Weekend Adventures Update

80 North: Berkeley, BeBop

2012-02-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

BeBop 2975 College Ave./Ashby Ave., Elmwood, Claremont, (510) 848-8081. L-D daily; $. No reservations. Celebrating the traditional Korean bibimbap rice bowl, this small clean-lined cafe provides a choice of cold bowls or hot stone bowls. For the hot bowl, the cold-bowl version is placed in a heavy bowl that cooks the ingredients continuously while you eat. In fact, you need to keep stirring to get the crispy rice forming on the bottom up to the top (rice is a choice of white, brown or mixed grain). Amazingly, the stone bowl cooks the food so hot that my waiter gave me a plate to put the hot food on to cool down so I wouldn’t burn my mouth. Menu choices come from adding specific additional ingredients to the basic vegetables and rice—perhaps some marinated sliced beef or chicken or spicy shrimp or mixed mushrooms. Cuttlefish and raw salmon are also options, as is the traditional egg on top. The idea is to mix everything together to meld the flavors. Bowls come with a delicious traditional red pepper paste sauce and choice of three others, as well as hot roasted rice-green tea, an appetizer of creamy pumpkin porridge, vegetarian broth soup, and a few tiny side dishes. No MSG is used, and a natural plum sweetener is substituted for cane sugar. Utensils here are a long spoon and metal chopsticks, but a fork is available upon request.

image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Greater East Bay: Orinda, Siam Orchid

2012-01-13T13:21:00.000-08:00

Siam Orchid 23-F Orinda Way, (925) 253-1975. L M-F, D daily; $$. Reservations taken. Loctated in tree-lined strip mall, this quiet spot has a full bar. Lunch specials include a flavorful soup with fresh spinach and garlic, a spring roll, and a tasty salad. Pad Thai, eggplant with chicken, and stir-fry dishes in general are particularly good. Several delicious hot sauces spice thing up.

image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Albany, Aangan Indo-Nepalese Cuisine

2012-01-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

Aangan Indo-Nepalese Cuisine 856 San Pablo Ave./Solano Ave., in Albany, (510) 524-2220. With a cozy combination of brick and colorfully painted walls, original paintings featuring scenes of Kathmandu, and cheerful repeat-print patterned tablecloths made from Nepalese fabric, this cheery one-room venue is welcoming and friendly. It appears to be a recycled lounge, with some tables set on the raised former stage. On the two times I dined here, it seemed like many people at different tables knew one another. Nepal’s Himalayan cuisine is influenced by both India and China. You can choose the degree of spiciness, and spicy here means just that. Delicious full-flavored choices on the menu include vegetarian steamed momos (similar to potstickers) filled with a finely-chopped veggie mixture and served with a tasty dipping sauce that includes powdered berries from Nepal, aloo tikki chat (potato pancakes with garbanzo beans and both tamarind and mint chutneys), keema roti (a crispy bread stuffed with spiced lamb), tasty yellow fish curry, and satisfying spicy okra with potatoes. Goat stew and a vegetarian platter are also options. A thick mango lassi can serve as both drink and dessert, but kheer (rice pudding) and kulfi (Indian pistachio ice cream) are also available.

image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

1 North; Muir Beach, The Pelican Inn

2012-01-06T16:32:00.000-08:00

update/p.xx

Just had a pleasant lunch of bangers and mash at the Pelican Inn. Fish & chips are also good, and local oysters are available on weekends. An additional charge is made for bread, which comes from the nearby Zen Center and is available Thursday through Sun only.

image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 South: San Mateo, Joy Luck Place--CLOSED

2012-01-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

update/p.170

Joy Luck Place is closed but Champagne Seafood Restaurant has opened in its place. Delicious dim sum is served via menu and from a few trays in a very large, high-ceilinged room. Cheery yellow walls, white table cloths, and a small wall of fish tanks add to the frenetic atmosphere. Favorite menu items include shrimp-and-chive dumplings, deep-fried taro balls, and thin-noodle soy sauce chow mein. Efficient service keeps the tea pot filled and dishes cleared.

88 E. 4th Ave./San Mateo Dr., downtown, (650) 343-6988.

image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

2012-01-02T15:46:00.000-08:00

update/p.24
videos c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

There's always something new at the SFMOMA.

“The Last Century” by Sam Taylor-Wood

"Exploded Views (Improv)" by Jim Campbell

80 North: Berkeley, Thai Delight Cuisine

2011-12-28T17:33:00.000-08:00

Thai Delight Cuisine 1700 Shattuck Ave./Virginia St., Gourmet Ghetto, (510) 549-0611. L-D daily; $$. Reservations accepted. Featuring a pleasant atmosphere, this one-room Thai venue provides a wall lined with comfortable booths as well as a sea of tables and chairs. The extensive lunch menu is well priced, with noodle dishes and rice plates, plus an entire page of veggie options and an additional several pages of organic choices. Particularly tasty items include pad Thai, green curry, pumpkin curry, basil eggplant, and pra ram tofu (with peanut sauce on top of spinach and broccoli). If you want spicy, do request it.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: El Cerrito, Banh Mi Ba Le

2011-12-21T17:12:00.000-08:00

Banh Mi Ba Le 10174 San Pablo Ave./Central, (510) 528-8882. Daily 8-6; $3/sandwich. This tiny strip-mall take-out spot has only one table inside plus two outside. The specialty is super delicious, cheap Vietnamese sandwiches that consist of a large crispy sandwich roll (made so crunchy by using a combination of wheat and rice flour), a choice of stuffing. They are spiced with chili pepper and fluffed with cucumber slices, shredded carrots, and cilantro. Of the ten choices, I favor the #7 (very red barbecued pork) and the #5 (meatballs that seem more like unstuffed sausage), but pork belly, bacon, and tofu are also among the possibilities. I thought the sandwiches must be quite small since they are each around $3, and so I ordered two. Big mistake for one person, since these sandwiches measure almost 12 inches, but I just took the extra one home and ate it the next day. To order, just get in line and choose your filling. Several other enticing take-out items are available, and some unusual drinks are in the fridge. Try to refrain from eating in your car because you’ll wind up with a lot of crumbs.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Berkeley, ACCI Gallery

2011-12-19T17:13:00.000-08:00

ACCI Gallery 1652 Shattuck Ave., (510) 843-2527. M-Sat 11-6, Sun 12-5. Featuring ceramics, jewelry, paintings and more, this is the place to find thet perfect gift.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Samovar

2011-12-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

Samovar 730 Howard St./3rd St., Upper Terrace of Yerba Buena Gardens, (415) 227-9400. Daily 10-8; $$. No reservations. A menu of whole-leaf teas along with some sweet or savory treats are just the thing to enjoy here in the airy, high-ceilinged interior space or outside on the sprawling patio overlooking Yerba Buena Gardens. The Upper Terrace is home to Sister City Gardens, which features flowering plants from San Francisco’s thirteen sister cities. Try the housemade Masala chai paired with a cherry-oat scone or smoked wild salmon quiche, or maybe one of the cultural tea services—the Moorish spread comes with veggie kebabs, mint salad, endamame hummus and roasted eggplant spreads, chevre-stuffed dates, and mint tea.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Contemporary Jewish Museum

2011-12-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

update/page 28

Who knew that Bay Area “Jewish surf music” even existed? A delightful photo of "Hassids with surfboards" (it is also on the album cover of Meshugga Beach Party's latest album, “Let’s Go Shleppin!”) is part of the "California Dreaming" show here, running through October 16, 2012. Don't miss it . . . or the Houdini: Art and Magic show, which displays some amazing video footage and continues through January 16, 2012.

more of my blogs about the CJM:
http://weekendadventuresupdate.blogspot.com/2009/07/san-francisco-contemporary-jewish.html

http://weekendadventuresupdate.blogspot.com/2010/11/updatepage-28-www.html

80 North: Berkeley, Origen: a Farm to Fork Restaurant

2011-12-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Origen: a Farm to Fork Restaurant 2826 Telegraph Ave./Oregon St., (510) 848-9200. L Tu-F, D Tu-Sun; $$. The restaurant’s name is a Catalan word meaning “from the source.” The locally-sourced menu changes daily and features international flavors, Catalan influences, and a small plates presentation. Chef-owner Trace Leighton says, “We do large flavors on small plates.” My meal began with a stiff 50’s-style “freight & salvage” highball made with Redemption rye, Chartreuse, and Carpano. It took the edge off. My companion and I ordered everything to share: really good potatoes bravas with aioli, pan-fried baby Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and aged sherry vinegar, a silky wilted spinach salad with beets and pecans (it definitely wasn’t wilted, but was still very good). We enjoyed a highly-seasoned, spicy paella--one variety is available each day--with shrimp, pistachios, and squash; it had a creamy consistency like a risotto. Room remained for just a few slices of the tasty Basque chorizo pizza made in a wood-fired brick oven and so most of it went home with us (it measured 9 inches and featured a soft, fluffy, chewy crust). Many items can be prepared vegan by request. A five-course prix fixe menu with optional wine pairings changes daily. Desserts include homey bread pudding, a scrumptious butterscotch-pecan blondie, and assorted artisan cheeses. Polished wood paneling and accents by Berkeley Mills provide a warm decor, and some booths offer comfy seating. My favorite touch is the soft dish towels that are used as oversize napkins.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Christmas events, Nevada City & Grass Valley

2011-12-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

updates/pp. 367, 370, &; 371

WHAT: Victorian Christmas
WHERE: Nevada City
WHEN: December 7, 11, 14, 18, and 21; Wednesdays 5-9 PM, Sundays 1:30-6 PM
DETAILS: This Gold Rush town’s historic district is closed to traffic and transformed into Christmas past, and enchanting melodies and costumed characters take visitors to another time and place. Enjoy tasting chestnuts roasted on an open fire, hearing strolling minstrels and brass bands, riding on a hay wagon, and more. Among the promises: Victorian singers, bagpipers, a living nativity scene, a walking Christmas tree, and, of course, Santa Claus.
MORE INFO: (800) 655-NJOY, (530) 265-2692
and
WHAT: Cornish Christmas
WHERE: Grass Valley
WHEN: On Fridays, beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 25) until the Friday before Christmas (December 23), 6-9 PM.
DETAILS: Experience an old-time Christmas at this event celebrating the traditions of the Cornish miners who settled this neighboring Gold Rush town. Visitors can taste traditional food and drink, hear period music, and dance in the traffic-free downtown streets.
MORE INFO: (530) 272-8315

NEARBY LODGING: National Hotel (in Nevada City), (530) 265-4551. Located right in the center of all the action, on the town's main street, this claims to be the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Rockies--maybe even west of the Mississippi. Built in 1856, it is a state historical landmark and features high ceilings, cozy floral wallpapers, and old-time furniture.

101 North: Petaluma, Della Fattoria

2011-12-05T14:21:00.000-08:00

Della Fattoria 141 Petaluma Blvd. N, (707) 763-0161. Tu-Thur & Sat 7-3, F 7am-9pm, Sun 9-3; $$. Part artisan bread bakery and part cafe, this is a cozy, pleasing venue for a tasty breakfast or lunch. Breakfast items include a housemade bagel with homemade cream cheese and smoked salmon (though it is near perfect, a few garnishes—perhaps some onions and pickles—would be nice) and a crusty housemade rosemary-Meyer lemon bread toasted and topped with pureed flageolet beans, Laura Chenel chevre, roasted garlic, and olive oil. Do remember to order up a loaf of bread and a bag of granola (heavy on nuts mixed with oats) to take home.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Greater East Bay: Orinda, Szechwan Restaurant

2011-12-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Szechwan Restaurant 79 Orinda Way, (925) 254-2020. L Tu-Sat, D Tu-Sun; $$. Simple, clean, and with a nice park view, this welcoming spot also has quite a few comfy booths. No MSG is used in the dishes, which include tasty hot-and-sour soup, sweet-and-sour pork (cut in small pieces and not overly sweet), and Szechwan beef (deep-fried meat punctuated with bright green peas). The bargain lunch special includes tea, soup, salad, appetizer, rice, entrée, orange slices, and a fortune cookie.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Jane

2011-11-30T12:59:00.000-08:00

Jane 2123 Fillmore St., Upper Fillmore, (415) 931-5263. This small, narrow venue features tall ceilings and windows, a variety of seating options, and a scrumptious menu. Diners order at the counter near a mouth-watering display of baked goods. You can’t go wrong with the combo plate, most especially the veggie chopped salad combined with the tomato-basil-mozzarella-pesto panini. More tasty possibilities include a Nicoise salad, Asian chicken salad, and Duroc ham-Gruyere panini. Oh yeah, those pastries. I thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate chip toffee cookie, and plan to try the chocolate cherry cake next time.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Petaluma, Metro Hotel

2011-11-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

Metro Hotel 508 Petaluma Blvd. S., 6 blocks SE of downtown, (707) 773-4900. 14 rooms, 2 cottages, 1 Airstream trailer; 2 stories. Limited continental breakfast. No pets.
Located on a main thoroughfare four blocks south of downtown, this unusual lodging complex consists of rooms within an 1870s mansion as well as several cottages and an Airstream trailer. A mix of cheerful French blue and other perky colors welcomes guests. For the minimalist breakfast you make your own cup of drip coffee--which is kind of fun and it is the gourmet organic Peet’s brand--and then select from a couple of pastries that might include a pumpkin or blueberry tea cake. The French atmosphere is enhanced with music and decor, yet subtle. Rooms are decorated similarly with a Parisian flair: walls in varying soft color washes; a chalk-board for a headboard; light, natural hardwood floors; distressed antiques. Most rooms have the spaciousness and high ceilings that come with Victorian mansions. Bathrooms vary, and all but two rooms have a clawfoot tub with a shower. Vintage touches include tiny one-inch, six-sided white floor tiles and two-faucet sinks. A bocce court invites play, and many benches beckon in the small garden.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Hyatt Regency San Francisco

2011-11-25T12:05:00.000-08:00

update/p.52

Hyatt Regency San Francisco is hosting snowfall throughout the holiday season in its dramatic atrium lobby--dubbed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest. Snow falls three times daily through December 31, 2011. In addition, you'll see thousands of dramatic cascading lights and a spectacular 30-foot tree.

Plus, Breakfast with Santa in the Eclipse Café occurs December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 from 8am–noon

and

ice skating at the Embarcadero Holiday Skating Rink occurs daily from through January 2, 2012

images c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Berkeley, 900 Grayson

2011-11-23T14:17:00.000-08:00

900 Grayson 900 Grayson St./7th St., (510) 704-9900. B-L M-Sat; $$. No reservations. Situated within an atmospheric vintage building, this cozy restaurant usually requires a wait. Once inside, it isn’t easy to choose from the tantalizing menu choices, but The Demon Lover does seem to be the runaway favorite. It consists of a spectacular crispy fried chicken breast atop an unremarkable waffle and is draped in old-time white chicken gravy; it is fork-licking good, but next time I order it, I’m doing it a la carte and getting the chicken with a side of gravy and slaw). Herb french fries, a burger, a pulled-pork sandwich, and coriander-crusted rare ahi tuna are also very good. Libations include unique mixed drinks and agua fresca.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Santa Rosa, Safari West

2011-11-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

update/p.233

Check out the new baby giraffe at Safari West:

880 South: Oakland, Oasis Food Market

2011-11-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

Oasis Food Market 3045 Telegraph Ave., (510) 655-5111. Daily 9am-10pm; $. In addition to a deli and grocery, this Middle Eastern market has an informal dining area. It’s easy to fall in love with the smoky babaghanouge and crunchy red Turkish salad, especially when paired with 9-inch rounds of zatar-topped “pies,” but do save room for perhaps a kabob or shawarma or falafel. Five kinds of Feta and six varieties of olive are also available. Note that a paper menu at the counter makes ordering easier. Halal meat, hookahs, and Arabic kitchenware are also for sale.

101 North: Petaluma, Sonoma Valley Portworks

2011-11-16T17:02:00.000-08:00

Sonoma Valley Portworks 613 Second St., Riverfront Warehouse District, (707) 769-5203. Daily 12-5. Tasting here includes six wines—perhaps the chocolaty Deco port, or the Duet hazelnut sherry--plus the rich, sweet Sonomic “almost” vinegar. On weekends, tastings are paired with cheeses and sweets, and amazingly it’s all free. Bottling takes place in the back.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Petaluma, The Find

2011-11-14T16:33:00.000-08:00

The Find 322 Western Ave., (707) 763-2276. This spacious shop features home furnishings on consignment as well as many chicken-related items—perhaps a series of chicken-head paintings or an antique chicken egg incubator.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 South: Palo Alto, Hotel Keen

2011-11-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

Hotel Keen 425 High St./University Ave., downtown, (650) 327-2775. 42 rooms; 3 stories. Afterrnoon wine tasting; evening cookies; grab-and-go breakfast. No pets. Located a quiet half-block from vibrant University Avenue and its plethora of shops and restaurants, this Very Now new hotel features a cool color scheme-- grey, black, and white with a few splashes of color. Spiffy touches include a shiny whiteboard wall behind each 32-inch flat screen TV (with HBO), where guests can write notes and express their inner artist. Though no parking is provided, free hours in an adjacent public lot accommodate most schedules. An alcove the sleek lobby holds an honor snack bar and a small breakfast room (breakfasts ordered the night before will be boxed and ready for pickup). Though not spacious, the deluxe room is efficient and comfortable for a couple; the standard room is 25% smaller and has no closet. The bathroom and closet door is a curtain. A nearby fitness center is available at additional charge.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Plymouth, Amador Flower Farm

2011-11-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

Amador Flower Farm 22001 Shenandoah School Rd., (209) 245-6660. Daily 9-4. Free. No pets. Four acres of demonstration gardens display unusual perennials (including some deer-resistant varieties) and grasses plus almost a dozen types of peony (there are only two or three dozen in existence) that bloom in April and May and the 60 varieties of rose that begin blooming of May. The star attraction is the more than 1,000 different daylilies displayed. Peak of bloom is mid-June through July, when an annual Daylily Days celebration is held that includes fruit tasting and a free tram ride around the farm. Several pond-side picnic tables are provided under gigantic heritage oak trees.

880 South: Oakland, Xyclo

2011-11-07T18:17:00.000-08:00

Xyclo 4218 Piedmont Ave., Entrada Ave., (510) 654-2681. L-D daily; $$. Reservations advised. In simple but pleasant surroundings, this Vietnamese venue inspires diners to argue over which is the best dish. The list of possibilities includes stuffed eggplant (actually long slices of eggplant tossed with lengthwise slices of fried shrimp, green onion, and sake sauce), spicy green beans, chili ribs, devil wings, spicy steak salad, pho, double spring rolls, sugarcane shrimp roll, bird’s nest noodles, and lemongrass basil chicken dish. And on and on. It is difficult to order poorly.

101 North: Ukiah, Schat’s Bakery Cafe

2011-11-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Schat’s Bakery Cafe 113 W. Perkins St., downtown, (707) 462-1670. B-L; $. Located across from the town’s court house, this popular Dutch-heritage bakery makes everything from scratch. Step up to the counter to order. For breakfast it’s omelettes, waffles, burritos, and plenty more; for lunch think soups, salads, stuffed baked potatoes, and sandwiches (including a build your own) made with delicious organic bread—do try the whole-grain sunflower seed or the cloud-soft sheepherder. Popular bakery items include Dutch crunch bread, fruit pastries, oversize macaroons, and hunky muffins. Goods are well priced to begin with, but leftovers become half-price after 5:30 p.m.

80 North: Berkeley, Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto

2011-11-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

update/p.296

The new Sunday brunch buffet at Spenger's includes omelette/waffle and prime rib/ham carving stations, fresh fruit, seasonal fresh shell fish (usually the seafood trifecta of crab, prawns, oysters), smoked red salmon, talapia and catfish items, crispy romaine lettuce and delicious dressing, breakfast pastries, and more, plus coffee, tea, and soda ($29.95, age 10 and under $10.95). In fact there are so many delicious options that I barely made a dent in them, yet I ate little more for the rest of the day. A bottomless Mimosa or glass of sparkling wine is $8. Seating in the central “snugs room” is light and cheery, while the comfy booths lining the bar buffet are darker but also closer to the food.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Ripley's Believe It or Not! San Francisco Odditorium

2011-11-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

update/p.29

At last! You can visit Ripley’s for less moo-lah and do a good deed at the same time. Here’s the deal. With a donation of five non-perishable food items, you can purchse a ticket to Ripley's Believe It or Not! San Francisco Odditorium for just $5 (regular adult ticket price is $19.99). All food collected goes to the San Francisco Food Bank/Marin Food Bank partnership. Have fun while doing some good for others. Can’t beat that! Offer is good November 6 through 10.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Plymouth, Shenandoah Inn

2011-10-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

Shenandoah Inn 17674 Village Dr., (800) 542-4549, (209) 245-4491. 46 rooms. Unheated pool; hot tub. Pets ok in some rooms. Continental breakfast. Featuring clean-lined contemporary style, this 2-story mission-style hilltop motel offers two wings of spacious, attractively decorated rooms outfitted with posh Sealy Posturepedic mattresses and a white double-sheeted comforter. Most rooms overlook Shenandoah Valley’s bucolic cow pastures. An area with picnic tables and barbecues is adjacent to the pool.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Berkeley, Ajanta

2011-10-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

update/p.289

Soft-spoken Ajanta owner Lachu Moorjani was the first to offer organic ingredients in a Bay Area Indian restaurant. He also is the first to bring in regional Indian dishes. (His cookbook--Ajanta: Regional Feasts of India--features these regional dishes and is available for purchase at the restaurant; he will sign it for you.) Other restaurants offer these exotic dishes now, but no one else has the variety. The menu rotates regularly, so each time you return many new dishes are available. I recently dined here once again and was particularly impressed with the creative vegetarian selections. Tandoori portobello mushrooms are moist and chewy and spiced with cloves and cinnamon. Badal Jaam consists of smoky, thick eggplant slices that are fried and brushed with housemade tomato sauce and mango powder. My favorite, Baby Squash Medley, consisted of a variety of squashes mixed with peas and paneer cheese in a tomato curry sauce. I also especially liked both the spectacular tandoori scallops appetizer (they had just the right texture and were served with a yogurt-cashew-tamarind sauce) and the Methi Machi (a filet of fresh wild salmon in a delicious tomato-based sauce). A mango mousse or creamy frozen Kulfi studded with pistachios paired with a cup of decaf chai provides the perfect ending.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Zeum

2011-10-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

update/p.43

Zeum will reopen on October 15 transformed into the Children’s Creativity Museum.
• It provides hands-on art and technology experiences for kids age 3-12.
• The new Imagination Lab is ideally suited for the youngest visitors (ages 3-5).
• During opening weekend, October 15-16, Target will sponsor free admission to the Children’s Creativity Museum, as well as free rides on the historic 1906 Charles Looff carousel.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
(depicts carousel in Berkeley's Tilden Park)

1 South: Monterey, Stokes Restaurant & Bar--CLOSED

2011-10-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

update/p.118

Is now Restaurant 1833.

101 North: Ukiah, Branches Wood Fired Chop House & Hampton Inn

2011-10-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

Branches Wood Fired Chop House 1180 Airport Park Blvd., 2 mi. S of town, (707) 468‐5400. $$. Reservations taken. This gargantuan space houses a retail area with a butcher shop and bakery, plus an upscale restaurant, a traditional Irish-style pub and sports bar (it is well-insulated so the noise does not spill over), and an adjacent quiet “grown-ups bar.” Diners can eat and then gather more goodies for their next meal at home. The wide-open main dining room has an extremely high ceiling with open rafters, plenty of comfortable booths, and a menu that offers dishes made from the freshest local ingredients. Almost everything is made in-house in the semi-open kitchen behind an outcropping of decorative reeds. The restaurant also has its own gardens. Though the menu changes regularly, popular items include a pepper-crusted filet mignon with Jack Daniels demi glace, a sourdough-crusted pizza, and some vegan items. Order one of the delicious sausages when available (the curried lamb and angry pig are superb). Pastry chef Debbie Coenen formerly cooked for the royals in Buckingham Palace, so be sure to try one of her delicious creations—perhaps an old-fashioned cream puff or an apricot tart.

Though usually there are no surprises in franchise lodgings, this boutique Hampton Inn (1160 Airport Park Blvd., (800) hampton, (707) 462-6555. 3 floors; 76 rooms. Some fireplaces. Pool; hot tub; fitness room. Full breakfast.) is next door and the only one in the U.S. with private patios and balconies. It features a nicely landscaped pool area with two koi ponds, and all rooms are oversize.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Greater East Bay: Danville, Esin Restaurant and Bar

2011-09-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

Esin Restaurant and Bar 750 Camino Ramon, in The Rose Garden shopping center, (925) 314-0974. L-D daily; $$-$$$. A favorite with local critics and foodies, this sophisticated restaurant features high ceilings, large windows, and comfortable seating--including banquettes and booths--in its large, airy open space. The menu offers housemade soups and creative salads as well as pastas, fish, and meats. Desserts are exceptional and not to be trifled with; don’t miss the black-bottom banana cream pie--oh my!—or the fave peanut butter cheesecake.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Berkeley, Trattoria La Siciliana

2011-09-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Trattoria La Siciliana 2993 College Ave./Ashby Ave., in Elmwood, (510) 704-1474. D daily; $$. Cash only. Reservations advised (taken for 3+). Tables here are tucked into a narrow space with an upstairs area to help handle overflow. The menu is extensive, and all pastas are made from scratch on site. Meals are meant to be shared and begin with a tasty olive oil dip made with plenty of garlic and herbs and a hint of heat. Though it does seem difficult to order wrong, tried-and-true dishes include portobello mushroom ravioli, rollatini di Melenzane (eggplant rolls), pappardelle pasta with either a light mixture of sausage and kale or with a long-simmered pork ragu sauce, and sometimes lobster linguine.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Ukiah, Ukiah Brewing Company & Restaurant

2011-09-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

Ukiah Brewing Company & Restaurant 102 S. State St., downtown, (707) 468-5898. L-D daily; $$. Takes reservations. Do your body a healthy favor and have a brew and a meal at the first certified organic brewpub and the second certified organic brewery in the U.S. Beers are not filtered and available only on site. Everything on the eclectic menu here is made in the kitchen except the bread and buns, which come from Schat’s Bakery next door. The Orr Springs IPA is the most popular brew, but many also favor the Sunhouse Amber, Doppel Dunkel Weizen, and dark Coops Stout. Menu favorites include a burger, fresh fish & chips, a Sloppy Joe with caramelized onions and side of mild red cabbage slaw, a beet-walnut salad, and garlic fries. Housemade cucumber pickles are available in summer, and daikon radish pickles the rest of the year. The funky warehouse-style space offers seating in several areas and also outside, and live music is scheduled most evenings.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Berkeley, Vegi Food

2011-09-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

Vegi Food 2085 Vine St./Shattuck Ave., (510) 548-5244. L Tu-F, D daily; $. Reservations taken. No cards. This very simple cafe serves an all-vegan menu of Chinese food prepared in the Buddhist style--with no onions, garlic, eggs, fake meats, or MSG, but with plenty of vegetables and ginger and some tofu and gluten. Popular dishes include crispy fried pot stickers, spicy “shark fin” soup with plenty of tasty mushrooms but no sharks, soybean sheets with greens, crispy thin chow mein noodles with veggies, spicy eggplant, and asparagus or green beans in black bean sauce. Fried wontons and soup come with the bargain lunch special; brown rice is available at additional charge.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Plymouth, Deaver Vineyards & Winery and Amador Harvest Inn

2011-09-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

Deaver Vineyards & Winery 12455 Steiner Rd., (209) 245-4099. Daily 11-5. Though this Shenandoah Valley tasting room is simple and unfussy, the wines are delicious and the tranquil grounds boast picnic tables overlooking two manmade lakes dating from the 1930s. Deaver has been making wines here for four generations and have some of the area’s oldest “mission vines” (planted by missionaries in the 1850s). The roots of old vines go 20 feet into the ground and source their own water, so they don’t need to be watered further and produce grapes with an earthy taste. Wines include a Zinfandel made from the fruit of 140-year-old vines, a Primitivo from the same grandfather grape hailing from Croatia, and a very nice Zinfandel Port. The winery’s ten ports are fortified with brandy and delightfully sealed with wax, making a lovely gift.

Amador Harvest Inn 12455 Steiner Rd., (800) 217-2304, (209) 245-5512. 4 rooms. Unsuitable for children under 12. Full breakfast. No pets. Located adjacent to the winery, this Cape Cod-style house overlooks vineyards, mature oaks, and rolling hills.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Ukiah, Patrona

2011-09-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Patrona 130 W. Standley St., downtown, (707) 462-9181. L-D Tu-Sat; $$$. Reservations advised. Locally sourced California cuisine is served here in a serene atmosphere featuring rustic brick walls nicely accenting a chic decor of black leather hi-back chairs and tables of polished pepperwood repurposed from a nearby ranch. A creative cocktail is the perfect start—perhaps a pisco mojito with cucumber, lime, and mint--but the large Mendocino County wine list is also worth a look. The menu changes regularly, so there is no guarantee it will offer a tangy, finely chopped gazpacho soup, or a crunchy flash-fried cod with a sweet chili sauce, but fish here is generally very good.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Novato, Rustic Bakery

2011-09-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

Rustic Bakery 1407 Grant Ave., (415) 878-4952. Daily 7am-5pm; $. Diners at this bakery cafe pass by a mouth-watering selection of baked goods—specialty breads, flaky croissants, fruit pastries, huge cookies, bread pudding—then place their order at the counter for sandwiches, salads, and soups. A large window looks into the bakery kitchen. Seating is at a bank of tables across from the counter, and outside on the sidewalk in good weather.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Greater East Bay: Moraga, town of Canyon

2011-09-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

Canyon Along Pinehurst Rd., 3 mi. from Moraga. A narrow winding road leads through redwoods into no man’s land—-the rustic unincorporated community of Canyon. Stop at the post office to absorb the quiet, woodsy atmosphere.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

880 South: Livermore, La Rochelle & The Steven Kent Winery

2011-09-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

Steven Mirassou, who owns both of these wineries, says, "The wine business is like the fashion business, but it doesn’t move as quickly. People are always looking for new things."

La Rochelle
5443 Tesla Rd., (925) 243-6442. Tasting daily 12-4:30; no tour.
This winery focuses on Pinot Noir. In addition to a regular tasting, a flight tasting paired with a food platter is offered in its relaxing tasting room; reservations are not necessary.

The Steven Kent Winery 5443 Tesla Rd., (925) 243-6440. Tasting daily 12-4:30; no tour. This winery operates on the same property. Incredibly enthusiastic owner-winemaker Steven Mirassou focuses on Cabernet but also makes a delicious “Merrillie” Chardonnay and Vincere, and he is not above naming a vinatage for his grandma (Merrillie) or his cat (Lola). Picnic tables are shaded by several olive trees.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Berkeley, Joshu-ya Brasserie

2011-09-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

Joshu-ya Brasserie 2441 Dwight Way/Telegraph Ave., (510) 848-5260. L M-Sat, D daily; $$. Though it retains part of the space’s former name, this is an all-new enterprise with an enthusiastic young chef from NYC. Surrounded as it is by a red wood fence, the remodeled restaurant is especially reminiscent of a Japanese country inn in the evening when warm lights glow in welcome. Though traditional Japanese favorites are on the menu and extremely well executed (crisp-battered shrimp and vegetable tempura, delicate vegetable gyoza potstickers), the izakaya (Japanese tapas) craze is apparent with choices such as cold but spicy jalapeno pork belly soba noodles or hanger steak sukiyaki with shitake mushrooms. And there is, of course, plenty of sushi (Lion King with baked salmon, crab, and avocado; Cinderella with vegetable tempura, avocado, and wakame seaweed). A bowl of miso soup and bottomless cup of roasted rice green tea are complimentary with every meal. Dining spaces include a large outside courtyard complete with soothing fountain, a formal front dining room with white tablecloths, a tucked-away back room reminiscent of a German beer pub, and a traditional sushi bar. For drinks, choose from Japanese craft beers, shochu (a Japanese distilled clear spirit similar to vodka), and fruity sake cocktails. Dessert choices include a baseball-size hunk of green tea ice cream wrapped in pound cake and deep fried.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Plymouth, Jeff Runquist Wines

2011-09-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

Jeff Runquist Wines 10776 Shenandoah Rd., (209) 245-6282. F-Sun 11-5. Look for the “R” to find this understated winery, then look for the "Z" for their ultra premium Zinfandel (the grapes used for this label come from a local vineyard planted at the turn of the 19th century). It is interesting that the winemaker owns no vineyards yet makes a nice Barbera using grapes from nearby Cooper Vineyards, and a very good Pinot Noir with grapes from Napa. All wines made here are red. Taste them in a clean-lined modern tasting room with windows into the cask room.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 South: Palo Alto, Sprout Cafe

2011-09-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Sprout Cafe 168 University Ave., (650) 323-7688. L daily, D M-Sat; $. This very busy spot can be loaded with little sprouts and their strollers, so it is a good idea to try to avoid rush hours. Stop by the table in front to peruse the menu and decide whether you will order a premade salad (the Davy made with poached Scottish salmon, avocado, sesame ginger dressing, and more is a winner) or a build-your-own salad, then order in back at the counter. Housemade soups and sandwiches are also available.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Plymouth, C.G. Di Arie Vineyard and Winery

2011-09-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

C.G. Di Arie Vineyard and Winery 19919 Shenandoah School Rd., 209. 245. 4700; . Tasting Thur-M 10-4:30. Owned by a native Israeli and his wife, a former dancer with the Oakland Ballet, this tiny 209-acre winery makes big wine. “Wine is the thing around which we dance today,” comments the charming Elisheva Gur-Arieh. She says they came to attend a bat mitzvah in the valley here and heard it calling to them. Her husband Chaim is described by others as a character and also the maker of incredible wines. Do sample their smooth and delicious flagship Southern Exposure™ Zinfandel, which has won more than 30 gold medals and is made from grapes from the original Grandpere vineyard. (It is claimed this vineyard holds the oldest living Zinfandel vines in the U.S. (the first recorded harvest came from this vineyard in 1868, 1 year before the Civil War.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 South: Redwood City, Donato Enoteca

2011-08-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

Donato Enoteca 1041 Middlefield Rd./Main St., (650) 701-1000. L-D daily; $$$. Operating in a varied space that offers a casual front room, a bar, a posh backroom with upholstered chairs and a rustic wood-paneled ceiling, and patio seating, this popular spot features a contemporary Italian menu. Appetizers include wild boar bruchetta on grilled ciabatta, ungreasy fritto of organic artichokes and rock shrimp, and sometimes a caprese salad with colorful heirloom tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. The prix-fixe menu is a bargain with three courses for $34, and sometimes its dessert is the best of the lot--like when it is poached organic peaches on puff pastry with peach sorbet. Pastas are all housemade and include spinach pappardelle topped with braised lamb in red sauce, small meat-stuffed ravioli, and very popular squid-ink spaghetti with rock shrimp, peas, and grape tomatoes. The risottos are reputedly quite special, and pizza made in a wood-fired oven, grilled whole seabass, and terra cotta-roasted free-range chicken are more options. The wine list is heavy on Italian vintages, and that back room is lined with wine storage cabinets. Delicious bread and dipping sauce is complimentary.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 South: Palo Alto, Bell's Books

2011-08-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

Bell’s Books 536 Emerson St., (650) 323-7822; . M-Thur 9:30-5:30, F 9:30-9, Sat 9:30-5. Family-owned since 1935, this small and delightful old-fashioned book shop stocks out-of-print books, antique prints, and a selection of new books. Books are stacked high, and related gift items are found here and there in appropriate sections.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

880 South: Oakland, Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe

2011-08-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe 1805 Telegraph Ave/18th St., Uptown, (510) 251-9400. B-L-D daily; $-$$. Reservations taken for 6+. Located adjacent to the historic Fox Theater and open daily until 1 a.m., this vibrant cafe-diner features a high ceiling, oversize unpadded blue-wood booths, and orange tabletops. A 40-foot- long Doll Walk of Fame features a zoo of Barbie-size dolls wearing a mini-version Rudy’s uniform. A 10-person private booth within a stainless-steel dining car replica anchors the rear; booking it with a show at the Fox sometimes includes use of a private VIP entrance into the theater. The cafe’s name comes from a song by a 1980s band, and many dishes on the menu have song-related titles. Sunday brunch is an especially grand time to eat here because street parking is generally free, and after your meal it is just a short drive to Jack London Square to shop the farmer’s market. And then there’s the food. The brunch menu includes such goodies as three-egg omelets (the super Southwestern is stuffed with chorizo, avocado, and melted pepper Jack), scrambles (vegans should try the colorful sesame tofu scramble with green onion, mushroom, tomato, and spinach), and the kitchen’s specialty fluffy challah french toast topped with toasted slivered almonds (“One of the most addictive items we have,” says manager Doug Smith.). A head-spinning number of substitutions are available (I loved the biscuit I subbed in for toast). Noteworthy items at other times include Buffalo Chicken Salad (crisp romaine, tomato, onion, and crumbled blue cheese), Rudy's Slider Sampler (a mini Cajun Burger, Ranchero Burger, and Blue Cheese Burger), Combat Mac and Cheese, Mr. Roadies Fish and Chips, and the Mile High Club. Locally made pies and cakes are the perfect dessert. Appealing vegetarian and vegan options are plentiful, breakfast is served all day, and original cocktails are available. Specialty coffee drinks include design-topped lattes and the Shakin’ Jesse Milkshake made with Guinness Stout, chocolate ice cream, and espresso. And if all that isn’t enough, the cachet attached to the fact that Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt is a co-owner should do it.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Greater East Bay: Moraga, Chef Chao Restaurant

2011-08-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

Chef Chao Restaurant 343 Rheem Blvd., in Lamorinda, (925) 376-1740. L M-Sat, D daily. No MSG is used in the Szechwan and Mandarin cuisine here. The bargain lunch special includes appetizer, soup, rice, and a fortune cookie. Among the popular dishes on the extensive menu are hot and sour soup, potstickers, lemon chicken, spicy eggplant, and honey walnut prawns. A variety of chow meins and chow funs are available, and family-style dinners are an option. The spacious dining room is filled with natural light by the wall of windows, and in the evening dangling electric icycles add romance. Comfortable seating includes many booths.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Crown & Crumpet Tea Salon

2011-08-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

This blog is written by guest blogger Cassidy Meyers, age11. She is depicted in the image.

Crown & Crumpet Tea Salon (415) 771-4252. L & afternoon tea daily from 11am-5:15pm, F-Sat to 8:15pm.

A Well Spent Royal Afternoon
San Francisco's very own Crown & Crumpet Tea Salon should be enjoyed by people from all over, and not just the local community. From it's bubbling kettles, to petite treats, it's safe to say that it is absolutely charming. Here are the simple steps to making your tea time perfect. First, choose your desired tea--chamomile, peppermint, jasmine, all of the above, and more. Next they will bring you a three-tiered tea tray full of crumpets, sandwiches, and mini cupcakes! After you're done with your wonderful tea time afternoon experience, there is a gift shop full of delicate cups, kettles, and cute things to take home! Once you have gone to Crown & Crumpet, you will be certified royalty, and you'll really know how to have an English spot of tea.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Ukiah, Vichy Springs Resort

2011-08-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

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Vichy Springs Resort 2605 Vichy Springs Rd., 3 mi. E of town, (707) 462-9515. 18 rooms, 8 cabins; $$-$$$+. No TVs; some kitchens & gas fireplaces. Solar-heated mineral-water pool (avail. summer only); mineral springs hot tub; 14 hot springs soaking tubs. Full breakfast. No pets. Day use: $30-$50/person.

Founded in 1854, this 700-acre resort still has three renovated cottages from that era--they are the oldest still-standing structures in Mendocino County--plus two strips of redwood hotel rooms that date to the 1860s. The resort has the only naturally carbonated warm mineral baths in North America and is named for the famous French springs that have the same kind of alkaline waters and were discovered by Julius Caesar. In its heyday the resort attracted guests from San Francisco who endured an all-day journey to travel the 100 miles to get here--by ferry across the bay, by train to Cloverdale, then by stagecoach to the springs. They came in search of curative powers attributed to the waters that continue to bubble up from 5 miles underground at the rate of 65 gallons per minute. Among the famous vintage guests are writers Mark Twain, Jack London, and Robert Louis Stevenson, and presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, and Teddy Roosevelt. Vichy’s concrete "champagne" tubs, which date from 1860 and fill continuously with tingling 90-degree naturally carbonated water, are situated in several wood bathhouses as well as outside in a shady area overlooking Little Grizzly Creek. Swimsuits are required. Guests can also swim in a 130-year-old Olympic-size pool filled with unchlorinated mineral water, schedule a treatment in the massage cottage, and hike to a 40-foot-high waterfall or mountain bike over dirt roads. Picnic lunches can be arranged.

video c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Plymouth, Amador 360 Wine & Visitor Center

2011-08-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

Amador 360 Wine & Visitor Center 9310 Pacific St., (209) 267-4355. Tasting daily 10-6. This is the perfect starting point for a visit to Plymouth’s wineries. This visitor center showcases the quality and diversity of Amador County wines, and enthusiastic and knowledgeable proprietor, Gregg Lamer, guides tasters to wineries suited to their palates. Choose five wines for $5 and keep the medical-grade plastic Govino glass for your picnics. Advice on guided tours, where to have a perfect picnic, and wine shipping is also dispensed. Most area wines are also available for purchase here and online.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Ukiah, Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

2011-08-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas 4951 Bodhi Way, 4 mi. SE of town, across 101, (707) 462-0939. Daily 8-6. One of the first Buddhist temples and monasteries built in the U.S., this 448-acre facility operates on the grounds of a former state mental hospital. After passing through the ornate gate onto the property, stop at the office for a map and visiting rules. Monks and nuns are spotted walking and riding bikes, and peacocks roam freely. The temple (in the former gymnasium) has walls lined with perhaps 10,000 golden Buddha figurines in various sizes, and good-timing presents the opportunity to witness chanting. The property also houses a K-12 school and a university. A gift shop sells Buddhist souvenirs, including newly made carved-stone amulets.

video and image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Jyun Kang Vegetarian Restaurant ((707) 468-7966. L W-M (12-3); $. Cash only. Reservations taken.) operates in one simple room with round tables. Decoration is limited to sporadic touches of lace. The name translates as "to your health," and the kitchen serves an Asian-style vegetarian/vegan lunch. Dishes are prepared without MSG, onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, shallots, or egg, but they do use hot red peppers and warn that the food is spicy but not hot. Recommended items include broccoli with cashews, mushrooms with greens, eggplant with basil, veggie noodles, veggie fried rice, curry noodle soup, mushroom and tomato soup, and sweet and sour tofu. Servers sometimes speak little English. When the restaurant gets crowded, diners are doubled-up at one table. Frozen food is available to go.

Wine Country: Napa, Judd’s Hill

2011-08-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Judd’s Hill 2332 Silverado Trail, 1 mi. N of Napa, 707-255-2332. Tasting by appt. Famous for its special events, including a sometimes Lobster Luau and an annual December Hanukkah Hootenanny, this small family-owned winery also operates a 3-hour Bottle Blending Day Camp. The camp is described by Director of Fabulosity J Brewner as, “Like chemistry class all over again, but fun.” Brewner says that at the camp they want you to “sit there until you go ‘Wow! This is me in a bottle!’ ”

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Santa Cruz Mountains: Los Gatos, Very Knit Shop

2011-08-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

Very Knit Shop 24 N. Santa Cruz Ave., (408) 354-1434. Sumptuous yarns in a vast array of colors and textures are a feast for the eyes in this spacious and welcoming knitter’s paradise. Samples of darling items for babies--and even a knitted dog--provide inspiration.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Sutter Creek, Susan's Place

2011-08-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

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Susan’s Place 15 Eureka St./Main St., (209) 267-0945. L-D Thur-Sun. Situated just off Main Street, this popular spot has a welcoming vine-covered courtyard that is especially inviting on a warm day. It is an atmosphere of colorful umbrellas and flowering plants as well as doves cooing in a small aviary. A small wine bar featuring mostly local labels is among the warren of delightfully designed spaces that provide diners comfortable seating and privacy, yet community. The menu items include an intriguing selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches, plus a don’t miss dessert—a divine walnut-caramel torte.

Gallery 10 ((209) 267-0203. Thur-M 11-5.) opens off the courtyard and displays paintings, ceramics, and jewelry by mostly local artists.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Wine Country: Napa, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa

2011-08-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa 3425 Solano Ave., (707) 253-8600. 2 stories; 275 rooms. Heated pool; hot tub; fitness room; full-service spa. Restaurant; room service. Secluded but well located, this expansive compound provides a quiet escape from the often-frenetic sport of wine tasting. A horseshoe of rooms surrounds the center courtyard pool area, and a large spa and fitness room are in a separate building. Rumor has it that when the Oakland Raiders have their training camp in this area, they stay here.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

It is worth going out of your way for a meal the impressive VINeleven restaurant. Another horseshoe is found here in the form of a welcoming dining bar. The attractive amorphous restaurant flows into the lobby and out onto the pool patio. There’s no fancy foams here, just simple healthy meals from Chef Brian Whitmer, a self-described “simple mid-western person who is now a California dude.” Whitmer is enthusiast and passionate about his menu, and brings in the freshest veggies and herbs from his gorgeous Heirloom Garden growing right under the Marriott sign. His credentials include once accidentally giving Julia Child salt instead of sugar for a recipe and also once cooking in NYC with Thomas Keller (of The French Laundry). His creative offerings include everything from toasted pumpkin-flax seed granola with sun-dried cherries to classic eggs Benedict on a Model Bakery English muffin to a made-to-order zucchini salad to a flavorful runner bean-and-chorizo soup to a perfect salmon with white corn. House-marinated olives and housemade pickles are a must, and so is a fresh-herb cocktail—perhaps the lovely strawberry pink gin Heirloom made with fresh basil and mint. The menu, which seems to have only the rare miss, changes monthly. Picnic lunches will soon be available by advance order.

Santa Cruz Mountains: Los Gatos, Los Gatos Museums Gallery

2011-08-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

Los Gatos Museums Gallery 24 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408-354-4530. Tu-F 10-5:30, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-3. This gallery’s artist members are invited by a jury, and they each take turns operating the business end. So the person you ask questions of might be the very artist whose work you are admiring. Everything is for sale, and 70 per cent goes to the artist, 30 per cent to the Museums of Los Gatos.

Wine Country: Napa, Artesa Winery

2011-08-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

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NEW: Food & Wine Pairing $75; reservation required. The perfect event to celebrate a special occasion, this mixing of small bites with big wines is a super treat. After a short tour of the tiny winery museum and subterranean production facility, your guide will seat you in a room with two glass walls and start you on a tasting of five wines matched with five exceptional tidbits prepared by chef Wendy Suvino. You’ll learn to always try wine first, then go to the food, then back to the wine to notice how the flavor changes. My favorites are a spicy firecracker prawn paired with a rare white Albarino (Artesa is only the second winery in the U.S. to grow this grape), and creamy polenta cake topped with apricot Stilton and roasted chicken paired with a brilliantly yellow Chardonnay. The complete tasting is an filling and memorable lunch. The tasting is limited to between two and ten people, and a vegetarian/vegan option is available. Wine Club members get 25% off.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Plymouth, Sobon Estate Winery & Vineyards

2011-07-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

Sobon Estate Winery & Vineyards 14430 Shenandoah Rd., (209) 245-6554. Tasting daily 9:30-5. This winery began back in 1856—before the Civil War--as the D’Agostini Winery and stayed open during Prohibition by producing sacramental wine. It is the oldest continuously producing winery in the state. Now, using its own sustainably farmed, estate-grown grapes, Sobon makes a range of distinctive varietals, including some delicious old-vine Zinfandels as well as the colorful Vicious Red line of red wines. Stand-out Zins to sample in the woodsy, award-laden tasting room, which was formerly a bottling room, include Rocky Top (grown in decomposed granite), Cougar Hill (grown in volcanic ash), and Fiddletown (from a 101-year-old vineyard). Plenty of picnic tables are positioned around the scenic surrounding grounds, through which meanders a nice little “crick” that originates from an old mine across the street.
On site, the Shenandoah Valley Museum displays a well-marked collection of dusty old wine-making artifacts, farm tools, and household items in the cellar of the original 1856 winery house built from wood cut right on the property.

video c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Plymouth, Cooper Vineyards

2011-07-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Cooper Vineyards 21365 Shenandoah School Rd., (209) 245-6181. Tasting F-Sun 11-5. Plenty of old-time bouncer chairs invite lingering a while on the front porch of the tasting room here. Inside, owner Dick Cooper’s fully-restored 1937 Junior Scout red Indian motorcycle adds some pizzazz. Sampling at the polished granite counter includes the range of the house gems—a classic, smooth Barbera, a Zinfandel made from 25-year-old vines, a Spanish-style Tempranillo, a delightful Primitivo (Zin’s genetic twin), a crisp Pino Grigio, and a Port-style dessert Zinfandel. Once planted with French prunes, the property now has rows of vines that are on their way to becoming biodynamic with the help of 42 free-range chickens and three roosters. The motto here is “We are grape growers first, wine makers second.” Since owner Dick Cooper is referred to as the Godfather of Barbera, it is appropriate that the first-ever Barbera Festival was held here in June 2011.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Greater East Bay: Danville, Sideboard

2011-07-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

Sideboard 411 Hartz Ave., (925) 984-2713. B-L-D daily; $-$$. No reservations. Situated on the town’s main street, in a historic building that was once part of the Danville Hotel, this ultra-casual, cheery spot is especially perfect for a relaxing breakfast (served until 11 a.m. on weekdays, to noon on weekends). Order at the counter, then choose from an array of tables inside or outside and settle in. Everything is organic and made on site. French morning buns are among the goodies in the drool-provoking pastry case, and eggs Benedict is available Friday through Sunday. More items include beignets with housemade preserves, breakfast puddingwith asparagus and goat cheese, and poached farmhouse eggs on levain toast. This is the only restaurant in Contra Costa County to serve Blue Bottle coffee, and most of the many coffee drinks are served French-style in big bowls. At lunch, the #12 is most popular—a chicken breast salad with avocado, applewood-smoked bacon, Point Reyes Blue Cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Forestville, Case Ranch Inn

2011-07-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

Case Ranch Inn 7446 Poplar Dr., (877) 887-8711, (707) 887-8711. 3 rooms, 1 cottage. 1 kitchen. Afternoon snack; full organic breakfast. No pets. Located on a spacious 2-acre plot in a quiet rural residential area, this robin’s-egg-blue 1894 Victorian farmhouse boasts a wrap-around sitting porch, a front yard with fountain, and plenty of places in the gardens to relax a spell. Beds are fluffy and white, and it has WiFi plus a guest computer is provided in the parlor near the fireplace. Owner Diana says, “We think of our inn as the geographic center of the earth.” An all-organic breakfast using many items grown in the inn’s garden is served to all guests at the same time in the dining room. Homemade cookies are always available. Owner Allan makes the bed frames and night stands. The property is certified green and uses all-cotton sheets and towels. Cooling is by ceiling fan, with an AC option. Cozy attic rooms have angled ceilings and mix clean lines with some antiques. Jam made from the property’s concord grapes and fresh-pressed apple juice from the orchard’s trees are sometimes served at breakfast, and wine made from the property’s grapes is sometimes an afternoon treat. The cottage has a private hot tub. This just in: The Case Ranch Inn is the only B&B to have completed Sonoma County's rigorous Green Business Program and has now added the ultimate in "green" amenities--an electric vehicle charging station. Guests can plug in their vehicle to recharge . . . while they recharge on a comfortable, pillow-top mattress.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

880 South: Livermore, Underdog Wine Bar

2011-07-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

Underdog Wine Bar At Concannon Vineyard, (925) 583-1581. L-D daily. This small-plates lounge has more than 50 local and international wines available by the glass. Foods are locally sourced, and veggies are grown on site. What’s not to like about a cheese board with dates paired with a glass of Cabernet? This new venue is built with redwood reclaimed from the winery’s original buildings. Decor is modern, with plush furniture and a shaded outdoor terrace featuring drapes as moveable walls. Live music is sometimes scheduled.

At left, Jim Concannon, age 81 and grandson of the winery's founder, autographs his new book, “Concannon: The First One Hundred and Twenty-Five Years.”

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country: Volcano, Volcano Union Pub and Inn

2011-07-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

Volcano Union Pub and Inn 21375 Consolation St., (209) 296-7711. 4 rooms. Afternoon snack; continental breakfast. Built in 1880 for $400, this newly restored vintage building known locally as “The Union” was originally a boarding house for hard-working miners. Rooms are dubbed Lemon, Mocha, Daffodil, and Terracotta, and one has a big tub that accommodates two. A long second-floor front porch beckons to come sit a while and watch the street action. Perhaps it is time to accept the invitation to “come to Volcano, where the stars are your nightlight and the crickets lull you to sleep.”
Downstairs, the Union Pub (L Sat-Sun,D F-M; $$.) serves seasonal comfort food plus burgers, soups, and great fried chicken. Ribs are house smoked, and the butterscotch pot of creme is to-die for. Diners can indulge in complimentary shuffle board and darts on Friday afternoons. Though there are plenty of local wines by the glass, including a Sobon Estate Old Vines Zin, draft beers include a crisp Konig Pils and a smooth Boont Amber Ale.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Greater East Bay: Pleasanton, Ruby Hill Winery

2011-07-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

Ruby Hill Winery 400 Vineyard Ave., (925) 931-WINE (9463). Tasting daily 11-5; tour by reservation. Established in 1887, this winery is perfect for a picnic and has a small deli case stocked with some provisions. Do take their 2-hour Mello Cielo bus tour, which seats tasters in comfy swiveling wine-barrel seats inside a refurbished old school bus and transports them, lurching and bouncing through the vineyards, while sipping sparkling wine. Tour guide Norm, who doubles as the winery’s enologist, warns that “it won’t be the smoothesst ride you’ve ever had,” but it might be the most fun. You’ll see peacocks, tour the production facility, do a barrel tasting, and do a tasting with food pairing inside a cozy water tower. The owner is a big Grateful Dead fan, which explains the Grateful Red blend with tie-dye label.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Santa Cruz Mountains: Los Gatos, History Museum at Forbes Mill

2011-06-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

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Note the new name for this one-room museum tucked away on a dead end beside the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Among the objects on display are an antique shirt press and iron from the long-gone Gem City French Laundry, and currently you can see as well a Beatles display from a local private collection (the Fab Four were presented the key to the town in 1967).

video c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Forestville, Corks/Russian River Vineyards

2011-06-27T18:10:00.000-07:00

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(Formerly Stella's at Russian River Vineyards)

The patio and farmhouse are still here, but now the menu might offer a spectacular pulled-pork sandwich made from a pig raised right on site and fed restaurant scraps, or maybe eggs Benedict made with bright-orange-yolked eggs that are collected daily from the chickens that patrol the vineyards. Don’t miss the crispy fries tossed with truffle oil, or the strawberry shortcake prepared with crisp housemade biscuits and dense Chantilly cream.
(707) 887-3344; www.russianrivervineyards.com/restaurant.htm.

Organically-grown wines can be sampled in the Russian River Vineyards tasting room bar that operates now in the entryway. Taste a citrussy Sauvignon Blanc, a rare Old World Charbono, and an uncommon Botrytis Chardonnay dessert wine.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Greater East Bay: Pleasanton, Nonni's

2011-06-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

Nonni’s Bistro 425 Main St., downtown, (925) 600-0411. Born in Iceland, chef-owner Jon Magnusson has traveled and cooked in kitchens all over the world. He jokes he came to Pleasanton “to get away from my second ex-wife.” Her loss, our gain. The setting is one open room with banquettes along the wall and tables topped with white cloths topped with white butcher paper. Menu items are prepared with care and extremely tasty—salad with house basil dressing, cedar-wood salmon, peppered short rib—but desserts are exceptional—don’t miss the crepes stuffed with fresh ricotta and surrounded with vibrant raspberry and mango sauces. Live jazz and windows that open to the summer air are coming.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

880 South: Livermore, Campo di Bocce

2011-06-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

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The United States Bocce Championships will be held here beginning this weekend on Saturday, June 25, and run for a week through Saturday, July 2. Most events are free admission. More information.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Santa Cruz Mountains: Los Gatos, Andalé Mexican Restaurant

2011-06-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

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Andalé Mexican Restaurant is a good as ever. #6, the original location, also serves breakfast and, with a long counter with stools and two window tables facing the sidewalk, is a great choice for solo diners. My all-time favorite is the vegetarian flauta (pictured), but the beer-battered fresh fish tacos and seasonal fresh-fruit agua fresca drinks are also noteworthy.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Santa Cruz Mountains: Los Gatos, Sierra Toy Soldier Co.

2011-06-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

Sierra Toy Soldier Co. 29 N. Santa Cruz Ave., (866) 869-7653, (408) 395-3000. Lined with shelves displaying detailed dioramas of battalions of soldiers from various wars, this is a destination shop for toy soldier collectors and offers everything from inexpensive toy items on up to the finest quality collector pieces from St. Petersburg, Russia. This is the perfect place to bring Dad for Father's Day--or give him a gift certificate and bring him in later.

This image shows two combatants from the Australian Light Horse battle. They were made by a former royal Marine, a Scotsman who lives now in Hong Kong. He will be at the shop on September 17, 2011 for an open house.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Forestville, The Quicksilver Mine Co.

2011-06-13T17:27:00.000-07:00

The Quicksilver Mine Co. 6671 Front St. (Hwy. 116), downtown, (707) 887-0799. Thur-M 11-6. It is surprising to find a bright and friendly art gallery in this tiny, tiny town, but here it is. Though this is its fourth location, the Quicksilver Mine Co. has been around for 29 years--long enough for owner Khysie Horn to make plenty of connections with area artists (she displays 80 percent Sonoma County artists). One is 3D Edddy, who lives in Santa Rosa and makes delightful, and inexpensive, junk sculpture heads. The shop also sells books by local authors. An inviting sculpture garden with picnic table is available in back.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Forestville, Hartford Family Winery

2011-06-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hartford Family Winery 8075 Martinelli Rd., (707) 887-8010. Tasting daily 10-4:30. Situated way back from the road, the tasting room here is reached via a scenic drive in over a one-lane bridge and past bucolic vineyards. The claim is they have “a pinot for everybody,” so you might taste an earthy 2007 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir, or if you’re very lucky, a 2008 Arrendell Vineyard Pinot Noir that is served in the White House and quite the treat. Picnic facilities are available, and the $15 tasting fee is waived with a wine purchase.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Forestville, The Farmhouse Inn

2011-06-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

The Farmhouse Inn 7871 River Rd., (800) 464-6642, (707) 887-3300. 18 units. Some wood-burning & gas fireplaces; some saunas & steam rooms. Heated pool (avail. May-Sept); full-service spa. Evening snack; full breakfast; restaurant; limited room service. No pets. The Victorian farmhouse that forms the center of this property dates back to 1872. The inn buildings are on a tamed 6-acre lot, with nearby vineyards stretching for miles. The name evokes patchwork quilts, but it isn’t that kind of farmhouse. It’s an upscale, modern version. After registering, guests get the pleasure of selecting and dishing up some bath salts and a sugar rub, and of slicing off a bar of their favorite soap. This is also where they borrow a DVD and pick up the makings for s’mores (including housemade marshmallows) to feast on later at the fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs. Throughout, the inn is stylish and contemporary, with interesting farm antiques displayed here and there. The color palette is subdued whites, greys, and black, and each room is slightly different and has some unusual feature, such as a top-hung sliding barn door to the bathroom or a sliding headboard that allows seeing through to an adjacent fireplace. Two rooms are up a steep staircase in the farmhouse, where alterations are restricted because it is a historical building. Their bathrooms feature an unusual custom-made, two-level, grey soapstone tub that fills from a faucet in the ceiling (!), a two-person steam shower, and a heated floor. Built in the early 1900s as farm-worker housing, the spacious cottages are equipped today with white-tile bathrooms featuring decorative tile and a jetted tub; some have a full-size dry sauna. The all-new barn rooms sit on the site of the property’s original barn. Rooms in the majestic two-story building have high ceilings, and large windows look out onto large private decks. Mixing lavish and humble, these rooms feature bold architecture accented with homey hand-woven fabrics and simple, elegant furnishings. All 18 units have sumptuous bedding, and everyone gets bottled water and turn-down cookies and milk.
Farmhouse, the restaurant, offers two dining rooms and a sophisticated seasonal menu. Diners have a choice of a three- or four-course dinner with optional wine pairings in a pleasing variety of glasses. Options are many, and usually include the popular Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit—featuring rabbit prepared three ways—as well as exceptional fresh fish and beef dishes. A smooth Valrhona chocolate souffle is also a menu mainstay. Breakfast is served here, and on a sunny day the patio is choice. Optionally, an in-room continental breakfast is also possible.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Boonville, Rookie-To Gallery

2011-06-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Rookie-To Gallery 14300 Hwy. 128, in Boonville, (707) 895-2204. M-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5. Tucked away in a repurposed 1930s bungalow, this art and fine crafts shop purveys the work of mostly local artists. It’s named after the Boontling word for “quail.”

5 North: McCloud, Shasta Sunset Dinner Train--CLOSED

2011-06-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

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80 North: Berkeley, Sabuy Sabuy II

2011-05-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

Sabuy Sabuy II 1233 San Pablo Ave./Gilman St., (510) 528-3932. L-D M-Sat; $. Takes reservations. Operating in an out-of-the-way location, this cheery spot with golden curry-colored walls is family owned and operated. Especially tasty Thai dishes include tom kha gai (green papaya salad); tom kai gai (lemongrass broth-coconut milk soup; pad se eew (wide rice-noodles with broccoli, egg, and beef; pad thai (chewy rice noodles with tofu and a few shrimp and crushed peanuts on top—NO tiny dried shrimp); kaeng dang (spicy red curry with coconut milk, veggies, and choice of meat). Spicy here is hot hot, so request mild if you don’t like heat; medium is plenty for those who like hot food.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

1 North: Mendocino, Patterson's Pub

2011-05-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

Patterson's Pub 10485 Lansing St., (707) 937-4782. No cards. Twenty-eight beers are on tap in this cozy traditional Irish pub, and the menu features pub fare--fish & chips, pulled pork sandwich, Philly cheese steak, burgers. Best of the lot is the grill-cut sweet potato fries. Peanuts and popcorn are complimentary, and a leave a book/take a book exchange is available in the back. The pub has eight TVs and operates within an 1866 structure that was once the Rectory for Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Berkeley, Maoz

2011-05-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

Maoz 2395 Telegraph Ave./Channing Way, 2 blks. S of campus, (510) 356-4090. Daily 11-10, Thur-Sat to 11; $. The Maoz dining concept originated in Amsterdam in 1991 and has spread throughout the world. In Berkeley, it takes the form of a casual interior, with large chunky tables, tiles with a green-and-white pattern covering walls and ceiling, and big windows looking out to The Ave. The Mediterranean menu features a delicious chickpea falafel-pita bread sandwich, salads, and popular sides such as sweet potato and Belgian fries. The best deal is a combo that includes a falafel sandwich, fries, and a drink of fresh-squeezed juice (carrot, orange, and apple). Portions are generous, and you can pile on as much salad stuffing as you can eat. Everything is made fresh daily; the pita bread is imported from Israel; and the menu includes gluten-free, celiac, and vegan options.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Boonville, John Hanes Fine Art Gallery and Studio + Londer Vineyards Tasting Room

2011-05-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

John Hanes Fine Art Gallery and Studio 14051 Hwy. 128, in Boonville, (707) 489-0981. Thur-M 11-5; in winter F-M 11-5. Displays more than 30 renowned artists from western states, plus some unique local art.

In an alcove, the Londer Vineyards Tasting Room ((707) 895-9001) pours their small family winery’s award-winning Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Gewurztraminers.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Yorkville, Yorkville Cellars

2011-05-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

Yorkville Cellars 25701 Hwy. 128, in Yorkville, (707) 894-9177; www.yorkvillecellars.com. Tasting daily 11-6, in winter by appt.; tours by appt. Set back from the road and surrounded by vineyards that rise up and out of the fog at 1,100 feet, this fabulously scenic property is, according to the owner, the “only known winery to grow and bottle as a separate varietal all eight of the main Bordeaux grapes.” The winery is family operated and farms only organic grapes. It is known for its Cabernet, but the Richard the Lion-Heart blend is noteworthy and unique--it includes all six of the “noble red grapes of Bordeaux.” Do try a chocolate ball injected with the winery’s 2008 Merlot, and keep your eyes open for sheep eating weeds between the vines (in spring, watch for darling little lambs, too). Picnic tables are available.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Boonville, Lauren’s

2011-05-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

Lauren’s 14211 Hwy. 128, in Boonville, (707) 895-3869. D Tu-Sat (5-9pm); May-Oct, L Thur-Sun; $$. Reservations taken. Though this big open space is a popular gathering spot for locals, it has little atmosphere. But Lauren brings warmth and comfort to diners as she oversees the preparation of tasty homemade-style dishes and sometimes even waits tables herself. Her menu promises “Good Food—Good Times,” and she delivers the first item, using local and regional ingredients, including Anderson Valley wines and beers. The second item is up to you. The eclectic seasonal menu might offer a tasty grilled avocado-Fontina-tomato-onion-basil aioli sandwich or a creamy fettucine with local chantrelles or a Thai green curry with brown basmati rice. A good cheeseburger and veggie burger and especially good french fries are also options. When a honey-baked pear is on the dessert menu, go for it! Special kids’ items include noodles with butter and cheese. The bar area in the back has a pool table and a cozy spot where children can read and play.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Alioto's Waterside Cafe

2011-05-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

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The Cafe Eight is now Alioto’s Waterside Cafe (415) 359-1200). It provides a scenic view over docked fishing boats to the Golden Gate Bridge, and serves up sandwiches, seafood salads, housemade clam chowder, delicious fried prawns, and fresh crab in season. A sidewalk crab stand operates out front.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Boonville, Anderson Valley Brewing Company

2011-05-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Anderson Valley Brewing Company 17700 Hwy. 253, in Boonville, (800) 207-BEER, (707) 895-BEER. Tap Room daily 11-6. Tours daily at 11:30 & 3; $5 (refundable with purchase). Jan-Apr, closed Tu & W. The tour of this all-ale brewery--known for its Boont Amber and full-bodied Belgian-style abbey ales--takes you through the Bavarian-style brew house. In good weather, an outdoor beer garden is available.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

101 North: Boonville, Toll House Inn/Bell Valley Farm

2011-05-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

Toll House Inn/Bell Valley Farm 12378 Boonville Rd. (Hwy. 253), 5 1/2 mi. from Boonville, (707) 895-2572. 4 rooms. No TVs. Continental breakfast. Pets ok in 1 room. This historic 1912 landmark Victorian began life as a stop on the toll road between the valley and Ukiah. Now a comfortable inn on 650 acres with several hiking trails, the spiffed up farmhouse has a clean-lined, contemporary-rustic style and its own well water. The ground floor Porch Room has a private screened porch and clawfoot tub. All this and night-singing frogs, too!

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Davis, John Natsoulas Center for the Arts

2011-04-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

John Natsoulas Center for the Arts 521 1st St., (530) 756-3938. W 11-5, thur 11-9, F 11-10, Sat-Sun 12-5. This gallery has five exhibition spaces and a rooftop sculpture garden. Though it is situated within a vintage 1919 house, you know you’re in the right place when you see Cedric Wentworth's "Saguaro" sculpture out front. A casual coffee house with a large outside deck and a nicely edited adjacent gift shop are almost as inviting as the gallery itself.

80 North: Benicia, First Street Cafe

2011-04-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

First Street Cafe 440 First, (707) 745-1400. B-L-D daily; $$. Diners here are tucked around cozy tables, and an old-time wood bar is set for singles. Sandwiches are served on Berkeley’s famous Acme breads, including the signature Dungeness crab-and-artichoke openface sandwich that is big enough, and rich enough, to share. The pasta is fresh and also from Berkeley, but the desserts--usually a berry bread pudding, seveeral fruit crisps, and an assortment of pies—are all housemade. Salads, larger entrees, and fresh seafood are also on the menu along with a slew of beers.

80 North: Davis, Seasons

2011-04-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

Seasons 102 F St., (530) 750-1801. L-D daily; $$$. The fragrance of smoky wood greets diners at the door, tipping you to the delicious items--including artisan pizzas--that come out of this restaurant’s wood-fired oven. Addictive foot-long housemade breadsticks begin meals. Though the menu has an array of steak and fish entrees and a good selection of vegetarian options, the appealing starters alone can compose a delicious meal: warm, garlic-laden house-cured olives with a touch of fennel; grilled fresh peaches stuffed with gorgonzola, honey, and toasted almonds; delicious Dungeness crab cakes with remoulade sauce; and the most delectable heirloom tomato bruchetta. Still, a couple will have room for a spinach salad with gorgonzola dressing, a roasted eggplant penne, and a dessert of refreshing raspberry sorbet (brought in from Berkeley) and a refined chocolate chip cookie. Drinks include cocktails and beers as well as a selection of wines by the glass. Tables in the spacious dining room have views of the open kitchen, and an outdoor patio is divine in good weather—especially when you get the additional thrill of an Amtrak train thundering by across the street.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

1 North: Mendocino, Alegria Oceanfront Inn & Cottages

2011-04-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

Alegria Oceanfront Inn & Cottages 44781 Main St., (800) 780-7905, (707) 937-5150. 10 rooms. Some TVs; some wood-burning fireplaces & stoves. Full breakfast. Hot tub. No pets. Built as a residence for a sea captain in 1861, this rustic inn overlooking Big River Beach features a weathered-wood exterior. Most rooms on the ocean side have a sun deck and ocean view, and Cove cottage has an ocean view from the shower. A private trail leads down to a beach.

Check it out live on this webcam.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Market Street Railway F-Line

2011-04-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

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Why tourists LOVE San Francisco.

video c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Davis, Hyatt Place UC Davis

2011-03-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hyatt Place UC Davis 173 Old Davis Road Extension, on U.C. campus, (888) HYATT HP, (530) 756-9500. 4 floors. Continental breakfast; room service. Pool; fitness room. This is a comfortable hotel in an excellent location right on the campus. The arboretum is adjacent, and it is a short, scenic walk to town.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Davis, UC Davis Arboretum

2011-03-28T17:18:00.000-07:00

UC Davis Arboretum Headquarters on LaRue Rd., in Valley Oak Cottage, (530) 752-4880. M-F 8-5; arboretum--daily, 24 hours. Free. A paved 3.5-mile path follows Putah Creek through this peaceful 96-acre garden. A brisk walker can do it in an hour, a moseyer should allow 2 to 3 hours. The arboretum holds more than 22,000 area-friendly plants and trees, which are arranged in a series of gardens that represent geographic areas, plant groups, and horticultural themes. Many plants are marked, so you can learn to distinguish a wild lilac from a big leaf maple, and sometimes more detailed signage explains, for instance, why you might want to plant a Western redbug (for its spring flowers and lovely summer foliage). Among the collections are the Acadia Collection, the Foothill Collection, and a lovely White Flower Garden. You can pick up a free map at the headquarters, or just begin the trail wherever you like. Themed tours are scheduled.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Davis, Tucos

2011-03-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

Tucos 130 G St., (530) 757-6600. L-D daily; $$. Tables both high and low are tucked in here cozily among the shelves of wine bottles, and diners are entertained by perhaps by some scratchy old tunes sung by Bessie Smith. A patio out front is inviting in good weather. A long menu (for such a small place) offers an array of delights, many of which are Latin. Lunch here might begin with a shot of cucumber-melon gazpacho soup and continue on with a trio of arepas stuffed with shredded beef or with a spectacular savory Argentinean corn pudding. Portions are small so consider ordering an extra item, perhaps some fat little empanadas. In our case, we added a moist, not-too-sweet dessert of tres leches cake with strawberries. I drank sweetened iced Mate tea, while he sipped a perfect Malbec served in a European-style carafe measure. Among the dishes I’d like to try next time: bacon-wrapped Medjool dates, smoked fish spread, roasted pork sandwich Cubano, and chicken-mushroom pot pie.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

80 North: Davis, Redrum Burger

2011-03-23T16:22:00.000-07:00

Redrum Burger 978 Olive Dr./Richards Blvd., (Richards exit, E of downtown), (530) 756-2142. Daily 10am-midnight; $. Formerly known as Murder Buger, the new owner, held a contest to rename it and, apparently, a fan of the movie “The Shining” won. Diner-style picnic tables and benches are available inside this modest spot, and more tables are outside on a small patio. Selections include fully-loaded burgers in an assortment of weights (1/4 lb., 1/3 lb., 1/2 lb., and 1 lb.) and styles (beef, ostrich, bison, turkey, veggie). Thousand Island dressing is available on the side. Hot dogs, sandwiches, shakes, fresh-cut fries, and deep-fried veggies (onion rings, zucchini spears, mushrooms) round things out.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

1 North: Mendocino, Corners of the Mouth

2011-03-20T16:52:00.001-07:00

Corners of the Mouth 45015 Ukiah St., (707) 937-5345. Daily 9-7. This collectively operated natural foods store is cramped, but fun to browse and a good place to pick up picnic supplies. Located inside a recycled old rust-red church, it has an old-time hippy feel and sells nice, mostly organic produce as well as Cafe Beaujolais’ Early Bird Cashew Granola in bulk.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

1 North: Mendocino, Heritage House--CLOSED

2011-03-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

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101 North: Cloverdale, Hamburger Ranch and BBQ Restaurant

2011-03-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

Hamburger Ranch and BBQ Restaurant 31195 N. Redwood Hwy, (707) 894-5616. B-L-D daily; $-$$. No cards. Operating inside a converted gas station, this spacious roadhouse-cafe decorates its walls with post cards from customers who have sent them in from all around the world (I recently sent one in from Fiji). Counter seating is perfect for solos, and several comfy booths are available along with a slew of tables. An expansive patio is inviting in good weather. Barbecue is slow-cooked in a wood-fired oven at low temperature to allow a deep smokey taste. Whether pulled pork, tri-tip, or ribs, each order arrives with three fat bottles of sauce—mustardy, sweet, and hot. A variety of burgers include a veggie version, and sandwiches, hot dogs, housemade pastas, and soups are also options. Fries are fat wedges and particularly delicious dipped in the house ranch dressing.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers