Editors: At the end of the release, there's information on how to access high-resolution photos.

SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — As summer comes to a close, life gets busy in Sonoma County, where new events, new attractions, new tasting rooms, new restaurants, new stores, and more await visitors eager to create new vacation memories. Here's a quick round-up of what's new in Sonoma County.

EVENTS

Pet-A-Llama Comedy Fest debuts in Petaluma Aug. 16-18
Enjoy three days of stand-up comedy, themed shows, live podcasts, crowd-working shows, and special events at the inaugural Pet-A-Llama Comedy Festival from Thursday, Aug. 16 to Saturday, Aug. 18, in Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County.

The festival will be held in two venues within short walking distance of each other in historic downtown Petaluma, The Mystic Theatre and The Big Easy. The festival kicks off on Thursday with a free showcase of the talent scheduled to perform all weekend and wraps with “Locally Sourced – A Crowdwork Show” starting at 10 p.m. on Saturday. “Crowdwork” is original material done in the moment, with the comedians sourcing their jokes locally – from in the room.

The festival roster includes Sonoma County native Brian Posehn, The Sklar Brothers, Rory Scovel, and a performance by Scott Thompson as Buddy Cole, his celebrated character from “Kids in the Hall.” Also appearing will be Todd Glass & The Todd Glass Band, Jay Larson, Ryan Sickler, Dan Van Kirck, and Drennon Davis.

There will also be a number of live podcast tapings, including Dumb People Town, The Crab Feast, and Benedettiville, which is a Petaluma-based kids' radio show airing on Petaluma's community access radio station, KPCA. The festival will also showcase some of the great themed comedy shows that have emerged throughout the country in recent years, such as Imaginary Radio, Comedians Cinema Club, FOLLOW THAT!, and more.

Event Date: Thursday, Aug. 16 to Saturday, Aug. 18

Pet-A-Llama Comedy Festival
The Mystic Theatre
23 Petaluma Blvd. N.
Petaluma, CA 94952
www.petallama.com

Media Contact
Matthew Layne
415-298-8443
matthew@firmsf.com

 

Taste of Sonoma tickets available
Taste of Sonoma returns to the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University on Sept. 1, 2018. Voted one of the top wine festivals in the nation in a 2017 Reader's Choice Poll by USA Today, this event is sure to satisfy any wine and food enthusiasts.

Taste of Sonoma showcases Sonoma County's most renowned vintners, growers, and chefs and offers wine and culinary enthusiasts access to taste and experience the bounty Sonoma County has to offer in one immersive day. The lineup will include a walk-around wine tasting, cooking demonstrations, guided wine seminars, a marketplace, and themed lounges.

Ticket prices will range from $150 to $255 per person and can be purchased on the Taste of Sonoma website. To learn more, visit TasteofSonoma.com.

Taste of Sonoma at Green Music Center
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
TasteofSonoma.com

Media Contact
Sonoma County Vintners
Anna Miranda
707-522-5853
anna@sonomawine.com

ATTRACTIONS

Visit Bees N Blooms farm in Santa Rosa
Get down on the farm and walk the largest labyrinth in California at Bees N Blooms in Santa Rosa, in central Sonoma County.

Founded in spring 2016, Bees N Blooms is an 11-acre organic farm that produces lavender and a variety of lavender products, honey and wax from ten colonies of honeybees, cut flowers for arrangements, and pollinator-friendly, drought-tolerant trees. Located at the foot of Taylor Mountain, it is farmed with regenerative methods, which help sustain ecosystems from the soil up, creating habitat for native pollinators, birds, and wetland residents.

New this year is the lavender labyrinth, which includes more than 900 lavender plants and a half-mile of meditative, lavender-scented walkway. Also, for the first time, Bees N Blooms is hosting free Open-Farm Days now through Labor Day, where the public can tour the flower fields, walk the lavender labyrinth, visit the ducks, and watch the pollinators at work.

Visitors will learn about the different types of lavender and its uses, as well as interesting tidbits about organic farming and native pollinators. There's also a farm stand with fresh organic flowers, honey, duck eggs, and organic produce.

Bees N Blooms
3883 Petaluma Hill Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-293-8293
beesnblooms.com

Media Contact
Susan Kegley
707-293-8293
info@beesnblooms.com

 

WINERIES

Meadowcroft Wines adds hands-on harvest experience
Grab your pruning shears and get to work picking pinot noir from Meadowcroft Wine's Cornerstone Vineyard during its new hands-on harvest experience, 9-11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13.

Led by owner and winegrower Tom Meadowcroft, guests will get a glimpse of what really goes on during harvest. And after working hard in the vineyard, guests will be rewarded with breakfast in the vineyard.

“Harvest is the most magical time of year. It's truly captivating to see the transformation from grape to wine,” said Meadowcroft. “We want to share this incredible experience with our guests. Top off this experience with bragging rights that you had a hand in the 2018 Cornerstone Vineyard Pinot Noir.”

The cost of the Meadowcroft Harvest Experience is $80 per person, and reservations are required. To reserve, call 707-934-4090 or email tastingroom@meadowcroftwines.com.

Meadowcroft Wines
23574 Arnold Drive
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-934-4090
www.meadowcroftwines.com

Media Contact
Deanna Holzapfel
707-318-8786
Deanna@meadowcroftwines.com

JCB Tasting Salon returns to Healdsburg
Enlighten all your senses with a luxurious wine experience at the newest JCB Tasting Salon located just off the Healdsburg Plaza — the same site JCB occupied until 2013.

Created by Jean-Charles Boisset, JCB represents a new height of luxury, uniting the world of wine and fashion in luxurious tasting locations and experiences. The Healdsburg salon is the fifth JCB location and the Boisset Collection's third property in Sonoma County, joining DeLoach Vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma.

Each JCB salon has its own unique look and feel. The Healdsburg space has been expanded to include a second room and reimagined as a luxurious lounge that reflects and captures the energy and spirit of Boisset and evokes the pleasures of the wine lifestyle. Open daily, the new JCB Tasting Salon – Healdsburg features the critically acclaimed wines from the JCB collection, including Sonoma wines crafted just for this salon.

JCB Tasting Salon – Healdsburg
320 Center St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-339-3921
jcbcollection.com

Media Contact
Megan Long
707-963-6939
megan.long@boisset.com

RESTAURANTS & EATERIES

Gator's Rustic Burger brings Cajun, Creole to Petaluma
In addition to a variety of burgers crafted with 100 percent grass-fed California beef, the new Gator's Rustic Burger & His Creole Friends brings distinctive California-Cajun dishes to Petaluma in southern Sonoma County.

Chef Glenn “Gator” Thompson's innovative and unique flavor profiles built a cult following throughout the Bay Area as he worked under renowned chef Paul Bertolli at Oliveto and then on his own as chef-owner at Alcatraces in Noe Valley.

Concerned about his health, Thompson opened a Gator's Rustic Burger food truck and catering company in Petaluma with a goal of reconstructing the hamburger, a staple to American fare, with an emphasis on flavor and healthy ingredients. In his new restaurant Thompson is featuring his burgers while also sharing his distinctive California-Cajun dishes.

The menu includes southern-inspired dishes like the Rustic Mississippi Catfish Rich Boy, Gator's Crawfish Étouffée, and Madagascar Vanilla Bean Grits & Roasted Butternut Squash. There's also an Alligator Burger, Smoked Chicken & Cajun Sausage Jambalaya, and Sweet Potato Fries with Vanilla Bean Aioli. Milkshakes are made with Three Twins ice cream, and desserts include Southern Style Peanut Butter Pie, Warm Chocolate Bread Pudding Turtle, and Grandma's Peach Cobbler.

Gator's Rustic Burger & His Creole Friends
5 Petaluma Blvd. S.
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-658-1845
www.gatorscreolefriends.com

Media Contact
Gator's Rustic Burger & His Creole Friends
707-658-1845
gator@creolefirends.com

Harvest Eatery & Gourmet Pantry features healthy comfort food
Enjoy simple, refined food and drink with an emphasis on health, freshness, and sustainability at the new Harvest Eatery & Gourmet Pantry in Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County.

Harvest serves health-conscious, sustainably sourced food in a fast-casual atmosphere. The restaurant is committed to serving delicious, satisfying food with no compromises, in the belief that contrary to popular belief “comfort food” and “health conscious” can go hand-in-hand.

Main entrées include Grilled Flat Iron steak with roasted potatoes and blue lake beans; Vegetable Lasagna, and Pad Thai, as well as a Farro Veggie Bowl, Southwestern Bowl, and Poke Bowl. The menu also includes a selection of snack packs, starters, wraps, sandwiches, salads, bowls, and smoothies.

Harvest Eatery & Gourmet Pantry
5 Petaluma Blvd. S., Suite D
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-781-8800
www.harvestbythepatio.comlocations/petaluma

Media Contact
Harvest Eatery & Gourmet Pantry
707-781-8800
Jennifer.meram@americannationalinvestments.com

Honey & the Moon Coffee & Bake Shop offers organic delights
Using local and organic ingredients, the new Honey & the Moon Coffee & Bake Shop in the town of Sonoma in eastern Sonoma County crafts classics such as butter croissants and seasonal scones as well as innovative baked goods like rocky road cookies and fun plays on cheesecakes.

The shop also makes a selection of items catering to a variety of health-conscious diets and lifestyles, including vegan and gluten-free. The vanilla vegan cupcakes and the superfood maple crunch granola are popular. The shop also pours a unique and custom coffee roasted for them by Acre Coffee in Sebastopol.

The shop name comes from the phrase “to the moon and back,” an expression of love that mirrors the passion of bake shop owners Mila Chanamé and James Hahn for providing delicious, healthy food. They also own two other popular eateries in the town of Sonoma, the Sunflower Caffé, which they founded 10 years ago, and the Breakaway Café, which they bought in 2017 and plan to relaunch as Mint & Liberty Diner later this year.

Honey & the Moon Coffee & Bake Shop
720 W. Napa St.
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-934-8797
www.havethemoon.com

Media Contact
Michael Coats
707-935-6203
Michael@coatspr.com

TOURS

New 'field guide' highlights sustainable western Sonoma County
Follow the new West Sonoma County Field Guide to restaurants, wineries, and other locally owned businesses that are small-scale, artisan, seasonal, organic/biodynamic, and community-enriching in western Sonoma County.

The new map is produced by LocalFoodMatters.org — a collaborative social platform dedicated to the ethics of place, food, and community, and sponsored by Lowell's Restaurant in Sebastopol. Basically, a curated list, the small guide is a treasure map to businesses that have made a commitment to true sustainability.

The restaurants listed use locally sourced, seasonal, and organic ingredients. The wineries use organic and biodynamic practices, hand-harvest their grapes, and make wine with minimal intervention. And the “health and happiness” businesses are committed to sustainability, in their own unique ways.

The cute and colorful maps were printed locally on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper with soy inks. Printed copies of the map are available by calling 707-829-1077, emailing map@lowellssebastopol.com, or at Lowell's Restaurant, 7385 Healdsburg Ave., Sebastopol. Or, download a pdf or the map at lowellssebastopol.com.

West Sonoma County Field Guide
Produced by Lowell's Restaurant
7385 Healdsburg Ave.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-829-1077
lowellssebastopol.com

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Gorrell
925-588-9070
eagorrell@gmail.com

Bike Healdsburg gives the party wheels
Eat, drink, and pedal your way through the charming Sonoma Wine Country town of Healdsburg on an all-inclusive group party bike tour with Bike Healdsburg.

Looking a bit like a small bus or trolley, a party bike is a group bicycle powered by the pedaling of 10 people, plus four non-pedaling seats (two over the back wheels, and a back bench that holds two people). It's available for corporate retreats or team-building events, birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, engagement and wedding parties, graduation celebrations, retirements, and family reunions.

Bike Healdsburg offers four different tours: Morning Exercise ($20); a Progressive Lunch visiting three of Healdsburg's tastiest establishments ($99); Wine & Nibbles with three wine tastings, complete with small bites ($99); and a Gourmet Progressive Dinner enjoying four of Healdsburg's finest eats and drinks ($149).

Bike Healdsburg
Downtown
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-385-1477
www.bikehealdsburg.com

Media Contact
Jessica Bangs
707-385-477
Jessica@bikehealdsburg.com

Explore off the beaten path with Bohemian Highway Travel Co.
Meet local makers, sample undiscovered wines and brews, and see a side of Sonoma County known only to locals and savvy travelers with the new Bohemian Highway Travel Co.

Named for a scenic stretch of roadway in western Sonoma County and founded by well-traveled and well-connected Sonoma County locals who believe in the spirit of adventure, Bohemian Highway Travel focuses on places and experiences not found on the traditional wine tour. Their uniquely named tours include Hay Bales, Handshake Deals & Pickup Trucks; Produce, Pinot and, Quite Possibly, Pigs; Bohemian Backroads; Call of the Wild; and Behind Closed Doors.

Their tour vehicles of choice are classic Land Rover Defenders — built for fun, incredibly safe, and holding up to seven passengers — which come stocked with coolers filled with snacks and beverages.

Bohemian Travel Co.
Sonoma County
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-204-9660
www.bohohwy.com

Media Contact
Bohemian Travel Co.
707-204-9660
go@bohohwy.com

Wine Country Trekking adds Bodega Bay-to-Healdsburg route
Stroll your way across Sonoma County on the new Bodega Bay-to-Healdsburg route offered by Wine Country Trekking, which provides luxurious, self-guided, European-style, inn-to-inn walking vacations.

The once-in-a-lifetime vacation features walking, wine tasting, fabulous restaurants, premiere lodging, intriguing special excursions, and spectacular scenery. The new five-day/four-night route starts on the Sonoma Coast, explores the ancient redwoods in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, visits fabulous Dry Creek Valley wineries, and ends in the chic town of Healdsburg. The amount of walking done each day varies from three to nine miles (5 to 14 km).

The trek is self-guided, which means you travel with your own family or friends, and not with strangers. Wine Country Trekking provides a complete itinerary, with custom maps and detailed trail notes. They make the arrangements for meals and lodging, and transfer your luggage between inns. Since most guests prefer to choose their own dinner venues, Wine Country Trekking provides a list of options and makes reservations for the chosen restaurants.

Wine Country Trekking
P.O. Box 938
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707-935-4497
winecountrytrekking.com

Media Contact
Sheila Taylor
925-818-7795
info@winecountrytrekking.com

SHOPPING

Shop local at Roost General Store in Windsor
The new Roost General Store on the town green in downtown Windsor in central Sonoma County offers thoughtfully selected and unique items to let you bring the laid-back Wine Country lifestyle to your home and your life.

A modern twist on a general store, Roost is the dream business of owners Heather Walters and Therese Gabaldon. It features local home goods, pantry provisions, clothing, jewelry, and other locally made products.

Roost General Store
9111 Windsor Road
Windsor, CA 95492
707-620-0654
www.roostgeneralstore.com

Media Contact
Heather Walters and Therese Gabaldon
707-620-0654
info@roostgeneralstore.com

Adelle Stoll store, studio now at The Barlow
Handcrafted original goods and personal accessories thoughtfully designed for the modern minimalist by designer Adelle Stoll are now on display in her new store and studio in The Barlow, a 12.5-acre artisan and culinary center in Sebastopol, in western Sonoma County.

Stoll expresses her love of modern design by crafting soft materials into classic and bold architectural shapes, creating iconic pieces. All her goods are made using materials carefully chosen for their quality and durability.

Wanting to give people a place to shop for quality products that weren't made in China, Stoll founded a store carrying modern artisan goods, all made in America. Using feedback from her customers, she refined the designs that are now her trademark style.

Eventually Stoll closed the store to focus on her product line. She creates new original designs and wearable art for every season, and her handbags, home décor, jewelry, and other accessories are the heart her new store and studio in The Barlow.

Adelle Stoll
6780 McKinley St., Suite 140
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-291-4484
www.adellestoll.com

Media Contact
Adelle Stoll
707-291-4484
info@adellestoll.com

Elsie Green features sustainable home décor
Get inspired at the new Elsie Green home goods store in The Barlow, a 12.5-acre culinary and artisan center in Sebastopol, in western Sonoma County.

The folks at this small, sustainable, family-run company travel to France, Morocco, and Eastern Europe to find vintage furniture, décor, kitchenware, linens, and other items for the home. Containers of treasures are shipped back to the company's original store (in Concord in the East Bay) and to its new location in Sebastopol.

From vintage oversized copper pots to new cylindrical wine glasses, the Elsie Green stores blend old with new, creating a contemporary look using unique, older pieces.

Elsie Green
6770 McKinley St., #140
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-634-0333
elsiegreen.com

Media Contact
Elsie Green
707-634-0333
Carolyn@elsiegreen.com

Scout West County: A modern general store
The entire family can shop for their wardrobes, their home, and unique gifts for friends at the new Scout West County store in Sebastopol, in western Sonoma County.

Located in The Barlow, a 12.5-acre artisan and culinary center, Scout West County focuses on aesthetic sustainability and craftsmanship, featuring both local and global makers.

After four years of running her own local shop, the Kitty Hawk Gallery, owner Grace Estrada teamed up with her husband and fellow artisan Oliver to move beyond wearables and other items for women and children to create a store for the entire family.

All objects carry stories — the earth and hands that shaped it, the minds, that made it, the hearts that crave it. Scout West County works to help create inspiring environments with ethical objects because what we surround ourselves with impacts our lives and the lives of those who made it.

Scout West County
6780 Depot St., Suite 140
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-827-6045
scoutwestcounty.com

Media Contact
Scout West County
707-827-6045
hello@scoutwestcounty.com

WELLNESS

Tranquility Massage & Spa opens Windsor location
Relax and renew your body and spirit at the new Tranquility Massage & Spa location in Windsor, in central Sonoma County.

This is the third location for Tranquility, which also offers massage and day spa services in Cloverdale in northern Sonoma County and Fort Bragg in coastal Mendocino County.

Tranquility provides deep tissue and Swedish massage, which use long, deep strokes to help relieve muscle stress and tension. They also offer ionic detox foot baths, which use small electrical currents to generate positively charged ions throughout the bod; these ions latch onto negatively charged toxins, neutralizing and discarding them. Aromatherapy and reflexology treatments are also available.

Tranquility Massage & Spa Windsor
170 Windsor River Road, Suite E
Windsor, CA 95492
707-494-3030
tranquilitymassageandspa.net

Media Contact
Stephanie Lee Reitzell, Certified Massage Therapist
707-494-3030
steph.reitz@mac.com

# # #

Find your passion in Sonoma County, located only 30 miles north of San Francisco and featuring more than 425 wineries, 100-plus organic farms, and 50 miles of stunning Pacific Ocean coastline.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800.

Birgitt Vaughan
Public Relations Manager
Sonoma County Tourism
400 Aviation Blvd., Suite 500
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-522-5826
bvaughan@sonomacounty.com

Editors: High-resolution photos can be found at
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