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Sonoma County Fair – Brilliant!!

The Don Giovannis at the Sonoma County Fair
The Don Giovannis at the Sonoma County Fair

As soon as we were clicked through the entrance and escaped the  bombardment of the knives, fudge, and dill pickles in the Pavilion, we were treated to the sound of the  most glorious tenor singing his heart out.  I’m a sucker for a good tenor.  He was part of a group called The Don Giovannis.  We were seranaded while we ate our plates of Ibletto’s green and red spaghetti.

Horse in parade ring before racing

The sound of the horses enticed us to place several bets which we lost, but last year we won, so there you go.  One horse in the 8th jumped the gun and ran the wrong way all around the track.  (Yes, I bet on him).  As he crossed the finish line, the highly amused crowd burst into rousing applause and cheering!  Sometimes you just don’t care if you lose as long as you are entertained.

There were several new attractions this year,  notably Mechanical Bull Riding!  Very amusing.  Everyone looks cool while the bull is going slow, but invariably the bull wins the contest.

Riding the mechanical bull

The DJ/bull-master was having a great time matching the music to the rider and giving riders a chance to demonstrate at least a few seconds of glory.

The flower show was brilliant!  The flowers  glowed with exuberance about their own color and design.  The exhibits are a beautiful look at past fair themes, called “A Stroll Down Memory Lane”.  Very nicely done.

One of the greatest feelings I get living in Sonoma County is the friendliness of the people.  Everywhere we turned, people said hello and spoke to us as if we were long term friends.  In the rest room (which was very clean , by the way) w0men who didn’t know each other were helping  apply sunscreen to the backs of their fellow fair travelers.  I love living here!  It really is “the chosen place”  to paraphrase our good friend Luther.

Dinner plate dahlia at Sonoma County Fair
Glorious dahlia

I love the Sonoma County Fair!  We’re going back aagin to see the art, animals, and  play a few more horses.  See you there!

Posted in: Activities, Day Trips, Entertainment, Events, Live Music

Sonoma County Harvest Fair

Sonoma County Harvest Fair Logo
Sonoma County Harvest Fair Logo

It’s time (Sept 30-Oct 2) for the 2011 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Right on schedule the vineyards around the county are laden with ripening fruit that give testament to the bounty that Luther Burbank loved about Sonoma County. You can’t see the densely grouped clusters without appreciating the gift that nature bestows on us.

The Harvest Fair is a great opportunity to get in touch with local growers and wine makers and to share a weekend of food, music, fun, and games with your  fellow food and wine enthusiasts.

Congratulations are due to these Harvest Fair award winners:

Kenwood Vineyards – 2010 Pinot Gris – Russian River Valley:
Sweepstakes Winning White Wine and the James Guymon Memorial Award

Wilson Winery – 2009 Zinfandel – Dry Creek Valley – Sawyer
Sweepstakes Winning Red Wine and the George Cooke Memorial Award

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards – 2007 Brut Rose – Carneros
Sweepstakes Winning Specialty Wine and the Mike Lee Memorial Award

Posted in: Day Trips, Entertainment, Events, Food, Live Music, Wine

Main Street Station

Main Street Station

This is the great place to look for live entertainment any night of the week. The owner, Suzi Feehery, has an ear for jazz and singers and books the best talent in and out of the area. For a small cover fee (usually $3-5) you can spend the evening with the likes of Grammy Nominee Vernelle Anders ( “At Last”) or a hot blues artist like Gwen “Sugar Mama” Avery. There is someone I’d like to see and hear there every night of the week.

Even on a rainy winter night there might be at least thirty people there enjoying the jam, juice, and jive.

The menu is Italian style featuring great country pizza and prime rib on weekends. You are guaranteed a good time at Main Street. You can even try your hand at Open No Mic with Kit Mariah on alternate Sundays.

Check out their website at http://www.mainststation.com for more information.
16280 Main Street
Guerneville
707-869-0501

PS They deliver too!

Posted in: Activities, Entertainment, Food, Guerneville, Italian, Live Music, Places, Restaurants

Sonoma County Fair

Too good to wait
Ibleto's - too good to photograph...
Home from the fair and everything seems dim by contrast.  It was a spectacular day – mid 80’s- sunny and breezy.  We set out to have a fun day and we did!

I love horse racing!   Horses are such gorgeous animals – strong, sleek, and fast.  The crowd anticipates each race, bettors studying the forms, checking out the contestants in the paddock, horses on parade, making the bet… two minutes til post, one minute til post,

Sonoma County Fair Horse Racing
At the Post
the horses at the gate.  They’re off!  The crowd moves forward, chanting, “# 7, come on #6, #2, etc. until both the crowd and the horses reach an astonishing crescendo!  “#2! #7!”  I can’t help myself.  I’m screaming! #2 and #7 come in  – Escape Plan in the 7th and Fancy Reader in the 8th.  The winnings pay for Ibleto’s spaghetti – both green and red – yummy!

Baby Goat
Baby Goat
Aside from the horses, we make friends with two little playful white goats, saw some magnificent cows, and our favorite chickens.  The pig pens were mostly empty – hopefully sold for future college funds.

The flower show with the theme of “Grape Escape” featured  Sonoma County appellations and was one of the best we can remember.

Sonoma County Fair Dixieland Band
Dixieland Band
We came across a random parade led by a Dixieland band.  I do love traditional jazz – it’s such happy festive music!  Kettle Korn, a dill pickle, a taste of fudge, a Clover ice cream cone, and a run through the industrial building rounded out our day.

As I drift off to sleep, the sights, the smells, the tastes and the sounds of the day linger in my mind…  We had a great time! Can’t wait til next year.

Posted in: Activities, Day Trips, Entertainment, Events, Live Music

Rock and Roll in Sonoma County

Last Day Saloon

Last Day SaloonBigger & better live music. Blues, jazz, rock concerts, dancing, food…
Everything you could want in a rock and roll venue.  They used to share acts and contacts with sister venue in SF which is now closed.  Good vibes all around.

120 Fifth St
Santa Rosa
707-545-2343

Mystic Theater

Bigger and better live music. Concerts. Name bands.

2323 Petaluma Blvd N
Petaluma
707-765-2121

Posted in: Live Music

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