RISING INTO FALL
October is a special time in northern Sonoma County. Harvest is mostly over, the days are getting shorter, and the nights get colder. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, wineries, restaurants, and local organizations are doing their best to create a festive Halloween season and make Healdsburg fun. Here is a rundown of the upcoming happenings that have our attention.
Though indoor dining is still closed in Sonoma County, many of our favorite local restaurants continue to excel at offering different kinds of “dine-in” options. One of the best: Valette, which built a 20-seat al fresco patio on North Street to welcome diners back in style. Another great option: the open-air rooftop wine garden at SingleThread (pictured below), which is open for walk-ins only from Wednesday to Sunday. Finally, Barndiva has been written up in local newspapers for how well the restaurant has adopted a contactless experience; guests access menus via QR codes and text orders to the kitchen.
In an exhibit that evokes the beauty of nature, artist Marsha Connell is sharing some of her plein air paintings in oil and watercolor at Healdsburg’s Upstairs Gallery this month. The collection, dubbed “Connected by Water,” spotlights how water transfixes us in all forms. Connell herself, a native of New York, taught art at Santa Rosa Junior College, and has spent many years studying bodies of water in and around the Sonoma County.
The annual Hallowine Run, which traverses the length of the Dry Creek Valley, has become one of the most popular destination races in the country. This year, the run is being offered as both a virtual and live experience, meaning participants have the option of running on their own time and course. For those who choose to run the race in Healdsburg, there are three scenic routes to follow. All participants still receive a swag bag and tickets for tastings at wineries throughout the area. However folks decide to participate, it’s sure to be a memorable day.
