No reason to stay home this weekend, unless you just want to. Spring is definitely in the air, with our clocks moved forward and buds bursting into bloom everywhere you look. Beautiful sunny days beckon us to venture outdoors.
Come uncorked
There is plenty to do around Sonoma Country this weekend. Wine Road’s popular Barrel Tasting Weekend extends to yet another weekend of exploring Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. Find a list of participating wineries at www.wineroad.com and set your course.
Cellars of Sonoma in Railroad Square
Go to the newly opened Cellars of Sonoma in Railroad Square, Santa Rosa, to taste barrel samples from small production wineries and you get to meet the winemakers. Friday – Sunday; 10 – 6. www.cellarsofsonoma.com
The Greengrocer, 434 Emily Rose Circle in Windsor offers free wine tasting every Saturday evening from 5 – 8 p.m. You can order from their Tapas menu and get wines by the glass as well. www.windsorgreengrocer.com
Tap your toes
Every night this weekend, enjoy live music at Ace in the Hole Pub, 3100 Gravenstein Highway North in Sebastopol. Friday is Open Mic Night with Snake Plissken Quintet during Happy Hour (4:30 – 6:30). Saturday hear Jigsaw – improve jam/instrumental from 7 – 10 and on Sunday it’s John Richardson Band – funky, jazz, blues from 6-9. www.acecider.com
Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
Saturday, March 14, Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa. Remember Paul Simon’s “Graceland”? This brought them to the forefront and they continue to enthrall audiences with their strong, harmonized sound and a cappella singing. The show is at 8; tickets available at wellsfargocenterarts.org.
Also on Saturday night, hang out at Equus Restaurant and Loungebar, 101 Fountaingrove Parkway and enjoy a Jazz duo with Ian Sherer and Chris Amberger on Bass (no cover charge). fountaingroveinn.com
Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day
March 14 – 17 visit B.R. Cohn Winery, 15140 Sonoma Hwy. in Glen Ellen while they celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with Green & Gold. Be sure to wear green and receive a complementary tasting of their Gold Medal Award Winning 2007 Sonoma County Chardonnay and 2006 Sonoma Valley Zinfandel. www.brcohn.com
Saturday, March 14 from 4 – 8 at Windsor Community Center is a St. Patrick’s Day All You Can Eat Corned Beef & Cabbage Feast. 901 Adele Dr., Windsor
Also Saturday, March 14 Landmark Vineyards, 101 Adobe Canyon Road in Kenwood will be serving a special Corn Beef & Cabbage Soup accompanied by traditional Irish Soda Bread prepared by the girl & the fig. Listen to spirited Irish music and enjoy a glass of wine. www.landmarkwine.com
And on Sunday, March 15; 1 – 5 at the Penngrove Clubhouse get a Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner (Corned Beef is made locally from Buds Custom Meats) for just $10 (kids 12 and under $5). 397 Oak St., Penngrove; phone 707-795-8994
