November is a beautiful month in west sonoma county. The month starts off with orange and red vineyards, yellow sycamore and willow and box alder and these colors may linger all month or be washed away by a rainstorm. I was mountain biking up there on November first out of Occidental in the rain. The wet bay leaves filled the air with that winter smell that reminded me of running around the woods in the winter as a kid. The seasonal creeks are bone dry but the russian river is very full as the mouth of the river is closed. The crowds are thinning out, the days are getting shorter and it wont be long before Occidental is decked out for Christmas. Bring your warmer clothes and get out there where the wild things are!!!!
Sebastopol Weather:
The Barlow: This place is growing on me. I was walking around there on Halloween and it is quite interesting. If you see Bohemian Stone Works you should stop in the showroom to see what can be done with concrete...epic craftsmanship.
HopMonk Tavern: Here is the music line up
Bambu Tea House Graton: Any excuse to go to Graton is a good one. This place is new and very aesthetic. Great outdoor and indoor seating. Check it out.
Occidental Center for the Arts: November 7th: This sounds home grown and funky! The Jacob Green Harvest Show. Hey, with a band member named Coyote Slim, it's got to be good.
Occidenta Center for the Arts: Nov 14th. The Larry Stefl group. Get ready for some Brazilian Jazz!!
Occidental Center for the Arts: November 21st; Clown show. A theatrical goof off session.
Hazel Occidental: A fairly new restaurant in Occidental. Superb thin crust pizza, excelllent wine bar, great atmosphere. I think it is a total winner and I guess I am not alone as it is quite booked on weekends.
December 19th Occidental Center for the Arts: Peppino D Augustino: Yes, this is is December but this guy is so good I have to mention him early. One of the best acoustic fingerstyle guitarists I have ever seen anywhere. Unlike a lot of the talent at his level, Peppino engages the audience and makes the music all the more entertaining. Truly a jaw dropping experience.
General Notes: My top ten list has many activities that are good year round. The Grove of Old Trees is a good call in November, especially in the rain. The loop drive is great, and dining in Occidental is always a pleasure. Wineries are fun to visit as is the Barlow in Sebastopol. The Kortum trail at the coast can be super pretty in the winter when it's not raining.
Will continue to scope it out.