Holiday treats for connoisseurs of pinot noir, art

Heads up, pinot noir lovers: Roessler Cellars (380 First St. West, Sonoma) is holding a holiday open house for the next two weekends.

The winery focuses on single-vineyard pinot noirs and will be offering several from the 2006 vintage for tasting, along with some library wines. A tasting fee of $10 will be applied to any purchases.

The sweet little tasting room will be dressed up for the holidays and there will be both a fire and yummy soup to warm up visitors. Tastings take place this Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 13-14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where shopping's a treat: Opportunities for holiday shopping in homespun environments continue to grow this year.

The Plaza Arts Center (130 Plaza St.) in Healdsburg continues its annual arts and craft fair through the end of the year. You'll find garden ornaments, glass and metal art, ceramics, collage, wood art, jewelry, wearable art and more, from 18 resident artists.

Plaza Arts Center, a nonprofit gallery, offers classes for adults and children and has a grants program that supports art and music programs in schools. It is open daily, except on Christmas, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It is impossible not to smile when you drive or walk along Florence Avenue in Sebastopol. Patrick Amiot's sculptures make the street a parade in reverse, as his exuberant constructions stand stationary, and an endless parade of delighted viewers passes by.

The third annual Holiday on Florence, a seasonal craft sale, takes place this weekend and next, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Six artists are featured each weekend at the weaving studio of Abby Bard (343 Florence Ave.), which sits amid the greatest concentration of Amiot's sculptures.

This weekend includes pottery, weaving, painting, collage, jewelry and herbal concoctions, along with Guatemalan textiles. Shoppers are invited to enjoy nibbles from a colorful buffet. Next weekend features more pottery, weaving, painting, collage and jewelry, along with hand blown glass and a new line of herbal skin care products.

On Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., six artists are gathering at 1201 Ferguson Road in Sebastopol to offer their creations in a homey environment.

This sale features jewelry, pretty serving platters and other ceramics, handmade soaps, premium chocolates, birdhouses, homemade chutneys, sauces and jams, fused glass, watercolors and gorgeous leaves made of concrete. Participating artists include Lorry Cabot, Amy Contardi, Diane Luiz, Arthur Robinson, Toni Wilson and Susan Ratcliffe-Wilson.

Finally -- for this week that is, there is more coming next week -- the recent warehouse sale hosted by Lori O'Neil Designs Jackets and Accessories and Grapevine Trading Co. Gourmet Foods was so successful that they are repeating the event this Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You'll find specialty foods, hand-dipped candles and more at wholesale and below prices.

The sale takes place at 58 Maxwell Court in Santa Rosa.

Special events at Cyrus: Next Tuesday, Cyrus Restaurant hosts a special evening with Bob Cabral of Williams Selyem Winery. A six-course menu with wines paired with each course includes a crispy poussin with poached egg and wild mushroom ragout served with Williams Selyem 2003 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir, a rare selection that helps explain the $285 per person price tag.

Two more winemaker dinners are scheduled, with Vanessa Wong of Peay Vineyards on Jan. 21 and Luc Morlet of Peter Michael Winery on Feb. 23. Menus and prices have not yet been completed.

Coming up Dec. 15 is a truffle extravaganza. Chef Douglas Keanne's menu includes black truffle foie gras terrine with crispy duck rillettes, pumpkin tagliarini with poached egg and white truffles, seared scallops with cauliflower cream and white truffle tempura and black truffle lamb roulade with potato gratin and sauce Perigord. And what, you wonder, is dessert? The theme continues with white truffle ice cream, white truffle and roasted hazelnut macaroon and dark chocolate and fennel mousse. Price: $280 per person.

We can't mention events like these without acknowledging the lean economic times we are all experiencing. But if you are looking for a way to celebrate a very special event or accomplishment, you won't find a better restaurant experience anywhere in California. What many people don't understand is that a dinner at Cyrus is also more fun than you might imagine. Cyrus has none of the stuffiness of many very high-end restaurants and there is a lighthearted whimsical quality that will have you giggling with delight.

Reservations are available only by calling Cyrus directly at 433-3311.

More support for food banks: For the month of December, Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery (10300 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg) is supporting the Redwood Empire Food Bank with complimentary wine tasting for visitors who donate nonperishable food at the winery. Suggested donations include canned tuna, chicken and shrimp, canned beans, canned tomatoes, peanut butter, raisins, whole grain crackers and cash, which is used to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables. The food drive runs through December.

Holiday culinary tour: If you're looking for a special outing this month, Chalk Hill's executive chef, Didier Ageorges, is hosting holiday culinary tours on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 29. The tours begin at 2:30 and conclude around 5 p.m. The cost is $75. For reservations, call 657-4837 or e-mail concierge@chalkhill.com.

Zen Fest: The fifth annual Zen Fest takes place this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Masonic Hall (373 N. Main St.) in Sebastopol.

Several aspects of the popular festival and crafts fair will be expanded this year, with more choices in Buddha's Kitchen, where a delicious $7 lunch is served.

There will be three selections: Oden, a traditional vegetable stew with yam noodles, hard-boiled eggs, tofu and fish balls; gomoku, which is sushi rice, vegetables, sliced omelet, nori, ginger and vinegar; and saifunmen, stir-fried vegetables with bean thread noodles. All come with miso soup and cucumber salad.

Buddha's Pantry will offer a wider selection of the Stone Creek Zen Center's delicious jams and preserves, along with shortbread and Japanese condiments. (Don't miss the yummy Meyer lemon marmalade.)

As always, there will be a large selection of quality crafts and meditation and altar supplies, many handmade. Buddha's Attic offers used books, records and other secondhand treasures. All proceeds benefit the center. Admission is free and the festival is appropriate for the entire family.

Michele Anna Jordan can be contacted via e-mail at michele@micheleannajordan.com.