A New Vineyard

Where a pear orchard used to be, by the Ukiah Starbucks, a new vineyard.

Patrona in Ukiah

The beauty of Patrona restaurant is how it relies heavily on the local products of Mendocino. I stopped in on a late Monday afternoon, so only a few of us were there, and discovered the opportunity to try the locally made, world-class Craft Method Brandy of Germain Robin distillers. All in all, a beautiful experience.

Overhead Light

Sun House

Behind the Sun House, you can find the Grace Carpenter Hudson museum, housing many of the artists paintings as well as family and ethnographic artifacts. All worth stopping for if you pass through Ukiah.

Indie Bookstore

Shopped at Mendocino Book Company in Ukiah, hoping it can hang on in these turbulent times.

Water Works

I've been curious for years about this facility on the east side of US101 down in Ukiah. I took the tiny "River St." exit last time, to give it a closer look. I suppose I hoped for a little more deco detail, but a fresh coat of paint would do it a world of good - maybe a darker contrast on those moldings. The monumental lettering deeply satisfies. It probably houses a pump to draw water from the nearby Russian River.

Colorful Cornice

Down in Ukiah on Friday, I grabbed this shot out my window as I waited for the traffic light to change. My great grandfather's blacksmith shop was near here, in the early 20th century.

Ukiah Brewing Vats

Before an appointment down in Ukiah last month, I stopped in at the Ukiah Brewing Company for some pub food. They state that they were the first certified organic brewery in the country, and their food reflects that same sensibility. These steaming vats of grain were set outside the utility door. I don't know enough about beer to know what part of the process this was, but it was interesting to see.