58.3 F
Healdsburg
December 20, 2025

The first peaches of summer

Peach flat
When I was younger, I used to walk to the dusty farmstand from the Prestons’ house on Dry Creek Road. We’d eat a peach on the way back, the warm, sticky juice running down our cheeks and arms marking summer’s beginning in quiet streaks of gold.

Snapshot: Kid’s drawing evokes the movie ‘Jaws’

Child's drawing of a "Yet".
Fun facts: The word “yet” has a few meanings. As an adverb it references “a continuing state or condition.” As a conjunction, it introduces a contrasting fact or thought. As a modifier, it intensifies meaning, as in “yet again.” Another column of observation from Pierre Ratte.

Snapshot: Palace of Fine Arts a lasting monument

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
Recognized as a perfect blend of classical architecture and landscape, the colonnaded pergola and vaulted ceiling-ed rotunda is surrounded by a lagoon on three sides. Architect Bernard Maybeck designed this S.F. landmark in the Beaux Arts style, characterized by grandiose structures with symmetrical styling often including elaborate detailing, classical columns, pediments, friezes and cornices.

Flashback: When a CARE package cost $5.95

1958 historic photo
In answer to many requests for smaller packages than the Standard Food package at $10, CARE is now offering a new Budget Package, with a net weight of 10 pounds, which will sell for $5.95 for guaranteed delivery to Europe.

Harvest: Secrets of local gardens

Healdsburg's gardener Bob Buck
Healdsburg is full of food secrets. Someone knows who has the best mulberries (the word on the street is Preston and Millbrook Farms). Someone else swears by the broccoli at Noble Goat. There’s a bee person everyone keeps telling me I have to meet—and a seed guy, too.

Snapshot: Sipping a summer sour

June flowers and a whiskey sour
During 2020 and the pandemic, cocktail books flew off the shelves. Books like Death & Co. Modern Classic Cocktails; The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartenders Guide; Spirits and Cocktails from Around the World; and Artisanal Cocktails - Seasonal Drinks Inspired by the Bar at Cyrus by Healdsburg’s own famous cocktail baller, Scott Beattie, experienced a significant uptick in sales.

‘Buckle of the Prune Belt’ from above

Michael Lightfood presents a painting representing Healdsburg in 1972, as seen from the air.
Holly Hoods was taken aback when three men walked into the downstairs office space of the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society one morning last week. One of them was unknown to the museum director, but he seemed to know a lot about Healdsburg history,...

Harvest: This is how summer begins

Nico Bartolomei at Healdsburg's FFA fair
"Every year on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the streets of Healdsburg fill with music and marching bands, vintage tractors and streamers, and the laughter of the Twilight Parade," writes Liza Gershman in her bi-weekly "Harvest" column. "This is the rhythm of small-town summer: unhurried, joyful, deeply familiar..."

Snapshot: Step away from the hubbub

Riverfront Regional Park
"Healdsburg has such lovely hiking trails. It offers so many things to do to kick-off summer over the long Memorial Day weekend. The Future Farmers of America Fair and the Thursday night Twilight Parade, where Healdsburgians either join the parade or watch it... But Healdsburg also offers the possibility of stepping outside the hubbub and hitting a trail," Pierre Ratte reminds us in this week's Snapshot column...

Farm + Market: Healdsburg recipe contest

Poached Eggs & Asparagus with Wild Mushroom Risotto
We're looking for dishes that reflect local flavor and personal history. Maybe it’s your famous strawberry tart. Your go-to pea risotto. The green garlic pasta you only make in May. You don’t have to be a professional chef. Just use at least one ingredient from the Healdsburg Certified Farmers’ Market, and let the season be your muse.
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Arts & Entertainment

Christmas music like it used to be, with swing

Now widely known as “The Harlem Nutcracker,” Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn wrote it for Columbia Records, along with film scores and other work. It was met with a sensational reception
Santa Claus and kids

Holiday Happenings: Dec. 18-27