December 5, 2009 – 2:00 pm

1. Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, Dec. 5
If turkey and tryptophan haven’t done it, there’s no better way to kick off the season than a visit to the docks to watch a small armada of boats decorated for the holidays parade from the Petaluma Marina to the turning basin downtown. It’s a wonderful tribute to the town’s river heritage, and when the weather’s right, the parade provides a striking testament to Petaluma’s innate beauty and charm. The more festive sailors will even invite you aboard for cordials and conversation. The sails set at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 707.762.0429.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:59 pm

2. The Bus Stop
What’s the best thing about waiting for a Sonoma County or Golden Gate Transit bus at the corner of 4th and C streets in downtown Petaluma? You’re just steps away from the best coffee in town served at a small cart called the Bus Stop. Run by Katie and Nathan Nies, two Seattle transplants with Petaluma ties, the cart has distinguished itself on two counts: Its business practice of using only the finest organic fair trade beans and turning every latte into a work of art by crafting designs of rosettes, flowers and swans into the foam. The baristas are engaging, occasionally opinionated – especially if you want to talk about politics – and amazingly efficient, juggling drive-through customers, bus riders, and a large, steady throng of regulars. You can also choose from a delicious assortment of pastries, muffins and bagels delivered fresh every morning … and if you’re walking your dog, they’ll get a treat, too.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:59 pm

3. Petaluma Dog Walkers
Chances are if you call Molly or John Polzoni on their cell phones during business hours you’ll have to compete with the excited barking of a pack of happy dogs in the background. The Polzonis help ease the guilty consciences of dog owners who are gone long hours and can’t give their best friends the exercise and attention they crave. Besides dog-walking services, they also offer customers a day-care facility unlike any canine park you’ve ever seen. Dog Walker Ranch, located near the old Kenilworth Junior High lot, features a 9,000-square-foot play field covered with antibacterial Polyturf and a 16,000-gallon swimming pool for dogs that love the water. Its sister company, Play Dog Play, offers full doggie daycare and home-like dog boarding. If you’d like to see the ranch in person, give Molly or John a call for directions, and tomake an appointment for a tour at 707-766-8915.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:58 pm

4. Taps
Since opening a few months ago at the intersection of Kentucky and Washington streets in downtown Petaluma, Taps has quickly gained a devoted following, and not just because of the scores of beers they have on tap. The local micro brews you’d expect to find in an upscale pub are there (Lagunitas, Moylan’s, North Coast, Anderson Valley) next to some selections that even dedicated yeastheads may not be familiar with (Moortgat, Ommegang, Brouwerij Bosteels and more). They’re complemented by a wide selection of hand-crafted root beers and ciders – all excellent choices to wash down the Black Gold Fries (thin slices of steak tossed in garlic fries), the brats (try the Hot Link with carmelized onions and pepper jack cheese), and specialty dogs (how about the BLT: a deep-fried bacon-wrapped dog dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayo). You’ll find Taps at 205 Kentucky Street, or call 707.763.6700.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:58 pm

5. Dickens Holiday Event at Copperfield’s
On Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. in Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa, and on the following Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. in Sebastopol, Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Tim Hayes) takes a break from the Sonoma County Repertory Theater’s production of “A Christmas Carol” to visit Copperfield’s Books. Scrooge may start off “bah humbugging” his way through the store, but chances are he’ll have a change of heart thanks to the hot cider, the holiday treats, and the shoppers themselves who’ll help him discover the true meaning of Christmas.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:57 pm

6. Humanity Unites Brilliance
Tired of giving the same old Christmas baskets to your friends and business associates? Check out the options at Humanity Unites Brilliance, an eco-minded global marketplace that connects people and organizations to provide self-empowerment and sustained abundance to those in need around the world. For instance, if you purchase a teddy bear for a loved one here, a second bear is given to a child in Afghanistan; the sales of delicious Brazilian nut candies creates income for the poorest regions in Peru; and proceeds from the sale of Ubuntu Orpha bracelets help children in the World Orphanage in Ethiopia. You can even make a purchase in the name of someone – or a business – that can provide livestock or fruit trees for families in impoverished places. HUB is well connected – its supporters include Dr. Michael Beckwith, Jack Canfield and Barbara Marx Hubbard. For more information, contact Carrie Behler at 707.364.3428 or email her at carriebehler@gmail.com.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:57 pm

7. Wine Country Baseball League
The ticker tape is still falling in New York celebrating the Yankees victory in the World Series but if you’re already jonesing for the sound of the crack of a bat don’t despair. The inaugural 16-week season of the Wine Country Baseball League is scheduled to begin June 1, 2010. If you can remember the Crushers, you’ll recall the infinite pleasures of watching the national pastime in our own backyard with major league-lite players playing their hearts out with seats priced at about what you’d paid for a single cup of stale beer at a Giants game. The league will have 12 teams in three divisions; Petaluma is represented in the Southern division of the Sonoma Conference, where our hometown Pirates will contend with teams from Sebastopol, Rohnert Park and Sonoma. Leonhardt Vineyards is the primary sponsor of the league; if you purchase a case of Leonhardt Zin you’ll score four season tickets to the team of your choice. And it’s even for a good cause: By charter, 25-50 percent of the gate and concession profits will be donated to local charities. To check out schedules and special events, visit www.WineCountryBaseball.com.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:56 pm

8. Samsung SBH-600 Headset
While they’re not as compact or lightweight as other Bluetooth headsets, the Samsung SBH-600s are an excellent choice for those of you who as interested in the fidelity of your music as your telephone calls. The traditional headphone design fits comfortably on your dome whether you’re on the road, working out or loitering in the mall, and provides fantastic audio quality. Better yet, the headset jack can also be used with non-Bluetooth devices. There are cheaper and smaller headsets on the market, but at about $100-$150 it’s an exceptional value.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:55 pm

9. Vintage Voices: 2009 Redwood Writers Anthology
The centennial edition of the California Writers Club anthology is filled with fresh language, disarming insights and poetic grandeur from dozens of talented writers … including yours truly. The selections range from stories of Armageddon and quiet, introspective tales of heartbreak to laugh-out-loud observations about tomboys, road kill and traffic schools. Editors Karen Batchelor and Catharine Bramkamp have arranged the pieces like a river, starting with stories rooted in the present, then flowing back to simpler times, then rushing forward to a future that, among other things, supposes nuclear holocaust, God playing bartender, and Northern California seceding from Southern California. To order your copy, visit www.RedwoodWriters.org.

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December 5, 2009 – 1:55 pm

10. Pelican Gallery
“Erasing Borders,” the final exhibit that will be featured this year at Pelican Art Gallery at 143 Petaluma Boulevard, is designed to set the tone for a new artistic vision in 2010. The show by internationally acclaimed artist Gerald Huth which runs through January 9 kicks off a new direction in which the gallery will highlight a Resident Artist Program intended to foster long-term relationships with select artists. The gallery itself has been upgraded to provide event rental space for businesses, non-profits and special events. Why drop the bucks for a non-descript rental hall when you can host an event in an art gallery where the thought-provoking pieces on the wall will jumpstart any conversation? For more information, visit www.PelicanArt.com or call 707.773.3393.

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