Photo by Ryan LelyThe public won’t be allowed onto the 98-acre Montini Ranch before the spring of 2008. But when the gates do swing open, hikers are likely to appreciate the high degree of drama that trail-planners were able to squeeze out of the hillside... Continue
The Fourth of July for Sonomans is not just a celebration of national pride, but a yearly home-town celebration, with marching bands, water fights and classic cars. Take a look at previous years’ photos capturing the crowds, costumes, and craziness of past parades. Photo by... Continue
Photos by Ryan Lely“Stop at the broken road, cross the fallen bridge and walk through the forest on top of the mountain until you see the sign...” These are not the words of a prophet but rather the directions to the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center.... Continue
submitted photo Mitchell Shapiro has a vision. A dream of a Sonoma Valley where the sound of gas-guzzling vehicles is muted, a place where roads and highways are free of cars belching fumes, a vehicular utopia where people of all walks of life happily get... Continue
Volunteer, amateur theatricals are always exciting, especially if you don’t “over-rehearse.” This is never a problem with the Bear Flag Revolt Re-Enactment, put on by the Sonoma Historic Re-Creation Society. That’s because this “we’re-winging-it-again” theatrical troupe only has one rehearsal per show. The Re-Enactment is... Continue
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="423" caption="Photo by Ryan Lely "][/caption] Strawberry. A color. A fruit. An excuse to eat shortcake and whipped cream. The succulent seasonal fruit is widely available locally at the usual places – farmers markets, corner street vendors and grocery stores – and... Continue
There is phone-tag and then there is phone-tag-as-blood-sport. I was a willing, if not happy, participant in the latter while working with the publicist of Grammy Award-winning chanteuse LeAnn Rimes. After scheduling, rescheduling and otherwise chasing a slim slot for a telephone interview with the... Continue