Sonoma County, CA: Battle of the Brews

Saturday, March 29th at the Grace Pavilion in the Sonoma County Fairgrounds marks the 18th year of the Battle of the Brews fundraiser held by the Active 20-30 club of Santa Rosa. This event has raised nearly $1,000,000 dollars, the proceeds of which have been distributed by our Youth Benevolent Fund to help change the lives of needy children.

The Battle of the Brews includes the People's Choice Main Event along with the return of two phenomenal additions to the lineup -- The Craft Cup, a judged specialty craft brew competition featuring a variety of premier micro-breweries from around the country, and The 'Wich Hunt, highlighting the most delicious sandwiches from local chefs. Plus, all proceeds go directly to helping children in need in Sonoma County.

This year the Battle of the Brews will continue the tradition of the Craft Cup, Sonoma County's largest and newest craft brew competition. Modeled after great beer and microbrew competitions from around the world the Craft Cup is bringing in over dozens of renowned breweries and brewmasters to compete head to head in a juried competition. Industry leading judges will set out to name the true winner of the Battle of the Brews, the Craft Cup Best of Show, along category favorites and winners.
The third annual 'Wich Hunt at Battle of the Brews is an iron-fisted sandwich brawl in which local chefs compete to construct the ultimate carbohydrate-protein-carbohydrate creation. This ain't no pansy cook-off.

From Dagwoods to sliders, artisan BLT's, heroes, hoagies, banh mi, and beyond, the only constraint is being able to fit into the eager maws of our judges and fans. Oh, and taste incredible, because there will be no awards just for showing up. We're looking for off-the-charts, taste-bud exploding, meat-tastic (or alternative proteins), brain-bending creations that really showcase local talent.
During the tasting event, we will also have the inaugural Craft Cup Raffle, live music by Pat Jordan, brewing demonstrations and much more. This exclusive event is open only to sponsors and 500 ticket holders.

Tickets to the 'Wich Hunt event are included in the Craft Cup tasting, and guests will be able to meet the competing chefs and taste their creations for themselves. Tickets for the Craft Cup are $95 and includes the Main Event.

Kicking off at 4pm, the Main Event will host over 50 drafts and food vendors fighting for your vote, while Cover Me Badd takes the main stage. Now in its 18th year, the People's Choice beer competition has become a local favorite celebrating beer, food, and music, all while raising money for at risk children in Sonoma County.

 Main Event tickets are available for $40 online (www.battleofthebrews.com). Check their websites for locations to also buy tickets.

Sonoma County Fairgrounds
Grace Pavillion
1350 Bennett Valley Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(www.battleofthebrews.com)

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Santa Rosa, CA: Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center

For many years, the Peanuts comic strips of Charles M. Schulz never had a proper home in Sonoma County, the place where Schulz called hom for almost 40 years.

Until now.

Opened in 2002, the mission of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is to preserve, display, and interpret the art of Charles M. Schulz. The 27,000+ square-foot museum offers 6,000 square feet of gallery space showcasing original comic strips and memorabilia.

Visitors can enjoy outdoor gardens and exhibits including the Snoopy Labyrinth and the famous, "Kite-Eating Tree". There is a 100-seat theater displaying animated specials and documentaries, and a hands-on activities center.

As the 50th anniversary of Peanuts drew closer, it seemed clear that a museum was needed to celebrate the life and work Schulz. The vision for the Museum fell on the shoulders of local cartoon historian, Mark Cohen, along with Schulz's wife Jeannie, and Schulz's longtime friend and attorney, Edwin Anderson.

Schulz's enthusiasm for the Museum increased in 1997 after seeing the inspired and playful creations by artist and designer Yoshiteru Otani for the Snoopy Town shops in Japan. Sparky and Jeannie agreed that Otani could bring an element of artistic whimsy to the new Museum that would balance and complement the comic artwork.

This was all the encouragement the three friends needed to move ahead. A newly-formed Board of Directors developed the Schulz Museum's Mission Statement, chose an architect and contractor, and selected a location, with Schulz's approval of the plans at each stage.

The Museum could have been located anywhere due to the worldwide popularity of the Peanuts comic strip. But the particular location on the corner of Hardies Lane, was chosen because the last 30 years of Schulz's life was centered here—around his art studio, the Redwood Empire Ice Arena (Snoopy's Home Ice), and this Santa Rosa neighborhood.

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LOCATION
The Charles M. Schulz Museum is located 50 minutes north of San Francisco by car on Highway 101. The Museum is located at 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa, California, 95403.

HOURS
Weekdays Monday thru Friday (except Tuesdays*) 11am - 5pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am - 5pm
Closed Tuesdays*
*Open everyday throughout the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day)

ADMISSION FEES
Free - Museum Members, Children 3 and under
$5.00 - Children 4-18, college students with valid I.D. card, and Seniors 62+
$10.00 - Adults

For more information consult the Museum web site: http://www.SchulzMuseum.org.

http://www.facebook.com/schulzmuseum

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Santa Rosa, CA: Dining, Bicycling, Wine Tasting, and More

Located just 55 miles north of San Francisco is a vibrant city overflowing with the best that California has to offer - winetasting, farm-fresh dining, beautiful countryside to bicycle or drive through, family-friendly attractions and a range of places to stay for a week or a weekend.

A winetasting destination

The largest city in Sonoma County, Santa Rosa lies in the heart of Northern California Wine Country. With its abundance of wineries and unparalleled natural beauty, it's easy to understand why Sonoma County is one of the premier winetasting destinations in the world.

Tasting opportunities within the city of Santa Rosa include a new urban winery village called Vintners' Square that is home to several small boutique, but full-production wineries with tasting rooms: D'Argenzio Winery, Sheldon Wines, and Krutz Family Cellars. Also within the city proper is Paradise Ridge Winery.

Santa Rosa is a great place from which to explore any of nearly 200 wineries within Sonoma County. Visitors can begin their wine tasting journey by stopping at the California Welcome Center to pick up free tasting coupons and maps to member wineries.

Among the wineries within a short drive are: Benziger Family Winery, Chateau St. Jean Winery, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Kunde Estate Winery & Vineyards, Matanzas Creek Winery, and many others.

A haven for foodies

Santa Rosa didn't earn Sperling's "best place to live if you're a foodie" designation by accident. Delicious and inspired, Wine Country cuisine is one of Santa Rosa's biggest attractions. Local and regional chefs present the flavors of Sonoma County in eating establishments ranging from very casual taquerias to Michelin-rated restaurants.

Diners will find an amazing variety of cuisines from quaint bistros to traditional steakhouses in this foodie-friendly town. American, California cuisine, Italian, French, Indian, Mexican, Thai, comfort-food diners, hamburger joints and coffee houses are all represented.

Guy Fieri, Santa Rosa's own celebrity chef, restaurateur, and Food Network star, chose to live and open restaurants in Santa Rosa because of the vitality of the culinary community here.

Among the more well-known and beloved eating establishments in Santa Rosa are: John Ash & Co., La Gare, Equus Restaurant, Willi's Wine Bar, Ca'Bianca and many others providing an enjoyable dining experience for every taste and budget.

Arts, culture and entertainment venues

The Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, located just north of town, hosts world-class performances in music, dance, theater, and comedy, drawing entertainers that have included Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson. The renowned Santa Rosa Symphony, which has gained a national reputation for the quality and creativity of its productions, also performs frequently at the Wells Fargo Center.

Smaller venues and companies, such as the Sixth Street Playhouse, Summer Repertory Theater (SRT) at Santa Rosa Junior College, and the Imaginists Theatre Collective, stage a wide range of high-quality theatrical productions at various times of the year.

SOFA (South A Street Arts District), near downtown Santa Rosa, contains approximately six galleries and hosts a number of art exhibitions and activities during the year, including the SOFA Art Walk, Small Works, Matsuri (Japanese Arts Festival), Vine Art, and Winterblast.

Fun for families

Santa Rosa offers plenty of family-friendly adventures, from hiking and biking in local parks to ice skating at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena.

Santa Rosa boasts 57 parks within its city limits, including Annadel State Park, Spring Lake Regional Park, Howarth Memorial Park/Lake Ralphine and Hood Mountain Regional Park.

Another outdoor adventure popular among families is Safari West, just outside Santa Rosa, which provides jeep tours of a 400-acre area with more than 400 exotic mammals and birds. In addition, Santa Rosa is mere minutes away from some of nature’s greatest wonders, including the Pacific Coast, the Russian River and the redwoods.

Santa Rosa is a burgeoning area for agri-tourism sites, where families can get up-close experiences with farm and ranch-related operations from beekeeping to berry picking.

Museums, including the Charles M. Schulz Museum, Sonoma County Museum, Pacific Coast Air Museum, and Luther Burbank Home & Gardens provide educational opportunities for young visitors. For budding astronomers, there are public shows at the Santa Rosa Junior College planetarium.

A mecca for bicyclists

Sonoma County's spectacular scenery, gentle rolling hills and mild climate make it a great place for a cycling adventure - and an ideal training venue for some of the best-known bicycle racers in the world, including Levi Leipheimer, who calls Santa Rosa home.

In May 2012, Santa Rosa is slated to be the start location for the seventh edition of the Amgen Tour of California, an annual 750-mile professional cycling stage race on the UCI America Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour.

Recreational bicyclists also flock to Santa Rosa, as evidenced by how quickly an event founded by Leipheimer in 2009 called the King Ridge GranFondo, has grown. In 2010, more than 7,500 riders took part, including movie and television star Patrick Dempsey.

A number of companies provide bike tours through the Wine Country, including Getaway Adventures/Wine Country Bike Tours. Many add to the experience by including wine tasting and gourmet picnic lunches.

Places to stay 

Lodgings in Santa Rosa include a wide range of experiences, from full-service accommodations with spa amenities to family-oriented, budget-minded comfort stays.

Visitors will find a variety of nationally known hotel brands, such as Courtyard by Marriott Santa Rosa, Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel and Spa, and Hilton Sonoma Wine Country Hotel, as well as long-time local favorites such as Fountaingrove Inn Hotel and Conference Center, and Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa.

Hotel La Rose, a landmark for over 100 years, has old-world charm and downtown convenience. Also available are B&Bs, such as the Melitta Station Inn.

Travelers planning a longer stay in Sonoma County can take advantage of Santa Rosa's two Extended Stay America hotels, vacation rental homes, or camping facilities throughout the region, from the coast to Spring Lake Park.

For more information...

Contact Santa Rosa Convention Center and Visitors Bureau at (800) 404-7673 or (707) 577-8674 or visit http://www.visitsantarosa.com. For hotel accommodations, visit http://www.goelevationtravel.com.

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