Why it's cool to live here

You can't beat the location. Taste of Sonoma takes place in a quiet corner of Sonoma County that’s nearly perfect for its beauty and solitude. For 364 days a year the historic MacMurray Ranch along Westside Road is peaceful and serene, then during one Saturday in late summer it’s transformed into the premiere food-and-wine tasting event in the nation, as about 3,000 hungry people meander around the roomy ranch in search of great cuisine and delectable reds and whites.

They come from across the country to savor tastes of wine from approximately 200 of Sonoma County’s best wineries, paired with morsels of tantalizing food from 60-odd chefs and restaurants.

One of my favorite bites was the meatball (pictured) from Rustic, the restaurant at Francis Ford Coppola’s winery. And possibly the best fried chicken I’ve had in years, courtesy of the new mobile restaurant known as Drums & Crumbs. Other gustatory highlights included ice cream by Nimble & Finn’s, Hopmonk Tavern’s stout-braised short ribs over garlic mashed potatoes, and pork tenderloin with red rice and cranberry beans whipped up by Olive & Vine.

Four enormous tents showcase the food and wine, and numerous other tents and cozy spots on the ranch provide entertainment and educational opportunities. This included chefs competitions and cooking demos, with foodie radio hosts and masters of ceremonies Clark Wolf and Marcy Smothers (wife of Tommy), shown here coaxing comments from the judges in a race-against-time cookoff between chefs Thomas Schmidt of John Ash & Co. and Steve Rose of Vineyards Inn, one of my favorite places to eat.

Hollywood royalty Fred MacMurray raised his family here when he wasn't making movies and TV shows in Tinseltown. He also raised cattle and opened his ranch to other big movie stars who came to visit (Clark Gable, for instance). The old house is still there, adding to the warmth of the historic property.

Taste of Sonoma is the largest gathering of the annual Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, which culminates in a wine auction for charity.

Game Changers: Ownership of local newspapers back in Sonoma County

The hometown newspaper may not have big corporate muscle behind it any longer, but it has something much, much better: Local owners who have plans to enhance its services and coverage area, and who vow to keep publishing the daily newspaper in paper form.

Sonoma County's Press Democrat newspaper, and its sister papers the Petaluma Argus-Courier and the North Bay Business Journal, were purchased late last year by a new local investors group, Sonoma Media Investments, after being owned by East Coast companies for nearly 30 years.

Read my interview with two of the members of the new ownership group –– Steve Falk (pictured left) and Darius Anderson –– in the special "Game Changers" issue of NorthBay biz magazine: http://tinyurl.com/q3474v5

What exactly is "agritourism"?

This buzzword has been around a long time, and can mean all sorts of things. But mostly it refers to cityfolk and their children getting out into the country to learn a thing or two about agriculture –– how artisan vegetables are grown, for instance, and the way farm-fresh eggs taste so much better than store-bought. They can also watch dairy cows and goats being milked, cuddle with friendly barnyard horses, and sample farmstead cheeses at the source, among other fun adventures.

My latest article for North Bay biz magazine explores the booming business of agritourism in Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties: http://tinyurl.com/m7lsjno

All in the family at Friedman's stores

My latest article for North Bay biz magazine is a short profile of Bill Friedman, long-time owner and overseer of his family's three home improvement stores in northern California. At a time when Home Depots and Lowes are popping up everywhere, locally owned Friedman's Home Improvement has survived and thrived for more than 60 years. A fourth Friedman's store will open next year in Petaluma. Read about Bill and his legacy in the magazine's Best of 2013 issue, here: http://tinyurl.com/lynb2x6

Here comes the bridal business

Spring means the grapes are budding in the vineyards and brides are booking their wedding venues. Wine Country is a hotbed of matrimony during the sunny season, with no shortage of gorgeous locations to plan fabulous nuptials. It's a multimillion-dollar industry that brings thousands of new visitors into the region, and sends the brides and grooms away with many fond memories. Read my latest article for North Bay biz magazine about weddings in Wine Country: http://tinyurl.com/cvv6gxn

Mendocino County: Closer than you think

It’s pretty hard to resist taking a photo like this, when the ocean is so close to your hotel room balcony that you can practically reach out and touch it. A recent trip to Mendocino County yielded this scene at sunset, reminding me that the charms of my neighbor to the north are not too far away after all. Read my latest article for North Bay biz magazine about wining and dining in Mendocino County, a few of their festivals and other attractions that shouldn’t be missed, and a harvester of seaweed who can show you how it’s done: http://tinyurl.com/bwq4hkd 

From the classroom to a new career...

Whether they were laid off or took early retirement before the recession, many baby boomers are now seeking new employment. But some have found that to stay competitive in the current job market requires retraining, and that means going back to school in some fashion to learn a completely new set of skills. Read my latest article for North Bay biz magazine about this trend: http://tinyurl.com/as2su5k

Green Music Center makes you say 'wow'

What began more than a decade ago as a modest building project on the Sonoma State University campus has resulted in a world-class venue for chorale and symphony performances, exceptional classrooms for music students, and fine dining. The Green Music Center’s Weill Hall is off to a grand start, with numerous big names in classical music, contemporary music, and comedy having taken the stage already. I received a private tour of Green Music Center just two weeks before Weill Hall’s opening night. Read about the center’s long road to reality––and even the fabulous restrooms––in my latest article for North Bay biz magazine: http://tinyurl.com/bpalr2t

Dining outside the box

Whether called pop-up dinners, underground dinners, or off-the-grid "suppers," experiences designed for adventurous diners have hit their stride in the North Bay. Read my latest article for North Bay biz magazine at http://tinyurl.com/98c4qrn

My interview with Gina Gallo

Though she's now raising twin toddlers, Gina Gallo is still an important influence on the fine wines being produced in Sonoma and Napa counties. In my latest article for North Bay biz magazine, the winemaker behind the Gallo company's high-end products talks about her family, the old general store she owns in Dry Creek Valley, and how she is very much hands-on during the grape harvest, going on now. For all you wine wonks, my article also features insight into Gallo's grape-growing science, courtesy of Jim Collins, senior director of coastal winegrowing operations for Gallo. Read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/9kpp7eh

Meet John Webley, green entrepreneur

My latest article for North Bay biz magazine is a profile of John Webley, a man who made his mark in the telecom world in the 1980s and 90s. Now he's leading two new companies, based in Sonoma County, dedicated to (1) cleaning up and desalinating water on a global scale, and (2) filtering out everything nasty in our indoor air. Read all about him and his new ventures in the August issue of the magazine, available here: http://tinyurl.com/d9gwb6q

Two book signings later....

It was an exhausting week, with two busy book signings back to back. Here I am in St. Helena on Friday, all set up and ready to go. The previous Saturday I gave a presentation and signing at Copperfield's in Santa Rosa, and the store sold out its entire stock of my books (more were ordered, of course).

My thanks also to all the vendors and visitors at the St. Helena Farmers' Market who made me feel welcome and pampered, especially Wendy and Annie.

Two more signings may be in the works.... details to come.

What's in store for visitors?

Tourists are back, and we're ready for them. My latest article in North Bay biz magazine summarizes what our local visitors' bureaus and others have planned for travelers to Wine Country. From the sunny side of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, to the splashy summer fun at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma County, to the pursuit of a Guinness World Record in Napa Valley, read what's new and in the works for visitors here: http://tinyurl.com/7ogfh69

Book signing planned for St. Helena

If you're in the vicinity of the St. Helena Farmers' Market on July 27, please stop by and say Hello. I'll be signing copies of Food Lovers' Guide to Napa Valley from approximately 9 to 11 a.m. The SHFM is a delightful destination––a fun way to spend a morning with locals and visitors, too. Check out the fresh produce and flowers, and the many locally produced food products, such as Annie the Baker's exceptionally moist cookies. See you there! Find out more about the market at this link: http://www.sthelenafarmersmkt.org/

New careers for baby boomers

A former real estate agent goes into the entertainment industry... a tech company executive starts his own business... a labor law expert runs her company from a home office with a golden retriever at her feet. Read how baby boomers can reinvent themselves in encore careers––my newest article is the cover story of the June issue of North Bay biz magazine. Follow this link, and enjoy! http://tinyurl.com/7cka82j