Sonoma Country Life

Madmen Attire for Straight UP! A Vodka Cocktail Competition and Tasting Fundraiser for Literacyworks

Don't Miss Straight Up - a Vodka Cocktail Competition & Tasting, a Fundraiser for Petaluma-based Literacyworks

Thursday, MARCH 8th, 2012
6:00 – 9:00 PM

Petaluma Sheraton’s Ball Room

“Madmen” costume optional– cocktail attire

Literacyworks, a nationally recognized leader for literacy, has established a fund to “keep the lights on” for North Bay organizations dedicated to literacy. Library programs, literacy focused non-profits, and educational programs will directly benefit from this fun competition. Let’s turn this evening into a successful fundraiser for important programs we all care about!

The $20.00 guest ticket price includes admission, appetizers, live entertainment, and two drink tasting tickets. You will be asked to cast you ballot for your two favorite cocktails.

Additional drink tasting tickets are $5 & full size drink tickets are $10.

Sponsors: Petaluma Sonoma County Sheraton, Charbay Winery And Distillery, North Bay Bohemian

RSVP to: Elizabeth Howland,
Proprietor Clementine Eco Events
Elizabeth@clementineecoevents.com
707.364.4567

Sneak Preview Tasting of Petaluma's New Henhouse Brews

Lagunitas is on fire with popularity as Petaluma's premium bewery and haven of 'hopitality', so now's just about the best timing for the all-local, new HenHouse Brewing Company start-up to enter the scene.

Taste samplings were savored along with a private birthday party pub-grub spread at the home of one our favorite West Petaluma family's this past weekend, in which guests gave a unanimous thumbs up to the newest brew boys in town.

Newly licensed HenHouse is now available on the well-stocked beer shelves at Petaluma Market, the first local store to get behind the start-up with its robust Osyter Stout.

Handcrafted in Petaluma, HenHouse Brews Golden Ale, Imperial Stout and Saison are set to officially launch at a party at TAPS next month.

We're hoping to get a behind the scenes look at HenHouse in the making some time in the near future, but for now, we recommend you hit the market for a bottle or two of the ultimate in locavore's libation!

Pictured top left (next to fellow Brit and pal Mark S - who'd scored himself the tiniest taster glass imaginable) is his mother-in-law Kath C's outrageously delicious, traditional English, homemade Pork Pie. Just about the best possible food pairing with HenHouse beers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phil Ochs: There But for the Fortune - A Documentary Must-See for Folk Music, Politics and History Fans

Captivating, historically rich and extremely moving - the 2011-released, feature-length documentary Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune, charting the American artist/activisit, politcal/folk singer songwriter's prolific seven-album career makes for poignant viewing at the ouset of this present-time presidential election year.

This beautifully made film by director Ken Boswer immerses viewers in a well documented era of immense political unrest through scores of archival footage, evocative photos and personal remembrances by Och's close friends, his family, fellow activists and music industry veterans, including the likes of Billy Bragg, Sean Penn, Joan Baez to Pete Seeger. 

Renowned for his sharp wit, sardonic humor and haunting voice, Ochs' hundreds of songs written before his death at age 35, touched on many of the most troubling social and political issues at the heart of the folk and protest song movement in the 60s and early 70s, raising critical questions through lyrics ripped directly from the day to day stuff that filled the pages of the New York Times.

By the time of his death in 1976, the FBI had a dossier on him that was more than 400 pages long, believing Ochs to have had no respect for government policies during a time of war. The Ochs we get to know in this detailed, hour-and-a-half-long film was of the firm belief that he and his music would change the world.

Phil Ochs' lyrics were far more complex than those of mass appeal penned by the more mainstream folk hero of the day, his contemporary, Bob Dylan. It's perhaps not hard to understand how Ochs' passionate and enthralling pursuit of justice would eventually lead to a mental health breakdown that would bring an untimely end to such an inspirational and remarkable musician.

 

 

 

 

 

Classrooms Across Petaluma Receive Major Impact Grant Funding for High Tech Tools Thanks to Petaluma Educational Foundation

It is nothing short of wonderful to witness the funding of substantial Major Impact grants, designed to transform the delivery of education here in the most innovative of classrooms in a variety of Petaluma area schools.

Petaluma Educational Foundation's newly launched Tec Initiative directs a large part of fundraising from community, corporations and local business supporters to its annual Major Impact Grant program, with a special focus on providing classrooms of the future with the dynamic, digital and tech tools needed to prepare the city's workforce of 2020.

Fourteen Major Impact Grants totaling $158,000 are being funded this month, after expert and thoroughly rigorous review by the foundation's Grant Selection Committee. Some 22 applications were received for consideration, last fall, amounting to $283,000 in requests.

Although not all of the applications are receiving funding this new year, PEF welcomes new partnerships with local high tech companies, individuals and supportive businesses, year round. For full story, click here

Send a Sweet Missive From The Postage Service - Available Now at Paperwhite, Petaluma

Clever California-based design company The Postage Service has captured the colorful heritage of collectable postage stamps in its line of pre-paid-postal notecards that are now available for purchase at our favorite Petaluma card and stationery store, Paperwhite. 

A variety of fabulous-pre-stamped cards await perusal on the countertop at Paperwhite, on Kentucky Street. These eclectic, stamped packages in all sorts of designs made me want to whip out my fountain pen and start sending sweet missives on the spot.

There is nothing to beat a handwritten note or card (except a multi-sheet, handwritten letter), so get on it and make someone's day!

 

Friends of Shollenberger Wetlands Rally Draws Hundreds

For more information on the Friends of Shollenberger Stand Up for Your Wetlands campaign, click here

Stand in the Place Where You Live - Project HERE Snapshots Now on Display At Aqus Cafe

What does it mean to live here in Petaluma, to work, grow, raise families, make art, music, coffee, a community? Project HERE sets out to illustrate the delightful and intriguing nuances behind the life and times that we're living in, together, today.

I haven't met a Project HERE challenge that I haven't thought quite brilliant and this, newly released set of snapshots now hanging on the hallowed walls down at Petaluma's Aqus Cafe is one of the best!

Click here to see more of these terrific, character revealing, little vignettes

Petaluma Spirit and Country Charm the Perfect Ticket for 30th Anniversary PEF Fundraising Gala BASH

Petaluma Educational Foundation’s Fundraising Gala BASH SWAT team has pulled out the milk truck along with all the bells and whistles this new year to announce the new location for this year’s, special 30th Anniversary event.

Packed to the rafters with Petaluma spirit and country charm, Clover Stornetta Farms‘ rambling, rustic storage facility (neighboring the pictured Petaluma Poultry-owned mill) at 5400 Old Redwood Highway is set to be transformed from shabby-chic to grand soiree, complete with chandeliers suspended from the ceiling to stunning, vintage-style table settings for the annual cocktail reception, sit-down dinner and auction.

There’s plentiful parking and a great feeling of Petaluma heritage at the former Adobe Lumber Yard, where Clo stores her vintage vehicles, as well as the thousands of cartons used for packing our favorite dairy products.

Thanks to Clover Stornetta’s longtime and on-going support of PEF, the family-owned company’s old storage building is set to shine like never before on Saturday, September 8th, 2012.

Mark your calendar to save the date and start planning the perfect outfit for country charm meets gala style!

The building was originally constructed as the Petaluma branch of longtime owner, Wickes Building Materials, headquartered in Flint, Michigan since 1854 and for decades, the nation’s leading construction supplier.

Click here for more information on PEF

Catch a Blind Pig on the Wrong Side of the Tracks with Simi Winery's Bottomless New Jug Wine

During prohibition, the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages was illegal.  Yet as everyone knows, rules are made to be broken. “Speakeasies” began charging visitors an admittance fee to see an unusual attraction, such as a blind pig.  This “attraction,” was a mere cover for the illegal sale of alcohol to be enjoyed on premise or taken in a growler for consumption elsewhere.

One of my favorite Sonoma County heritage winery's, Healdsburg's SIMI Winery is revisiting the prohibition era with its recent release of its wine growler, Maiale Cieco, commemorating the lift of prohibition in December of 1933.

Filled with two liters of SIMI’s red blended wine, the growler can be purchased at SIMI Winery for $46 per bottle. 

Environmentally conscious and committed to value, Simi will refill your bottle during your next visit for only $36. Pick up a punch card and receive half-off your 7th refill.

Acknowledging SIMI’s Italian history, the growler is decorated with a pig and stamped with the phrase, “Maiale Cieco,” which is Italian for “blind pig.” Now celebrating its 135^th year, SIMI Winery is one of only a few wineries to have remained operational during the prohibition era, from 1920 to 1933.

Isabelle Simi, owner and operator of SIMI Winery during this time, sold wine for sacramental purposes, thereby keeping the winery afloat during a difficult period in the alcoholic beverage industry.  Today SIMI continues to welcome visitors to the same tasting room where Isabelle Simi greeted and fed her own guests.  With its legendary Italian hospitality and delicious food and wine, SIMI provides an authentic experience for wine, food and history lovers alike.

Click here for more information on SIMI’s rich history

The SIMI Winery Visitor Center is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Winery tours are offered every day at 11:00am and 2:00pm.

 

 

Bargain Buys for Old Blighty Home Decor

Couldn't resist the snapshots, though I did think the Italian husband might think this a bit too much bias in the Anglo/Italian/American home!

Fancy a bit of old Blighty decor in your place. Click here for where to buy these red, white and blue, bargain items.