
2 dash cayenne pepper
kosher salt, to taste
freshly ground pepper, to taste
light olive oil, (for frying)

Sauté shallots until just soft, then add red peppers and cook a further minute. Set aside.

In a food processor, puree scallops, add cream and egg whites and process until blended. Fold in shallots, peppers, green onions, crabmeat and cilantro. Season with cayenne, salt and black pepper to taste.

Add ½ cup of cracker meal. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Form the mixture into patties and dredge in remaining cracker meal. Place on waxed paper and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Place a few tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and heat the oil over medium heat. Add the cakes and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned and just crispy. Serve immediately with a roasted red pepper aioli.

Serves 6

The first standard gauge railroad here – the Petaluma and Haystack Railroad – began operation in 1864. Its route was only one mile long, chugging back and forth between Petaluma’s fledgling commercial district and the ferry landing on the Petaluma River.

By the turn of the century, a network of rail lines traversed the county, taking passengers just about anywhere they wanted to go and carting crops, lumber and other goods to market. But by the 1950s, train travel and shipment began to decline. Slowly the immense network began to crumble, leaving weeded-over rail beds behind.

As in other parts of the nation, some of Sonoma County’s former rail beds have been re-purposed as popular hiking and biking trails. Two great examples: the scenic and versatile West County & Joe Rodota Trails, part of the Sonoma County Regional Parks system.

Both these trails run along land where once the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railway linked Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, and Forestville. The trails are often praised for their gorgeous pastoral views.

The two trails connect, though you’ll have to make your way through a couple of busy streets to do so. Both are paved, and together they run for a total of fourteen miles (but you can join and leave the trail whenever you like).

Mostly flat and paved, they’re excellent for families with small children. People hit these trails to walk, run, bicycle and roller-skate or -blade. In addition, an unpaved equestrian trail runs alongside much of the paved trail, so it’s not uncommon to see horseback riders out for a jaunt.

The information below provides trail routes and usage tips. Use the trail map provided by Sonoma County Regional Parks for guidance.

 Joe Rodota Trail

The 8.47-mile Joe Rodota Trail runs partly along the abandoned Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad line.

You’ll see three old train trestles and bridges, agricultural areas, a creek, and the beautiful Laguna Santa Rosa (the largest freshwater wetland complex in the county). The trail is a haven for bird watchers.

The Joe Rodota Trail runs between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, starting at the pedestrian/bicycle bridge intersection with the Prince Memorial Greenway (between West 3rd Street and Railroad Street), southwest of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel. The trail ends near the intersection of Mill Station Road and Highway 116 in Sebastopol.

You can join the trail from the following streets: Roberts Avenue, Dutton Avenue, Stony Point Road, Wright Road, Sebastopol Road, Merced Avenue, Llano Road, Petaluma Avenue, High School Road, Cleveland Avenue, Ellis Court, DuFranc Avenue, Hurlbut Avenue, and Highway 116.

West County Trail

The 5.57-mile West County Trail runs between Sebastopol and Forestville. It starts near the intersection of Mill Station Road and Highway 116 in Sebastopol, and ends in Forestville. You’ll encounter vineyards, orchards, and other farmlands.

You can join the trail from the following streets: Highway 116, Occidental Road, Grey Street, Graton Road, Green Valley Road, Ross Station Road, Ross Branch Road, and Pajaro Lane.

Additional Info about both trails:

• Both trails open from sunrise to sunset all year long.
• Dogs are allowed on a six-foot leash.
• For parking information, refer to this page.
• No restrooms or drinking water on the trail.

Answer: Quite well if you plant the right seeds.

As the New Year rolls around, many of us will begin making lists of things to do to improve our lives in the months ahead. Among other things, we will promise ourselves that we will take on new projects, eat better, drink less, exercise regularly, spend more time with our partners and loved ones and generally live healthier.

Trust me, I know the drill. I personally engage in it each and every year.

Now, despite the fact that you probably already have more than enough “to-dos” in mind for your list this year, I’d like to suggest an addition that perhaps you haven’t already thought about. Why not grow a garden?

With the farm-to-table movement growing in popularity with every passing second, it seems only natural that the movement should now find its way from restaurants across the county right into your own backyard.

And there is no better place to find inspiration than the Petaluma Seed Bank in downtown Petaluma.

Admittedly, before now, gardening has never particularly interested me. It is a pursuit that to my thinking required too much tending for my tastes. But my opinion on the subject began to change when I took a stroll through the heart of Petaluma’s retail district and stumbled into the Petaluma Seed Bank, which was anything but what I imagined a seed store to be.

First off, the “Seed Bank” store, as it is known, is situated in the historic Sonoma County Bank Building, a magnificently sprawling old 1920s structure that recalls Petaluma’s glory days as one of the wealthiest and most prosperous towns in California.

Where I had expected dirt and disarray, what I found instead was an orderly array of over 1,200 varieties of heirloom seeds, garlic, tools, books, and hundreds of local hand-made gifts and food items. I was gobsmacked.

Secondly, as I took a closer look at the seeds themselves, I became fascinated by what it was possible to grow and, with the help of a representative from the store, I came to understand how very rare some of the seeds available at the Petaluma Seed Bank really are. Who knew there were so many varieties of things to be grown?

Needless to say, by the time I left the store, my inner Martha Stewart was fully engaged as I began contemplating how I might plant a garden filled with my very own heirloom tomatoes, sugar snap peas, and fresh herbs (and then, of course, brag to everyone about how I had grown them all by myself … after all what is the use of all that tending if you can’t at least claim bragging rights?).

Even if you can’t make a trip to the Petaluma store (which, of course, I highly recommend), you can still access all the wonderful product of the Petaluma Seed Company online at  or by signing up to receive their regular catalogs.

Sadly, if I’m honest, I’ve not yet gotten around to planting that garden I’ve been dreaming of but the year is still young and it is definitely on my list. Why not put it on yours? When you think about it, a garden could potentially be quite useful in ticking things off that 2013 to-do list of yours. Eating better? Done. Eating more vegetables? Done.  Living healthier? Done and done.  Now that’s one great trifecta to kick the year off with is it not?

Petaluma Seed Bank is located at 199 Petaluma Blvd. NorthPetaluma, CA 94952
Phone : 707-773-1336

Friday, Jan. 4 – Beso Negro
Formed in 2007 in the hills of small town Petaluma, Beso Negro has a lineup of internationally experienced musicians who have brought drive and passion to gypsy swing. The love for tradition has collided with a modern sensibility and has transformed the genre into a vibrant new beast. Darker, faster, more danceable, more blues, more gypsy, Beso Negro’s indelible fingerprint brings Jazz Manouche to a new generation and to the 21st century.

Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300

Friday, Jan. 4 – The Hellhounds

The Hellhounds are known for their Chicago and delta-style blues, with frontman “Cadillac” Phil Ajoka on guitar and Dave “Shuv” Chavoya on harmonica. The band has been playing in some form or another for almost 20 years, and the groove and tightness of the act shines.

Venue: Tradewinds, Cotati, 707-795-7878

Saturday, Jan. 5 – Detroit Disciples

Founded in 1985, the Sonoma County based band represents years of dues paying. Members of the Detroit Disciples have played with the likes of Gregg Allman, Eddie Money, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Jimmy Hall, Leslie West and It’s a Beautiful Day. Together they share the same vision of a well-honed tune, recognizing that blazing lead guitars and soaring vocals amount to very little if there is no substance to the material.

Venue: Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, 707-545-2337

If you see people stomping happily around the woods in the damp, you can bet they’re out there foraging, in search of tasty ’shrooms to stuff in ravioli, plop on pizza, stock in stews, and roast with lovely meats.

The harvest urge is irresistible, with some 3,000 types of fungi thriving in the North Coast area through the September through May season. Yet, because only about 500 kinds are safely edible, it’s much better to leave the hunting to the experts, and the cooking to the chefs who can tell the difference between candy cap mushrooms (good, tasting a bit like maple syrup) and death caps (lethal).

One such expert is renowned mycologist David Arora, who is hosting a mushroom appreciation trip at Timber Cove Inn Jan. 4-6, where he will lead 20 lucky explorers on a trek around the woods near Fort Ross Vineyard.

And one such chef is Timber Cove Inn’s Ben St. Clair, who will prepare an elaborate mushroom dinner as part of the getaway, working with porcini, chanterelles, morels, clam shells, hedgehogs, and whatever else suits his fancy.

A few reservations are still available for the adventure, which includes two nights’ accommodations in a plush room at the cliff-side inn, a mushroom hunting trip, the dinner paired with Fort Ross Vineyard wines, discussions with Arora, packaging of excess fungi gathered during the hunt, and a commemorative menu of the evening.

Just a few of the dishes include a salad of warm chanterelles tossed with crispy pancetta, toasted pine nuts, Redwood Hill smoked goat cheddar; and a plate of local cheeses and pickled wild hedgehogs.

Fear not about any fungi mishaps, either. Arora knows his topic. The Northern California resident wrote “All That the Rain Promises and More …” plus “Mushrooms Demystified,” and began teaching about wild mushrooms in the early 1970s.

Details: “Forage for Fungi” at Timber Cove Inn, Jan. 4-6, 2013. Cost starts at $649 per couple. 21780 California 1, Timber Cove/Jenner, 707-847-3231, timbercoveinn.com.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu

This is one of Marisa Manna’s favorite quotes, and entirely appropriate for her work as owner of for So Eventful in Healdsburg. She adds it to her email signature, and has seen it come to life as she has planned hundreds of successful weddings through her career.

She might make this a quote of her own, however:

“Being taken care of by a wedding professional gives you peace, while trusting the details to an expert saves you time and money.”

Ok, so it’s not anywhere as romantic as Tzu’s statement, but for a couple seeking happiness, it’s advice well taken. Being deeply in love is a joy, but being stressed about a wedding ceremony and reception brings an unnecessary burden.

It’s also a pragmatic approach to putting together an event that can be much more consuming than many people realize. While some planners go for the romantic pitch – fluffy, finery and fantasy – Manna and her team focus on the facts.

“As a special event coordinator and wedding planner, my duties are to plan, organize, coordinate, promote, and facilitate special events,” she says. “Whether your needs require full-service planning, day-of coordination or something in between, you’ll receive prompt and professional service.”

The company specializes in details, from the invitations, cocktails, wine list, music, flowers and menu, but also etiquette, product and service selection, and ceremony and reception trends and traditions.

To punctuate how serious the business is, Manna has completed formal training and holds a certification as a Beverly Clark Wedding Professional. This demanding 14-part program educates wedding planners on the many diverse aspects of planning a modern wedding, and requires that they pass proficiency testing before being awarded the course certification.

“We’ll help you add those special touches that reflect you as a person or couple and make your day unforgettable for both you and your guests” Manna says. But just as important, she notes, “With customized services to fit your needs, So Eventful allows you to be a guest at your own event.”

So Eventful, 107 North Street, Suite E, Healdsburg, 707-385-9632, so-eventful.com.

Not that I’m complaining. Whatever excuse there is for a bit of candy (and sparkling) is fine with me.

So, in the idea that dessert should be honored every day, all the time, it’s time to congratulate Patisserie Angelica in Sebastopol for coming up with convenient ways to get us more cake.

With its Let Them Mail Cake website, the bakery offers a “click and pick” option for local shoppers who don’t want to wait in line, or need a cake fix on the days that the retail part of the bakery is closed. Customers can browse cake selections or request custom orders, and indicate when they would like to pick up.

Regular shop hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but online shoppers can get their cakes Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., too, by buzzing at the front door.

“It’s kind of like a cake speakeasy, but without the password,” says Condra Easley, who owns Patisserie Angelica with her sister Deborah Morris. “Our Signature Cake selection (listed on the website) shows what we always have in stock, and if you need a cake for the same day, please give us a call and we can tell you what is available.”

Out-of-town shoppers (or lucky gift recipients) aren’t left out, however.

“Our little business ships thousands of cakes each year across the country,” says Easley.

Although the cakes are all natural, and works of art with elaborate designs like the “Blue and Brown gift box” enrobed in ganache, they do well with shipping, Easley promises. The sisters spent more than a decade developing cakes for venerable mail order catalogs like Dean & Deluca and Williams-Sonoma, and became experts in the details of matching Polka Dot cakes” with the postal-Fed Ex service.

Former clients when the duo worked in Aspen included demanding types, too, with Hollywood celebrities like Kevin Costner, Cher, Lee Iacocca, Goldie Hawn, Michael Eisner, Richard Wagner and Jill St. John.

There are gluten free options, as well, such as The Cardinal Sin, a classic flourless chocolate cake made with Callebaut bittersweet chocolate, unsalted butter, pure cane sugar and fresh eggs, then glazed with a luscious butter ganache and topped in hand-rolled chocolate shavings.

Details: Patisserie Angelica, 6821 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol, 707-827-7998, patisserieangelica.com.

I’ve referenced this trend before in relation to the debut of chic new local hotspots in Guerneville like Whitetail Wine Bar, but perhaps no place represents the changing face of Sonoma’s County’s gayest hub better than Boon Eat + Drink, Chef Crista Luedtke’s modern California bistro which has been earning raves since it opened its doors.

Using fresh seasonal ingredients (some from the garden at the restaurant’s sister hotel just about a half mile away) and hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and sustainably-raised meats, Luedtke has crafted a menu where the ingredients themselves actually take center stage without any unnecessary flourishes or trills. And that shows a real deftness.

Herb-roasted chicken is served over toasted farro with grilled raddichio and a citrus vinaigrette. It is a plate that is at once deliciously simple and earthy and yet perfectly balanced in its intricate layering of flavors and textures.

Likewise, flat iron steak is classically paired with truffle fries and served on a bed of wild arugula with a sherry-shallot vinaigrette (I had a bite of my friend’s and it was heaven).

Meanwhile artisan cheeses and salumi make excellent starters, just as Chef Luedtke’s celebrated brussel sprouts make an excellent side whenever they are available. And, of course, there is a selection of Russian River wines and beers from Sonoma County to round out any meal at Boon.

Like the food, the dining room at Boon is intimate, inviting and unfussy and there always seems to be a hum about the place.

Not surprisingly, on any given night, no matter the time of year, Boon seems to be the place to dine on Main Street in Guerneville, which is saying something, particularly as the bistro’s success has been something of a boon for the town in and of itself.

Just recently chef David Blomster, formerly of Boon, debuted Hi Five, a Korean American diner just down the street from the kitchen he previously called home. And this coming March, the masterminds behind San Francisco’s Bar Crudo are opening a 35-seat seafood bar called Seaside Metal in downtown Guerneville as well.  Needless to say, things are heating up in Guerneville, but there can be little doubt where the spark began.

Find out more about Boon at www.eatatboon.com.

Boon | 16248 main street Guerneville, CA 95446 | Phone: 707.869.078

Friday, Dec. 28 – The Tubes
Yes, it’s actually the real Tubes, well, as close as you can get anyways. Best known for their outlandish stage shows, the band garnered a No. 1 hit in 1983 with “She’s a Beauty.”

The act suffered from broken record company deals and changing personnel through the late ’80s and ’90s, but has the core members intact in this line-up, with Fee Waybill handling vocals, Roger Steen on guitar and Prairie Prince on drums.

Venue: River Theater, Guerneville, 707- 869-8022

Friday, Dec. 28 – Brothers Comatose
Really brothers, Alex and Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose grew up in a house that was known for its music parties. “The Morrison house was a gathering place for local musicians, everyone would bring an instrument, call out tunes, call out changes, and just play for hours” said Brothers Comatose bassist and Morrison music party goer, Gio Benedetti. “I learned more in that living room than in any class I ever took.”

The brothers took this generous, inclusive and rowdy attitude and brought it to stages all over San Francisco. With the addition of members Philip Brezina and Ryan Avellone, the string quintet brings their original string music and the feel of an intimate music party to audiences all across the United States.

Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300

Saturday, Dec. 29 – Chuck Prophet
Chuck Prophet shapes his restless career with inimitable subtle flair: a vivid parade of razor-edged one-liners camouflaged in a slack-jawed drawl, songs about heartbreak and everyman heroism, drenched in twisted lines of rude Telecaster tone.

His search for perspective has paid off, much like at 18 when he left his native Whittier, Calif., for San Francisco, which he still calls home.

When you dig the details that have shaped Prophet’s career, his latest release, ¡Let Freedom Ring!, is merely the latest highlight in career of many.

He has written with a wide rage of artists from Dan Penn to Alejandro Escovedo, laid down tracks on sessions for everyone from Warren Zevon to Kelly Willis and taken the stage with Jim Dickinson, Lucinda Williams and Aimee Mann, to name a few.

Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300

Saturday, Dec. 29 – Midnight Sun Massive
Midnight Sun Massive is a step back to when reggae music was Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, blended with a little calypso and some blues.

The band has been together in some configuration since 1984 in and around the Bay Area. If dancing to a reggae groove hits you this weekend, these are the guys to check out.

Venue: Flamingo Hotel, Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530

Saturday, Dec. 29 – Cracker – Camper Van Beethoven
These two acts play together often, as they are actually cut from the same cloth. Formed in the mid – ’80s by David Lowery in Santa Cruz, Camper Van Beethoven and their “Take the Skinheads Bowling” release became an instant college radio staple.

When the act disbanded on tour in Sweden following their second major label release, Lowery formed Cracker with his longtime friend Johnny Hickman. Cracker’s emergent sound had less in common with Camper’s exotic excursions and was more in synch with the Kinks and Southern roots music.

Today the band stays well connected to yet another generation of fans via internet, many of whom were kids when these alt-rock godfathers were first ruling rock radio.

Venue: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, 707-765-2121

Saturday, Dec. 29 – Levi Lloyd and the 501 Blues Band
Levi Lloyd has played with B. B. King, John Lee Hooker and toured worldwide as the longtime guitarist for the legendary Joe Louis Walker, and brings more of a straight-forward blues sound to the stage, with a little rock and soul.

The Tradewinds is about as close as you’ll get to a roadhouse without crossing the line to a dive bar, with a nice room and space for dancing.

Venue: Tradewinds, Cotati, 707-795-7878

Saturday, Dec. 29 – Volker-Strifler Band
Volker Strifler is a unique and creative guitarist whose original style of blues roots, are innovative explorations into rock, jazz, and Latin rhythms.

Strifler bounces back and forth between them all, with several stops in New Orleans along the way, but he never loses the blues feeling.

He has an innate understanding of the language of music and plays with the clarity and drive of Duane Allman. His songwriting and arrangements skillfully communicate that Blues is a feeling more than a style, while his compelling, soul-saturated voice conveys the stories in his songs with a sensitivity that connects his audience with the hardships, joys and sorrows of life’s shared experiences.

Venue: Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5876

Monday, Dec. 31 – Tommy Castro and the Painkillers
Even after more than two decades on the road, 14 recordings and collaborations, multiple blues music awards, personal and professional breakthroughs, Tommy Castro takes nothing for granted.

Stlll inspired by his blues guitar and R&B vocal contemporaries Castro has brought together an all new band he calls “The Painkillers.”

Foregoing the horns this time out, Castro returns to a more stripped-down lineup that recalls the earlier days of the band and even features original bassist Randy McDonald along with new band mates Byron Cage on drums and James Pace on keyboards.

Venue: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, 707-765-2121

Monday, Dec. 31 – Alameda All-Stars
This well established rock and blues act has been playing the North Bay and beyond since 1979. And, the truth is, you never know who is going to show up in the act.

Over the years, players like Brad Gillis from Night ranger, Mark McGee from Vicious Rumors, Danny Chauncey from 38 Special and more have all been members of the band. For several years, the band was the “Friends” in Gregg Allman and Friends. The band never disappoints and the venue is a classic roadhouse.

Venue: Tradewinds, Cotati, 707-795-7878

Monday, Dec. 31 – Wonderbread 5
This band is just flat-out fun. Starting out as a Jackson 5 tribute and eventually becoming a ’70s – ’80s tribute act and for over a decade, Wonderbread 5 have been thrilling audiences. Michael, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Action Jackson round out this unstoppable, international rock and roll party machine.

Wonderbread 5 covers everything from Motown to Bean-town and back again.

Venue: Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5876

The ink is barely dry on contracts for three new food tenants – Tamarind, Juicery, and Sub Zero Ice Cream and Yogurt.

For Tamarind and Juicery, we’ll have to wait a little longer for exact information on what they’ll offer. Tamarind proprietor Andrea says she is still in the process of establishing her business details, and The Juicery could be more than just juice and smoothies – we’ll find out soon.

As for Sub Zero Ice Cream and Yogurt, it’s easy to guess what’s for sale, but wait, there’s more.  It’s a franchise concept with locations in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, and Washington, and the California venture comes courtesy of Jacki Negri, a fourth generation member of the family that has owned and operated Negri’s Original Italian restaurant in Occidental since 1938.

If Negri’s is old-school, Sub Zero is definitely new. The name refers to how the ice cream is made with liquid nitrogen, as liquid ice cream base (generally heavy cream, vanilla, and sugar) is infused with the colorless, odorless fluid that billows clouds of icy smoke.

It’s a natural process that involves no mechanical freezers. The LN₂ aerates the mixture, and at about 320 degrees below zero, freezes so quickly that virtually no ice crystals form and the cellular structure of the fat isn’t disrupted. The resulting dessert is silky and light, yet rich and velvety.

Each batch is made to order, from eight bases, 40 flavors, and 35 mix-ins. Here’s good news for lactose-intolerant ice cream lovers, too – the Sebastopol store will also offer non-dairy options like soy, rice, or almond milk.

But need we say it? Kids, don’t try this at home. Even if you can get your hands on some LN₂, you don’t want to. Yes, the human body is hot enough that the Liquid Nitrogen will smoke in your hand with little harm to you. However, if you try to contain it in a fist, you increase the pressure of the gas trying to escape, and get a very bad freezer burn, requiring medical attention.

Much better to let the folks at Sub Zero do it.

Details: The Barlow, 200 Morris St., Sebastopol, 707-824-5600 or thebarlow.net.

That’s all the more reason to think ahead a bit, lining up January activities that set the tone for 2013, isn’t it? If your resolutions include such things as more exercise, more family activities, or more time in the outdoors, we have two suggestions for you (and they’re free!):

1. Sunday, Jan. 13: Agricultural History Hike, Tolay Lake Regional Park (Petaluma)

Tolay Lake Regional Park – once known as Cardoza Ranch – is a unique place. Situated between Sonoma Valley and the Petaluma River, the 1,769-acre park consists of farm and grasslands, ridges, ponds, wetlands, a seasonal freshwater lake (generously filled with this fall’s rain), and other natural resources.

The park also has a long and rich history of human activity dating back at least 8,000 years. Long before Europeans appeared here, these lands were the site of seasonal settlement by Coast Miwok, Pomo and other tribes. The lake, considered sacred, became an historic spiritual center for Indians across California. Sacred stones, often called “charmstones,” were deposited in the lake; among those recovered, some date back thousands of years.

On Jan. 13, you’ll join a Regional Parks ranger for a hike that explores this magnificent property’s agricultural history. Along the way you’ll encounter breathtaking views of the Bay Area and learn about the land’s cultural history and biodiversity.

Date and Time: The Agricultural History Hike takes place on Sunday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Tolay Lake Regional Park. Parking is $7 per car or free with Regional Parks membership.

Getting there: Tolay Lake Regional Park is in Petaluma, just off Lakeville Highway, at the end of Cannon Lane. Download driving directions to Tolay Lake Regional Park and/or download a map of Tolay Lake Regional Park

More Info: If you have additional questions, call 707-789-9644.

2. Saturday, Jan. 19: Family Hike, Environmental Discovery Center at Spring Lake Regional Park (Santa Rosa)

Tucked within the confines of the North Bay’s largest city, 350-acre Spring Lake offers numerous activities for individuals and families alike. This beautiful park is surrounded by rising hills and is home to a lake, ponds, oak woodlands, grasslands and meadows.

It’s also the site of the Environmental Discovery Center, which offers interactive displays and activities geared to kids 6-12. It’s a place where children are free to touch sea creatures in tide pools, study an aquarium filled with fish from the lake, view taxidermied mountain lions and coyotes, learn about the earth in the storytelling cavern, and come to understand earth stewardship and earth science.

The Center’s “Science Saturdays” – the first Saturday of each month – lets the whole family join in on fun science experiments that explore the world around us. Family hikes take place with Center naturalists on the third Saturday of each month.

The first third Saturday of 2013  is Jan. 19, when a Center naturalist will lead a family hike around Spring Lake Regional Park. Participants will learn about the park’s wetlands and woods, and follow up with eco-crafts projects back at the Center.

Date and Time: The Environmental Discovery Hike takes place on Saturday, Jan. 19, at two different times: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Getting there: The Center is located at 393 Violetti Road in Santa Rosa, just inside the entrance to Spring Lake Regional Park. Admission is free with paid parking ($7 or free with a Regional Parks membership.)

More Info: Additional questions? Call 707-539-2865.

Two major Audubon Christmas Bird Counts are held here each December, one in Western Sonoma County (sponsored by the Madrone Audubon Society) and the second in Sonoma Valley (sponsored by Sonoma Birding).

The National Audubon Society has run the Christmas Bird Count – known as CBC for short – for 113 years. An early-winter bird census, it uses thousands of citizen science volunteers across the U.S., Canada and 19 other Western Hemisphere countries.

These volunteers count birds in the wild over one 24-hour period between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, arriving at a species tally for that day. Over time, the counts give insight into trends in bird populations.

This year’s Western Sonoma County CBC takes place on Sunday, Dec. 30, from approximately 7 a.m.-4 p.m. To learn more and sign up, visit this page or email vlbowers@gmail.com.

The Sonoma Valley CBC occurs on Friday, Dec. 28, from dawn to dusk. You can learn more and sign up by visiting the webpage.

But the really exciting event is Sonoma Birding’s seventh annual CBC for Kids, which takes place on Sunday, Jan. 6, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., for fledgling birders aged 8 to 16.

The first CBC 4 Kids was established in 2007 by Tom Rusert and Darren Peterie of Sonoma Birding, because children were often unable to accompany parents on the traditional bird count (An aside: Rusert is winner of the prestigious 2011 American Birding Association’s Ludlow Griscom Award).

Today, thanks to these two gentlemen, similar counts for kids are popping up around the U. S. and Canada. Read an article about the growth of CBC 4 Kids in National Audubon Magazine.

On Jan. 6, events start with a “binocular boot camp.” Once kids know how to use the binocs to check out birds, small birding teams will take off on kid-safe routes for 90 minutes with an experienced birder. Afterward, a tabulation celebration will be held and kids will make presentations.

The event takes place at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa Street, Sonoma. Each participating child must be accompanied by an adult. Bring brown bag lunches for you and your child, and dress appropriately for the weather. You can sign up online.

Friday, Dec. 21 – Solid Air
Solid Air is probably the most unassuming act in Sonoma County. The duo has played and recorded with, and even had on their own albums, the likes of Jackson Browne, Elvin Bishop, Barry Melton and more. Their 2007 release, “Solid Air,” was nominated for a Grammy. But you’d never know it. Chris Garcia of the Press Democrat had this to say about them. “Soulfully incandescent vocals; an enormously gifted band.”

Venue: A’Roma Roasters, Santa Rosa, 707- 576-7765

Friday, Dec. 21 – The Hellhounds
The Hellhounds are one of the best kept blues band secrets in all of Sonoma County.

Primarily playing in Sonoma Valley and at regional blues festivals, they’re taking the act to West County this weekend.

All the members have similar credentials, and have clearly paid their dues, but check out band-leader Dave Chavoyas resume. Playing live since 1969, he has shared billing with the Doors, Santana, Canned Heat, Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, John Lee Hooker, Roy Rogers and Janis Joplin and played on-stage with Etta James, Charlie Musselwhite, the late Norton Buffalo, Paul Butterfield, and Clarence ”Gatemouth” Brown. Impressive indeed.

Venue: Mavericks, Santa Rosa, 707- 544-1562

Saturday, Dec. 22 – Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
Yeah sure, it’s a cliché theme party, but who doesn’t have an ugly Christmas sweater they really can’t wear anywhere else? Oh yeah, and there’s three great acts on the bill as well, with John Courage, Timothy O’Neill, and Frankie Boots and the Country Line.

Described by Alex Devore of the Santa Fe Reporter, “Progressive Americana master John Courage, is kind of like Bob Dylan meets Tom Petty with the low and soulful timbre of Leonard Cohen.”

Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300

Sunday, Dec. 23 – Dr. Elmo’s Christmas Show
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “one good hit song can last you a lifetime” then one needs to look no further than Dr. Elmo.

Elmo Shropshire, also know as Dr. Elmo Who is actually a Dr.; DVM) is best-known for his recording of “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,” the Christmas classic that has sold more than 10 million copies since it was first broadcast by a San Francisco radio station in 1979.

“Grandma” has secured its place in American pop culture and made Dr. Elmo the king of comedy carols. Each December, radio stations throughout the country call Dr. Elmo for his Christmas commentary and live on-air renditions of “that Grandma song.” The good Dr. also has several more holiday themed tunes, though none with the legend of “Grandma” and is actually an accomplished bluegrass player.

Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300