Finley? Bet there's a story behind that name. Yes. My father's family was from Ireland -- Catholic. He spent his childhood in a Catholic orphanage. He met my mother while a G.I. in England during the Second World War. She was from an Orthodox Jewish... Continue
Under The Sun: Interviews
I once knew a Dmitri, but you're the first Dmitra I've met My mother was absolutely sure she'd have boy, but she got me. She was an avid reader and loved Russian writers, so Dmitri became Dmitra. Well, you're certainly not Russian. Where were you... Continue
Eraldi's is a real fixture on the Plaza. How did it begin? My Grandfather David lived in Sonoma and owned the Star Saloon, which was just south of Depot Park on First Street West. He decided to start a Men's store, and in 1922 opened... Continue
How did you get your start, Frank? Well, I actually was born in Japan where my name was Frank Morita. My father was in the U.S. military and my mother Japanese; they were not married. I was part of an unwanted generation of "half-breeds." I'd... Continue
Your short documentaries for the Sun have been wonderful. How did it all begin? When I was just 13 years old I fell in love with filmmaking, though I hadn't even realized it yet. I was just a young, scrappy skateboarder who was obsessed with... Continue
Andy Weinberger is the proprietor of Sonoma’s Readers’ Books at 130 E. Napa St. The Sonoma store opened the day after Thanksgiving in 1991. Recently Andy announced that he’d be transferring his personal location to Los Angeles, but the store and its staff will remain... Continue
I hear you were raised in Germany. Is that true? Yes, my family moved to Munich, Germany when I was five, and I went to school and lived there until I was 15. Honestly, it gave me a European sensibility; I had great teachers, took... Continue