by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

As a novice rider, I need a little incentive to get on the bike. Preferably incentive of the caloric nature. Which is why I'm psyched about this weekend's SF Bike Coalition's Ice Cream Sunday Ride that I just read about on SF Gate.  A guilt-free tour of the city's top creameries...Brilliant.  Be there.

Photo: John Clark

If you CAN'T be there, don't fret.  You should still get on the bike (AND eat ice cream). Here's a list of our other favorite biking towns:

Pacific Grove, CA

Boise, Idaho (pictured above)

Boulder, Colorado

Vegas

Moab, Utah

Fruita, Colorado

If you get on the bike, surely you've earned some ice cream.  Try it Sunset-style and make it yourself!  I'm intrigued by this recipe for Coconut Avocado ice cream recipe that I found on sunset.com...

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Karen Shinto

by Sunset editorial staff

California is home to 279 sanity-saving state parks, but it’s also home to a $24.3 billion budget deficit. Governor Schwarzenegger recently proposed closing down 220 parks. And the list includes some serious A-list spots: Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay, Julia Pfeiffer Burns in Big Sur, Big Basin in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe, Torrey Pines State Beach north of San Diego.

At least one ranger at Butano State Park this past weekend thought it was all bluster. But these days, who knows? It might be smart to make this the summer of the state park and knock a few off your list before the talked-about shutdown date of November. Here, a few suggestions to get you started: 

1. Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Your pick of four waterfalls is the payoff for tackling the roller-coaster trails that fan out under gargantuan old-growth trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Located 65 miles south of San Francisco, Big Basin Redwoods is the oldest state park in California, established in 1902. 831/338-8860.

Photo courtesy of redwoodhikes.com

2. Fort Ross State Historic Park

The perfect place to play "storm the fort," the Russians' southernmost outpost has high walls, corner towers, and, as frosting on the cake, sweeping views of the north coast. Well worth a stop whether you're a history buff or not.

Photo courtesy of inn-california.com

3. Mount Diablo State Park
Because Mt. Diablo rises abruptly from relatively flat land, visitors to Mt. Diablo State Park's eponymous 3,849-foot peak experience unmatched panoramas encompassing Sacramento, the Central Valley, the Sierra Nevada, Lassen Peak, Mt. Hamilton, and the Farallon Islands. It's a veritable tour of Northern California, all from one spot. Get oriented with trail maps and dioramas at Mt. Diablo State Park's historic visitor center and museum. Stand on "the rock" (Mt. Diablo's highest point), which juts through a hole in the floor. 925/837-2525.

Photo courtesy of waymarking.com

For more information, visit www.parks.ca.gov.

By Trina Enriquez, Sunset copy editor

The Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle is hosting its last $5 Fridays event of the '08–'09 season this Friday, May 22, from 6 to 7 p.m. A dance preview orchestrated by PNB artistic director Peter Boal and put on in one of the Phelps Center's practice studios, the series features excerpts from the current program, except that dancers perform in practice gear and Boal precedes and follows up each excerpt with comments, then a Q&A. Very intimate, pretty informal, and über-cool for anyone who’s interested in the ballet but maybe a little intimidated by their lack of experience with or technical knowledge of it.

Artistic director Peter Boal and young audience members watch
PNB principal dancers Louise Nadeau and Jeffrey Stanton
at the PNB's $5 Friday Swan Lake studio rehearsal.
© Angela Sterling; photo courtesy of the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

This particular Friday's event is Director's Choice, featuring parts of Dances at a Gathering (with music by Chopin and choreography by Jerome Robbins) and After the Rain (a pas de deux choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon and set to Arvo Pärt's music). It’s a fun way to gain some insight on what goes into creating the slick, tricked-out performances onstage.

Order tix online or by phone (206/441-2424) to secure a spot in the general seating; otherwise you may nab tickets at the box office (301 Mercer St., Seattle). If you miss this $5 Friday, tune in later to the PNB's $5 Friday info page for more on the '09–'10 season.

Make a night (or a weekend) of it

Head for La Dolce Vita, about a mile away from the Phelps Center, after the show ends at 7 p.m. The cozy restaurant opens at 5 p.m., which would make it a tight squeeze for a pre-show bite, but it takes reservations until 10:30. One glance at the dinner menu will have your mouth watering: salsiccia e vongole (housemade sausage and fresh Manila clams in a tomato–white wine sauce) and tagliatelle alla Dolce Vita (fresh pasta with English peas, locally foraged spring mushrooms, pine nuts, and blue cheese), for starters. 

Photo courtesy of La Dolce Vita Ristorante Italiano.

For sleeps, look no further than the Alexis Hotel, featured in Sunset's March '09 issue. Sure, it's a little pricier than what you just spent at the ballet—but it is, as we billed it, "a downtown getaway that lets you curl up with a good book and get out exploring the city." Retrace the story and savor a weekend of culture and learning and eats and words.

Order the mushroom frittata or hot Dungeness crab on brioche
for brunch at the Alexis Hotel's Library Bistro & Bookstore Bar, and have books
within arm's reach while you wait. Photo by John Clark.

By Trina Enriquez, Sunset copy editor

Ever since Lisa Taggart wrote about the chibi taiyaki (small, golden, fish-shaped cakes made to order with fillings such as Nutella, chocolate, vanilla, or red bean, plus a catch of the week) at Sweet Breams in San Mateo, California, for the March ’09 Northern California issue of the magazine, I’ve sort of taken to haunting the place. And joined its Facebook fan page. And initiated as many friends as possible into the cult of Tiny and Tasty.

While I wait for my school of 12 fish, I look over works by resident artists Cat Oshiro, Andrew Uy, and Simon Tran, and took to coveting Uy’s Miso Panda print until word came that it was sold out—argh! But this Saturday, April 18, Sweet Breams is hosting its first group art show, Meet Me Under the Cherry Blossoms, featuring new works by the 3 artists and 11 of their friends. Spanning genres from “psychedelic acrylics” to “urban lifestyle,” their newest digital illustrations, drawings, and paintings will debut at this exhibition, which takes its name from the beauty of sakura, or Japanese cherry blossoms. (To extend the festivities, check out the Sunset story on SF's J-town and head to San Francisco.)

Be sure to stop by the shop between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday, meet and chat with some of the artists, and order a school (or three) of taiyaki while you’re at it. (At $5.50 a school, so worth it, seriously—and don't forget about Sweet Breams' secret menu.) A digital illustration from CatmAndru! (aka Andrew Uy) will be raffled off during the reception. If you can’t make it, the artists' works will be on display in-store through May 27.

Click on any of the artists’ names below for a sneak preview and more info.

Cat Oshiro
Simon Tran
Andrew Uy
Martin Hsu
Liz Lorini
Gem Mateo
Jeramie Tolentino
Rob Beckstrom

Chibi taiyaki photo courtesy of I Heart Sweet Breams

by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

First I read that San Francisco's Tonga Room may close, which is bad enough.  THEN I hear that the tiki totem in Capitola has been stolen!  Apparently even the tiki isn't safe from bad news these days.

Some of you may have read yesterday's Santa Cruz Sentinel and come upon this headline: "Beloved tiki swiped from Capitola Esplanade Park".  Looks like we've got ourselves a tiki heist!  The 3-foot tiki totem was noticed missing from its shoreline perch on Sunday, March 22, and is still missing in action.  (Doesn't the tiki bandit realize what kind of bad juju stems from stealing a tiki?! Don't they remember the Brady Bunch Hawaiian episode?!)

I was dismayed to hear this news, but I was positively distressed to read the paper's sub-headline: "Totem's mention in Sunset Magazine may have prompted thief." And reading further, the woman who reported the missing tiki made a claim that someone may have been prompted by the Sunset article on Capitola and "nabbed the tiki to make a quick buck."

It's true that our March issue featured Capitola as one the West's 20 BEST small towns. We paid homage to the charms of this Mediterranean jewel right in our backyard: the amazing Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria, Paradise Beach Grille, Cava Wine Bar, Capitola City Beach, Shadowbrook Restaurant, and the Inn at Depot Hill.  We've got nothing but love for Capitola!

Now to address the weak claim that our homage may have served as inspiration for the crime: Nowhere in the article do we either picture, or even explicitly mention the tiki totem. We state that "The tiki gods smile on the capitol of perfect surf," but there's NO mention of the actual tiki statue in the photos or text.  Now, I'm no Nancy Drew, but since the tiki's initial erection was clouded with controversy (read the Sentinel article for details), it seems far more likely that the heist would've been fueled by a residual tiki dissenter from the days of the City Council debacle.

In any case, the tiki must be returned! Clear Sunset's good name and pacify the tiki gods! You can even call the anonymous tip line if you have information on its whereabouts: 831-475-2791.

In the meantime, I don't know about you, but I could use a tropical cocktail! Check out Sunset editor-at-large Peter Fish's round-up of the West's best tiki bars. Or stay at home and use Sunset's favorite mai tai recipe, and keep your fingers crossed for the tiki's safe return.

by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

You might be stressed about paying for your kid's college tuition (I don't even have a kid yet and I'm stressed about it), but the good news is that certain educational endeavors are still affordable.  Not even just affordable, but an incredible value. Take, for example, the $5  tuition for the beginner's home brewing class at Culver City Home Brewing Supply Co.  As you should know from Sunset's awesome One Block Diet project, making your own (of everything) is the way to go. Sunset's Team Beer has inspired us all (and I can vouch for the taste...homemade tastes better).

But if you're feeling daunted by the prospect and need some hands-on guidance, take this class!  Beginner classes are the first Thursday and third Thursday of each month from 6:30-9:30pm.  There's a class this Thursday, March 5th, and you don't even need to sign up in advance!  And you can actually apply that $5 towards any brew kits if you decide you want to buy one.  So now you have one more reason to visit one of LA's coolest neighborhoods: Culver City.  If you wanna grab dinner beforehand, check out Akasha Restaurant, one of the hot spots on Culver Blvd, and read our interview with Chef Akasha before you go.

And after you brew it, here are some of our favorite Sunset recipes for cooking with beer:
Beer Rye Bread, Grilled beer-cooked sausages, and Lime chile beer

By Amy Wolf, Sunset travel editor

So, Levi beat Lance. While I am a huge Lance fan, I can't say I'm sad. Because Levi Leipheimer, who lives in Santa Rosa, California, is our own local boy.

CHARLIE NEUMAN / Union-Tribune

Maybe it was the California scenery that drove him up all those mountains so effortlessly. On one of the final climbs, up Palomar Mountain in San Diego, thousands of fans came out to cheer. Some say it was the biggest crowd gathered on American soil in 25 years (Inauguration notwithstanding). And why not? The Amgen Tour has become our own Tour de France.

I'll bet a bunch of those fans headed into Temecula for some local wine afterward. Vive la Californie!

by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

This weekend is the blow-out finale of Chinese New Year, the year of the Ox, and LA's Chinatown will be celebrating in true Hollywood big-spectacle fashion with 100,000 firecrackers (those evil spirits don't even have a chance), the annual Firecracker 5/10K Race, lion dancing, good food, awesome food, music, and other Gung Hay Fat Choy revels.  I was in Chinatown last weekend (I was inspired by the February Southern California Day Trip on Chinatown so I knew all the cool places to go) and I got a flavor of the Gung Hay spirit...

Shopping opportunities abound...I didn't know that I even wanted a parasol until I saw these...

You can shop the funky art galleries on Chung King Road, gorge on Dim Sum (I tried Empress Pavilion), shop for jade jewelry at the outdoor jewelry stands, and pick up Chinese New Year sweet treats at Wonder Bakery (943 N. Broadway) or Phoenix Bakery (969 N. Broadway).

And I can pretty much guarantee you'll see one of these:

Events will take place both Saturday and Sunday this weekend so it'll be a full weekend affair.  Have fun, and let's hope that the year of the Ox is better than the year of the Rat! 

by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

Recessions are intensely depressing. I know during these gloomy times I feel the need more than ever to escape in books, magazines, movies, theater, and just plain going out.  But can you really justify spending precious money on tickets in a time like this?  My answer is definitively YES!  For one very particular reason:

GOLDSTAR.COM is my new best friend. Let me introduce you:

Wish you could afford to see that new musical in town?  LA Lakers tickets too expensive?  Need a cheap and creative idea for date night?  Sign up for Goldstar.  They send you listings of all their half-price and discount shows in some of the coolest towns in the West: San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas, and San Diego.

The listing range is amazing....it's not just theater....it's comedy, sports events, concerts, even things like wine tastings and rodeos (!).  For example, last week I got discount tickets to a live radio taping of "The Sound of Young America Live" at the San Francisco Sketch Fest for $10!  (and I didn't even know that event was happening until I got the email from Goldstar...it also helps me stay on top of what's in town)

THIS weekend I'm heading down to LA, so of course I checked Goldstar to see what looks fun, entertaining, and inexpensive down there.  Now I have tickets to Jane Austen Unscripted at Theater Asylum in Santa Monica....believe it or not, it's Jane Austen improv!  I can't think of anything more amazing!  Tickets on Goldtar are $10 versus $25. I wouldn't have known about this unless I'd seen it on  Goldstar, AND I save $15 on tickets.  Double bonus. After all, it is a truth universally acknowledged that anyone (not necessarily in posession of a good fortune) must be in want of good cheap fun now and again....   

by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times, from here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/us/politics/20web-inaug2.html?hp

Happy inauguration day!  And a momentous day it is!  But even if you're not in D.C. right now (and though I desperately wish I was there, you can't beat the 67 degree forecast in San Francisco today—didn't those folks shivering on the Washington Mall look COLD?) there's still plenty of places to raise a glass, relive the speech, and celebrate Obama's first day in office.  Obama fever is everywhere, and there's parties for every type of reveler.  Here's some ideas to help you find the fun:

San Francisco:
-Inauguration ball at the Bubble Lounge, 714 Montgomery St.
-Elbo Room Inaguration Party: $7, 647 Valencia Street in the Mission
-Amnesty International SF Inaugural Bash at Le Colonial, $10, 20 Cosmo Place
-Rock Barack at Paradise Lounge, $10, 1501 Folsom Street
-North Beach Inauguration Ball: Savoy Tivoli, 1434 Grant Ave.
Check out a more extensive list from the SF Examiner.

For East Bay and Marin ideas, scroll to the bottom of this list

Vallejo:
Inauguration and broadcast party at the Empress Theater

Napa:
Sonoma Inaugural Ball: The Sonoma Community Center at 276 E. Napa St. in Napa
Also, check out the Inauguration Party at the Oxbow Wine Merchant