Best Antique Shop

Marin

Dove Place Antiques

306 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.,
San Anselmo. 415.453.1490.

Napa

Antiques on Second

1370 Second St., Napa. 707.252.6353.

Sonoma

Whistlestop Antiques

130 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.542.9474.

Honorable Mention

Food for Thought Antiques

2701 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol.
707.823.3101.

Best Resale Store

Marin

Yeah Baby!

1830 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.,
Fairfax. 415.459.4493.

Napa

LoLo’s

1120 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.7972.

Sonoma

Launch

971 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol.
707.829.3312.

Honorable Mention

Pine Grove
General Store

149 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.829.1138.

Best Pawn Shop

Sonoma

Santa Rosa Pawn Shop

1831 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa.
707.872.7296.

Honorable Mention

Liberal Loan Pawn

611 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 707.528.1380.

Best Art Supply Store

Marin

RileyStreet
Art Supply

1138 Fourth St., San Rafael.415.457.2787.

Napa

Napa Valley Art Supplies

3250 California Blvd., Napa.
707.224.2775.

Sonoma

Rileystreet
Art Suppy

103 Maxwell Court, Santa Rosa.
707.526.2416.

Honorable Mention

Art & Soul
of Sebastopol

156 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.824.4837.

Best Framing Shop

Marin

Ringseis Designs

1824 Sir Frances Drake Blvd., Fairfax.
415.456.8121.

Napa

Fastframe Napa

1346 Trancas St., Napa.
707.226.3422.

Sonoma

My Daughter
the Framer

637 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.542.3599.

Honorable Mention

Frame of Mind

6671 Front St., Forestville.
707.887.8530.

Best Gift Shop

Marin

Herban Garden

15 Bolinas Road, Fairfax.
415.453.7109.

Napa

Napa Valley
Traditions

1202 Main St., Napa.
707.226.2044.

Sonoma

Milk & Honey

123 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.824.1155.

Honorable Mention

Kindred Fair Trade Handcrafts

605 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.579.1459.

Best Bookstore-New

Marin

Book Passage

51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera.
415.927.0960.

Napa

Copperfield’s Books

3740 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa.
707.252.8002.

1330 Lincoln St., Calistoga.
707.942.1616.

Sonoma

Copperfield’s Books

140 Kentucky St., Petaluma.
707.762.0563.

775 Village Court, Santa Rosa.
707.578.8938.

138 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.823.2618.

Honorable Mention

Levin & Company

306 Center St., Healdsburg. 707.433.1118.

Best Bookstore-Used

Marin

Rebound Bookstore

1611 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.482.0550.

Napa

Napa Bookmine

964 Pearl St., Napa. 707.733.3199.

Sonoma

Copperfield’s Books

140 Kentucky St., Petaluma.
707.762.0563.

Honorable Mention

Treehorn Books

625 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.525.1782.

Best Musical Instruments Store

Marin

Bananas at Large

1504 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.457.7600.

Napa

Napa Music Supply

2026 Redwood Road, Napa.
707.265.8275.

Sonoma

People’s Music

122 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.823.7664.

Honorable Mention

Tall Toad Music

43 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma.
707.765.6807.

Best Record/
CD Store

Marin

Red Devil Records

894 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.457.8999.

Sonoma

Last Record Store

1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.525.1963.

Best Jewelry Store

Marin

Point Reyes Jeweler

11101 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station.
415.663.1936.

Napa

Napa Valley Jewelers

1317 Napa Town Center, Napa.
707.224.0997.

Sonoma

Artisana

146 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.829.3036.

Honorable Mention

E.R. Sawyer Jewelers

638 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.657.4004.

Best Knitting/Craft Shop

Marin

Dharma Trading Company

1604 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.456.1211.

Napa

Yarns on First

1305 First St., Napa. 707.257.1363.

Sonoma

Cast Away & Folk

100 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.546.9276.

Honorable Mention

Yarnitudes

3598 Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol. .707.827.3618.

Best Clothing Store-Men’s

Marin

Louis Thomas
Fine Men’s Apparel

211 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera.
415.924.1715.

Napa

Mario’s

1223 Main St., St Helena.
707.963.1603.

Sonoma

Kaliber

315 D St., Santa Rosa.
707.528.0182.

Honorable Mention

Louis Thomas
Fine Men’s Apparel

150 Kentucky St., Petaluma.
707.765.1715.

Best Clothing Store-Women’s

Marin

Susan Hayes Handwovens

80 Fourth St., Pt. Reyes Station.
415.663.8057.

Napa

Miyamo

1128 First St., Napa.
707.251.9058.

Sonoma

Punch

711 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.526.4766.

Honorable Mention

Dressers

145 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.829.8757.

Best Vintage Clothing Store

Marin

Stella’s Fine Consignments

224 Greenfield Ave. #3,
San Anselmo. 415.453.6191.

Napa

Wildcat Vintage Clothing

1210 First St., Napa.
707.224.3162.

Sonoma

Aubergine

755 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol.
707.827.3460.

Honorable Mention

Haute Couture

101 Third St., Santa Rosa.
707.528.7247.

Best Shoe Store

Marin

Sole Desire

184 Bon Air Center, Greenbrae.
415.419.8130.

5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael.
415.472.1202.

Napa

Shoes on First

1209 First St., Napa. 707.252.7280.

Sonoma

Sole Desire

710 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa.
707.571.8643.

2411 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.542.1690.

176 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.634.7401.

11 E. Napa St., Sonoma. 707.931.0357.

500 W. Napa St., Sonoma. 707.933.1702.

Honorable Mention

Santa Rosa Shoes

2255 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.546.1083.

Best Appliance/Kitchen Design

Marin

Martin & Harris Appliances

2158 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.454.2021.

Napa

Spice Islands Marketplace

2555 Main St., St. Helena. 707.967.1100.

Sonoma

TeeVax

422 Wilson St., Santa Rosa.
707.545.1195.

Honorable Mention

Asien’s Appliance

1801 Piner Road, Santa Rosa.
707.546.3749.

Best Furniture/Home Furnishings

Marin

Sunrise Home

831 B St., San Rafael. 415.456.3939.

Napa

Definitely Different

2977 Solano Ave., Napa. 707.252.8015.

Sonoma

Cokas Diko

529 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.568.4044.

Honorable Mention

Pedersen’s Furniture

707 Fifth St., Santa Rosa.
707.542.1855.

Best Home Improvement

Marin

Pini Hardware

1535 S. Novato Ave., Novato.
415.892.1577.

Napa

Silverado Ace Hardware

1450 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.
707.942.4396.

Sonoma

Friedman’s Home Improvement

4055 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.584.7811.

1360 Broadway Ave., Sonoma.
707.939.8811.

Honorable Mention

Sebastopol Ace Hardware

660 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol.
707.823.7688.

Best Solar Retail

Marin

Sun First!

3060 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael.
415.458.5870.

Sonoma

Solar Works

400 Morris St., Sebastopol. 707.829.8282.

Honorable Mention

Gaia Energy Systems

716 College Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.272.8136.

Best Wi-fi
Hot Spot

Marin

Equator Coffee

115 Jordan St., San Rafael. 415.485.2213.

244 & 254 Shoreline Hwy.,
Mill Valley. 415.380.8900.

Napa

Molinaris

815 Main St., Napa. 707.927.3623.

Sonoma

Taylor Maid Farms

6790 McKinley St., Ste 130, Sebastopol.
707.634.7129.

Honorable Mention

Infusions Tea House

6988 McKinley St., Sebastopol.
707.829.1181.

Best Auto Dealer-New

Marin

Toyota of Marin

445 Francisco Blvd. E., San Rafael.
415.456.7071.

Napa

Jimmy Vasser Toyota
& Chevrolet of Napa

466 & 583 Soscol Ave., Napa. 707.927.4466.

Sonoma

Hansel Auto Group

www.hanselauto.com

Honorable Mention

Freeman Toyota

2875 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa.
800.225.3055.

Best Auto Dealer-
Pre-Owned

Marin

Toyota of Marin

445 Francisco Blvd. East., San Rafael.
415.456.7071.

Napa

Greenberg’s

784 Soscol Ave., Napa. 707.257.1565.

Sonoma

Hansel Auto Group

www.hanselauto.com

Honorable Mention

Manly Automotive Group

www.manlyauto.com

Best Motorcycle Shop

Marin

Hattar Motorsports

137 Front St., San Rafael.
415.456.3345.

Napa

Cross Town Cycles

1739 Action Ave., Napa.
707.251.9622.

Sonoma

Michael’s Harley-Davidson

7601 Redwood Drive, Cotati.
707.793.9180.

Honorable Mention

The Motorcycle Shop

3383 Airway Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.578.6686.

Best Scooter Shop

Sonoma

Revolution Moto

518 College Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.523.2371.

Honorable Mention

G & B Motorsports

326 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma.
707.763.4658.

Best Auto Detailing

Marin

Royal Coach Carwash

990 Francisco Blvd. E., San Rafael.
415.454.5660.

Napa

Rico’s Auto Detailing

1538 Third St., Napa. 707.252.8366.

Sonoma

Advanced Auto
Glass & Detail

2460 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.876.7434.

Honorable Mention

Autosport Detailing

1945 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.579.3710.

Best Auto Repair

Marin

Codoni’s
Auto Service

46 Hamilton Drive, Novato.
415.883.4448.

Napa

Zeller’s
Auto Repair

17320 Yajome St., Napa.
707.252.6567.

Sonoma

Out West Garage

321 Second St., Petaluma.
707.769.0162.

Honorable Mention

Green Tech Automotive

501 Barham Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.545.7076.

Best Nursery

Marin

Sunnyside Nursery

130 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo.
415.453.2701.

Napa

Van Winden’s

1805 Pueblo Ave., Napa.
707.255.8400.

Sonoma

Harmony
Farm Supply

3244 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol.
707.823.9125.

Honorable Mention

King’s Nursery

1212 13th St., Santa Rosa.
707.542.4782.

Best Hydroponic Supply Store

Marin

Marin Hydroponics

55 Frosty Lane, Novato.
415.233.4104.

721 Francisco Blvd. E., San Rafael.
415.482.8802.

Napa

Endless Green

55 Enterprise Court, Ste. 2, Napa.
707.254.0200.

Sonoma

Santa Rosa
Hydroponics

4880 Sonoma Hwy., Santa Rosa.
707.595.1340.

4130 S. Moorland Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.584.9370.

Honorable Mention

Hydro Depot

13 W. Third St., Santa Rosa.
707.542.3866.

5665 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park.
707.584.2384.

6731 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol.
707.829.1510.

Best Grocery Store

Marin

Good Earth
Natural Foods

720 Center Blvd., Fairfax.
415.454.0123.

Napa

Vallerga’s Market

3385 Solono Ave., Napa.
707.253.2621.

Sonoma

Oliver’s Market

546 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati.
707.950.9501.

560 Montecito Center, Santa Rosa.
707.537.7123.

461 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa.
707.284.3530.

Honorable Mention

Community Market

1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.546.1806.

6762 Sebastopol Ave. #100, Sebastopol.
707.407.4020.

Best Ethnic Market

Marin

Mi Pueblo Food Center

330 Bellam Blvd., San Rafael.
415.578.3971.

Napa

Morenita

2434 Jefferson St., Napa.
707.255.9068.

Sonoma

Lola’s Market

www.lolasmarkets.com

Honorable Mention

Asia Mart

2481 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa.
707.542.3513.

Best Natural Foods Store

Marin

Good Earth
Natural Foods

720 Center Blvd., Fairfax.
415.454.0123.

Napa

Golden Carrot
Natural Foods

1621 W. Imola Ave., Napa.
707.224.3117.

Sonoma

Community Market

1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.546.1806.

6762 Sebastopol Ave. #100, Sebastopol.
707.407.4020.

Honorable Mention

Oliver’s Market

546 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati.
707.950.9501.

560 Montecito Center, Santa Rosa.
707.537.7123.

461 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa.
707.284.3530.

Best
Culinary Store

Marin

Tyler Florence

59 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley.
415.380.9200.

Napa

Shackford’s
Kitchen Store

1350 Main St., Napa.
707.226.2132.

Sonoma

Cultivate

186 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.824.1400.

Honorable Mention

i Leoni

120 Kentucky Ave., Petaluma.
707.762.9611.

Best Pipe Shop

Marin

The Mighty Quinn

1099 Fourth St. #G, San Rafael.
415.457.2420.

Napa

The Mighty Quinn

110 Soscol Ave., Napa.
707.226.7420.

Sonoma

Peacepipe

622 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.541.7016.

8492 Gravenstein Hwy., Ste. C, Cotati.
707.795.6420.

Honorable Mention

The Mighty Quinn

3372 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.545.4975.

16 Western Ave., Petaluma.
707.762.9420.

Best Hair Salon

Marin

Elements Salon

447 Miller Ave., Mill Valley.
415.381.4247.

Napa

Vanity for Guys & Dolls

920 Franklin St., Napa.
707.258.8537.

Sonoma

Daredevils & Queens

122 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.575.5123.

Honorable Mention

Brush the Salon

322 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.
707.431.1400.

Best Nail Salon

Marin

Three Sisters

963 Grand Ave., San Rafael.
415.454.9662.

Napa

Napa Nails

1415 Second St., Napa.
707.224.4599.

Sonoma

Zen Nails & Day Spa

2330 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.545.5341.

Honorable Mention

Bella Mia Nail Studio

410 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma.
707.778.8959.

Best Skin
Care Services

Marin

EVO Spa

800 Redwood Hwy., Ste. 216,
Mill Valley. 415.383.3223.

Napa

Pure Skin Spa

1401 Lincoln Ave., Napa.
707.738.9511.

Sonoma

Bliss Organic Day Spa

186 N. Main St. #230, Sebastopol.
707.861.3434.

Honorable Mention

Kokeshi—
A Zen Facial Spa

1311 W. Steele Lane, Ste. B, Santa Rosa.
707.591.6732.

Best Body-
Art Place

Marin

Spider Murphy’s

1006 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael. 415.460.6979.

Napa

The Golden Owl Tattoo

926 Franklin St., Napa. 707.266.2454.

Sonoma

Buddha’s Palm
Tattoo Gallery

313 Main St., Sebastopol. 707.829.7256.

Honorable Mention

Faith Tattoo

600 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.566.9955.

Best Day Spa

Marin

EVO Spa

800 Redwood Hwy., Ste. 216, Mill Valley.
415.383.3223.

Napa

Spa Solage

755 Silverado Trail, Calistoga. 707.226.0800.

Sonoma

Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary

209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone. 707.823.8231.

Honorable Mention

Bliss Organic Day Spa

186 N. Main St. #230, Sebastopol.
707.861.3434.

Best Resort
& Spa

Napa

Bardessono

6526 Yount St., Yountville. 707.204.6000.

Sonoma

Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa

2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.545.8530.

Honorable Mention

Hotel Healdsburg

25 Matheson St., Healdsburg. 707.431.2800.

Best Acupuncturist

Marin

Community Acupuncture of Marin

7075 Redwood Blvd., Ste. H, Novato. 415.250.4009.

Napa

Concordia
Natural Medicine

1834 First St., Napa.
707.260.4794.

Sonoma

The Saxena Clinic

633 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.575.4826.

Honorable Mention

Sebastopol Community Acupuncture

876 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol.
707.823.2217.

Best Herbal Clinic

Marin

Community Acupuncture of Marin

7075 Redwood Blvd., Ste. H, Novato.
415.250.4009.

Napa

Chinese Acupuncture
& Herbal Clinic

3091 Solano Ave., Napa.
707.255.5152.

Sonoma

Farmacopia

95 Montgomery Drive, Ste. 90,
Santa Rosa. 707.528.4372.

Honorable Mention

dhyana Center

186 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.823.8818.

Best Medical Dispensary

Marin

Delta Delivery

www.freemedicalcannabisdelivery.org

Napa

Sunshine Vitality

su******************@***il.com

Sonoma

Peace in Medicine

6771 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol.
707.823.4206.

1061 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.843.3227.

Honorable Mention

Green Light Alternatives

www.greenlightalternatives.com

Best Chiropractor

Marin

Schillinger Chiropractic

1050 Northgate Drive, Ste. 1, San Rafael.
415.491.0959.

Napa

Ryan Lazarus,
Lazarus Chiropractic Inc.

1734 Jefferson St., Napa. 707.224.2283.

Sonoma

Jake Quihuis,
the Chiropractic Center

1819 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.523.9850.

Honorable Mention

Ben Spencer,
Wellness Chiropractic

635 Fifth St., Santa Rosa.
707.575.8988.

Best Orthodontist

Marin

Don Wilson,
Wilson Orthodontics

7250 Redwood Blvd. #107, Novato.
415.878.0240.

Napa

Napa Valley Orthodontics

3303 Villa Lane, Napa. 707.254.0404.

Sonoma

Bernstein Orthodontics

2245 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.575.0600.

3835 Cypress Drive, Ste. 210, Petaluma.
707.559.2166.

8741 Brooks Road S., Windsor.
707.836.8360.

Honorable Mention

John Woo & Marc DeBerardinis, Petaluma Orthodontics

301 Washington St., Petaluma.
707.762.0211.

Best Esthetic Dentist

Marin

Holly Downes

7 N. Knoll Road, Mill Valley.
415.388.5151.

Napa

Vineyard Dental Napa

1103 Trancas St., Napa. 707.255.1172.

Sonoma

Sean Wilson

98 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.579.1555.

Honorable Mention

Lorraine Gock

3910 Princeton Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.546.9882.

Best Hospital/Health Care Clinic

Marin

Marin General Hospital

250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae.
415.925.7000.

Napa

St. Helena Hospital

10 Woodland Road, St. Helena.
707.963.3611.

Sonoma

Kaiser Permanente

401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa.
707.393.4000.

Honorable Mention

Sutter Medical Center

3325 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa.
707.576.4000.

Best Optical Store

Marin

20/20 Optical

1127 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.453.2020.

Napa

The Eyeworks

1328 Pearl St., Napa. 707.254.2020.

Sonoma

Sonoma Eyeworks

534 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa.
707.578.2020.

Honorable Mention

Les Shipley & Associates

1430 Guerneville Road, Ste. 3, Santa Rosa.
707.525.9920.

Best Laser Surgery Center

Marin

Mt. Tam Laser & Skin Care

350 Bon Air Road #120, Greenbrae.
415.482.3888.

Sonoma

Walter Tom, Aesthetic Laser & Vein

70 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa.
707.542.8346.

Honorable Mention

Victor Lacombe, Artemisia

1002 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.577.8292.

Best Plastic Surgeon

Marin

Kimberly Henry

350 Bon Air Road, Ste. 1, Greenbrae.
415.924.1313.

Napa

William J. McClure, Napa Valley Plastic Surgery

1175 Trancas St., Napa.
707.258.6053.

Sonoma

David E. Marcus

1128 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.575.1626.

Honorable Mention

Victor Lacombe, Artemedica

1002 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.577.8292.

Best Bank

Marin

Bank of Marin

1101 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.485.2265.

Napa

Bank of Napa

2007 Redwood Road, Ste. 101, Napa.
707.257.7777.

Sonoma

Exchange Bank

www.exchangebank.com

Honorable Mention

Summit State Bank

500 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa.
707.568.6100.

Best Credit Union

Marin

Redwood Credit Union

209 Third St., San Rafael.
800.479.7928.

1010 Grant Ave., Novato.
800.479.7928.

Napa

Redwood
Credit Union

1705 First St., Napa. 707.545.4000.

Sonoma

Redwood
Credit Union

1205 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.545.4000.

2763 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.545.4000.

2360 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.545.4000.

Honorable Mention

Community First Credit Union

www.comfirstcu.org

Best Real Estate Agent/Company

Marin

W Real Estate

www.wrealestate.net

Napa

Gary K. Rose, Southeby’s

780 Trancas St., Napa.
707.256.2147.

Sonoma

Debbie Hegardt, Century 21 Alliance

1057 College Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.577.7777.

Honorable Mention

Meaghan Creedon, Bradley Real Estate

1401 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.280.4772.

Best Attorney

Marin

Howard Martha Attorney at Law

12783 Sir Frances Drake Blvd., Inverness.
415.669.1685.

Napa

Mary & Jason Luros, Hudson & Luros

1436 Second St., Napa.
707.418.5118.

Sonoma

Hansen & Miller
Law Firm

415 Russell Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.575.1040.

Honorable Mention

Law Offices of
Omar Figueroa

7770 Healdsburg Ave., Sebastopol.
707.829.0215.

Best Locally Made Retail Product

Marin

Cowgirl Creamery

80 Fourth St., Pt. Reyes Station.
415.663.9335.

Napa

Napa Soap Company

651 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.5010.

Sonoma

Kozlowski Farms

5566 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Forestville.
800.473.2767.

Honorable Mention

Traditional
Medicinals Teas

4515 Ross Road, Sebastopol.
800.543.4372.

Best Nonprofit

Marin

CLAM of West Marin

www.clam-ptreyes.org

Napa

Feast It Forward

www.feastitforward.com

Sonoma

Ceres Community Project

7351 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol.
707.829.5833.

Honorable Mention

Food for Thought
Food Bank

PO Box 1608, Forestville. 707.887.1647.

Best Digital Creative Services

Sonoma

Zack Darling
Creative Associates

1049 Fourth St., Ste. B, Santa Rosa.
800.985.9322.

Sonoma

Honorable Mention

Net Visibility Solutions

5150 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park.
707.595.0450.

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Back to Intro Page

Best Green in Sonoma County

The future is green.

That’s not glib wishful thinking, it’s a cold fact. As we burn through natural resources such as oil, gas and water, and suffer the consequences of their overuse, going green presents itself not as a groovy alternative, but as the last, best choice. The planet can only take so much abuse, and it should be abundantly clear that it’s growing increasingly pissed off (see climate change, super storms, ocean acidification and mass extinction).

To our little corner of the world comes Sonoma Clean Power (SCP). The newly formed public agency will begin offering an alternative to PG&E’s monopoly through greener and more competitively priced power. Starting in May, the agency’s default “Clean Start” service will provide power from 33 percent clean-energy sources (compared to PG&E’s 20 percent) to 14,000 commercial customers and randomly selected residential users in the participating cities of Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Cotati, Sonoma, Windsor and unincorporated areas in the county. Sonoma Clean Power will roll out service
to more residents and businesses in the months and years to come. The cost of this electricity is estimated to be 2 to 3 percent cheaper than PG&E.

There’s also a second option called “Ever Green” that will cost about 20 percent more. For that premium rate, users will get 100 percent renewable, volcano-spawned steam power from the Geysers. Residents who want to opt out and stick with PG&E can do so.

Will SCP’s rates stay competitive with PG&E? Will the agency be as lean and locally accountable as it claims? And, more important, will the utility’s green power help cool our warming planet? No one knows for sure.

But what’s encouraging about the creation of SCP is that we get to ask these questions and find out. Locally sourced power that doesn’t come from fossil fuels or dammed rivers is the future. How we get there and how we pay for it are critical questions we and other communities will soon have to answer. Our advantage is that we’re not putting these questions off. We’re tackling them now. sonomacleanpower.org.—S.H.

Best New Life for Old Wood

Heritage Salvage in Petaluma is a like a thrift store for lumber. The wood there has been used or reclaimed, and is waiting for someone to come along and find a new use for it. Judging by the long list of restaurants that buy Heritage’s stuff, reclaimed lumber is a hot commodity. As with thrift stores, you don’t always find what you want, yet for builders and DIY-ers with an eye for beauty-in-the-rough, the yard invites exploration and repeat visits.

Much of the wood is pulled from tumbledown barns, water towers and other old structures from the North Bay and beyond. A lot of the lumber has a story to tell, like the slabs of fir pulled from the Napa River—the wood reportedly sunk at Mare Island Naval Station during World War II. I found a hundred-year-old slab of redwood felled from West Marin long ago that I turned into some burly kitchen shelves. Try finding that at Home Depot.

Heritage Salvage also makes gorgeous tables, cabinets, chairs and barn doors, if that’s what you need. There’s something very satisfying about giving old wood new life. 1473 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma. 707.762.5694.—S.H.

Best ‘Freaky Friday’ Moment-That-Could-Have-Been

I was walking out of Mac’s Diner in downtown Santa Rosa when it happened. Like a sign of the times or a whiff of the economic Zeitgeist or two ships passing in the night, there it was: Doug Bosco, former congressman, Efren Carrillo advisor, part-owner of the Press Democrat and corporate attorney, nattily dressed in a V-neck sweater and slacks, heading west on a Fourth Street sidewalk just as the disheveled homeless man who lives in his car with his girlfriend on the streets around the Redwood Gospel Mission walked east. They practically rubbed elbows, the rich and poor, the man with barely a penny to his name and the man with more pennies than most of us combined. What a perfect moment for a bit of Freaky Friday magic to occur. Suddenly, Bosco looks down at his formerly Italian leather clad feet to see dirty white sneakers, frayed around the toes, the slight hint of a gray-white athletic sock peeking through the nylon. And the other man—whose name I do not know—suddenly finds himself wearing a soft, delightful cashmere, a sweater unlike any he’s known before; he understands that he’s walking to a meeting with some Important People in the Community, that he bears influence, that people will listen, that what he thinks and feels has suddenly become something with weight and heft . . . He can almost taste the power . . . —L.C.

Best Tax-Deductible Picnic Table

The term, “Redwood Empire” is giving way to the more marketable “wine country” tagline, and in truth, these days the North Bay produces a lot more wine than lumber. While the empire’s reign may be over, you can still get a taste of what it was like at Occidental’s Sturgeon’s Mill Restoration Project. The hundred-year-old lumber mill is now a nonprofit organization that showcases the way it used to operate. Sturgeon’s hissing, steam-powered mill chugs to life four times a year in highly recommended free “public demonstration” events rife with old-timey charm and knowledgeable docents who all seem to favor snappy green suspenders. Watching the mill come to life and turn hulking redwood trunks into tidy stacks of lumber is like closing your eyes and waking up in the ’90s—the 1890s. But Sturgeon’s Mill is more than a trip down memory lane. If you’re looking to build a picnic table or a redwood slab bench,
you can order tax-deductible timber grown and milled on-site, a process that’s so old-school it’s downright artisanal. 2150 Green Hill Road, Sebastopol.
www.sturgeonsmill.com. —S.H.

Best Way to Enjoy Nicotine in a Safe, Tasteful Way and Still Bug the Hell Out of Everyone Around You

There was a time when the host or hostess at a restaurant asked two questions, “How many in your party,” followed by, “Smoking or non?” Now that question seems absurd in smoke-hating California, but social expectations are being pushed thanks to eCigs, the hand-held, smokeless, vaporizing nicotine inhalers gaining popularity. Since they expel only vapor, are they legal for indoor use in public spaces? What about patio spaces? If the popular Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa is any indication, they are not welcome, even on an outdoor patio. Like their cancer-inducing cousins, eCigs are not allowed within 10 feet of the entrance. Though it’s not unheard of to see someone puffing away at the nico-stick after a big meal, it’s unnerving to see a green light at the end of it instead of a red ember, and though it’s just vapor, that stuff still smells and looks weird.—N.G.

Best Use of Facebook

The internet is a ubiquitous presence connecting people socially and professionally around the world. Yet it connects us to more than just people. When I wanted to make the leap to canine companionship, I looked where any animal-loving person looks nowadays: the internet. I met my puppy on the digital pages of the Marin Humane Society. There she was, looking at me with precious puppy-dog eyes. Without even leaving the house, this dog and I connected in my mind, and within five minutes, we were inseparable. Just a few years ago, this would not have happened so easily. Dogs and cats had to stay locked away and alone. Now they’re on Facebook, thanks to agencies like the Petaluma Animal Shelter, which shows off its dogs and cats, and finds them forever homes much more efficiently and quickly. On Twitter, organizations like Napa Humane can promote events and fundraisers to keep the doors open and the animals safe. There are even sanctuaries devoted to our equine friends, like Sadie’s Haven in Santa Rosa, a horse rescue center and adoption center run by volunteers.—C.S.

Best Honor-System Bookstore
(And Town)

The Bolinas Book Exchange offers a suggested pricing plan that sets the price of a book based on its prospective literary value to you. It’s a pretty incredible gesture that gives voraciously reading vagabonds the opportunity to find great books on an honor-system payment plan. It’s not a huge surprise that this sort of forward-looking, post-capitalist act of kindness would be taking place in the free-spirited village of Bolinas, which also has a 24-hour honor system farm-stand and a free box whose recent offerings included a cassette copy of The Best of Kansas, a treasure whose value may well rival that of a bottle of Bryant Cabernet. A perusal of the selections at the Book Exchange reveal a wide reach of pleasurable subject matter, heavy on literature and localism and art books. I recently went there with a buck in my pocket and spied a copy of Günter Grass’ Tin Drum. I felt a wee bit guilty as I slipped the buck into the store’s lockbox and stuck the book in my pocket. The Tin Drum is quite clearly more valuable than that. Won the Nobel Prize for literature and all that. But I can return the book to the Exchange once I rise above the noise and confusion and finish that mutha. This is the pay-it-forward village, and Bolinans take their karma quite seriously. About a year ago, some idiot decided to rip the lockbox off the wall at the Book Exchange, an event captured by a surveillance camera and sent to the YouTube universe of shame-vids. They never caught the guy—he had pulled his sweatshirt over his head—but rest assured, that dastardly deed will catch up with him. Only thing is, it would be great if that pay-what-you-wish honor system extended to the Bolinas gas station, where a “regular” gallon of the energetic elixir will set you back—please wait for it—$5.26! For that kind of coin, you can hook yourself up with the entire frickin’ omnibus of Proust at the Exchange.—T.G.

Best Cooking Store for Professionals & Enthusiasts

They don’t even have a Facebook page, but Shackford’s Kitchen Store in Napa has a thriving customer base, nonetheless. Perhaps it’s due to their knowledgeable staff or wide variety of cooking tools for both home cooks and professional chefs alike. They carry beautiful knives that will dazzle dinner guests and durable knives that can withstand the wear and tear of a commercial kitchen. They carry bright colanders in several colors and chef coats in white. And they’re the first place to check when seeking out unpronounceable gadgets necessary for making delicate and traditional dishes. 1350 Main St., Napa. 707.226.2132.—N.G.

Best Place to Find Out if a New Car Is Evil or Not

In the gas-guzzling, fossil-fuel-worshipping past, new cars were rated on many elements: speed, comfort, aesthetic appeal and, usually, safety records. But what about the other elements that go into car manufacturing? Sustainability? Gas efficiency? The safety and quality of the work environment for the folks who put the cars together in the factory? The Automotive Science Group aims to change the way we look at, and judge, car companies and the vehicles they produce in a way that takes into account the pressing environmental concerns of the 21st century. Founded by Eco-Innovations, the Santa Rosa–based group rates cars by a complex automotive performance index using something intriguingly called “ecological economics.” The index rates cars by looking at manufacturers’ labor practices and efforts to use low-impact technologies, and the automobiles’ environmental impact throughout their entire life cycle, among other things. The result is a score that helps consumers figure out how to buy a car that doesn’t totally conflict with their values, and maybe even makes the world a greener place.
www.automotivescience.com.—L.C.

Best Possibility for Eternal Life

Think you’re “over the hill” at age 40? That landmark is closer to 50 now, thanks to the work of these scientists. Perched atop a hill off the freeway in Northern Novato is the Buck Institute, a research facility dedicated to exploring why people die of “old age.” It’s housed in a building designed by renowned architect I. M. Pei, who also designed the Louvre in France, and hundreds of incredibly smart people are employed there. Everyone’s looking, basically, for a cure to old age. So far, the Buck Institute has focused largely on the gut of flies, recording the reactions of certain types of bacteria in certain conditions to give a better understanding of how similar circumstances might translate to humans. Why don’t aging tissues regenerate? Why do stem cells lose their functionality with age? And how do tissues change to no longer support regeneration? These are the
foci of the Buck Institute, but they’re not alone in their mission—the institute is one
of seven making up the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research.
www.buckinstitute.org.—N.G.

Best Crime Blotter

It’s an unfortunate reality that the most interesting part of many local community papers is the weekly police blotter. But there’s a local paper in our midst that not only provides a steady supply of interesting, in-depth stories—it offers the best police blotter we’ve ever seen. The Pulitzer Prize–winning Point Reyes Light‘s “Sheriff’s Calls” sets the bar for any and all future attempts at doing a crime blotter correctly. The beauty of the Light‘s log is that it’s an exercise in poetic restraint—whoever is putting this weekly digest together understands that readers’ interest in the items lies not in the writer’s take on them (we’ve all seen those parenthetical asides in crime blotters that try to get all cutesy with the crime), but on the calls themselves and the story they tell, or imply. In keeping their blotter clear of editorial asides or other pointless fluff, the paper provides a clear and weird underbelly narrative of West Marin. A representative sample from the Light‘s March 8 log is a classic of the genre, with a number of short items punctuated by a wryly understated description of a completely bizarre and stupid crime:

DILLON BEACH: At 1:35pm, a resident reported that a neighbor had sawed off part of his or her deck, the safety of which was the source of ongoing debate.

BOLINAS: At 7:07pm, a school window appeared to have been tampered with, as though someone had tried to break in.

OLEMA: At 7:30pm, a car drove down an embankment.

INVERNESS: At 8:07pm, a dog was barking.

BOLINAS: At 8:07pm, someone reported a beach party and bonfire.

MUIR BEACH: At 9:30pm, a car drove into a ditch.

LAGUNITAS: At 9:55pm, a woman heard explosions across the creek.

MUIR BEACH: At 10:41pm, a SkyWest jet traveling at 11,000 feet reported that someone had shone a laser into the cockpit.—T.G.

Best Tiny, Free Communal
Art Space

It’s a revolutionary concept: open a workshop space that provides room for all types of artists, be open to new ideas, host musical and information events as a community hub, and do it all for the sake of art.

“It’s kind of a space we’ve been robbed of,” says owner Malcolm McGowan (pictured) of Penn’s Edge. “It’s a space to be creative.” Artists can borrow tools, use the space and even set up shop for their own work. If they decide to leave it set up for others to use, all the better, says McGowan. The shop is open during the day for artists to use, free of charge.

McGowan and his girlfriend, Dahllia Fawsy, are artists themselves, working with leather and jewelry, respectively. There’s a small, soundproof spot for musicians to hone their craft, materials for artists to purchase and make their own pieces, and, of course, creative and functional works made by local artists for purchase as well. The spot opened about seven months ago, and it’s open floor plan and shelf of records (just above functioning turntables) make for an inviting feel.

The communal art space hosts music events and seminars in the evening. The art space hasn’t quite caught on as much as originally hoped, and for the seven months it’s been open, it’s been funded by McGowan and Fawsy’s art sales. “Everything that we’ve been doing is just being open to people if they want to use it,” says McGowan. 10009 Main St., Penngrove. 707.242.6866.—N.G.

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