December 30, 2013

Oakland: Bourbon & Beef; restaurant review + things to do

bar at Bourbon & Beef in Oakland, California
pork belly and shrimp taquitos at Bourbon & Beef in Oakland, California880 South

Bourbon & Beef  

5634 College Ave./Keith Ave., Rockridge, (510) 788-4821.  L M-F, Sat-SunBr, D daily. 

Featuring a dark, earth-toned clubby atmosphere—updated with comfortable tables and chairs along one wall, and with a long bar and high communal tables along the other—this smallish venue features a Spanish-Mexican tapas menu with other things mixed in.  We started with Sopa de Langosta (lobster bisque with corn flan, lime cream, and caviar), which had no lobster chunks or detectible caviar, but I loved the smoky flat bread triangles served with it.  We shared fish and chips that were over-battered nuggets of salmon with french fries instead of chips, but I loved the jicama slaw that came with it and would have liked extra.  What came next--pork belly and shrimp taquitos—made me want to return for more.  The saucy toppings at Bourbon & Beef are stellar, and filling choices include carne asada, salmon, chorizo, Kobe short ribs, chicken, and veggies.  If ordered alone, three will likely do it.  Promising dinner items include Carne de Res con Papas (grilled rib-eye steak with roasted shishito peppers and potatoes topped with chimichurri sauce and a shallot-bourbon demi glaze), Torta de Camarónes (shrimp cakes topped with coconut-mango chutney), and paella with giant Tasmanian prawns and chorizo.  My companion and I went for a sweet ending—she delighted in the kitchen’s signature crème brulee-rice pudding with bourbon and Bing cherries, and I blissed out with a hot fudge sundae with fresh whipped cream.  Weekend brunch brings on huevos rancheros and pan dulce (baked French toast stuffed with jalapeño sweet cream and served with strawberries, caramelized plantains, and rum whipped cream).  Cocktails are a specialty and twenty-plus bourbons are poured, but I sipped happily on a tasty, fruity deep-burgundy sangria, while my companion nursed a virgin mojito so she could get some work done after. 



gift items at Maison d’Etre in Oakland, California
gift items at Maison d’Etre in Oakland, California


Allow time to browse this delightful shopping street.

Maison d’Etre

Right next door is gift shop extraordinaire—Maison d’Etre, which is filled to the rafters with lovely gifting items as well as many items you will want to purchase for yourself and your own home.




Way more things to do in Oakland.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated 10-30-14

December 20, 2013

Oakland: Alta Bates Summit Showcase (CLOSED); things to do

etched crystal at Alta Bates Summit Showcase in Oakland, California
880 South

Christmas nutcrackers at Alta Bates Summit Showcase in Oakland, California

Alta Bates Summit Showcase  

CLOSED  5615 College Ave./Ocean View Dr., Rockridge, (510) 653-1527.  Tu-Sat 10-3.  

The inventory in this resale shop changes regularly.  You’ll find well-priced sets of fine china and etched crystal as well as books, children’s toys, and seasonal items such as colorful nutcrackers at Christmas.  All proceeds benefit the programs and community services of the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.  Donations are welcome. 




Way more things to do in Oakland.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

December 18, 2013

Midpines: Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort; hotel review

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort  

On Hwy. 140, 26 mi. west of Yosemite Valley, (866) 826-7108, (209) 966-6666.  22 rooms.  Some shared baths.  No TVs or phones.  Restaurant.  Hot tub; sauna (fee); health spa. 

Operating on the site of a former church camp and youth hostel, the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort is spread out over a hilly site and offers group dorms, private rooms, cabins, and tent cabins.  My duplex cabin was comfortable and warm and attractively decorated, but unfortunately the mattress was a memory foam that was way past its prime and had forgotten its job.

guest room at Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort in Midpines, California
guest room at Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort in Midpines, California


Plan to arrive in daylight, as the property is quite spread out.  It offers trails and a swimming hole, plus a comfortable communal area with a fireplace and also an outside sitting area—all this as well as board games, ping pong, and darts, too!  A counter-service cafe prepares simple meals, and live music is presented every weekend.  Amtrak and YARTS buses stop here.  Consult the website for how to visit this area without driving, using only public transportation.

international visitor at Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort in Midpines, California
international visitor at Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort
in Midpines, California



















YARTS  

(877) 989-2787.  

Ride the comfortable YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) bus into Yosemite park.  It stops in town at various spots in Mariposa and in Midpines at KOA and Yosemite Bug Resort. 


Things to do in Yosemite.

Things to do in nearby Mariposa. 


More things to do in Gold Rush Country.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers; bottom image depicts Italian traveler Andrea, from Milan

December 16, 2013

Pleasanton: Where to see Christmas lights; things to do

Greater East Bay

Where to see Christmas lights in Pleasanton



Christmas Cane Lane  

4000 block of Walnut Dr./Ray St.. 5:30-10pm, through Jan. 1.

Almost every house on this cul-de-sac goes way overboard with lights and decorations. Cars move slowly around the entire perimeter.  Christmas Cane Lane is a delight.

WidmerWorld 

3671 Chelsea Court. 6-9pm, through Dec. 31.

You can walk through this home's back yard holiday toy displays. The WidmerWorld display includes an electronic light show, snowy penguin scene, Mrs. Claus' house, Santa's golf land, and a train town. Santa sometimes shows up on the last weekend before Christmas.


More things to do in Pleasanton.

More Bay Area Christmas events.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

December 13, 2013

Mariposa drinking venues; things to do

bar at Bett's Gold Coin Sports Tavern in Mariposa, California
wine to taste at Castro Oaks Fine Wine and Art in Mariposa, CaliforniaHighway 49--Gold Rush Country

Mariposa drinking venues

Bett’s Gold Coin Sports Tavern  

Hwy. 140/Fifth St., (209) 742-7574.  L-D daily.  

Referred to by locals as “the 
coin,” the family-friendly Bett's Gold Coin Sports Tavern watering hole has a large rectangular bar with plenty of seating, a pleasant open-air balcony, and live music on weekends.  The building features a brick exterior with iron shutters, and a plastic-covered reveal of the original 160-plus-year-old adobe bricks can be viewed on the way to the restrooms.  In the days when the town had at least one murder every day, Fremont used this building as headquarters for mining operations.  Nowadays you can get sandwiches, burgers, and full dinners, and even kids are welcome and provided a special menu.   
5022 Hwy. 140, (209) 742-2000. 

The tasting room at Castro Oaks Fine Wine and Art provides a free tasting of their hearty Zin and smooth Cab, but you can also purchase wine by the glass and stay a while.  Art by locals is displayed and for sale.  The Vineyard is located 9 miles away on Highway 49 in Mt Bullion; visits are by appointment.


Prospectors Brewery Co. Tap Room  

4996 7th St.  M-F 3-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-10pm.  

Five families work together at the Prospectors Brewery Co. Tap Room to make this a friendly spot to
bartender at Prospectors Brewery Co. Tap Room in Mariposa, California
down a pint (and it is the only craft brewery found between Fresno and Yosemite).  I favor the German-style Bootjack Blonde.  Note that as is often the case in Ireland pubs, no food is served.


December 11, 2013

Mariposa: Mariposa Museum and History Center; things to do

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country


Mariposa Museum and History Center  

5119 Jessie St., (209) 966-2924.  Daily 10-4.  $4, under 18 free.  

exterior of Mariposa Museum and History Center in Mariposa, California
exterior of Mariposa Museum and History Center in Mariposa, California


In addition to exhibits curated by topic inside the rustic, woodsy museum--including things like Miwok Indian baskets and an iron so heavy you can barely lift it--you’ll find mining exhibits and a Miwok Indian bark house outside.  A guided tour of the Mariposa Museum and History Center will make sure you see exhibits you might otherwise miss—a broom-making shop, the Gazette newspaper building displaying the original press and print shop, the blacksmith shop, and the still-working 1874 five-stamp mill.

vintage sign displaying 1853 prices in Mariposa Museum and History Center in Mariposa, California









More things to do in Mariposa.  

More things to do in Yosemite area.


December 9, 2013

San Francisco: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum; things to do

San Francisco 

de Young Museum

The de Young Museum is currently showcasing "DAVID HOCKNEY:  A Bigger Exhibition," and what a show it is.  Hockney is famous for his paintings on the bottom of L.A. swimming pools, but this show displays his further fascinating talents with synchronized digital videos, iPad painting, and inkjet printers.  Water colors, sketch books, and charcoals--which I found kind of boring amid his other vibrantly colored workx--are also in the mix.  Many depict rural East Yorkshire in England, but a series of vibrant iPad drawings of Yosemite are hung around the walls in one room giving me the feeling of being in that park looking up at the spectacular natural sights.  Tickets are timed.  You can purchase advance tickets online.  Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are typically the slowest days/times of the week.  For day-of ticket purchasing on week days, you should have no problem. On Saturdays and Sundays, come in the morning as tickets tend to sell out by the afternoon. Show runs through January 20, 2014.



More things to do in Golden Gate Park.

More things to do in San Francisco

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image courtesy of the museum: 
David Hockney, Yosemite I, October 16th 2011. iPad drawing printed on paper (6 sheets), mounted on Dibond (6 sheets). Each: 71 3/4 x 42 3/4 in. (182.3 x 108.6 cm); overall: 143 1/2 x 128 1/4 in. (364.5 x 325.8 cm). ©David Hockney, 2013

December 4, 2013

Vegan-friendly restaurants in Berkeley; restaurant review

80 North

Vegan-friendly restaurants in Berkeley


This collection of restaurants in Berkeley has a menu that is all vegan, vegetarian + vegan, or traditional with a goodly number of vegetarian and vegan options. 


More things to do in Berkeley.

Way more things to do in Berkeley.  

November 22, 2013

Introduction to Mariposa

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country


Introduction to Mariposa



vintage building in Mariposa, California


Named for the butterflies that are seen in abundance here, Mariposa county comprised 1/5 of the state when California became a state in 1850. Today the county has only 18,000 residents and no traffic lights.  The compact town of Mariposa itself has a Historic Downtown District with a raised sidewalk and wall-to-wall vintage buildings holding a variety of unique shops and restaurants.  Described as “above the fog, below the snow,” the town gets approximately 300 days per year of sunshine and makes a good jumping-off spot for visiting Yosemite. 
                                                             
While here, stop in at the Mariposa County Courthouse.  Operating within a Greek Revival-style  building, it is the oldest continually operated courthouse west of the Rockies--since 1854.  You are welcome to visit the working courtroom upstairs. 

Mariposa Country Courthouse in Mariposa, California
Mariposa Country Courthouse in Mariposa, California


More things to do in Mariposa. 

Things to do in Yosemite area.


More things to do in Gold Rush Country. 

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

November 20, 2013

San Francisco: Market & Rye (CLOSED); restaurant review

interior of Market & Rye in San Francisco
San Francisco

Market & Rye  

CLOSED  300 De Haro St./16th St., Potrero District, (415) 252-7455.  Br-L-early D  until 7 pm daily; $.  No reservations. 

Though Market & Rye can be very quiet at dinner, it rocks for brunch and lunch.  Decor includes aconference table previously owned by George Lucas that is repurposed as a communal table and a black-board wall filled with celebrity-chef autographs.  Board games, children’s toys, and a large TV provide entertainment.  The menu includes pre-packaged salads such as crunchy Brussels sprouts, pickled yellow beets, and roasted cauliflower, but sandwiches are the mainstay.  The most popular is probably the messy, crispy
pre-packaged salads at Market & Rye in San Francisco
Cornflake Crusted Fried Chicken, but currently a Mojo Pulled Pork and a spicy Sriracha Roasted Chicken Salad are holding their own.  They all go particularly well with an icy-cold beer—the coldest I’ve had since years ago in Puerto Vallarta, where it was really, really cold!  Brunch items include pumpkin pancakes, a fried egg sandwich, housemade churros, and a bottomless Mimosa.  A giant cinnamon bun is available until they run out and reflects the season (now it’s pumpkin).  Unfortunately, the legendary mac & cheese grilled cheese sandwich I’ve only heard about is currently off the menu.


More things to do in San Francisco.

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

November 18, 2013

San Francisco: Exploratorium; things to do

San Francisco

Exploratorium  

Pier 15, The Embarcadero.  Fee. 

Rickshaw Obscura outside Exploratoriium in San Francisco
Rickshaw Obscura outside Exploratoriium in San Francisco


Now moved from the Palace of Fine Arts into its new $300 million reconstructed pier home over the bay, this famous museum has three times more space to present a combination of play and learning that is as much fun for adults as it is for kids.  It adds up to more than 150 new interactive exhibits among the total of more than 600.  I love that there are free exhibits outside the entrance of the Exploratorium, allowing you to get a taste for what is inside, because entry is an investment.  I was seduced outside by the rickety Rickshaw Obscura, which really reeled as I climbed in.  I have only found two other camera obscuras in California and do have an interest in “collecting” experiences with these old-time pinhole cameras that allow you to sit in the dark and view what is going on outside.  I was reeled in by teenage “Explainer” Rhonda Gaynor (they are found throughout, wearing easy-to-see orange vests and wandering the premises ready to assist).  Inside, the gigantic pier setting is broken into smaller sections and is abuzz with excitement. 

I thought the Sweepers Clock was very clever and fun to watch:




and I stuck around to watch a giant Mexican pendulum clock strike noon, but was hugely disappointed by just a few weak dongs:




when I was expecting this: 




I recommend walking down the museum’s center, then returning via the corridor down the south side.  A dissection demonstration is usually occurring at the bay end—perhaps a cow’s eye or, if you’re lucky, a flower—and don’t miss the upstairs gallery at that end for a dead-on view of Treasure Island and the bay, not to mention another small camera obscura.  I appreciated the rocking chair gallery found at the beginning of my trek back. 

The Tactile Dome is a geodesic dome with 13 chambers through which visitors walk, crawl, slide, climb, and tumble in complete darkness using only their sense of touch to guide them.  Participants must be age 7 or older, and reservations required ((415) 528-4444, select option 5).   The dome was designed and built in 1971 by August Coppola (father of actor Nicolas Cage and brother of film director Francis Ford Coppola).

Seaglass restaurant consists of four cafeteria stations serving up sushi, pizza, tacos, and sandwiches plus wine, beer, and cocktails.

Nearby, you can dine at La Mar and at a plethora of options in the Ferry Building Marketplace.


More things to do in San Francisco.

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image and videos c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

November 15, 2013

San Francisco: Altered Barbie exhibit at Shotwell 50 Gallery; things to do

San Francisco

Altered Barbie exhibit   

At Shotwell 50 Gallery, 50 Shotwell St./14th St., Mission District, (415) 240-2202.  Free, but donations welcome, including donations of used and new Barbies and Kens and accessories. 

tarantula Barbie at Shotwell 50 Gallery in San Francisco
tarantula Barbie at Shotwell 50 Gallery in San Francisco


Don’t miss this exhibition of clever Barbie art, contributed to by artists who like to have fun.  Displayed against black fabric walls in this converted garage space located on a mostly residential side street, the clever, campy art pops out.  Are you ready for Barbie as a tarantula, or a toasted Barbie lounging in a toaster?  The show does include some x-rated interpretations, so is not appropriate for children.  A few related crafty items are for sale, and special events include a make-your-own altered Barbie workshop. Runs through Sunday, November 17, 2013. 

previous blog post about Altered Barbie








spider Barbie by Lavonne Sallee
"Beheaded Because" and "Working Her Way Through College" by John Franko

November 13, 2013

San Francisco: Keane Eyes Gallery; things to do

San Francisco

Keane Eyes Gallery  

3040 Larkin St./Beach St., (415) 922-9309; www.keane-eyes.com.  By appt.

exterior of Keane Eyes Gallery in San Francisco
exterior of Keane Eyes Gallery in San Francisco


Located across from Ghirardelli Square, the expansive Keane Eyes Gallery is devoted to the work of artist Margaret Keane.  Well-known for her paintings of children and animals with big round eyes, she can make even a bull dog look cute.  Prices range from $35 for a poster to $850 for a limited-edition print to original paintings beginning at $12,000 and rising to more than $185,000.  Back in the Beat era, her paintings hung at Enrico Banducci’s famous hungry I nightclub on Jackson Street and you could pick a painting up then for as little as $50.  "Big Eyes," directed by Tim Burton--who is a longtime collector of Keane paintings--and starring Amy Adams and Terence Stamp, tells more of the story. 


More things to do in San Francisco

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated December 31, 2014

November 11, 2013

San Francisco: Wipeout Bar & Grill; restaurant review

entrance to the Wipeout Bar & Grill in San Francisco
San Francisco

Wipeout Bar & Grill  

On Per 39, lower level, (415) 986-5966.  B-L-D M-Sat.  No reservations. 

Located near the pier entrance, the Wipeout Bar & Grill gets busier as the day moves on.  It features a fire pit and large seating area outside, where you can watch the throngs go by while you chow down to surf music.  Choice items include garlic fries, onion rings, clam chowder, a bacon-guacamole California burger, and of course, tacos, burritos, and pizza.  All seafood on the menu is sustainable.  Many people stop to refresh on nachos and one of their signature 23-ounce cocktails.  We came for breakfast, when it is just beginning to warm up and so a lot quieter, and we sat inside amid the TV sports bar atmosphere.  My husband had the California Breakfast with eggs over easy, and though he prefers his potato wedges crisper, he cleaned his plate.  My chorizo-cheese scramble with sourdough toast was also tasty, and portions were substantial enough to see us through to dinner.



breakfast plate at the Wipeout Bar & Grill in San Francisco



November 8, 2013

San Francisco: see the sea lions at Pier 39; things to do

 San Francisco

sea lions at Pier 39

I'm always amazed by the throngs of tourists flocking to Pier 39, and the only time I really "get it" is when I am actually there.  Everyone is having a good time, and the festive atmosphere is catching.  And then there are those spectacular sea lions basking, barking, and belching on the floating docks. If you get lonely for them when you return home, you can always watch them in the video below or watch what the sea lions are doing right NOW via webcam.







November 6, 2013

San Francisco: Fog Harbor Fish House; restaurant review

San Francisco

Fog Harbor Fish House  

On Level Two, (415) 421-2442.  L-D M-Sat; $$. 

cocktail at Fog Harbor Fish House in San Francisco
cocktail at Fog Harbor Fish House in San Francisco


You can rest easy and fully enjoy your meal at the Fog Harbor Fish House because all seafood on the menu is sustainable.  Located near the pier entrance, the expansive white-tablecloth dining room offers bay views from most seats, which come in the form of window-side tables and raised booths (both regular and half-moon).  We started with a cup of clam chowder (also available in a sourdough bread bowl) and an iceberg lettuce wedge topped with Pt. Reyes blue cheese dressing.  Addictive Boudin sourdough bread is freshly baked in-house.  Entrée choices include everything from wild salmon to whole Dungeness crab to fresh lobster, but my heart said fried shrimp with thin french fries and a tangy coleslaw with horseradish dressing.  My husband bibbed up and dove into a massive seafood cioppino.  Steaks and pastas are also options.  Our drinks of choice were a yummy Alcatraz Escape cocktail for me (coconut and dark rums mixed with orange and pineapple juices and some grenadine) and
diner tucks into cioppino at Fog Harbor Fish House in San Francisco
a tasty Oregon Pinot Noir from RouteStock for my mate.  Desserts are housemade and samples are brought out on a tray to contemplate—hmmm, should we have a heavy one (bread pudding topped with ice cream) or a light one (raspberry sorbet)?  And all the while we enjoyed watching the changing light of the evening view.




More things to do in San Francisco

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images c2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

November 4, 2013

San Francisco: staycation at Radisson Hotel Fisherman’s Wharf; hotel review

San Francisco

With this blog posting, I'm going to begin a staycation itinerary for you locals (those of you from out of the area can call it an old-fashioned vacation!).  My husband and I did this quick escape without a suitcase.  We packed the bare essentials in our day bags, and on the first day took BART and an F-car historical trolley to Fisherman's Wharf.  The next day, we walked along The Embarcadero, stopping here and there, and returned home on BART.  Today, I will describe the lodging, and in future posts I will describe some restaurants and activities.  Stay tuned.

Radisson Hotel Fisherman’s Wharf

250 Beach St./Powell St., (877) 497-1212, (415) 392-6700.  4 stories; 355 rooms; $$-$$$+.  Heated pool; fitness room.  Self-parking $44. 

Covering an entire block, this lodging has some rooms with bay and city views.  The pool is located within an enclosed courtyard, and a Johnny Rockets opens adjacent.  Guest rooms are decorated attractively with full-wall murals depicting the Golden Gate Bridge, and the sleep number bed underneath the mural lets you determine whether you have a soft or firm mattress.  Among the several hotel entrances and exits is one that allows you to exit into the beating heart of Fisherman’s Wharf.

Things to do on this San Francisco staycation:

day 1:
visit Keane Eyes Gallery
dinner at Fog Harbor Fish House
day 2:
breakfast at Wipeout Bar & Grill
visit sea lions at Pier 39
visit Exploratorium


More staycations.

More things to do in San Francisco

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

October 30, 2013

Albany: China Village; restaurant review

interior of China Village in Albany, California
80 North

China Village  


1335 Solano Ave./Ramona Ave., in Albany, (510) 525-2285.  L-D daily, dim sum Sat-Sun; $-$$. 

Recently recovered from a devastating fire, this restaurant, which before had a simple decor and bargain menu, is now a lot more sleek and a tad more expensive.  The main dining room at China Village has some comfy banquette seating, and a smaller back room features a striking yellow mural wall with 3-D dragons.  Large windows bring in plenty of light, and you can order a cocktail to sip while you wait.  The menu specialty is hot Sichuan, but milder Mandarin and even milder Cantonese dishes are also available.  House specialties include delicious dry-fried cumin lamb spiced with plenty of hot red and green peppers, a saucy Szechuan hot bean paste fish fillet, and XO-sauce beef.  More winners include tea-smoked duck with half-moon steamed buns and plum sauce; chow mien made with housemade hand-cut noodles (they are flat and a little curly) with barbecue pork and veggies; spicy cold noodles with chicken in a sweet sesame paste sauce; Mandarin fish (a whole,
entree at  China Village in Albany, California
deep-fried fish covered with sweet bean paste sauce, garlic, and ginger).  Dishes are prepared without MSG.






October 28, 2013

Monterey: Pacific House Museum; things to do

Custom House Plaza/Scott St.  F-Sun 10-4.  $3 (includes Custom House). 

exterior of Monterey Museum of the American Indian in Monterey, California
exterior of Monterey Museum of the American Indian in Monterey, California


This two-story 1847 adobe houses the Monterey Museum of the American Indian.  A unique original feature was a water well enclosed inside (instead of outside) the south end of the building.

A beautiful walled Memory Garden is the setting each June for the annual Merienda celebrating Monterey's birthday. 


More Monterey adobes.

All-adobe tour of Monterey.

More things to do in Monterey.

More gardens.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

image courtesy of Monterey State Historic Park

October 25, 2013

Oakland: Desco (closed); restaurant review

entry area at Desco in Oakland, California
bruchette trio at Desco in Oakland, California880 South

Desco  

CLOSED  499 9th St./Washington St., (510) 663-9000.  L-D M-Sat, D daily; $$-$$$. 

The Latin word “desco” translates as “dinner table,” and this welcoming northern Italian restaurant is indeed a great spot to enjoy a meal.  Situated inside a vintage 1876 building--with original brick work, mosaic-tile flooring, and enormous windows--Desco is a feast for the eyes as well.  Outside on this traffic-quiet street crammed with vibrant restaurants, trees strung with tiny lights bring cheer to the night.  For a starter, don’t miss the seasonal bruschette trio (ours included pesto, pureed mushrooms, and prosciutto with caramelized onion toppings).  A green salad composed of blood orange chunks, pistachios, and swirls of fennel was tasty and refreshing, and followed by a brown bag full of housemade Italian bread that was perfectly crusty on the outside and soft and stretchy on the inside (the bag keeps it warm).  Most of the pastas are made in-house, and the pappardelle with lamb cheek-red onion sugo braised in Sangiovese was especially delicious accompanied with a San Vicenti Chianti Classico Toscana (all wines are from Italy, and classic cocktails area also available).  Pizza choices include both round traditional and rectangular stretched.  We opted for a traditional thin-crust roundtopped with mozzarella, broccoli rabbe, and a delicate housemade sausage but no red sauce.  Our waiter offered a plate of bright red Calabria chiles from the toe of the boot of Italy to spice things up, and a spicy, full-bodied, Zinfandel-like Tommaso Bussola Valpolicella Veneto went especially well with it.  Main courses of steak, pan-roasted chicken, and more are available, but we moved on to a nutty apricot-almond torte for dessert.  I couldn’t resist trying the traditional Italian after-dinner drinks--a black fernet branca made with menthol, herbs, and spices was medicinal; a sweeter cynar didn’t taste like the artichokes it is made with.  In addition to table seating, options include booths, at the central bar, at a communal table, and outside by the sidewalk.




Way more things to do in Oakland.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

October 23, 2013

Napa: See contemporary art at the rural di Rosa gallery; things to do

Wine Country

di Rosa  

5200 Sonoma Hwy. (Hwy. 121)/near Duhig Rd., 6 mi. SW of town, (707) 226-5991.  W-Sun 10-6; Nov-Mar 10-4.  Gallery:  $5 donation; tours:  $9-$15, reservations required; under 12 free.  No pets. 

sculpture cows at di Rosa gallery in Napa, California
sculpture cows at di Rosa gallery in Napa, California


The show at this expansive 217-acre contemporary art museum and sculpture park begins in the parking lot, where wrought-iron sheep greet visitors.  The di Rosa gallery is one of the largest regional art collections in the country, and tours last 1 to 2½ hours.  So extensive is the collection of more than 2,000 pieces by Northern California artists that a tram is used to shuttle guests from the Gatehouse Gallery to the Main Gallery, located in a converted tractor barn.  Visitors then walk past the Sculpture Meadow to a 19th-century stone winery building that was converted into a house and now into a gallery.  The property is also a nature preserve and is a stopping point for migratory birds.  It features towering oaks, a 100-year-old olive orchard, a 35-acre lake, and its own vocal flock of peacocks.

October 21, 2013

Sonoma: Viansa Winery; things to do

Wine Country 

Viansa Winery  

25200 Arnold Dr. (Hwy. 121), 5 mi. S of plaza, (800) 995-4740, (707) 935-4700.  Tasting daily 10-5; tour daily at 1, 2, 3. 

tasting bar at Viansa Winery in Sonoma, California
tasting bar at Viansa Winery in Sonoma, California


Built on top of a hill commanding magnificent views of the area, Viansa Winery is named for its original owners--Sam Sebastiani and his wife Vicki (the name comes from merging the first two letters of each of their first names).  The beautifully crafted Tuscan-style winery building was inspired by a monastery near Farneta, Italy.  Noteworthy varietals include Barbera Blanc--a light blush wine perfect for picnics--and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Sample them in the tasting room featuring two dramatic dueling wine walls behind two tasting bars at either end of the hall.  Wines are available for purchase only at the winery.

The Italian Marketplace food hall is designed after the mercato in Lucca, Italy, and the extraordinary food offerings almost overshadow the wines.  Using Vicki's recipes, the kitchen staff prepares wonderful things for picnics:  country pâté, torta rustica, hot-sweet mustard, focaccia bread, panini (Italian sandwiches), a triple-chocolate chunk cookie, tiramisu.  More goodies include porcini mushroom tomato sauce (made with Viansa Cabernet Sauvignon) and spiced figs (made with Sonoma black mission figs and Viansa Cabernet Sauvignon using Vicki's grandmother's recipe).  Some of the items are prepared with produce from the winery's own vegetable garden.  On nice days, picnics can be enjoyed at a bevy of tables on a spacious patio situated atop a knoll with a panoramic view of the Sonoma and Napa valleys.  The picnic area is on the Pacific Flyway and overlooks a wetlands that is a popular stopover for hundreds of bird species.  On cooler days, tables are available inside.


October 18, 2013

Calistoga: Euro Spa & Inn; hotel review + things to do

Wine Country

Euro Spa & Inn  

1202 Pine St., 2 blks. from downtown, (707) 942-6829.  13 rooms.  All gas heaters.  Heated pool; hot tub; full-service spa.  Afternoon cookies & cider; continental breakfast.  No pets.  Children welcome. 

exterior of Euro Spa & Inn in Calistoga, California
exterior of Euro Spa & Inn in Calistoga, California


Built in 1935, this motel has a center courtyard and is shaded by mature trees.  Downtown is just a nice two-block walk through a pleasant tree-lined residential neighborhood.  A self-serve continental breakfast is served outdoors at Euro Spa & Inn on a sheltered patio and includes whole fresh fruit as well as a prepared fruit bowl, delicious pastries from Costeaux French Bakery in Healdsburg, and an egg entrée such as Dungeness crab-scrambled egg strudel.  The spacious pool area has several large grassy areas, shade trees, and plenty of lounge chairs.  A free shuttle operates within a 3-mile radius.  Guest rooms vary in size, but all are roomy.  Decor is simple, with wall-to-wall carpeting and a few pictures on the walls.  Beds have knotty pine headboards and are made up with white cotton sheets and topped with a light white cotton-covered duvet.  All rooms have a small front porch, and free wireless is provided throughout.

breakfast plate at Euro Spa & Inn in Calistoga, California
breakfast plate at Euro Spa & Inn in Calistoga, California

   
Under separate ownership, The Spa ((707) 942-4056) is tucked into a detached part of the motel.  It offers an extravaganza of treatments, including a soothing and detoxifying mud wrap using several kinds of clay, local milled grape seeds, and local volcanic ash.  (This is different from the traditional mud bath available at some other places in town, where you actually climbs into a tub full of volcanic ash mud.  In this case, the creamy mud feels like wax and is applied by an attendant.)  Local grape seeds are also used in a foot renewal treatment, and an oxygen facial infuses effervescent oxygen and peptides into the skin for a firming treatment.

October 16, 2013

Calistoga: Madrigal Family Winery; things to do

Wine Country

Madrigal Family Winery  

3718 North St. Helena Hwy./Larkmead Lane, (707) 942-1065. Tasting by appt., daily 10-4. 

tasting room at Madrigal Family Winery in Calistoga, California
tasting room at Madrigal Family Winery in Calistoga, California


Since the late 1930s, when grandfather Jess came to the Napa Valley from Mexico, three generations of the Madrigal family have farmed the Napa Valley vineyards.  Grandson Chris Madrigal studied wine making at U.C. Davis and now heads the current generation and the small Madrigal Family Winery that sells most of its production through its wine club and tasting room.  If you join the wine club, tasting is complimentary and you can take part in some special tasting programs, including a pairing with food from Calistoga’s Jolie restaurant or a lunch with owner Chris. 


More things to do in the Wine Country.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


October 14, 2013

Berkeley: Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop; restaurant review

2944 College Ave./Ashby Ave., Claremont, (510) 981-0538.  L-D daily; $$.  No reservations. 

interior of Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop in Berkeley, California
interior of Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop in Berkeley, California


Mimicking an old-fashioned cottage with touches such as a screen door and ceiling fan, this small counter-order spot knows how to make a sandwich.  A favorite at the Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop is the apple-smoked bacon with avocado, piquillo pepper, arugula, and housemade mayo. The hefty fried chicken consists of a flat slice of crispy fried chicken breast, coleslaw, mustard sauce, and housemade sweet pickles.  Salads include watermelon with feta and sherry vinaigrette, curried chicken, and both cauliflower and beet.  Burgers and pizza are also available.  Cup cakes and marble cake make a nice dessert, and Ici is just next door.  Heftier dinners become available at 4 p.m.



More things to do in Berkeley.

Way more things to do in Berkeley. 

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

October 11, 2013

Monterey: Stevenson House Adobe and Garden; things to do

530 Houston St./E. Pearl St.  Sat & 4th Sun 1-4pm. 

exterior of the Stevenson House Adobe and Garden in Monterey, California
exterior of the Stevenson House Adobe and Garden in Monterey, California


The two-story 1830s Stevenson House Adobe and Garden was for six months the boarding house for author Robert Louis Stevenson and is now a museum of his personal belongings.


More Monterey adobes.

All-adobe tour of Monterey.

More things to do in Monterey.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

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