The Sonoma Spiel

Live Music in Sonoma Valley - James Marshall Berry Ep. 17

Why does Sonoma have so many quality bands? And how is it that a place that is 12-miles long has a huge variety of venues to hear live music? And why can't we get any postage stamps that are scratch and sniff?If you want to ask the big questions, but not necessarily get the big answers, turn to Sonoma bassist and performer James Marshall Berry. Just don't call him a musician, since the last song he wrote was 45 years ago and it may not be worth sharing because "they were some of the stupidest lyrics ever penned."He's a guy who knows all things Sonoma music, but he also helps us answer some questions. Count us in, James... 

Pumpkins Away! Arden Bucklin-Sporer of Oak Hill Farm Launches Pumpkins and More

Fresh from the fields and just out of the farmers market, Arden Bucklin-Sporer of Glen Ellen's Oak Hill Farm stops in to tell us about what it's like growing food in the Sonoma Valley and why they have set aside land for wildlife. Then she details the upcoming harvest and pumpkin festival when they will launch pumpkins using a specially-made gourd trebuchet (sort of like a catapult) that uses Cardi P - an enormous pumpkin- as a counterweight. There will also be pumpkins to buy, an apple press, and large pumpkins to take photos with and in. (Oak Hill Farm has a pumpkin specialist - Jimmy- who likes to grow enormous pumpkins.) And- Weekend Along the Farm Trails in Sonoma County - is coming up! Arden has insights and ideas, and she may take you out to see some birds because "Oak Hill Farm is an incredibly birdy place."

Mark Spiels on Pumpkin Spice Spam, special deals and a message for Sue, from the Midwest - Ep. 15

Mark Bodenhamer from the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce returns to the Sonoma Spiel and dishes about Pumpkin Spice Everything (Spam? Cup O' Noodles? Butter?) and what happens what a porpoise swims up the Petaluma River, which isn't a river, but a slough. Speaking of, he also has a slew of wine country events like the Pangloss party, Weekend Along Farm Trails, Lighting of the Plaza and more.Then we answer Sue from The Midwest who posted in a recent Facebook group asking about what to do during her stay here. Mark has ideas, Sue!He also brings a special deal: 50% off tasting at a winery when you mention this podcast? Yes - believe it. Listen for the details...It's all things Sonoma and it's all in the Sonoma Spiel - listen up!

Don’t Ever Do Cats: Transcendence Theatre, Law & Order and A Song Ep. 14

Meggie and Colin are in studio (with a guitar and a song) with details on happenings with Transcendence Theatre Company, including their Gala performance, the holiday program and a teaser about the major show they will be unveiling soon. We try to get them to tell us a bit early, and all they can say is that it isn't "Cats." Speaking of cats, we riff about Nubbins, the cat who was cat-napped from Sonoma and eventually returned and hear how hard it is to get cast in Law & Order: SVU, even as a body found in a duck pond. Evidently that's a hard role to get. 

Barefoot Italian Girls Squishing Grapes: Andriana Duckworth Sets The Record Straight on Crush - Ep. 13

Andriana Duckworth of the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance has the low-down on the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, the longest running agricultural festival in California. We also find out that, in fact, the making of wine in Sonoma Valley during "crush" season of harvest does not entail an army of Italian girls in red skirts stomping grapes barefoot in barrels.Duckworth also shares how the winegrape harvest in Sonoma Valley is a time of excitement and exhaustion as the farmers and vintners race to get the grapes off the vines and made into wine in the barrels. Did you know that Sonoma Valley high school has a program where ag students learn how to grow grapes that go into actual wines?And finally - Sonoma Valley Traffic Alert - watch our for grape trucks on the road and please drive carefully! 

Lions, Bears, Coyotes & Badgers - Sonoma Spiel with Caitlin Cornwall Ep. 12

Caitlin Cornwall is a biologist and botanist who just wants to see a badger, and has only seen a mountain lion in person once. She sits with us to detail what the Ecology Center does as it advocates for the Sonoma Valley watershed, as well as some great hikes in Sonoma Valley. We also hear about the campgrounds at Sugarloaf Ridge and the fig tree picnic spot at Sonoma Garden Park. And the one plant she just doesn't like... (Looking at you, Yellow Star Thistle.) For more information about Sonoma Ecology Center check out https://sonomaecologycenter.org.To camp in Sonoma Valley go to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park at https://sugarloafpark.org/.
 

Crushing It at Crushers of Comedy: Wine Country Standup with Lisa Pidge Episode 11

Lisa Pidge (one of our favorite Lisas) always has a pocket of almonds because you never know what you'll need when you are bringing some top-notch comedians to Sonoma Valley for the Crushers of Comedy program. We talk about why comedians love playing on a winery crush pad with the Mayacamas mountains in the background and bins of grapes surrounding the stage, Lisa's past as a not very cut-throat talent agent (she wasn't cut-throat enough to be a good cut throat), and the fact that she won't respond to the Kardashians' calls.She also good naturedly goes along with our bad dad jokes and talks about her wife who really helps out with her good gut feeling about people.More info about the Crushers of Comedy is available at www.crushersofcomedy.com.And of course, Sonoma Valley deals, events and insider tips can be found at www.sonomavalley.com.
 
 

Accessible Wine Country - Sonoma Spiel Episode 10

Breaking away from talking specifically about Sonoma Valley, we are joined by Jake Steinman of TravelAbility, the organization that explores the nexus of travel and disability, and provides resources for companies and destinations to make sure they provide good information and are strategic in how they make their experiences more inclusive. Big takeaway - eventually many people will "age into a disability." Have we created a world that is inclusive and ready for this?Jake got into this by accident.As Jake relates, "The journey that led us to the creation of TravelAbility Summit started with a bogus award!
In 2018 North American Journeys received a “Travel Agent of the Year” award from the City of Sausalito, California, where are located. Though we are not a travel agency we started to receive a trickle, then a stream, of individuals stopping by our headquarters seeking help in planning and implementing a trip with a disabled family member.
With little in the marketplace to provide help or offer referrals, we embarked on a two-month listening tour to better understand the travel challenges and needs of disabled persons today.
Our findings were eye-opening."