December 19, 2017

St. Helena: Wydown Hotel; hotel review

Wine Country

Wydown Hotel  

1424 Main St., downtown, (707) 963-5100.  12 rooms.  Continental breakfast.  Free parking.  No pets. 

Located at the edge of the town’s main shopping street and next door to the town park, this outwardly dark-grey 1886 Victorian building has been gutted so you might be a bit surprised to find inside the Wydown Hotel with a lighter edgy, contemporary style.  The lobby is particularly spacious, with several couches and a table bearing newspapers and magazines.

exterior of Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California
exterior of Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California


lobby at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California
lobby at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California


upstairs hallway seating at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California
upstairs hallway seating at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California


All guest rooms are on the second floor, and an elevator helps lift any luggage up there.  Beds are made with smooth, ironed white cotton linens and duvet cover, and topped with a posh faux fur throw.  Unfortunately, no bathtubs are available, but a mini fridge is stocked with complimentary still and sparkling water plus fruit drinks.

guest room at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California
guest room at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California


guest bath room at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California
guest bath room at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California


A complimentary breakfast is served in The Tea Room adjacent to the lobby.  In the evening, many good restaurants are within walking distance, and additional stellar Wine Country establishments are a short drive away.  A complimentary pass to Health Spa Napa Valley (it is 3 blocks away) is provided to guests and allows access to their fitness center and a 25-yard outdoor heated lap pool and hot tub, as well as to eucalyptus steam rooms and a discount on spa treatments.



The well-curated resale shop La Boheme operates adjacent to the hotel and can be entered through the lobby.  It is filled with nicely curated merchandise that includes bargain treasures, and proceeds benefit Napa Valley Hospice and Adult Day Services. 

La Boheme resale shop operates off the lobby at Wydown Hotel in St. Helena, California
La Boheme resale shop operates off the lobby at Wydown Hotel
in St. Helena, California



More things to do in St. Helena.

More things to do in the Wine Country.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 


December 15, 2017

The most interesting Carmel art galleries; things to do

1 South

The most interesting Carmel art galleries


There are dozens of art galleries in Carmel.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Carmel Art Association  

Dolores St./5th Ave., (831) 624-6176.  Daily 10-5. 

The Carmel Art Association gallery is Carmel’s oldest and the nation’s second-oldest artist-owned cooperative (the oldest is in Rockport, Massachusetts).  It has showcased California’s best artists since 1927.

Carmel Art Association gallery in Carmel, California
Carmel Art Association gallery in Carmel, California


Galerie Plein Aire  

Dolores St./6th St., (831) 250-5698.  Daily 11-5. 

Galerie Plein Aire displays original works of art from a group of Monterey Bay plein air painters.  Known as Informalists, these artists interpret natural landscapes in impressionistic and expressionistic styles.

Galerie Plein Aire art gallery in Carmel, California
Galerie Plein Aire art gallery in Carmel, California


Jones & Terwilliger Galleries  

6th Ave./San Carlos, (888) 278-0040, (831) 626-9100. 

Jones & Terwilliger Galleries specializes in fine art.

Jones & Terwilliger Galleries art gallery in Carmel, California
Jones & Terwilliger Galleries art gallery in Carmel, California


New Masters Gallery  

Dolores St./Ocean Ave., (800) 336-4014, (831) 625-1511.  M-Sat 10-5:30, Sun 10:30-5:30. 

The work of accomplished contemporary artists is shown at the New Masters Gallery.

New Masters Gallery art gallery in Carmel, California
New Masters Gallery art gallery in Carmel, California


Photography West Gallery  

Dolores St./Ocean Ave., (831) 625-1587.  Thur-M 11-5. 

Photography West Gallery specializes in photography by photographers who do/did their own darkroom printing, such as Ansel Adams, Brett Weston, and Christopher Burnett, plus more contemporary 21st-century artists.  Monterey Peninsula residents are emphasized.

Photography West Gallery art gallery in Carmel, California
Photography West Gallery art gallery in Carmel, California


Rodrigue Studio  

Dolores St./Ocean Ave., (831) 626-4444.  M-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5. 

Rodrigue Studio gallery is devoted entirely to Cajun artist George Rodrigue’s pop art blue dog.

Rodrigue Studio art gallery in Carmel, California
Rodrigue Studio art gallery in Carmel, California


Thomas Kinkade Studio in the Garden  

Ocean Ave./Dolores, (831) 624-3363. 

Located in the middle of the Der Ling Lane passageway, finding this sweet gallery is part of the pleasure.  The Thomas Kinkade Studio in the Garden gallery operates within a typical Kinkade cottage and is depicted, but of course, in a painting by him.

Thomas Kinkade Studio in the Garden art gallery in Carmel, California
Thomas Kinkade Studio in the Garden art gallery in Carmel, California


Weston Gallery  

6th Ave./Dolores, (831) 624-4453.  Tu-Sun 10:30- 5:30. 

Run by the family of the late Edward Weston, who died in 1958, the Weston Gallery showcases contemporary color photography as well as classic black-and-white photography by artists that include Weston, Ansel Adams, and Morley Bae as well as emerging artists such as Linda Butler, Mark Citret, and local music-industry luminary Chip Hooper.

Weston Gallery art gallery in Carmel, California
Weston Gallery art gallery in Carmel, California



More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


December 12, 2017

San Francisco: Christmas lights and sights; things to do; staycation at Hilton San Francisco Union Square

San Francisco

I spent last Saturday around Union Square in San Francisco.  And oh what sights I did see!


Neiman Marcus Christmas tree


2017 Christmas tree at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco
2017 Christmas tree at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco


ice skating at the Holiday Ice Rink



2017 Christmas kitten window at Macy's in San Francisco
2017 Christmas kitten window at Macy's in San Francisco


Santacon 

participants out in full force

Santacon 2017 participants lined up at Sam's Cable Car Lounge in San Francisco
Santacon 2017 participants lined up at Sam's Cable Car Lounge in San Francisco


CanStruction snowman 

at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square 

(this snowman is constructed from cans of food that can feed 1,300 people and will be donated to the local community after Christmas)

CanStruction 2017 at Hilton San Francisco Union Square in San Francisco
CanStruction 2017 at Hilton San Francisco Union Square in San Francisco


In fact, I spent the night staycation-style at the Hilton.  We packed our necessities in just one backpack, took BART too and fro, and enjoyed Union Square like a tourist.  We ate dinner at the hotel's Urban Tavern restaurant and enjoyed a nightcap and spectacular city view at the Cityscape Lounge on the 46th floor. 

backpack on bed at Hilton San Francisco Union Square
backpack on bed at Hilton San Francisco Union Square


Need a Stocking Stuffer?  
Alcatraz's first ever "Buy One, Get One Free" ticket promotion makes the perfect gift to stuff in your Christmas stockings.  And only local residents can book it.  Dates are January 30 and 31 plus February 6 and 7 in 2018.  Residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties are eligible.  
Call (415) 981-7625 or visit www.alcatrazcruises.com to purchase your tickets NOW.  

December 8, 2017

San Francisco: Holiday Tea at InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco; things to do

San Francisco

InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

Hotels everywhere roll out the carpet with special events for the Christmas season.  Here in San Francisco, the legendary InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco does the same.  Think afternoon Holiday Teas served with individual 3-tiered trays holding tea sandwiches, scones, and sweets.  And the 12 Cocktails of Christmas, each served with a souvenir cocktail charm--how about a Ten Lords a-Leaping made with Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka, Chambord, cranberry juice, and fresh raspberries?  Earlier, Thanksgiving features a petting zoo in the lobby, and later, New Year's Eve brings on a New Year's Eve dinner and dancing special at the Top of the Mark. 

Holiday Tea at the Top of the Mark, InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco
Holiday Tea at the Top of the Mark, InterContinental Mark Hopkins
in San Francisco


tea tray close-up at Holiday Tea at the Top of the Mark, InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco
tea tray close-up at Holiday Tea
at the Top of the Mark, InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco


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