Hit The Trails
Mark your calendars and bring your friends to the Sonoma County Art Trails, the premiere juried open studio tour, which will be held during the second and third weekends of October. “It’s a gorgeous time of year, and you can meander through the back roads, “ says Jan Schultz, co-chair of the Sonoma County Art Trails steering committee.
(A juried art show means new artists are selected by a panel of experts such as curators, gallery owners and other art professionals to participate in the event.)
Hitting the Art Trails is a great way to explore your way across scenic Sonoma County, engage directly with the artists and collect original art, adds Schultz. “It’s not like visiting a gallery,” she says. “You get to talk with the artists and find out what motivated them to make a piece—whether it’s a painting or hand-carved bowl. Some locals visit the studios every year to go ‘art trailing.’ And some visitors come annually from the East Coast. For those who come for the first time, it’s fair to say that once they’ve visited the studios, they want to continue each year.”
The Art Trails experience begins on Thursday, Sept. 28, when the Sonoma County Preview Exhibit Opens at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests can preview the art from 141 artists, which includes painting, print-making, sculpture, ceramics, fiber arts, fine jewelry, art glass, mixed media, woodwork and photography. For more information, go to www.sonomacountyarttrails.org
Girls’ Day Out
Enjoy a day out with your girlfriends at the first ever North Bay Women’s Expo, a Wine Country lifestyle event for women, on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 to 4 p.m. at the Graton Resort and Casino Ballroom in Rohnert Park.
This premiere expo is a day of celebration and all that women love—lifestyle, fashion, beauty, health and wellness. The event includes spa treatments, massages, fashion shows, refreshments, retail therapy, a Bubble Room (think Champagne), martini bar and more.
What inspired the expo? “We noticed a trend—women enjoying an afternoon with their girlfriends to celebrate women,” says Cathy Slack, co-producer of the North Bay Women’s Expo. “Women need a break, even serious business women.”
The expo is sponsored by Graton Resort & Casino, NorthBay biz magazine and Sutter Health, produced by ASM Events. Tickets can be purchased for $10. For more information, check out North Bay Women’s Expo on Facebook.
A Harvest Celebration!
After hosting the annual Heirloom Tomato Festival for 20 years, Kendall-Jackson is mixing it up and planning a new autumn bash, launching its inaugural Harvest Celebration on October 1. Wine club members get exclusive access to the event at 10:30 a.m., and general admission begins at 11 a.m.
Why the change? “We’re creating a more intimate harvest experience at our estate, celebrating the bounty of Sonoma with wine and food, live music and educational experiences,” says John Maxwell, vice president of Kendall-Jackson Winery. “[And] we wanted to broaden our focus to showcase all of Kendall-Jackson’s farm-to-table offerings and showcase our wines.” Event highlights include: wine-and-food pairing demonstrations; unique plates from local purveyors; and live music. There will also be seminars featuring everything from beehives to cheesemaking, barrelmaking and outdoor painting sessions.
As for their famous heirloom tomatoes, not to worry—guests will enjoy farm fresh produce straight from Kendall Jackson’s Culinary Gardens, including their famous Heirloom tomatoes. Says Jackson, “Tomatoes will continue to play an important role.”
www.kj.com/events/harvest-celebration
