the orange peels: life in northern california. . . architecture, trails, santa cruz mountain wines, art

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A few things we like in Northern California . . .

Eichler Homes

Joseph Eichler built 12,000 or so modernist dwellings scattered from Sunnyvale to Marin's Lucas Valley from 1950-1974. He hired world-class architects such as Anshen + Allen, A. Quincy Jones, Frederick Emmons and Claude Oakland to draw the plans. The homes' use of glass walls, free-flowing interior spaces and slab floors with radiant heat makes them the ultimate California living space. More >>>

Ridge wines

Winemaker and philosopher Paul Draper makes amazing wines from Santa Cruz Mountain vines that are some of the most ageworthy on the planet. We like that, because it's not far from where we live, and is close to one of our favorite mountain trails. You can see the entire Bay Area from their mountaintop tasting room. The philosophy here is to not interfere with the wine and let the flavors of the grapes, earth and atmosphere speak for themselves. Their Jimsomare Zinfandel grows on vines that have been rooted to the coastal landscape since the Gold Rush. A nice way to really taste life on the west coast. I was lucky enough to sneak some microphones into a recent tasting for the 2005 vintage of their Monte Bello. They've posted the Podcast on their Web site. More >>>

The High Meadow Trail

A section of mountain path in the upper reaches of Ranch San Antonio open space preserve that we used for some of our publicity photos. It's a favorite hiking spot for us, and it's fair to say a good portion of the lyrics for California Blue were written while walking this trail in the sublime summer of 2003. Elegant oaks, golden fields and scrubby chapparal are bathed in eternal sun and cooled by coastal breezes. Can it possibly be this beautiful? More >>>

Native Wildflower Journal

Our friend, artist Jill Bliss, has published a journal for Chronicle Books featuring her trademark California Poppies and other coastal flora. Her style is uniquely tied to the Northern California landscape. Maybe it's because she was raised on a farm by hippie parents north of the Golden Gate? She also designed the cool blue Web world of San Francisco's excellent indiepop label Shelflife Records, plus a ton of other cool, coastal goods. More >>>

Picchetti Ranch

Ok. We like hiking, and we like regional wines. This place has 'em both! A tasting room from the late 1800s offers a collection of wines made from Napa and Santa Cruz Mountain grapes. Up the hill, you can hike through ancient Zinfandel vines to an impossibly idyllic pond. The hiking is limited, which may be a good thing after exiting the tasting room. Their unfiltered Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir is huge, earthy and tannic, and their Truchard Pinot from Napa is refined, filtered and fruity. You can't lose. Oh, and they just opened a tasting room in Tahoe, which could just be a stroke of marketing genius. Don't miss tasting thier Vino di Vicino or Leslie's Estate Cabernet blends, which come from the same limestone mountain soils as Ridge's world famous Monte Bello. More >>>

Uvas Valley

Even further off the beaten path than the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region, the Uvas Valley is tucked away between Mt. Madonna and Gilroy. Near the intersection of Watsonville Road and Day Road is Kirigin Cellars which has a rustic tasting room, good conversation and excellent Chardonnay. A little closer to town, you can hit Clos LaChance winery, which is a little more palatial, but has nice Zinfandels and Cabernets. Other tiny wineries are strewn about in random fashion, and finding them is half the fun.
More >>>

Elk-tronics

Our friend Steve has been creating one-of-a-kind effects pedals for a couple years now, and he's been supplying us with his latest inventions during our recording sessions. He doesn't have a Web site yet, but he probably will soon.

Burritos

One of our favorite places in town only recently got a sign out front, which is kinda too bad. It's now called Garcia's. Anyway, it's one of the best burrito spots north of San Jose -- and definitely the best in Sunnyvale. If you're north on the Peninsula, or flying into SFO, make a stop in Millbrae at El Super Burrito. They have great t-shirts, too.

Sushi

Where can't you get sushi in the Bay Area? It's everywhere and it's fresh and it's cheap. Ebisu in San Francisco is hip and not-so-cheap, but really good. Down the Peninsula, Miyake in Palo Alto is packed to the gills and cheap and pretty good. Sono in Mountain View is nice (get a booth) and Kiku in Cupertino is huge, pretty good, and not your typical hole in the wall. Ariyake in Sunnyvale is the best, freshest and cheapest, even if the atmosphere is a little lacking.

. . . More to come



Paul Draper and his winemaking staff taste elements for inclusion in the 2005 vintage of Monte Bello. Photo by Allen Clapp. The glorious High Meadow trail in summer. Oed in a barrel at Picchetti Ranch. Cool surfboard-shaped sign at the mountaintop tasting room at Ridge.

	• • • • • A few things we like in Northern California . . . Eichler Homes Joseph Eichler built 12,000 or so modernist dwellings scattered from Sunnyvale to Marin's Lucas Valley from 1950-1974. He hired world-class architects such as Anshen + Allen, A. Quincy Jones, Frederick Emmons and Claude Oakland to draw the plans. The homes' use of glass walls, free-flowing interior spaces and slab floors with radiant heat makes them the ultimate California living space. More >>> Ridge wines Winemaker and philosopher Paul Draper makes amazing wines from Santa Cruz Mountain vines that are some of the most ageworthy on the planet. We like that, because it's not far from where we live, and is close to one of our favorite mountain trails. You can see the entire Bay Area from their mountaintop tasting room. The philosophy here is to not interfere with the wine and let the flavors of the grapes, earth and atmosphere speak for themselves. Their Jimsomare Zinfandel grows on vines that have been rooted to the coastal landscape since the Gold Rush. A nice way to really taste life on the west coast. I was lucky enough to sneak some microphones into a recent tasting for the 2005 vintage of their Monte Bello. They've posted the Podcast on their Web site. More >>> The High Meadow Trail A section of mountain path in the upper reaches of Ranch San Antonio open space preserve that we used for some of our publicity photos. It's a favorite hiking spot for us, and it's fair to say a good portion of the lyrics for California Blue were written while walking this trail in the sublime summer of 2003. Elegant oaks, golden fields and scrubby chapparal are bathed in eternal sun and cooled by coastal breezes. Can it possibly be this beautiful? More >>> Native Wildflower Journal Our friend, artist Jill Bliss, has published a journal for Chronicle Books featuring her trademark California Poppies and other coastal flora. Her style is uniquely tied to the Northern California landscape. Maybe it's because she was raised on a farm by hippie parents north of the Golden Gate? She also designed the cool blue Web world of San Francisco's excellent indiepop label Shelflife Records, plus a ton of other cool, coastal goods. More >>> Picchetti Ranch Ok. We like hiking, and we like regional wines. This place has 'em both! A tasting room from the late 1800s offers a collection of wines made from Napa and Santa Cruz Mountain grapes. Up the hill, you can hike through ancient Zinfandel vines to an impossibly idyllic pond. The hiking is limited, which may be a good thing after exiting the tasting room. Their unfiltered Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir is huge, earthy and tannic, and their Truchard Pinot from Napa is refined, filtered and fruity. You can't lose. Oh, and they just opened a tasting room in Tahoe, which could just be a stroke of marketing genius. Don't miss tasting thier Vino di Vicino or Leslie's Estate Cabernet blends, which come from the same limestone mountain soils as Ridge's world famous Monte Bello. More >>> Uvas Valley Even further off the beaten path than the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region, the Uvas Valley is tucked away between Mt. Madonna and Gilroy. Near the intersection of Watsonville Road and Day Road is Kirigin Cellars which has a rustic tasting room, good conversation and excellent Chardonnay. A little closer to town, you can hit Clos LaChance winery, which is a little more palatial, but has nice Zinfandels and Cabernets. Other tiny wineries are strewn about in random fashion, and finding them is half the fun. More >>> Elk-tronics Our friend Steve has been creating one-of-a-kind effects pedals for a couple years now, and he's been supplying us with his latest inventions during our recording sessions. He doesn't have a Web site yet, but he probably will soon. Burritos One of our favorite places in town only recently got a sign out front, which is kinda too bad. It's now called Garcia's. Anyway, it's one of the best burrito spots north of San Jose -- and definitely the best in Sunnyvale. If you're north on the Peninsula, or flying into SFO, make a stop in Millbrae at El Super Burrito. They have great t-shirts, too. Sushi Where can't you get sushi in the Bay Area? It's everywhere and it's fresh and it's cheap. Ebisu in San Francisco is hip and not-so-cheap, but really good. Down the Peninsula, Miyake in Palo Alto is packed to the gills and cheap and pretty good. Sono in Mountain View is nice (get a booth) and Kiku in Cupertino is huge, pretty good, and not your typical hole in the wall. Ariyake in Sunnyvale is the best, freshest and cheapest, even if the atmosphere is a little lacking. . . . More to come