posted Mar 8, 2010 9:53 AM by Randy White
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updated Mar 8, 2010 6:37 PM
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(San Francisco, CA) - Pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, and even a few dancers will take over some of San Francisco's main thoroughfares in the coming months, as The City launches another year of its Sunday Streets program. The Embarcadero (from Fisherman's Wharf to China Basin) will be the first street shut down to automobile traffic for the 2010 season. This stretch--already popular among cyclists and joggers--hugs the San Francisco Bay with stunning views of the Oakland/Berkeley hills and the Bay Bridge. It will close to vehicle traffic from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 14th. "The Sunday Streets program is getting a lot of support from local businesses in the area," Susan King with Sunday Streets told Your California Show. "In the beginning there was some resistance, but once people saw how popular the event was and how it can generate business, they got on board." Several local bicycle rental companies will supply free bikes during the event. The free rental period lasts one hour. The companies will also rent the bikes to those wishing to ride for longer periods of time. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom initiated the Sunday Streets program in 2008, and The City has expanded the routes, times, and dates each year since. Sunday Streets dates are listed on the Your California Show Calendar and you can hear an interview with Susan King on the March 7th podcast of our radio show. Detailed information is also available on the Sunday Streets Website. |
posted Mar 4, 2010 5:55 PM by Randy White
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updated Mar 4, 2010 8:08 PM
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URCA Video Piece on Prager Winer and Port Works(St. Helena, CA) - California's Napa Valley is home to some of the most expensive and luxurious
tasting rooms in the world. But one location, down a small gravel road
in the heart of St. Helena, has an atmosphere far different than what
visitors to this region expect. Prager Winery and Port Works
has a lively and unpretentious tasting room, where port, not wine, is
the main focus. In fact, it's the only tasting room in the entire
valley to have port as its main attraction. "We've
turned a lot of people on to port over the past 30 years," winemaker
Peter Prager says about their operation. "And so, that's our main
focus, is trying to educate people on fortified wines." Visitors to the winery return because they love the product, and the low-key atmosphere. The room is littered with currency from around the world, collected over the past three decades. "Well,
you know, there's some good ports in the valley, but there's no place
besides this that specialize in port," David Rose of Walnut Creek says.
"Everybody has that as their second or third wine. But to come here,
where it's all about the port, is a very special experience." Now is
the perfect time to tour Prager Port because the Napa Valley Mustard
Festival is in full bloom, with the festival's signature event being
held this coming weekend along the newly updated Napa river front. Check our MAP of California for directions to Prager Winery and Port Works and other previous pieces from Your California Show. |
posted Mar 2, 2010 5:36 AM by Randy White
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updated Mar 2, 2010 12:24 PM
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(La Jolla, CA) - An annual natural phenomenon, unique to California and Baja beaches, is set to begin later this month. The odd mating practice of the California grunion peaks in early spring and is best witnessed at night.
Don't be surprised if you see large groups of people with flashlights on local beaches, watching as hundreds of shiny, silvery, sardine-like fish flop around in the high tidal waters.
During high tide, as a wave breaks, the fish swim as far up the incline as possible. The female sinks her tail into the sand. This is followed by several male grunion surrounding her body. The female then twists free and returns to the Pacific. The whole process takes anywhere between 30 seconds and several minutes. Wikipedia fully describes the mating process in it's article on grunions.
We found this YouTube (thanks Jeff Jamison) posting that shows a grunion run from 2007 in Santa Monica. It's video from Grunion.org, a project organized by a group of scientists, community members, environmental organizations, surfers, and beach workers.
This group is looking for "grunion greeters" for the 2010 season. The site says your observations will be reported via a web-based questionnaire and used for beach management and scientific research.
Dr. Karen Martin with Grunion.org tells Your California Show that the group offers free workshops at coastal locations throughout Southern California, including Santa Barbara. Martin also tells us the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro has a wonderful grunion program for the public.
La Jolla's Birch Aquarium has a public grunion run program for those in the San Diego area who also want an educational touch while witnessing the event.
The grunion runs on California beaches will continue through June, but occasionally happen at other times of year as well. |
posted Feb 22, 2010 5:44 AM by Randy White
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updated Feb 22, 2010 1:11 PM
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Hand-crafted, artisan ales and lagers are the focus of attention this week in the Central Valley, as Sacramento Beer Week 2010 gets underway today. Top breweries, restaurants, and bars are paying homage to the alcoholic beverage in a number of ways, including; beer and food pairings, educational seminars, facility tours, and games. With U.C. Davis nearby (widely considered to be the top place in the country to learn the science of brewing), it's no surprise that beer education is a big part of the event. The week kicks off with a drought beer seminar and lunch at Lounge on 20 (see highlights to the right). More than 200 events throughout the week will span the area from Davis to Nevada City. Several hotels in the area are offering special "beer week" deals, including the Sheraton Grand, Residence Inn Capitol Park, and the Amber (seems appropriate) House Bed and Breakfast. The event wraps up at The Shack on Sunday with the culmination of a week-long scavenger hunt. A brunch and $2 Rubicon beers are featured.
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
- A variety of local restaurants are offering beer/food pairings. Check site for specifics.
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posted Feb 16, 2010 8:07 PM by Randy White
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updated Feb 16, 2010 8:01 PM
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New reports show the 2009 grape harvest in California was the second
largest in state history. This, combined with a recession-sparked drop
in high-end wine sales and a huge surge in cheaper wines imported from
Argentina, Chile, and Australia, is a recipe for lower prices across
the board for California wines. There is no question the quality
of the wines produced by state vintners is among the best in the world,
but currently there just isn't the discretionary spending money out
there to meet the upper-end price points. Like anything else, this is
where supply and demand come into play. 2010 could be the year of great
wine deals for California product. The L.A. Times has this piece on the near-record grape harvest for 2009. |
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