Best of Sonoma County 2020

BEST OF SONOMA COUNTY 2020

$4.50

2020

Sonoma County for voting Montgomery Village Shopping Center Best Shopping Experience

A PREMIER LIFESTYLE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

COMPLIMENTARY PARKING HIGHWAY 12 AT FARMERS LANE IN SANTA ROSA • WWW.MVSHOPS.COM

ome in and discover why we were voted The Best!

Explore all of our wonderful shops, restaurants and personal care services including our “Best of Sonoma County” winners and finalists: Acre Coffee WINNER, BEST COFFEE

The Classic Duck WINNER, BEST PLACE TO FIND THE PERFECT GIFT

Copperfield’s Books WINNER, BEST BOOKSTORE

Exchange Bank WINNER, BEST BANK

Patrick James WINNER, BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

SEA Thai Bistro WINNER, BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT

Sole Desire Shoes WINNER, BEST SHOE STORE

Zen Nails & Day Spa WINNER, BEST NAIL SALON

Chase Bank FINALIST, BEST BANK

Lori Austin Gallery FINALIST, BEST ART GALLERY

ME Spa FINALIST, BEST DAY SPA

Site for Sore Eyes FINALIST, BEST EYEGLASS STORE

Summit State Bank FINALIST, BEST BANK

Village Bakery FINALIST, BEST BAKERY

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BEST NOMA COUN

Editor Catherine Barnett Managing Editor Antonie Boessenkool Design Director Jonathan Byrd Digital Director Annika Toernqvist Photography Editor Chad Surmick Photographers John Burgess Christopher Chung Alvin A.H. Jornada Kent Porter Beth Schlanker Contributing Writer Penny Popken Contributing Photographers Erik Castro Chris Hardy Crista Jeremiason Copy Editor Kathleen Coates Published by The Press Democrat 427 Mendocino Ave. P.O. Box 569 Santa Rosa, CA 95402

Inside 4 28 52 66 Dine & Drink

A slew of restaurants, wineries, breweries offer delicious options.

Real Life

Shops and services that transcend the everyday errand experience.

So Sonoma

The places, pastimes and people that make our area unique.

Hall of Fame

The favorites readers have honored five consecutive times or more.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Falk Chief Revenue Officer Karleen Arnink-Pate Chief Digital Revenue Officer Jose C. del Castillo Advertising Director Joanne Herrfeldt Events & Sponsorships Director Ginger Hopkins Specialty Content Manager Ken Jaggie Classified Advertising Director Dennis Sheely Advertising Financial & Systems Manager Katie Gordon Advertising Operations Manager Mark Flaviani Distribution

Cover illustration by Ryan Mesheau

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

JOHN BURGESS

Best Craft Beer: Glasses of Pliny the Younger triple IPA are raised for a toast at Russian River Brewing Co. in Windsor.

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

The Best of

Dine&Drink W

hen it comes to the selection of food and beverages offered here, few places rival Wine Country for quality, variety and freshness.

Whether it’s a restaurant, diner, bar, food truck or festival, readers were happy to raise a glass to their favorite spots to savor. Winners are checked (✔︎); others are runners-up.

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of Dine&Drink Best Artisan Cheese KENT PORTR

Bakery

✔ Costeaux French

Bakery 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com Wild Flour Bread, 140 Bohemian Highway, Freestone, 707-874-2938, wildflourbread.com Red Bird Bakery, 556 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-521-9838, redbirdbakery.com Village Bakery – Montgomery Village, 2404 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-987-5892, villagebakerywinecountry.com

Bar

✔ Duke’s Spirited

Cocktails 111 Plaza St., Healdsburg, 707-431-1060, drinkatdukes.com

Best Artisan Cheese: Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt Tam, left, Red Hawk and Wagon Wheel cheeses.

✔ Cowgirl Creamery 80 Fourth St., Point Reyes Station 415-663-9335, cowgirlcreamery.com

Fern Bar, 6780 Depot St., Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-861-9603, fernbar.com

owgirl Creamery began in the mid-1990s as a culinary collaboration between best friends Sue Conley and Peggy Smith, according to Marketing Director Vanessa Chang.

“We started right as the American artisan cheese revolution really took off,” Chang says.

Today Cowgirl Creamery continues to produce cheeses made exclusively from milk sourced from two local dairies, Tresch Family Farm and Bivalve Dairy. Cheeses — including the ever-popular Mt Tam triple cream — are available at the company’s retail shops in downtown Point Reyes Station and the San Francisco Ferry Building, at select grocery stores and online.

“Since March we’ve had an increased e-commerce business,” Chang says.

TRAXX Bar & Grill, 219 Lakeville St., Petaluma, 707-7813121, traxxbarandgrill.com

C

Gravenstein Grill, 8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 707-6346142, gravensteingrill.com

Bartender

✔ Bronwyn Gauvin Valley Ford Cheese and Creamery, 14390 Valley Ford Road, Valley Ford, 707-293-5636, valleyfordcheese.com

Petaluma Creamery, 711 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-762-9038, springhillcheese.com

Bohemian Creamery, 7380 Occidental Road, Sebastopol, 707-293-3336, bohemiancreamery.com

Asian Restaurant

✔ SEA Thai Bistro,

2350 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-8333, seathaibistrobar.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Royal China, 3080 Marlow Road, No. 4, Santa Rosa, 707-545-2911, royalchinasr.com

Goji Kitchen, 1965 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-523-3888, gojikitchen.com

Kirin Restaurant, 2700 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-525-1957, kirinsr.com

Gravenstein Grill, 8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 707-634-6142, gravensteingrill.com Heidi Watts, Rosso Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 53 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-544-3221, rossopizzeria.com Christine Rizzo-Murphy, Rickey’s Eastbound, 5755 Mountain Hawk Drive, Santa Rosa. 708-8435143, rickyseastbound.com Melissa Rae Matteson, 4th Street Social Club, 643 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 4thstreetsocialclub.com

LAMPERTI CONTRACTING & DESIGN

ROB JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHY

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST PLACE TO BUY FLOORING & BEST PLACE TO BUY COUNTERS & STONE IN SONOMA COUNTY! Design | Fabricate | Install | One Shop | One Stop

Family Owned & Operated for Over 30 Years 3854 Santa Rosa Ave • Santa Rosa, CA 95407 Monday through Friday 8:30 - 5:00 • Saturdays 9:00 - 5:00 707-586-2064 • www.nctile.com • Lic.#641574

The Best of Dine&Drink Best Brunch BETH SCHLANKER

Best Brunch: Cassandra Banuelos makes a mimosa sampler of mango, blackberry and strawberry at Cafe Mimosa in Rohnert Park. Below, a Cobb salad with chicken, egg, avocado, smoked bacon, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese and organic mixed baby greens is served at the restaurant.

✔ Cafe Mimosa 451 Rohnert Park Expressway, Rohnert Park, 707-595-3764, cafemimosaaa.com

C

afe Mimosa opened last year in Rohnert Park, but it’s already become a go-to destination for fans of mimosas, the classic brunch concoction of champagne and orange juice. “We do different flavors: strawberry, raspberry, mango, pineapple and grapefruit,” General Manager Luz Cazares says. “On Saturdays and Sundays, we do bottomless mimosas.”

Popular brunch entrees include eggs Benedict (so popular Cazares says they sometimes run out of Hollandaise sauce), country-fried steak and rib-eye steak and eggs.

Seating is offered outdoors on the restaurant’s extended patio. The Santa Rosa location is temporarily closed as there is no outdoor seating, but there are plans to open another location with patio seating in Petaluma next year.

JOHN BURGESS

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Fork Roadhouse, 9890 Bodega Highway, Sebastopol, 707-634-7575, forkcatering.com

Gravenstein Grill, 8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 707-634-6142, gravensteingrill.com

Fern Bar, 6780 Depot St, Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-861-9603, fernbar.com

Employee Charitable Giving

Volunteer Hours

4,000+*

$100,000 *

Non-Profits and Civic Organizations

300+* Corporate Charitable Giving

$900,000*

Thank you for voting us the best.

For over 130 years, we have been committed to serving Sonoma County with exceptional customer service, best of class technology, and financial solutions.

We’re proud to have been selected as Best Bank for 9 consecutive years by the Press Democrat readers’ choice poll.

exchangebank.com Trust and Investment Management | Consumer and Business Lending | Mobile and Online Banking | 19 Branch Locations Trust and investment products are not FDIC insured. Not a bank deposit. Not insured by any federal government agency. No bank guarantee. May lose value. *2019 reporting

The Best of Dine&Drink Best Coffee

Breakfast

✔ Dierk’s Midtown

and Parkside Cafe 404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com Hank’s Creekside Restaurant, 2800 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-8839, hanks-creekside.com Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe, 2901 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-5466317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com Mac’s Deli & Cafe, 630 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-3785, macsdeliandcafe.com

Burger

✔ Superburger

1501 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-546-4016, originalsuperburger.com Mike’s at the Crossroads, 7667 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati, 707-665-9999, mikesatthecrossroads.com ACME Burger, 550 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-665-5620, acmeburgerco.com TRAXX Bar & Grill, 219 Lakeville St., Petaluma, 707-7813121, traxxbarandgrill.com

Butcher

✔ Acre Coffee 2365 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-595-5984, acrecoffee.com Flying Goat Coffee, 10 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-575-1202, flyinggoatcoffee.com

✔ Oliver’s Market

461 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-284-3530, oliversmarket.com

Taylor Lane Organic Coffee, 6790 McKinley St., No. 170, Sebastopol (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-634-7129, taylorlane.com

Sonoma County Meat Co., 35 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa, 707521-0121, sonomacountymeatco.com

Chef

Craft Beer

✔ Russian River

Roger Praplan, La Gare, 208 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-5284355, lagarerestaurant.com

Bud’s Custom Meats, 7750 Petaluma Hill Road, Penngrove, 707795-8402, budscustommeat.com

Mauro Gutierrez, Quinua Cocina Peruana, 500 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-776-7789, quinuacocinaperuana.com Melissa Matteson, 4th Street Social Club, 643 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 4thstreetsocialclub.com CHRIS HARDY

Best Chef: Dustin Valette BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Retrograde Coffee Roasters, 130 S. Main St., No. 103, Sebastopol, 707-827-8065, retrograderoasters.com

✔ Dustin Valette

Valette 344 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-473-0946, valettehealdsburg.com

Journeyman Meat Co., 404 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-3956328, journeymanmeat.com

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KENT PORTER

Best Coffee: An employee works in Acre Coffee’s roasting and training center in Petaluma.

Brewing Co. 725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County) 707-545-2337, russianriverbrewing.com HenHouse Brewing Co., 322 Bellevue Ave., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-987-4577, henhousebrewing.com Crooked Goat Brewing, 120 Morris St., No. 120, Sebastopol, 707827-3893, crookedgoatbrewing.com Grav South Brew Co., 7950 Redwood Drive, No. 15, Cotati, 707753-4198, gravsouthbrewco.com

The Best of Dine&Drink Best Catering Company

Best Catering Company: Park Avenue Catering co-cowners Ari Weiswasser, left, and Bruce Riezenman at the company headquarters in Cotati.

✔ Park Avenue Catering

591 Mercantile Drive, Cotati, 707-793-9645, parkavecater.com

B

ruce Riezenman has been catering events in Sonoma County since 1990, handling social gatherings like weddings and birthday parties as well as winery and corporate affairs.

In January he took on a business partner, Ari Weiswasser of Glen Ellen Star, and the duo have opened another branch of the company called Stellar Catering. “Now the cuisine can evolve with the two of us,” Riezenman says.

Park Avenue is known for catering large events but “during COVID that doesn’t exist anymore. We’re doing smaller, under 12-person events,” Riezenman says. This year the company also will sell Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for pickup or delivery along with holiday gift boxes.

“We have a tremendous team,” Riezenman says. “It’s such a hands-on business. It’s the people who do the work.”

BRUCE RIEZENMAN

Mazza Catering — Healdsburg, mazza.catering@yahoo.com, 707-953-3359, mazzacatering.com

Peloton Culinary and Catering — Healdsburg, tim@pelotoncatering.com, 707-478-3900, pelotoncatering.com

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of Dine&Drink

JOHN BURGESS

Best Deli: Lisa Soltani delivers an order ticket to Toraj Soltani, her husband and co-owner of Mac’s Deli in Santa Rosa.

Craft Cocktail

Delivery

✔ Bird & The Bottle

✔ Mary’s Pizza Shack

1055 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-568-4000, birdandthebottle.com

615 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-571-1959, maryspizzashack.com

Duke’s Spirited Cocktails, 111 Plaza St., Healdsburg, 707-431-1060, drinkatdukes.com

Petaluma Food Taxi, 431 Payran St., Petaluma, 707-772-9007, petalumafoodtaxi.com

Fern Bar, 6780 Depot St., Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-861-9603, fernbar.com

Homerun Pizza, 484 Larkfield Center., Santa Rosa, 707-527-6600, homerunpizzalarkfield.com

Perch + Plow, 90 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, 707-541-6896, perchandplow.com

Distillery

✔ Spirit Works Distillery

Deli

6790 McKinley St., Sebastopol, 707-6344793, spiritworksdistillery.com

✔ Mac’s Deli & Cafe

630 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-3785, macsdeliandcafe.com

Griffo Distillery, 1320 Scott St., Petaluma, 707879-8755, griffodistillery.com Sonoma Brothers Distilling, 7759 Bell Road, Windsor, 707-687-5149, sonomabrothersdistilling.com

Lazzini’s Market, 3449 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707-575-3888, lazzinismarket.com Fourth Street Deli, 300 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-9832, fourthstreetdeli.com Ulia’s Delicatessen, 130 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, 707-525-8542, uliasdeli.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

JOHN BURGESS

Best Distillery: Spirit Works Distillery owner Timo Marshall uses a thief to draw a sample of whiskey.

Alley 6 Craft Distillery, 1401 Grove St., Unit D, Healdsburg, 707-484-3593, alley6.com

The Best of Dine&Drink Dive Bar

Happy Hour

Indian Restaurant

✔ John & Zeke’s

Bar & Grill 420 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-3735, yelp.com/ biz/john-and-zekes-barhealdsburg Gary’s at the Belvedere, 727 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-542-1890, facebook.com/pages/ category/Bar---Grill/Garys-at-theBelvedere Wagon Wheel Saloon, 3320 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-546-1958, facebook.com/pages/ category/Pub/Wagon-Wheel-Saloon

✔ Bollywood Bar &

Clay Oven (now closed) 535 Fourth St., Santa Rosa

✔ Stark’s Steak & Seafood

521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkrestaurants.com

Himalayan Restaurant, 810 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-8386746, himalayanrestaurantwindsor. com

Handline, 935 Gravenstein Ave. S., Sebastopol, 707-827-3744, handline.com

Yeti Restaurant, 190 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-521-9608, yeticuisine.com

Seared, 170 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-762-5997, petalumaseared.com Gravenstein Grill, 8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 707-634-6142, gravensteingrill.com

Ambrosia Indian Cuisine, 840 Petaluma Blvd.

N., Petaluma, 707-238-5105, ambrosiaindiancuisine.com

440 Club, 434 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-542-2550, yelp.com/ biz/440-club-santa-rosa Final Edition Bar & Grill, 412 Larkfield Shopping Center, Santa Rosa, 707-542-1416, yelp.com/biz/ final-edition-bar-and-grill-santa-rosa

KENT PORTER

JEFF KAN LEE

Eats on the Coast

✔ Spud Point Crab Co. 1910 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-9472, spudpointcrab.com Fishetarian Fish Market, 599 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-9092, fishetarianfishmarket.com The Tides Wharf & Restaurant, 835 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3652, innatthetides.com/tides-wharfrestaurant River’s End Restaurant & Inn, 11048 Highway 1, Jenner, 707-865-2484, ilovesunsets.com

JOHN BURGESS

Food Truck

Ice Cream

✔ El Roy’s Express

✔ Screamin’ Mimi’s

Mex (previously El Roy’s Mexican Grill) 760 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-843-2166, elroysxpressmex.com Guerneville Taco Truck, 16632 Main St., Guerneville, facebook.com/pages/GuernevilleTaco-Truck Jam’s Joy Bungalow, 150 Weeks Way, Sebastopol, 707-8439001, jamsjoybungalow.com Lila’s Streetside Eats, 1199 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-568-6868, facebook.com/ lilasstreetsideeats

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

6902 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707-823-5902, screaminmimisicecream. com

Italian Restaurant

✔ Catelli’s Restaurant 21047 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-857-3471, mycatellis.com

Lococo’s Cucina Rustica, 117 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-523-2227, lococos.net

Noble Folk Ice Cream & Pie Bar, 116 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-395-4426, thenoblefolk.com

Riviera Ristorante, 75 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-579-2682, rivieraristorante.net

Lala’s Creamery, 134 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-774-6567, lalasicecream.com

Caffe Giostra, 1390 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707664-9441, facebook.com/CaffeGiostra-121747761172279

Two Dog Night Creamery, 6760 McKinley Ave., No. 110, Sebastopol, 707-823-9376, twodognightcreamery.com

LOOKING FOR HEATED, OUTDOOR DINING? WE HAVE YOU COVERED! saltstonekenwood.com 9900 Sonoma Hwy Kenwood, CA 95452 (707) 833-6326 | Reservations: resy.com

Thank you for voting us Best Outdoor Dining in Sonoma County!

The Best of Dine&Drink Best Latin Restaurant

✔ El Coqui Puerto Rican

Cuisine 400 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-542-8868, elcoqui2eat.com

F

riends Jackie Roman and Tina Jackson opened El Coqui in downtown Santa Rosa 11 years ago.

Roman is originally from Puerto Rico but grew up in Queens, New York, where she learned traditional family recipes from her grandmother. “I cook old-fashioned plates. We cook with a lot of flavors; it’s all fresh,” Roman says.

According to Jackson, their most popular dish is Pollo al Horno, baked chicken thighs marinated with special seasonings, cilantro and bell peppers. Tostones (fried plantains) are also customer favorites.

“It’s comfort food with an exotic touch,” Roman says.

Sazón Peruvian Cuisine, 1129 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-523-4346, sazonsr.com Guiso Latin Fusion, 117 North St., Healdsburg, 707-431-1302, guisolatinfusion.com ERIK CASTRO

Quinua Restaurant Cocina Peruana, 500 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-981-7359, quinuacocinaperuana.com

Best Latin Restaurant: Pollo al Horno, bottom, shown with a Cubano sandwich, top, is a popular dish at El Coqui Puerto Rican Restaurant in downtown Santa Rosa.

Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Late Night Eats

Mexican Restaurant

✔ Mary’s Pizza Shack

✔ NY Pie

✔ Mi Pueblo

615 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-571-1959, maryspizzashack.com Handline, 935 Gravenstein Ave. S., Sebastopol, 707-827-3744, handline.com McNear’s Saloon & Dining House, 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-765-2121, mcnears.com Homerun Pizza, 484 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, 707-527-6600, homerunpizzalarkfield.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

65 Brookwood Ave., Suite 1 & 2, Santa Rosa, 707-526-9743, new-york-pie.com Speakeasy, 139 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite B, Petaluma, 707-776-4631, speakeasypetaluma.com Handline, 935 Gravenstein Ave. S., Sebastopol, 707-827-3744, handline.com Hippizzazz, 280 S Main St., Sebastopol, 707634-6530, hippizzazz.com Joey’s Pizza, 727 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-583-7688, joeysoriginalpizza.com

7384 Commerce Blvd., Cotati, 707-792-4380, eatmipueblocotati.com Taqueria Molcajetes, 1195 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-544-8280, grubhub.com/ restaurant/taqueria-molcajetes-1195-west-collegeavenue-santa-rosa/1621981 Mi Ranchito, 650 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 707-623-9258, toasttab.com/miranchitodowntown Los Tres Chiles, 2765 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-304-5724, lostreschiles.com Don Pancho’s, 285 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-775-2474, donpanchosmexicanfood.com

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US BEST HARDWARE STORE

SANTA ROSA

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PETALUMA

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SONOMA

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UKIAH

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

The Best of Dine&Drink Best New Local Restaurant

✔ PizzaLeah 9240 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 116, Windsor, 707-620-0551, pizzaleah.com

P

izzaLeah co-owner Leah Scurto says she became a pizza maker “by default.”

As an 18-year-old college student in Santa Cruz, she needed a job and found one at a local pizzeria. “I’ve been making pizzas ever since,” she says. “Pizza kind of found me.”

Running a restaurant is nothing new to Scurto: “My family’s been in the restaurant business for generations. My mom owned a restaurant. My brother owned a restaurant.”

After 22 years working for a premium pizza company in the Bay Area, Scurto felt it was time to strike out on her own. After moving to Sonoma County to be near family, she toyed with the idea of a pizza food truck. She also did private catering and taught pizzamaking classes.

Eventually, she decided a brick and mortar restaurant was the way to go and started looking for the right location. The perfect place popped up in the Windsor shopping center that houses Oliver’s Market, a nice fit as she figured she’d attract customers similar to those who shop at Oliver’s.

What makes her pizza so special? “The love and the ingredients,” she says. “I use California-grown organic flour and Californiagrown organic tomatoes. I always focus on higher-end ingredients.

We do an extended fermentation on our dough. A lot of time and energy goes into it.”

When PizzaLeah opened this past March, Scurto had no idea she’d be shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic just a few days later. “The original plan was out the window four days in.”

So, like a lot of local businesses, she pivoted. Though she has a small patio with five tables in front of the restaurant, she whittled her menu and focused on take-out. “Ninety-five percent of our business is to-go. Pizza travels well, and it’s always been a take-out food.”

The restaurant quickly developed a loyal following of hungry locals quarantining at home, she says.

“The Windsor community has been absolutely phenomenal.

Healdsburg as well. COVID may have catapulted our clientele.

People intentionally came out to support a new business. And luckily people like it, so they keep coming back. I couldn’t be more appreciative.”

Among PizzaLeah’s most popular thin-crust pizzas is the awardwinning Old Grey Beard featuring red sauce, mozzarella, fontina, Italian sausage, Calabrian peppers, hot honey and orange zest.

Scurto also makes a limited number of specialty pan pies every day, including the award-winning Mush-a-roni with red sauce, pepperoni, cremini mushrooms, shaved Parmesan and fresh basil.

Scurto credits her “amazing staff” for helping her share her pizzas with the community. “Pizza’s a very nostalgic food. It’s a communal food that brings people together. Everyone has some sort of connection to pizza, and most of those connections are to a small local pizzeria.”

Just like PizzaLeah.

Trattoria Roma, 140 Second St., Petaluma, 707-981-7807, trattoriaromapetaluma.com 4th Street Social Club, 643 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 4thstreetsocialclub.com

JOHN BURGESS

Best New Local Restaurant: PizzaLeah co-owner Leah Scurto opened her Windsor restaurant in March just a few days before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered restaurants.

Ambrosia Indian Cuisine, 840 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-238-5105, ambrosiaindiancuisine.com

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of Dine&Drink Pizza

Best Place to Buy Wine

Seafood Restaurant

✔ Rosso Pizzeria

& Wine Bar 53 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-544-3221, rossopizzeria.com

✔ Willi’s Seafood &

Raw Bar 406 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-9191, starkrestaurants.com/starkrestaurant/willis-seafoodraw-bar

PizzaLeah, 9240 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 116, Windsor, 707-620-0551, pizzaleah.com

Fishetarian Fish Market, 599 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-9092, fishetarianfishmarket.com

Acre Pizza, 6760 McKinley St., Suite 150, Sebastopol, 707-827-3455, acrepizza.com Rafy’s Pizza, 615 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-559-5735, afyspizza.com

Santa Rosa Seafood Raw Bar and Grill, 958 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-579-3474, facebook.com/ srseafoodgrill Quinua Cocina Peruana, 500 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-981-7359, quinuacocinaperuana.com

Sushi

✔ Hana Sake Bar &

Tasting Room 101 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-5860270, hanajapanese.com

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

✔ Bottle Barn 3331-A Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-1161, bottlebarn.com Oliver’s Market, 461 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-284-3530, oliversmarket.com

Red Wine-Local

✔ Balletto Vineyards

5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa, 707-568-2455, ballettovineyards.com Russian River Vineyards, 5700 Highway 116 N., Forestville, 707-887-3344, russianrivervineyards.com Trecini Winery, 684 Seventh St., Santa Rosa, 707-525-9400, treciniwinery.com Inman Family Wines, 3900 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-2939576, inmanfamilywines.com

Wilibees Wine & Spirits, 700 Third St., Santa Rosa, wilibees.com Sonoma Wine Shop, 412 First St. E., Sonoma, 707-996-1230, sonomawineshop.com

Restaurant

Romantic Meal

✔ Sweet T’s

✔ La Gare

Restaurant + Bar 9098 Brooks Road S., Windsor, 707-687-5158, sweettssouthern.com La Gare, 208 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-4355, lagarerestaurant.com Seared, 170 Petaluma Blvd.

N., Petaluma, 707-762-5997, petalumaseared.com Gravenstein Grill, 8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 707-634-6142, gravensteingrill.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

208 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-4355, lagarerestaurant.com Ca’Bianca, 835 Second St., Santa Rosa, 707-542-5800, cabianca.com Salt & Stone, 9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-883-6326, saltstonekenwood.com Risibisi, 154 Petaluma Blvd.

N., Petaluma, 707-766-7600, risibisirestaurant.com

Umé Japanese Bistro, 8710 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, 707-838-6700, umebistro.com Paradise Sushi & Grill, 119 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-542-4582, paradisesushi.net Sake 107, 107 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-241-7580, sake107.com

Sweet Treats

✔ Sift Dessert Bar

404 Mendocino Ave., Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-7034228, siftdessertbar.com COOKIE … take a bite!, 430 Larkfield Center, Larkfield-Wikiup, 707-291-1785, cookietakeabite.com BACI Chocolatier, 399 Business Park Court, No. 306, Windsor, 707-687-5253, bacichocolatier.com Eye Candy Chocolatier, 6761 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707-888-0568, eyecandychocolatier.com

The Best of Dine&Drink Best Outdoor Dining

SALT & STONE

Best Outdoor Dining: Salt & Stone’s Kenwood location offers dramatic views of vineyards and rolling hills.

✔ Salt & Stone 9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-883-6326, saltstonekenwood.com

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ith its idyllic location in the heart of Kenwood, Salt & Stone has long attracted diners eager to enjoy an al fresco meal and panoramic views of the Mayacamas Mountains, Mount Hood and rolling hills and vineyards. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, prompted owners David and Diane LaMonica to greatly expand their outdoor seating.

They’ve added tables around a pond in the back, and more tables sit under a covered veranda in front of the restaurant. Also, they’ve ordered a 3,000-square-foot tent, so come winter, they’ll be able to comfortably accommodate 136 outdoor diners.

“We own the property. We’ve got 2 acres here,” David LaMonica says.

“But we never envisioned we’d have this much outdoor dining. It’s a lot of work, but it’s what we do to survive.”

Diners seated in what he calls “one of the most spectacular outdoor settings” can enjoy a range of Wine Country American fare including steaks, seafood, oysters and “lots of cocktails.” A popular happy hour on weekdays features $6 food and drinks along with a bar menu.

Gravenstein Grill, 8050 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 707-634-6142, gravensteingrill.com

The oyster bar is a customer favorite, David LaMonica says. “And our pork chop is very sought after. The calamari — people rave about it.

And the petrale sole, steak and seafood.”

With 60 employees, Salt & Stone is open seven days a week, for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Patrons consist of both locals and out-of-towners.

“It’s 50-50,” LaMonica says. “We get a lot of tourists, but there’s a huge population in Sonoma County. They support us well.”

Coping with the pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for the LaMonicas. “We’re trying to do our best,” LaMonica says. “We’re following the guidelines strictly. Tables are a minimum of 6 feet apart.

We work very closely with the Sonoma County Department of Public Health.”

When the health restrictions eventually are lifted, indoor dining will return to Salt & Stone and LaMonica expects to sell the huge tent. But he never expects his extensive outdoor dining to disappear. “It can’t go away now. It’s too beautiful!”

La Gare, 208 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-4355, lagarerestaurant.com

Handline, 935 Gravenstein Ave. S., Sebastopol, 707-827-3744, handline.com

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of Dine&Drink

Best Sparkling Wine: Joy Sterling’s Iron Horse Vineyards has released a new cuvee, Gratitude, that will benefit the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

BETH SCHLANKER

Best Sparkling Wine

✔ Iron Horse Vineyards 9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol, 707-887-1507, ironhorsevineyards.com

F

ounded by Barry and Audrey Sterling in 1976, Iron Horse Vineyards produced its 44th vintage this year.

“We’re best known for our sparkling wines and our gorgeous outdoor tasting area,” says Joy Sterling, daughter of Barry and Audrey and the winery’s current CEO and partner.

Nestled in bucolic Green Valley outside Forestville, the vineyards the Sterlings planted in the 1970s were the first to reach into far western Sonoma County. Experts initially scoffed at the idea of vineyards so close to the coast. But the family, smitten with the property, persevered – and succeeded.

“It’s our business and also our home,” Sterling says. “We have three generations living on the IRON HORSE VINEYARDS property.”

Iron Horse sparkling wine has been a fixture at White House events and state dinners since the Reagan administration. “It’s an extraordinary history going back 35 years,” she says. “We are very proud that both Republicans and Democrats serve Iron Horse.”

Under head winemaker Sofian Himeur, Iron Horse currently produces

J Vineyards & Winery, 11447 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, 888-594-6326, jwine.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

19 cuvees or blends. “When in doubt, make another cuvee!” Sterling jokes.

Sales of Gratitude, a newly released cuvee, will benefit the Redwood Empire Food Bank; $5 of each bottle sold will go to the nonprofit. In December, the winery will release a cuvee called Resilience to benefit the Sonoma County Resilience Fund, which is focused on disaster recovery.

“We love Sonoma County and we love our community,” Sterling says.

“And we feel very strongly about being active in our community.”

The family is dedicated to sustainability. Laurence Sterling, Joy Sterling’s brother, manages the winery’s vineyards but also heads up a special project.

“He’s working on a salmon habitat restoration on Green Valley Creek,” Joy Sterling says. “It’s a prime spawning place for coho salmon. It’s a big, ongoing project and it’s terrifically exciting.”

Switching to outdoor wine tasting during the COVID-19 pandemic was easier for Iron Horse Vineyards than for many other wineries. “We’ve always been outdoors,” she says. “We’ve cut the number of people we welcome in half.”

Visitors to Iron Horse Vineyards often are amazed by the expansive gardens installed by winery patriarch Barry Sterling, who died earlier this year. This fall, the gardens were bursting with hundreds of pumpkins.

“Not only are we a patch of heaven, we’re a pumpkin patch as well!”

Sterling says.

Korbel Winery, 13250 River Road, Guerneville, 707-824-7000, korbel.com

Breathless Wines, 499 Moore Lane, Healdsburg, 707-395-7300, breathlesswines.com

Thank You Sonoma County and Our Loyal Real Estate Clients!

Voted Best Real Estate Agent 2020

20-Year Sonoma County Realtor 707-328-7653 * Rhonda@RhondaAlderman.net www.RhondaAlderman.net

The Best of Dine&Drink Takeout

Best Tasting Room

✔ La Bodega

2295 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-8271832, sonomawineshop.com La Gare, 208 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-4355, lagarerestaurant.com Ricky’s Eastbound, 5755 Mountain Hawk Drive, Santa Rosa, 708-843-5143, rickyseastbound.com Fountaingrove Deli, 3554 Round Barn Blvd., No. 202, Santa Rosa, 707-573-4797, fountaingrovedeli.com

Best Tasting Room: The tasting room at Russian River Vineyards in Forestville includes an old hop kiln.

JOHN BURGESS

✔ Russian River Vineyards

5700 Highway 116 N., Forestville, 707-887-3344, russianrivervineyards.com Cast Wines, 8500 Dry Creek Road, Geyserville, 707-431-1225, castwines.com CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

Taproom

✔ Crooked Goat

Brewing 120 Morris St., No. 120, Sebastopol, 707-827-3893, crookedgoatbrewing.com Barley & Bine Beer Cafe, 7765 Bell Road, Windsor, 707-6577774, barleybinebeercafe.com Grav South Brew Co., 7950 Redwood Drive, No. 15, Cotati, 707753-4198, gravsouthbrewco.com Flagship Taproom, 446 B St., Santa Rosa, 707-541-6716, flagshiptaproom.com

Anaba Wines, 62 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, 707-346-5207, anabawines.com Inman Family Wines, 3900 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-293-9576, inmanfamilywines.com

Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant

✔ Amy’s Drive Thru

58 Golf Course Drive W., Rohnert Park, 707-755-3629, amysdrivethru.com East West Café – Santa Rosa, 557 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-6142, eastwestcafesantarosa.com

Balletto Vineyards, 5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa, 707-568-2455, ballettovineyards.com Paradise Ridge Winery, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-9463, prwinery.com Russian River Vineyards, 5700 Highway 116 N., Forestville, 707-887-3344, russianrivervineyards.com

Cozy Plum Bistro, 1899 Mendocino Ave., Suite B, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3333, cozyplum.com

Hook & Ladder Vineyards & Winery, 2134 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, 707-526-2255, hookandladderwinery.com

4th Street Social Club, 643 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 4thstreetsocialclub.com

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

235 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-431-9400, lacrema.com

East West Café – Sebastopol, 128 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-829-2822, eastwestcafesebastopol.com

Slice of Life, 6970 McKinley St., Sebastopol, 707-829-6627, thesliceoflife.com

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White Wine-Local

✔ La Crema Winery

Anaba Wines, 62 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, 707-346-5207, anabawines.com Sunce Winery, 1839 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, 707526-9563, suncewinery.com

The Best of Dine&Drink

Best Virtual Wine Tasting: Amista Vineyards Director of Sales and Marketing Robert Rainwater, right, and Wine Club Coordinator Haz Perez host a virtual wine tasting at the winery near Healdsburg.

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

Best Virtual Tasting

✔ Amista Vineyards 3320 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-431-9200, amistavineyards.com

M

ike and Vicky Farrow bought 30 acres in the Dry Creek Valley in 1999 with a plan to grow wine grapes. The land originally was planted with chardonnay, but the Farrows are fond of Rhone varietals, so they added grenache, Mourvedre, syrah and roussanne.

Mike Farrow was making syrah in his garage when friends convinced the couple to open a winery on their property, according to Robert Rainwater, director of sales and marketing for Amista Vineyards. In fact, the name Amista – a variation of amistad, the Spanish word for friendship – is a nod to the friends who convinced the Farrows to take the leap.

“Amista is about making friends,” Rainwater says. “It was their friends who convinced them to follow their dreams.”

The Farrows completed their first vintage in 2003 and released it in 2005. In 2007, they opened a tasting room on the property.

Everything proceeded smoothly until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “We closed for two and one half months,” Rainwater says. “We had to rethink the business.”

And so the idea of virtual tastings was born. “We had to get people engaged and be interactive.”

Rainwater conducts the virtual tastings, along with winemaker Ashley Herzberg. Participants — wine club members or not — who have pre-ordered the Anaba Wines, 62 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, 707-346-5207, anabawines.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

wines log into the tasting via Zoom. “We open it up for people to ask questions and engage with us,” Rainwater explains. “One of the big things about our tastings is the engagement we get from members. They can be on-camera or off-camera to speak or to type. We set the format in a super-friendly, engaging way.”

Amista Vineyards has continued to seek ways to remotely interact with current and potential customers. “We’re always looking at some little way we can make it unique. We just launched a new subscription model,” Rainwater says.

Every other month those who sign up receive two bottles of wine paired with a recipe. Participants are encouraged to prepare the recipe in advance of the virtual food and wine pairing.

“We call it ‘Let’s Be Friends,’ ” he adds. “It’s another opportunity that’s not just a virtual tasting.”

Rainwater conducted his first virtual tasting in 2017, long before the pandemic, for wine club members on the East Coast who wanted to host their own tasting of Amista wines for friends. “It was fun!” he says.

He has since discovered the virtual tastings are a great way to stay in touch with wine club members from out of the area. “They may never come out (to Healdsburg) and engage with us ever again. People get so excited about the virtuals. They love it.”

Inman Family Wines, 3900 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-293-9576, inmanfamilywines.com

Sunce Winery, 1839 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, 707-526-9563, suncewinery.com

be playful be light be bright be home.

V ISIT US AT CO RCO R A N G L .CO M

The Best of

Real Life

W

hether it’s a good dentist, a trusted mechanic, your dog’s favorite groomer or a home improvement supplier to help with a remodel, we all have our go-to sources for the professional services that keep life running smoothly. Here readers share their recommendations, from doctors and dentists to salons and shoe stores. Winners are checked (✔), followed by runners-up.

Best Dog Groomer: Marybeth Dolcini bathes Savannah at Dog & Hydrant in Windsor.

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of Real Life Aesthetician

✔ Aesthetic Laser and Vein Centers 70 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, 707-542-8346, laserandvein.com

Glow Skin Care, 858 Second St., Santa Rosa, 707-529-7086, glowskincareonfourth.com Cathy Kurt Aesthetics, 1301 Farmers Lane, Suite 101, Santa Rosa, 707-293-4754, cathykurt.com SÄDÉ Spa, 614 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-318-7617, sadespa.com

Attorney

✔ Tad Shapiro

640 Third St., Suite 2, Santa Rosa, 707-544-5858, shapirogalvinlaw.com Johnston Thomas Attorneys, 1400 N. Dutton Ave., No. 21, Santa Rosa, 707-545-6542, johnstonthomas.com

Auto Glass Replacement

Auto Glass Tinting

✔ Advanced Auto

✔ A Shade Darker

Glass 2460 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-526-5700, advancedautogroup.com Reliable Glass, 5625 State Farm Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-588-7999, diamondcertified. org/report/reliable-glass West Coast Auto Glass, 3546 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-953-3062, westcoastautoglass.biz Kal and Son Auto Glass, 1000 Piner Road, Suite C, Santa Rosa, 707-546-1648, kalandsonautoglass.com

Window Tinting 3093 Wiljan Court, Suite E, Santa Rosa, 707-242-1057, ashadedarker.com

Auto Repair

✔ McLea’s Tire &

Automotive Centers 800 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-634-7153, mcleastire.com

Sun Tint Auto, 1022 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-545-8468, suntintauto.com

Al’s Village Repair Shop, 681 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, 707-539-1266, santarosamechanic.com

Santa Rosa Window Tint, 3200 Dutton Ave., Suite 421, Santa Rosa, 707-879-8468, santarosawindowtint.com

Out West Garage Auto Repair, 321 Second St., Petaluma, 707-769-0162, outwestgarage.com

Tint By Day, 2460 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-526-5001, tintbyday.net

Coogler’s Auto Repair, 990 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-544-7177, cooglersautorepair.com

Discount Auto Glass, 12A W. Third St., Santa Rosa, 707-478-4545, santarosaautoglass.com

Best Bank

William Hatcher, 114 Pierce St., Santa Rosa, 707-542-1921, members. calbar.ca.gov/fal/Licensee/Detail/154664 Roger Illsley, 438 First St., fourth floor, Santa Rosa, 707-525-8800, perrylaw.net/contact-us

Auto Body Shop

✔ G&C Auto Body

251 Bellevue Ave., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-525-3520, gandcautobody.com Randy Hanson Auto Body, 2080 Llano Road, No. 4D, Santa Rosa, 707-5759620, randyhansonautobody.com Downtown Auto Body, 5850 Redwood Drive, Suite B, Rohnert Park, 707-665-9100, downtownautobody.com

Auto Detailer

✔ Exchange Bank 545 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-524-3000, exchangebank.com

✔ Advanced Auto

Detailing 2549 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-526-2200, advancedautogroup.com

Wells Fargo, 2960 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-573-9209, wellsfargo.com

Hansel Auto Group, 3075 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-861-4206, gohansel.com

Chase Bank, 835 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-5763003, chase.com Summit State Bank, 500 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-568-6000, summitstatebank.com

Auto Sport Detailing, 1945 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-579-3710, autosportdetailing.com

KENT PORTER

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

The Best of Real Life Barber

Cosmetic Surgeon

✔ Dr. Walter Tom

Aesthetic Laser and Vein Centers, 70 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, 707-5428346, laserandvein.com Dr. Francisco Canales & Dr. Heather Furnas, Allegro MedSpa of Santa Rosa, 4625 Quigg Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-537-2111, enhanceyourimage.com Dr. Victor G. Lacombe, Artemedica, 1002 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-577-8292, artemedica.com Dr. Stanley Jacobs, 145 Foss Creek Circle, Healdsburg, 707-4730220, drstanleyjacobs.com

Credit Union

✔ Redwood Credit KENT PORTER

Best Barber: Brauley McNulty, owner of Daredevils and Queens, works with a client in her Santa Rosa shop.

✔ Daredevils & Queens 122 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-5123, facebook.com/daredevilsandqueens The Gentlemen’s Barbershop, 9025 Old Redwood Highway, Suite D, Windsor, 707-838-8536, thegentlemensbarbershopwindsor.com Bernie Jungle Thy Barber, 3605 Main St., Occidental, 510-406-8761, instagram.com/berniethybarber The Gentlemen’s Parlor, 601 Mendocino Ave., Unit B, Santa Rosa, 707-543-6268, yelp.com/biz/thegentlemens-parlor-santa-rosa-2 Dappers Barbershop, 1000 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-360-8623, yelp.com/biz/dappers-barbershop-santa-rosa

Cabinetry

Carpet Care

Chiropractor

✔ John’s Formica Shop

✔ North Coast

✔ Mordecai -

2439 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-544-8585, johnsformicashop.com

Ryhne Design Cabinets – Closets, 350 Morris St., Suite F, Sebastopol, 707-829-1226, rhynedesign.com/ Humanity Home & Cabinetry, 799 Piner Road, Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-395-6234, humanity-home.com Studio H Designs, 601 Elsa Drive, Suite B, Santa Rosa, 707-8437544, studio-h-designs.com

Carpet Care 445 Portal St., Cotati, 707-792-2580, northcoastcarpetcare.com Esteam Carpet & Tile Care, 1814 Empire Industrial Court, Suite 1, Santa Rosa, 707-575-4939, esteamcarpetcleaning.com Pro Steam Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, 9400 Camelot Drive, Windsor, 707-5718240, prosteam-norcal.com Northern Carpet Care, P.O. Box 2, Healdsburg, 707-857-3237, northerncarpetcare.net Rugworks, 5879 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park, 707-395-9707, rugworks.com

Dumbadse Chiropractic 817 Second St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-8929, mdmchiro.com Caleb Ridgway, Ridgway Chiropractic, 830 Second St., Santa Rosa, 707-544-5338, ridgwaychiropractic.com Brian Thalhamer, Wellness Chiropractic, 4761 Hoen Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-575-8998, wellnesschiropractic.info

Union 2763 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-545-4000, redwoodcu.org Community First Credit Union, 1105 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-546-6000, comfirstcu. org Patelco Credit Union, 1965 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 800358-8228, patelco.org First Tech Federal Credit Union, 2500 Mendocino Ave., Suite C, Santa Rosa, 855-855-8805, firsttechfed.com

Dermatologist

✔ Dr. Ligaya Park

Redwood Family Dermatology, 2725 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-545-4537, redwoodfamilyderm.com Dr. Dale R. Westrom, Redwood Empire Dermatology, 6574 Oakmont Drive, Santa Rosa, 707579-4239, sonomaderm.com Dr. Susan Amaturo, Redwood Empire Dermatology, 6574 Oakmont Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-579-4239, sonomaderm.com Dr. Helena A. Longin, Sutter Health, 3883 Airway Drive, Suite 203, Santa Rosa, 707-521-7760, sutterhealth.org/find-doctor/drhelena-longin

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of Real Life Best Counters and Stone

Best Counters and Stone: Martha Bodell, right, owns North Coast Tile and Stone with husband Tom Bodell and brother Greg Cassel. Daughter Caity Ault, left, works in the showroom.

ALVIN A.H. JORNADA

✔ North Coast Tile & Stone 3854 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa 707-586-2064, nctile.com

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hen Tom Bodell founded North Coast Tile and Stone in 1986, the company functioned primarily as a contracting company for the installation of tile and stone. That changed in 2008 when Tom and wife Martha Bodell opened a showroom in partnership with Martha’s brother Greg Cassel.

It was the height of the financial crisis, so the company targeted homeowners who were staying in their homes rather than selling and relocating. It was the right move and allowed them to gain a footing with their showroom.

“We’re a one-stop shop,” Martha Bodell says. “We have thousands of granite slabs, a full showroom of tile and seven designers on staff.”

Customers can walk into the showroom and have their kitchen and bathrooms designed, Bodell says. “We’ll install your

granite and tile. We work with hundreds of contractors and designers.”

While granite is still a popular counter surface, other materials are growing in popularity. “Quartz is really trending,” she says. “It’s basically natural but it’s manmade.

And quartzite is a natural stone with colors that look like marble. It’s very clean-looking, with whites and light greens. It has much more of a modern open vibe to it. Quartz and quartzite increase the value of your kitchen.

It’s very neutral in color.”

Another popular surface with homeowners is marble, she says. “People love that. In general, marble does patina beautifully, and you can rehone it. Carrara marble is affordable, beautiful and timeless.”

The fires that ravaged Sonoma County in 2017 have had a huge impact on the company’s business, she says. Fire rebuilds have accounted for 80% of their business in the

last three years.

Working with so many fire survivors was humbling. “It felt like a trauma center.

Everybody wants to tell their story,” she says.

“We’re really a family operation. Our showroom is basically like being at my house. You really establish relationships with people.”

Helping the fire survivors rebuild their lives has been rewarding. “We have a very generous staff and we’re very generous.

That’s what makes us so successful. We have a lot of repeat business. We want you to feel comfortable and happy you picked us.”

Being fair and honest is critical, she adds.

“It’s how you treat your clients. They are entrusting us in their homes with their hardearned money. We have the best people in the industry. If you don’t have good people in people’s homes, you’re not going to make it. We have long-term employees who really care.”

Ceramic Tile Center & Stone Gallery, 2157 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-578-1350, ceramictilecenter.com

Artisan Tile, 799 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-919-3030, artisantileca.com

Surface Art Countertops, 443 Allan Court, Healdsburg, 707-431-7693, surfaceartcountertops.com

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

The Best of Real Life Doctor

Best Dentist

✔ Dr. Vanessa

Desousa 3925 Old Redwood Highway, second floor, Santa Rosa, 707-393-4033, mydoctor.kaiserpermanente. org/ncal/providers/ vanessadesousa Dr. Gary A. McLeod, 131 Stony Circle, Suite 1600, Santa Rosa, 707-541-7700, sutterhealth.org/finddoctor/dr-gary-mcleod Dr. David Begert, 131 Stony Circle, Suite 1600, Santa Rosa, 707541-7700, sutterhealth.org/finddoctor/dr-david-begert Dr. Caroline G. Hellings, 131 Stony Circle, Suite 1600, Santa Rosa, 707-541-7700, sutterhealth.org/finddoctor/dr-caroline-g-hellings Dr. Jan O. Sonander, 11 Doctors Park Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-542-8700, sutterhealth.org/finddoctor/dr-jan-sonander

Electrician

✔ Reyff Electric

Summit Technology Group, 2450 Bluebell Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-238-3772, summit-e.com Jason Krist Electric & Lighting, Sonoma County, 707931-9333, jasonkrist.com B. Henry’s Quality Electric, Petaluma and surrounding areas, 707-774-2112, diamondcertified.org/ report/b-henrys-quality-electric-inc

Eye Doctor

✔ Dr. Kymberly Lyons

Lyons Optometry 8911 Lakewood Drive, No. 11, Windsor, 707-838-9393, lyonsoptometry.com Dr. Brien A. Seeley, 4739 Hoen Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-5442720, brienseeleymd.com Dr. William F. Hoyer, 112 W. First St., Cloverdale, 707-894-3936, williamhoyerod.com Dr. Gordon M. Wong, 66 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-7781048, wongeyes.com

BETH SCHLANKER

636 Martin Ave., Rohnert Park, 707-999-2756, reyffelectricsantarosaca.com

Best Dentist: Dr. Amy Munselle, left, performs a procedure with help from dental assistant Kelly Blust, right, in the Healdsburg office of Munselle Family Dentistry.

✔ Dr. Amy Munselle Munselle Family Dentistry, 125 Grant St., Healdsburg 707-433-2425, munselledds.com

A

t Munselle Family Dentistry in Healdsburg, patients range in age from 1 to 101 “and everywhere in between,” says Amy Munselle, who bought the dental practice four years ago after serving as a U.S. Navy dentist.

This year has been especially challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the office closed for two and a half months except for emergencies, the staff learned to refine their practices to treat patients safely. “We just made little tweaks here and there,” Munselle says. Since reopening in June, “We’ve had zero issues.”

Munselle credits her staff for the “best dentist” nod. “I have the most amazing team on the planet. They’ve helped this practice be so successful.”

Dr. Justin Phillips, Phillips Family Dental Care, 2655 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-542-1026, phillipsfamilydentalcare.com

Dr. Leslie Jue, 95 Montgomery Drive, No. 124, Santa Rosa, 707-546-1680, juesmiles.com

Dr. Chris Roebken, Sonoma County Family Dental, 1301 Medical Center Drive, Suite A, Rohnert Park, 707-623-9123, sonomacountyfamilydental.com

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

33

The Best of Real Life Eyeglass Store

✔ Sonoma Eyeworks

534 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, 707-578-2020, sonomaeyeworks.com Lyons Optometry, 8911 Lakewood Drive, No. 11, Windsor, 707-838-9393, lyonsoptometry.com Site for Sore Eyes — Montgomery Village, 2320 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-2020, siteforsoreeyes.com Uber Optics, 19 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-763-3163, uberoptics.com

Flooring

✔ North Coast Tile

& Stone 3854 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-586-2064, nctile.com Flooring FX, 2221 Bluebell Drive, Suite E, Santa Rosa, 707-5370852, facebook.com/florfx Rugworks, 5879 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park, 707-395-9707, rugworks.com Murnane Carpet & Floor, 110 D St., Santa Rosa, 707-543-8099, murnanefloors.com

Funeral Home

✔ Daniels Chapel of

the Roses Funeral Home & Crematory 1225 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-525-3730, danielschapeloftheroses.com Parent-Sorensen Mortuary, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma, 707-763-4131, parentsorensen.com Windsor Healdsburg Crematory & Mortuary, 9660 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, 707-838-6000, funeralhosting.org/wlg Pleasant Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary, 1700 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol, 707-823-5042, pleasanthillsmemorialpark.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

The Best of Real Life Best Dog Groomer

I

✔ Dog & Hydrant 9240 Old Redwood Highway, No. 120, Windsor, 707-838-8158, dogandhydrant.com

t’s been four years since Ali Fox and Hannah Guild opened Dog & Hydrant grooming salon and pet boutique in Windsor.

“Hannah was in Cotati, dog grooming,” Fox says. “She was looking to start her own place. I had no experience in dog grooming, but I had a lot of business experience.”

When they found a location for rent in the Oliver’s shopping center, they knew they’d found the right spot. “It draws a lot of foot traffic,” Guild says. “We knew it was the perfect location.”

With a team of experienced groomers, the pair cares for dogs of all sizes. “We do specialize in having a posher grooming experience with online booking and text messaging,” Fox says.

“We get a lot of doodles (mixes between poodles and other breeds),” Guild adds. “We probably have 20 doodle appointments every week. We’re really known for our doodle cuts. It’s one of our specialties.”

While Guild oversees the grooming, Fox runs the business and manages the pet boutique in the front of the shop.

“Everything in our boutique is hand-selected,” Fox says.

“Hannah and I spend a lot of time curating what comes into the shop. We keep our price points really reasonable.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Dog & Hydrant greatly, just as it has other businesses that rely on in-person service. Last spring, the grooming portion was completely shut down for 10 weeks, although the boutique was able to remain open because it sells dog food. Fox and Guild adjusted by employing masks and social distancing. They had to remove two major pieces of equipment to accommodate social distancing. And they were forced to let some employees go. With a smaller staff and grooming restarted, they often are booked up.

“We stopped taking new clients because we’re so busy,” Fox says. When restrictions are lifted, the partners plan to rehire staff members and take on more dogs.

“We’re surviving OK, but it’s certainly changed the trajectory of everything,” she adds. Expansion plans that included selfservice bathing stations for dogs and a cattery for grooming cats have been put on hold for now.

Still, Fox and Guild have high hopes for the future. “This business has evolved into something that’s beyond our wildest dreams,” Fox says. “We have an amazing team of people. And we have an awesome little dog park next to our location.”

Debbie’s Pet Boutique, 431 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-3954410, debbiespetboutique.com Hair of the Dog Pet Grooming, 2770 Stony Point Road, Suite G, Santa Rosa, 707-331-3143, hairofthedogsr.com Groovy Grooming-Mobile Pet Salon, 707-526-5335, groovygrooming.com

Best Dog Groomer: Hannah Guild, left, and Ali Fox are the co-owners of Dog & Hydrant.

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

35

The Best of Real Life Furniture Store

High School Coach

✔ Cokas Diko

1125 W Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-568-4044, cokasdiko.com Scandinavian Designs, 3480 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-6640, scandinaviandesigns.com Old Town Furniture, 110 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-5684044, oldtownfurnitures.com Mark Thomas Home, 707 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 707-542-1855, markthomashome.com

General Contractor

✔ Holly & Associates 73 St. James Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-664-7022, hollyandassociates.com

Fondare Finish Construction, 799 Piner Road, Suite 212, Santa Rosa, 707-293-9241, fondarefinish.com Antonis Construction, 548 Bodega Ave., Petaluma, 707-2805740, antonisconstruction.com

Grocery Store

✔ Oliver’s Market

9230 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-687-2050, oliversmarket.com Big John’s Market, 1345 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707433-7151, bigjohnsmarket.com Molsberry Market, 522 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, 707546-5041, molsberrymarket.com Pacific Market, 1465 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-5463663, pacificmkt.com Petaluma Market, 210 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-7625464, petalumamarket.com

✔ Paul Cronin Cardinal Newman High School (football), 50 Ursuline Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-6470, cardinalnewman.org Greg Fogg, Maria Carrillo High School (cross country/track & field), 6975 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-291-2967, greg.fogg@comcast.com, mariacarrillorun.com/crosscountry/meet-the-coaches Tom Bonfigli, St. Vincent de Paul High School (basketball), 849 Keokuk St., Petaluma, 707-763-1032, info@svhs-pet.org, svhs-pet.org/staff/tom-bonfigli-basketball Jamaal Gray, Rancho Cotate High School (basketball), 5450 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, 707-7924750, rchs.crpusd.org ALVIN A.H. JORNADA

Hardware Store

Health Club

✔ Friedman’s Home

✔ Airport Health Club

Improvement 4055 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-5847811, friedmanshome.com Sebastopol Hardware Center, 618 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol, 707-823-7688, sebastopolhardware.com Garrett Ace Hardware, 10540 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, 707-433-6590, garretthardware.com Mission Ace Hardware & Lumber, 4310 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, 707-539-7070, acehardwaremission.com

36

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

432 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-528-2582, airportclub.com

Parkpoint Health Club, 1911 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707996-3111, parkpointhealthclub.com Montecito Heights Health Club, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-526-0529, montecitoheights.com The Fountaingrove Club, 1525 Fountaingrove Parkway, Santa Rosa, 707-701-3050, thefountaingroveclub.com

Heat and Air Conditioning

✔ Ongaro & Sons

2995 Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-579-3511, ongaroandsons.com Moore Home Services, 3242 Airway Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-2368873, moorehvac.com Sonoma County Comfort Heating and Air, 959 Piner Place, Santa Rosa, 707-888-2745, sonomacountyheatandair.com Furia Heating & Air Conditioning, 1505 Healdsburg Ave. Suite B, Healdsburg, 707431-2323, facebook.com/DennisFuria-Heating-Air-ConditioningInc-1119832611362711

thank you

Sonoma County for voting us the best place for eyeglasses nine consecutive years!

eartfelt Thank You H A Sonoma Count y to

Thank You for Voting Patrick Kam Best Physical Therapist in Sonoma County

534 larkfield center, santa rosa mon-fri 10am to 5pm by appointment only 707.578.2020 www.sonomaeyeworks.com PAT KAM, PT

2798 Yulupa Ave Ste 1, Santa Rosa (707) 527-4001

RE

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The Best of Real Life Best Home Window Treatments

Hospital

✔ Kaiser Permanente

401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-393-4000, healthy. kaiserpermanente.org Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, 30 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707576-4000, sutterhealth.org Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital (St. Joseph Health), 1165 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-525-5300, stjoesonoma.org Petaluma Valley Hospital (St. Joseph Health), 400 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-5255300, stjoesonoma.org

Jewelry Store

✔ ER Sawyer Jewelers

638 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-0372, ersawyer.com Bennett Valley Jewelers, 2700 Yulupa Ave., No. 18, Santa Rosa, 707-523-1333, bennettvalleyjewelers.com

BETH SCHLANER

Best Home Window Treatments: Mike Hartley opened Hartley Window Coverings in 1998.

✔ Hartley Window Coverings Hartley Window Coverings, 111 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-525-8256, hartleywindowcoverings.com

M

ike Hartley has worked in the window covering business since 1992, but in 1998 he decided to open his own company.

“We do residential mostly and some commercial, working with architects and builders,” Hartley says.

One recent trend in window coverings is motorization. “With motorization, there are no strings or cords attached, and they’re on timers, which makes homes very energy-efficient.”

Traditional window coverings are still in demand, he adds. “Draperies are coming back pretty strong. Shutters have always been a hot item, and now they’re being motorized, too.”

Budget Blinds of East Santa Rosa, 707-874-2500, budgetblinds.com/eastsantarosa

Creative Window Fashions, 5755 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-5888500, creativewindowfashions.net

Budget Blinds of Healdsburg, 707-929-4043, budgetblinds.com/healdsburg

Nail Salon

✔ Zen Nails & Day Spa

Montgomery Village Center, 760 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5341, yelp.com/biz/zen-nails-and-day-spa-santa-rosa

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Studio A, 8274 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati, 707-338-7003, yelp.com/biz/studio-a-cotati-3 Exclusive Spa, 314 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-528-8266, exclusivespasr.com

Mark Allen Jewelers, 611 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-5442635, markallenjewelers.com Hollingsworth Jewelers Gallery, 5 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-763-6053, hollingsworthjewelers.com Falling for Dainty, failingfordainty@gmail.com, fallingfordainty.com

Men’s Clothing Store

✔ Patrick James

2340 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-523-2346, patrickjames.com KALIBER, 315 D St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-0182, shopkaliber.com Eraldi’s Mens Wear & Shoes, 475 First St W., Sonoma, 707-996-2013, yelp.com/biz/eraldismenswear-and-shoes-sonoma Barge North Co., 6780 McKinley St., Suite 140, Sebastopol, 707-503-6018, bargenorthcompany.com

WINDOW WINDOW COVERINGS COVERINGS

Thank Thank you you for for voting voting us us BEST BEST Window Window Treatments Treatments in in Sonoma Sonoma County!

County!

111 111Sebastopol SebastopolRd., Rd.,Santa SantaRosa Rosa 707.525.8256 707.525.8256||hartleywindowcoverings.com hartleywindowcoverings.com

The Best of Real Life

JOHN BURGESS

Best Landscaper or Landscaping Company: Dan Auch, left, started Sweetwater Landscape with wife Michele in 2004. Son Justin Auch, center, is the company’s foreman.

Landscaper or Landscaping Company

✔ Sweetwater Landscape 930 Shiloh Road, Windsor, 707-887-0140, getpond.com

S

40

weetwater Landscape in Windsor handles a wide array of landscape designs and installations in Sonoma County and beyond, but the company’s specialty is water features. “We’re a certified aquascape contractor,” says Dan Auch, who started the business with his wife Michele in 2004. “We did the water feature at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, and we do Safari West water features.”

The key to success is sustainability, he says. “That’s how we approach water features.”

The company’s most popular design is a pond-less waterfall. “They attract birds and bees and dragonflies, but you don’t have a pond to maintain,” he says. Not only are pond-less waterfalls an attractive addition to a garden, they help screen out background noise such as traffic. They’re also safe with young children around because there is no pond to worry about.

Most homeowners today are looking for drought-tolerant landscape designs, Auch says. “We have to be water-conscious. We tend to be planting dry landscapes. We are doing more native plant materials. That’s one of the upticks I’ve seen since 2004.”

Asked to describe the company’s signature look, he sums it up as a woodland style. “What we do tends to be real naturalistic, flowing with what’s going on already. We use real stone.”

One of the new trends in landscape design is the addition of edible plants to traditional yards. “There’s an uptick in fruit trees, blueberry plants as shrubs, strawberries for groundcover. People tend to have fun with it.”

While edible plants have become more popular in recent years, lawns have fallen out of favor a bit, he says. “Even before the fires, we were removing lawns. They have been downsizing for the last 10 years. I’m for lawns that are drought-tolerant to start with.”

Sweetwater Landscape is definitely a family operation. “Michele is very much into design and plants. I’m more mechanically oriented,” Dan Auch says. “It definitely seems to work.” The Auchs’ son, Justin, is their foreman, and they have five other employees.

“I’m amazed at what my guys are doing,” Auch says. “Our hardscapes have definitely picked up in the last couple years. But water features keep us going.

It’s definitely a niche in the landscape world.”

Landzen, 1050 Danbeck Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-591-1629, landzen.com

Gill Landscape, 9878 Mill Station Road, Sebastopol, 707-829-1070, diamondcertified.org/ report/gill-landscape-inc

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Gardenworks, P.O. Box 326, Healdsburg, 707-857-2050, or 707-433-7368, gardenworks-inc.com

Thank You!

BEST LOCAL RED WINE

Our team at Munselle Family Dentistry would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for recognizing our continued commitment to the health and safety of our patients and community by voting us one of Sonoma County’s Best!

We are deeply honored and humbled by your support.

Goodbye 2020 and cheers to 2021!

Dr. Amy Munselle, Lindsay, Kelly, Olga, Randi,Yvette, Mandy and Mikayla

Open Daily 10AM-5PM Curbside Pick Ups • Outdoor Tastings ballettovineyards.com

Munselle Family Dentistry 125 Grant St Healdsburg, CA 95448 • (707) 433-2425 smile@munselledds.com | www.munselledds.com

Bistro & Bar

Thank you

for voting us Best Asian Restaurant 8 years in a row! • Full Bar • Outdoor Patio • New Catering Service

We are open every day! Expanded Outdoor Patio Lunch 11:30am-3pm • Dinner 4-9pm 2350 Midway Drive in Montgomery Village For reservations: 707-528-8333 | www.seathaibistrobar.com

The Best of Real Life Best Nursery

Pet Store

✔ Western Farm

Center 21 W. Seventh St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-0721, westernfarmcenter.com The Feed Store, 265 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol, 707-823-3909, thefeedstoreinc.com Village Pets & Supplies, 1840 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-526-1900, villagepets.wixsite.com Pawsarotti’s, 106 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa, 707-595-3357, pawsarottis.com

Physical Therapist

✔ Patrick Kam BETH SCHLANKER

Best Nursery: Primrose flowers bloom in a birdbath at King’s Nursery in Santa Rosa.

✔ King’s Nursery 1212 13th St., Santa Rosa, 707-542-4782, kingsflowernursery.com Harmony Farm Supply & Nursery, 3244 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol, 707-823-9125, harmonyfarm.com Prickett’s Nursery, 5875 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, 707-539-3030, prickettsnursery.com Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, 3995 Emerald Drive, Petaluma, 707-778-8025, cottagegardensofpet.com/ Cloverdale Nursery, 216 Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, 707-894-6654, cloverdalenursery.info

Orthodontics

✔ SMILE Orthodontics – Drs. Kelly Choi, Charles Wear & Joe Eliason 1880 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-546-8600, sonomacountyorthodontics. com

Dr. Brian W. Payne, Payne Orthodontics, 1820 Sonoma Ave., Suite 36, Santa Rosa, 707-546-5234, paynesperfectsmileclub.com Craig Davis Orthodontics, 5200 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, 707-585-2500, craigdavisorthodontics.com Dr. Maurice D. Simanian, 1301 Medical Center Drive, Suite B, Rohnert Park, 707-978-2077, socodentalgroup.com 42

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Painting Company

✔ Mike Chavez

Painting 840 Piner Road, No. 7, Santa Rosa, 707-623-5850, mikechavezpainting.com Nordic Colors, 1108 Rochioli Drive, Windsor, 707-837-2718, nordiccolorspainting.com Antonis Construction Building & Painting, 548 Bodega Ave., Petaluma, 707-2805740, antonisconstruction.com

Pest Control

✔ Hitmen Termite

& Pest Control 600 E. Todd Road, Santa Rosa, 707-408-7093, hitmenpest.com We Care Pest Solutions, 374 Blodgett St., No. 1, Cotati, 415-257-8987, wecarepest.com Nature Pacific Pest Services, 707-364-1319, naturepacificpest@gmail.com, naturepacificpest.com Nature Science Pest Control, 607 Martin Ave., Suite 100, Rohnert Park, 707-586-2514, naturesciencepest.com

Santa Rosa Back Fitness & Physical Therapy, 2798 Yulupa Ave., No. 1, Santa Rosa, 707-5274001, healthcare4ppl.com/ physician/california/santarosa/patrick-k-kam Alison Kobayashi, Santa Rosa Back Fitness & Physical Therapy, 2798 Yulupa Ave., No. 1, Santa Rosa, 707-527-4001, healthcare4ppl.com/physician/ california/santa-rosa/patrick-k-kam David W. Townsend, Santa Rosa Physical Therapy, 2255 Challenger Way, Santa Rosa, 707-545-1419, santarosapt.com Gail Perry, Santa Rosa Physical Therapy, 2255 Challenger Way, No. 104, Santa Rosa, 707-545-1419, santarosapt.com

Plumber

✔ Ongaro & Sons

2995 Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-579-3511, ongaroandsons.com Holman Plumbing, 2018 Northfield Drive, Santa Rosa, 707238-5290, holmanplumbingca.com Roman’s Plumbing, 707-971-0353, romansplumbing.net KC Home Service, 328 Yolanda Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-3773195, kchomeserve.com

Thank you Sonoma County!

We are overwhelmed by your love and support.

We here at Pizzaleah greatly appreciate all of you!

9240 Old Redwood Hwy Suite 116, Windsor (707) 620-0551

Thank you Sonoma County!

kp.org

BEST HOSPITAL

The Best of Real Life Private School

Virtual Exercise (tie)

✔ Cardinal Newman High School 50 Ursuline Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-6470, cardinalnewman.org Sonoma Academy, High School, 2500 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-545-1770, sonomaacademy.org The Healdsburg School, Elementary, 33 Healdsburg Ave. H, Santa Rosa, 707-433-4847, thehealdsburgschool.org Woodside West School, Elementary, 2577 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa, 707-528-6666, woodsidewestschool.com

Real Estate Agent

✔ Rhonda Alderman

Realtor Keller Williams Realty, 3562 Round Barn Circle, No. 200, Santa Rosa, 707-328-7653, rhondaalderman.net Brook Terhune, Front Porch Realty, 576 B St., Suite 21, Santa Rosa, 707-486-9051, brook@brookterhune.com, frontporchrealtygroup.com/about-us/ brook-terhune-2 Debbie Pannell, Corcoran Global Living, 802 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-758-6914, debbiepannellhomes@gmail.com, terrafirmaglobalpartners.com/agent/ debbie-pannell Kim Bodell, Prosper Real Estate, 413 King St., Santa Rosa, 707-8889371, prospermoves.com/agents/kim

Real Estate Company

✔ Corcoran Global

Living 802 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 800-681-1361, corcorangl.com Vanguard Properties, 900 College Ave., Santa Rosa (multiple Sonoma County locations), 707-5452000, vanguardproperties.com Keller Williams Realty, 120 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa (multiple Sonoma County locations), 707-206-4500, kwwinecountry.net Prosper Real Estate, 413 King St., Santa Rosa, 707-584-6552, prospermoves.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

✔ Mike Stauber Personal Trainer 10 Enterprise Drive, Rohnert Park707-3228392, mikestauberfitness. com

✔ Lauren D Fitness facebook.com/ LivingLauren

Santa Rosa Jazzercise, Monroe Hall, 1400 W College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-539-5507, monroe-hall.com BikerBarre Fit, 52 Mission Circle, Ste 125, Santa Rosa, 707-623-9577, bikerbarrefit.com

Salon

Shoe Store

✔ Dolce Vita Salon

✔ Sole Desire Shoes

614 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-538-3969, dolcevitasalon-sr.com

710 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-571-8643, soledesire.com

Haven Salon, 7530 Commerce Blvd., Suite A & B, Cotati, 707-703-3604, havensaloncotati.com

Fleet Feet Sports, 11 Third St., Santa Rosa, 707-569-1494, fleetfeet.com/s/santarosa

Halo Salon, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 115, Santa Rosa, 707-578-1072, halosantarosa.com

Birkenstock Village, 1155 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-5251064, birkenstockvillage.com

La De Da Salon, 513 E. St., Santa Rosa, 707-523-3523, ladedasalon.com

Rainsong Shoes, 117 Plaza St., Healdsburg, 707-433-8058, rainsongshoes.com

Senior Care Facility

✔ Spring Lake Village 5555 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-538-8400, covia.org/spring-lake-village Fountaingrove Lodge, 4210 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-285-9533, fountaingrovelodge.com Primrose Santa Rosa, 2080 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa, 707-578-8360, primrosealz.com Summerfield Healthcare Center, 1280 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, 707-539-1515, summerfieldhealthcare.net

Teacher

✔ John Richards

Windsor High School, 8695 Windsor Road, Windsor, 707-837-7767, ext. 2242, jrichards@wusd.org, windsorhs.com/o/windsorhigh-school/staff Allie Brown, Gravenstein Elementary, 3840 Twig Ave., Sebastopol, 707-823-5361, mrsalliebrown.weebly.com/meet-theteacher.html Jeanette Inness, The Healdsburg School, 33 Healdsburg Ave. Suite H, Healdsburg, 707-4334847, thehealdsburgschool.org/ teachers/jeanette-inness Susan McGovern, Harmony Union, 1935 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-1205, harmonyusd.org Alex Haley, The Presentation School, 20872 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-935-0122, presentationschool. com/about-us/educators

Jen Lofchie, Orchard View School, 700 Watertrough Road, Sebastopol, 707-823-4709 ext. 118, jlofchie@orchardviewschool.org, orchardviewschool.org

Veterinarian

✔ Dr. Grant Patrick

Montecito Veterinary Center, 4900 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, 707-539-2322, montecitovets.com Dr. Sue Boynton, Laguna Veterinary Hospital, 5341 Highway 12, Santa Rosa, 707-528-1448, lagunaveterinaryhospital.com Dr. Mark Ross, Montgomery Village Veterinary Clinic, 4735 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, 707527-9330, montgomeryvillagevet.com Dr. Ada Norris, Community Veterinary Clinic, 5345 Highway 12 W., Santa Rosa, 707-284-1198, animalsheltering.org/authors/adanorris-dvm-phd

Women’s Clothing Boutique

✔ Ooh La Luxe

517 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple Sonoma County locations), 707-521-9090, oohlaluxe.com Erin Mavis Clothing, 113 E. First St., Cloverdale, 707-894-6220, erinmavis.com Bow N Arrow Clothing, 8200 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati, 707-242-3027, bownarrowclothing.com Ethical Clothing, 122 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-7698564, ethicalclothing-petaluma.com

Thank You Sonoma County For voting us Best Funeral Home for Four Years in a Row!

Wes, Carol and Will Daniels with Patricia Daniels

Family Owned Since 1875 1225 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa • 707 525-3730 www.danielschapeloftheroses.com FD #209/CR #92

The Best of Real Life

JOHN BURGESS

Best Shopping Experience: Montgomery Village shopping center, owned by Melissa and David Codding, has been named best shopping experience for nine straight years.

Shopping Experience

✔ Montgomery Village 911 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-545-3844, mvshops.com

F

irst opened by the late local developer Hugh Codding in 1950, Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa has grown to include 75 stores.

“It’s been evolving over the years,” says owner David Codding, Hugh Codding’s son. “I’ve been running it for 35 years. It’s a lifestyle shopping center for the North Bay. We’re very hands-on.”

That “we” includes Codding’s wife, Melissa, who helps manage the shopping center on a daily basis.

“We do all our own marketing,” she says. “All of our events are tied together with nonprofit organizations.”

“We’re very involved with the community,” her husband adds. “It’s been a tough time this year with the virus.”

“But the merchants that have reopened have done very well,” Melissa Codding says. The Coddings have helped tenants with rent and advertising, she says.

Longtime popular merchants include Sur La Table, Ireko, J Jill, Talbots, White House Black Market and Chico’s. There are also much-loved independent shops like Urban Garden, Classic Duck and Copperfield’s Books. And there are the restaurants that have become regular destinations for locals: Monty’s Rotisserie, Cattlemen’s, Sea Thai Bistro, Tomatina, Cascabel, CrepeOoh La Luxe, 517 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple Sonoma County locations), 707-521-9090, oohlaluxe.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

vine, Boudin, Acre Coffee, Sonoma Bagel & Deli and Raku Ramen & Rolls.

“We fill a niche,” David Codding says. “We have a lot of independent stores.

We’re an open-air center, not an enclosed mall.”

“We offer entertainment,” Melissa Codding adds. “We have trick-or-treating and Santa. It’s been the same Santa for 15 years.”

This year Montgomery Village will offer socially distant visits with Santa Claus. “It’s not going to be the same, but we will do something,” Melissa Codding says. The Coddings enjoy watching parents who visited Santa as children bring their own children back for holiday visits.

The outdoor aspect of the shopping center has allowed the Coddings to accommodate additional al fresco seating for the restaurants.

“You’re out in the sunshine,” Melissa Codding says. “We keep the grounds beautiful. There’s something to be said for a locally owned shopping center.

We give to the community. People see us. I don’t think you get that experience at any other shopping center.”

“We really love what we do,” David Codding adds.

Being named best shopping experience for the ninth year in a row is an honor, the Coddings say. “We do appreciate that,” Melissa Codding says. “Our merchants make that possible.”

Erin Mavis Clothing, 113 E. First St., Cloverdale, 707-8946220, erinmavis.com

Silk Moon Gallery, 195 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-824-4300, silkmoon.org

WE LOVE SONOMA COUNTY!

Thank you RE

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to our loyal patients for voting MORDECAI-DUMBADSE CHIROPRACTIC as Sonoma County’s Best Chiropractic Office!

817 2nd Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707.575.8929 • mdmchiro.com Dr. Chad Mordecai, Dr. Rick Mordecai, Dr. Christina Dumbadse, and Dr. Megan Mordecai

Diane Dumbadse

The Best of Real Life Best Sports Medicine Doctor

Best Sports Medicine Doctor: Dr. Ty Affleck of Santa Rosa Sports & Family Medicine has been treating patients since 1992.

✔ Dr. Ty Affleck, Santa Rosa Sports

& Family Medicine 1255 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-546-9400, srsportsmed.com

T

y Affleck has been treating athletes of all ages since 1992. Patients range from individuals in their 80s to kids just learning to play sports, he says.

This year has been a challenging one for someone who specializes in sports medicine.

“It’s tough being a sports doctor when there are no sports.”

Affleck advises those who can no longer work out at the gym or with a sports team to keep moving. “Do your best to stay active. I see more problems with people who give up sports. Inactivity is worse. You can repair tendons and ligaments and muscles with the right program.”

Ridgway Chiropractic, 830 Second St., Santa Rosa, 707-544-5338, ridgwaychiropractic.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Dr. Kent Yinger, Redwood Orthopedic Surgery, 208 Concourse Blvd., No. 1, Santa Rosa, 707-544-3400, redwoodorthopaedic.com

Dr. Todd Weston Weitzenberg, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa, 707-393-4044, healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northerncalifornia/front-door

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

Thank You Sonoma County for voting us Best Painting Company for 4 straight years!

Residential – Commercial – Interior – Exterior Cabinets – Epoxy Floors – Wood Staining

(707) 623-5850 www.mikechavezpainting.com Lic#939252

Head Chicken Bluebird says Thank You!

The Best of Real Life Best Virtual Yoga & Yoga Studio

LISA ELLISEN

Best Virtual Yoga & Yoga Studio: Soul Yoga owner Lisa Ellisen holds a virtual yoga session through Zoom in her studio.

✔ Soul Yoga Soul Yoga, 2700 Yulupa Ave., No. 16, Santa Rosa, 707-696-4382, soulyogasr.com

S

oul Yoga closed to in-person classes on March 15, owner Lisa Ellisen says. “But by March 17 we were online with over 30 classes a week. We have been able to reach a larger audience.”

Ellisen opened the business in 2014 and currently has a staff of 11 teachers. Soul Yoga focuses on power vinyasa yoga, serving clients of all levels and abilities.

The current Zoom classes are available to all free of charge, with donations accepted. “I really believe that people need yoga, especially in Sonoma County,” she says. “I wanted to make it accessible to all people.”

Yoga On Center, 401 Center St., No. C, Healdsburg, 707-433-6500, yogaoncenter.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Energize Hot Yoga Santa Rosa (formerly Bikram Yoga of Santa Rosa), 522 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-9642, energizehotyoga.com

Tone Yoga & Pilates, 122 Calistoga Road PMB 128, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3100, tonefitness.com

Thank You For Voting Us

BEST CARPET CARE In Sonoma County!

SERVICES INCLUDE:

• Upholstery Cleaning • Pet Odor Removal • Tile and Grout Cleaning • Hardwood Floor Cleaning • Area Rug Cleaning • Carpet Repair

707-585-1155

www.northcoastcarpetcare.com

NINETEENTH

JOHN BURGESS

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Best Golf Course: Nicolai Lisukoff celebrated his 70th birthday at the Northwood Golf Course in Guerneville.

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

The Best of

So Sonoma W

ith an agricultural heritage, a lively art and cultural landscape and stunning redwood forests and exquisite beaches to boot, no place is quite like Sonoma County. Here are the places and experiences readers say most represent the character of our area: sophisticated yet homey, altruistic, creative and fun.

Winners are checked (✔), followed by runners-up.

BEST BESTof ofSONOMA SONOMACOUNTY COUNTY 2020 2019

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The Best of So Sonoma Antique Store

Best Beach

✔ Antique Society

2661 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-829-1733, antiquesociety.com Whistlestop Antiques, 130 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-5429474, whistlestop-antiques.com Welfare League Shop, 126 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-5427480, welfareleague.org Modern Antiquarium, 452 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-5050, sonomacounty.com/ shopping/modern-antiquarium

Art Gallery

✔ Sebastopol Center

for the Arts — High Street 282 S. High St., Sebastopol, 707-829-4797, sebarts.org

Graton Gallery, 9048 Graton Road, Graton, 707-829-8912, gratongallery.net Lori Austin Gallery, 6780 McKinley St., Suite 150, Sebastopol, 707-329-6725, loriaustingallery.com Sebastopol Gallery, 150 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-829-7200, sebastopol-gallery.com Calabi Gallery, 456 10th St., Santa Rosa, 707-781-7070, calabigallery.com

Bar for Live Music

✔ HopMonk Tavern

Sebastopol 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol, 707-829-7300, hopmonk.com Lagunitas Brewing Co., 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-769-4495, lagunitas.com/ taproom/petaluma The Elephant In the Room, 177 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, elephantintheroompub.com 3 Disciples Brewing, 501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707978-2459, 3dbrews.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

BETH SCHLANKER

Corrick’s Stationery, Gallery & Gifts, 637 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-2424, corricks.com

Best Beach: Johnny Perry plays on the beach at Doran Regional Park.

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✔ Doran Regional Park 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3540, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/Doran-Regional-Park

ith a 2-mile stretch of sand and 120 tent and RV campsites, it’s no surprise everyone loves Doran Beach. “It’s well-protected, it’s a safe family beach and it’s so scenic,” says Melanie Parker, deputy director of Sonoma County Regional Parks.

Popular beach activities include kayaking, running, kite flying and even horseback riding, she says. “It has something for everyone.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased activity at Doran Beach, as visitors can enjoy fresh air while remaining socially distant. “It’s been like Fourth of July every day!” Parker says.

Goat Rock Beach, Highway 1 and Goat Rock Road, Jenner, 707-875-3483, sonomacounty.com/outdooractivities/goat-rock-beach

Salmon Creek Beach, 3095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3483, californiabeaches.com/beach/ north-salmon-creek-beach

Shell Beach, 39200 Highway 1 and Shell Beach Road, Jenner, 707-7852377, californiabeaches.com/ beach/shell-beach-sonoma

Bike Path

Bike Store

✔ Trione-Annadel State Park

✔ Bike Peddler

6201 Channel Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-5393911, parks.ca.gov/?page_id=480 Joe Rodota Trail, 4211 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-433-1625, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/Joe-RodotaTrail Santa Rosa Creek Trail, 782 Willowside Road, Santa Rosa, 707-433-1625, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/ Visit/Santa-Rosa-Creek-Trail

605 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-571-2428, bikepeddlersantarosa.com Windsor Bike & Sport, 9078 Windsor Road, Windsor, 707-836-9111, windsorbikeandsport.com Trek Bicycle Santa Rosa, 512 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-546-8735, trekbikes.com/us/en_US Breakaway Bikes, 4235 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-586-3400, breakawaybikes.co

The Best of So Sonoma

ALVIN A.H.JORNADA

Bocce Ball

✔ Campo Fina

330 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-395-4640, campofina.com Francis Ford Coppola Winery, 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, 707-857-1471, francisfordcoppolawinery.com

CRISTA JEREMIASON

Julliard Park, 227 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-543-3770, srcity.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/ Juilliard-Park-81 Martin Ray Winery, 2191 Laguna Road, Santa Rosa, 707-8232404, martinraywinery.com

Bookstore

✔ Copperfield’s Books 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol (multiple Sonoma County locations), 707-823-2618, copperfieldsbooks.com Levin & Co., 306 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-433-1118, levinbooks.com

Best Day Spa: Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, voted the best day spa in Sonoma County, has a Japanese Meditation Garden.

Cannabis Dispensary

✔ Solful

785 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-596-9040, solful.com SPARC, 1061 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-843-3227, sparc.co

Treehorn Books, 625 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-596-3845, yelp. com/biz/treehorn-books-santa-rosa

Mercy Wellness of Cotati, 7950 Redwood Drive, No. 8, Cotati, 707-795-1600, mercywellness.com

Paperbacks Unlimited, 4625 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, 707-539-8102, paperbacksunlimited. net

OrganiCann, 301 E. Todd Road, Santa Rosa, 707-588-8811, naturalcannabis.com

Bowling Alley

✔ Double Decker

Lanes 300 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-585-0226, doubledeckerlanes.com

365 Recreational Cannabis Dispensary, 2750 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707999-9420, 365recreational.com

Casino

✔ Graton Resort

Windsor Bowling Center, 8801 Conde Lane, Windsor, 707-837-9889, windsorbowl.com

and Casino 288 Golf Course Drive W., Rohnert Park. 707-588-7100, gratonresortcasino.com

Epicenter, 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-708-3742, visitepicenter.com

River Rock Casino, 3250 Highway 128, Geyserville, 877-8837777, riverrockcasino.com

AMF Boulevard Lanes, 1100 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-762-4581, amf.com

Day Spa

Fresh Produce

✔ Osmosis Day Spa

✔ Andy’s Produce

Sanctuary 209 Bohemian Highway, Freestone, 707-823-8231, osmosis.com

Markets 1691 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol, 707-8238661, andysproduce.com

ME SPA, 728 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-566-9314, me-spas.com

Oliver’s Market, 461 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707284-3530, oliversmarket.com

Bliss Organic Day Spa, 186 N. Main St., No. 230, Sebastopol, 707861-3434, blissorganicdayspa.com

Imwalle’s Gardens, 685 W. Third St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-0279, sonomacounty.com/farms-farmersmarkets

Elements on the Plaza, 105 Plaza St., Suite A, Healdsburg, 707-433-1270, elementsskincarestudio.com

Mike’s Truck Garden, 1319 River Road, Fulton, 707-528-4081, mikes-truck-garden.slue.io

The Best Day Spa, 3082 Marlow Road, Suites B4-B6, Santa Rosa, 707-545-1058, thebestdayspa.com

Fundraising Event

✔ Wags, Whiskers & Wine

Humane Society of Sonoma County, 5345 Highway 12, Santa Rosa, 707-542-0882, humanesocietysoco.org Gus’s Legacy of Love, Dog Animal Rescue Project, 1415 Fulton Road, Suite 205, Box 432, Santa Rosa, dogwoodanimalrescue.org/about-us/gus Sit, Stay, Sparkle – Canine Companions for Independence, 2965 Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-577-1700, support.cci.org SAY Soiree, 2447 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, 707-544-3299, saysc.org/soiree BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of So Sonoma BETH SCHLANKER BETH SCHLANKER

Best Farmers Market: Ramiro Oliva sorts through grapes at the R. Schletewitz Family Farms produce stand at the Sebastopol Farmers’ Market.

Farmers Market

✔ The Sebastopol Farmers’ Market 6908 Weeks Way, Sebastopol, 707-522-9305, sebastopolfarmmarket.org

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ffering fresh produce to locals since 1986, the Sebastopol Farmers’ Market is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the plaza in downtown Sebastopol.

Though 2020 has been a challenging year to operate, Market Manager Carla Rosin says, “we’ve done everything we could to make the market as safe as possible.” That includes requiring all shoppers and vendors to wear face masks, setting tents 4 to 6 feet apart and forbidding eating or drinking on the market premises. Some vendors even offer curbside pickup.

The mood this year is different than in the past, when local residents spent the day at the market picnicking, listening to music and catching up with friends. “In a typical year, it’s the hometown hangout,” Rosin says. “We’d always have entertainment. It was always a place to linger. It was pretty remarkable and very sweet.”

Still, she adds, “it’s wonderful to provide a safe shopping experience.”

Vendors are primarily local. The many who frequent the market include Bella Ridge Farm, which provides dozens of varieties of apples and pears, and Dean Family Farms, offering apples and apple products like apple cider and apple cider vinegar. Laguna Farm sells Sebastopol-grown produce such as tomatoes, berries, squash, carrots and beets. And Rainbow’s End Farm sells fruit, eggs and jams, while The Patch offers onions, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes. Terra Savia has certified organic wines along with cold-pressed

extra virgin olive oils, while Hector’s Honey and Farm sells local honey, comb honey, beeswax, fruits and vegetables.

“Each one of them has their fan club,” Rosin says.

Hungry shoppers can choose prepared food from an array of purveyors.

Mi Fiesta Catering sells authentic Mexican fare, while Lata’s Indian Cuisine sells — you guessed it — Indian specialties. Dominique’s Sweets sells pastries, pies and macaroons, and Raymonds Bakery has a variety of baked goods, including their bestselling sea-salted sourdough and kalamata olive rosemary focaccia. There are also vendors selling tea, seafood, smoked salmon, dates, nuts, pasta and more.

One of the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic is the new notouch policy for produce. Instead of customers touching and bagging items, they point out the items they want and the sellers bag them.

“Most vendors prefer that customers don’t touch their products,” Rosin explains. Now customers don’t have to worry about dozens of hands having touched their produce. “Customers and farmers in general prefer it.”

While grateful to have been singled out as the best Sonoma County Farmers Market, Rosin acknowledges the vital community service all local markets provide, along with the people who patronize them. “I want to thank all the farmers market supporters everywhere, all these amazing community members who go every single week. Farmers really need that.”

Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market, 50 Mark West Spring Road, Santa Rosa, 707-522-6829, thesantarosafarmersmarket.com

Healdsburg Farmers’ Market, 34 North St., Healdsburg, 707-824-8717, healdsburgfarmersmarket.org

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Santa Rosa Community Farmers’ Market – Veterans Building, 1351 Maple Ave., Santa Rosa, 415-9995635, ilovefarmersmarkets.org/farmersmarkets

Windsor Certified Farmers’ Market, 701 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-838-5947, windsorfarmersmarket.com

The Best of So Sonoma Dog Park

Best Florist

✔ Ragle Ranch

Regional Park 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol, 707-823-7262, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov Rincon Valley Community Dog Park, 5109 Badger Road, Santa Rosa, 707-543-3753, rinconvalleydogpark.wordpress.com Villa Chanticleer Dog Park, 908 Chanticleer Way, Healdsburg, 707-433-3301, ci.healdsburg.ca.us/ Doyle Community Park, 700 Doyle Park Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-543-3753, srcity.org/Facilities/ Facility/Details/Doyle-CommunityPark-58 JOHN BURGESS

Rio Nido Dog Park, 14770 Canyon Seven Road, Guerneville

Best Florist: Nichole Skalski, left, and Kathrin Green opened California Sister Plant & Flower in Sebastopol in 2016.

✔ California Sister Plant & Flower 6790 McKinley St., No. 190, Sebastopol, 707-827-8090, californiasister.com

A

Hike

✔ Armstrong

Redwoods State Natural Reserve 17000 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, 707-8692015, parks.ca.gov Spring Lake Regional Park, 393 Violetti Road, Santa Rosa, 707-539-8092, parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/SpringLake-Regional-Park Trione-Annadel State Park, 6201 Channel Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-539-3911, parks.ca.gov Foothill Regional Park, 1351 Arata Lane, Windsor, 707-565-2041, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/ Foothill-Regional-Park

s midlife approached, Nichole Skalski decided to turn a lifelong love of flowers and plants into a business.

“I’ve been a flower person since I was a little girl,” she says. “But I’ve never worked in a flower shop. I’m selftaught.”

She began by creating floral designs for weddings and events. Then she teamed up with business partner Kathrin Green to open California Sister Plant & Flower in 2016 in The Barlow in Sebastopol. California Sister, named after the Adelpha Californica butterfly, is a full-service florist selling fresh flower arrangements and grab-and-go bouquets, along with plant- and flower-related gifts.

“We try to support as many local makers as possible,” Skalski says. She also opts to use “locally grown flowers, grown here by our neighbors.”

Among the unexpected local bounty tucked into California Sister bouquets and arrangements are sweet peas on tendrils, unripened berries and fruit, fragrant heirloom roses, tuberose, hops and even herbs like Thai basil.

With a commitment to “sustainable floristry,” the shop eschews toxic, petroleum-based floral foam along with plastic, balloons and cellophane.

“We’re a seasonal florist,” Skalski says. “We try to honor what’s in season. And we like to work with scented flowers when we can. We do our best work when we’re given total Dragonfly Farm and Floral, 425 Westside Road, Healdsburg, 707-433-3739, dragonflyhealdsburg.com

artistic license.”

Toward that end, Skalski and Green encourage customers to allow them a bit of creative freedom while also honoring favorite flowers or preferred color combinations: “Let us choose what is going to be the freshest. We send an actual photo of the arrangement (to the sender), because we’re asking people to trust our artistic abilities.

It’s a leap of faith.”

Fortunately, customers are always delighted with the outcome.

Since opening, California Sister has developed a loyal base of local support with regulars stopping by once a week to purchase $35 or $50 grab-and-go bouquets.

The shop also is taking advantage of a burgeoning interest in houseplants: “Houseplants are a huge craze right now – big-leaved plants that are easy to care for, like monstera and philodendrons,” Skalski says.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the business, especially with weddings. Once the shop was able to reopen after an initial closure in the spring, Skalski says, “We were cautious about coming back. But we’re open seven days a week, and our business is hanging in there and even growing!”

She encourages potential customers to take a look at California Sister’s Instagram account (@CaliforniaSister) to get a feel for what Skalski and Green create.

Stems Floral Design, 864 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-7522, stems-floral.com

Pedy’s Petal Flower and Event Design, 101 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-595-4458, pedyspetals.com

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of So Sonoma Best Golf Course

Hotel or Motel

✔ The Flamingo Resort

2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-848-8300, flamingoresort.com Vintners Resort, 4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-575-7350, vintnersresort.com Hotel La Rose, 308 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-579-3200, hotellarose.com Hotel Petaluma, 205 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-559-3393, hotelpetaluma.com H2Hotel, 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-431-2202, h2hotel.com

Live Theater Company

✔ 6th Street

Playhouse 52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa, 707-523-4185, 6thstreetplayhouse.com Transcendence Theatre Company, 1151 Broadway, No. 201, Sonoma. 877-424-1414, transcendencetheatre.org Raven Theater Group, 115 North St., Healdsburg, 707-433-6335, raventheater.org/index.php

JOHN BURGESS

Best Golf Course: Mark Hedley chips a shot among the redwoods at Northwood Golf Course in Guerneville.

✔ Northwood Golf Club Northwood Golf Club, 19400 Highway 116, Monte Rio, 707-865-1116, northwoodgolf.com

B

uilt in the late 1920s, Northwood Golf Club has been a favorite of locals and visitors alike for nearly a century.

The course was designed by legendary golf course designer Alister MacKenzie, who also designed such notable courses as Augusta National in Georgia, Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula, the Meadow Club in Fairfax and Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz.

“That gives us a very prestigious pedigree,” General Manager Gaylord Schaap says.

Set in the redwoods across the river from the Bohemian Grove, the ninehole course has drawn many notable golfers who have attended its annual July event. “It’s got a rich history and tradition.”

Schaap has noticed an increase in play since the COVID-19 pandemic began. “We’re finding we’re really meeting the needs of people. We’re so different and so unique and so pretty.”

Bennett Valley Golf Course, 3330 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-528-3673, bennettvalleygolf.com Windsor Golf Club, 1340 19th Hole Drive, Windsor, 707-838-7888, windsorgolf.com Foxtail Gold Club, 100 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-584-7766, playfoxtail.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707763-8920, cinnabartheater.org Summer Repertory Theatre, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-527-4419, summerrep.com

Local Nonprofit

✔ Dogwood Animal

Rescue Project 1415 Fulton Road, Suite 205, Box 432, Santa Rosa, dogwoodanimalrescue.org Humane Society of Sonoma County, 5345 Highway 12, Santa Rosa, 707-5420882, humanesocietysoco.org Canine Companions for Independence, 2965 Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, 800-572-2275, cci.org PDI Surgery Center, 1380 19th Hole Drive, Windsor, 707-8386560, pdisurgerycenter.org

Movie Theater

✔ Rialto Cinemas 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol, 707-525-4840, rialtocinemas.com

Airport Stadium 12, 409 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-5258909, santarosacinemas.com/airport Summerfield Cinemas, 551 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, 707525-8909, santarosacinemas.com/ summerfield Roxy Stadium 14, 85 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-5258909, santarosacinemas.com/roxy-14

Museum

✔ Charles M. Schulz

Museum 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-579-4452, schulzmuseum.org Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, 1835 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-5464069, cmosc.org Museum of Sonoma County, 425 Seventh St., Santa Rosa, 707-579-1500, museumsc.org Pacific Coast Air Museum, One Air Museum Way, Santa Rosa, 707-575-7900, pacificcoastairmuseum.org Healdsburg Museum, 221 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-4313325, healdsburgmuseum.org

Place to Camp

Best Produce

✔ Casini Ranch

Family Campground 22855 Moscow Road, Duncans Mills, 800-4518400, casiniranch.com Doran Campground, 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3540, parks.sonomacounty. ca.gov/Visit/Doran-Regional-Park Gualala Point Regional Park, 42401 Highway 1, Gualala, 707-565-2267, parks.sonomacounty. ca.gov/Visit/Gualala-Point-RegionalPark Lake Sonoma, 3333 Skaggs Springs Road, Geyserville, 707-4332200, lakesonoma.com

Place to Get the Perfect Gift

✔ The Classic Duck

2400 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-575-0755, theclassicduck.com Corrick’s Stationery, Gallery & Gifts, 637 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-2424, corricks.com Eye Candy Chocolatier, 6761 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707888-0568, eyecandychocolatier.com Boards & Bottle, 707-344-1426, boardsandbottle.com

Place to Take Kids

✔ Howarth Park

630 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, 707-543-3737, srcity.org/1271/3813/ Howarth-Park Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, 1835 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-546-4069, cmosc.org

JOHN BURGESS

Best Produce: Andy’s Produce in Sebastopol has been a longtime favorite of local residents and area chefs.

✔ Andy’s Produce 1691 Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol 707-823-8661, andysproduce.com

A

ndy and Katie Skikos left Ogden, Utah, in 1964 with five kids in tow. Arriving in Sebastopol, “they were enamored with Sonoma County,” says grandson Troy Neves, now president and CEO of Andy’s Produce.

Andy Skikos jumped into the produce business and established his namesake fruit and vegetable stand that’s a fixture on Gravenstein Highway in Sebastopol. The open-air market quickly became a favorite of locals but soon drew the attention of area chefs looking for the best produce available.

“That’s really helped us survive,” Neves says. “We deliver to 200 restaurants in Sonoma County.”

Today, Andy’s Produce has 75 employees, many of them family members. “We have a lot of old-timers who really know how to pick fresh produce.”

Oliver’s Market, 461 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-284-3530, oliversmarket.com

Create It!, 6906 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707-829-3855, getcreateit.com

Imwalle’s Gardens, 685 W. Third St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-0279, sonomacounty.com/ farms-farmers-markets

Mike’s Truck Garden, 1319 River Road, Fulton, 707-528-4081, mikes-truck-garden.slue.io

Politician

✔ Supervisor Lynda Hopkins – 5th District

Rollin F Ranch, 100 Sparkes Road, Sebastopol, 707-480-0800, rollinfranch.com

575 Administration Drive, Suite 100A, Santa Rosa, 707-565-2241, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Board-of-Supervisors/ District-5 State Sen. Mike McGuire – 2nd District, 369B Third St., Suite 652, San Rafael, 415-580-2575 or 707-838-3279, senatormikemcguire.com

ERIK CASTRO

Best Politician: Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson – 5th District, 2300 County Center Drive, Suite A100, Santa Rosa, 707-542-7182, mikethompson.house.gov Supervisor James Gore – 4th District, P.O. Box 588, Windsor, 707-565-2241, supervisorjamesgore.com

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of So Sonoma

Best Thrill Activity: Sonoma Canopy Tours offers tours year-round. Prices range from $99 to $139.

KENT PORTER

Thrill Activity

✔ Sonoma Canopy Tours, 6250 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 888-494-7868, sonomacanopytours.com

F

or 10 years, Sonoma Canopy Tours has been whisking thrill-seekers through more than 100 acres of coastal redwoods on ziplines. A program of Alliance Redwoods, the canopy tours provide not only an adrenaline rush but also a deeper appreciation of the forest, according to AJ Ward, sales and marketing manager.

Though the tours opened with just one zipline, a second was added in 2016 and a magical treehouse village, where visitors can stay overnight tucked high in the redwoods, opened this year. The stays come with delivered meals and a chance to exit the treehouse on a zipline the next day.

For novices wondering about the experience, Ward is quick to point out that “a zipline is nothing like a roller coaster. You’re sliding across the sky. It’s a very gentle experience.”

How high is the ride? “You’re very high above the ground, sometimes 200 feet above the ground. But it’s very over-engineered and very safe,” Ward adds.

While the COVID-19 pandemic initially affected the business, tours were able to resume in June. Between June and September, more than 9,000 visitors zipped through the redwoods. “We’re very blessed to be an outdoor business Johnson’s Beach, 16215 First St., Guerneville, 707-869-2022, johnsonsbeach.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

during this time,” Ward says.

On a typical day up to 100 people, of varying ages, take canopy tours.

“You have to be at least 10 years old, but we had a 98-year-old woman come recently and she had a blast,” Ward says.

Occasionally there’s a visitor who’s a bit leery of the heights, he adds. “But when they finish, they are always happy that they did.”

Tours range in price from $99 to $139 depending on the particular tour and the day of the week. Tours are available year-round, though days of operation are reduced between November and March.

“We employ up to 50 tour guides during the summer, our busy season,” Ward says. “Our tour guides are hilarious. They have great jokes and great stories. They’re pretty memorable. Most of our customers are from referrals, and about 25% of our customers are repeat customers. We have a history of great reviews.”

Though visitors may arrive for the tour eager for high speeds and soaring heights, they leave with a greater understanding of and appreciation for the coastal redwood ecosystem, Ward says. “A big part of our tour is education.”

Rollin F Ranch, 100 Sparkes Road, Sebastopol, 707-480-0800, rollinfranch.com

THANK YOU for voting us

Best Latin Restaurant

Winner of the Sonoma County Harvest Gold Medal Winner of the North Bay Bohemian Best Latin Restaurant Featured on KQED’s Check Please Bay Area Featured on Food Network Online ordering and delivery now available at www.elcoqui2eat.com

400 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 707.542.8868

Thanks for voting us BEST EATS ON THE COAST 5 years in a row!

1910 Westshore Rd. Bodega Bay RE

ADE

R S’ C H O IC E 20

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707.875.9472

SpudPointCrab.com

The Best of So Sonoma Best Wine Country Inn

Summer Camp

✔ Cloverleaf Ranch

3892 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5906, cloverleafranch.com Humane Society of Sonoma County’s Summer Camp, 5345 Highway 12 W., Santa Rosa, 707-542-0882, humanesocietysoco.org/humaneeducation-camps Camp Wa Tam, srcity.org/859/ Spring-Camps, srcity.org/917/WinterCamps LandPaths, 618 Fourth St., No. 217, Santa Rosa, 707-544-7284, landpaths.org Sonoma County Family YMCA, 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-545-9622, scfymca.org

Thrift or Consignment Shop

✔ Pick of the Litter

INN AT THE TIDES

Best Wine Country Inn: The Inn at the Tides in Bodega Bay has been a coastal destination for almost four decades.

✔ The Inn at the Tides The Inn at the Tides, 800 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-2751, innatthetides.com

T

he Inn at the Tides has been a popular coastal destination for almost four decades.

“The hotel was built in 1984,” General Manager Christian Galazzo says. “Bodega Bay before that was a small fishing community. The original owner of The Tides (restaurant) had the vision to build a luxury hotel across the street.”

The Inn at the Tides has become a favorite destination for residents of Sonoma County and beyond, according to Galazzo. “We’re close enough but we’re far enough away. It feels like you’re in some faraway destination.”

The inn’s proximity to west county wineries is another plus. “We’ve been doing a Dinner with the Winemaker series for 35 years,” he says, adding that the monthly dinners will resume when the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Vintners Resort, 4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-575-7350, vintnersresort.com

Geyserville Inn, 21714 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-857-4343, geyservilleinn.com

The Gables Wine Country Inn, 4257 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa, 707-585-7777, thegablesinn.com

Thrift and Gift Shop 1701 Piner Road, Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-570-2590, forgottenfelines.com Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1201 Piner Road, No. 500, Santa Rosa, 707-568-3228, habitatsoco.org Treasure House, 3450 Airway Drive E., Santa Rosa, 707-523-1188, facebook.com/ TreasureHouseSantaRosa Welfare League Shop, 126 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-542-7480, welfareleague.org

Winery to Take Visitors to

✔ Francis Ford

Coppola Winery 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, 707-857-1400, francisfordcoppolawinery.com Korbel Winery, 13250 River Road, Guerneville, 707-824-7000, korbel.com Russian River Vineyards, 5700 N. Highway 116, Forestville, 707-887-3344, russianrivervineyards.com VJB Vineyard & Cellars, 60 Shaw Ave., Kenwood, 707-833-2300, vjbcellars.com

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Thank You for voting us Best Golf Course in Sonoma County

Thanks for voting us Best Wine Country Inn

Welcome Back to the Coast!

Fresh New Look with newly renovated rooms Book Online Clean, Sanitized and Ready to ensure you enjoy your stay with us!

800 Coast Highway One • Bodega Bay, CA 94923 (800) 541-7788 • (707) 875-2751 • www.innatthetides.com

707.865.1116 19400 CA-116, Monte Rio, CA www.northwoodgolf.com

Thank you Sonoma County for making us SMILE!

Voted 2020 Best Orthodontist in Sonoma County

Schedule a FREE consultation today!

Offices in Santa Rosa & Windsor

@SmileOrtho

sonomacountyortho.com

707.546.8600

The Best of So Sonoma Best Wedding Venue

SUZANNE KARP PHOTOGRAPHY

Best Wedding Venue: The rebuilt Paradise Ridge Winery reopened in December 2019 after the 2017 Tubbs fire destroyed the popular wedding destination.

✔ Paradise Ridge Winery 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-9463, prwinery.com

B

eing named Sonoma County’s Best Wedding Venue is nothing new for Paradise Ridge Winery. The hilltop facility had won the award three times before the Tubbs fire roared into Santa Rosa in October 2017, completely destroying the winery.

After a long and arduous rebuild, Paradise Ridge Winery finally reopened last December, only to close again with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic a few months later.

“It’s been a real struggle,” says Sonia Byck-Barwick, whose family owns the winery. Most of the weddings scheduled for this year have been pushed to 2021. However, a handful of mini-weddings (of fewer than 12 people, who quarantine beforehand) have taken place with additional guests participating via Zoom.

Still, Byck-Barwick is looking forward to a return to normalcy next year when brides, grooms and large wedding parties can enjoy the newly rebuilt winery.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” she says. “We’re really hoping we’ll be back to doing normal-size weddings next wedding season.”

Though the new winery building occupies the same footprint it had when it opened in 1994, it now offers an expanded deck and terrace with stunning views of Santa Rosa and beyond.

“We rebuilt it so that when you’re here you feel very much like you’re in the original building,” Byck-Barwick says. “That was exactly my intent.”

Vine Hill House, 3601 Vine Hill Road, Sebastopol, 707-823-8590, vinehillhouse.com

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The winery has continued to draw visitors for outdoor tastings by appointment as well as for their popular Wines & Sunsets program. “We added some on-site events, locals nights and micro meetings,” she says. “We have such a beautiful and expansive outdoor area. It feels really safe. Our tables aren’t 6 feet apart; they’re 10 feet apart.”

Guests can still explore the winery’s well-known sculpture garden with its huge LOVE sign. “It’s become iconic,” Byck-Barwick says. “That’s still a huge draw. This is a pretty magical place.”

As soon as the winery reopened in December, it drew locals eager to revisit a favorite destination. “We get so many people who thank us for coming back.

My parents built this winery to be a part of the community,” Byck-Barwick says. “That’s a key part of who we are. We’re trying to make things as normal as possible.”

She’s especially touched when guests remark that enjoying a tasting was the most normal experience they’ve enjoyed in a long time. “It’s so nice to be able to offer that. There’s such a thankfulness in our community. That gave us our strength.”

In spite of the challenges caused by the fire and the pandemic, the family is looking ahead, she says. “We’re feeling pretty positive. We’re very blessed that we have so much covered outdoor space. And we’re hugely thankful to everyone who voted for us.”

Vintners Resort, 4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-575-7350, vintnersresort.com

The Ranch at Lake Sonoma, 100 Marina Road, Lot A, Geyserville, 707-494-4449, theranchatlakesonoma.com

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PR 2019

Buy A Gift, Get A Gift Free!

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Hall of Fame

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he Press Democrat congratulates 30 businesses that have been recognized as The Best of Sonoma County for five consecutive years or more.

Consistent winners: Doran Regional Park, clockwise from top left, Russian River Brewing Co., Stark’s Steak & Seafood and Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary remain favorites with Press Democrat readers.

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of Hall of Fame

Dine&Drink YEARS 9 CONSECUTIVE

Burger

Superburger 1501 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-546-4016, originalsuperburger.com

Happy Hour Stark’s Steak & Seafood 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkrestaurants.com

Kid-Friendly Restaurant Mary’s Pizza Shack 615 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-571-1959, maryspizzashack.com YEARS 7 CONSECUTIVE

Artisan Cheese Cowgirl Creamery 80 4th St., Point Reyes Station, 415-663-9335, cowgirlcreamery.com

Bakery Costeaux Bakery 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com

6

CONSECUTIVE YEARS

Breakfast Dierk’s Midtown and Parkside Cafe 404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Best Burger: Superburger has been a reader favorite for nine straight years.

JOHN BURGESS

Craft Beer

Food Truck

Russian River Brewing Co. 725 4th St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-545-2337, russianriverbrewing.com

El Roy’s Express Mex 760 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-8432166

Ice Cream/ Frozen Yogurt Screamin’ Mimi’s 6902 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, 707-823-5902, screaminmimisicecream. com

LOVE

Live well and age well — anywhere you call home.

At Spring Lake Village, this is our promise.

Thank You for Voting Us Best Senior Care Facility For the 7th Year in a Row!

Whoa, what a year! We are honored and blessed you took the time to vote us Best Nursery once again.

To all our customers and friends great and small, we love you.

It’s a beautiful day at King’s Call 707.579.6964 or go to covia.org/spring-lake-village to learn more.

Spring Lake Village, 5555 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa A not-for-profit community owned and operated by Covia License 490107656/COA#326

King’s Nursery 13th and Stewart in Santa Rosa Kingsflowernursery.com Family owned and Local Since 1896

Thank you Sonoma County for voting El Roy’s Best Food Truck!

elroysxpressmex.com roy@elroysxpressmex.com Petaluma Food Truck #1: 401 E Washington St. Petaluma, CA Mon-Sat: 5pm-11pm Sundays: Closed

6 YEARS IN A ROW 2015-2020 Petaluma Food Truck #2: 175 Fairgrounds Dr. Petaluma, CA • (707) 241-6534 Mon - Sun 11am - 11pm

Santa Rosa Food Truck #3: 760 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, CA (707) 843-2166 Mon-Thu: 11am-11pm Fri-Sat: 11am-12am • Sundays: Closed

The Best of Hall of Fame JOHN BURGESS

Dine&Drink YEARS 5 CONSECUTIVE

Dive Bar

John & Zekes’s Bar & Grill 420 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-3735, yelp.com/biz/john-andzekes-bar-healdsburg

Eats on the Sonoma Coast Spud Point Crab Co. 1910 Westshore Road, Bodgea Bay, 707-875-9472, spudpointcrab.com

Italian Restaurant Catelli’s Restaurant 21047 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-857-3471, mycatellis.com

Place to Buy Wine Bottle Barn 3331-A Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-528-1161, bottlebarn.com

Seafood Restaurant Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar 406 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-9191, starkrestaurants.com

Real Life YEARS 9 CONSECUTIVE

Bank

Exchange Bank 545 4th St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-524-3000, exchangebank.com Redwood Credit Union 2763 4th St., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-545-4000, redwoodcu.org

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

Credit Union

JOHN BURGESS

Best Hardware Store: Friedman’s Home Improvement has been recognized by readers nine years in a row.

Hardware Store Friedman’s Home Improvement 4055 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa (multiple locations in Sonoma County), 707-584-7811, friedmanshome.com

Best Italian Restaurant: Catelli’s Restaurant in Geyserville, owned by Domenica Catelli, has been a reader favorite for five years.

Health Club Airport Health Club 432 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-528-2582, airportclub.com

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BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

JOHN BURGESS

The Best of Hall of Fame JOHN BURGESS CRISTA JEREMIASON

Best Day Spa: Cushions are positioned within view of the meditation garden at Freestone’s Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, which has been recognized six years in a row.

Eyeglass Store Sonoma Eyeworks 534 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, 707-578-2020, sonomaeyeworks.com

Nursery King’s Nursery 1212 13th St., Santa Rosa, 707-542-4782, kingsflowernursery.com

Shopping Experience Montgomery Village 911 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-545-3844, mvshops.com

YEARS 7 CONSECUTIVE

Senior Care Facility

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

Best Nursery: King’s Nursery in Santa Rosa is a perennial favorite.

Spring Lake Village 5555 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-538-8400, covia.org/spring-lakevillage BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

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The Best of Hall of Fame BETH SCHLANKER CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

Best Winery to Take Visitors to: Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville has been a reader favorite for nine years.

YEARS 5CONSECUTIVE

Best Bookstore: Copperfield’s Books, co-owned

by Paul Jaffe, has been recognzied by readers for nine straight years.

Shoe Store

Sole Desire Shoes 710 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-571-8643, soledesire.com

So Sonoma JOHN BURGESS

YEARS 9 CONSECUTIVE

Beach Doran Beach 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3540, parks.sonomacounty. ca.gov/Visit/Doran-Regional-Park

Bookstore Copperfield’s Books 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol (multiple Sonoma County locations), 707-8232618, copperfieldsbooks.com

Place to Find the Perfect Gift The Classic Duck 2400 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-575-0755, theclassicduck.com 72

BEST of SONOMA COUNTY 2020

Winery to Take Visitors to Francis Ford Coppola Winery 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, 707857-1400, francisfordcoppolawinery.com YEARS 7 CONSECUTIVE

Bike Store

Bike Peddler 605 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-5712428, bikepeddlersantarosa.com

YEARS 6 CONSECUTIVE

Day Spa

Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary 209 Bohemian Highway, Freestone, 707-823-8231, osmosis.com YEARS 5 CONSECUTIVE

Bar for Live Music HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol, 707-8297300, hopmonk.com

Thank you to our wonderful patients who voted us Sonoma County's

BEST COSMETIC SURGEON 5 Years in Row! BEST AESTHETICIAN 2 Years in a Row!

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Breast Implants Botox Fillers Lasers SmartLipo Vein Treatments Hair Transplants Complimentary Consultations Santa Rosa * Napa * Maui Call: 707-542-8346 www.DrWalterTom.com

Thank you for voting us Best HVAC and Plumbing company Interested in creating a healthy and pure indoor living space?

Contact us today to learn more.

St Lic #215233

707.345.1520 707.375.3200

www.ongaroandsons.com