Dating Insider
A columnist and contributing writer for NorthBay biz magazine for seven years and counting, Christina Julian is the go-to girl for all things wine country. Inspired by her personal tales of family dysfunction and over-the-top dating moments, Julian’s fiction debut in her novel, The Dating Bender, which was released in August.
Wine and dating are a perfect pair, according to Julian. “If the date is bad, anyone can suffer through one glass, but if things are going well, there is always a bottle to move onto. Wine is also a gal’s best friend when it comes to writing and publishing a book. The only way to survive either is wine, and lots of it. You raise a glass on the good days and down a bottle on the bad ones.”
As far as the dating scene in the North Bay, Julian suggests shaking things up and make the most of our small town assets. “I lived the single life in New York and L.A. before moving to Calistoga. Speed dating was replaced with wine industry socials and winemaker dinners. Summer share houses in the Hamptons are traded for lazing down the river with a can of wine in one hand and my pup in the other. She eventually met her mate—a long time Calistoga native. The Dating Bender is available for purchase on Amazon and in regional stores including Copperfields, Bookmine and Green Apple Books. Visit christinajulian.com for details.
Sonoma County In Focus
When Jaz Fabry moved to Healdsburg eight years ago, he was mesmerized by the beauty of Sonoma County, and set about on a journey to capture it with his camera in hand. An artist and fine art photographer, Fabry has taken roughly 20,000 images of the county, inspired by the lush vineyard landscapes and rugged Pacific coastline. “I love the hilly landscapes, vineyards and grapes—the symmetry of pattern and the rows appeal to me,” he says. “Nature tells a story.”
When working, Fabry prefers to photograph the images that inspire him at dawn and dusk. His colors are bold and intense in lusty reds and purples, vibrant blues and greens, and rich hues of orange and yellow. “I like to shoot at sunrise and sunset,” he says. “I record images in the magic hour of near darkness and like to bring up the shadows hidden in the dark, which reveal my bold, saturated colors.”
Fabry has never been interested in photographing grandiose estates and manicured lawns. “I love to drive the back roads, or follow a dirt path to find the end and discover a magical image. Sometimes I’m sneaking onto properties,” he admits with a laugh. When Fabry finds inspiration in a place, he often returns 15 to 20 times to capture an image until he’s satisfied with the results. One of those paths once led to an old barn. “I went back 20 times to photograph it. I felt it was iconic.” While working, Fabry fully moves with the process. “It’s like meditation, or a spiritual quest, and an intense positive feeling. I’m just in a zone.”
After 20,000 images, of which he created 200 photographs that reveal the spirit of the county, Fabry is moving on. “I’ve completed my journey here. The ocean is calling me,” he says. Fabry is relocating to the island of Maui this autumn, but his work is still represented exclusively at Capture Fine Art Gallery On the Plaza in Healdsburg.
www.jazfabry.com.
www.capturefineart.com
