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Although most people think of Napa and Sonoma when they think California wine, you can visit wineries right in the heart of San Francisco.

The number of urban wineries has been growing consistently over the past few years, especially on Treasure Island. Another fact that might even escape many San Francisco locals is that Treasure Island is actually part of San Francisco.  One needs to access the Bay Bridge or a boat to get there, but it is part of the city.

There is an important distinction in urban wineries that sets them apart from wine bars and just tasting rooms, and that is that the wine is actually made there too. 

Here is a short list of the top 3 urban wineries in San Francisco:

The Winery SF, Treasure Island, San Francisco. Image: S Perkovich

1. The Winery SF, Treasure Island, San Francisco

Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/out-and-about-san-francisco/2013/jan/18/urban-wine-tasting-san-francisco/#ixzz2INNPIfnC 
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San Francisco, California, is one of the best shopping cities in the world.  From major department stores to the smallest of boutiques, the city’s offerings provide a great excuse to shop ‘til you drop. 

Here is your guide to eight shopping hot spots in the San Francisco Bay area:

1. Union Street, San Francisco: Union Street between Fillmore and Gough.

You won’t find many large chain retail shops on Union Street.  What you will find is small boutiques selling clothing and accessories, beauty products and chocolate, art, antiques and eye wear.  Favorites: Ambiance (women’s fashion), Cocoa Bella (chocolate), Lush (soaps & beauty), Carol Doda’s (lingerie).

2. Union Square, San Francisco

Union Square is a big retail shopper’s dream. All the big boys are present: Macy’s, Neimen Marcus, Tiffany’s and Nike.  There are also as many art galleries as there are Starbucks here. Favorites: Ted Baker (men’s fashion), Crocker Galleria (art & fashion), ALESSI (home), and local faves Shreve Co (jewelry) and Levi’s flagship store.  Here are a pretty handy map andguide.

Union Square, San Francisco. Image by Kevin Lau.

3. Fillmore Street, San Francisco: Fillmore Street between Bush and Clay.

The Fillmore shopping district has really come into its own over the past few years, growing from just a handful of cool shops to becoming one of the hottest shopping districts in San Francisco.  Here you will find major international brand shops right alongside boutiques.  Favorites: Scotch & Soda (men’s and women’s fashion), De Novo (women’s fashion), Gimme Shoes, Crossroads Trading Company (resale) and  Kiehl’s (beauty).

Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/out-and-about-san-francisco/2012/dec/14/8-san-francisco-holiday-shopping-hot-spots/#ixzz2FFBgRQ4k 
Follow us: @wtcommunities on Twitter

The Napa Valley Film Festival just wrapped up its successful second annual festival, with a theme of “Film. Food. Wine.”  Napa Valley is the perfect setting for this lavish festival.  It is already well known for its wine and food; now it is film’s turn to shine brightly among these other established stars.

Napa Valley Film Festival wine event. Image: NVFF

The Napa Valley Film Festival runs for five days in November, filled with wine and food a-plenty.  Like drama films?  They’ve got those.  Documentaries?  Check.  Shorts?  Comedies?  Check, check.  This festival has everything the big film festivals have, plus award-winning Napa Valley wine.

More >

Halloween is nearly upon us; the frightfully fun holiday that allows people to tap into their inner freak and put it on display for everyone to witness without judgment. 

San Francisco is full of rich history and tragedy.  These gems add up to some downright creepy places that are rumored to be haunted and open for business. 

So where can a Halloween-loving, fright-seeker find places and events to whet their appetite, and perhaps even their pants?  Follow this ghoulish top 13 list for the very best of the Bay Area’s frights.

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose. Image: Winchester

1. Winchester Mystery House

Read more: 13 frightening things to do around San Francisco for Halloween | Washington Times Communities 
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Blues and jazz are often compared, as well as food and wine pairings.  How about being able to explore all four in the same weekend?  The answer is Sonoma California’s annual Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival. 

Jazz and blues music fans can rejoice in this extremely unique, riverside festival.  This isn’t your average music festival.  This festival takes place literally right alongside the Russian River in the town of Guerneville. 

Sonoma, CA: Russian River Blues Festival

There is no need to get dressed up in your jazz concert best for this gem of a festival.  You are better off wearing your bathing suit, sunglasses, big floppy hat, slathering on some 50 SPF sun block, and bringing your inner tube for this show.  Festival goers can be found floating in the river, drinking a cool beverage, and hearing some of the best blues and jazz in the world.

Wineries near Guerneville, Sonoma: see article

Restaurants in and around Guerneville: see article

Read more: Blues, jazz, wine and food: perfect harmony found in Sonoma’s Russian River | Washington Times Communities 
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San Jose opera season kicked off with a beautiful rendition of Georges Bizet’s exotic romance, The Pearl Fishers. 

Anthony Quartuccio conducted this opera, which is a story of forbidden love, jealousy, betrayal, and tragedy.  Set on the ancient tropical island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), director Richard Harrell sets the stage well from the very beginning, from happy, dancing, drinking citizens to those filled with rage and fury over a traitorous act.  The dichotomy is displayed perfectly and establishes the beauty of Bizet’s work.

San Jose Opera: Baritone Evan Brummel as Zurga and tenor Alexander Boyer as Nadir in The Pearl Fishers. Photo by P. Kirk

Female lead soprano Cecilia Violetta Lopez as Leila instantly captures your attention with her alluring vocals and incredible range.  Leila’s beauty is captured elegantly in the opening flashback by the two male lead characters of Nadir and Zurga. These life-long friends reminisce about Leila’s sultry voice and veiled face, teasing the audience with a potential glimpse under her veil.  Her mysterious beauty caused a feud between the men and nearly cost them their friendship.  They vow to never let a woman come between them again. 

Read more: Opera San Jose: a new season kicks off with The Pearl Fishers | Washington Times Communities 
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SAN FRANCISCO, August 23, 2012 – With the economy in the dumps and everyone looking to save a few dollars on their activities, here is a short list of fun activities you can do for free or cheap in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Free Concerts

Fall Street Festivals

Shakespeare Festival

Golden Gate Park

Click through to read the entire article.  

Read more: Fabulous and free fall festivities in San Francisco | Washington Times Communities 
Follow us: @wtcommunities on Twitter

OutsideLands this year is stacked with both quality wines and music lineups.  Music and wine were just meant for each other. You can speak about them both in similar language: smooth, bubbly, dry, fruity, jammy, bold, earthy and sultry.  And just as the number of bands and artists to listen to is seemingly endless, so is your choice in wine at Wine Lands this year.    

The music line-up for Outside Lands this year is packed with talent and musical variety. The wine line-up is even more impressive.  A total of 49 wineries will be uncorking 120 wines.  This is truly an epic wine tasting opportunity. These 120 wines can be found under an ornate tent in the Hellman Hollow Field.  Outside Lands wants to transport you to a wine-inspired setting complete with grapevines, charming chandeliers, elaborate draped ceilings, and oversized wine barrels with benches inside them for sitting and sipping wine.  Just outside the Wine Lands tent there will be a courtyard with picnic tables and wine barrels serving as table tops.  Here they will feature wines on tap via Free Flow Wines.  If you want to drink wine, these are the two main places to be: the main Wine Lands tent and accompanying courtyard.

Northern California wines and wine regions are well represented, with wines from Caymus, Gloria Ferrer, Ridge, J Lohr, Turley, Robert Sinskey, Simi, Darcie Kent, Long Meadow Ranch, Kermit Lynch and Preston.  This is a magnificent opportunity for you to have a taste of Northern California right here in San Francisco.  Now comes the hard part: deciding which wine to drink with which band.  Here is some advice on the best music and wine pairings at Outside Lands.

Wine + Music Pairing Suggestions:  Click thru to read the rest of the article

What two things go together better than wine and music?  You can speak about them both in similar language: smooth, bubbly, dry, fruity, jammy, bold, earthy and zesty. 

And just as the number of bands and artists to listen to is seemingly endless, so is your choice in wine. The variety goes from locally grown and produced wine and bands here in California, to choices around the world in hot spots like New Zealand, France, Chile, Spain and Italy. 

And the regions around the world producing both are nearly countless.  For purposes of this article, Northern California will be the focus and the wines and music festivals you can try in and around San Francisco. 

San Francisco, Outside Lands Music Festival

Outside Lands Festival

Rodney Strong Summer Concert Series

The Concerts at Wente Vineyards

Mountain Winery Concert Series

Listening and Drinking to the Blues at Home

Click through to read the entire article and get wine pairing suggestions…

SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2012 –The region ofNapa, California is well-known for its award-winning wines.  What is perhaps less well-known is the availability of wine tasting in the city of Napa. 

In part 4 of my 4-part series on the city, I highlight some of the best wine tasting in and near downtown Napa.

1.  Luscious Wine Tasting

The beauty of wine tasting in downtown Napa is that your group can stroll from tasting room to tasting room. Including wine bars, there are over twenty wine tasting locations here, and they are the only tasting rooms for some of the finest boutique wineries. 

If you stop in the Downtown Napa Visitors Center before you start, you can pick up a wine tasting card and sample at twelve different tasting rooms for $25. 

If you want to explore, there are also several wineries only a short drive away.  Consider driving at a few of the wineries on the perimeter of town to start, then work your way downtown to finish off the day. 

Here are a few favorites: FULL ARTICLE >

Napa, CA, Mason Cellars. Image: S. Perkovich