When Bacchus Ruled Sonoma

No, I don’t mean “Bacchus Ruled” in some sort of metaphorical “wine is important” sort of way. I mean there was a time when Bacchus actually cavorted around Sonoma. With nymphs, assorted goatherds, and Greek choruses. Seriously, true story. They were here. Well, at least their earthly representatives were. When I explain, you’ll start to wonder, as...

The State of the Fair

It’s County Fair time and Sonoma County has one of the best: it’s firmly focussed on rural and agricultural pursuits and it’s got a character that’s all Sonoma. But I’m convinced one of the reasons I always have such a good time at the Sonoma County Fair is that I approach it like a military operation. I have a strategy. You have to. Otherwise, you just...

Small Town Fourth of July

On so many levels, Sonoma’s Fourth of July parade is exactly what you’d want it to be. So I feel a little mean criticizing. I just think it could be so much better. Not that I’m actually complaining. I’m just wondering whose friend I have to be and how many ballot boxes I’d have to stuff to get on the planning committee — if, indeed, there is one....

In Search of the Lost Terrier Mine

One of my favorite movies, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, has the immortal line: “This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” The legend in that movie, of course, was John Wayne in one of his best roles. Well, “the fact” here at Two Terrier Ranch is that John the Baptist — with the help of Louis, Felix, his father Felix Sr.,...

Loves Labours Lost in Sonoma?

I’m on record and I’ll say it again, Sonoma has the nation’s best small town newspaper, the inestimable Sonoma-Index Tribune. And the best part of that twice-weekly paper is the Crime Report. Yes, the editors of the IT have taken the mundane police blotter and turned it into Pulitzer-worthy High Art. More often than not, the roundup of petty thefts, public...

The Places to Go If You Go to Sonoma

Taking myself out to a solo dinner treat in Sonoma, I met a lovely Irish couple at my favorite restaurant, The Girl and the Fig. They’re on a whirlwind tour of Sonoma — and lucky or unlucky them — they sat where I could overhear their tour plans. So I had to jump in and tell them the things to see, if you only have a few days in Sonoma. Sight One was taken care of....