TONIGHT 9/10/10 Pat Jordan Band Live

 The Pat Jordan Band tears up the Annex at Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol tonight. Show starts at 8pm.

SUE'S NOTE: If you are not familiar with his music, he's a bit like The Dave Mathews Band. Fun to watch and great to dance to! Also note: DUI Checkpoint being set up nearby....so make sure you have a SAFE RIDE HOME!

THIS SUNDAY 9/12/10 - Annual Tomato & Pepper Festival

Windsor Farmers Market is holding their Annual Tomato & Pepper Festival from 10-2 at the Windsor Town Green! Tomato Tasting, Salsa Contest Tasting, and tons of tomatoes to purchase and take home with recipes and this is a FREE Event!

Place: Windsor Farmer's Market  Time: 10:00am-2pm  Fee: Free  Web: Tomato & Pepper Festival

SUE'S NOTE: I make a mean salsa, so I may have to enter the Salsa Contest! I love this time of year with all the fresh veggies available in Sonoma County! Now's your chance to take advantage of it!

THIS SATURDAY 9/11/10 Bocce Ball & Wine Release Party

Help the Paul Family break in their brand new Bocce Ball court at Graton Ridge Cellars! Enjoy wine tasting, including the newest release of 2008 Russian River Pinot along with snacks and plenty of bocce ball!

Time: 10:00am - 4:30pm Open House Style  Cost: $5 per person  Web: http://www.gratonridge.com

SUE'S NOTE: I will be there serving wine in one hand and throwing the ball in the other! If you've been to a party at Graton Ridge Cellars before, you know how good we are at it! Hope to see you there!

THIS SATURDAY 9/11/10 Little Hoopers- Basketball Hoopla

It’s a basketball party for kids and their fans! Come play and catch some hang-time with basketball hoops, basketballs, bubbles, books, toys, hula-hoops, music, & more! This Hoopla event is catered to children ages: 18 months to 6 years old (older siblings welcome).

Place: Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA
Fee: $5 per child  Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.  Phone Number: (707) 494.8134

SUE'S NOTE: Finally some family fun going on! This is a great cheap event to take your kids to on Saturday! Nappy time will be a breeze after a morning of activities!

SEPT 14 - 20 "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"

Special Heirloom Tomato Dishes Available a la Carte or Three Course $45 or Five Course $65 All Tomato Menu Optional Wine Pairings Available $15/$25 Tomato-inspired Cocktails. Reservations required.

Place: Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar 1325 Broadway at Leveroni & Napa Roads, Sonoma, CA  Fee: $45 or $65  Time: Call for information and reservations  Phone Number: (707) 931.2042 Web: Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar

SUE'S NOTE: I was hoping that they were showing the movie "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" paired with wine and food! A well rounded, Classic B Movie at it's very best!

HARVEST TIME!

The Sonoma County wine country has officially entered it's 2010 harvest season! Check with smaller wineries to see if you can be part of the crush! Many great hands on opportunities are available! A priceless experience, even if you grew up here!

SEPT. 25 - Stephanie Bettiga – Benefit Fundraiser & Raffle

Every paid entry gets one raffle ticket, one food coupon, and one drink ticket. Raffle of 1965 VW Bus – tickets available $50 each. Music by The Poyntlyss Sistars and Sweet Lowdown.

Place: Richard’s Grove & Saralee’s Vineyard  Fee: Pre-sale tickets are $20. Tickets day of the event are $25.  Time: 12-10pm  Web:  http://stephaniebfundraiser.com

THIS SUNDAY 9/12/10 - Art & Garden Gala

Laguna Art & Garden Gala
The Laguna Foundation's annual Art and Garden Gala is a unique and magical event held at the beautiful Vine Hill House in Sebastopol. A luxurious garden party, the Gala combines intriguing and unusual live performances with superlative local food and wine, and features both live and silent auctions of original art, premium wine, and adventurous experiences.

Fee: $75 Time: 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Phone Number: (707) 527.9277
Web: http://ow.ly/2AeIB 

If you haven't visited the Vine Hill House venue, you are in for a treat! Views of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Mt. St. Helena and rolling vineyards. Pair that with amazing food and Sonoma County wines and it will truly be a magical afternoon!

THIS SATURDAY 9/11/10 Heirloom Tomato Fest

Kendall-Jackson's 14th annual Heirloom Tomato Festival
The festival, which raises money for the School Garden Network of Sonoma County, is held in the walnut grove behind the Chateau at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center. Attendees experience the food of gourmet food purveyors, our fabulous Bruschetta Boulevard, a Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef's Challenge, wine education seminars, a tomato growing contest, garden tours and live entertainment. All paired with Kendall-Jackson wines.

Fee: $65 ($60 for Wine Club members) Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Phone Number: (800) 769.3649 Web: http://ow.ly/2AeLc

It is officially heirloom tomato season! This is an amazing opportunity to try the best of the Sonoma County garden harvest! Professional chefs working with an already amazing fruit - the tomato! Perfection!

THIS SATURDAY 9/11/1- Cajun/Zydeco Fest

Sebastopol Cajun/Zydeco Festival
The Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise is hosting its 15th annual Cajun/Zydeco Festival. At Ives Park in Sebastopol, it will feature dancing under the redwoods, Cajun cuisine, gator sausage, beer, premium Sebastopol area wines, Hurricanes, live music and more. So come and enjoy yourself and do some good for the community at the same time.

Fee: $17 Advance/$20 At the Gate/12 & under freeTime: 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Phone Number: (707) 829.2667 Web: http://ow.ly/2AeMh

Kid friendly fun with authentic Cajun food, amazing drinks and the rockin'est music in Sebastopol!

THIS SATURDAY 9/11/10 Jazz & Blues Fest

Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival
Russian River's two major music festivals will be combined into one day to provide music fans an exciting day of both jazz and blues music. The Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival will be held at Johnson's Beach Resort in Guerneville.

Fee: Varies Time: 10 a.m. Phone Number: (949) 360.7800 Web: http://ow.ly/2AeNz

Great venue for some amazing live music! Swim in the river, drink the vino, enjoy the sunshine and dance to the music!

THIS SATURDAY 9/11/10 Beer in the Plaza

Beer in the Plaza
Come and join the Healdsburg Soroptimist's Annual Beer in the Plaza in downtown Healdsburg. Over 30 breweries, live music, silent auction and raffle. 100% of the proceeds go to Healdsburg Area Community Service Projects.

Fee: $20Time: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Phone Number: (707) 975.7011

It's beer and live entertainment for only 20 bucks - definitely worth stopping in...and you can feel good about all that beer because it's for a good cause! Bottoms up!

THIS FRIDAY 9/10/10 - W.O.W. Wisdom of We 2010

THIS FRIDAY 9/10/10 - Wisdom of We 2010
Shel Israel and Robert Scoble will be a part of a round table discussion panel; answering questions about where the future of collaboration, online communities and social networking is headed.

Taking place at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa, Ca.
Fee: $25 for both seminar & tweetup Time: 5 p.m., 9 p.m. Phone Number: (888) 993.8683 Ext. 706

I will be there Tweeting, FB'ing and drinking amazing Sonoma County wines!