McNear's Mystic Theatre first popped up on the Petaluma drama scene back in 1911, known then simply as The Mystic Theater. At the time, it played host to mostly Vaudeville shows. However, over the ensuing century, a lot has changed. For one thing, the theater underwent a major overhaul in the early '90s that expanded […]
A member of Petaluma’s historic downtown retail scene since 2008, Paperwhite specializes in elegant custom stationery and paper goods, but regular shoppers will tell you it's much more than that: it's also a one-stop gift shop catering to an array of recipients, from baby to hostess. A lap through the quaint and charming boutique reveals […]
Relying on milk and cream from Sonoma County dairy farms, Petaluma Creamery creates and serves natural, organic cheeses and made-from-scratch ice creams. If it's your first visit to this cheese shop-meets-cafe, locals will likely point to toward the cheese curds, available in 8-ounce or 5-pound packages, or the ice cream, always a favorite here. The […]
The Petaluma Historical Museum wasn't built to hold pieces of Petaluma's history: It was constructed to house literature. The former library was build in 1904 from local pieces of stone, and it served that purpose right up until it was converted into a museum. The building itself is an excellent example of Petaluma's history. It […]
Looking at Shollenberger Park today, it might be difficult to envision it as a dumping ground. That's exactly what it was, however, when the 165-acre former ranch became property of the city of Petaluma in 1970. It wasn't a dumping ground for trash, though, but rather a depository for "dredge-spoils." You see, in order for […]
Antique shopping is a wonderful way to pass an afternoon, but digging through shelves of dusty, useless knick-knacks can be a bit exhausting. Luckily, Summer Cottage Antiques takes all of the unpleasantness out of antique shopping by creating a well-curated selection of refurbished vintage finds. All of the shop's inventory is arranged into thoughtful vignettes […]
Experience the natural beauty of Petaluma with a visit to Helen Putnam Regional Park, one of the largest and most popular parks in the area. This outdoor area spans an impressive 216 acres throughout Sonoma County and northern Marin County, most of which is made up of gently rolling hills that offer stunning views of […]
Cinnebar Theater is a local, independent theater that's dedicated to showcasing experimental and rare plays that aren’t often performed by larger theaters. This includes operatic music, interpretive dance, and contemporary works of drama that will excite all types of theater-goers. Cinnebar is also known for its intimate setting, and regulars say there isn't a bad […]
Visitors to the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park in Petaluma will find themselves drawn back in time. The adobe recreates a simpler life when the adobe was the center of operations for General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo's sprawling ranch in the 1830s and 1840s. Built to accommodate the 600-2,000 ranch workers at Petaluma, the adobe was […]