Petaluma Archives - Page 10 of 19

#Petaluma Celebrates “The Birth of an AVA – Petaluma Gap”

Recently the Petaluma Historical Museum and Library had a fantastic display of our city’s viticulture history. Kaye Chandler did a great job in capturing the display on video (which can be found on the next page of this article). Over the years our town’s rolling hills have evolved into what now is starting to look like the Sonoma or Napa Valley. After reviewing Kaye’s film you realize that Petaluma families have been making wine since the mid 1900s (some sources say for over 150 years).

Keller Estate & Petaluma River, Photo by Wayne Dunbar

While we have a rich history in viticulture, 2015 marks the birth of a new American Viticulture Area (AVA), The Petaluma GAP. An AVA is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade Bureau and United States Department of Treasury. The geographic features that distinguish the Petaluma GAP is the wind and the fog. The “GAP” refers to the wind gap named after a coastal mountain opening that stretches east from the Pacific through the town of Petaluma and then roars south to San Pablo Bay which makes this AVA ideal for growing certain grapes (Pinot, Chardonnay & Syrah). The AVA designation allows the wine makers to label their bottles indicating the grapes in the wine came from this region.

On Friday, January 30 from 6-8PM located at the Healdsburg Public Library the “The Birth of an AVA – Petaluma GAP” event will be hosted by the Wine Library Associates of Sonoma County and the Petaluma GAP Winegrowers Alliance. This is a great opportunity to have some wine and learn about the region. Tickets are $35 per person but only $25 for Wine Library and Alliance members. You can reserve tickets by calling (707) 433-1660 or purchasing tickets on Eventbrite.

CLICK PAGE 2 TO SEE KAYE CHANDLERS VIDEO AND THE PETALUMA GAP MAP

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#Petaluma’s Tara Firma Farms Connects With The Community

Tara Firma Farms opened in 2009, with a philosophy that focused on rotational grazing, stress-free animal life, and sustainable farming practices. Six years later, the farm is still going strong and giving weekend tours to anyone who wants to see how the farm works.

Tara Firma Farm Photos-2 Resized.jpg — Photo By Ashley K. Collingwood

The tour begins at the farm’s small store, which is filled with produce from local organic farms and meat from Tara Firma, before proceeding to walk visitors across the farmland, stopping to see the baby chicks and pigs, while giving the public the opportunity to ask questions about the farm. The baby chicks and pigs are a great draw for children and the information on the tour gives both kids and adults a chance to learn about the process of food and sustainable farming. Visitors also learn that the farm has a membership program, which people can join in order to sign up for various food delivery packages all over the bay area and become more connected to the farm.

Tara Firma Farm Photos-5 Resized — Photo By Ashley K. Collingwood

After the tour Tara Firma member Jim Bloom tells me, “It’s amazing how much we’ve destroyed our food culture through over-processing and it’s horrible, so finding folks like this is amazing. The tour’s been fantastic. It’s really great property, it’s great seeing how they produce, and getting out here.”

Tara Firma Farm Photos-6 Resized — Photo By Ashley K. Collingwood

As an environmentally focused farm, Tara Firma concentrates on creating a stress-free environment for the livestock in addition to rotational grazing. Besides appealing to animal lovers, when there is no stress on animals, there is no need to use chemicals and medications on them. When talking about the farm’s open-door policy Tara explains, “We’re open seven days a week. People can come and sneak around and look in the closets and the drawers, or whatever, ‘cause we don’t use antibiotics, we don’t use any kind of sprays on the land or the animals. Probably the closest spray we have is tea tree oil and water on the baby pigs in the winter … and they love it and it smells like a spa in the pig pen.”

CLICK PAGE 2 BELOW TO SEE SHORT VIDEO ON TARA FIRMA FARMS

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“Cheese Factory” Celebrates 150 Years!

When growing up in the area, I always remembered our family visits and school field trips to the “Cheese Factory”. Taking the tour and watching the cheese making process is a lifetime and memorable experience. A great spot to ride your bike on country roads making it your half-way point-rest stop for a picnic with a glass of wine, cheese and french bread while watching the ducks swim in the pond.

This dairy started in 1865 during a time the civil war railroads were lined west to east and western immigrants started settling in Marin County to farm the rich coastal territory.

At his West Marin dairy farm just on the border of Petaluma, Jefferson Thompson built deliciously fresh cheese utilizing the dairy from his cows. Thompson could then deliver it to the dockworkers in the Bay Area by schooner. He soon gained recognition for his European style cheeses – smooth – Camembert ripened Brie and a basic treat named Petite Breakfast cheese – and launched a creamery that would ultimately be called Marin French Cheese.

CLICK PAGE 2 BELOW TO CONTINUE TO READ AND LEARN DATES OF THE “CHEESE FACTORY WEEKENDS” AND SEE VIDEOS

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Things to Do In Petaluma On New Years Eve (2014)

UPDATE 12/25/2015: Things To Do in Petaluma CA for Eve of 2016 New Years Celebration.

The Petaluma Museum hosts its sixth annual New Year’s Eve gala from 7pm to 10pm. Celebrate with a concert by violinist Yun Chu, cellist Shu Yi Pai, pianist Elizabeth Walter and Nancy Severance on viola will perform selected works of Beethoven and Dvorak. Petaluma Creamery and Russian River Vineyards’ fine wines and cheeses will be served complimentary. Guests also have the option to purchase preferred tickets with “elite beverage service.” Prices go up as the event nears. $35–$70. 20 Fourth St., Petaluma. 707.778.4398.

Get bluesy this New Year’s Eve with Tommy Castro and the Painkillers at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma ($41). This guitar-driven blues band is known for putting on a great show, and there will be a special guest performance with Keith Crossan and Nancy Wright. 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. Doors at 8pm; shows starts at 9pm. 707.765.2121.

For something different, explore the life and times of Edith Piaf in Cinnabar Theater‘s play Edith Piaf: Beneath Paris Skies. This performance recreates Piaf’s unlikely road from the brothels of Paris to stardom in the 1930s. Musical accompaniment by a five-piece band completes the experience. On New Year’s Eve only, enjoy desserts before the show, party favors and a Champagne toast at midnight. $55–$65. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.763.8920.

New Years Eve Bash~ Zodiacs New Monsoon & The Incubators -Wednesday, Dec 31st, 2014 San Francisco rock quintet New Monsoon is the collaborative vehicle for the vocal and instrumental prowess of founding members Bo Carper (acoustic guitar and banjo), Jeff Miller (electric guitar) and Phil Ferlino (keys). Now well into its second decade of national touring, the band also features the muscular rhythm section of Marshall Harrell (electric bass) and Michael Pinkham (drums). New Monsoon’s exhilarating blend of acoustic and electric instrumentation shines in an irresistible blend of sophisticated song craft, inventive musical exploration and down home rock-n-roll.

Petaluma Sons of Italy New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance 320 N. Mc Dowell Blvd, Petaluma CA 6pm-1am The Petaluma Sons of Italy are pleased to present their annual New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance held at the Lucchesi Community Center. Open to the public. No host bar begins at 6pm, Prime Rib and Tortellini Dinner begins at 7:30pm. Dancing from 9:00pm to 1:00am. Continental breakfast at midnight. No tickets will be sold at the door. Cost: $60 per person Phone: 707.588.2719

Family New Year’s Eve Dinner & Party at Fourchette, 1425 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite 100, Petaluma, CA 94954 We’ll be serving an all-inclusive: 4 course meal, Kids Meal, DJ, Dancing, New Year’s Party Favors, family games and more! Reservations are suggested… Dinner will be served from 5pm – 8pm (last seating) … dancing until 10pm! Call: 707-665-5444 for Reservations $15 for children and $40 for adults and children 4 and under are free.

Ring in the New Year with Petaluma Active 20-30 #30 at Mario & John’s! Mario & John’s Prohibition 2014 New Year’s Eve Celebration is taking place on December 31 starting at 9pm and includes a DJ & house libations. Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased at Mario & John’s. A percentage of the sales will be donated to our club’s children’s charitable fund. Come join us for a fun night!

With the official launch of the Petaluma Bounty Penny Harvest for 2015, you can help the Bounty provide healthy food for all. Buffalo Billiards is hosting a New Year’s Eve PENNY HARVEST. Harvest up all the pennies you and your friends have and bring them with you on December 31, from 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM, 246 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma.

Thousands Show Up For #Petaluma’s Lighted Boat Parade

Small Paddle Boat Glides By Lighted Boats

The Petaluma turning basin was surrounded by boat-parade fans even hours before the event started on Saturday, December 13, 2015. In anticipation of the lighted boat procession, eager children chanted “Santa, Santa…” with some awesome background music from the Kenilworth Junior High Jazz Band just outside the bustling Petaluma Taps. Yachts, sailboats, paddle boats and kayaks made their way into the turning basin a little after 6:30 PM giving a beautiful reflection off the Petaluma River.

CLICK PAGE 2 BELOW TO SEE MORE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

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VIDEO: 80-Year-Old Heroes Saves Senior Mobile Home Park From Devastating NorCal Storm

ALLOW A FEW SECONDS FOR THE VIDEO TO LOAD BELOW

Click here to see other amazing photos and video of our recent storm.

Photos & Videos of Petaluma Storm

We are aware that the flooding caused a lot of damage to homes and business and that is definitely not a positive thing. However some made the best of it. In times that things get tough, amazing people from Petaluma rise up and show their best. Like in the article VIDEO: 80-Year-Old Heroes Saves Senior Mobile Home Park From Devastating NorCal Storm. It’s also positive to see volunteers, our city workers, police and fire coming out to help. In these videos you will also see our firefighters working to help save 10 people that were stranded. It was a ‘snow day’ for our students, and some put on their rain boots and jumped in puddles. It even brought out thrill seekers and water sports enthusiast who took advantage of the raging creeks and flooded streets. Couldn’t get into Lagunitas, no problem, one young lady found her place afloat in front of Lagunitas drinking a cold one. You can see that photo in our post “Need I Say More” which was shared on Facebook over 177 times in just a few days.

It’s also positive news for Petaluma to get the much needed water after our severe drought. Petaluman’s even rose up in light of the drought by improving how to grow drought resistant produce and sustainable food as covered in our article From Marketing Executive to #Petaluma Farmer: Deborah Walton created Canvas Ranch. After recent storm we saw posts indicating that Petaluma cattle ranchers were saying they have never seen the grass grow on the hills as fast as it is. We all know the strain our local farmers/growers have been challenged with the drought. This was illustrated in the video KPIX News Video: Demand Soars for Organic Milk #Petaluma Dairies Trying to Keep Up.

I hope you enjoy the following feed of photos and videos (which you will only find on Positively Petaluma – as some of the content was sent to us by our followers and some we created and the content is so spread out you probably would not otherwise find it yourself).

We arranged these photos and videos on multiple pages so it would not take forever for you computer to load each one all on one page. SO CLICK THE PAGE NUMBERS BELOW TO SEE THE NEXT PHOTO OR VIDEO.

These Petaluma photos were taken by Associated Press Photographer Eric Risberg.

Petaluma Woman Who Had To Have Her Starbucks Despite the Heavy Rains, Assoicated Press Photo by Eric Risberg — Petaluma Woman Who Had To Have Her Starbucks Despite the Heavy Rains Associated Press Photo by Eric Risberg

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Poppy Tooker of Louisiana Eats! Interviews Petaluma’s Liam Callahan of Bellwether Farms

89.9 WWno’s (The University of New Orleans, New Orleans Public Radio which is a part of the NPR digital network) host Poppy Tooker on Louisiana Eats! interviews our very own Liam Callahan of Petaluma’s Bellwether Farms called Why I Decided To Keep The Family Business Alive.

In the article provides the following:

“Of course, family dynamics aren’t isolated to Louisiana. Liam Callahan followed in his mother’s lead to become a gourmet cheesemaker in the rolling hills of Petaluma, California and traveled as far as Italy to sharpen his skills. His family’s dairy has been providing sheep’s cheese to high-end stores and fining dining restaurants for roughly two decades, including the all-local, all-seasonal restaurant of Chez Panisse. Their head chef Cal Peternell has brought his family through the restaurant so often, it’s hard for him to distinguish between his domestic and professional families”

Poppy did a fantastic job of this interview and I learned a lot about how Bellwether Farms makes their world-class cheeses. (This is an audio only. For the full interview you can click on the article link above)

Here is another nice short video we found that was done about three years ago by David Carstens

KSRO Interview Hayley Yount-Severe Top 3 Things To Do In Wine County Are In #Petaluma

Hayley Yount-Severe associate publisher of 101 Things to Do in Wine Country was a guest on KSRO Radio. They condensed the 101 things to do in the wine county down to the three best. Two of the three that she recommends are in Petaluma. In this interview she mentions the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade (which is this evening) and the other is our City of Lights Driving Tour. She says that Petaluma does parades right!

Need I Say More?

Also check out VIDEO: 80-Year-Old Heroes Saves Senior Mobile Home Park From Devastating NorCal Storm and Photos & Videos of Petaluma Storm.