Lifestyle

With the onset of spring last week—despite the cold and rain—Healdsburg is beginning to wake up from its sleepy winter months and get back in gear as the food/wine/music destination city it has become, with five significant celebrations coming to town in the coming months.

One of the world’s largest collections of nutcracker dolls gazes down on breakfast diners at Healdsburg’s Costeaux French Bakery this time of year, promoting the holiday spirit at the 100-year-old bakery. From mid-November into mid-January, hundreds of the small wood effigies of spirits, tin...

For the second year in a row, the docents of the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society make history come alive in the Healdsburg Plaza, on successive Saturdays until Aug. 31. ..

When asked how Watch Duty stands out from other wildfire apps, John C. Mills’ answer was simple: accuracy and immediacy. “We don’t speculate,” he said. “We disseminate information directly from professionals. If a first responder says a fire will reach a community in 17 minutes, we relay that information without delay. That’s our commitment to transparency.”

Acre uses Pizza Master electric ovens, which keep the temperature constant on top and bottom. And DeCosse is a big advocate of pre-roasting the vegetables before they’re put on the pizza to go in the oven. This, he insists, helps to avoid the dreaded “floppy pizza.”

Several local pizzerias have an unspoken bond running between their kitchens. Geyserville’s Diavola, the Matheson restaurant, Journeyman Meat Co., PizZando … even Big John’s Market. The common element is that they all purchased their pizza ovens from Mugnaini, a wood fire oven manufacturer in Healdsburg...

Space for vendors has always been a concern for the Farmers’ Market organization and the vendors themselves. “I’ll confess to not being a fan of it initially,” Janet Ciel said. “I realized it would be challenging to put vendors up there (on the stage area), as they can’t drive a car onto it. Everything will have to go up via stairs or a ramp.” But as she’s become used to the space, she’s recognized its potential.

Santa Rosa has its Rose Parade, Healdsburg has its 4H/FFA Parade, but Geyserville lays claim to the world’s biggest Lighted Tractor Parade, now in its 14th year (or is it the 15th?). On Saturday, Nov. 25, the small town where Alexander Valley meets Highway...

The first major event that comes our way in 2025 is the annual Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival, on Saturday, Feb. 8. This one-day science fair of all things steelhead (and their allies, anadromous and otherwise), draws about 10,000 people on its single day of exhibitions and activities to the Milt Brandt Visitors Center, Lake Sonoma.

This year the Gay Wine Weekend becomes even more closely tied to Healdsburg, with the Lodge at Healdsburg on Grove Street serving as unofficial headquarters. As well as the winery tours and winemaker dinners, the signature events continue this year for the most part at Healdsburg-area locations.