The next big thing?

Proposed for First Street West, a half-block from Sonoma Plaza: a 59-room hotel and event facility with a gym, two restaurants and retail space. To make way for the 1.5-acre project, down would come the Chateau Sonoma and Index-Tribune buildings. Clearing the space is the easy part – the existing structures belong to Kenwood Investments, LLC, whose owner, Darius Anderson, also owns the Index-Tribune itself. But in a town that frets over the size of a sandwich board sign and the color of a taco truck, opposition to something this big is expected… Among the skeptics: The Sonoma League for Historic Preservation, a powerful group whose weight, when collectively thrown, has derailed and delayed many developments over the years. The League is on record that the hotel project, as currently designed, is not compatible with the cultural landscape of the Plaza district. “The project will have adverse effects on Sonoma’s cultural resources,” reads a statement. “It threatens the basic qualities of the architecture of Sonoma.” Then again, “the League is not opposed to development of the property and acknowledges the potential economic benefit to the Sonoma Community.”… Pace yourself, folks, this is just the beginning. It begins officially Thursday night, July 12, with a Planning Commission study session, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at 177 First St. W. Watch it on Sun TV Channel 27, live, or the repeat on Friday morning, July 13, at 10 a.m.

Two spoons up, way up, for “The Kitchen Witches,” the stage production that wraps up this weekend at Andrews Hall. The setting is a cable-access TV cooking show, where rival chefs (Nancy Vandegrift and Jill Wagoner) serve some very deep dish… Another Sonoma Stage Works production, the drama “Lobby Hero,” also closes this weekend. Calendar and ticket info.

A July 23 luncheon in the Sangiacomo family vineyards will benefit the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. “Here’s the good news,” reveals Kathy Witkowicki, “there will be no raffles, auctions or fundraising to distract you from a perfect Sunday afternoon in Wine Country.” A refreshing twist.

“Redford is hotter,” she said, at the showing of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” “But Newman makes better spaghetti sauce.”