The Sonoma Spiel

Unrequited love, a round-headed kid and a dog: Gina Huntsinger of the Charles M. Schulz Museum

Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and all the characters that sprang from the mind of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz are part of the museum (and research center) that bears Schulz's name in Santa Rosa. Gina Huntsinger comes by to talk the life of the man who created the memorable characters and the museum that celebrates his influence. Though the museum is full of Schulz's life and art, it also showcases the happiness and versatility of the medium that is the comics, from what we see in the papers to graphic novels to online comics. Huntsinger also talks about those whom "Sparky" influenced, like local artist Stephen Pastis of "Pearls Before Swine," who has very specific opinions about Jef the cyclist and a rat with some anti-social tendencies. Then she answers some questions in our ever-popular series, "We. Get. Questions." Like, where do we get Pliny the Younger beer? Hint - there's a brewery not far from the Schulz Museum where you can get it when it comes out.

Birds Do It, Bees Do It, Even Well-Read Lemurs Do It - Safari West Talks Love Ep. 27

Safari West stops by the talk to us about warthog courtship, giraffe birth and all the Serengeti lovin' that the animals get up to at the wildlife preserve north of Sonoma Valley, and which is the focus of their upcoming tour "Safari West Adult Romance Tour."  Hear all the latest gnus about who is doing what and when, and how you can take the quiz to see how much you know about the mating habits of the earthbound elan. As for the tour?
"Pile into an open-air safari vehicle and drive out among some of the world’s most exotic and enthralling creatures for a wild safari tour led by Safari West’s animal experts as they probe the revealing “Ins and Outs” of Wildlife courtship.
You’ll learn intimate details about the mating habits of African mammals and birds including Bongo, Giraffe, Eland, Wildebeest, Gazelle, Zebra, Warthog, Cheetah and more! …When a male warthog wants to attract a female, he does a courtship “chant” of rhythmic grunts that sounds like an engine in need of a tune-up. Yes, love is in the air!"

How to make 79 butters, secrets of Sonoma cheese and more: Sheana Davis Ep. 26

Sheana Davis of Epicurean Connection has a new cookbook that's smooth as butter - Buttermonger, out soon! More than 70 ways to make butter at home, from sweet to savory to cocktails, plus a few vegan options. Sheana also talks about how you can take an easy cheesemaking class and make cheese to take home. Then she helps us answer your questions about visiting Sonoma Valley, like are the vineyards still there and where can you find lemons locally? (Hint- if you have a bucket of lemons, Sheana will trade you soup.)

Hot springs & fancy cakes - Michelle Heston of Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn Ep. 25

Michelle Heston of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa knows resorts. And wellness Wednesdays. And world-class dining. But she also moonlights as fancy-cake maker that can make a chiffon cake look like a taco and a pound cake in the shape of a penny farthing. 
Michelle details the history of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (it was once an R&R locale for Navy personnel during World War II), how the waters from Calistoga are the same ones that run underneath the Fairmont and some of their spa programs like watsu massage. Also, her niece wanted a Barbie cake but Michelle wasn't going to pay crazy money for a cake. She she made her own. And from that came Heston Cakes, one of the top cake makers to ever be on The Sonoma Spiel. "I do shoes, I do hats, I do lots of junk food cakes," she admits. How do we know that we, ourselves, are not actually made of cake? The wonder! The horror!
And she admits our schtick is perfect for a spiel.Listen up! Subscribe! Tell you friends!Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/14e5c834-f050-4a8d-b0c7-8a1c9b278670

From East to Zest - Scot Medbury of Sonoma Botanial Garden Ep. 24

Scot Medbury of the Sonoma Botanical Garden explains that a) no, they aren't a winery and b) they used to be called Quarryhill Botanical Garden and c) Sonoma is, come on, one of the best brands in America.Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9bAmazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/14e5c834-f050-4a8d-b0c7-8a1c9b278670Hear about how Scot came to Sonoma from Brooklyn and San Francisco, and the work of the Sonoma Botanical Garden in preserving Asian plants and showcasing California native ones. And then we talk about their new exhibit, From East to Zest,
"an original, living exhibition illustrating citrus’ colorful journey across the globe. Immersed in fragrance and color, visitors learn fun facts as they stroll, from the myth of the Meyer Lemon to the cause of the Grapefruit Effect.
Virtually all citrus originated in Southeast Asia, yet today are thoroughly ingrained in the cuisines and cultures of the Americas. Imagine Peruvian food without lemons, or Mexican cuisine without limes!
Thousands of years of citrus cultivar selection and breeding has produced a vast trove of little-known, yet distinct citrus including such culinary treats as the Yuzu, beloved of chefs everywhere today, or the Sudachi, from which ponzu braising sauce is made. Bizarre forms, like the Buddha’s Hand citron, or unusual hybrids like Limequats and Mandarinquats, add to the fascinating range of citrus grown in California today. These zesty delights have travelled far from their historic ranges and new DNA evidence is changing how botanists think about this tangled floral family."

From Cabaret to Cabernet - Andrew Smith, Episode 23

Andrew Smith lost his Long Island accent but found love and adventure along the way, as he recounts his journey from cruise ship performer to wine host at Sangiacomo Family Winery. When he's not regaling visitors with tales from the road while educating them about Sonoma Valley wine, his passion is for his family and his hobby of performing and directing with Sonoma Arts Live, a local theater company.Andrew also answers some questions from visitors, including where should I get married, and where can we see waterfalls.

Best Live Holiday Music Performances from Lighting of the Plaza 2022 Ep. 22

This week's very special guest star? It's you.
We're just going to listen to some of the best performances from the Lighting of The Plaza 2022. All of these were recorded on the stage set up in front of Sonoma's city hall during the large public party that kicks off the holiday season.We have music from Transcendence Theatre Company, Vivo Youth Orchestra, Chris Hanlin and the Charlie Gurke Trio.Want to get in the holiday mood? Listen up.And thanks for being a part of the Sonoma Spiel this year. We love talking to all the great people that make up Sonoma Valley and make it such a great place to live and visit. We have more great guests in the coming year, so stick around.Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, New Year... whatever you celebrate or whatever you are doing - we're glad you're here in Sonoma with us.If you want to watch these performances they are on our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSa7rAVobsLtUz-Gt-Sa8T6Pu_1x1Ui_

Holiday happenings in Sonoma Valley Ep. 21

Michelle Lacy, Sonoma resident in the know, is the special guest on the Sonoma Spiel as we talk holiday shopping and events in Sonoma Valley. Special candle? Yes. Wreath? Got it. Cookies to go? Embroidered famous pillows from Catstudio in Petaluma? Gnomes? We have the deets!Found out where else to shop in the 2022 Sonoma Valley Gift Guide and find events at our events calendar.We also talk about Guy Fieri and if he knows that he's now stuck with that hair style the rest of his life. Sorry, Guy, we don't make the rules. But we do want to make that Holiday Garbage Can Nachos that you are promoting for the holidays. Yum? We think?Guide: https://www.sonomavalley.com/blog/post/2022-holiday-shopping-guide/ Events: https://www.sonomavalley.com/events/ And don't forget to subscribe to the Sonoma Spiel podcast: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/14e5c834-f050-4a8d-b0c7-8a1c9b278670 All the others - https://sonomavalley.podbean.com/pbVtdNzANQT5QIedPCtD