First taste: the girl & the fig breakfast

[caption id="attachment_67970" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Sunshine and shade with the continental breakfast ($15) at girl & the fig that is one of the best nibbles in town[/caption] Sonoma Valley breakfast aficionados have another option to add to their list - weekend breakfast at the girl &... Continue

Revamped Santa Rosa motel will house homeless vets

A former Santa Rosa motel is now fully converted into 104 rooms of permanent housing for veterans and the homeless. Completion of the project will be celebrated on June 11 by Supervisor Shirlee Zane, Catholic Charities, Akash Kalia, owner of the Palms Inn, and Congressman... Continue

Wine time: Ferrari-Carano ’14 Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir

[caption id="attachment_67930" align="aligncenter" width="292"] The 2014 Ferrari-Carano Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir retails for $48[/caption] Ferrari-Carano is well known for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, only in recent years creating a niche for interesting Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. Their 2014 Sky High... Continue

Wine time: Lazy Creek Vineyards ’15 Rose of Pinot Noir

[caption id="attachment_67891" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Lazy Creek Vineyards 2015 Anderson Valley Rosé retails for $22[/caption] The Lazy Creek Vineyards 2015 Anderson Valley Rosé is a pleasant rose chock full of juicy fruit for a hot spring/summer day from. This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir produced... Continue

Overnight wave of car break-ins in Boyes Hot Springs

"Heads up to lock and empty out your cars," said Boyes Hot Springs resident Celeste Winders on a recent Facebook post. Last night a number of cars were broken into in the immediate vicinity around Parsons Lumber & Hardware (17800 Sonoma Hwy) in Boyes Hot... Continue

Sonoma Valley Death notices

Jeanette Black, 96, of Sonoma, passed away May 9, 2016. Dana Edward Fay, 68, of Glen Ellen, passed away May 23, 2016. Carolyn Roemer Hansen, 66, of Sonoma, passed away May 30, 2016. Lorraine Kathleen Hardcastle, 62, of Sonoma, passed away May 11, 2016. Frederick... Continue

Wine time: Lazy Creek Vineyards Anderson Valley ’14 Gewurztraminer

[caption id="attachment_67880" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Lazy Creek Vineyards 14 Gewürztraminer retails for $22[/caption] The 2014 Lazy Creek Vineyards Gewürztraminer from Anderson Valley is one of the oldest produced Gewürztraminer's in Anderson Valley and is a tasty palette pleaser. This Gewürztraminer is estate grown and brings back... Continue

Sun sets on Sonoma’s Blue Moon Saloon

The infamous Blue Moon Saloon is getting a facelift -- it always did look better at 1 a.m. -- as new owners prepare to relaunch the locals' dive as a destination bar with craft cocktails. 'The Starling' is due in early July, as designer Anthony Laurino,... Continue

The drought is over?

After a season of normal rainfall, both state and local water regulators are poised to cancel the range of use regulations put in place during the past two years. Pointing to reservoirs now almost fully-filled, water agencies here in Northern California - having just raised... Continue

Under the Sun: Gary Griffith, retiring teacher

This is a big step, no? I guess. I’m so busy I’m just taking one thing off my plate. I’m a writer, did you know? Last year I published my first novel. I read it to my fourth grade class. Some of them asked me... Continue