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Monte Rio Musings by Chuck Ramsey — March 2019

CHUCK RAMSEY
RUSSIAN RIVER ALLIANCE

It seems Monte Rio has taken over Cazadero as the second rainiest place in Sonoma after Venado. Now it’s time to move on to Spring and new beginnings!

There have been a lot of changes recently on the food front. Winter is always hard on local restaurants and many have closed or changed hands. Chef Patrick was one of my favorites and unfortunately is permanently closed. Dave Blomster has renovated and reopened Pat’s, minus the bar, for breakfast and lunch and it’s looking good. 3 Alarm Grill is reportedly changing hands with Crista taking over. She is unstoppable!

Trio is also changing hands. Paul and Alain, our local team gurus, have taken over the restaurant and bar at Village Inn. The new “Rio Bistro” at Village Inn will open March 9th for brunch, lunch, and dinner serving comfort food and libations Thursday through Sunday, with expanded hours coming in May. The Rio Café will remain open serving Thursday through Sunday noon until 7pm. They will also be expanding their incredible ice cream selection. We are so fortunate to have Paul, Alain, and their team here.

At the Highland Dell Herb reports that starting March 1st they’ll be open Friday and Saturday for dinner 5-9pm. Starting Memorial Weekend they’ll be open 5 nights a week for dinner (closed on Wed & Thu) until Sep. 30th and then will be open Friday & Saturdays until Christmas. The restaurant will be closed several Saturdays between May and September for wedding events, so call ahead for reservations.

Upon recommendations from others, I recently tried

For some after dinner entertainment head over to Curtain Call Theater for Spike Heels,March 1-23. The play is about women’s issues in the workplace. Curtaincallrussianriver.com

Wonderland Radio Hour is back April Saturday 13th, when the spotlight will be turned on Monte Rio and Villa Grande. The project is seeking your input. You can send ideas via the website wonderlandradiohour.com on the "contact us" tab or join your neighbors at the Community Center at 4:30 on March 4 before the regularly scheduled Friends of Monte Rio Supper Club. The Supper Club will feature Chef Bree Ann Leighton serving a Middle Eastern menu with music to be announced. Friendsofmonterio.org

Need help with issues you have been unable to get resolved? Have any ideas or suggestions for the betterment of our neighborhoods? Email me or post your thoughts on Nextdoor.

Saving the best news for last, it appears the Pink is finally on its way back! Thank you, Tom!

Vacation Wonderland, we just keep getting better.

Chuck Ramsey has resided in Monte Rio for 15 years. Building community is his passion. He currently serves on the boards of the Monte Rio Alliance and Russian River Alliance.

If you would like to learn more about the Lower River Area Community Alliances, become involved as a volunteer, or if you have some community concerns or solutions you would like to share, you can “like” our Guerneville Community Alliance and/or Russian River Alliance FB pages, or visit our website at www.russianriveralliance.org. You can also contact Jeniffer Wertz at 707-483-7038 (Guerneville), or Chuck Ramsey at 707-239-1639 (Monte Rio).

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