Saturday, March 27, 2010

Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival Coming Up!


There's a lot of buzz about about this year's Fisherman's Festival! This annual community fundraising extravaganza will be held April 17 & 18 10am-5pm at Westside Park in Bodega Bay. Everyone's talking about it, I think it's going to be huge this year. Tons of local residents and businesses are either volunteering or donating something, or both, it's amazing. They have a website and a Facebook page with more than 1,000 friends. Here's some of their promotional copy:

The Bodega Bay community will celebrate its 37th annual Fisherman’s Festival packed with music, food, and entertainment. A favorite attraction is the wine tasting booth, featuring more than 25 Sonoma County wines. Food booths have something for every pallet from lamb or oyster barbeque to local fish and chips, to vegi burders, salads, and sandwiches.

Live music and entertainers perform on the band stage all day Saturday and Sunday. Artisans and vendors from all over California and beyond offer a wide selection of arts and crafts.

The festival has its origin as a celebration of the start of the Salmon fishing season and the annual Blessing of the Fleet. Saturday will feature a golf tournament at Bodega Harbour (707-875-3538) and at the Festival site itself a wooden boat challenge where participating teams build a vessel and then compete in a boat race.

Sunday morning will feature the blessing of the fishing fleet, when decorated boats parade out of the harbor to receive a blessing from local clergy. A flower wreath is cast upon the waters honoring the fishermen lost at sea. The festival is a great venue for kids, with a play area for face painting, spin paintings, games, free kit lessons, pony rides and llamas (and guest pets) on parade. There will be a drawing for raffle prizes from local merchants.

The Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival is a nonprofit organization run by local community volunteers under the leadership of chair Ginny Bassi. All proceeds of the festival benefit local service and volunteer organizations.


Our family went to the Fisherman's Festival for the first time last year and LOVED it! We posted a write-up and photos here.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Bodega Bay Community Benefit for Grandmother Raising Quadruplets


This Saturday night we're going to a wonderful community event here in Bodega Bay. You may have read about Marilyn Collins, a grandmother who is singlehandedly raising eight-year-old quadruplets since the passing of her daughter last October. After the Press Democrat wrote a feature article in January, A Grandmother’s Life Alters Course, a number of locals came forward and planned a fund-raising dinner to help out.

Saturday, March 20, 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Bodega Bay Grange Hall, $10 ($5 for kids under 12) will get you live music, a dinner of clam chowder or pozole stew (spicy Mexican dish) with all the trimmings, and my personal favorite, a silent auction!

According to Deanna Osborne, one of the organizers, the outpouring of community support has been amazing. The event is being sponsored by the Bodega Bay Grange and Rotary Club of Marin Sunrise, and local businesses and residents have donated dozens of generous prizes for the Silent Auction.

Just look at these items, and this is only a partial list to whet your appetite. I can't wait until they open the bidding!

• One Week Timeshare in Las Vegas (Yes!)
• 4 Giants tickets
• Private VIP wine tasting and garden tour plus a magnum of 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (I want this!)
• 2 nights stay at Bodega Coast Inn
• 2 nights stay at Bodega Harbor Inn (my parents stayed here and loved it)
• Stay at vacation rental house, "Bella Casa" (we've stayed there, it's right across from Portuguese Beach!)
• Sonoma Coast Villa & Spa, 1 night stay plus 1/2 hour horseback riding
• Two nights at North Cliff Hotel in Fort Bragg
• 2 rounds of 18-holes of golf from The Links at Bodega Harbour
• Kayak rentals from Bodega Bay Kayak
• Dinner at Terrapin Creek Restaurant plus a bottle of wine (I want this too)
• Lunch from The Dog House (yippee, my daughter will be bidding on this one!)
• Two pizzas from Diekman's Bay Store (best pizza in town, get the garlic sauce)
• Dinner from Dinucci's Restaurant
• Lunch from Island Deli
• Meal at Lucas Wharf Restaurant
• Whale watching from Bodega Sports Fishing Center
• Crab Trip For Two from Fish on Bait and Tackle
• Trip for Two on Miss Anita Fishing Charters (fishing, whale watching, bird watching, eco-tour, or harbor cruise)
• Books from Copperfields Bookstore in Sebastopol
• A series of 3 1-hr massages from Yoga Bodega Studio
• Gift bags from Second Wind Kites
• Autographed baseball, card, & photo by Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, 2005, playing for Cleveland Indians

Plus clothing, fine art prints, paintings, jewelry, handmade dolls and many other exquisite items by local artists!

And if that's not enough to coax you, I should mention that the desserts included with the dinner are being donated by local restaurants including Bluewater Bistro, Terrapin Creek Cafe, The Sandpiper, and Brisas del Mar, plus more baked by talented volunteers. With my sweet-tooth, that alone is worth the price of admission.

Remember all this fun is for an important cause, the proceeds go the Lisa Collins Memorial Fund to help Marilyn raise her four grandchildren. Their mother Lisa was diagnosed with a rare cancer and died suddenly last fall, and the five now live together in the two bedroom house that was meant to be Marilyn and her husband’s retirement home in Bodega Bay.

Dedicated volunteers have been working hard to plan, produce and publicize this event. In fact you can catch Deanna this Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. on KRCB-FM 91.1 spreading the word and drumming up additional support!

Tickets are available in Bodega Bay at Business Services Unlimited, the Sonoma Coast Visitors Center, Bodega Bay Elementary School and Tomales Elementary School. For more information, contact Deanna Osborne at 707-875-2798.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Paragliding at Goat Rock Beach

Click photos to enlarge.

Inspired by Lisa Mann's post in SonomaontheCheap.com, my daughter and I headed up the coast to see the seal pups at Goat Rock Beach, just north of Bodega Bay.

We never made it because we were distracted by another fascinating sight. Along the road out to the beach parking lot, we came upon a paraglider perched on a cliff above the ocean. Captivated by his enormous, colorful "wing," we pulled over and waited for him to launch. Our patience was rewarded and we watched in awe as he lifted off and began soaring silently above the rocky cliffs.







He rode the gentle winds back and forth above our heads for about ten minutes and my daughter shot this video clip:



At one point when he saw our camera, he swooped down for a close-up. We were certain he was going to land on the roof of our car when he asked "Close enough for ya?" Then he grinned, pulled on his suspension lines, and floated back out over the ravine.







I've since learned that Goat Rock is a very popular site for paragliders. It must have excellent wind conditions as well as spectacular views. Of course my daughter, always up for a new adventure, immediately wanted to know how she could learn to paraglide. The only place I found that gives lessons is down on the peninsula. Does anyone know of any paraglide trainers here in Sonoma County? Not that I'm signing her up or anything...

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Sunday, February 28, 2010

Cabaret in Bodega Bay!


We saw a great show here in Bodega Bay last night! The Cabaret: 2010 A Beach ODDessy was produced and directed by local residents Michael and Diana Bundy and featured local talent lip-syncing to classic hit tunes. Held at the Bodega Bay Grange Hall, the Cabaret benefitted local charities.



We attended the 8:00 p.m. performance, which was sold out. The room was packed with tables of four, each decorated nicely with tablecloths and candles. Refreshments for offered for sale, served by community volunteers including Sophie Powers, owner of The Boat House restaurant. She's so sweet, always has a bright smile on her face.



The show was a huge hit! We took a lot of photos but without a flash, they turned out pretty soft. Steve Hecht, Coldwell Banker realtor and husband of performer Tammi Salas, took terrific, sharp photos during dress rehearsal the night before and was generous enough to share some for this post.


The Master of Ceremonies was the bawdy "Mae West," played by Cathy Wild, a realtor with Prudential in Sebastopol. She gave a lively performance, cracking up the audience all night with her double entendres.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
The first lip-sync act was by Craig Veramay as Elvis. He gave an energetic, gyrating rendition of Heartbreak Hotel.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Tammi Salas had everyone roaring with laughter during her performance of Stand By Your Man, which she sang to "Tiger Woods." Tammi is a prominent community leader here on the coast. She's Chairman of the Bodega Bay Fireworks committee, the former owner of Gourmet Au Bay, wife of the aforementioned Steve Hecht, PTA President of Tomales Elementary School, and an entertaining performer to boot!


These beautiful ladies performed My Boyfriend's Back. I loved their choreography and costumes. All three are local businesswomen, Patty Fata is an investment advisor; Katy Karrenbrock owns TLC Tutoring; and Kathleen Erba owns Coldwell Banker Coastal Properties with her husband Dennis.


This was an amazing puppet performance of Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz by Sue Tichava. Sue lives in nearby Occidental and I heard she's a doll-maker and made this puppet herself!


Molly Schar gave a cool performance of Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made for Walking and I'm so sorry we couldn't get a better photo. They came out so blurry. If anyone has a sharper one, I'd gladly substitute! Molly, who is the editor of BodegaBayCa.org, looked really cute!!!


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Wow, this rendition of Proud Mary was one of the most energetic performances of the evening. Kudos to Bob Brabon and his wife Diane Senia as Ike & Tina Turner. Diane teaches yoga at the Yacht Club, no wonder she's got such great energy. Their back-up dancers were Judi Taubman of Berkeley and Bodega Bay, and Diana Bundy, one of the producers of the show. The wild "Tina" had great moves and the back-up dancers were in perfect sync too. This was one of our favorite acts of the evening!


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Michael Bundy, co-producer of the Cabaret, and Bob Blanchard, co-owner of Gourmet Au Bay, performed Soul Man. We loved it and my daughters were impressed that Michael appeared to know all the moves from the original Blues Brothers movie.

Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Sissy Blanchard, co-owner of Gourmet Au Bay, brought the house down with her performance of She's Got You. Dressed in a cowgirl outfit with a puffy blouse, she proceeded to pull one hysterical prop after another out of the top, corresponding with the lyrics of the song. For example, she pulled out a photo of Brad Pitt (I've got your picture), a number of CDs (I've got the records that we used to share), a feather boa, handcuffs and even a rubber chicken. Truly one of the best acts of the night!


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Diana Bundy gave a sultry performance of Fever, accompanied by her husband Michael Bundy. Together, Diana and Michael founded, produced and directed the entire show. Michael is a local general contractor, and Diana is a local artist and real estate broker/owner of Salmon Creek Real Estate, founder of the Salmon Creek ArtWalk and a prominent community event organizer.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Stan and Judi Taubman of Bodega Bay and Berkeley, were hilarious as Sonny & Cher doing I Got You Babe. They also used props, "And when I'm sad, you're a clown" Sonny dons a clown nose, "I've got flowers in the spring" he hands her a bouquet, etc.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht
Pam Locke and Abby Killey had everyone in stiches, especially the females, when they sang Middle-Aged Woman. I'd never heard the song before and thought it was a riot. Pam owns Ocean Waves Salon in Bodega Bay and also did hair for the show, and Abby is a member of the Bodega Bay Grange and an active conservationist.


Photo courtesy of Steve Hecht

What a blast! The Cabaret's proceeds will go to Bodega Bay Grange, Bodega Bay Fireworks, Bodega Bay School Art Program, and Bodega Bay Community Center. I think they're planning to do this again next year and we want to know when auditions begin!

Click here to view Steve Hecht's complete Cabaret Photo Gallery, Flyer, YouTube video and more!

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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Dinner at Rocker Oysterfeller's


As part of Sonoma County Restaurant Week, last night a group of us went to dinner at Rocker Oysterfellers. We love this restaurant, it's located in the historic Valley Ford Hotel in the tiny town of Valley Ford, 10 minutes east of Bodega Bay. They serve updated southern-style comfort food made from local, farm fresh produce, seafood and meats. I love the old-west ambience of the saloon up front and the casual dining room in the back. Sometimes they have live music and the service is always warm and friendly.

For starters, they serve a plate of these incredible warm, corn-jalapeƱo biscuits. I'm not much of a food critic so I'll let the following menu descriptions and a few photos speak for themselves. We traded bites and everything was exquisite!

Click to enlarge menu


Crispy Romaine Hearts, Creole Caesar Dressing, Fried Oysters, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano


They also have a nice wine list of Sonoma County offerings (although a little pricey) and we enjoyed a fabulous bottle of Amphora Chardonnay.


Half of a Local Flash Fried Dungeness Crab in Cajun Spices, Grilled Ciabatta, Little Farms Fingerling Potatoes, Balsamic Onions, Saffron Rouille


Ravioli with County Line Greens, Bellwether Farms Carmody, Truffled Mushroom Broth, Maitake Mushrooms, Crispy Matchstick Sweet Potatoes


Gleason Ranch Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Crushed Little Farms Potatoes, Fried Sage, Lagunitas Ale & Caraway Gravy. The mashed potatoes are hidden behind the chicken in this photo.


Powdered Sugar Beignets, Wild Blackberry Jam


Bourbon Vanilla Milkshake, Pecan Tassie


Scharffernberger Double Chocolate Cake, Bing Cherries in Pinot Noir Syrup, Whipped Cream


Rocker Oysterfeller's also serves lunch on Saturdays and brunch on Sundays, and they have a cute patio area that would be lovely during the day. I highly recommend you check out this fun restaurant on your next trip to the Sonoma Coast!

Rocker Oysterfeller's, Valley Ford Hotel, 14415 Coast Hwy 1, Valley Ford, CA · 707.876.1983

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Elephant Seals at Point Reyes National Seashore

Experience elephant seals just south of Bodega Bay at the nearby Point Reyes National Seashore. Weekends and holidays, now through April, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., docents will be stationed at the Elephant Seal Overlook near Chimney Rock, above beautiful Drakes Bay. From the Overlook you can witness the fascinating behavior of these animals, including male dominance contests, birthing of pups and the interactions of mothers and pups. You will hear the distinctive vocalizations of females, pups and the powerful trumpeting of the adult males (bulls) which can be heard for over a mile. The highly trained docents will have binoculars, spotting scopes, and a wealth of information to share with you.

To get in the mood, check out this video, created by the National Park Service's Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center as part of its 2004 "Science Behind the Scenery" DVD.



Due to the high volume of traffic out to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas during the elephant seal and gray whale migration, the park will be operating a shuttle bus system from the Drakes Beach parking lot (usually from New Year's to Easter each year on weekends and holidays - weather permitting). Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from South Beach to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas WILL BE CLOSED during shuttle operating hours. For more information call the Bear Valley Visitor Center at (415) 464-5100.

Many thanks to Lisa Mann at SonomaontheCheap for this lead!

Click here to read more about history of elephant seals in our area.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Bodega Bay Participates in Sonoma County Restaurant Week!

Three Bodega Bay restaurants are participating in the first-ever Sonoma County Restaurant Week, February 22-28! During this seven day celebration of our county's farm fresh food and premier wine, enjoy three-course dinner menus at $19, $29, or $39, depending on the restaurant.

This is a delicious opportunity to try out Bodega Bay's finest restaurants:

Bluewater Bistro, 21301 Heron Drive

Bay View Restaurant, 800 Highway One

Duck Club Restaurant, 103 Coast Hwy One

You can view their special Restaurant Week menus, websites and phone numbers here.

Tickets or passes are not needed for Sonoma County Restaurant Week. Just choose your restaurant and dine out. Reservations are strongly recommended.