Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Discover the California High Country, Gold Country and Yosemite National Park
Citation preview
sonorachamber.org
e 1
E X P L O R E
1
Stay
l Play
l Di
ne l
Shop
l Ex
plore
See
what
’s wa
iting
for
you
this
Sum
mer
!Elvis is back
Ride in Comfort to YNP
Se
Sierra Rep
Groveland Hotel
God’s Bath
E X P L O R E
SonoraSummer 2013
1FREEFREE!MAG C OF THE N GHT August 9th In Historic Downtown Sonora
6 p.m.-9 p.m. A GREAT FAMILY-FUN EVENT
Featur ing LIVE MUSIC, STREET PERFORMERS, DANCING, ANTIQUE CARS, STREET ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES, FOOD & MORE
209-532-7725 • www.sonoraca.com
DISCOVERThe High CountryTWAIN HARTE • SUGAR PINE MI-WUK VILLAGE • SIERRA VILLAGE STRAWBERRY • DODGE RIDGE PINECREST • KENNEDY MEADOWS
SPECIAL SECTION
exploresonora.com
e 2
E X P L O R E 2013 Yosemite Courtyard Cabat
The Cellar Door R e s t a u r a n T
California-fresh CuisineHistoric Saloon • Cocktails
Savor a lazy morning in the most luxurious featherbed you’ll
never want to get out of, snuggle into one of our cozy bathrobes, enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee on our veranda and permit a gracious staff member to indulge your every request.
Included in your stay is a morning feast we nicknamed the Innkeeper’s Breakfast.
The Groveland Hotel
The Groveland Hotel18767 Main Street
Groveland, CA 95321209.962.4000800.273.3314
www.groveland.com
Return to the 60s Summer of Love on July 20
and dance to the hit tunes of that truly groovy era! This group moves from the harmonies and cos-tumes of the earlier part of the decade, through the English Mod look and sound and Motown’s soulful songs, to finish with a flashback to the Sum-mer of Love itself.
From San Francisco’s psychedelic Haight-Ash-bury to the muddy meadows of Woodstock, the feel-good music of peace and love had us all danc-ing to the groove, whether young or old.
All shows start at 8:00 PM, and dinner service begins at 5:30. Ticket prices vary by show. For more information about the Yosemite Courtyard Cabaret
or to make reservations, contact The Groveland Hotel at 209.962.4000 or toll free at 800.273.3314, email us at [email protected]. Perfor-
As the grand finale to the 2013 season, Elvis returns on September 14! California’s own Rob
Ely performs two sets; the first a revue of where it all began with a young 1950s Elvis Presley, and the second set focus-ing on his 1968 black leather “comeback” tour.
Ely has made numerous television ap-pearances and
won multiple performance awards, including “Best Elvis” at Thunder Valley
Casino in January 2013, and is the “Elvis of choice” for the Oakland A’s baseball team.
SEPTEMBER 14ROB ELY IS ELVIS
August 17, the Hella Good Party Band brings you the radical hits of the 1980s! This high-energy six-piece act
August 17 Hella Good 80’s Band dresses the part and will get you on the dance floor with those totally tubular tunes we all remember from that col-orful decade.
Still have your white jacket, Vans, and Miami Vice pastels? Ready to tease up your hair and wear every necklace in your jewelry box? You’ll have a great time grooving to the music of Prince, Asia, Billy Idol, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, and many more.
July 20Summer of Love
September 14ELVIS is Back!
sonorachamber.org
e 3
E X P L O R E
July 20, 2013 Spotlight on Railtown FundraiserBehind-the-Scenes at Railtown with local wineries serving amongst the locomotives, speeder rides, live music and lots of other surprises, fol-lowed by a special, excursion train.
July 27, 2013 Rods to RailsJoin us for the 2nd Annual Rods to Rails Car Show, as Hot Rods take over the streets of Jamestown and classic cars are on display on our shaded lawn.
August 3, 2013
Singing Rails Railroad MusicAs long as there have been trains, there have been train songs to sing. Join us for a great time with performers Sourdough Slim, and bluegrass band Red Dog Ash, bring low-backed chairs and a picnic and enjoy an afternoon train ride, then dine on the lawn. Ad-vanced tickets suggested. Join us at Railtown for this unique event, which brings together the best of California folk mu-sicians.
Aug.31, Sept. 1-2 Labor Day WeekendRegular, steam-powered ex-
cursion train rides depart Saturday, Sunday and Monday over the holiday weekend.September 21, 2013 Mark Twain Train
At 4 p.m., join Mark Twain on the lawn at Railtown, while he spins some tales about his ad-ventures in the Mother Lode. Then mingle with Mr. Twain and fiddler Dave Rainwater on the 5 p.m. train. Special, advanced-sale ticket prices apply.
September 28, 2013 Evening Event Member Day: Twilight Train RideJoin us for a special, members-only event. Twilight train rides, live music and more! Invitations will be sent to all Railtown members in September, so watch your mailbox! Advance reservations required.
October Weekends Harvest Haunt ExpressClimb aboard Railtown’s an-swer to Halloween: The Har-vest Haunt Express, with our “Skeleton Crew” aboard. Specially decorated excur-sion trains depart on the hour from 11 to 3, filled with fun for the whole family.
R A I L T O W NCALIFORNIA STATE HISTORIC PARK
1897THE ‘MOVIE STAR’ RAILROAD FEATURING ENGINE NO. 3
museum l bookstore l excursions l events l family fun l 209.984.3953 l www.railtown1897.org
The 7th Annual Meals and Wheels For Meals On Wheels fundraiser will be held on
Saturday August 24, 2013 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. Last year’s event raised over $77,000 and this year the organizers have set a target of $100,000.
This year’s theme is “The Fabulous 40’s”. A time of War, a time of Cocktail Parties and a time when Hollywood made a name for itself. It was the Big Band Sound. It was ‘Casa-blanca’.It was ‘A Wonderful Life’…
Prizes for the best 1940’s costumes…Military Uniforms…Red Cross Uniforms....a 1940’s character from film or the era.
The event starts with appetizers and cocktails at 5.00 pm. During this time guests can review auction and raffle prizes and mingle. At 6.00 pm the train leaves for a 45-minute excursion along the rail line with live entertainment on board. Upon returning the exquisite Dinner Buffet prepared by ‘Seven Sisters is served. Rod Harris & the 1940’s Big Band will perform a 1-hour program of
popular music of the era. The evening closes with their signature live auction.
The organizing committee starts work as early as March to arrange the event and it has become renowned as one of the premier fund raising events of the year. Last year was a sell-out at 400; this year they are increasing the ticket numbers to 450. The total num-ber of volunteers to make this event happen is nearing 70.
For tickets and further informa-tion, contact the Senior Center at
209.533.2622 or visit www.sierraseniorproviders.org
Image Credis: Sears-Roebuck’s Magazine Ad; Original sheet music from Warner Bros. ‘Casablanca’, ‘As Time Goes By’; Publicity still Alan Ladd & Veronica Lake in Para-mount’s ‘The Blue Dahlia’
exploresonora.com
e 4
E X P L O R E
Magic of the Night Shop & Stroll the Streets of
Historic Downtown Sonora and hear a wide variety of music and find an array of entertain-ment. This summer time event is great for the entire family and has something for everyone!
Volunteer Fire MuseumSenior Lounge Rockin Rick
& the Rhythm WranglerPlaying Rockabilly, Surf, 50’s
and good old Rock’N’Roll, they will be located at the Volunteer Fire Museum near the Red Church. You can check out the Antique Fire Trucks on display or just have a bite to eat in the shade or take a tour of the Fire Museum.
At Courthouse ParkChains Required
A 10-piece rhythm and blues based band that will have you dancing or just singing along to your favorite tunes. They are sure to get you moving and grooving.
The Mother Lode An-tique Car Club and the Mod-el “A” Car Club will be show-ing off their Vintage Classics.
Mountain Mischief will end the evening with a fire show.
Don’t miss this annual sum-mertime favorite event.Historic Downtown Sonora
209.532.7725FREE 6pm - 9pm
2nd Saturday Art WalkHistoric Downtown SonoraEvery 2nd Saturday of the
month, 5pm-9pm, Historic Downtown Sonora comes alive with Art & Music! Expe-rience Sonora’s magic every
month when retail stores, art galleries are all open and feature great local art and the best Sonora musi-cians.
209.532.7697sonoranightout.com
Farmers’ MarketThe Sonora
Certified Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday, from May 18 through October 19, 2013.
The Farmers’ Market is open to the public every Saturday morning from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
The Sonora Farmers’ Market is located on Theall and Stewart Street and is one block off of Washington St/HWY 49.
farmsoftuolumnecounty.org
Historic 49 Trolley Service
The Historic 49 Trolley Service offers locals and tourists the
opportunity to travel from Sonora to Columbia and Jamestown on weekends through Labor Day weekend.
TGIFSonora
Built in 1850 ‘Gunny’ Our Famous Hotel Bear
Gunn House HotelIn the Heart of Historic Downtown Sonora
Don’t miss our famous Innkeeper’s Breakfast–Waffles made to order!
Rooms $79-$125
The Historic
286 S. Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370 Reservations (209) 532-3421 www.gunnhousehotel.com
event calendar highlights
The Trolleys run hourly into the evening on Saturdays until 9 pm and on Sundays until 4 pm. Trol-leys are wheelchair accessible and equipped with bicycle racks.
209.532.0404historic49trolleyservice.com
YARTS to YosemiteService from Sonora through
Groveland to Yosemite Na-tional Park will begin in May-continlng thru the summer. yosemite.tuolumnecountytransit.com
209.532.0404
Celebrating summer and Fridays, hundreds of
people from far and wide came to party and dance in the streets of historic downtown Sonora.
The June 28th TGIF was the first TGIF Sonora event presented by the Sonora Chamber of Com-merce and the merchants of the historic downtown.
There were exciting bands, kid stuff face painting, balloon animals and a free family movie. Radio personality, Rick Batiste of KKBN spun classic hits and taught children how to do the “cha-cha slide.”.
This was an incredible event for all: singles, couples and families. Sonora invites you to the Historic Downtown again on September 27th, 6-9 p.m., and enjoy the music of some terrific bands and an Outdoor Movie Theatre. Enjoy dining up and down Washington St. Visit exploresonora.com or sonora-nightout.com for all event details.
Photos by Greg Kristapovich.
SEPTEMBER
272013
Pictured below; Blues Box Bayou; Black Irish Band; The Hot Dark
exploresonora.com
e 5
E X P L O R E
CONCEPT, DESIGN & PRODUCTIONPaul Bell
ADVERTISING SALESSonora Chamber of Commerce • Paul Bell
REGIONAL SALESPaul Pieretti, 209.962.4143
EDITORIAL & PHOTOGRAPH CONTRIBUTORSPaul Bell
Patricia Harrelson/Sierra LodestarGreg Kristapovich.
Meg Werlhof Kristen BezaitisMaggie Duncan
Best Western Sonora Oaks HotelThe Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau
Sierra Repertory TheatreCalifornia State Historic ParksTuolumne County Transit/YARTS
EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION INTERNSMeg Werlhof
E X P L O R E
EXPLORE SONORA is a joint publication of The Sonora Chamber of Commerce and Paul Bell l Marketing Solutions. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information contained herein is accurate at the time of publication, but neither entity assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions and changes.
THE SONORA CHAMBER OF COMMERCEThe Voice of Commerce, Culture & Community
Mailing AddressP.O. Box 3084 Sonora, CA 95370
Telephone: 209.694.4405 WEBSITE
sonorachamber.org or sonorachamber.comE-MAIL: [email protected]
The Sonora Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization representing the community of Sonora. As the Sonora Chamber of Commerce, we concentrate our marketing efforts within the Greater Sonora area. The Sonora Chamber of Commerce is also dedicated to raising the awareness of Tuolumne County through tourism, and markets the area as a tourism destination.
PAUL BELL l MARKETING SOLUTIONSP.O. Box 5572, Sonora, CA 95370Telephone: 209.352.8551paulbell.biz l [email protected]
SonoraM A G A Z I N E
Voted ‘Best Chinese Restaurant’2009, 2010 & 2011!
Our Community Partner
Live Well. Be Well.
This Edition of Explore Sonora pays special attention to Railtown 1897, one of the area’s most popular attractions. We encourage both visitors and locals alike to discover a bit of our Western History and
Heritage this spring, through summer, fall and winter.
CONTENTS2 YOSEMITE COURTYARD CABARETThe Groveland Hotel presents a variety of artists in their Courtyard through the summer. 2 CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTSThings to look forward to this Spring & Summer.3 SUMMER COMES TO RAILTOWNA jam-packed calendar of events for the whole fam-ily through Spring and all Summer long.3 MEALS & WHEELS FOR MEALS ON WHEELS The seventh annual fundraiser is themed everything ‘1940’s’. The Rod Harris Big Band is featured with dinner provided by Seven Sisters. Silent Auction.6 LIVE THEATRESierra Rep and Stage 3 Theatre offer an outstanding season this Spring. Don’t miss anything!6-9, 13, 15 THE GOOD LIFEYour shopping guide chock full of unique stores and small town experiences.9, 12 HIGH COUNTRY DISCOVERIESWhere to stay, where to explore and how to get there.10 - 11 DISCOVER THE HIGH COUNTRYHighway 108 offers Discoveries & Adventure from Twain Harte to Kennedy Meadows. See what’s waiting for you.14 LIVE THEATRESierra Rep and Stage 3 Theatre offer an outstanding season this Spring. Don’t miss anything!.15 - 16 DETOURS & DISCOVERIES
A DAY IN YOSEMITE Put your worries behind you and jump on board YARTS to Yosemite National Park from Sonora, Jamestown and Groveland.GOD’S BATHA little hard to find, but worth the trouble.
17 MURAL IN A DAYA community comes together to remember Elea-zar “Ed” Rodriquez, the Flower Guy at the Sonora Farmers’ Market.18 BEST KEPT SECRETSChicken Ranch Casino ‘Where the Big Winners eat!’19 CAVE & MINE ADVENTURESHave the BEST Birthday ever!
SUNBEAMS Baby & Kids
20 DISCOVER YOSEMITETuolumne County Transit and the Yosemite Area Regional Transit
System (YARTS) are partner-ing to provide service to Yo-semite National Park from May to September. Taking YARTS from Sonora to Yosemite National Park. Leave the driving to someone else and enjoy the day like a tourist.
exploresonora.com
e 6
E X P L O R E
the good life fashion, home & garden
Joan’s Boutique
Exploring Downtown Sonora will likely reveal a pleasant surprise that you might not be expecting to find in such
a small town. Joan’s Boutique at 52 S. Washing-ton St. is owned and personally attended to by Joan Richardson, who’s been a retail mer-chant for more than two decades.
Joan’s store has been a fixture of the community for years and it’s difficult to find women of any age who don’t shop there for that special discovery.
Whether it’s clothing and accessories, or just her pleasant company during any hour of her very long retail day, which never seems to deter her from her positive, friendly and out-going demeanor.
What is quickly revealed is Joan’s and her staff ’s readiness to please every custom-er. Everyone is made to feel comfortable, which is exactly what Small Town Cheer is all about.
Joan’s Boutique has been voted ‘The Best Woman’s Boutique/Clothing Store’ for six years in a row in the Union Democrat’s annual
readers poll. She and her staff were recently voted Best Overall Customer Service.
Joan’s Boutique52 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 533-1550joansboutique.com
Let ‘er Buck! Don’t just be part of the herd— start
a stampede by visiting Let ‘er Buck a few doors down from the Four Cor-
ners intersection of Bradford & Washington streets. There’s a wide selection of new and quality consignment Western wear including belts, boots and hats.
Let ‘er Buck also offers Jim’s Formal Wear, uniforms (EMS, FIRE, CHP, CDCR), as well as children’s clothing. Because they wear what they sell, you are getting first-hand knowledge of what works! They can outfit the able ranch hand as well as the next Ro-deo Queen. They take exceptional care of their customers, striving to provide the best value, selection, and service in the business. Let ‘er Buck has something for everyone.
Let ‘er Buck Western Wear68 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 533-1144
Sonora’s Favorite Kitchen StoreIf you’re looking for anything unique and
useful for the kitchen, bath or garden, stop here first— and you’re likely to find
it among their stock of kitchen gadgets, tools and accessories. They carry Nordic Ware, Chantal, BIA Cordon Bleu, Microplane, and more. Decorate a beautiful table with ac-cent brands: TAG, Root Candles, April Cornell, and IHR paper napkins.
Their indoor Market under the Awning of-fers a selection of gourmet jams, preserves, olive oils, baking mixes, spices, loose and bagged teas and seasonal treats to tempt you. Find your favorite fragrance from their com-plete line of Crabtree and Evelyn or the Home Thymes collection. Search their Garden sec-tion for the perfect accent for your entry, pa-tio, or table. Sonora’s Favorite Kitchen Store also features a selection of Mt. Brow Wine and a selection of wine related products, gifts and gadgets.
Customer Service is their specialty, with free gift-wrap on every purchase. They even offer a
selection of greeting cards to make your gift complete. Now that’s one-stop shopping!
Sonora’s Favorite Kitchen Store98 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 588-1400
Tradewinds It’s always an adventure shopping at
Tradewinds. Their main focus is women’s clothing: better and designer labels (no
more than two years old, or classic, time-less styles) in new or like-new condition. They carry all accessories: belts, footwear, hats, scarves and jewelry. They also have a small consignment section for men, with an emphasis on Hawaiian and silk shirts.
Nearly all the home decor items you will see in the store are for sale on consign-ment. While not a vintage store, you will find a smattering of vintage couture pieces and traditional Hawaiian attire. Since they average over 100 new pieces to the floor daily, you just never know what you’ll find!
Some favorite brands that you’ll find at Tradewinds are: Ann Taylor, Armani, Banana Re-public, Brighton, Cache, Chicos, Liz Claiborne, Coach, Gucci, Anne Klein, and Ralph Lauren, to name a few!
Tradewinds 63 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 588-8810tradewindsconsignment.com
exploresonora.com
e 7
E X P L O R E Insuring our community since 1987Business • Home • Auto
Life • Health • Bonds(209) 533-0234
Mountain Home Gifts
This unique gift store in Historic Down-town Sonora carries a wide selection of gifts, art, books and clothing that
celebrate life in Sonora, the mountains and the surrounding small towns and foothill communities.
If you’re walking, hiking, camping or ex-ploring, there’s a collection of guidebooks related to the foothills, the Sierras, Yosemite National Park and the region. You can find reproductions of vintage signs,
posters, postcards and other memorabilia related to life in the foothills, mountains and Yosemite National Park. There is also a se-lection of books by local authors. Mountain Home Gifts also specializes in
Sonora branded clothing and merchandise. They also have furniture that can be cus-tomized to reflect favorite memories of your visit, your cabin or home.
Mountain Home Gifts87 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 533-5319
Addictions Spray Tanning & Fashion Sonora’s first and only spray tanning sa-
lon uses vegan-certified, organic spray tanning ingredients. At Addictions, ev-
ery customer is important, so they make sure that you look your best and that the color compliments your natural skin tone and is perfect after every session. No mat-
ter if you want to be bronzed for a special event, vacation or just because you want that tan, now! Addictions Spray Tanning will get it right each and every time without the harmful effects of UV tanning.
Addictions Fashion features contempo-rary clothing, shoes, handbags and accesso-ries for women and girls. They carry reason-ably priced limited edition collections with new themes launched every week. Featured lines include Naked Zebra, H&G, Miss Chic, Color Story, BLVD, Nine Bird and Lush among many more favorites. Addictions is one of Sonora’s newest, trend-setting boutiques catering to your favorite addictions.
Addictions Spray Tanning & Fashion128 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 617-3689sunlessaddictiontanning.com
Sun B.E.A.M.S.Baby & Kids Boutique
Sun B.E.A.M.’s is your one-stop shop for stylish clothing, shoes and accessories for baby (up to size 12), diaper bags,
baby skin care, and one of a kind gift items. This is the perfect place to shop and reg-
ister for any occasion.
The owners (all moms) feature B.O.B. Strollers, Citizens of Humanity Maternity Jeans, Petunia Pickle Bottom, Charlie Rock-et and Mud Pie, plus many more brands. For the expectant mom, Sun Beams carries ma-ternity clothing as well.
Sun Beam’s Baby & Kids Boutique136 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 532-5800sunbeamsboutique.com
exploresonora.com
e 8
E X P L O R E
the good life dining & specialty
A & M Custom Framing
A great frame does more than pro-tect the artwork it surrounds. It en-hances and adds a personal touch to
an entire room. A&M strives to work with their customers to create a design that is unique to their own personal decorating style.
They offer a large selection of custom frames, ready-made frames, and quality matting in a wide variety of colors with experience in all aspects of custom fram-ing including canvas stretching, needlework, pastel, photography, prints, sports memora-bilia and shadow boxes.
Visit them at 228 North Washington Street, just past the Red Church. They look forward to helping you creatively preserve all your precious memories and fine art.
A&M Custom Framing228 North Washington Street
Sonora, California 95370209-532-7411
Wednesday - Saturday 10am - 5pmTuesdays & evenings by appointment.
If the shoe fits
Downtown Shoes is a foot-weary welcome to Historic Downtown Sonora as a new full service shoe
store. Downtown Shoes specializes in comfortable and stylish shoes, boots and sandals for both men and women, along with a fun selection of socks and hand-bags. They pride themselves on the quality of their product lines.
Close to Yosemite National Park, they offer you an opportunity to get yourself a quality pair of hiking, tramping, stomping or plain walking shoes for your exhilarat-ing excursion into the wilderness, or just in and around town.
The owners, Rick and Melody, pride themselves on providing exceptional ser-vice and making sure all of their custom-ers are properly fit in comfortable, yet stylish footwear. They also cater to the working men of the area with Red Wing and Wesco work boots, and if you don’t see what you need, they will be a hap-py to special order them for you. If you don’t live in the area, just give them a call or send an email, as they also offer free shipping within the continental Unit-ed States.
Downtown Shoes4 S. Washington St.
(209) 532-25004downtownshoes.com
The shop is lovely. It’s filled with
o n e - o f - a - k i n d pieces made by lo-cal artists as well as clothing, art and accessories that have a defini-tive feel. The first thing you’ll notice when walking in, is the atmosphere
that Lauren Hurley and Lissa Anderson, the owners, have created. The space is warm and inviting, offering
an unparalleled experience for its shop-pers. You’ve reached their promise and are now part of their vision of the shop; a retail retreat. Along with vintage fur-nishings, local art, accessories and jewelry, you’ll be sure to find clothing suitable to
your tastes. The front part of the store is a boutique, while the back half of the store is a dedicated consignment shop, with something to fit every budget, every taste and aspiration.
As you wander through the shop, fa-vorite things might happen to catch your eye. Certainly some of the unique jewelry that is offered, and many pieces that you’ll realize couldn’t be gotten elsewhere, and you’d best get them now, because you’ll never find them again.
From the art lining the historic stone walls, to the beautiful display of clothing suit-ed for a high-end boutique in San Francisco, Lauren and Lissa have made their shop into something that any woman is sure to enjoy. And it’s in Sonora of all places.
According to the owners of Backspace, “We created it with love...and passion for a beautiful 1880’s gold rush building, and filled it with lovelies. Soft, timeless, ver-satile, wear-in-any-season pieces for your wardrobe. Along with vintage furnish-ings, local art, accessories, artisan jew-elry (including a Jewelry Bar, where you can custom design your own pieces), or have something extra special made by us! Come in. You won’t be sorry...”
Backspace: A Retail Retreat67 South Washington St.
Sonora, CA 95370(209) 532-4894
continued on page 13
• APPAREL • SHOES
• ACCESSORIES• MANICURES • PEDICURES
• FACIALS • WAXING • BEAUTY
PRODUCTS
OPEN 7 DAYS108 South Washington St.
Downtown Sonora209.588.8899
Have you been the volunteer or always seem to be the desig-
nated driver on family and friend excursions, missing out on some of the fun? Well, now it’s your turn to sit back, relax and enjoy the fun.
You can count on Sierra Adven-ture Charters and Tours to make your adventure, event, or special occasion memorable, without the stress of driving! Sierra Adventure will pick you up at your specified location and take you anywhere you and your party desire. They have a ten-passenger vehicle to ac-commodate a more personal ad-venture. Whether you choose a day trip within our beautiful foothills of Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Amador Counties to enjoy the sights and recreation, or a drive down to the coast for a beach get-away, Sierra Adventure Charters and Tours are at your driving service.
They offer complimentary snacks and bottled waters. Their custom-ized tour van is also equipped with a DVD player for informational vid-eos or movies for the kids. Would you like to stop for coffee and a Danish before your trip? No Prob-lem. Just let them know and they’ll stop at the cafe of your choice or even pick it for you. How about lunch? They can provide a pic-nic basket that can be filled with your favorite foods. Let them know ahead and they’ll put a lunch to-gether for you from a local deli.
Sierra Adventure Charters and Tours company began following a phenomenal European vacation taken by owners Scott and Kel-ly Smith in order to celebrate an anniversary. After arriving in Ita-ly by train, they ran into a gentle-
man who operated a private trans-portation company and offered his services to create a custom driving tour throughout Tuscany, travelling to any destination without being bound by a tour group’s itinerary of destinations or a preset sched-ule. This level of exceptional cus-tomer service enabled them to ex-perience our vacation to a degree of perfection that simply would not have been possible without flexible professional transportation.
After returning home to the United States, Scott and Kelly re-alized that what they must do is bring the joy and adventure of that unique experience to as many peo-ple as possible. As a result they founded Sierra Adventure Char-ters and Tours for the Sierra Ne-vada region and all surrounding ar-eas to those with an eye set on ad-venture.
While planning your vacation, let Sierra Adventure Charters and Tours be your source of profes-sional travel and tourism assistance! From the mountains to the ocean, and all dream locations in between, let us do the driving! Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!
SIERRA ADVENTURE CHARTERS & TOURS
(209) 677-3183 (888) 963-6235
TCP #31082CA 441289
Finding A Mild or Wild AdventureSierra Adventure Charters & Tours
Discoveries: Where to StayBest Western Sonora Oaks Hotel& Conference Center - East Sonora
Nestled in a grove of ancient oaks in a park-like setting, the
BEST WESTERN PLUS Sonora Oaks Hotel & Conference Center is perfect for outdoor lovers. Just 75 miles from spectacular Yosem-ite National Park, we offer admis-sion packages and transportation options to help make the most of your visit. This centrally-located Sonora hotel also offers easy ac-cess to year-round fun at Pinecrest Lake, New Melones Lake, Leland Meadows and the Dodge Ridge Ski Area.
This Best Western PLUS hotel in the Cen-tral Sierra Foothills is also a great choice for guests who want to take a step back in time, as historic down-town Sonora, Gold Rush Town, Columbia Historic State Park and Railtown 1897 are nearby, and there’s plenty of gaming fun to be had at Black Oak Casino.
The Best Western PLUS Sonora Oaks Hotel & Conference Center offers spacious, well-appointed guest rooms complete with cable satel-lite TV and free internet Wi-Fi. Best Western PLUS Sonora Oaks Ho-tel was voted “Best in Region” for 6 years. This Sonora hotel offers an ar-ray of amenities including a compli-mentary full breakfast, seasonal out-door heated swimming pool and hot tub, free parking, business services and meeting/banquet facilities accom-
modating up to 160 people. This award winning hotel also features an onsite res-taurant, lounge and an out-door barbeque area.
The friendly, helpful staff at the Best Western PLUS Sonora Oaks Hotel & Conference Center is ready to ensure a fun-filled memorable stay in Sonora, California. Make a reservation to-day and save!
BEST WESTERN PLUS SONORA OAKS HOTEL
& CONFERENCE CENTER 19551 Hess Ave
Sonora, CA 95370(209) 533-4400800-532-1944
Hotel Rating: AAA-3 Diamond
Plus
DISCOVER The High Country Adventure
tuolumne county and the yosemite Gold Country
Begin your ‘High Coun-try Adventure’ by
heading east on Highway 108 from Historic Sonora.
Look carefully for the turn-off from Highway
108 east that will wind down into the village of Twain Harte.
Originally home to the Me-Wuk Indians,
during the California Gold Rush, the area was used as a way station for supply wagons from Sonora to the eastern mines. Years after mining petered out, the area was pro-moted in the 1920’s as a real estate development
and a resort named after Mark Twain and Bret Harte, two famous writers and area travelers of the Gold Rush era.
From Memorial Day through Labor day,
Twain Harte buzzes with a happy summer throng, fill-ing the B&B’s, motels, inns, camp grounds, RV Parks and rental cabins hidden throughout the cooling trees, during the sizzling summer in the foothills below.
During the summer months, Concerts
In the Pines are pre-sented every Saturday night. Located in Eproson Park, concerts start at 6pm and are free to the
public. Picnics, blankets and low-back chairs
are welcome but
you may want to arrive early
to secure a spot on the grass.
Twain Harte
also hosts a number
of seasonal events through-
out the year. Look for their 4th of July Celebration; Wines in the Pines: Art & Wine Festival (July); and the Twain Harte Film Festi-val in September. The Christmas Parade is local favorite worth a look in early December.
Just a few miles east of Twain Harte are three
small mountain communi-ties Sugar Pine, Mi-Wuk and Sierra Village. As you travel ‘up the mountain’ there are restaurants, lodging choices, recre-ation opportunities, all just within a pleasant stretch of a few miles. You’ll also find some unique busi-nesses catering to locals and visitors, some year round.
Mi-Wuk Village, was named in recognition
of the Me-Wuk who have lived in the area for centuries and were first to travel eastward along the Sonora Pass to trade with other Native
Americans along the eastern slope of the Sierra Moun-tain Range.
Today, the Tuolumne
Band of Me-Wuk Indians ran-cheria (reservation) is located in the town of Tuolumne and operate the Black Oak Resort just a lovely six mile drive from Twain Harte to the south west, on Tuolumne Road.
Just beyond Si-erra Village is Long Barn Lodge Ice
Rink & Event Center. Year-round activi-
ties can be found nearby. Just a little bit north of Sierra Village is Lyons Reservoir at 4226 feet. The Stanislaus River runs through Lyons Reservoir and offers white-water rafting nearby and the area is attractive to hikers and cyclists. These waters are superb for fishing and boating .
Pinecrest Lake Kayaks - Lynn Ferrin
Phot
o Cr
edit:
Dod
ge R
idge
Dodge Ridge Ski Resort is
about 45 minutes from Sonora. Campground sites are available in spring and sum-mer. Dodge Ridge of-
fers their An-nual Labor
Day Weekend Kick Off to the Ski and Ride Season. There’s a Barbeque with live music and a special prior year
gear sale. The lift season begins
in mid-December. Tuolumne County
Transit and Dodge Ridge operate the SkiBus from December through March or April depending on the weather and snowpack.
Pinecrest Lake is located 30 miles east
of Sonora along High-way 108. This beautiful recreation destination is surrounded by timber at an elevation of 5,600 feet. The California
Department of Fish and Game stocks Pinecrest Lake with plenty of rainbow trout for excel-lent fishing. Nearby there are many hundreds of camp-sites with full
Pinecrest Lake
The rustic cabins, authentic saloon, horseback adventures, family style restaurant, and quality hunting and fishing have brought people back to Kennedy’s for generations.
The Country Store has just about anything you may
need for your pack trip into the High Country wilder-ness. Hiking, horseback riding (hourly or daily), backpacking, horse pack trips, fishing and opportunities, and even danc-ing in the Last Chance Saloon, compliment your High Country Adventure.
About an hour drive, 58 miles east of Sonora,
and 1 mile off Highway 108,Kennedy Meadows Resort & Pack Station has been a destination for families, groups, friends, and wilderness adventurers for
almost a century.
Photo Credit: Kennedy MeadowsTHE TUOLUMNE COUNTY
VISITORS BUREAUPLEASE CALL OUR VACATION STATION:
800-446-1333209-533-4420
OR VISITUS ONLINEyosemitegoldcountry.com
TWAIN HARTETwain Harte Chamber of Commerce
(209) 586-4482twainhartecc.comSUGAR PINE
MI-WUK VILLAGESIERRA VILLAGEArea Information
miwukvillageca.comLONG BARN LODGE
(800) 310-3533longbarn.comPINECREST
Pinecrest Lake Resort(209) 965-3411
pinecrestlakeresort.comPINECREST CAMPGROUND
(209) 965-31161-877-444-6777 recreation.gov
DODGE RIDGE RESORTMain: 209-965-3474
Campground: (209) 965-3116. SnowPhone: 209-536-5300
dodgeridge.com
KENNEDY MEADOWSRESORT & PACK STATIONSummer/Winter: (209) 965-3911
kennedymeadows.comCAMPGROUNDS
1-877-444-6777 RANGER DISTRICTS
Mi-Wok District, 24695 Highway 108(209) 586-3234
SUMMIT DISTRICT#1 Pinecrest Lake Road
Pinecrest, CA 95364(209) 965-3434
Vacationland High country adventure
In winter, the Pinecrest Recreation Area is a popular destination for snow play, downhill as well as Nordic skiing. Groomed or marked trails are maintained for winter enthusiasts throughout the area.
amenities in several camp-grounds. There are also group sites and Day Use sites as well.Groceris and supplies are available in the commercial center of Pinecrest. There’s also a designated swim area, fish-ing pier and boat launch. There’s a 4 mile hiking trail around the lake with paved path-ways con-necting points of interest.
During the sum-
mer season an outdoor
movie theater on the edge of the lake, offers some
of the latest popular film releases.
DISCOVER The High Country Adventure
tuolumne county and the yosemite Gold Country
Begin your ‘High Coun-try Adventure’ by
heading east on Highway 108 from Historic Sonora.
Look carefully for the turn-off from Highway
108 east that will wind down into the village of Twain Harte.
Originally home to the Me-Wuk Indians,
during the California Gold Rush, the area was used as a way station for supply wagons from Sonora to the eastern mines. Years after mining petered out, the area was pro-moted in the 1920’s as a real estate development
and a resort named after Mark Twain and Bret Harte, two famous writers and area travelers of the Gold Rush era.
From Memorial Day through Labor day,
Twain Harte buzzes with a happy summer throng, fill-ing the B&B’s, motels, inns, camp grounds, RV Parks and rental cabins hidden throughout the cooling trees, during the sizzling summer in the foothills below.
During the summer months, Concerts
In the Pines are pre-sented every Saturday night. Located in Eproson Park, concerts start at 6pm and are free to the
public. Picnics, blankets and low-back chairs
are welcome but
you may want to arrive early
to secure a spot on the grass.
Twain Harte
also hosts a number
of seasonal events through-
out the year. Look for their 4th of July Celebration; Wines in the Pines: Art & Wine Festival (July); and the Twain Harte Film Festi-val in September. The Christmas Parade is local favorite worth a look in early December.
Just a few miles east of Twain Harte are three
small mountain communi-ties Sugar Pine, Mi-Wuk and Sierra Village. As you travel ‘up the mountain’ there are restaurants, lodging choices, recre-ation opportunities, all just within a pleasant stretch of a few miles. You’ll also find some unique busi-nesses catering to locals and visitors, some year round.
Mi-Wuk Village, was named in recognition
of the Me-Wuk who have lived in the area for centuries and were first to travel eastward along the Sonora Pass to trade with other Native
Americans along the eastern slope of the Sierra Moun-tain Range.
Today, the Tuolumne
Band of Me-Wuk Indians ran-cheria (reservation) is located in the town of Tuolumne and operate the Black Oak Resort just a lovely six mile drive from Twain Harte to the south west, on Tuolumne Road.
Just beyond Si-erra Village is Long Barn Lodge Ice
Rink & Event Center. Year-round activi-
ties can be found nearby. Just a little bit north of Sierra Village is Lyons Reservoir at 4226 feet. The Stanislaus River runs through Lyons Reservoir and offers white-water rafting nearby and the area is attractive to hikers and cyclists. These waters are superb for fishing and boating .
Pinecrest Lake Kayaks - Lynn Ferrin
Phot
o Cr
edit:
Dod
ge R
idge
Dodge Ridge Ski Resort is
about 45 minutes from Sonora. Campground sites are available in spring and sum-mer. Dodge Ridge of-
fers their An-nual Labor
Day Weekend Kick Off to the Ski and Ride Season. There’s a Barbeque with live music and a special prior year
gear sale. The lift season begins
in mid-December. Tuolumne County
Transit and Dodge Ridge operate the SkiBus from December through March or April depending on the weather and snowpack.
Pinecrest Lake is located 30 miles east
of Sonora along High-way 108. This beautiful recreation destination is surrounded by timber at an elevation of 5,600 feet. The California
Department of Fish and Game stocks Pinecrest Lake with plenty of rainbow trout for excel-lent fishing. Nearby there are many hundreds of camp-sites with full
Pinecrest Lake
The rustic cabins, authentic saloon, horseback adventures, family style restaurant, and quality hunting and fishing have brought people back to Kennedy’s for generations.
The Country Store has just about anything you may
need for your pack trip into the High Country wilder-ness. Hiking, horseback riding (hourly or daily), backpacking, horse pack trips, fishing and opportunities, and even danc-ing in the Last Chance Saloon, compliment your High Country Adventure.
About an hour drive, 58 miles east of Sonora,
and 1 mile off Highway 108,Kennedy Meadows Resort & Pack Station has been a destination for families, groups, friends, and wilderness adventurers for
almost a century.
Photo Credit: Kennedy MeadowsTHE TUOLUMNE COUNTY
VISITORS BUREAUPLEASE CALL OUR VACATION STATION:
800-446-1333209-533-4420
OR VISITUS ONLINEyosemitegoldcountry.com
TWAIN HARTETwain Harte Chamber of Commerce
(209) 586-4482twainhartecc.comSUGAR PINE
MI-WUK VILLAGESIERRA VILLAGEArea Information
miwukvillageca.comLONG BARN LODGE
(800) 310-3533longbarn.comPINECREST
Pinecrest Lake Resort(209) 965-3411
pinecrestlakeresort.comPINECREST CAMPGROUND
(209) 965-31161-877-444-6777 recreation.gov
DODGE RIDGE RESORTMain: 209-965-3474
Campground: (209) 965-3116. SnowPhone: 209-536-5300
dodgeridge.com
KENNEDY MEADOWSRESORT & PACK STATIONSummer/Winter: (209) 965-3911
kennedymeadows.comCAMPGROUNDS
1-877-444-6777 RANGER DISTRICTS
Mi-Wok District, 24695 Highway 108(209) 586-3234
SUMMIT DISTRICT#1 Pinecrest Lake Road
Pinecrest, CA 95364(209) 965-3434
Vacationland High country adventure
In winter, the Pinecrest Recreation Area is a popular destination for snow play, downhill as well as Nordic skiing. Groomed or marked trails are maintained for winter enthusiasts throughout the area.
amenities in several camp-grounds. There are also group sites and Day Use sites as well.Groceris and supplies are available in the commercial center of Pinecrest. There’s also a designated swim area, fish-ing pier and boat launch. There’s a 4 mile hiking trail around the lake with paved path-ways con-necting points of interest.
During the sum-
mer season an outdoor
movie theater on the edge of the lake, offers some
of the latest popular film releases.
Sierra Cellars, in Twain Harte and Copper Cellars, in
Copperopolis, showcase select vineyards from the Sierra Foot-hills region of Northern Cal-ifornia, presenting wines in a comfortable, pleasant and re-laxing atmosphere.
Whether you prefer red wine or white , you can
select from many varieties of fine vintage.
Whether you’re a connois-seur or just a wine-lover,
wine-tasting is more than ap-preciating great wine- it’s a life-style.
Celebrate good taste with an array of locally produced
wines that are difficult to find because select vineyards are not producing for mass con-sumption.
TWAIN HARTEA Lovely Place 586-2583 • 22511 Confidence Rd
• alovelyplace.comEl Dorado Motel & Gift Shop 586-4479
• (888) 894-8580 • 22678 Twain Harte Dr.FunCabinRentals.com (925) 963-2857 ·
• Fax: (925) 226-3150 • 22743 Bret Harte Dr.Gables CedarCreek Inn 586-3008
• 888-900-4224 • 22560 Twain Harte Dr. • gccinn.com
Lazy Z Resort 586-1214 • 800-585-1238 22732 Middle Camp Rd ·lazyz.com
Manzanita House Bed & Breakfast • 586-9410 • manzanita-house.com • 18864 Manzanita Dr.
McCaffrey House B&B Inn 586-0757 • 888-586-0757 • 23251 Hwy 108 • mccaffreyhouse.com
Twain Harte Rentals 586-5204 • 22922 Twain Harte Dr. • twainharterentals.com
Wildwood Inn 586-2900 • 22960 Meadow Dr. • wildwoodinn.com
MI-WUKChristmas Tree Inn 586-1005 • 800-399-3900 •
• 24685 Hwy 108, MiWuk • thechristmastreeinn.com
LONG BARN Long Bam Lodge 586-3533 • 800-310-3533
• longbarn.com • 25957 Long Barn Rd.Our Sierra Cabin 810-4891 • oursierracabin.com
• 25931 Scenic Dr., Long Barn
DODGE RIDGECamp Sylvester Resort 965-3172 • Dodge Ridge
Rd.• campsylvester.org
STRAWBERRYPINECRESTDarlene’s Vacation Rentals 669-1401 • 800-
273-0740 • pinecreestarearentals.comPinecrest Chalet 965-3276 ·Fax: 965-3472 500
Dodge Ridge Rd.• pinecrestchalet.com Pinecrest Lake Resort 965-3411 • pinecrestlak-
eresort.com • 421 Pinecrest Lake Rd., Pinecrest
KENNEDY MEADOWSKennedy Meadows Resort (closed in winter)
• 965-3900 • kennedymeadows.com • Hwy 108
HIGH COUNTRY CAMPING & RV SITES
3 Links Camp (Groups & Individual Campers) • 586-5500 • 707-275-2070 • 21950 Hwy 108,MiWuk
Dardanelle Area Campgrounds • 965-3116 • Hwy 108 20 east of Summit Ranger Station
Brightman Flat• Boulder Flat• Dardanelle
• Eureka Valley• Pigeon FlatPinecrest/Meadowview/Pioneer
• 965-3116 • 877-444-6777 • Pinecrest Lake Rd,
Pinecrest Chalet 965-3276·Fax: 965-3849 • pinecrestchalet.com • 500 Dodge Ridge Rd., PinecrestSummit Ranger Station,Stanislaus National Forest • 965-3434 • #1 Pinecrest Lake Rd. • r5.fs.fed.us/stanislaus • 801-226-3564 • americanLL.com
Cascade/Mill/Niagara Creek • Fence Creek • Baker/Deadman Campground
Clarks Fork/Sand Flat • Clarks Fork Horse Camp MiWok Ranger Station,Stanislaus National Forest • 586-3234 • 24695 Hwy 108,MiWuk Village • r5.fs.fed.us/stanislaus Fraser Flat • Hullcreek/Sandbar Flat
Lodging & Visitor IformationTuolumne CountyVisitors Bureau:800-446-1333209-533-4420
yosemitegoldcountry.com
Twain Harte DiscoverySierra Cellars and Copper Cellars
Sierra Cellars in Twain Harte
Lodging in the High CountryHotels, Motels, B&Bs, Inns, Camping , RV ParksVisit www.yosemitegoldcountry.com
LEGEND Area Code is (209) unless noted otherwise
HOTEL/MOTEL BED & BREAKFAST/INN CABIN/RENTAL CAMPING/RV
Attracting both novices and aficionados, Sierra Cel-
lars is a casual, educational, and most importantly, a fun tasting experience. Escape the con-
ventional wine bar experience by visiting their tasting room in the lovely town of Twain Harte, gateway to the Central Sierras and the High Country.
A taste of the Sierras
A unique Wine-Tasting Experience That Engages The Senses
“Come in and wine a bit, you’ll feel better!”
“By the taste, by the glass or buy the bottle!”
SIERRA CELLARS22964 Meadow Lane
Twain Harte CA 95383 (209)586-1104
sierracellars-winetasting.com
COPPER CELLARS308 Town Square Rd.Copperopolis, CA
209-785-9292www.coppercellars.com
Boutique Wine Stores, Gifts and Tasting Rooms
Copper Cellars Copperopolis Town Square
“We also offer wine related gift items, and paintings .”— Doug & Becky Halvorsen
sonorachamber.org
e13
E X P L O R E
209.533.4455
The Candy Vault
L ocated in the historic Na-tional Bank Building on
the corner of Washington and Bradford, the Candy Vault takes customers back a half-century, offering a feeling reminiscent of
walking into a Norman Rock-well painting on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.
A visit leaves one with a warm and comforting glow, re-assuring you that enjoying a bit of ice cream and candy might be a good thing after all.
The new owners, John and Brandi Ogle, share their enthu-siasm for their business with every customer saying, ‘Have a sweet day,’ as they leave with a bag full of treats. The Candy Vault offers hard-to-find hand-made chocolates and specialty brands. They also now feature organic and even sugar-free del-icacies. Be sure to stop by espe-cially during the Holiday Season, as they will continue the tradi-tion of Santa Stories through Christmas.
Visit the Candy Vault and you’ll feel like a kid again.
The Candy Vault 42 S. Washington St.Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 532-2388
Emberz Great fast, fun food can be
found at one of the best locations in historic Down-town Sonora. Emberz is now the hottest spot in town and probably the coolest place to be seen. The menu includes sal-ads, burgers, sandwiches, piz-za and entrees from Chef An-drew. Old is new again in the full bar, featuring classic cocktails that are made fresh with a de-licious Emberz twist that you’ll have to discover for yourself.
Emberz sparkles with enthusi-asm and just beams food, drink and an evening of fun and good company. The wood-fired pizza oven just beyond the bar has not escaped the attention of the own-ers and is decorated with bits of colored glass and ceramic tiles by the entirety of the Emberz staff, which speaks to the commitment of everyone involved in a great dining experience.
The restaurant is within a short walk to shopping and art galleries and is ideal for a pre-show dinner or after-show cock-tail, just two blocks from Stage 3 Theatre Company.
Emberz177 S Washington Street
Sonora, CA 95370(209) 532-2272
the good life food
exploresonora.com
e14
E X P L O R E
Sierra Repertory Theatre Co. Sierra Rep (or SRT) presents nine main-stage shows per year at two locations – the original East Sonora Theater and the Historic Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Historic Park. Sierra Rep plays to an audience coming from both the Mother Lode area and from an hour or more away.
2013 SeasonOklahoma!
June 28 - August 18, 2013Fallon House Threatre
Rodgers and Hammer-stein’s first glorious collaboration created a new standard for musi-cal theater. Set in the Western Territory the high-spirited rivalry be-tween the farmers and the cowboys provides a colorful backdrop for the love story of hand-some cowboy Curly
and winsome farmgirl Laurey.
RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women
July 26 - September 1, 2013East Sonora Theater
This international hit musical tells the excit-ing story of women through popular music and the real adventures of women realizing dreams, lost loves, relationships and ca-reers.
Don’t Dress for DinnerSeptember 6 - September 29, 2013
Fallon House ThreatreA philandering husband is hoping to entertain his mistress for the weekend, has arranged for a chef to furnish the gourmet delights and is in the process of packing his wife off to her mother’s. Except the Mrs. has a few secrets of her own, the chef is mistaken for the mistress, an extra husband shows up, and each outland-ish explanation if more ludicrous than the last.
“Hurling along at the speed of light, (this) breathtaking farce is a near faultless piece of theatrical invention.
The Spitfire GrillOctober 4, 2013 to October 27, 2013
East Sonora TheaterSince it opened off-Broadway in 2001, “The Spitfire Grill” has become one of the most often-produced new American musicals. Its depict the journey of a fiesty young wom-an just released from prison who decides to start her life anew in a rundown mining
town. “A soulful musical. The amiable Coun-try-flavored tunes and lyrics are transcen-dant. It is not often that material moves me to tears, but this was one of those oc-casions. “The Spitfire Grill” has heart and soul.” (New York Magazine)
SRT VenuesEast Sonora Theatre
13891 Mono Way, SonoraFallon House
11175 Washington St. Columbiawww.sierrarep.com
Tickets & Information209.532.3120
Stage 3 Theatre Co.Stage 3 is a ‘black box’ theater with an in-timate 85 seats surrounding the stage on 3 sides. Productions range from very simple staging to very complex sets. The Company has earned a reputation for producing out-standing plays in their 20 year history.
The DivinersJune 21 - July 28
In the heat-scorched Dust Bowl of the 1930’s, young Buddy Layman has become something of a legend in Zion, the Indiana town where he lives. Having barely escaped drowning when he was four, he is now mentally scarred and irrationally terrified of water. Somehow, Buddy has developed a miraculous gift: he can find precious water.
A Streetcar Named DesireBy Tennessee Williams
September 6 - October 13, 2013This play reveals to the very depths the character of Blanche du Bois, a woman whose life has been undermined by her romantic illusions, which lead her to reject the realities of life. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948.
Stage 3 Theatre Company208 S Green St, Sonora ,Ca 95370
stage3.orgTickets & Information
209.536.1778
Live Theatre 685 South Washington St., Sonora • 209.536.1400 • groceryoutlet.com/Sonora-CA
The fairgrounds features many annual events including home shows, musicial events, craft fairs, antique shows, rodeo in May, and the Mother Lode Fair in July. There’s also an RV Park. Mother Lode Fair & R.V. Park, 220 Southgate Dr. ,Sonora,95370.
(209) 532-7428motherlodefair.org
sonorachamber.org
e15
E X P L O R E
All menus subject to change without notice.
The story of the Europa as an iconic downtown Sonora restaurant begins
nearly a century ago, yet the newest chapter of this famous eatery begins, after months of painstaking renovations with the return of the new, ‘old’ Europa under management of the 3rd and 4th generations of Bezaitis fam-ily operation. Owners Larry and Brenda have taken the restaurant to its highest level of
perfection with a refreshing ambiance and re-laxed atmosphere, coupled with an extensive menu that includes most all of the famous home cooked favorites along with a wide mix of modern, heart-healthy menu items.
While many of the old ‘comfort’ foods the Europa is famous for have already gen-erated legions of repeat business with the locals, so have the many added items such as the generous selection of dazzling salads, old fashioned deli sandwiches, Gyros, soups, and vegetarian and vegan selections.
The Europa uses nothing but the fin-est ingredients and strives to also feature many of Tuolumne County’s locally grown and crafted produce, olive oils, seasonings, wines and sauces, and pies.
From the return of the famous Europa quarter-pound hamburger with home-made fries, or the hand-cut and always fresh chicken fried steak with homemade mashed potatoes and homemade gravies, along with some of Sonora’s finest steaks to the heart=healthy items also available, there is a great selection for every appe-tite.
Clean, refreshing and comforting atmo-sphere, friendly wait staff, quality foods and low prices. Welcome back to the Europa! Come in and enjoy your choice of a retro-modern diner era dining room or the cozy sports bar with 65” LED TV and a great
selection of appetizers. Don’t have time to sit? Try a picnic basket for your next out-door adventure with their deli sandwiches or a mix of their fine meats and cheeses. The Europa also offer off-sale beer and wine to fully compliment your day!
Europa Deli, Sports Bar & GrillCalifornia Grill/Full Bar/Wine Bar
Price Range: $$ /Dine In/Take Out 273 S. Washington St., Sonora
(209) 536-4670
Evan Ethan Harrington enjoys a Europa favor-ite. Inset pnoto:1/4lb. bacon cheeseburger & homemade fries, $6.99
the good life Europa Deli, Sports Bar & Grill
Yosemite NATIONAL PARKService from Sonora • Jamestown • Groveland/Yosemite Pines
Buck Meadows • Thousand Trails • Crane Flat YARTS.COM • 877.989.2787
I woke up at 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday morn-ing for a day of escape to Yosemite. With
my best friend Amber by my side I knew that it was bound to be a day full of adven-ture, laughter, and even a few ‘did that re-ally just happen?’. Amber and I always en-joy trying new things and we hoped today would be special. For the first time in my
life,( all twenty-five years of them) living in Sonora— I was going to take public transportation.
Living in such a rural area I can simply jump into my car and go. Anywhere. Anytime. However, we were feeling adventurous and decided to give some-thing new a try. The feeling of letting go of the trouble and hassle of a driving a car for the day seemed more than welcoming. Especially in deciding to take a trip to Yosemite National Park.
We found the downtown Sonora YARTS stop at the Inns of Califor-nia on Washington Street around 8 a.m. and were greeted by a large, sleek bus with ‘YARTS’ in huge letters on the side. Our carriage for the day! We were welcomed by a very friendly driver and were told to make ourselves comfortable for the ride
into Yosemite. The bus made a few more stops on the way and more people joined us who appeared just as eager as we were for the day. The ride was very comfortable and without having to use my own energy in driving I was able to reserve it for the day ahead of us.
We arrived in front of the Yosemite Visi-tors Center at about a quarter to eleven. The weather was a refreshing seventy-five
detours & discovery yosemite
Continued on next page
Crab Salad:One of many Europa favorites.
exploresonora.com
e16
E X P L O R E
degrees. How much more relaxing and perfect could this day be for us? We quickly made our way over to the Yosemite Lodge & Curry Village to rent bicycles for the day. This is another first for Amber and me. I had always wanted to go bike riding through Yosemite and decided today was the day to do it. We arrived at the lodge and were told to pick out a bike for the day. I chose a bright orange one for myself and Amber chose a teal bike which suit-ed her well. Then we were off.
The cool breeze flowing through my hair made me feel more at ease than I had in a long time. I felt complete freedom. Being in one of the most beautiful places in the world and no worries for a girl who works six days a week. Amber and I made our way over to Curry Village stopping along the way to take in the beautiful sur-roundings.
The hustle and bustle of Curry Village made us excited to see what there was to
offer. We parked our bikes and decided to immmerse ourselves in a couple of deli-cious, fresh Bloody Mary’s before we went to find a place for our picnic. We engaged in conversations with some of the locals and felt a hint of jealousy that there are people who get to enjoy Yosemite all year long.
After Curry Village we hopped back onto our bikes and headed down to the Merced River where we found a beautiful spot to share the picnic from the Europa Deli & Grill we had packed the night be-fore, With a basket bulging with delicious sandwiches and other local treats we couldn’t wait to dive in to our lunch. Feel-
ing full and happy we wanted to see what else there was to discover. We jumped on the bikes and made the short trip over to the famous Ah-wahnee Hotel,
It was at this point that I’m not exactly sure what happened. Amber and I must have been just a bit-to-full of zealous girl-energy. We were riding our bikes rather fast and having a great time when I came around a turn and hit my brakes then whenmy bike and I went down. As I lay there in the dirt
with my bike on top of me I couldn’t help but laugh. If anything of this sort was going to happen, it was going to happen to me. It was then that Amber went to grab for her phone to take a picture of my humiliation that we discovered we had lost her phone on one of the bike trails. Needless to say
most of the pictures of the day had been captured on Ambers phone. We were devastated.
Even so, it still marks one of my best days spent in Yosem-ite. The YARTS bus offered the perfect escape for a carefree day and for just $25.00 which even includes the entrance fee to the park. It’s a deal that can-not be beat. Buses and bicycles are now at the top of my list of ways to experience Yosem-ite. My next trip to Yosemite will be much sooner than later and perhaps I will make sure to wear a helmet next time. And maybe save the Bloody Mary’s for the end of the day.
— Kristen Bezaitis
YARTS Yosemite Bus Infoyosemite.tuolumnecountytransit.com
877.989.2787Yosemite Lodge at the Falls
(209) 372-1208 Shuttle Stop #8 Curry Village Recreation Center
(209) 372-8319 Shuttle Stop #13 or 21
Postscript: At time of publication the Park Service notified Amber that they had lo-cated her iPhone by GPS and would drop it in the mail th her.
About an hour from the base of Highway 108 at The Best Western Hotel or from the Junction Shopping Center on Tuolumne Road, is one of the hidden Jewels of Tuolumne County. Get a map and ask for directions is good advice. The Europa Dell & Grill is a good place to ask for directions.
God’s Bath can be found off the second bridge on Buchanan Rd on the way
out to Cherry Lake. Parking is roadside on the right over the bridge. Looking up river on the right side of the bridge railing there is a steep and rocky trail leading down to the river.
After the initial steep climb down, God’s Bath is a short, rocky hike along the river bed about a mile up river. The hike isn’t far, but by the time the swimming hole of God’s Bath is reached the smooth sloping rocks are the perfect place to catch your breath on as the cool, crisp waters seems more and more inviting.
Looking off the edge of the water fall into the deep water initially gives people butterflies. Some people do take the jump. I keep coming back every summer for the clean and crisp waters and serene atmo-sphere that makes God’s Bath the perfect escape from the summer heat.
— Maggie Duncan
god’s bath
Wells Fargo & Co. Serving Tuolumne County for over 150 years
808 E. Mono Way, CA 95370 • (209) 532-3106 • www.wellsfargo.com
sonorachamber.org
e17
E X P L O R E
This article appears cour-tesy the Sierra Lodestar
by Patricia Harrelsonfor the Sierra Lodestar
Sonora’s Mural in a Day is all about bringing community to-
gether to create lasting public art. But behind this simple mission is a precious story—a convergence of people, dreams, and happen-ings—that underscores the com-munity nature of the project.
Elements have been aligning for years, but a tragedy served as catalyst. Last September, Eleazar “Ed” Rodriquez, the Flower Guy at the Sonora Farmers’ Market, was killed in an automobile acci-dent while on his way home from the Sonora Market. The commu-nity was heartbroken, for Ed had not only touched many with his charismatic smile and uncom-mon kindness, he had filled local homes with beauty.
Two local women, Sarah Rog-ers Nesper and Laurie Schwartz Lehmann, each found themselves unable to sleep following Ed’s death, heartsick for his family and aching from the thought of Farm-ers’ Market without him. Both women wanted to do something to honor Ed, and quite indepen-dently they each came up with the idea of a mural. Synchronicity shined from then on.
Sarah approached Erin O’Hare, Sonora Farmers’ Market Super-visor, who was enthusiastic about the idea, and both women agreed that Sarah should talk to muralist Judy Grossman. Meanwhile Lau-rie had emailed Grossman her thoughts about a mural in Ed’s honor. It’s not surpris-ing that Judy was the artist to come to mind when considering a mural.
Grossman spent years making a living as a sign painter, but slow-ly evolved into a mural-ist. In that capacity, she
came to understand the power of murals to serve communities—as public art, expressions of local his-tory, sources of community pride, and boons to local economy. Much of what she learned came from participating in the Walldog Movement, an international group of artists invited to a city to paint murals with images of local plac-es, people, and products that have historical significance to the town. As a Project Leader for Walldog in both Minneapolis and Pontiac, Judy developed her skills in design and large format painting. The ex-perience also birthed a desire to see this kind of community art in Tuolumne County.
So of course Judy was delight-ed to hear from Sarah and Lau-rie, who had quickly discovered they shared a vision. Sarah sent an email to a number of friends she thought might be willing to join in making the idea happen. The re-sponse was rapid and enthusiastic. In short order, the Mural in a Day Project took shape with a pow-er-packed committee of dynam-ic women who were experienced in community service. Co-chairs Sarah and Laurie were joined by B.Z. Smith, Sally Dunn, Robin Phil-lips, and Katie Dunn. Adjectives they used to describe their work include: enjoyable, efficient, incred-ible, and magical.
“The teamwork is amazing,” said Sally Dunn. “Every time a new task is identified, someone jumps in with I’ll-do-that.”
Kismet surrounds Mural in a Day. Zac Garmin, who owns the building at the the
north end
of the parking lot where the Farmers’ Market takes place each Saturday from April to October, had already thought of asking Judy to paint a mural on the exterior wall, so he was all for it when ap-proached. He even had a vision of what the mural might look like. So sweet is the social scene and en-ergy of Sonora Farmers’ Market that Zac wanted that spirit cap-tured in an image on his wall.
As Mural in a Day coalesced, the next step emerged: get the approval of the Design Review Commission. The Committee created a Facebook Page for Mu-ral in a Day, and soon their mes-sage was flying to friends of friends, and lots of people were “Liking” the whole idea and mark-ing calendars to show up for the Review Meeting.
On the day of the Review, the Committee met beside the wall of Garmin’s building. As they read-ied for a moment of silence to honor Ed, his entire family drove up with three vases of flowers. Choked with emotion, everyone stood in a semi-circle before the white brick wall and bowed their heads. Later several blocks away, supporters filled the room for the meeting. The Committee deliv-ered their argument for the mu-ral:
Public art enhances the quali-ty of life in a community and ele-vates a feeling pride and content-ment;
The design for this mural tells a story about our town and cele-
brates the role of agriculture in our community;
The mural pays tribute to Ed, a man who touched our lives and beautified our homes.
When Ed’s wife, Maria, stood up and spoke, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. The design was approved.
Next September, Judy Gross-man will lead a cadre of local art-ists in painting the mural, but be-fore then, the group must raise funds for the project—to com-pensate Judy for design and prep work and to pay for materials. Sal-ly Dunn, fundraising chairperson, talks excitedly about plans which include:
Paint cans labeled “Imagine: A Mural in a Day” placed in downtown busi-nesses for donations;A booth during Farmers’ Market that will sell tee-shirts and cloth shopping bags;
An Indiegogo fundraising campaign;“Donations are coming without
even asking,” said Sarah Nesper. Last week, the Committee was in-vited to a luncheon at Kinemat-ic Automation because Mural in a Day was selected as the beneficia-ry for one their annual fundrais-ing events. In addition to receiving $561 raised at the luncheon, Sar-ah said a representative from one of Kinematic’s customers, Micro-Essential Laboratories in Brook-lyn, NY, happened to hear their story. “He was so touched that his company later mailed a check for $250.”
Mural paint days are set for Sept 28-29, 2013 and the call is out for local artists. Judy Gross-man is offering an orientation/ workshop in mid-September for the teens and professional artists who wish to participate. Contact
Judy if you are interest-ed at [email protected]
The far-reaching arms of dreamers and artists are at work in Sonora. Keep an eye on their vibrant communi-ty action.
Mural In A Day commerce, culture & community
Downtown Sonora172 West Stockton Road(209) 694-8400Junction Shopping Center13769-C Mono Way(209) 532-9400
MOTHER LODE BANK“We’re Local and....Simply A Better Bank”
www.motherlodebank.com
The space for this article was donated by Mother Lode Bank.
exploresonora.com
e18
E X P L O R E
Frozen Yogurt • Salad Bar• Sandwich Bar
11 So. Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am - 9 pm • Sun 11 am - 7 pm
(209) 532-6403www.itsyogood.com
Self Serve
Senior Discounts
Lucky to get six hours of sleep?
www.HeusersFurniture.com 37 S. Stewart Street • Downtown Sonora • 209-536-9834
• 15,000 Sq. Ft. Showroom • Interior Design Services • Home Decor Accessories • 39 Years Experience • Extended Financing O.A.C. • Open 7 Days a Week
How fun!” was the phrase that kept running through
my head while spending a few hours at Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown. My friend and I were looking for somewhere new and different to do; maybe get din-ner and spend some time doing something fun-oriented. The Ranch House Restaurant,
(‘where the big winners eat)’, ac-tually surprised me. It’s settled into a soothing little nook of the casino, and is host to a fun and friendly wait staff. From a simple and delicious Black Forest ham and cheese sandwich, what I or-dered, to a full dinner menu op-tions like the Steak and Shrimp special, with steamed vegetables, for only $9.75, which satisfied my companions heartier appe-tite, there is surely something to please everyone. The food was excellent and fast at attractive
price. For desert, the generous portion of cheesecake was en-tirely satisfyin.g. Every time I’ve mentioned this
cheesecake to someone, my words are coupled with an ‘A-Okay’ hand sign and a satisfied grin. There’s an on-site baker whipping it up right there in the kitchen, none of that frozen ver-sion. Not only do I plan on going back to the Ranch House Res-taurant, but also plan on making it a regular haunt. Ranch House Restaurant proved itself a great spot to hang with the girls, and I think it’ll prove itself on date night as well.
Having never gaming in a ca-sino before, I thought that sign-ing up for the Player’s Club at Chicken Ranch might be com-plicated. However, it was fast and easy and earned me $10 in free play! When you sign up for the
free membership re-wards card, you be-come a member of the Chicken Ranch family and receive special offers all year long. I sat down at the first machine that caught my eye, and only because it reminded me of My Little Pony appealing to the inner 8-year old in my outward 21-year-old self. The Precious Diamonds slot ma-chine was covered in sparkles and started spewing pots of gold, rain-bows, and butterflies when I won. I can’t remember the last time I smiled as wide as I did when I kept winning!
With the $10 in free play that I got just for signing up, I won $45 almost immediately, in one sitting and my first gaming experience. I got so excited and giddy with enthusiasm I had to take a photo
with my iPhone. Before I could snap a photo, an understanding security guard, very polite (and cute...) did not diminish my en-thusiasm for first experience at Chicken Ranch Casino!
Now that I’ve finally been to Chicken Ranch Casino, I definitely know I’ll be making regular trips back. I especially can’t wait for Bingo night and maybe even MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) events.
– Meg WerlhofChicken Ranch Casino16929 Chicken Ranch Rd
Jamestown, CA 95327(209) 984-3000
chickenranchcasino.com
best kept secrets chicken ranch casino“
sonorachamber.org
e19
E X P L O R E
sonorachamber.org
e20
E X P L O R E
