I love Hallberg Butterfly Gardens (see previous review). But while they get five stars for concept…read moreand purpose - butterfly conservation and education - they get one star in execution. In all the times I've been here - and it's many over the years - I have never seen a single employee on the property. There is no one available to answer questions, tell you about butterflies, or even discuss events. We signed up for an event today, and there was not a single person on the property. We wandered around for an hour and found NO ONE. Oddly enough, you can't get in touch with them via phone, either, because no one ever answers. Try for yourself and see. There's no outgoing info when you call, and you cannot leave a message. Amazingly, there aren't even posters displaying the different types of butterflies you might see, or how to identify them. Given that this place focuses on butterfly education, you would think they would offer some education...? Moreover, the place is falling apart - it's run down with poor signage. There's also a massive amount of disorganization: we signed up for one event on 7/2, and got confirmation for an event that already happened weeks ago. There was no info contained in the email beyond the gate code and the time to show up. We didn't know if someone would be leading the event or if we would be meeting people there. (Answer: no and no.) Hiring a part-time assistant to organize public events that attract people here would be a worthwhile investment, one would think...? I am ALL about natural spaces and supporting science education, and have always supposed the Gardens -- but if this place wants to make money and keep fans, they need to prioritize, even minimally, the people and events that support their existence.

What a local gem! I…read moregrew up in Sonoma County and I was just about today years old when I discovered this spot. Louise Hallberg was the original matriarch who created this property and lived to be over 100! In her 60's she began to cultivate and grow this beautiful space. It's truly a labor of love that is still preserved today. Donation based, you can schedule a self guided tour to view the gardens. We scheduled online and brought a picnic which was a wonderful idea and perfectly lovely afternoon in the meadow. We didn't see a lot of butterflies but that's ok. The property is lovingly tended by many volunteers. Truly a hidden gem in West County.

We stopped by Stonemason Cellars before heading to the airport and had a wonderful time. We opted…read morefor the food and wine pairing, which included a variety of wines served alongside crackers and several of the jams they sell. Everything paired beautifully, and it was a fun way to experience their offerings. After our tasting, we stayed for a glass of Pinot and a cheese board, which was equally delicious, and we were able to try a couple of their mustards, one of which we ended up taking home! Shauna took care of us and was absolutely amazing! She was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience so enjoyable. We'd come back just to hang out with her. We visited on a weekday afternoon and had no trouble finding street parking, though I'm not sure what it's like during busier times. Overall, it was a great experience from start to finish. We'll definitely be back!

This is such a fantastic, cute, and cozy spot in Santa Rosa with fantastic wines! I really enjoyed…read morethe tasting I had here! Devin is the best and he made me feel right at home during my tasting! He was so personable and it was really great to talk to him about the different varieties of wine that were offered. I would say that I have no palette for differentiating the different nuanced notes in wine but after a tasting with Devin - I really felt like my palette got more nuanced and I was able to pick out different spice and fruit notes after talking with him. I would definitely recommend this spot to everyone - especially if Devin is there!

My girlfriend and I were lucky enough to stumble upon Sam's studio while we were in the area…read morechecking out some antique shops. Sam was gracious and engaging, I loved picking his brain about his work. His art is captivating and thought provoking - everywhere you look there's something new to discover. Go in with an open mind and prepare to go down the rabbit hole!

I stumbled upon the Rabbit Hole Art Gallery & Studio last weekend while visiting Sebastopol. I…read moredropped in and met with Sam and was amazed by his incredible artwork - it's really amazing how versatile and diverse his work is. He's truly a talented artist and the Rabbit Hole has a very open, welcoming feeling to it. Sam was there to answer any questions and shared the background on some of my favorite pieces. If you're in the area (or even if you're not), it's definitely worth a visit! I'll be a regular visitor and can't wait to see what Sam's up to next.

This is a neat tower of bikes crushed together into a unique art piece. The sculpture, designed and…read morecreated by artists Mike Grieve and Ilana Spector, is made up of recycled bike parts from 340 bicycles (including one tricycle). It's definitely a colorful and creative display, well-preserved, with a couple of benches conveniently located right next to it. The artwork was cool to check out, despite its odd location in front of a Kia Dealership.

Santa Rosa has a requirement that construction projects must put 1% of their budget towards public…read moreart and while that's made for a bunch of murals and benches and sculptures, there's nothing quite like this column of bicycles that were paid for when the nearby car dealership was constructed. Cyclisk - "cycle" and "obelisk" was installed in 2010 with the parts of 339 bicycles and one tricycle that were all beyond repair and destined for landfill. Instead, they were donated by non-profit groups and assembled by the artists. Yes, Mark Grieve and Ilana Spector came up with this concept and managed to get it approved by the city, built and then installed. The artwork is 65 feet tall and yes, look closely and you'll spot handlebars and frames and pedals and wheel forks and sprockets. I've never seen anything like it. Access is free. There is parking at the car dealership and next to the car wash. Zoom in to show the pieces involved. [Round number review 21000 overall - 517 in California - 1985 of 2023.]

May 2, 2026 - Santa Rosa…read more This has become our go-to spot whenever we're in Santa Rosa. The bike racing theme gives it a fun, unique vibe, and the atmosphere is always warm and welcoming. Service is consistently quick and friendly--but definitely make reservations, because this place is always busy. We started with their delicious house bread served alongside an olive tapenade--such a great way to kick things off. We also ordered a bottle of the Tom Mackey Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, which paired nicely with everything that followed. For appetizers, we shared the grilled polenta and calamari, both of which were excellent. For my main, I ordered the house special seafood risotto, which was flavorful and perfectly cooked. My husband had the Spaghetti Pescatore--loaded with wild prawns, clams, calamari, fresh scallops, and fish of the day in a light tomato, garlic, and olive oil sauce--and it was just as good as it sounds. Around the table, we also had the lamb ravioli, Spaghetti Levi Leipheimer, and the Gnocchi Riviera, and every dish was a hit. Consistently great food, a lively atmosphere, and reliable service make this our must-do restaurant while in Santa Rosa.

My husband and I ate there for our anniversary. At 6:30 PM on a Wed, no reservations needed. I've…read morebeen before on a weekend, and it was very crowded. Service was good, we enjoyed the bread and our bottle of chianti. They served olive tapenade with the bread. We both had salads that we enjoyed very much, the arugula with fennel, goat cheese, golden beets & balsamic and the RADICCHIO salad with pear, gorganzola cheese, fennel & balsamic. We both loved our entrees: They were just perfect: SPAGHETTI PESCATORA FETTUCCINE BOLOGNESE To top it off we shared a Tiramisu for dessert. Everything was absolutely delicious. The service was good and prompt, the very boisterous waiter was kind, enthusiastic, and sometimes hard to understand. All in all it was a great experience. The vibe is old school Italian restaurant. I love that their wine list has plenty of Italian wines because CA wines give me a migraine. Its a sweet place that I will return to.

Great sandwiches and reasonable prices. Will definitely be coming back soon for sure.read more

By far the worst sandwich I've had in Sonoma County in 30 years !!!…read moreObviously, they changed owners they pulled out the local made products and have nothing but processed Junk and Candy The godfather used to be this amazing tri-tip barbecue sandwich. This was pathetic. They should throw away all the tri-tip and not offer the sandwich anymore. They used to serve this hot now it's cold and 50% gristle This sandwich used to come with barbecue sauce, red onions and peppers. Halfway through my first sandwich, I noticed no peppers, I opened the other half before I ate it, and it was the stem of the pepper and one other tiny and a sliver of a red onion and a ton of mayonnaise and they use kinder's barbecue sauce, squirt bottle, not the good old stuff. So don't waste your money on a $15 sandwich which is in the garbage can now.

I was just at Whole Foods a few weeks ago and boy did they transform that space to make way for…read moreTaylor Lane (formerly known as Taylor Maid.) I was headed to work and running a bit late so I didn't have as much time to chat as I would have liked. (Namely I wonder what happened to the original café spot in Whole Foods? Will they simply be doing the smoothies now? Moving on. ) I took the barista's recommendation for a lavender latte to go along with the avocado toast. It was beautiful and crafted expertly but boy oh boy lavender lattes will never be repeated by me. Sooo not my thing. Hahha. I love the coffee and espresso by Taylor Lane so I'll just order differently next time. Speaking of NEXT TIME - I look forward to another avocado toast and plan to be enjoying that soon! I never really got into the trend of avocado toast but clearly I didn't know what I was missing. The bread was toasted perfectly - crisped on the edge but soft inside. The guacamole was creamy and flavorful and balanced perfectly with the lemon and sesame Adding to it all, micro basil and a drizzle of olive oil. HEAVEN. Great addition!!!

Stopped in today with a Yelp Party Pass for a morning treat. When I first walked into the Whole…read moreFoods store, I completely missed seeing the location of the coffee bar. It's not marked too well. By the time I toured the entire store and made my way back to where I started, there it was relocated next to the front door! I ordered the avocado toast which is served on a Red Bird Bakery thick slice of yummy wheat bread. The avocado spread was lemony and bright, topped with sesame seeds and sprouts. It was quite good. I ordered an Americano coffee drink, and there was really too much water mixed with the shot of espresso. The two gals that were serving were both very friendly and quick. It's a nice set up and they also have Red Bird pastries too! I really love this Whole Foods store and Taylor Lane is a great addition!

The Springs wONEder Project has transformed the otherwise dreary stretch of Highway 12 that is…read morenorth of the town of Sonoma. Plain Jane's is no longer plain. Armando's Auto makes a typical oil change look less typical. El Brinquito's piñata chicken statue is the true El Pollo Loco, adding color to the community. The Sonoma Salon&La Tienda Iniquez have become glorious, colorful works of art. La Michoacana, which once had a bland beige exterior, is now a fiesta for the eyes (along with the mouth) The Springs wONEder Project is the brain child of Sebastopol artist Rico Martin. He had long experience doing ad campaigns&rebranding with companies like HBO, Cinemax, the Discovery Channel, the AIDS Walk, and he helped make "the Springs" north of Sonoma into a vibrant area. Martin transformed this often bypassed stretch of road. Tragically, Martin passed away recently not far from Mt. Shasta- http://www.sonomanews.com/news/7258514-181/family-says-rico-martin-dies?artslide=0 One can only hope that the wONEder Project lives on, as vibrant as the brilliant buildings that have sprung up in the Springs.

This statue is right next to Russian River Brewery on 4th st…read more The life-size basalt sculpture, a gift from the city's South Korean sister city, Bukjeju - as I found out from a quick Google search. The cobblestone lined fountain really does look beautiful and adds some flavor and class to the downtown Santa Rosa area. I don't know the meaning behind the statue itself - but enjoy it every time I visit the area. Public art is something every city strives to incorporate - this was executed here very well. Blends in with harmony to the surrounding area and Jeju Way - the tiny park located directly behind the statue. Russian River and the Chinese restaurant next door, Ting Hau are the closest business - on either side of the statue is diagonal street parking.

I recently discovered there are 2 locations. This review was meant for the Petaluma location. I…read moream sure Santa Rosa is great, too! I love this place! From the moment I walked in, good vibes all around. Julie is serving me at the bar and she is on point. I started with a glass of Vermentino and the Insalata Della Casa. How many house salads come with artichokes and pickled onions these days? It was light and refreshing. Moving on to the pasta course. I ordered the Scarpariello and it was surprisingly light for a pasta dish, and loaded with flavor. Yellow and red baby tomato sauce with fresh basil, Calabria chili and pecorino. I wanted a glass of red to accompany the dish and was contemplating a Primitivo. When I mentioned this to Julie, she offered an off list Primitivo without the jammy punch. It was nice, she was on to what I was trying to achieve. I ended up with a Sangiovese and my dignity. All around a great experience and I didn't feel like I was mugged after paying the bill. I really appreciate a good glass of wine for $12-15. I am exhausted by paying $20 for mediocre wine in wine country. Thank you Julie and company for appreciating your cliente. Oh, and don't get me started on the pepper grinder. Seriously, order pepper on EVERYTHING!!!!!!

Absolutely delicious pizza, wonderful service, and a fun interior mimicking the streets of Italy…read more All the vegetarian pizzas were very tasty from the cheese to the sauce and the dough. Very happy to have found this place. Our sommelier during a wine tasting in Napa recommended it and L'Oro Di Napoli did not disappoint.