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RESTAURANT ROULETTE THE NAME OF THE GAME IN ‘DESTINATION HEALDSBURG’
Healdsburg, California Healdsburg, California
November 30, 2023 Date, Date, 20202020
‘ONE DOOR CLOSES, AND ANOTHER ONE OPENS’ IN LOCAL DINING LANDSCAPE By Christian Kallen
Photo by Christian Kallen
Adel’s Restaurant, opened 34 years ago and as such perhaps the oldest continuously operated restaurant in Healdsburg, closed its doors for the last time on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 29. The diner on Dry Creek Road just off the Highway 101 off-ramp has been a popular stop for long-distance drivers and local diners alike since it opened in 1989. Its traditional menu included big breakfasts, big burgers, skillets and salads. The leatherette booths and long Formica counter were familiar from coast to coast under different marquees. It was a reassuring setting, and the crowd that showed on its final Sunday came to share in the farwell. “I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye,” said one independent contractor sidling onto a counter stool. The booths were filled with families likewise saying goodbye with one last breakfast. The current manager, Danny Ibrahim, is related to Adel Ibrahim, who started the restaurant and two others with the same name, in Santa Rosa and Eureka. A Eureka Adel’s is still open, while the Santa Rosa Adel’s—at Mendocino and College— became Café Mimosa a couple years ago. Rumors of the pending closure have been floated for weeks, with an ad listed on the commercial real estate LoopNet detailing the space available. A 3,221-square-foot
DECORATION The 2022 Healdsburg Tree, following its lighting celebration at Merry Healdsburg. This year’s tree lighting ceremony takes place on Friday, Dec. 1.
Prepare To Be Merry, Healdsburg! FRIDAY NIGHT TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION CONTINUES TO GROW By Christian Kallen
A relatively new tradition continues this Friday with the third annual Merry Healdsburg party at the Plaza, an occasion to celebrate the winter season, shop for local gifts, enjoy the company of neighbors and witness the Lighting of the Tree. “Bring the whole family to enjoy a winter wonderland downtown with carriage rides, live holiday music, complimentary photos with Santa, and much more,” encourages the city on its own website. “Watch as we light up the Plaza to celebrate
this joyous season!” It’s billed as a familyfriendly holiday event, and how could it not be? With sponsorship and support by Kiwanis and the Chamber of Commerce, live music by a trio called the Sugarplums and an extended visit by the Big Guy himself, the Friday night lighting could rival the Plaza’s other big events this past year, such as Dia de Muertos and the Climate Fest. The Plaza will be decked out for the holidays, and celebrants are expected to gather about 6pm. The cornerstone event, the Tree Lighting ceremony itself, is scheduled for 6:30pm. Santa will stick around for complimentary photos with the kids until 8:30pm, while a horsedrawn carriage bedecked with colorful lights will
circle the plaza throughout, offering complimentary rides.
Bike Parade
Before the Plaza party starts, however, a parade of another sort will circle around town not with sleigh bells or horse’s hooves but with twowheelers and a community bike ride organized by Move! Healdsburg. This new citizens group, a spinoff of the Climate Action Healdsburg group with engagement by Healdsburg Cycle, the Healdsburg Running Company and others, is building momentum for a bike-safe Healdsburg through what they hope are monthly community rides. Bicyclists are asked to meet at 4pm at Old Roma Station, 57 Front St., for a three-mile route through
low-traffic city streets and past the Healdsburg Plaza, where Merry Healdsburg will be getting underway. Riders can end their route there or return with the group to Old Roma Station. Helmets are required (a few will be available for lending) and lighted bikes and festive attire are encouraged.
Holiday Market
The Friday Night event will also be the site of a new Holiday Night Market, in conjunction with Healdsburg Farmers Market. More than 50 vendors, including many food vendors and creative merchants of packaged foods, gifts, handmade crafts and more, will be set up at the Healdsburg Plaza from 4-9:30pm. The market will fill both Matheson and Plaza
➝ Adel’s Restaurant, 3
streets around the Plaza park. Many familiar faces from the Saturday Farmers Market have signed up, joined by local restaurants, shops and merchants, craft food vendors and community groups. The lighting of the tree itself is scheduled for 6:30pm, with a host of local celebrities and Santa himself throwing the switch. The tree, a 42-foot white fir from southern Oregon, has undergone decoration for much of the week with 4,000 lights and 500 ornaments. Other family activities are planned, and what Plaza party would be complete without live music? This year the Sugarplums, winners of the national Christmas Caroler Challenge competition on The CW network, take the stage. ➝ Merry Healdsburg, 7
FIVE HOLIDAY CONCERTS IN HEALDSBURG SEASON OF SONG ARRIVES IN SONOMA COUNTY
Photo by Christian Kallen
COMING EVENTS Upcoming Christmas concerts from two
Healdsburg community groups take over the marquee at the Raven Theater, 115 North St.
Maybe it’s the shorter days, the warming fires or the family gatherings, but few seasons are as musical as Christmas. While the continual cycle of familiar carols streaming from every retail shop and sidewalk sales cart may eventually become tedious, like a rising tide it’s best just to go along for the ride. Healdsburg is fortunate to have several community music groups, comprised largely of volunteers
and able amateurs, who share their love for music and the season with winter concerts. Here is a list of five holiday concerts coming in December. The Healdsburg Community Band plays its annual Holiday Concert at the Raven Theater on Sunday at 3pm. The Holiday Concert has become a local institution since the group’s founding 41 years ago. From the beginning it has relied on a melding of Healdsburg High School band and orchestra students and local seniors whose marching band days are long gone. It was cofounded by Lew Sbrana, a trumpeter and conductor of the high school band. Though its numbers have risen and fallen with the years, it now has 38 members, including one from the band’s founding in 1982, Dr. Douglas Pile (clarinet). Among the younger members are
Pile’s son, Nate, and granddaughter, Natalie (both also clarinet). HHS musical director John Natelli’s elementary school-age son is also expected to play percussion for the Dec. 3 concert. “Overall, we skew solidly toward the mature side,” said the band’s president, Stu Matlow. “In support of local music education, we award a scholarship to a high school senior most years, and occasionally purchase equipment for Healdsburg High School. A few years ago we stopped charging admission for concerts, in favor of support from donations. It’s worked out about the same financially.” Jon Saler is the current musical director, and he has selected holiday compositions “that go beyond the usual Yuletide fare,” said Matlow, including “Jingle Bell Swing,” in ➝ Holiday Concerts, 7