by SBK | July 8, 2010
 Last week, the folks at Medlock Ames invited our Hotel staff to dinner at their new Alexander Valley tasting room (and bar). And by dinner, we mean mouthwatering wood-fired pizzas from their funky mobile oven. General manager Kenneth Rochford served up endless array of seasonal pizzas, while winemaker Ames Morrison filled our glasses with his extraordinary organic wines.
For those of you who have not yet been… we strongly recommend that you check it out. Like, now. And a new post on the h2blog explains why. But what that post doesn’t reveal is when to check it out. (That’s a little secret for you guys.)
Go on weekends, between 1-3pm. (Fri-Sun). That’s when the wood oven is fired up and roaring in the garden for your benefit. Better yet, go on Saturdays at 1pm. That’s when Ames is manning the oven, serving up seasonal pizzas paired with his selected flight of wines. Think “Cab Vertical” or “Chard Vertical.” And he’ll be there to discuss the wines, pairings, his sustainable approach to food and wine, and whatever else it is that you’d like to talk to him about.
Seating is limited and guests should reserve in advance. The cost is $30.00 per person.
**To schedule an appointment, call our concierge, or contact the Medlock Ames team at 707.431.8845. Or e-mail them at tastingroom@medlockames.com.
by SBK | July 3, 2010
Several weeks back, in a post titled SF Chronicle is Hot for Healdsburg, we learned that our little town was making quite a splash outside of our little town. Namely, in the Bay Area media. Well, we’re (more than) happy to report that news has spread to our Southern half of the state as well. And this weekend’s LA Times Travel section is all about Healdsburg.
There’s the story about how the food revolution has transformed Healdsburg from a sleepy Sonoma County village to a food-and-wine haven. These days, writes Janis Cooke Newman, Healdsburg is “where the Slow Food Movement meets the Wine Spectator, and the only downside is that there aren’t enough meals in a weekend to try everything.” Though she admits, it’s not for lack of trying. Lucky for us, she’s rather smitten with Dry Creek Kitchen. In her great roundup of the some of the best places to eat, she writes:
“The actual definition of heaven just might be spending a warm Sonoma afternoon or evening on the arbor-shaded patio of the Dry Creek Kitchen, where you nibble on the house-made charcuterie (with three kinds of mustard) or the salmon carpaccio decorated with tiny edible flowers. If that’s not enough to propel you into paradise, you’ll find 650 local wines on Dry Creek’s wine list. As with Barndiva, the focus here is on local ingredients. On Saturdays, you’re likely to spot chef Dustin Valette at the Healdsburg Farmers Market, planning that night’s menu, but at DCK, those local ingredients receive a dose of sophistication. Think American Kobe flat-iron steak served with a sunchoke mousseline.”
And in another feature about Healdsburg’s “green fever,” writer Bonnie Wach kicks off the story with a rather humorous anecdote about her Beyond Organics biodynamic treatment at our Spa.
“I’m lying naked facedown on a table while a masseuse anoints my feet with a balm of freshly crushed organic Meyer lemon, sage and olive oil. Part of me finds the sensation ‘rejuvenating’ and ‘invigorating,’ as the spa description promised. The other part is fighting the urge to roll over and give myself a good licking. It’s a good thing I didn’t go for the body wrap of local organic honey and Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc.”
She continues, “Welcome to Healdsburg, once an agricultural backwater known as the buckle on the Prune Belt but now the fashionable heart of tree-hugging Sonoma wine country, where the gospel of green (the Earth-friendly and the Abe Lincoln variety) is preached everywhere.”
That’s funny stuff.
In addition to the great coverage on The Spa, the story goes on to spotlight our new sister spot, h2hotel, and the seasonal food and drink menu at Spoonbar. Among other green things in town. (More on this article is forthcoming on the h2blog).
Read it for yourself. And then do the right thing. Book your trip to Healdsburg before toooo many folks find out about it.
by SBK | June 26, 2010
 New Work by Russian Artist Natasha Landau For those of you who haven’t been to our Hotel’s “Carriage House,” this is a pretty good week to stop by, as legendary designer Myra Hoefer presents the paintings of Natasha Landau. The Russian artist emigrated to the U.S. in 1979 and has been living and working in Healdsburg since 2004. And like all great painters, she has an evocative aesthetic that’s all her own. The opening reception for the show titled, “Separations,” is in on Thursday, July 1st (4-7pm), with Chateau Felice generously donating wine for the event. And if you can’t make that, stop by our breezy event space the over the next couple days to see what you missed. The Carriage House will be open on Friday and Saturday (12-5pm). Come and see if something from this talented artist strikes your fancy.
*A portion of proceeds from sales will benefit the Healdsburg Animal Shelter.
by SBK | June 17, 2010
For those of you lucky enough to be in town the past couple weeks, this year’s Jazz Fest was another sparkling success. This little hamlet that we call Healdsburg was center stage for some of the biggest stars in jazz. Our “Jazz and Wine Dinner” at DCK even made some sort of gossip section of the Chronicle. Though not because of the young local prodigy playing guitar (Kai Devitt-Lee), but because of a famous actor/writer who was dining with us. This past weekend, “Festival Jazz in the Lobby” returned to our fireside lounge. Friday night, the packed lobby buzzed with the intoxicating grooves of the Lorca Hart Trio w/ Craig Handy. And the following evening, the Craig Handy Quartet drew an equally enthusiastic crowd. And the energy picked up even more when he was joined by his “Special Guests.” Who were these special guests, you ask? Only Ravi Coltrane and Jason Moran. Yup. They sat in with tenor saxophonist for a truly unforgettable performance.
If you feel like you missed out on those must see events, don’t you worry! This year’s Jazz Festival might be over, but our “Jazz in the Lobby” series happens every weekend, all year long. In fact, tomorrow night (6/18), we welcome Dick Conte and Steve Webber on the piano and acoustic bass. And on Saturday (6/19), the Ken Cook Trio will be in the house with Jason Carr and Neils Myrner. The following Friday (6/25), look out for Susan Sutton and Bill Fouty on the piano and acoustic bass. And on Saturday (6/26), we welcome the Chuck Metcalf Trio with David Udolf and Alan U’ren. Lots of great music to come. And this is to say nothing of July… or August… or, you get the picture.
Jazz in the Lobby: Every Friday and Saturday (7:30pm-11pm)
by SBK | June 15, 2010
One of the best things about summers in Healdsburg is the “Tuesdays in the Plaza” music series. It’s kind of like a big town picnic with fantastic live music. All kinds of music, actually. From Latin to Jazz to Big Band, Jam Band, Rynthm & Blues and everything in between. Well, maybe not everything. (Sorry Britney). Tonight, catch Eilen Jewell on her national tour (6-8pm). She was recently heralded in the Boston Phoenix as the Best National Singer/Songwriter, and is a rising star in the floksy, bluesy, rootsy world. Next week, the music series welcomes a funky, latin, jazzy jam band that is sure to get your feet moving – Vinyl.
The Plaza is just steps from the Hotel, and to make things so easy you feel like a local, we’re offering a Tuesdays in the Plaza Special Package. Here’s the scoop. You get…
- A night in a deluxe king or double queen guest room
- A special picnic kit including chairs, blanket, a chilled bottle of wine, and a selection of local cheeses.
- A gourmet harvest breakfast and valet parking.
All for just $325. You can’t beat that with a stick. So live it up like a local. And call to make your reservation. (Tuesday nights only, now thru August 31).
by SBK | June 9, 2010
Can you taste the difference between a Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley and say, neighboring Russian River Valley? Or Alexander Valley, for that matter? If not, no worries. While some folks are perfectly happy believing a Zin is a Zin is a Zin, others come to Healdsburg in hot pursuit of a deeper understanding of the grape’s complexities. And for these people, we’re excited to offer a new wine series at our Dry Creek Kitchen that’s at once fun and educational. It’s the…
Sonoma County Wine Pioneers Series.
Here’s the scoop: each segment in the Series consists of an interactive seminar and wine tasting with legendary Sonoma County winemakers – as well as up and coming stars. Held monthly (thru November), these Saturday afternoon seminars are designed to be approachable and unpretentious to the novice wine lover, but also engaging to the connoisseur. We kick things off this weekend, June 12th, with “3 Valleys of Zinfandel,” a celebration of Northern California’s flagship grape. And to help answer the question at the top of this post, we’ve invited Shelly Fehlman of A. Rafanelli, Eric Sussman of Radio Coteau, and Joe Healy of Bella Vineyards. These savvy wine pros will illuminate the subtle nuances between Zinfandels from Sonoma’s signature appellations, and they’ll be happy to answer any of your questions. The key is in creating a fun, interactive environment for all.
The seminar is followed by a deluxe tasting of delicious Zinfandels, plus a 3-course prix fixe dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen. Seminar wines may also be purchased at retail price and enjoyed at dinner with no additional corkage fee. Here’s a complete list of upcoming seminars. (Next up… “Sonoma County Sparklers.”)
Cost: $65 per person (not including tax and gratuity)
Seating is limited to ensure an intimate experience, so call now to make YOUR reservation: 707.431.0330.
by SBK | May 27, 2010
When you think of Healdsburg, a few words surely bubble straight to the surface. In fact, bubbles might just be one of them. Wine and fine dining, of course, being the more obvious ones. Jazz, however, has quickly inserted itself into the conversation. Thanks, in part, to the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, our town has become a cultural hotspot for the influential American art form. Now in its 12th year, the annual music fest once again draws some of the biggest and brightest stars in jazz. Think bassist Charlie Haden, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, pianist Geri Allen, tenor saxophonist Craig Handy, and of course, the ever-enchanting Esperanza Spalding. So successful has this local event been that David Rubien of the S.F. Chronicle claims that it’s “probably the best small jazz festival in the country, if not the world.”
We tend to agree.
And we’re excited to participate yet again. This year, the Hotel Healdsburg will be hosting three must-see events.
On Monday, June 7th, come to the Dry Creek Kitchen for our “Jazz and Wine Dinner” with the Kai Devitt-Lee Trio. Even though he’s only 16, guitarist Kai Devitt-Lee is already a local fixture who has soaked up experience sitting in with various groups around town. With his fleet fingers and mature approach to improvising, the Healdsburg native is at the start of a promising career. This year he was chosen out of the entire state to be the guitarist with the Californian 2010 All State Honors High School Jazz Band. Don’t miss Kai in his Festival debut. No cover, but reservations are highly recommended. (7-10pm, 707 431-0330)
And the following weekend, don’t miss “Festival Jazz in the Lobby.” All year long on weekend nights we host jazz in duo or trio combinations — sometimes larger — for relaxed yet intriguing musical evenings in our Hotel Lobby. But during the Festival, these “Jazz in the Lobby” nights are all the more special. On Friday, June 11th (9-12pm), enjoy your favorite cocktail or glass of wine while the Lorca Hart Trio w/ Craig Handy fills our fireside lounge with their all-star sounds. Lorca Hart is a brilliant drummer who has worked with some of Southern California’s finest musicians. And on Saturday, June 12th (9-12pm), we’re thrilled to welcome Craig Handy Quartet with Special Guests. As anyone who has ever heard Craig Handy perform knows, the tenor sax player is a wonder to behold. And since it’s not uncommon for some of the other Festival superstars to drop by to play informal sets with the scheduled band, we’re rather curious as to who his “special guests” will be. Stop by to find out for yourself.
Oh, and in case you missed it, here’s a recent story in the Press Democrat about the local jazz scene, and our weekly “Jazz in the Lobby.”
And be sure to check out the Healdsburg Jazz Festival website for complete info about the events and lineups.
We’ll see you here!
by SBK | May 25, 2010
 The word is out.
Healdsburg was all over the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle, featured in a new monthly pullout of the “Food & Wine” section. Splashed over eight pages, the message of each story was pretty clear… our “bucolic little town” has blossomed into THE premier Wine Country destination.
In a piece about the abundance of fine dining in town, famed food critic, Michael Bauer, writes, “the watershed to me was in 2001 when New York powerhouse chef Charlie Palmer opened the upscale Dry Creek Kitchen in sleepy Healdsburg.” He later praises DCK’s 600-plus wine list that includes “more Pinot Noir than you’ll find anywhere else,” and says there’s “something indulgent about eating intricately prepared cuisine alfresco, overlooking the street.” Bauer also spotlights some of the other incredible restaurants in town – like Barndiva, Scopa and Cyrus.
Other pieces highlighted the best tasting rooms, or places to grab breakfast or lunch on the go. Chronicle wine editor Jon Bonne’ filed a feature about all the great things our friends at Quivira are doing. Not only has Quivira pushed the envelope with their progressive approach to grape growing, but they produce incredible, biodynamically farmed fruits and vegetables, olive oils and honey, some of which you’ll find in our unique DCK dishes (and infused in the products used in our Beyond Organics Spa Treatments).
We also love the story Bonne’ wrote about Healdsburg’s laid back vibe. He writes that our town “hits that sweet spot that Wine Country always strives for: a slice of the old-time California countryside, with all the amenities to make a visit as posh as you like. And you’ll find it’s a very welcoming place.” Sure, our town has changed a lot in recent years with the addition of new hotels, restaurants, tasting rooms and boutiques. And yes, in the blink of an eye, “it has acquired all the trappings of a wine haven, with luxe hotels, four-star dining and coffee to make a San Franciscan green with envy.” But what’s really important is that somehow, this town “manages to be the same old Healdsburg.”
And that’s why we love it here so much. Clearly we’re not the only ones.
Visit us soon and see what the editors at the SF Chronicle already know.
by SBK | May 13, 2010
 As you may recall, last month I reviewed the Beyond Organics Meyer Lemon Sage Massage for this blog. In the post I admitted that while I may not be a wellness expert, I’d experienced enough massages to know this one was something special. Well, the only reason I have experienced enough massages (as if there were such a thing as enough massages), is because my mother is, what some might call, a spaddict. And whenever I’m with her, she’ll take me along.
Mom belongs to two day spas in New Jersey and plans her vacations around spa reviews. And like most discerning spa goers, she is quite particular about her treatments. This is to say that when she ventures outside the comfort zone of her regular therapists, to new spas, she oftentimes encounters a problem. The masseuse talked too much. The pressure wasn’t right. The oil left her feeling greasy. The hot stones weren’t hot enough. Whatever the case, my mother knows the difference between a great massage and a mediocre one. And she’s never shy about her feelings. So when she flew out to Healdsburg this week to help me and my fiancee plan our wedding, I was curious what she’d think about The Spa.
Yesterday, I found out.
Mom called after her custom 100-minute Combination Massage (Swedish, hot stones, reflexology). “Scott!” she exclaimed, pausing for effect. “I’m telling you – and you know how picky I am about these things – that this was BY FAR, the best massage of my life.” The time flew by so fast, in fact, that when it ended, my mother was certain her therapist must have mistakenly thought it was only a 50-minute treatment. Until Mom looked at the clock and realized that 100 minutes had lapsed. “I couldn’t believe it.”
The Spa’s Ruth Novell-Dixon was so good, in fact, that when Mom returns for our wedding in September, she has no plans of telling her friends about her new favorite masseuse. “I’ll book my friends treatments with some of the other therapists, but you better believe I’m keeping Ruth all to myself.”
To feel what all the fuss is about, book your treatment today. 707.433.4747.
by SBK | May 6, 2010
 Penny Michel's Ceramics As if you needed another reason to venture to our neck of the vines, a new season of The Healdsburg Artwalk opens this Friday May 7th (5-8pm). Held on the First Friday of every month (May-Dec), the Artwalk promises wine, food, music, and of course… art. From traditional to contemporary, there’s something for everyone. Breeze into any of the thirteen participating fine art galleries in and around our intimate downtown plaza, and see why Healdsburg has become the cultural arts destination in Northern California. And for those of you who don’t mind standing slack-jawed before incredible sculptures, be sure to stop by the Hammerfriar Gallery (5-9pm) for an Artwalk Party celebrating renowned ceramicist and sculptor, Penny Michel.
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