Stop and nosh at studio open house
Published: Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 11:09 p.m.
Holiday Open House in Cloverdale: Architectural Ceramic Design (586 School St., Cloverdale) is opening its studio to visitors through Dec. 23. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shoppers at the studio will be given a 10 percent discount and there's always nibbles and apple cider, too.
We've written about these handcrafted ceramics before. The bowls that are scored on the bottom are wonderful for grating garlic and ginger; you can then simply add other ingredients and don't lose any of the garlic or ginger juices.
A new item, a small, deep, heart-shaped bowl, makes a wonderful hostess gift or holiday present. We were given one and now use it as a water dish for our kitties and our little dachshund, which means it is always in view, rather than in a cupboard.
If you want to look before you shop, visit architecturalceramicdesign.com. You may also purchase online, though it is not nearly as much fun as in person.
These ceramics will also be available at the Windsor farmers market through Dec. 19.
Dine Around Healdsburg: Healdsburg's strolling dinner gets under way when 16 restaurants join together in a four-course progressive dinner taking place Wednesday and Thursday and the following Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 15 and 16.
Here's how it works: Get a brochure at healdsburg.com, select which restaurants you'd like to visit and then sign up for the date, start time and restaurants you prefer. Return the form, along with your payment, by mail or fax.
Highlights of the offerings include a specialty cocktail at Cyrus, merguez sausage with harissa at Spoonbar, fillet of local sole with hazelnut butter and sage at Barndiva and six winter desserts at Dry Creek Kitchen.
Cost is $85 per person, which includes tax and gratuity but not wines, which will be available for purchase at each participating restaurant. A portion of the proceeds benefit Healdsburg Shared Ministries Food Pantry.
One of the things we like best about this event is that you can walk to all participating destinations. Several local inns and hotels are offering special overnight packages for participants.
Because the restaurants can accommodate only a limited number of guests, sign up early to get your first choices.
For information by phone, call 479-7488.
Windsor Farmers Market Extended: The Windsor farmers market, which takes place on the Town Green from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, will remain open through Dec. 19 this year instead of closing the Sunday before Thanksgiving, as in years past.
This means three Sundays remain, great for everyone who lives in or near Windsor. The best farmers market is almost always the one closest to home.
The Windsor market is open rain or shine.
Lagunitas Brewing Co. Dinner at Hopmonk: Ron Lindenbush of the beloved Lagunitas Brewing Co. is the special guest at a Brewer's Dinner this Sunday at Hopmonk Tavern (230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol). Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Bring an unwrapped new toy for Toys For Tots and you'll receive a Lagunitas logo glass as a thank-you.
The evening's menu features a welcoming pint of IPA, followed by an appetizer of Fusion 4 with a roasted turkey wing and savory corn pudding. Next comes Pils, paired with an almond, spinach and strawberry salad. Imperial stout accompanies pork belly braised in stout and served with seared sea scallops and sweet potato risotto. For desserts, a selection of sweets will be joined by three vintages of Brown Shugga.
The Horse You Rode In On, an alternative rock band from New York, provides music for the evening, and Mario Rubio of Brewed for Thought is the special guest speaker.
The dinner, including beverages, is $60 per person and reservations are required. To reserve a seat, call 829-7300.
Winter CSA Season: Canvas Ranch (755 Tomales Rd., Petaluma) launches its Winter CSA on Tuesday and there's room for new subscribers.
The farm currently delivers to drop-off locations in Mill Valley, Corte Madera, San Rafael, Fairfax, Novato, Petaluma, Two Rock/Tomales and Santa Rosa.
The winter season consists of six deliveries, made every other week, featuring lettuce, radishes, spinach, kale, chard, cabbage, stir-fry greens, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, winter squash, arugula, bok choy, scallions, turnips, beets, potatoes and carrots. Deliveries do not include all these vegetable each week; instead, there is a selection from this list. In addition, you can request such add-ons as eggs, organic bread, organic butter and local cheeses.
The basic price for the winter season is $160, plus charges for any add-ons you request.
To sign up, visit canvasranch.com. For information by phone, call 766-7171.
African International Music Festival: If you need to warm up this weekend, there's a great opportunity Sunday, when the Sebastopol Veteran's Memorial Hall (282 High St.) hosts a multicultural family music festival from 4 to 9:30 p.m.
In addition to nonstop performances by too many musicians and dancers to name here, there will be delicious ethnic foods, beer and wine available for purchase. There will also be a raffle, a silent auction and a holiday gift and craft bazaar.
It's all for a great cause, too. Proceeds will benefit 10 nonprofit organizations, some local, some international.
Admission is just $15 for adults; children 12 and under are free. Advance tickets are available at People's Music in downtown Sebastopol.
Cooking classes at Sebastopol's Viva: Chef Andrea Sposini is visiting from Perugia, and while he is here, he'll offer classes at Viva Italian Food, Wine and Culture center (7160 Keating Ave., Sebastopol). One class was offered Thursday, with another today; if you are reading this early, there may still be time to join in. The class, “Pranzo Veloce: A Quick Italian Lunch,” takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a meal following from 1 to 2 p.m.
On Saturday, it's a gnocchi party, with instruction from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a meal following.
These classes are $45 each, which includes the meal.
To register, call Heather Cruciano, program coordinator, at 824-9913.
Holiday Crafts Fair at Point Reyes Station: The 40th annual Dance Palace Holiday Crafts Fair kicks off from 3-9 p.m today. The fair continues Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tonight, downtown merchants stay open until 7:30 p.m. and Santa will make his appearance soon thereafter. The town will be lit up with beautiful luminarios.
Indian Peach Food Co. will offer fresh soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts.
This fair features several dozen craftspeople from throughout the Bay Area offering everything from jewelry, Christmas ornaments and pottery to clothing, toys, weaving and more. This year there are 15 new vendors, with abalone art, vegan furs, fused glass and monotype prints. There will be bowls and boxes from Knowles Bowls, organic condiments from the Wild Pear Company, organic skincare products from Moonflower Bodycare and much more, including a company called Two Old Bats Making Hats, which has to be one of the best names we've heard in a long time.
The Dance Palace is located at 503 B St., Point Reyes Station.
Mushroom Lovers, This is For You: This weekend, the Mycological Society of San Francisco and the Lawrence Hall of Science are hosting the 41st annual Fungus Fair.
The fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Activities include hands-on arts and crafts, including making models of mushrooms, ink prints, collages and more; cooking demonstrations; lectures; slide shows; dyeing demonstrations and exhibits on ecology, toxicology, cultivation and identification. You can even bring your own mushrooms and have them identified by experts.
Cookbooks, t-shirts, cultivation kits and prepared foods will be available for purchase.
Admission to the Lawrence Hall of Science is $12 for adults; $9 for students aged 7 to 18, seniors 62 and older and the disabled; and $6 for kids aged 3 to 6; children under 3 are admitted free. Fungus Fair activities are included in the price of admission.
The Lawrence Hall of Science is located at 1 Centennial Dr., Berkeley.
Michele Anna Jordan hosts “Mouthful” each Sunday at 7 p.m. on KRCB 90.9 & 91.1 FM. e-mail her at michele@micheleannajordan.com.
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