The hill on the edge of the sky
Helen Putnam Park
My greatest pleasure in Petaluma is to go run through Helen Putnam Park. This activity requires no preparation, it can be done at any time of the day in any weather, it’s absolutely free of charge, and it is always satisfying.
The east park trail head is one mile from my doorstep, so I’m there in no time at all. Then the steep rise begins and all of Petaluma is visible to the east, from downtown and the granaries to the river and the Marina; from Schollenberger, to the Sonoma Mountains. Mt. St. Helena beckons from the north, and Mt. Diablo rises on the horizon to the south. As I crest the summit of the park, the rolling hills to the west stretch out toward the Pacific.
Because of the geometry of the trail network, I can run a different route every time. Even the same route is different every time because the landscape changes with the seasons. A field is crowded with California Poppies that was all green grass just the day before. Checkerblooms and buttercups bloom and fade amid the fern and blackberry.
I can alternate broad paved walkways with narrow crooked trails through the crowded oaks; I can run the smooth promontory on the summit ridge, the shady groves through the oak savannah, or the steep cliff down the east side.
Wildlife everywhere. Lizards skittering into the grass and under rocks. Deer prancing about the hills. Four-foot long gopher snakes sunning themselves in the middle of the path. An eternal symphony of birds singing an ever-changing tune. Northern harriers hunting mice from the sky. Mice hiding from predatory birds. Lowing cattle in the distance. Stray coyotes roaming about. I’ve seen plenty of fox, which I always consider to be good luck. I once watched a fox tearing a wild turkey to pieces with its teeth.
I’ve never seen the mythical mountain lions. But I suppose they’re out there somewhere, lurking, waiting.
There’s an old white horse that likes to stand at the foot of the flag pole flying the American flag at the north end of the park. The horse is stately and majestic like he’s posing for a portrait. For some reason I like to think of him as Robert E. Lee’s old white horse.
Someone’s always fishing the pond for bluegill, usually fathers and sons with their bait and tackle.
The rangers roll by in their various ranger vehicles, performing whatever obscure duties rangers perform in Helen Putnam Park. They’re always friendly and wave hello.
All manner and variety of characters promenade about. Couples chatting, families on a stroll, mountain bikers, solitary dogwalkers; children hiding in the gazebo in the playground; horsebackriders, high school cross-country teams, the disembodied ghost of Walt Whitman, fitness fanatics plugged into their devices. And sometimes the park is completely empty; just me and God in the fog on the edge of planet Earth.
I watch the golden grass turn green and back again to gold and back again to green. Seasons pass and the ocean of time rolls along; I imagine the earth turning in accordance with the pace of my run.
Helen Putnam Park always fills my soul with goodness like an old wine fills a glass jar. And I will always return to this hill on the edge of the sky over Petaluma.
Capturing Local Flavor
Griffo Distillery
Distilling the essence of Sonoma County
Mike and Jenny Griffo, founders of Griffo Distillery, are crafting spirits in Petaluma that are impossible to make any other place. That’s because one of the key ingredients doesn’t come from a supply company or farm — it floats into the distillery with the breeze.
Yeast is a key ingredient in any batch of whiskey. These little single-celled organisms feed on the sugars in the grain mash to make alcohol. Most distilleries use yeast they purchased or developed in a lab.
By using what’s called open fermentation, Griffo is capturing the area’s essence as part of their spirit-making process. Yeast-producing neighbors include Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma Hills Brewing, Alvarado Street Bakery and Della Fattoria.
Local ingredients play a big part in connecting Griffo to the area, but relationships in the community have cemented the distillery’s commitment to Sonoma County. Griffo meets regularly with other distilleries, breweries and wineries in the area. Neighboring breweries bring over beer that’s gone wrong and team up with Griffo to try distilling it as an experiment. When the Griffos finished making their gin, other craft beverage producers volunteered to help with the first bottling.
Griffo’s rye, bourbon and American whiskey still need more barrel time before they’re available. But the distillery’s Scott Street Gin is for sale at Bottle Barn, Willibee’s and Charlie’s Liquor as well as at Petaluma bars. In a couple months, you can try the gin (along with a few cocktails using it) at the Griffo tasting room and bring a few bottles home with you.
Visit their website >
The Art of Cardboard
The Petaluma art scene couldn’t be more happening these days-what with Burning Man sculptures peeking above fencelines and vibrant murals showing up on building facades overnight. At Field Sonoma, we love the art taking place in our midst, and recently visited the studios of Michael Garlington. Michael is a Petaluma-based photographer, Burning Man sculptural contributor and self-proclaimed cardboard artist – not necessarily in that order.
At the moment, it’s the third thing, and we found his studio, usually filled with Burning Man build items, instead filled with little scraps of cardboard. We’ve seen his cardboard creations before — he began creating them out of necessity as props for his photos. But seemingly unsatisfied with life in the background, these cardboard creations have taken on a standalone life of their own. He doesn’t give them names or titles, as to him they are simply studies for future pieces.
When he first started building larger cardboard pieces he was working with fellow artist and builder Jonny Hirschmugl, who showed him the ins and outs and ups and downs of making structurally sound cardboard constructions. With the structural engineering success of some fairly large pieces of cardboard artwork, Michael is now starting to look at wood as a new medium for a next body of work.
The piece here is a commission for a Halloween art installation. Scales and feathers tend to be a reoccurring element in these structures.
“They are a fundamental building element in nature and offer a natural defense against the elements,” says Michael.
You can find out more about this artist and native Petaluman on his facebook page:
He is currently collaborating with Susan Sarandon on a fashion runway show, possibly in NY, where the dresses are all made of cardboard.
Give me the HeeBee's
As you stroll historic downtown Petaluma and come upon HeeBe JeeBe on Kentucky Street, “Champion” will be there to greet you. Champion is a circa 1940s-50s coin operated horse. He sits just outside the door, saddled and bridled in real leather, as “the most beloved thing in Petaluma for the under four crowd,” says HeeBe JeeBe owner Drew Washer. “My husband drove back to Bisbee, Arizona in the middle of summer heat with no air conditioning and brought him back here,” elaborates Drew. Halfway into our interview a little girl walks towards the cashier with pep talk from her mom, and shyly requests a quarter for one ride.
Drew Washer opened HeeBe JeeBe General Store in the 1980s when she moved to Petaluma to start a family. As a creative professional and mother her goal was to create a place of value. She conceived of the store, initially named Boomerang, while freelancing for catalogue companies. “I was doing design boards. So I opened it from a very visual artistic direction, as opposed to facts and figures.” A requisite sense of adventure to acquire decorations such as Champion, and thoughtful accommodations for the “under four years old” crowd, reflect Drew’s unique sensibility.
Coupling family and business acumen, Drew often picks up heirlooms on short family road trips through California towns or to desert landscapes. Objects like taxidermies of buffalo and goat heads are mounted high on the walls. But don’t mistake the decor for tinsel. From beasts to Dia De Los Muertos skeletons and a chandelier of hanging fishes crafted by members of Washer’s family, there are poetic stories behind everything. Patrons are also encouraged to follow their own storylines with merchandise, shares staff. Whether on your way to a pink elephant party, contemplating a birthday gift, or looking for a special card, your situation and taste are likely accounted for by a range of merchandise “from young to old.”
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At the far corner of the store is The Back House Gallery. It isn’t a standard art gallery, with four snug corners lit by one magical skylight. On the other hand its measure follows a different ruler. “Both my kids in their artistic and creative years had their own little house they lived in. And we always called it ‘the back house.’ My son and daughter did their first shows out there,” explains Drew. “From ideas that inspire me and whatever is happening in the community,” The Back House Gallery creates nine shows per year that are community driven. March 27th featured “Home Work,” an exhibit of work by three local art teachers, a glimpse of “how they keep their own art practices alive.” The end of June will present “Go Slow,” a sloth-themed fundraiser to help build an aviary in a local classroom. In July stay tuned for the artist open call for self-portraits.
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Envisioned by Drew Washer over sixteen years ago as a “challenge of pulling something together, whatever it is,” HeeBe JeeBe General Store is a place you cannot replicate. As a small business owner Washer infuses the 19th century “general store” model with quirky alterations just for Petaluma. General stores were small town stores all about providing variety and meeting the needs of nearby inhabitants. Holding to values of community and family values, Drew’s vision as a business owner/curator has created a rare alloy. Part general store, part novelty shop, and community gathering post, the store caters to the local parent, quirk, retro snob, artsy cultural connoisseur or nerd, thoughtful gift giver, resident and of course visitors passing through. It seems best to meet a friend there, take one’s time browsing, and of course, chat with other folks.
The Ray's Sandwich
photography by: Paige Green Photography
Which one?
A sandwich by any other name is usually still just a sandwich, unless purveyed by an understated squared-off corner establishment at Western and Webster in West Petaluma. Just heard the collective reader shout out: RAYS!! Yep, sandwich-wise, and other-wise, something is going on there that gathers a community of like-minded Petalumans on a regular basis to enjoy a pairing of dark bar camaraderie and sandwiches crafted for maximum deliciosity.
Today’s post is all about the menu at Ray’s Deli, crafted with heart by co-owners Miranda Austin and Eli Schuepbach. Recently, FIELD took a trip up the road on an El Nino-y damp spring afternoon in search of the Ray’s sandwich experience. Backed by belief in the value of consensus, we asked for the six most popular sandwiches. From the inside out, from the meat to the spreads to the creative condiments, we were served up some serious comfort food sourced obviously from ultra fresh ingredients.
Eli Schuepbech, tells us how appreciative they are of their loyal sandwich fan following. “On a busy day at lunchtime, the wait can push 30 minutes for a sandwich”, says Eli. “But instead of heading down the road to another local deli spot, where they could order a #3 and be out the door in 5 minutes, our customers say “ok, no problem” and they wait patiently.” These are sandwiches (and salads) worth waiting for so the Ray’s devotees complete the circle of mutual appreciation. And lucky for all of us, the West Petaluma sandwich love fest continues.
The Dimitri (Jacquleyn) Special:
Named after a long time employee, Dimitri, and a sandwich-invested patron, Jacquelyn, this sandwich is a result of alternately made adjustments to this now exquisite concoction. Pickled jalapeno and chimichurri sauce bring out the animal in this otherwise vegetarian sandwich.
The Keokuk:
Named after a street in West Petaluma, the Keokuk is far from your run of the mill deli turkey sandwich, and will probably prevent you from ever having one again. Roasted red pepper, cheese, pesto mayo, fresh basil and hit of cayenne make the Keokuk a turkey sandwich of a different color.
The Club:
This sandwich does not stray far from its delicious original form. Which is a great move for lovers and purists of the Club Sandwich. Toasted sourdough bread and high-quality ingredients (turkey, avocado tomato, lettuce and cheese) make it an extra-delectable version. So if you like a Club Sandwich, you'll be particularly pleased with this choice.
The Ham & Brie:
Ray’s version of a ham & brie includes Cowgirl triple cream brie, fig spread, carmelized onions, and arugula. Sounds fancy, but somehow tastes down to earth and grounded in Sonoma County simple flavors.
The Rachel:
Ray’s has both a Reuben and a Rachel on the menu. The Rachel is my personal favorite and if I haven’t had one within a two week time frame I start to need it. It’s Miranda’s perfected house cole slaw (replaces sauerkraut on the Reuben), that makes it so delectable. So if you are both a cole slaw and pastrami fan, this is your girl.
The BLT:
Moving on to the Western Ave BLT…if you like a BLT, well GET HERE NOW.
FIELD tip of the day: order ahead.
Join the conversation and tell us what your favorite sandwich at Ray’s is these days:
Read more about the Ray’s community: Ray’s Regulars, where we take a look at the other half of the Ray’s phenomenon: the Tavern and the regulars who consider it a home away from home