Deadlines and Opportunities
April 9: Amgen Tour of California Info Needed 
 Are you bicycle friendly? We are compiling information about cycling in Sonoma County to be released in prior to the Amgen Tour of California, http://bit.ly/NGeBx, slated for May. Hotels: Do you have bike racks, easy-access rooms for cyclists to walk their bikes in, or valet parking for bikes? Wineries and restaurants: Are there bike racks at your location? What do you do that makes you bike friendly? Please e-mail Tina Luster, tluster@sonomacounty.com, by Friday, April 9, with your details.
Partners: Are you doing anything special for the Amgen Tour of California? Do you have special deals for visitors and/or cyclists? Is your business located along the Stage 2 route? If so, do you have an area open to the public to view the race? We are compiling information for a press release and a blog post. Please let Beth Snow know, bsnow@sonomacounty.com, by Friday, April 9.
April 9: Lodging Needed for Dream Ride
Dream Ride is an event that will bring a group of bicyclists through Sonoma County July 30-Aug. 1. Raising money for CARE International and their Power Within projects (women's education and empowerment) in the developing world, the group is looking for lodging in a community center or some type of communal travel shelter. They need a roof over their heads, showers and bathrooms. An expected 20 to 50 cyclists will be participating.
If you have accommodations of this sort or know of any, please e-mail Chris Wells, crwwells@yahoo.com. Visit Dream Ride website for more information. The group is a 501c3 non-profit; the tax ID is available at booking.
April 9: State Press Release Entries
California Travel and Tourism Commission is compiling information for a press release that touts family fun. We're looking to submit places and activities that the entire family will enjoy. E-mail your information to Tina Luster, tluster@sonomacounty.com, by April 9.
April 16: Running Fences Memories Sought
Partners: Do you have pictures or memorabilia surrounding the 1976 Running Fences art installation showcased in your business? A travel press release is being prepared to highlight the art installation, in conjunction with the Smithsonian America Art Museum's current exhibit (see information below). Send your information to Tina Luster, tluster@sonomacounty.com, by Friday, April 16.
Sonoma County's Best Tasting Week Deemed a Success
The first-ever Sonoma County Restaurant Week was a resounding success, said organizers at Sonoma County Economic Development Board. The total economic impact of Restaurant Week was more than $830,000 and the event attracted more than 15,000 diners to participating restaurants.
About 92 percent of restaurants reported an increase in customer traffic compared to the same week last year, and 89 percent of restaurants saw an increase in revenue compared to the same week last year.
More than 99 percent of diners rated their Restaurant Week experience as either “Excellent” or “Good.” Additionally, more than 99 percent of diners indicated that Sonoma County Restaurant Week should become an annual event. About 40 percent of Restaurant Week customers tried a new restaurant during the week.
Special thanks go to Restaurant Week sponsors for their substantial contributions to the local food and wine industry. Stay tuned for information about the next Sonoma County Restaurant Week.
Restaurant Week Winner Announced
 Kathleen Fischer, of Sebastopol, pictured here planning her restaurant tour, won the coveted grand prize for Sonoma County Restaurant Week - 12 gift certificates to selected area restaurants that participated in event in February.
"My partner, Sheelagh Degnan, and I went to Rendez Vous Bistro, Willi's Wine Bar, and Peter Lowell's because of restaurant week," Fischer said. "We went online, checked the menus of the restaurants and chose from there."
The two foodies have been enjoying Sonoma County's rich culinary heritage for awhile, and saw Restaurant Week as an opportunity to try three new restaurants. "We really live in this amazing place - farm-fresh food, great restaurants. Restaurant Week gave us an opportunity to take advantage of some of the jewels of Sonoma County. Now, for the next 12 months, we'll have our own little Restaurant Week experience."
SCTB Attends World's Largest Travel Show
For the second year in a row Sonoma County was represented at ITB, the world's largest travel show. Along with 12 other suppliers in California, we met with tour operators and media from around the world promoting our destination and the incredible things to see and do.
SCTB served Sonoma County wines at the California Travel and Tourism Commission's evening reception for our top clients.
With more than 180,000 visitors, among these 108,000 trade visitors, and over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries, ITB Berlin is the leading business-to-business platform of all tourism industry offers. In addition, the world’s largest tourism convention, Market Trends & Innovations, provides unique opportunities to benefit from the leading think tank of the global tourism industry.
Prior to ITB, CTTC opened its new France office and we participated in the first French mission. We broke up into teams of four and met with six tour companies, presented a PowerPoint destination overview and interacted with many of the key industry players at a reception.
Sonoma Storms Smithsonian - Hosts Opening for Christo Exhibit
 Smithsonian American Art Museum last week opened the exhibit Remembering the Running Fences - Marin and Sonoma Counties 1972-'76. The opening coincides with the anniversary of the Running Fences installation by artist Christo and his late wife Jeanne-Claude. The special exhibit will run through Sept. 26. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/64Rb5p.
Sonoma County Tourism Bureau partnered with Rodney Strong Vineyards, Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards, California Artisan Cheese, Marin County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Cowgirl Creamery to bring a "Taste of Sonoma" to the opening gala reception, which was attended by close to 700 people.
Dawn Mancuso, executive director, Association of Air Medical Services, an invited guest of SCTB said, "I had a great time last night at your fabulous event! Wow, you definitely have raised the bar! Food, wine, music, setting, plus a great exhibit and the artist, Christo. Not to mention your great company. Very impressive."
SCTB board member Keo Hornbostel and his family were in Washington DC and able to witness the gala reception first hand. Also, Betsy Broun, of the Smithsonian, said of the gala, "Wow, no one quite does wine and cheese like the Californians. You make me want to do more art from Sonoma County!"
Barbara Quigley, SCTB's Midwest representative, arranged a tour of the Capitol for SCTB staff with her husband, Rep. Michael Quigley, (D-Illinios). SCTB's Ken Fischang and Marta Hayden also visited Rep. Lynn Woolsey's office while in Washington. Representing Marin and much of Sonoma counties, Woolsey is an honorary patron for the exhibit.
Running Fences was a landmark event in contemporary art. More than 1 million people had access to the project when it was up for two weeks in 1976, which coincided to America's bicentinenal. Christo and Jeanne-Claude selected Sonoma and Marin counties because it included the ocean, farmhouses, and roads to make the site accessible and visible and because the hills lacked high vegetation.
The Smithsonian is expecting more than 1 million visitors to go through the exhibit that will, hopefully, inspire people to come and visit Sonoma County.
The View is Fine from the Top, and the Food is Fabulous
Congratulations to Sonoma County restaurants that made the San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants, http://bit.ly/c49uGz. Now everyone knows what we've been saying all along, Sonoma County dishes up some fine food. Warning: This list will make your mouth water!
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant, 7871 River Rd., Forestville, (707) 887-3300, California cuisine, 3 1/2 stars. Madrona Manor, 1001 Westside Road, Healdsburg, (707) 433-4231, California, American cuisine, 3 1/2 stars. Rosso Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 53 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, (707) 544-3221, Pizza, Italian cuisine, 3 stars. Willi's Wine Bar, 4404 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa, (707) 526-3096, California cuisine, 3 stars. Sante (new to the list this year), 100 Boyes Blvd., Boyes Hot Springs, (707) 939-2415, California, French cuisine, 3 stars.
'Today' Loves Sonoma County!
The "Trio" of Sonoma County Tourism, Sonoma County Vintners and Sonoma County Winegrape Commission showed the power of working together when Farmhouse Inn in Forestville recently landed on the "Today Show" as part of Condé Nast Traveler's feature about “Baby Boomer Packages.”
Acting on a tip from the Trio's shared naitonal PR agency, Lou Hammond and Associates, SCTB was able to provide photos and B-roll and work with the Farmhouse Inn to get media exposure on the number-one morning news show in America. The day the feature aired, the Farmhouse Inn reported more than 15 calls came in, looking for more information.
Moving into the second year of the shared PR agency, the Trio has reaped the benefits of working together to accomplish common goals. In addition to national media exposure, SCTB benefits from working with the Trio to bring "Sonoma in the City" to New York and Los Angeles this year.
Look for more good things to come in the year ahead - the Trio is just getting started. Expect to see more Sonoma County in the headlines soon.
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