visiting in-laws Archives - until suburbia!

Entrance of Sonoma Harvest in Fairfield, CA

Taste Test Sonoma Harvest Products, Fairfield

April 25, 2025Silvia

We received a warm welcome at the Sonoma Harvest tasting room in Fairfield. Since it was our first time, we were cleverly guided to the olive oils through a lot of really cute kitchen items.

There are a lot of flavored olive oils to try. You can cleanse your palate with some croutons. Next are the vinegars. Again, there are many interesting flavors to elevate your salads. Have you ever had balsamic vinegar so good that you might want to use it as an ice cream topping? Yes, that’s here for you to taste (you have to imagine the ice cream right now – but the richness is mind-blowing!). From sour to sweet, the next station was their creative jams. The strawberry chocolate and spicy peach are delish! We skipped the spicy section, with a BBQ sauce and chili oil, but returned to the kitchen gifts. This is the place if you like to buy local products.

The Sonoma Harvest tasting room is located at 770 Chadbourne Road in Fairfield. It’s close to the Jelly Belly factory. Free tastings are Wednesdays to Sundays from noon to 4 pm.

I am not affiliated with Sonoma Harvest.

A bench overlooking the Bay at Point Pinole park

Visit Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park

March 7, 2025Silvia

The first thing I noticed while hiking the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park was the typical Bay smell. Thankfully, it wasn’t persistent, and for me, it was an occasional whiff of offense. The smell is due to the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in the sediment. I guess one can call it the smell of the low tide.

What struck me next were the many eucalyptus trees. Usually, you’ll find native oaks in parks, and eucalyptus is considered an invasive species. As the Oakland Side warned in an article in October of 2024, “Eucalyptus trees are simultaneously dry and filled with flammable oil. They shed long, shaggy debris, covering the ground with dry fuel for wildfires, and when they catch fire, the oil in them burns hot and fast. Their seed pods can explode in a wildfire, shooting embers across the landscape.” (https://oaklandside.org/2024/10/29/oakland-eucalyptus-trees-wildfires-history/).

But here in the park, the eucalyptus has an interesting history. They were planted as a buffer for explosions. From 1881 to 1960, this site was used as a dynamite manufacturing company, the Giant Powder Company. Dynamite, the invention of Alfred Nobel, was essential in the development of California, blowing through mountains and building roads. Nowadays, the eucalyptus are home to many wildlife species, like deer, hawks, owls, and Monarch butterflies.

The park was well attended on a weekday. Lots of people were exercising and enjoying the view of the Bay.

Point Pinole has two entrances. One is on 5551 Giant Highway, Richmond, and the other parking lot is on 3000 Atlas Road, Richmond. Parking is $5 between April and October.

Relax in a Native Garden, Martha Walker Gardens, Napa

February 21, 2025Silvia

It’s almost spring and time to think about your garden again. I always love to see other gardens to get ideas or to just relax. Martha Walker Gardens in Napa, a California Native Habitat Garden is a perfect place to relax. Part of Skyline Park in Napa, the garden, a 2.5-acre site, is a tribute to Martha Walker. She was a beloved resident and naturalist of Napa. She taught classes and even had her own radio show: “Let’s Go Into the Garden”.

The garden invites school groups, hikers, and natural lovers to explore. Almost 200 different species have been planted. I especially enjoyed the little redwood grove. Even if it is just a small part of the park, the garden has a lot of paths and benches to enjoy peace and quiet. The Napa-Solano Audubon Society donated fruit trees to attract birds.

The entrance to the garden is gated to keep the deer out. But the gates themselves are really beautifully crafted, just a little tricky to open.

Skyline Park is located at 2201 Imola Ave. Napa, CA and open 7 days a week. Parking is $6. They don’t allow dogs on trails and close the park at sunset.

What is your favorite garden to relax in?

Visit Historic Locke

February 14, 2025Silvia

Locke is the only town in the United States built by the Chinese for Chinese people. The first buildings were established in 1913. Due to California’s Alien Land Law of 1913, which prevented all foreign-born aliens from owning land, Locke’s residents rented the land from George Locke, Jr. Because the people hoped to return to China, these houses weren’t built to last, with cheap materials and metal roofs.

To experience how the people of Locke lived, you can visit the living museum town north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. There are multiple museums, like the Locke Boarding House, the Chinese School, or the Dai Loy Museum, the former gambling hall. In 1990 Locke was made into a National Historic Landmark.

The boarding house offers a peek into the daily lives of the visiting farm workers. During its heyday, there were multiple restaurants, hotels, rooming houses, a grocery store, a fish market, a dentist’s office, and a Chinese school. But behind the storefronts, there were also gambling halls and opium dens. It became known as the “Monte Carlo of California”. When prohibition ended and the asparagus industry declined, Locke lost its visitors.

There are many fascinating facts about Locke. On Saturday, February 22, 2025, 12pm – 4 pm, the Locke Foundation invites you to celebrate Chinese New Year in Locke.

The Boarding House Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays 11am – 3pm, 13916 Main Street, Locke.

The Dai Loy Museum is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 12pm – 4pm, 13951 Main Street, Locke.

Sign in front of the Arts Guild announcing that the gallery is open

Be Enriched by Art, Arts Guild of Sonoma

January 10, 2025Silvia

The Arts Guild of Sonoma is one of the oldest continuously operating artists cooperatives in California. You can find the Arts Guild at 140 East Napa Street southeast of the main plaza in downtown Sonoma.

With changing exhibits throughout the year, visitors are introduced to Sonoma’s residing artists. The current exhibit “Past, Present, Future” runs until January 27th, 2025 with an artists’ reception on January 18th, from 5 pm to 7pm.

I loved the spacious gallery space with a myriad of artworks of paintings, jewelry, and pottery.

The Arts Guild participates in the First Thursday Art Walk, a monthly celebration of local art. Each month a different location hosts the Art Walk, but you can stop by the Arts Guild and pick up a paper map.

Visit the Arts Guild of Sonoma at 140 East Napa Street from Thursday through Monday 11 am to 5 pm.

Redefine Contemporary Art at the NIAD in Richmond

December 6, 2024Silvia

‘Art is what you like,’ is a German proverb. When the NIAD Art Center in Richmond proclaims that it redefines contemporary art I wonder if they also had this liberating view of art in mind.

NIAD stands for Nurturing Independence Through Artistic Development and is a progressive art studio for adult artists with developmental disabilities. For more than 40 years this place has given opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. NIAD artists have been recognized by the Whitney Museum, the Studio Museum of Harlem, and OMCA. They are part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, SFMOMA, MADMusée, Belgium, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami.

I felt the art come to life when I visited NIAD. There were many vibrant pieces, including the Pom-Pom Wallhanging by Felicia Griffin. In addition the space and the people were welcomed us warmly. The only thing I was disappointed about was the fact that the nice outside sitting area didn’t offer coffee, but it invites you to sit down and admire the fountain.

The founding couple, Dr. Elias and Florence Ludins-Katz, believed strongly in the Progressive Art Studio methodology, to focus on acceptance rather than assimilation of artists with disabilities. It also allows the artists to earn from their art sales.

Current Exhibit

From December 7th to the 27th, 2024 More than enough is NIAD’s Holiday Shop. This celebration of community and art is inspired by a collectively written “Abundance Poem”.

NIAD Gallery Hours are from Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm and every second Saturday, 1 – 4 pm.

For the Holiday Season there is a special gallery open hour on December 7th, from 1 – 4 pm. On December 21st, from 1 – 4 pm, there will be a Holiday Spectacular.

You can visit NIAD Art Center at 551 23rd St. in Richmond, CA.

Shop for Local Art, aRt Cottage Gallery, Concord

November 22, 2024Silvia

The aRt Cottage Gallery is a charming gallery and art workshop space near downtown Concord. When I visited I was warmly invited to look at the current exhibit of Mark Jezierny and his Students. I entered the cottage while there was a class in progress, but everyone smiled at me and assured me that they did not mind the interruption.

There is much love for art in this place – from the cozy planters outside to the white wood-paneled rooms decorated with art. And love for the owner FROgard Schmidt who shares her space and this love for art with all visitors. That’s why aRt Cottage is spelled with a capital R for ours, stressing the importance of community.

If you like to gift local art you should visit the aRt Cottage during the Holiday season for their 13th Annual Holiday Boutique. Shop for large and miniature paintings, jewelry, tree ornaments, and much more. All items will be available until December 22, 2024.

The aRt Cottage is located at 2238 Mt. Diablo Street in Concord. You can visit Wednesdays – Saturdays 11am – 5pm.

Do you shop for local art?

Drive up to Mount Diablo’s Summit

October 25, 2024Silvia

To take a drive up to Mount Diablo’s summit was on my bucket list for a long time. Mount Diablo with its 3,849 feet isn’t considered particularly tall, but the extensive views you might be able to enjoy are spectacular!

Check the weather before you go so you’ll be able to enjoy views that might stretch 100 miles! Winter and early spring, especially after a rainstorm, are recommended. You will be able to see San Francisco, the Sacramento Valley, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. You can pick up a map at the visitor center to help you identify landmarks.

The visitor center also has a short video presentation of the history of Mount Diablo. When we stepped inside, a tarantula (fixed in resin) greeted us together with the ranger. The tarantula was not a Halloween decoration, but a warning that you might encounter these spiders if you hike about.

We also hiked the short 0.7 mile Mary Bowerman Trail just below the summit. This partly accessible trail, not only, has more of these spectacular views but also an interpretative nature walk. I enjoyed the free binoculars at the end of the accessible trail.

Make sure to pick up the brochure at the visitor center. The Summit Visitor Center is open 7 days a week from 10 am – 4 pm.

When you drive up to Mount Diablo summit take your time and yield to bikers.

There are four entrances to Mount Diablo. The fee per vehicle is $10 at the North Gate Road and South Gate Road Entrance; $6 at Macedo Ranch Staging Area and Mitchell Canyon Staging Area. It’s best to bring cash to pay the fee. Gates open at 8 am and close at sunset. Visitors should plan to be in their vehicles by sunset and head out to avoid being locked in.

Celebrate October with a Cake, Alpine Pastry

October 18, 2024Silvia

This might not be a traditional Oktoberfest treat, but coffee and cake is always on the menu in Germany. As a German expat, I’m always on the lookout for good German cakes in the U.S. One bakery I highly recommend is the Alpine Pastry Shop in Concord.

They have a special Oktoberfest menu and a great cookie selection for the spooky season. And, it looks like they have tasty treats year-round. Still, if you are on the hunt for Bienenstich, you should act this month and order ahead.

The Alpine Pastry Shop is located on 1848 Willow Pass Rd in Concord, CA. Opening hours are Monday through Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Do you have a favorite pastry shop in the Bay Area?

I did not receive any compensation from the mentioned business.

Order an Ice Cream Sundae, Fentons Creamery

August 9, 2024Silvia

Whether you believe that Fentons Creamery is the inventor of the rocky road flavor or not, you have to admit their small-batch, handmade ice cream is delicious. Bay Curious, a KQED podcast, demystifies the rocky road ice cream legend. But in the end even they can’t tell you for sure the true inventor of the flavor.

Personally, I am not the rocky road flavor type, so I won’t chip in here. Nonetheless, if you are a lover of decadent sundaes you should visit either the Oakland or Vacaville Fentons Creamery. They do serve diner food, like burgers and shakes, but make sure you leave plenty of room for the massive desert. Of course you can also join the line for getting a scoop of your favorite flavor. Just like the ending of the Disney movie ‘Up’ you can take your ice cream to go; or hang out outside.

According to their Wikipedia page Fentons is the “state’s longest continually operating creamery, with a small herd of dairy cows in West Marin.”

Fentons in Oakland is located at 4226 Piedmont Avenue. The Vacaville location is at the Nut Tree Mall, 1669 E Monte Vista Ave.

Other Bay Area must-try ice cream spots are:

Rocko’s ice cream tacos,

It’s-it ice cream sandwiches, and

Marianne’s

What is your favorite spot for ice cream?