ML Interest Tag: winery

Make Mom Melt: Extra-Special Mother’s Day Experiences to Book Now

by Erin Feher

Sure, a vase full of tulips is lovely, but we’ll take bets on who will be the one sweeping dead petals off the floor come mid May. This year, instead of a sweet-smelling gift that loses its luster in less than a week, how about taking mom on a family adventure where everyone can make memories to last a lifetime? From a day of unlimited wine tasting on the water (complete with activities for the kids) to a picnic on a picturesque farm with baby goats, we’ve rounded up 6 amazing experiences aimed at celebrating mom and making sure this Mother’s Day is one she will never forget.

A Fabulous Feté on the Farm: Mother’s Day at Harley Goat Farm
Take a trip to Pescadero’s Harley Farms where you’ll celebrate all things Mom with baby goats and a delicious brunch. First you’ll take a tour of the beautiful, working dairy farm, including a meet-and-greet with baby goats. After the tour, enjoy a buffet lunch of bread, cheese, soup, and Harley Farms pulled pork sandwiches on rosemary rolls, served with lavender lemonade. Mom will be in heaven!

Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 10 a.m. or noon
Harley Farms Goat Dairy
205 North St.
Pescadero, Ca
650-879-0480
Cost: $45/adult; $20/child ages 3-12. Children 2 and under/free

Reserve your spot here: events.tinybeans.go-vip.net

The Ultimate Day of Wine Tasting: UnCorked
Fancy a trip to the wine country without leaving the city limits? Head to Ghirardelli Square’s Uncorked Wine Festival, where in addition to unlimited wine tastings from more than 50 different wineries, you’ll find tons of kids’ activities including arts and crafts, live music courtesy Noise Pop, and Off the Grid food trucks. And did we mention kids are free? Cheers!

Saturday, May 9, 1-6 p.m.
Ghirardelli Square
San Francisco
Cost: Adults/$60; kids/free

Buy your tickets here: tinybeans.go-vip.net

A Royal Feast: Mother’s Day Brunch at the Palace Hotel
Treat mom like royalty with the brunch to end all brunches. The buffet spread at the Palace Hotel features everything from a raw bar to crepes, waffles and beignets to blinis with crème friache and caviar. (Don’t forget the sundae bar.) And the setting can’t be beat—the stunning, century-old Garden Court and Grand Ballroom will ensure that she feels like a queen for the day.

Sunday, May 10, 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
2 New Montgomery St.
San Francisco, Ca
415-546-5089
Cost: Adults/$125; Children 5-12/$65

To reserve your table: opentable.com

A Wonderful Day in Wine Country: Mother’s Day Lunch at Larson Family Winery
Set out to Sonoma for some sun, delicious eats, lawn games and of course, plenty of wine. Larson Family Winery is hosting a pair of Mother’s Day events that will serve up everything mom could want. You can choose from a brunch buffet provided by Basque Cafe, from 9:30 a.m.-noon (brunch served from 10-11 a.m.) or a Maverick’s BBQ lunch event from 1-4:30 p.m. (lunch served from 1:30-3 p.m.). The picture-perfect picnic setting includes a huge lawn for running kiddos, a bounce house, live music and even some sweet farm animals to coo at—meaning the little ones will most likely be so entertained that mom can sit back and sip in peace.

Sunday, May 10
Larson Family Winery
23355 Millerick Rd
Sonoma, Ca
Cost for Brunch: Adults/$30; Kids 2–12/$20; Cost for Lunch: Adults/$55; kids 2-12/$35

Reserve your spot here: tinybeans.go-vip.net

A Cruise to the Islands: Mother’s Day Sail to The Farallon Islands
Is mom dreaming of the islands? Then this ultimate Mother’s Day experience is for her. Wake her up on the big day then take her out to sea: Your family will board a classic yacht in the Sausalito marina and set sail to the Farallon Islands. Sail out the Golden Gate along the Marin Headlands and out to the wildlife rich National Marine Sanctuary the Farallon Islands. See marine wildlife up close and personal and enjoy a catered breakfast and lunch before returning to shore at 5 p.m. that evening.

Sunday, May 10, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Schooner Freda B Slip 907
100 Bay St
Sausalito, Ca
Cost: $175 per person
Book your tickets here: eventbrite.com

Are you a mom who would love to wake up on May 10 to one of these amazing experiences? Tell us in the comments below. (Then “share” this with the family and hope they take the hint!)

—Erin Feher

 

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7 December Concerts You Should Not Miss

by jeff bogle

If you start to see an increase in Patriots jerseys on the street and Red Sox hats on the subway, don’t be alarmed. It’s only happening because Boston’s burgeoning kindie rock scene is taking over the city in December as three bands from up north (+ Brooklynite Dan Zanes, who hails from New England) make the drive down to entertain NYC this holiday season. Don’t get left out in the cold, here are seven December concerts not to be missed.

photo: Suzi Shelton

Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square with Suzi Shelton

Celebrate the start of the chilly season with kindie sweetheart Suzi Shelton at a jam-packed Winter’s Eve event featuring a diverse menu of musical choices including three sets by Shelton and her band. Stick around afterward for a tree lighting ceremony with Arlo Guthrie, Kinky Boots and Billy Porter!

Mon., Dec 1, 6:15 p.m.; 7 p.m., and 7:45 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Kids’ Central at the American Bible Society
865 Broadway at 61st St.
Columbus Circle
Online: winterseve.nyc

photo: Josh and the Jamtones

Josh and the Jamtones

Recall the best gift you ever got as a child, the one you couldn’t wait to tell all of your friends about, the one that had to be pried out of your clammy little hands at bedtime, and how it made you feel. That’s the kind of giddy joy Josh and the Jamtones will bring to city families this month when the Boston-based jam band rocks your kids’ stockings off at the Jewish Museum. You do not want to miss one of the best live kindie bands in the country making a rare NYC visit!

Sun., Dec. 7, 11 a.m.
$18/adults; $13/kids (cheaper for members)
The Jewish Museum
1109 5th Ave.
Upper East Side
212-423-3200
Online: thejewishmuseum.org

photo: Dan Zanes

Dan Zanes 4th Annual Holiday Sing-Along

A modern holiday tradition enters its fourth year as Dan Zanes gathers warm-hearted families at the City Winery once again to sing, dance and be joyous during the merriest time of the year. You’ll hear (and help perform) songs from all of the winter holidays, making this a truly inclusive seasonal event.

Sun., Dec 14, 11a.m.- 1p.m.
Tickets: $20
City Winery
Soho
212-608-0555
Online: citywinery.com

photo: Karen K and the Jitterbugs

Karen K and the Jitterbugs Holiday Jam-Brrr-ee

What’s this, another high energy New England kindie band rocking the city before the holiday season? Indeed! Karen K and her bugs will lift your holiday spirits with a Brooklyn pop rock jamboree featuring happy songs that will have you and your tots shaking like a bowl full of jelly.

Sun., Dec 14, 3 p.m. & 4 p.m.
$10/adults; $8/kids, $30/family of four
Jalopy
Columbia Street Waterfront District
Brooklyn
718-395-3214
Online: jalopy.biz

photo: Walter Martin

Walter Martin Holiday Show featuring Kat Edmonson

When Walter Martin (of The Walkmen) released his debut family album We’re All Young Together earlier this year, one track jumped out as the big winner from the batch: “Hey Sister” featuring the delightful vocals of Kat Edmonson. At this special mid-week, early-evening holiday show, Edmonson will join Martin on stage for that song plus others (including the adorable “I Walk So Slow Under The Mistletoe”, a brand new holiday single from the duo) making this the must-see family concert of December.

Thurs., Dec 18, 7 p.m.
$20
Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette St.
Noho
212-539-8778
Online: joespub.publictheater.org

photo: Father Goose

Father Goose

He doesn’t perform live often, so when Father Goose brings his Jamaican rhythms to the stage, you best make sure you and your toddlers are there to witness one of the most gregarious performers in the city’s kiddie music scene.

Sat., Dec 20, 11 a.m.
$21/adults; $14/kids (cheaper for members)
Symphony Space
2537 Broadway
Upper West Side
212-932-3228
Online: symphonyspace.org

photo: Stacey Peasley

Stacey Peasley

Keep the holiday cheer flowing with one final rockin’ show before the year is over. Boston’s Stacey Peasley Band will play what we think is one of the best kindie Christmas songs ever (“Under the Tree”) as well as additional holiday originals during its two sets on the Island.

Sat., Dec 27, 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m.
$5 with museum admission, cheaper for member ($10 for the theater only)
Long Island Children’s Museum
11 Davis Ave.
Garden City
Long Island
516-224-5800
Online: licm.org

What’s your must-see music show of the season? Tell us in the comments below!

—Jeff Bogle

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Date Night: Best Eco-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma

by Erin Lem

Everyone seems to have an eco-friendly angle these days, but the wineries of Sonoma (and the area itself) have long been committed leaders within the movement. Many Sonoma wineries use a combination of green techniques like solar power and organic farming, while others have taken it to the next level using biodynamics. Here are our favorite eco-friendly wineries and the tour companies who will take you there:

Quivira Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg stands by statements like “live in balance with your surroundings” and “experience a true vineyard farm.” They embrace all biodynamic farming practices from the spiritual to scientific, which means they obsessively monitor healthy microbiotic life, and use only materials from their self-sustaining vineyards, compost piles, farm animals, and vegetable gardens. Their tasty wines are carefully made to respect the natural flavors of the soils and the specific elements found in each vineyard.

Benziger Family Winery remains a leader in the eco-friendly movement with biodynamic gardens and wines and countless accolades for their green practices and farming over the years. The estate is earthy and beautiful, tours informative and nature-filled, and entire portfolio of wines are certified sustainable, organic, or biodynamic. Tribute, a robust Cabernet blend, was the first Demeter-certified Biodynamic wine from Sonoma Country and one of the first in Northern America.

To read the full article to discover more of what eco-friendly Sonoma has to offer, click here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.

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Date Night: Cask Wines

by Erin Lem

How do you like your wine? In a glass? By the bottle? What about a keg? Seattle Magazine has the skinny on which local restaurants are pairing up with area wineries to offer eco-friendly, inexpensive, and delicious wine by the carafe. The secret? Casks kept behind the bar. If you like your wine cheap and free flowing, consider one of the listed restaurants for your next Date Night.

You drive into some tiny village, walk into the local brasserie and order the set menu for lunch. A carafe of wine, pumped from a barrel and probably made in the barn of some fellow down the road, is plunked down on your table. Your bill? Around $25 for two.

That’s how Thierry Rautureau remembers doing things in his native France, and that’s the experience he wanted to re-create at Luc, his casual Madison Park eatery. So he turned to his winemaker down the road, Paul Beveridge, owner of Madrona’s Wilridge Winery. “I told Paul I wanted a carafe of wine on every table. Two glasses shouldn’t cost more than $10,” Rautureau says.

His timing was perfect. It was August 2010, the recession still slogging on, and Beveridge was working on a cheaper, greener and more efficient packaging concept he says no one in the state of Washington had done before (legally), though it was already becoming popular in New York and the Bay Area. “People were still drinking wine,” says Beveridge. “They were drinking more than ever. They just didn’t want to pay as much.”

Beveridge, who normally sells bottles for between $16 and $29, began eschewing traditional wine bottles and corks for 20-liter pony-size stainless steel kegs that restaurants could keep tapped behind the bar. When poured from the taps at Luc, his Wilridge Maison blends, a red and white that he says are comparable in quality to his pricier wines, cost $10 for a 10-ounce half-carafe. Winery customers can also buy the kegs ($260 for about 26 bottles) and refillable 1.5-liter magnum bottles ($20, plus a $8 bottle fee; also available at area Whole Foods).

Though the concept isn’t new, modern technology makes serving wines on tap a game changer. The winery’s packaging and shipping costs are drastically reduced, as is the carbon footprint. Inert gas in the kegs keeps the wine fresh for six months or longer, so bars and restaurants never have to pour wine down the drain. Bar owners are thrilled to pass the savings on to their customers. “I wouldn’t normally open up an $80 bottle and offer it by the glass,” says Henri Schock, owner of Bottlehouse in Madrona. But having three wines on tap enables him to offer glass pours of that caliber.

Other Northwest wineries have jumped in, including Woodinville’s Hestia Cellars, Syncline in the Columbia Valley, Lake Chelan Winery and Oregon’s A to Z Wineworks. The list of restaurants serving tap wine is growing, too; Bottlehouse (Madrona), Black Bottle (Downtown/Bellevue) and Locöl Barley and Vine (West Seattle), to name just a few. At Skillet Diner on Capitol Hill, Proletariat’s keg wine (served in a Mason jar) is the only option.

Darin Williams of Woodinville-based wine distributor Small Lot has been signing on two to three new keg wine clients a week since March, when his company started its own Walla Walla winery, Proletariat—a name that honors the accessibility of keg wine. “Wine should be for the people, not just the rich,” says Williams. He has brought in Sean Boyd, winemaker of Rotie Cellars in Walla Walla, to craft the Proletariat blends: four reds and four whites, all sourced from Washington grape growers. At Locöl, Proletariat and another tap wine, La Botte Piccola, have been so popular that the bar is going through two kegs a week—the equivalent of about 160 glasses, says Locöl’s Allison Workman. “Customers love it,” she says. “It’s greener, and the wine is really good.”

Woodinville’s La Botte Piccola Wine Company is now working with winemakers from J & S Crush and Edmonds Winery to distribute its own custom wines under the Piccola Cellars label. It’s also planning to allow customers to buy pony-size kegs from Locöl Barley and Vine (kegged wine can last for months at home, as long as it’s kept under pressure). At Piccola’s new Woodinville tasting room, the 1- or 1.5-liter bottles offered are refillable. “Unless it’s a wine that you want to mature for a while, the bottle just isn’t necessary,” says Diana Kaspic, owner of La Botte Piccola. And kegs, she says, are just the beginning. Her next project: refillable leather wineskin bags you can take camping.

If you’re asking yourself, where can I score some of these local tap wines, then be sure to read the full article.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

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Date Night: Off the Beaten Path Napa Wineries

by Erin Lem

Want to go wine-tasting in Napa this weekend and avoid the majority of the weekend crowds? Check out 7×7‘s list of out-of-the-way wineries that aren’t too out there.

Many of 450 or so wineries in Napa Valley are too far off the beaten path for an easy day-trip from SF. But it might surprise you to learn how many of the best “off the beaten path” spots are actually only a stones throw away from the iconic wineries that line Highway 29. Here are a few new favorites:

Larkmead Vineyards is nestled at one of the narrowest points of the valley floor, surrounded on all sides by vineyards and mountains. It feels like you’re a million miles away from anything, but the truth is, you’re in between Calistoga and St. Helena and less than a mile of Highway 29. The vineyards are renowned, the winery is designed by famous architect, Howard Backen, and the wines are good enough that they forced me to re-organize my small wine fridge to make some room.

Frank Family is across the street from Larkmead and provides an educational, quirky and personal tasting experience. They make great wines (try the Cab) and are known for their customer service, meaning you’ll feel comfortable no matter what your level of wine education or interest may be.

Titus Vineyards, who make a great Zin to pair with BBQ, is a tiny place that looks more like a rustic, antique home (because it was) than it does a winery. This also makes it very easy to pass even when you’re looking for it. Titus is on the Silverado Trail (one of two main veins that run up the valley) and located just past a “busy” intersection that leads to Angwin, Calistoga or Highway 29 (trust me, you’ll still pass it the first time). Their wines are serious but their picnic table tastings and hospitality are laid back and relaxed.

To continue with the rest of the article, click here.

By Ian White

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.

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Date Night: Sample Spirits from Seattle’s New Distilleries

by Erin Lem

Tired of weekend winery trips? Why not call up the babysitter and slip out for an afternoon of sampling locally-produced spirits? Our friends at Seattle Magazine have done the research for us, and here is their list of local and up-and-coming distilleries in the greater Seattle Area. Welcome to another edition of Date Night.

The recent boom in Seattle booze distillers comes thanks to the Washington State Craft Distillery Law (passed in 2008), which allows local liquor producers to offer on-site tasting and bottle sales, à la wineries—provided that at least 51 percent of the liquor ingredients are grown in state. Accordingly, a slew of recently opened distilleries now offer facility tours and tasting rooms, so you can try before you buy. Bonus points: Increase your locavore cred by ordering a drink made with local spirits at area bars that carry them.

Swill from the still at these LOCAL distillery tasting rooms:

Sun Liquor Distillery and Bar (pictured)
Capitol Hill
514 East Pike Street
sunliquor.com
Taste: Sun Liquor gin
Claim to fame: First Washington establishment to  be both a distillery and a bar
Also poured at: Sun Liquor’s first location (bar only) at 607 Summit Avenue East

Sound Spirits
Interbay
1630 15th Avenue West
drinksoundspirits.com
Taste: Ebb + Flow vodka and gin, and coming soon, aquavit
Claim to fame: Seattle’s first distillery since Prohibition
Also poured at: Bars such as Rob Roy, The Hideout and Oliver’s Twist

Bainbridge Organic Distillers
Bainbridge Island
9727 Coppertop Loop Northeast, Suite 101
bainbridgedistillers.com
Taste: Legacy organic vodka, Heritage organic gin, Battle Point whiskey
Claim to fame: First organic distillery in Washington
Also poured at: Seattle bars such as Brouwer’s Cafe, Local 360, Liberty, Mistral Kitchen, Tavern Law, and on Bainbridge at Harbour Pub and Hitchcock

To discover more date-worthy Seattle distilleries, click here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

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Daddy & Me Photo Contest Finalist #5

by drealestercontributor

Drum roll please… Here are the finalists of the Daddy & Me Photo contest! Warning: These pictures will crack you up and will warm your heart. Now it’s time to vote for your favorite submission!

Send an email to promo@tinybeans.go-vip.net with city name along with the finalist’s number. Example: “Los Angeles 18”. The picture with the most votes wins!

Finalist #5

I love this picture of my husband and our twins.  They were rolling and playing in the grass at Rideau Winery, they looked so happy. My husband and I were blessed with twins and I would love to show the world just how happy my family is. Carla Langley

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next

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Tourist For a Day: 3 Perfect Day Trips In Our Own Backyard

by Erin Lem

FIVE MILES: Sausalito + Cavallo Point
Stellar sushi, holistic makeovers, and a Michelin-starred restaurant in the village across the bay.

9 am Cross the Golden Gate and overshoot Sausalito by a few miles for breakfast at the Dipsea Café, just off the Stinson Beach/Mill Valley exit from 101 North. Marinites worship at this brekkie altar because of the nonstandard offerings, like a homemade gravlax platter, cheese blintzes, and a sinful chorizo-tortilla scramble. 200 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, 415-381-0298.

10 am Head over to Sea Trek in Sausalito for some bay kayaking. Your options are many: Take a guided paddle under the Golden Gate Bridge, or stay closer to shore in the Sausalito harbor. You can also rent a beginner’s sit-atop kayak and take it out on your own, skipping the intro class. Schoonaker Point Marina, Sausalito, 415-332-8494.

1 pm Dry off and head to town for a well-earned lunch at Sushi Ran. There’s a simple reason city dwellers cross the bridge for a fix at this sushi institution: the fish. Shark-skin flounder flown in from Tokyo’s Tsukiji market sits alongside a spicy tuna roll that even purists salivate over, and you can’t go wrong with the omakase lunch special. Reservations are recommended for the main dining room. 107 Caledonia St., 415-332-3620.

2 pm Spend a long afternoon at Cavallo Point, the otherworldy, sprawling lodge nestled within Fort Baker. The simple but luxurious design blends into the national park setting, making the 3-year-old resort somewhat of a hidden gem. The Healing Arts Center & Spa offers more than just the usual facials and massages. There’s also acupuncture, herbal consultations, and nutritional counseling. Better yet, get an internal makeover with Cavallo’s resident doctor, Brad Jacobs, who runs Cavallo’s Integrative Medicine program. Sit down with him for an hour or two, and Dr. Jacobs will design a personalized health regimen, including diet, exercise, supplements, and mind-body relaxation techniques. Afterward, relax by the roaring fire, and order from the tea bar. 601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, 415-339-4700.

6 pm Though the vibe at Cavallo’s bar, Farley’s, is laid-back, there’s an air of old money, and they make a mean negroni that goes nicely with it. Afterward, settle in for dinner at Murray Circle, where executive chef and Michael Mina alum Joseph Humphrey has earned himself a Michelin star for his imaginative yet restrained take on fresh and local. You’ll find Devil’s Gulch rabbit (with prosciutto, celery root, chanterelles, smoked dates, and braised romaine), Liberty Farms duck (with roasted foie gras and turnips cooked in caramel, fennel, and licorice), and Drakes Bay oysters from Inverness served three ways. Save room for the wine-paired chocolate tasting at the end.

10 MILES: Lake Merritt + Piedmont
Pastries, rowboats, and a hidden hot springs in Oakland’s urban enclave.

9 am Take the Bay Bridge to 580 East to Lake Merritt, Oakland’s 3.4-mile-round lagoon just outside downtown. To the north of the lake, stop at Berkeley’s Cheeseboard offshoot, Arizmendi Bakery, for coffee, sticky pecan rolls, corn-cherry scones, or a sweet brioche knot. 3265 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, 510-268-8849.

10:30 am Drive 5 minutes to the Lake Merritt Boating Center to rent a rowboat. The boats are classic (and make for a romantic floating picnic), but if you want something easier to steer, the center also rents out pedal boats and kayaks. Make stops along the beaches and parks on the shore where fishermen are casting, or head straight

out to the center of the lake, bring your oars into the boat, and then relax in the sun as you drift back. 568 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, 510-238-2196.

1 pm After you drop off the boat, drive clockwise around the lake to the other side. Opposite the boating center is Lake Chalet, owned by Gar and Lara Truppelli of Beach Chalet and Park Chalet in Golden Gate Park. For a satisfying lunch with a view, grab a table or couch at the end of the dock, and order sweet potato fries or calamari with a pint of one of the house-made ales, such as a crisp Lady of the Lake pale with a hint of hops. You deserve it. 1520 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, 510-208-5253.

2:30 pm Spend the rest of the afternoon on quaint Piedmont Avenue, just two miles north of the lake. Between Pleasant Valley Avenue and West MacArthur Boulevard, you’ll find a row of restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and boutiques, plus the Piedmont Landmark Theatre, a tiny three-screener that shows (mostly) quirky independent films and cult classics. Hidden behind a glass storefront on the same stretch of sidewalk is Piedmont Springs. The spa is great for soothing aching muscles with a massage, quick steam, or time in one of the private “combination” rooms with an outdoor hot tub and cedar-lined sauna room, for just $22 an hour. 3939 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, 510-652-9191; 
4186 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, 
510-985-1252.

7 pm For the past two years, Oakland’s been buzzing over chef James Syhabout’s Commis. The white, open-kitchen dining room is minimalist and anything but pretentious. The four-course menu ($68), based on California seasonal cuisine, keeps it simple with just nine dishes including desserts. Think rich sunchoke soup; roasted chicken with braised garlic, potato, and caramelized onions; and a creamy panna cotta punched up with citrus, pomegranate, and coriander. 3859 Piedmont Ave., 510-653-3902.

30 MILES: Woodside + Half Moon Bay
Power breakfasts, towering redwoods, and big red wines half an hour south of town.

10 am Drive down Interstate 280 to Woodside for breakfast at Buck’s, which looks like a kitsch-splattered diner owned by a crazy man (that would be Jamis MacNiven, father to the local MacNiven brothers who run Woodhouse Fish Co.), but it’s actually a gathering spot for Silicon Valley power brokers. You’re here for the legend more than the food—though French toast made with croissants is definitely worth a try. 3062 Woodside Road, Woodside, 650-851-8010.

11:30 am Head inland on Skyline Drive to Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, a little-known piece of nature in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its 21 miles of groomed hiking trails take you through redwood groves, canyons, and hilltops with sweeping views of the coast. Skyline Boulevard, 650-691-1200.

3 pm Continue north on Skyline Boulevard toward Half Moon Bay. Just a few miles before its downtown, stop at La Nebbia Winery. Don’t let its down-home tasting room fool you. The winery produces well-regarded Sangiovese, Cabernet, and Muscat. Tastings are only $8, there are light snacks on hand (or you can bring your own), and you’re encouraged to wander out to the bocce court for a leisurely game. On the second and fourth Sunday of the month, the winery hosts local musicians. 12341 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay, 650-726-7074.

5 pm Just north of HMB on Highway 1, Sam’s Chowder House is the definitive place to be come dinnertime. Have drinks on the deck’s Adirondack chairs overlooking the ocean, and warm up by the heat lamps and fire pits. On Saturdays 4–8 pm and Sundays 1–5 pm, there’s live music outside, everything from rock to jazz, blues, reggae, and more. Afterward, go inside for crab cakes, cioppino, clams with linguini, or a decadent Maine lobster roll. True to its East Coast roots, Sam’s serves both both New England and Manhattan-style clam chowder. There’s homemade soft-serve or a root beer float for dessert. With home a mere half hour away, you can stay as long as you like. 4210 N. Cabrillo Hwy., Half Moon Bay, 650-712-0245.

By 7×7 Editors

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.


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