The Bay Area springs forward with countless diversions to love this month.
Canteen is new and notable in Menlo Park’s Springline project.
DINE
Yet another home run from lauded chef Greg Kuzia-Carmel, casual tapas bar Canteen is the first restaurant to launch at the much-anticipated Springline project in Menlo Park. Aquatic-inspired design elements set the stage, while flavorful fare like oysters on the half shell, juicy bone-in strip steak and jumbo garlic shrimp deserve standing ovations. The cocktail lineup is equally impressive, featuring cheeky sips like the Bicicletta Spritz and The 1849’er. 550 Oak Grove, Menlo Park, canteen.studio
Sudsy sips complement the relaxing environs at b Spa.
INDULGE
Shake off the winter blues with b Spa’s latest offerings. Located inside the Bardessono Hotel, the spa recently announced a new partnership with luxury skincare line Arêmês Fermentis, including serums and body oils. Spring treatments include a bioactive botanical facial designed to brighten, hydrate and restore balance to skin alongside a bioactive botanical massage. 6526 Yount St., Yountville, 707.204.6000, bardessono.com
Decadent spreads of artisanal delights await at the Artisan Cheese Festival.
SAMPLE
The California Artisan Cheese Festival is back for its 17th iteration, and dairy has never tasted better. Expect myriad tours, tastings and seminars that tout the creamy delicacy. Friday boasts farm and producer tours, letting guests get up close and personal with the day-to-days of various Bay Area creameries, breweries and wineries. Saturday will see seminars and pairing demos, including a charcuterie board workshop and a lesson on pairing cheese with chocolate. Finally, Sunday will host the artisan cheese tasting and marketplace with more than 100 vendors, plus a VIP Bubbles + Bites breakfast. March 24-26, Sonoma County Event Center, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707.953.3909, artisancheesefestival.com
The Spa at Hotel Yountville is the perfect elixir for rejuvenating this spring and summer.
ESCAPE
Approaching health and wellness from a holistic mentality, The Spa at Hotel Yountville is a must-visit. Lounge the day away at the well-appointed poolside spa with bespoke skin- and bodycare products, accessories, giftables and, of course, state-of-the-art rituals and treatments. The Vino Therapy ritual is threefold: Start with a cabernet-enriched exfoliation, then nestle into a bubble bath complete with a glass of bubbly followed by a sumptuous full-body massage with chardonnay grape seed oil. 6462 Washington St., Yountville, 707.967.7940, hotelyountville.com/spa
Stella Zhang, “Comfort” (2022)
DISCOVER
Take a stroll down memory lane with Qualia Contemporary Art’s Wunderblock exhibition featuring Bay Area greats Stella Zhang and Paul DeMarinis. Inspired by Sigmund Freud’s theory of latent memory, both artists explore the theme in their own ways: Zhang with 16 mixed-media works informed by the concept of wabi-sabi and her time living in Japan, and DeMarinis with three audiovisual collages and machinations. Through March 31, 328 University Ave., Palo Alto, 650.656.9132, qualiacontemporaryart.com
Hershey Felder in George Gershwin Alone comes to Mountain View this month.
LISTEN
Don’t miss Hershey Felder’s George Gershwin Alone farewell tour hitting the Bay Area as one of its final stops. An exploration of the American composer’s incredible life, the production features many of his greatest hits, including “I Got Rhythm,” excerpts from his myriad musicals and the entirety of Rhapsody in Blue. March 2-5, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View, hersheyfelder.net
Shop Vanguard Properties’ newest Napa showroom.
BUY
Vanguard Properties recently landed in Napa Valley. The SF-based real estate firm is now in St. Helena and headed by Josh Dempsey. The venue is a knockout: Built in 1884, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts an interior design by Birch and Taylor. The move to Napa follows in the footsteps of locations downtown as well as in Marin, Sonoma and East Bay. 1345 Railroad Ave., St. Helena, 707.637.6123, vanguardproperties.com
Trevor Logan leads House of Better’s coveted culinary health classes.
LEARN
Trevor Logan’s House of Better’s cooking and wellness series makes it easier than ever to make health a top priority. Offered every second Thursday, the classes feature topics like fermentation, gut health, medicinal tea tastings and pie-making. This month, Logan is taking on immune health, tackling everything from the inflammatory response to bone marrow and anti-inflammatory foods to boost immunity and support healthy aging. March 9, 1507 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, 707.942.6257, houseofbetter.com
Enjoy the very best of film and food at this year’s Sonoma International Film Festival.
WATCH
The Sonoma International Film Festival is beloved for its incredible lineup, from full-length features and short films to documentary and animation. The five-day festival also boasts plenty of opportunities to interact with industry professionals, while delicious culinary events like the Chefs & Shorts Dinner (March 23) and chef Joanne Weir’s Wine Country Cooking (March 25) celebrate the best of film and food. March 22-26, 103 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 707.933.2600, sonomafilmfest.org
Photography by: ERIC PALOZZOLO; STUDIO HEIMAT; COURTESY OF EMILY ENGEL; COURTESY OF SPA AT HOTEL YOUNTVILLE; COURTESY OF QUALIA CONTEMPORARY ART; MARCO BADIANI; COURTESY OF BRAND; COURTESY OF BRAND; COURTESY OF BRAND
