With so many reasons to love where we live, there’s often reason to celebrate. Most weekends, especially in spring and summer, you can find a fun festival nearby with a cool local vibe.

We’ve talked about some of the bigger festivals on this list already – the Mill Valley Film Festival, the Marin County Fair, the Sausalito Fall Arts Festival, and Wings Over Wine Country have all been mentioned on our list.

But some of the most entertaining events are the ones that make you say, “Only in the North Bay:” where else can you find festivals celebrating the poultry industry, accordion music, art-from-scraps, healthy living and spirituality, hot air balloons, salmon fishing and mechanical and artistic wonders – all on the same local calendar?

Each April, Petalumans gather to honor their town’s agricultural heritage at the Butter & Eggs Day Parade, featuring the Cutest Little Chick Contest (kids in chicken and egg costumes), a cow chip toss (a nod to a thriving dairy industry that includes Straus Family Creamery, Clover Stornetta and delicious cheeesmakers), and a plethora of activities and entertainment from the town once known as the “World’s Egg Basket.”

If you hear the sounds of polka, Tex-Mex and zydeco off the 101, it must mean the annual Cotati Accordion Festival is in full swing. Featuring musical styles that range from traditional to regional flavors to whacky Rock-pop-San Francisco-mischief music, the festival also provides a dancing tent and a “jam” tent where festival-goers can band together to play their favorite tunes.

Also in Cotati, one person’s junk is another’s masterpiece at Garbage Reincarnation’s annual art-from-scrap competition, Oh Rapture, It’s Scrapture!

For over 30 years, the Harmony Festival, held in Santa Rosa, has been a leading-edge lifestyle festival that celebrates the latest trends in health, music, arts, ecology, and spirituality. In recent years, Harmony has expanded into a major music festival as well, with 2011 drawing popular acts, Primus, The Flaming Lips and Michael Franti & Spearhead.

Further north, in Windsor, look to the skies in June for a colorful parade of balloons during the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic.

The Handcar Regatta takes place in downtown Santa Rosa’s Old Railroad Square and represents a public celebration of kinetic art. Encouraging community participation and human ingenuity, this is an event where participants race their hand-built cars and dress in costume, making for some good old fashioned fun.

The Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival has its origin as a celebration of the start of the Salmon fishing season and the annual Blessing of the Fleet. It is now also a weekend of wine, music and tradition, with bathtub races, a decorated boat parade, and a wooden boat challenge.

With so many unique and wonderful festivals celebrating the things we love about where we live, it’s impossible to pick just one favorite. Luckily, they’re well spread throughout the year, so we don’t have to choose.

Which festivals do you look forward to each year? Let us know in the comments.

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

There’s a special place located about an hour’s drive north of San Francisco where one can walk amongst giants, canoe down a bend, taste local wines, swing from treetops, enjoy quaint Main Streets, visit local shops and galleries and take pleasure in unique festivals.

Photo by Ingrid Taylar

The Russian River, the second largest river in the Greater Bay Area, begins in Mendocino County and winds south into Sonoma County, past ancient redwoods and charming river towns, before entering into the Pacific Ocean along the Sonoma Coast. The river’s path is divided into regions, including the Russian River Valley (upper Russian River) and the Russian River Resort Area (lower Russian River) and by simply following the river’s course you can find many attractions that make Sonoma County such a wonderful home and popular tourist destination.

Photo by Deb Harkness

The Russian River Valley, the largest of Sonoma County’s thirteen wine appellation regions, is home to over 100 wineries and growers who thrive thanks to the rich and fertile soil and an environment ideal for cool climate grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The region is open and expansive with landscapes of rolling hills peppered with wineries. To truly enjoy the area and get a taste of the region, try one of the several driving tours, including a cruise down Westside Road, a gorgeous scenic route between Healdsburg and Guerneville. And if beer is more your taste, be sure to sample the local brews from the Russian River Brewing Company. Special Tip: The annually released, much-coveted IPA Pliny the Younger is available every February for a limited time.  

Photo by Dave Schumaker

For a more family-friendly adventure, the lower Russian River Resort Area offers plenty of play. One can hike through Armstrong Redwoods, canoe, kayak, or wade along the river at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville, tee off at Northwood Golf Course in Monte Rio or go on a sky-high adventure in Occidental. In addition to offering adventure, these eclectic hamlets are ideal for exploring on foot and enjoying the local vibe. A little bit country town, a little bit funky, the main streets offer lots of local color to accompany the unique dining and shopping experiences.

Throughout the year there are several festivals on and around the river celebrating wine, music, and art, including some of our favorites: the Wine Road Barrel Tasting, the Russian River Jazz & Blues festival, ARTrail Open Studios and Pinot on the River.

Whether you go for the wine, the redwoods, the festivals or the adventure, the Russian River is a wonderful place to experience the many things we love about the North Bay.

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Whether pungent and au natural for dipping or herb or citrus-infused and drizzled over freshly sliced summer tomatoes, specialty olive oils, and their production and degustation, are now almost as much a part of North Bay life as our award-winning wines.

As with our wines, our olive groves thrive on the Mediterranean climate found in the Wine Country, and spoil us with a staggering variety of exquisite products. Today, Napa and Sonoma counties support about 150 olive-oil producers who press their best olives into artisanal oils.

The Olive Press, now located in the Jacuzzi Family Winery on Hwy 121, is a must for olive fans. Co-owned by Deborah Rogers, who was named 2010 Producer of the Year, The Olive Press offers complimentary olive oil tasting, a vast array of award-winning oils, delectable gifts and even harvest tools.

Another destination is DaVero Estate, a family farm in northern Sonoma County. (DaVero’s Dry Creek Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil has been touted as ‘green-gold love juice’ by chef Mario Batali.) For a taste of their oils, as well as other treats from their farm, you can visit their tasting room in Healdsburg.

McEvoy Ranch, in that curious section of Petaluma considered Marin County, boasts 80 acres of organic olive trees, and offers tours, tastings, and workshops. You can even buy an organic tree to start your own orchard.

Finally, from December through February, you can go wild with all things olive as the Sonoma Valley celebrates the annual Olive Season. There are curing workshops, tastings, classes, olive-themed menus, events such as Martini Madness, live music, family activities, and art exhibitions. For more on top artisan olive oil producers in the Wine Country, click here.

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Mark your calendars for yet another outstanding Petaluma Event – the 3rd Annual Petaluma Music Festival, August 7 at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. Get ready for some smokin’ hot bluegrass, blues, rock and shenanigans. This annual event has morphed into a world class music festival featuring local brews, wines and specialty foods as well as a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit Petaluma Schools’ music programs.

The Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds is the site of the event and the entire family is invited. The large grassy area is perfect for picnicking and dancing around to this year’s bands. Some of this year’s line-up includes Poor Man’s Whiskey, the Bay Area’s outlaw blues, bluegrass, folk, punk rockers who have been playing the Festival scene for years. Trombone Shorty, born and raised in New Orleans, brings his own brand of music to the stage this year. He describes his style as ‘supafunkrock’ and will surely WOW the crowd. ALO, are taking a pause as the opening band for Jack Johnson on his world tour and are signed to Jack’s record label, Brushfire Records.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For more information and a complete lineup of bands and participants, go to petalumamusicfestival.org.

And as always, check out the latest and greatest goings on in Petaluma at visitpetaluma.com.

Posted by:  Martha O’Hayer

Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, Bodega Photo via flickr

Part of what we love about the North Bay is the movie culture. What other part of the country can boast the number of film festivals that are offered in Marin and Sonoma alone, from the smaller scale Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival to the Sausalito, Tiburon and Sonoma Valley festivals, to what is probably the most well-known, the Mill Valley Film Festival. These events draw luminaries, film buffs, critics and casual fans alike.

And though hundreds of miles from Hollywood, the North Bay has played its own part in dozens of movies. Films such as Peggy Sue Got Married, The Birds, Basic Instinct, American Graffiti, and Scream have used our beautiful streets and scenic landscapes as backdrops. Perhaps because we are hundreds of miles from Hollywood, the Bay Area is also the chosen home of such production companies as Lucas Film and Pixar.

It’s no wonder then that one of summer’s most popular activities in the North Bay is Movies in the Park. Instead of the house lights dimming, we experience the sun setting and, if we’re lucky, a falling star or two. There’s no 3D, no giant IMAX screen. Just friends, neighbors, and – depending on where you go – live music, children’s entertainment, wine parings and bottomless popcorn.

Summer’s in full swing. If you haven’t yet enjoyed a film under the stars, check out this list of locations, grab a blanket, and relish one of the North Bay’s great summer treats.

Annual Summer Fun Film Festival (Gundlach Bundschu in Sonoma)
August 7: Swingers
Music starts at 7 pm; Movie begins at dusk
VIP tickets include picnic dinner, reserved seating and a bottle of wine

Pictures on the Crush Pad (Moshin Vineyards in Healdsburg)
July 24: The Blues Brothers
August 14: Blue Hawaii
$20 admission includes a glass of wine and bottomless bag of popcorn; chairs provided

Petaluma Movies in the Park (Lucchesi Park)
July 23: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
July 30: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Free event; live entertainment, children’s activities and refreshments
6:30; movie starts at dusk

Summer Nights on the Green (Windsor)
July 27: Tooth Fairy
Aug 3: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Aug 10: Avatar
Movie starts 15 minutes after sunset

Film Night in the Park (Marin County & San Francisco)
July 23: The Blob (San Anselmo)
July 24: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (San Anselmo)
July 30: Fantastic Mr. Fox (San Anselmo)
July 31: Jaws (San Anselmo)
August 6: Napoleon Dynamite (San Geronimo)
August 7: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (San Francisco, Dolores Park)
August 13: The Worlds Fastest Indian (San Anselmo)
August 14: Mamma Mia (San Anselmo)
August 20: Notorious (San Anselmo)
August 21: Coraline (San Anselmo)
August 28: Rear Window (San Francisco, Union Square)

Additional movies in September: 16 Candles, Up, Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, Amelie, Wall-e, The Big Lebowski

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Photo taken by Tinou Bao

The North Bay has a lot to offer car aficionados – both young and old – whether you’re into cheering from the stands, taking hairpin turns on your own, or just admiring new and vintage vehicles.

In Sonoma County, the Infineon Raceway is home to an amazing motor-sports industrial park of more than 65 businesses, including car preparation and restoration and vintage car storage, not to mention the nearly 340 days of high-speed racing a year. And for those who want to take part in the action themselves at Infineon, there’s the Jim Russell Kart Racing and Driving School. Kart racing is open to kids 8 and up while the school is open to drivers 14 and older (Highway Survival courses are offered for teens and adults).

Driven Raceway, also in Sonoma County, in Rohnert Park, is great for indoor Kart Racing. This is an ideal place to take the family, whether it’s a rainy day, or hot, hot, hot outside. With both kids and adult Karts available, everyone can have fun. If you really get into it, you can even race in their leagues. And if the kids get bored of Dad’s need for speed, there is an arcade, a mini-bowling alley, and even black-light mini golf.

Several towns in the North Bay also host classic car parades or car shows, including the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance, the Tiburon Classic car show and Corvettes at the Castle in Kenwood.

Are you a car or racing fan? What’s your favorite event?

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Once again, Petaluma closes its downtown streets to welcome the 9th Annual Art and Garden Festival. There’s always so much to do on a given weekend in Wine Country, but this Festival has something that will keep you in town if you live here, and drive you here if you live elsewhere. On Sunday, July 11, from 11AM to 4PM you can be part of the fun for free too.

As the name implies, it’s about art and garden but also about music, kids’ activities and beer and wine. Over 100 vendors will set up for your enjoyment. Stroll our charming downtown streets, grab a local microbrew and tour the garden displays from local landscape designers. You can’t go wrong with the music line-up. You can sit and watch, dance around or just enjoy the music as part of the background of this lively event. By now you will be hungry, so grab a bite from one of the local restaurants featuring signature dishes meant to compliment that local brew or wine you’re sampling. Talk to the vendors, they love this event and I’m pretty sure you will too. The full lineup is on the Petaluma Downtown Website.

Proceeds from the event are used for downtown beautification. I’m all for that! So please, come on down to Petaluma’s 9th Annual Art and Garden Festival on Sunday and help us keep Petaluma Downtown BEAUTIFUL!

For a full calendar of Petaluma events, go to: www.visitpetaluma.com

Posted by:  Martha O’Hayer

The Sonoma-Marin Fair begins today, so you had better get some rest because you’ll need it if you intend to take it all in. It’s not the biggest Fair in Sonoma County, but it packs a lot of punch.

Beginning on June 23 and continuing till June 27, the Sonoma-Marin Fair will fill the Petaluma Fairgrounds with all the sights and sounds of old timey fairs, but will also present a few events you may not have heard of on any fair circuit.

For instance, today is Kids’ Day and everyone gets in for $10 before 5 PM. And, in addition to the usual Poultry Showmanship and Dairy Challenges, you may have a ringer in your house for the Text Messaging Challenge or the Guitar Hero Challenge. The Teen Edge includes a fashion show, band competitions and more. The Fair is agricultural in nature, but there seems to be something for all ages here. A full schedule of events can be found here and you can view all of the kid specific activities here.

Thursday is Seniors’ Day, Friday is Ag (Agriculture) Day, Saturday is Farmers’ Day and Sunday is Family Day. There’s music each night including local favorites Tower of Power and their incredible horn section. Stop by beforehand and sample this year’s winners of the North of the Bay Wine Competition.

Tons to do and not enough time to include it all in this post, so check back soon for further details. And if your kids have super fast thumbs or a real competitive edge in Guitar Hero, get yourself down to the Fairgrounds and let them shine! We all know it’s kids’ day everyday, but they might just get rewarded with bragging rights for an everyday activity!

Posted by:  Martha O’Hayer

Sonoma County is of course known for wine country events and June 5 is no exception for Downtown Santa Rosa. The South A Arts Alliance, wine makers, restaurants and local artists are hosting this spring event – 3rd Annual Vine Art on Saturday, June 5 from 6-9 PM in Santa Rosa’s Arts District.

This water color I painted features the grapes in the Vine Hill School area of Sebastopol during my wine making days. Always fascinating to the get the email, that even though it was raining cats and dogs, it was time to head over to pick the grapes and eat pizza. 

How irresistible is that?

Posted by:  Judy Freedman

Recently I was lucky enough to spend some time at the Plaza in the Town of Sonoma. What a gorgeous and fun place to hang out. I took Highway 12 from North Santa Rosa to Sonoma, which makes for a great drive on a spring day and takes you past tons of wineries including Kunde Estates and Ledson Winery, which is housed in a gorgeous Normandy-style castle. (Here is a list of Sonoma Wineries with a number of them along Highway 12. There are also great places to lunch along the way and even beautiful places to stay such as the Kenwood Inn & Spa.)

Once you arrive in the City of Sonoma (mostly called the Town of Sonoma), you can head over to the Plaza off of Broadway. The Sonoma Plaza is the largest in the state and home to the Sonoma Cheese Factory, the Sonoma Barracks used by General Vallejo in the 1850s and now a Historic Landmark, the Toscano Hotel, and the Sonoma City Hall.

The Town of Sonoma has a rich history in California: it was the Capital of the California Republic, which existed for a whole 26 days in 1846. It is considered the birthplace of the California Wine Country and as a side note, is also the birthplace of the well-known housewares company Williams Sonoma.

With historical buildings, amazing shops and restaurants, scenic drives, and lots to do, it’s hard to beat a refreshing and relaxing trip to the Town of Sonoma.

Many great events take place in the Plaza, including:

A year-round Farmer’s Market held Fridays from 8:30 am – noon
Free docent-led tours at The Toscano Hotel are offered Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from 1-4pm
Fireworks on the Fourth of July
The Sonoma Jazz Festival
For more events, click here.

Not in the mood for one of these events? Then grab a lunch and have a picnic in the park.

The Sonoma Plaza has been Yelp’d and you can check out the reviews here.

What is your favorite stretch of the California Wine Country?

Posted by:  Jennifer Masterson

The Petaluma Farmers’ Market opens this Saturday, May 22. It may be hard to tell from looking out your window, but farmers’ market season is upon us bringing forth fresh produce, artisan baked goods, beautiful plants and flowers and specialty arts and crafts. There are two markets in Petaluma (the Wednesday Evening market will open June 2) offering access to some of Sonoma County’s bounty. In addition to the delicious food and produce, the Saturday market features live music, face painting, a balloon artist, jump house, and pony rides.

Farmers’ Markets have long since been a staple in Sonoma County and the New York Times has a recent post on their Bay Area blog describing farmers’ markets in the Bay Area by the numbers. Some interesting stats from that post include:

• 12: Number of certified farmers’ markets in California in 1979; 540 Number of certified farmers’ markets in California today
• 56: Cents on the retail dollar that farmers receive when selling at a farmers’ market; 30 Cents on the dollar when selling wholesale
• 5: Calories in a strawberry; 435 Fuel calories required to ship a strawberry from California to New York

So grab your reusable bag and come down this weekend…now is the time to purchase locally-grown produce and support our area farmers.

The Petaluma Saturday Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 2:00pm – 5:00pm
May 22 – October 30
Walnut Park on the Corner of Pet. Blvd South & D St.

The Petaluma Evening Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays 4:30pm – 8:00pm
June 2 – September 1
Theatre District (2nd Street between B & D Streets)

Petaluma is just one of several farmers’ markets in Sonoma County. View this chart for more or visit: cafarmersmarkets.com

Posted By: Edward Reiners

The Amgen Tour of California, America’s largest cycling event, takes off from Nevada City on May 16 for an eight-day event through California, visiting both Santa Rosa and San Francisco, before ending in Thousand Oaks on May 23. With natural beauty rivaling that of the tour of our friends in France, what better place to have a cycling event?

The Tour first started in February 2006, and has since grown in popularity. Last year I accidently caught a bit of the Tour as it came through Santa Rosa. Even in the mist and rain, both diehard and casual fans alike were spirited and supportive. It was awesome! Amongst the reasons for the strong support, Santa Rosa resident and three-time Tour of California winner, Levi Leipheimer. That and, of course, all the local Sonoma County cycling enthusiasts.

This year Santa Rosa is the Stage 2 Finish on the Davis to Santa Rosa route, on May 17. This stage of the Tour will cover 109.5 miles starting at 11 AM with an estimated arrival time in Santa Rosa during the 3 o’clock hour. As a finish city, Santa Rosa will also host a free Lifestyle Festival with family-friendly activities, demonstrations and cycling displays. Festivities start at 11 AM in Courthouse Square with Happy Hour and further celebrations continuing through the evening on Fourth Street.

This is the fifth consecutive year Santa Rosa has been a part of the Tour of California and the routes change each year; last weekend about 550 participants got a sneak peak at the 2010 route as part of a fundraiser led by 11-time Tour de France rider George Hincapie.

Check out these links for more information about the 2010 Tour of California:

Official Tour of California website
City of Santa Rosa Tour website
Stage 2 – Davis to Santa Rosa
Tour of California on Twitter

Posted by:Jennifer Masterson

It’s the hap-, happi- est time of the year! I know you’re thinking that I’m nuts, we just got over that crazy holiday season.

Let me clarify: for me, the upcoming weekend is the best of the year in Petaluma. Each year for the past 29 years, on the fourth Saturday in April, Petalumans old and young join in for the Annual Butter and Egg Day Parade. Petaluma’s premiere event draws tens of thousands who love a parade and all of the hoopla that goes with it. Our heritage is celebrated with cows and chicks and a plethora of activities. The Cutest Chick Contest, Cow Chip Toss and more will provide entertainment for everyone. This year’s event is themed ‘Petaluma’s Shining Moments.’ There have been many. Join the fun and you may create your very own shining moment on Saturday! Don’t forget your camera. It’s a slice of Americana, I assure you. The Parade starts at Noon and the events of the day run from 10 AM until 5 PM.

As if that weren’t enough, on Sunday, April 25, Petaluma opens its doors and closes its streets for the 24th Annual Antique Faire. Historic Downtown transforms into an antique marketplace from 8 AM to 4 PM with over 180 dealers. Streets are closed to traffic and an atmosphere that can only be found in our historic downtown is created. Take your time, stroll Kentucky Street and shop to your heart’s content. Amazing and fascinating items from days gone by are there for you to browse or buy. The weather is almost always perfect so grab your hat, some sunscreen and head downtown for day two of my favorite weekend.

Unfortunately, you won’t see me there this weekend. Family obligations beckon me to the east coast. So alas, you are on your own. Find your way to Petaluma and bring your friends and family. You’ll see why we love it here. You’ll see lots of friends and neighbors. Say hi to someone you don’t know and see why I think it’s the “most wonderful time of the year!”

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

The weather is warming up and the brew pubs are beckoning.  Sonoma County serves up amazing wines, we know, but as the old saying goes…”it takes a lot of beer to make great wine.” Winemakers, and just plain old folks alike know that sometimes there’s nothing better than a cold one.

Petaluma features two breweries, Dempsey’s in the Golden Eagle Shopping Center and Lagunitas Brewery on N. McDowell in a most unlikely spot, a business park.  Neither will disappoint.

Dempsey’s award-winning selection of beers are produced on site and best enjoyed with some of their fine pub fare. Find yourself a nice spot outside overlooking the Petaluma River and watch the action while you sip a pint or two. The atmosphere is casual so don’t rush your stay, grab a burger, enjoy their amazing salads or decide on a delicious dessert. The beer is cold and the living is easy.

Lagunitas Brewing Company has been around for some time, but recently opened their Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary. Aptly named, you need to experience the Beer Sanctuary yourself to understand why it feels like such a great getaway. The Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary opens at 3pm Wednesday through Friday; Saturday and Sunday it opens at 1:00pm. When the taps are open, the music is playing so check out who’s up next on the Sanctuary stage. You just never know the extent of the talent. We do know that the beer, as well as the food menu, is seasonally inspired. Lagunitas keeps adding to their brews—one of the latest is the Wilco Tango Foxtrot. Check out the virtual tasting here.

So if Petaluma is the gateway to Sonoma County and wine country, maybe soon we will be known as the gateway to beer country. Santa Rosa has the 3rd Street Aleworks, which does all brewing on site and features much outdoor seating, a diverse menu, a pool table, and sporting events on the many screens.  Also in downtown Santa Rosa is The Russian River Brewing Company with its wide selection of award winners.

Occidental has Barley and Hops Tavern. Healdsburg features the Bear Republic Brewing Company.  HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol has been transformed into an unpretentious venue where you will enjoy American Craft Beer as well as the European Classics served by fun folks with a passion for all things beer. Music can be found at all of these establishments on varying schedules. So kick back and enjoy a cold one, listen to some music and savor a truly Sonoma-style hand-crafted beauty!

Do you have a favorite local brewery?

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

It’s the 4th Annual California’s Artisan Cheese Festival, March 26-29.

Join the best of the best in California artisan cheesemaking this weekend at the Sheraton in Petaluma. This annual event features the artisans who still adhere to the original cheesemaking practices – small batch production, made by hand. The cheesemakers support local agriculture and follow sustainable practices. Our rural way of life is supported by the original founders of Cowgirl Creamery who have production facilities in both Sonoma and Marin Counties.

Marin and Sonoma County producers will be well represented at the event – Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes Farmstead, Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, Marin French Cheese Company and Bellwether Farms are a few of the many cheesemakers you will find. On Sunday, twenty-four cheesemakers, twenty handmade food makers and twenty wineries and breweries will be on hand in the Marketplace providing samples and selling their delicious goods. Other activities include a Barn Dance on Friday, seminars, cheese tastings and pairings. A full list of events can be found here.

Petaluma is the prime location for the California’s Artisan Cheese Festival. Don’t miss out, make your reservations now. Bring your friends and enjoy our rural roots.

We’re fortunate to have so many cheese producers, artisan food purveyors and vintners in our own backyard. Share some of your local favorites in the comments below.

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

Do you like to fish, how about a pet parade? Do you want to go on an Easter Egg Hunt? Howarth Park in Santa Rosa is where all the fun begins.

Follow this link to find out about these fun spring time activities which begin this weekend, Sunday, March 28.

Kids Fishing Derby – March 28 Pet Parade – March 31 Easter Egg Hunt – April 3

All events at Howarth Park – 630 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Have you been to Howarth Park lately? In addition to fun seasonal events there are year-round attractions, such as hiking and biking trails, field rentals, and two playgrounds.

Posted By: Ruth Buzzard

Happiness and Sonoma County go hand-in-hand as we’ve seen in the past few posts. Our surroundings are tranquil and generally we find that our lifestyle keeps up with the latest technologies while preserving our rural way of life.

This week alone, we’re experiencing a wide variety of local events that invite the world to see our incredible diversity. From the California Artisan Cheese Festival, that takes place this weekend, March 26 through March 29, to the possibility that Google will select Petaluma as a test city for its ultra high-speed fiber network. (You can nominate Petaluma at www.googleluma.com – hurry deadline is March 26). There’s lots going on just north of the Marin County line.

On the financial front, our own Petaluma based Calix, Inc (formerly Calix Networks, Inc) just this week received $82 Million in its initial public offering and saw shares rise 16% on its first day of trading. I’ll bet there are some happy people there, too! Full details can be found here.

My point is this, we in Sonoma County, and in Petaluma in particular, value the old and the new, and embrace the possibilities that both provide. Petaluma stays on the cutting edge of new technologies while preserving our rural heritage. We all know that balance is the key to a happy life; well, by the look of it, we have a great balance right here in our own back yard!

Have more examples of how we balance preservation and innovation? Post your comments below.

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

The weather is cloudy, rainy and gloomy…. Yes, we’re grateful for the rain – all of it!  However, if you’re in need of some fun, the next two weekends are just what the doctor ordered!

Get out of the house and enjoy the 32nd Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting here in Sonoma County. This is your chance to sample wines still in the barrel, buy “futures” and meet winemakers.

For maps, ticket information, an introduction to wine tasting, and much more visit www.wineroad.com. Don’t forget to check out the list of wineries that will also be pouring on both Fridays. You’ll find it at the bottom of this page.

Just one more thing that makes Sonoma County special!

If you go:

BARREL TASTING – TWO WEEKENDS
March 6-7 & 13-14, 2010
11:00 am – 4:00 pm each day

Posted by:Beth Urban-Purtell

There truly are so many great things to love about the North Bay, which encompasses Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties. Folks travel far and wide to visit our towns and here we are with all sorts of fun things to do right in our very own backyards. I feel so blessed and each weekend my family and I try to venture outside and enjoy the beautiful landscape that surrounds us.

On a recent weekend in January, we decided even though it was cold and foggy, that we would go for a walk/hike in Annadel. Annadel State Park is located in Sonoma County, 60 miles north of San Francisco and on the eastern edge of Santa Rosa.

Once you arrive, there are many parking options: outside parking is free and adds a nice bit of exercise to the trip, or you can pay a $6.00 fee to park inside. Because it was chilly, we chose to park by the entrance and walked round trip for about an hour in areas where the terrain was varied but not too steep. I would feel comfortable taking my kids on this nature walk – feeling that the surroundings would keep their grumbling to a minimum (plus as long as we call it a nature hike instead of a “walk” it seems more like an adventure). On this day, with the fog and the mossy green trees, it felt like a cinematic walk in the woods.

I look forward to going back on a sunny and warm day, but I am guessing the trails will be more crowded. Annadel is also very popular with mountain bikers and horseback riders, so it’s good to be careful on the trails as a pedestrian.

Want to know more about Annadel? Check out these links:

• Mountain Biking

• Hiking at Annadel

• Video of Hiking and Biking at Anndael

Posted by:Jennifer Masterson

Mark your calendars for this Saturday, November 28, because Santa Claus is coming to our town! At noon, prepare to see Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Turning Basin in Downtown Petaluma as they arrive via riverboat. We’re pretty sure his sleigh is fine, but why not arrive via one of Petaluma’s treasures—our river. Parents and kids will delight when the Claus’ disembark and stroll through downtown greeting all with Holiday wishes and candy.

Santa’s arrival is just one of the many holiday events coming up in Petaluma. The 2009 Petaluma Holiday Events calendar has been published and features a comprehensive list of upcoming holiday fun. You can pick up a copy of the calendar from any of the major sponsors and contributors in town, including Haus Fortuna, Petaluma Visitor’s Center, Petaluma Yacht Club, Vine and Barrel, as well as many others. Of course the most up-to-date information can always be found at www.visitpetaluma.com.

December is right around the corner and many holiday events are scheduled. There’s the City of Lights Driving Tour, a self-guided tour of participating homes and businesses decorated for the holidays, which can be viewed throughout the month. Stop by the Visitors’ Center for a map of homes. One of my very favorite events is the Lighted Boat Parade on December 5. The flotilla of decorated boats will be on parade up the river and arriving at the Turning Basin at approximately 6:30 PM. It’s fabulous and festive and definitely fun!

So don’t miss the holidays in historic downtown Petaluma. Stuff your stockings with local cheer! And experience the charm of small town holidays.

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

As I mentioned in my previous post, Petaluma celebrates El Dia De Los Muertos in a big way and the festivities continue through this weekend. The altars are everywhere in shop windows, right on the counters next to cash registers and scattered about town. I highly recommend that you take a minute to explore Petaluma and see how families celebrate their deceased. Really, it’s a wonderful way to look at death as a part of life. Photos, favorite candy wrappers, flowers—each ‘ofrenda’—or altar is as unique as the person being celebrated.

The events culminate this weekend and a highlight for me is Friday’s candlelight procession. You can view a complete list of activities presented by the Petaluma Arts Council here. In addition, here is a list of altar locations, but you won’t really need it. Just take a walkabout in historic Downtown Petaluma and you’ll see the altars everywhere. You can also become a Facebook friend.

See you there! And if you attend, send me an e-mail at mohayer@fhallen.com. I’d love to hear about your experience.

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

What a wonderful way to celebrate the dead. I remember hearing of ‘All Saints Day’ as a child. I’m sure I knew lots about it as a young Catholic School child, but it didn’t stick with me. When I moved to Petaluma 9 years ago, I remember quite distinctly seeing the ‘ofrendas’ or altars set up in a few scattered spots downtown. I was curious and a bit proud that our town would embrace this lovely tradition although I admit, I knew little about it. Each year the event has grown larger, I’ve learned more and now the downtown is chock full of ofrendas and events surrounding this celebration.

Our little celebration is all grown up. Beginning October 17 and continuing through November 2, this town will be buzzing with a jam packed calendar of events surrounding El Dia de Los Muertos. This is a family event, a time for celebrating with a family reunion – the living and the dead. It is believed that the dead return to visit their families once a year and this celebration is neither somber nor macabre. Rather a time for festivities and community.

During the celebration, you can view the altars made by locals to honor their dead. Families make altars and place ‘ofrendas’ (offerings) of food, fruit, candles, yellow marigolds and photos of the deceased. Each of these is a work of art. Wonderful and unique – some quite plain, and some so incredibly elaborate you will think they’ve been working on them all year – you may be right! There will be over 50 altars in shop windows, building walkways and tucked away in unusual spots. You can find a list of the altars in numerous locations downtown or at the Petaluma Arts Council. Spend some time on the Art and Altar Walk and I assure you you’ll want to be part of this incredible event.

The Art and Altar Walk is a stroll you can do anytime during the two week period. Other events include family workshops, poetry readings, folk dancing, and the culmination on October 30th with the traditional Candlelight procession with music dancing and Giant Puppets. This candlelight procession is worth a trip to Petaluma on Friday October 30 – you will be delighted, I assure you. The event will be on the river this year and it’s always a treat for the senses. Become a facebook friend and you won’t miss a single minute.

Or just head to downtown Petaluma and take in all that this unique and wonderful event has to offer. Just another reason to love our unique and wonderful place to live – Petaluma!

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

As the charity season for Petaluma, California, draws to a close for the year 2009, one last, but most important event remains to be held. This event is the Make Miracles Happen Fundraising Breakfast and the funds are dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness in Sonoma County. This event is organized by the Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) and their unique model for a homeless shelter is designed to support homeless children, families and individuals that need guidance and direction to rekindle a productive and happy life. They offer not only safe shelter but services and programs to help people strengthen personal dignity and integrity, achieve financial independence, and find stable housing. They teach homeless parents to make their children’s needs their highest priority to ensure a fulfilling life. Just in the last year COTS assisted over 1,700 people, including 258 children. Over 102,000 meals were served and an additional 758 hungry people in the community received weekly groceries.

I first attended this event two years ago and was so stricken by the statistics that I couldn’t wait to get involved. Annually, over 50,000 hours of service are contributed by members of the community. When I made the commitment to become a Realtor, I made a commitment to myself to become involved in the community that I sell homes in. Frank Howard Allen has been a supporter of COTS through the Matching Grants program since 1999. For years I made that dollar commitment through commissions without truly comprehending the depth of the program.

Since I attended my first Miracle Breakfast, my goal is not only to give, but to participate. Once you meet the COTS clients you will see for yourself the miracle of unselfish dedication to fellow human beings in need. This will be my second year as Table Captain and I invite anyone that would like to witness this miracle firsthand to join me in meeting the clients and hearing how the program is evolving through the economic struggles of our country.

Space is limited so please email rcelli@fhallen.com and let me know if you are interested by October 16, 2009.

Posted By: Rebecca Celli

My very favorite event in Petaluma happens twice each year—the semi-annual Petaluma Antique Faire is coming up this weekend. And, if you haven’t been before, plan on it this Sunday, September 27. You won’t be sorry. I truly believe this is why I ended up moving to Petaluma nine years ago. After casually stumbling on the Antique Faire, I fell in love with the town that supports exactly this type of event and many others throughout the year.

10 years ago, my husband and I were living in San Francisco and needed to get out of dodge for the weekend. We hopped in the car – once we located it – If you’ve ever lived in SF with no parking, you’ll know just what I mean by that! – and headed over the Golden Gate Bridge towards Sonoma County.

Crossing the bridge is refreshing in and of itself after weeks in the city, but driving up 101 you truly get the sense that the city is behind you when you finally reach the two-lane highway in Novato. There’s an 11 mile stretch between Novato and Petaluma where large expanses of land, parks, no homes to speak of, and the San Pablo Bay wetlands spread out before you while cows appear on both sides of the road. You automatically take a deep breath and relax. And sometimes you get the equivalent of a scratch and sniff cow with that deep breath, which only adds to the charm.

The first exit on the two-lane highway portion of 101 is to Petaluma’s Historic Downtown. Petaluma, founded in 1858, is just 38 miles from San Francisco’s Russian Hill. Who could resist this? Besides, it was time to grab a bite and a beer. Having just come from the city, we snagged the first parking space we could find, which of course put us about 4 blocks from the action, but it seemed so close to us! As we wandered around the quaint town, we noticed that some of the streets were closed to traffic and then it happened – we stumbled on the most amazing array of antique dealers I’ve ever seen. Amid the beautiful historic buildings (Petaluma was miraculously spared from damage during the 1906 earthquake), Historic Downtown Petaluma was transformed into an antique marketplace. We wandered for hours enjoying the people watching, the antiques, the tranquil river backdrop, the gorgeous weather and the ample free parking! The people were so friendly, the day was a perfect escape, and twelve months later we moved to Petaluma and we couldn’t be happier.

This weekend you can expect over 180 dealers spread throughout 4 blocks of downtown Petaluma beginning at 8AM and running till 4PM. Wear your hat and sunscreen and don’t forget to bring a sweatshirt just in case. For more information go to www.Petalumadowntown.com or for a complete list of Petaluma events go to www.visitpetaluma.com. And if you attend or have other insights you’d like to share, please email me at mohayer@fhallen.com or comment below. I’d love to hear about your experiences. And if you can’t make it this weekend, the Spring Faire will be coming around in April.

Enjoy! I know I will.

Posted by:Martha O’Hayer

I recently signed up for a great fruit and vegetable delivery service that I can’t wait to tell you about! There are many such services in our agriculture-rich area, but the one I have started using is Farm Fresh to You, located in the Capay Valley between Napa and Yolo Counties. I must tell you right off the bat that I am a life long vegetable hater; however, I finally figured out that my mother knew what she was doing when she kept making us eat the damn things anyway!

Every other Friday a box of farm-fresh, organic fruits and vegetables is delivered to my doorstep. You can opt for weekly delivery, but with just two of us at home, every other week has proven to be perfect. Although you can make substitutions, we have decided to take whatever they want to give us, in order to expand our horizons a bit. The first delivery brought me an eggplant, which I must admit I briefly considered tossing in the garbage before showing my husband the rest of the bounty. But instead, I scoured my cooking websites to find a recipe that looked interesting, and I came up with Caponata, which is an eggplant relish that I served with grilled meat. Who knew that the lowly eggplant, which I have studiously avoided all my life, could taste so good?

The next delivery included chard, a dark green leafy vegetable that has never graced my kitchen table. A quick search on Epicurious.com returned a recipe for sauteed chard with caramelized onions and garlic. Again – who knew? It was delicious!

If you want to give it a try, their website is www.farmfreshtoyou.com – you aren’t locked into a contract, you can make changes and substitutions with 48 hours notice, and who knows, you might become a vegetable convert like me!

Posted by:Deborah Byrne

It’s not exactly the New York City big apple or the Napa Valley, yet. Sonoma County’s biggest city is about to get its own, however, much like the national attention for long distance running events reserved for marathons from Maui, to San Francisco, and to Chicago.

Santa Rosa, California is home of the biggest city in the Sonoma wine making region. The first marathon and half-marathon event set to launch here takes place on August 30th, 2009. The design and passion behind the upcoming event originated with Arthur Webb, a 67 year old veteran distance runner who has finished the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon 10 times over, 9 times within the 60 hour race time limit.

The race welcomes beginners, intermediate runners, and advanced competitive athletes. A 12 week training program for the full marathon can be found by clicking here. For a 12 week training program for the half marathon, click here. To register for the race, please visit the Santa Rosa Marathon site.

Posted by:Ernie Basoco

Last Saturday, I spent some of my day standing in the rain at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts at the Finish of the Wine Country Century, a showcase ride of northwest Sonoma County put on each year by the Santa Rosa Cycling Club. My fellow cycling aficionado and I were promoting the return of the Amgen Tour of California (ATOC) (premier professional cycling race in USA) to the City of Santa Rosa. Anyone who has lived in Sonoma County in the past 4 years has had the awesome and amazing opportunity to see the best cyclists in the world, both men and women, race to the Finish line in downtown Santa Rosa one day in February – it’s an honor, a privilege and a heck of a good time!

Each year, in preparation for the ATOC, the City of Santa Rosa “bids” to hold a Stage Start, Finish or both, committing approximately $175,000 to the event. Because City coffers are stretched beyond their limits this year providing essential services, a group of us under the direction of Mo McElroy (Visitors and Convention Bureau) have committed to raising the $175,000 needed to bring the Tour back in 2010! Visit www.keepthetour.com to donate and stay informed. We’ve just learned that in 2010, the Tour of California will be held May 16 – 23!

Cycling enthusiasts have long recognized Sonoma County as a premier destination – it’s hard to beat the combination of spectacular scenery, back roads, variable terrain, and a public that is becoming more conscious and respectful. The cycling community is a dynamic one attracting people, businesses, low-impact use of the environment, creating a health-conscious and highly social subculture.

There is a superb article in the Press Democrat, Section B, Sunday, May 3, 2009, about “joys of riding in Sonoma County.” Whether you’re out for a ride with the kids on the Prince Greenway (Santa Rosa), challenging yourself to reach the top of Pine Flat (Healdsburg), taking a quick hour of exercise in a loop around Oakmont, riding from home to work and back each day, here for “spring training” with your team, or cheering for your favorite hometown elite cycling hero, Levi Leipheimer, at the TOC Finish or, Yes!, raising money in the rain, cycling is one more spectacular reason I treasure living in Sonoma County.

Call me (707-481-3390) for suggestions about riding in Sonoma County.

Posted By: Carolyn Metz

This weekend was the Dry Creek Valley Passport wine tasting. 45 wineries opened their doors for the annual event highlighting the magic of the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County. We tasted old vintages, component, and barrel tastings at Amphora Winery, De LaMontanya, Family Wineries, Kokomo Wines, Papapietro Perry, Passalacqua Winery, Peterson Winery and A. Rafanelli Winery.

The wine country was looking its best on this beautiful warm spring day. The views from many of the wineries across the Dry Creek Valley were exquisite especially from the decks of the Passalacqua Winery which featured the wood oven pizza fired up by caterers serving the famous 4 minute wood fired pizza with homemade toppings.

The De LaMontonya Winery featured DeVines Pizza catering, wonderful wines, and music from the 60’s with a hippie look.

A. Rafanelli Winery included a bountiful spread, their wonderful wines and many happy wine tasters.

Before coming to the Dry Creek Valley, of course, I was previewing the many short sales, foreclosures and priced right real estate in Santa Rosa and surrounding areas. This is a great time to buy property in Sonoma County and move yourself into the wine country.

Feel free to email me at jfreedman@fhallen.com or call me at 707.972.5596.

Posted By: Judy Freedman