 |
||
|
||
|
Newsletter
..
 
|
||
|
Sonoma County Events Newsletter Feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends. To modify your subscription, see below. IN THIS ISSUE:
It is truly spectacular this time of year: the south-facing hills are just beginning to turn a soft golden but the moist, shady places are still brilliant green. The vines have pushed their new leaves and sparkle in the sun. Great time to visit! Here's what we recommend: The Vintners Inn and the John Ash & Company Restaurant Enjoy European-style lodging at Vintners Inn and fine dining at John Ash & Co. These jewels of Sonoma County are set amidst a 45-acre vineyard, a perfect retreat for both business and leisure travelers who want the best that Wine Country has to offer. http://www.vintnersinn.com/; http://www.johnashco.com/
May 6 - 7 -- "Fiesta Wines"-First Weekend in Alexander Valley
May 14 -- Mother's Day Brunch at Gloria Ferrer
May 20 -- Annual Russian River Wine Road "Pick of the Vine"
May 27 - 29 -- Memorial Day Open House Weekend
But consistent quality is so important and Mariposa Restaurant, located in the heart of the Russian River Valley and preparing wonderful seasonal French-American cuisine, certainly delivers that and much more. Take last Saturday night's meal for example. I don't think I have had such perfectly prepared Atlantic Skate, served here with a green pea risotto and accompanied by rock shrimp butter and verjus, since leaving New York City for the beauty of Sonoma County. A glass of Cótes du Rhone Blanc, Château Saint Esteve D'Uchaux '98 proved the perfect pairing choice. Add to that a nibble of my dining partners roasted Nieman Ranch Veal Loin, served with brown buttered spinach, truffled-mushrooms and Madeira 21, and I am already thinking about making my next reservation before I leave. Maybe next time I will ask to be seated on the charming outdoor terrace and enjoy the balmy Sonoma evening while trying to lick my dessert plate clean without attracting too much attention. Ahhh............fresh strawberries poached in port and black pepper with a vanilla bean gelato. Don't miss the experience when you visit Sonoma County. For more information visit Mariposa's website at http://www.mariposarestaurant.org/, and if you decide to make a reservation please tell Shawn you heard about the restaurant through Sonoma.com Bon Appetit! The Sonoma.com Gourmand (This is not a paid for placement review.)
What research I've done indicates a very large and interesting topic about which many books have been written, for example, "Contested Eden," Ramon A. Gutierrez, editor. A couple of observations to date: we tend to think of native cultures as having been at their zenith at the time the European arrived. To paraphrase writer and publisher Malcolm Margolin: we don't expect Americans to wear powered wigs, speak like Ben Franklin and use a wooden plow in order to be considered authentic Americans. Why do we hold that native culture is in decline? In fact, it is currently experiencing a renaissance! It is an absurdity to say that Europeans and Americans lacked cultural sensitive when they arrived. Horrible things happened to the native people, some unintentional, like disease, some intentional, short of genocide; hard to get your arms around atrocity. Fortunately, elements of native cultures continue! And the web provides a glimpse of what's going on, I've provided a few links below. **We have much to learn**, for example: "People frequently ask me what these ceremonial baskets hold. They did not have to hold anything, because the basket itself was all that was needed. The basket contained the prayers and the wonderful, good energy that made it a ceremonial basket." -- Susan Billy, Pomo, Elsie Allen's grand-niece and student. From: http://indy4.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/art/basket/pomo.html In Sonoma County, with the passage of Proposition 1A where voters agreed to allow gambling on native owned land, the Dry Creek band of Pomo is proposing a casino on their land in the Alexander Valley area. The local, non-native residents are not very happy about the prospect, but there seems to be little they can do. It will be interesting watching the proposed casino evolve (or fester?) in the hearts and minds of local residents, native and not. More later... If you have a moment please take a peek at these links about this Sonoma & Mendocino County tribe: Pomo resourses: http://web.reed.edu/academic/departments/english/courses/English558/mabelmckay.html Pomo baskets: http://web.reed.edu/academic/departments/english/courses/English558/pomoart.html We encourage your feedback, please send your comments to our newsletter editor, Karla Noyes: mailto:editor@sonoma.com Suggestions of topics you would like to see in future issues are welcome.
|
||
| Sign up to receive our free newsletters: napavalley.com • sonoma.com • gomonterey.com Copyright © 2001 FreeRun Technologies all rights reserved |
||
