October/November 2018 87
Frenchie Sonoma
Foodies will unite at Frenchie Sonoma, a posh
picnic and provisions store that opened this
summer. Frenchie Sonoma sells gourmet foods
locally sourced as well as general-store items
that are hand-selected. Also for sale are freshly
made salads and sandwiches available for lunch
or dinner. Frenchie Sonoma, 521 Broadway, Sonoma,
707/343-7559, frenchiesonoma.com.
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Art has a way of filling up those empty crevices
in one’s soul. A strong thumbs up goes to
SVMA’s current outdoor art installation in the
Sonoma Plaza by California women sculptors.
Also on display are works by contemporary
California and international artists.
The 8,000-square-foot museum features a
retail store plus a 2,500-volume library with
books on art, architecture and design. This
hidden treasure is a must-see when you go
downtown. Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, 551
Broadway, Sonoma, 707/949-7862, svma.org.
Jack London State Historic Park
This beloved park is the resting place for revered
author Jack London and his wife Charmian.
The renovated park museum, House of
Happy Walls, is scheduled to open in fall, so
check with the park for details. It contains all
of London’s significant memorabilia. Revamped
with an $800,000 endowment, the house features
more interactive exhibits and an updated
look at the literary works, life and times of the
great adventurer from the 1900s.
The park features a handful of docent-led
hikes, yoga classes under the redwoods, and
nearly 30 miles of trails. Jack London State
Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen
Ellen, 707/938-5216, jacklondonpark.com.
Sonoma Valley Bike Tours
Rent a bicycle or book a bike-led tour, and
pedal through the valley for a half-day or fullday
excursion. Rental bike services include
advice and maps on where to ride. The half-day
tours cover two wine-tasting stops (fees not
included). Riders go over flat, paved roads for
about 12–14 miles. Other guided rides include
a vineyard cycling trip. Sonoma Valley Bike
Tours, 1254 Broadway, Sonoma, 707/251-
8687, sonomavalleybiketours.com.
NAPA VALLEY
Bouchaine Vineyards
Sign up for a brand-new Bouchaine adventure,
and meet a true-blue falconer on the Falconry
Vineyard Tour, where you learn about winery
ecology practices. Falcons and owls will fly from
guest to guest during a walk through the Napa
vineyard that overlooks the San Francisco Bay.
Oh, yes, the ever-inventive winery is also offering
selected stargazing and wine-tasting nights.
Bouchaine Vineyards, 1075 Buchli Station
Road, Napa, 707/252-9065, bouchaine.com.
CIA (Culinary Institute of America)
at Copia
The Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum premieres
a personal collection of 4,000 cooking
implements from the vaults of Chuck Williams,
the Williams-Sonoma retail pioneer. On the
newish side are two eateries: the CIA Copia
Food Hall with fancy food carts for pizzas and
dim sum, and Contimo Provisions for salads
and clever sandwiches. The yum: the cookies
with chocolate, cut oats and hand-milled wheat
flour are too-too addictive. CIA at Copia, 500
First St., Napa, 707/967-2500, ciaatcopia.com.
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
Smoke compromised the outdoor art pieces,
but did not destroy them. The good news is
that di Rosa received an emergency grant to
upgrade the facilities. Precious works preciously
layered in ash are ready for display. For the
first time visitors can drop in with no appointments,
making di Rosa more accessible than
ever. di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art,
5200 Sonoma Highway, Napa, 707/226-5991,
dirosaart.org.
Napa and Calistoga shopping
First Street Napa is a 325,000-square-foot,
mixed-use development spanning three blocks.
When complete, 45 merchants and eateries
will permeate the spaces. A few of the newest
tenants include: Tommy Bahama, Lush bath
products, Napastäk cooking gear and Kalifornia
Jean Bar. First Street Napa, 707/257-6800,
firststreetnapa.com.
Over in Calistoga, shoppers can plunk down
their dollars at the new Sofie Contemporary
Arts (sophiegallery.com), for California works.
Not far is Monastery Books & Gifts (holyas
sumptionmonastery.com) for food items and
trinkets. The new Mad Mod Shop (madmod
shop.com) offers vintage-inspired women’s
clothing.
Napa Valley Balloons
The devastating fires last year did hamper
business when tourists avoided the area, but
as soon as the skies were clear, Napa Valley
Balloons, the North Bay’s oldest balloon
company, was flying high again. It’s up, up, up
and away where you get a bird’s-eye view of
vineyard plots and sections of land returning
to life, post-fire. Over the years the company
has flown celebs including Chelsea Clinton.
A 60-minute flight bundles in pre-flight coffee
and pastries and a post-flight breakfast at
Domaine Chandon Winery. A private flight for
two, plus a pilot, includes all of the above and
photos. You can also book a combination ballooning
and bike tour. Napa Valley Balloons,
4086 Byway East, Napa, 800/253-2224,
NapaValleyBalloons.com.
JACK
LONDON
STATE
HISTORIC
PARK
FRENCHIE
SONOMA
MAD MOD
SHOP
