(The blogoverse has once again eaten my previous work on this Bachelor blog, so here I am starting from scratch again.  This just in:  Bachelor Ben was spotted at the Swiss Hotel this past Friday, February 10.  I was at the other end of the patio and missed the commotion.  Ce la vie, the most I would’ve done was asked for a photo for this blog.)

Episode 2 of ABC’s the Bachelor aired January 9, 2012 and caused such a commotion on Facebook that I was forced to watch the episode the next day on Hulu Plus.  Bachelor Ben is a winemaker from my hometown of Sonoma Valley and brought his 12 “bachelorettes” to Sonoma for a series of locally inspired dates.  Kacie B dubbed us “Mayberry.”  Many of my FB friends prefer to think of us as “Mayberry on Crack.”  I think we’re niether here nor there but the city with the best wineries on the planet, most inspiring film festival (Sonoma International Film Festival), and ultimately, the number one tourist destination because everyone wishes they could live here.  And lucky Sonomans, we do.

I first heard the buzz of Bachelor Ben (Ben Flajnik) last year during the finale of the Bachelorette.  Mom screamed that I needed to see the TV right now and when mom screams, well, I don’t usually panic because it’s always something on TV.  But I looked and there he was, a dude from Sonoma not getting the girl.  Everyone said he would be the next “Bachelor” and he was.  At last year’s ACS Relay for Life in Sonoma, he came to do his laps in support.  As Entertainment Chair, I was chained to the stage but the gossip certainly didn’t pass me by.  In any case, he made the biggest stir in Sonoma when they came to town to film this episode.  Apparently, they didn’t take to our locals doing their own reporting and well, darn.  We may not get an exclusive.  Whatever.  And now for a tour of Mayberry, ahem, Sonoma Valley “Bachelor style.”

The first place everyone asks about is the mansion the 12 lucky ladies made home during their stay.  That would be the Vineyard Knoll Estate in Glen Ellen and it is a vacation rental if you’re looking to recreate their trip and can be rented through BeautifulPlaces.  According to an article my friend Emily Charrier did for the Sonoma Index Tribune, the night the episode aired “the business had so much traffic on its website that it nearly crashed.”  You might want to get your reservations in soon.

His first date was with Kacie B, and if you ask me, she got to see the best of Sonoma.

The couple parked on the Sonoma Plaza and passed various businesses.  Some of the featured images included City Hall which is in the heart of the Sonoma square (the park) and the Sonoma Cheese Factory.  Their first actual stop was at the Ledson Hotel briefly stopping in to play piano at the Centre Du Vin. 

 Shopping on “the Square” is always a lot of fun whether you are a tourist or shopping local and one of the town favorites is Tiddle E. Winks.  They have all of your favorite vintage candies and toys.  I’ve gone in there for everything from Pop Rocks to Sock Monkeys.  They are, quite simply put, rad.  Perhaps you recall her running back into the store to buy something?  Kacie B appeared with a baton she saw in the store window.  I hate to burst everyone’s bubble, but that was a plant.  What?  Something in reality TV wasn’t reality?  It happens.

Here we see the happy couple marching in their own parade down a deserted street in Sonoma.  I guess you would think us Mayberry if we had no moving traffic between 10:30 p.m. and 2 a.m.  Well, I just want to point out that barrior to the left of the screen.  Downtown Sonoma is where all the nightlife in this town is.  If there was no film crew, there would have been cars circling the Plaza looking for somewhere to entertain themselves.  Even on a slow night, there’s cars so don’t be fooled.  We’re small but not deserted.

 

Above- Left:  The Swiss Hotel where I mentioned Ben was most recently spotted.  It is next to Mary’s Pizza Shack, my friend’s family business and employer to my roommate.  Also, it’s delicious.  Middle:  The cobblestone alley leading to Squire and Two Amigos Tasting Room as mentioned in my previous blog.  Right:  The Girl and the Fig which is the restaurant the couple dined at.  I recommend the grilled cheese.  Mmmm… I’m hungry.

The remainder of their date was spent watching home movies of themselves in my old haunt, the Sebastiani Theatre.  I worked there in the early ’90s as a projectionist and shift manager.  I love that place.  Everyone was so impressed that I could lift those giant movie reels over my head and load them onto the projectors.  The equipment has really changed since then.  But the inside happily is still very authentic.  It’s a magical place to see a movie and sometimes a live performance.  I had the priveledge of actually getting to sing on that stage with SonomaSong.  And I think my sister was in the Nutcracker on that stage as well?  It has a lot of history.

Here’s a glimpse at the historic inside of the theatre.  And as the curtain rises on the end of their date, we’ll lower it on this blog.  Stay tuned for part 2 of the tour of Sonoma “Bachelor style.”

While waiting for part two, pop over to www.youtube.com/popcornypodcast and subscribe!  I loaded the interview from G5 radio and there will be more previews coming up as we approach our launch on February 24 of the new podcast, Pop Corny!