Solano Magazine
Folded in 2008
Since 2003 until it closed down, Solano Magazine celebrated the California region's lifestyles with an intelligent mix of features, columns, must-have guides and resources.
Content is from the site's 2008 archived pages, giving a quick taste of what this magazine offered its readership.
Solano Magazine
711 Madison St, Fairfield, CA 94533
Phone: 707.428.4440
Fax: 707.428.4441
Subscribe today and get 6 issues for only $9.95!
Solano Magazine folds after five years
By Ben Antonius / McNaughton Newspapers
FAIRFIELD- After five boom-and-bust years, Solano Magazine shut down last month.
The publication launched with a bang in 2003, with publishers boasting of raking in nearly $1 million in revenue in their first full year. But the magazine apparently suffered along with the rest of the local and national economy.
As the finishing touches were being put on the October issue, staff members said owner and publisher Michelle Branton broke the news that she had filed for bankruptcy. Branton didn't return calls seeking comment.
We knew things weren't going well, said Julia Smith, who had been the sales director.
About 30 issues of the glossy, full-color publication were produced during its run, many of which are still available online at http://www.solanomag.com.
Solano was one of the area's two community-oriented magazines, the other is Vacaville Magazine, which is still operating.
The company also was active in the community, including organizing an annual golf tournament to raise money for children's health insurance premiums. This year's event took place in late September.
However, staff members said there were signs of trouble, including the fact that the August-September issue was produced but never actually printed.
On Oct. 8, associate editor Ana Cotham sent out a farewell e-mail.
We wish you and yours the very best and thank you for your support over the past five years, she said.
~~~~~
Crazy Times Update 2020:
The economic fall out of the recession of the early 2000's was devastating at the time, but nothing can compare to what is happening right now during the Covid 19 pandemic of 2020. Aside from having an incompetent administration handling the pandemic and a President who compares it to the seasonal flu, the number of people and businesses that have been impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic is staggering. More than 300,000 have already died and we are still in the middle of the year end holidays. Living in NYC during the start of the pandemic gave me an up close, first hand look at its impact. As soon as NYC was shut down I knew that my high end furniture store was in trouble. I immediately looked for a SEO company that could help us reach more people via our website. The first goal that the digital marketing agency I hired was to convert my web site to an e commerce site. They also helped us create ad campaigns on several social media platforms and made sure our site was SEO compliant to google's guidelines. By the time NYC started to open up, our website was drawing in new customers. We do have people visiting the store, but we are also getting orders from our e commerce site. We are definitely not out of the woods, but with the roll out of several vaccines, I am hoping if we can hang on for another 6-8 months while the economy starts to recover. The new administration coming in is taking not only the fall out of the pandemic seriously, but seem to be getting a team of competent, and highly qualified people into the important positions. We certainly don't want to end up like Solano Magazine, which by the way, I did read when I lived in San Francisco back in the early 2000's.
While we all wait with held breath, I try to unwind in the evenings by playing slots online. I check the weekly promos at my favorite online casino affiliate site, Online-Casino-Party.co each Thursday and then sign in to SlotoCash Casino. Nothing like playing a new slot game or perhaps an old favorite to get your mind off the pandemic.
~~~~~
About Solano Magazine
Solano Magazine celebrates the region's lifestyles with an intelligent mix of features, columns, must-have guides and resources. With a sophisticated editorial voice, Solano Magazine reflects the dynamics of Solano, Napa, Yolo and surrounding regions by turning the spotlight on the people, places and things that appeal to its affluent residents.
Linking the metropolitan areas of Central Northern California between San Francisco, Sacramento, Napa and Walnut Creek, the Solano region is vibrant with recreation, wineries, culture, major attractions, shopping, dining, and so much more. Its residents are affluent and influential consumers that bring over $60 million in annual sales to the region. Solano Magazine provides the only lifestyle resource for area residents, making that reason enough to advertise in every issue!
Established in 2003, Solano Magazine has seen tremendous growth and success within a relatively short period of time. This is due in part to the contemporary look and editorial voice of the publication that comprehensively represents the region. Solano Magazine has also gained popularity and recognition because it answers a strong demand from area residents as the guide to good life in Central Northern California.
Food & Spirits
Solano Magazine / February-March 2008 / Chocolate love
Chocolate love
A bittersweet romance
Shelly G. Keller
Our collective appetite for gourmet chocolate has grown from a Valentine’s Day splurge to an everyday treat. Here’s a look at the allure of artisan chocolate made with love by a premier chocolatier and the latest on dark chocolate’s many benefits—giving us all the more reason to celebrate.
When co-founders John Scharffenberger and Robert Steinberg launched Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker in 1996, they drew heavily upon Scharffenberger’s refined palate and love of dark chocolate, as well as his experience as a maker of sparkling wines. “I’d already worked on a complicated production process when I was making sparkling wine. Winemaking production rules are so stringent; it’s a very ‘take-no-prisoners’ process. Winemaking is also very competitive––how many other consumer products have 4,000 brands in the competition like wine has?”
Scharffenberger and Steinberg had known each other since the early 1980s. After Scharffenberger sold his interest in Scharffenberger Cellars, Steinberg approached him about making artisan chocolate. “I thought, ‘Wow! What a great idea!’ We set out to make the richest, most flavorful chocolate by using artisan methods and sourcing the best cacao beans in the world.”
Scharffen Berger chocolate is masterfully crafted in small batches of just 300 pounds using old-world chocolate-making methods and restored vintage European machinery. As with wine and coffee, the origin of premium chocolate has become a selling point. Scharffen Berger chocolate, made from proprietary cacao bean blends from nine different cacao-growing regions throughout the world, showcases the intense and complex flavors present in cacao. In addition to cacao beans, which are considered a fruit, Scharffen Berger chocolate also contains sugar, cocoa butter and very small amounts of lecithin and vanilla from whole vanilla beans imported from Madagascar and Tahiti, a rare practice in chocolate manufacturing. The resulting fruity, winy, complex dark chocolate is consistently good for eating as well as baking.
Scharffen Berger’s chocolate bar collection comes in a variety of cacao percentages, including 41 percent cacao milk chocolate, 62 percent cacao semisweet chocolate, 70 percent cacao bittersweet chocolate, 82 percent cacao extra dark chocolate and 99 percent cacao unsweetened chocolate, which contains no sugar at all. The percentages indicate by weight the amount of cacao in the chocolate. Scharffen Berger also sells Natural Cocoa Powder and Cacao Nibs, little pieces of roasted cacao beans with fruity, earthy flavors that can add a nutty crunch to desserts and salads. Scharffenberger says if he could only have one kind of chocolate, he’d choose his personal favorite: the Scharffen Berger 82 percent.
Before Scharffenberger and Steinberg started making chocolate, California was already home to a number of noted chocolate makers: Ghirardelli in San Francisco, Nestlé USA in Glendale, Guittard Chocolate Company in Burlingame and See’s Candies in South San Francisco. In 2000, California edged out Pennsylvania, home of Hershey’s, to become the country’s chocolate capital. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2004 California had 136 companies producing chocolate and cocoa products compared to Pennsylvania’s 122.
Just like a winery, Scharffen Berger offers tours of its Berkeley factory where 40,000 visitors a year learn about chocolate making and munch on samples. Scharffenberger, who used to lead the tours when the company first started, says his favorite part is still the tasting. “That’s really what it comes down to—teaching people how to really taste chocolate and understand the different flavors.” The flavor sequence occurs in about 10 seconds, he says. “First, take a little bite, chew a little and then swallow. You need to get your palate tuned into chocolate’s flavors. Assess how it snaps and cracks and how a little smell comes through. Even more smell comes through when it sits on your tongue because you smell it internally.”
Scharffenberger then explains how the flavors are further detected as the chocolate melts. “You taste the fruit acids and they taste sour. Then you taste the fruit and it becomes more identifiable—sometimes cherry, sometimes pruney. Your mouth starts to dry out and the soft tannins in the chocolate trick your brain into asking, ‘What’s down there on my tongue?’” He says if the chocolate is good and the tannins are right, the flavor will linger for a few minutes. “You don’t have to eat a lot of chocolate to get a lot of satisfaction.”
As for the growing body of evidence about the health benefits of dark chocolate, Scharffenberger responds, “We like to say that it has nutritional value so its reputation for sinfulness and decadence becomes less important.”<
University of California, Davis researchers, however, are more specific. While they’re still figuring out exactly how the nutrients in chocolate offer such wide-reaching health benefits, evidence is mounting that they do. Carl Keen, professor of nutrition and internal medicine, has been looking at the compounds in cocoa and chocolate, especially the flavonoids and its subgroup, flavonols. “What intrigues me is the hypothesis that diets rich in plant foods reduce the risk for some diseases, including cardiovascular disease. We’ve had one surprise after another researching these compounds.
“There is increasing evidence that consuming flavonoid-rich cocoas and chocolate can be associated with a number of positive effects with respect to vascular health. For example, when you eat flavonol-rich chocolate, a high proportion of the flavonols are rapidly absorbed, with high concentrations occurring in the blood in about 45 minutes to an hour. As a result, there is an increased production of nitric oxide, an important gas in the body that can help blood vessels to relax, thus improving blood flow. There are some reports that over time this can result in reductions in blood pressure. What we’re learning opens the door to a ‘let food be thy medicine’ philosophy. We really can get some strong health effects from certain foods.”
Ounce for ounce, dark chocolate typically contains more flavonols than any fruit or vegetable out there; thus, there is the perception that the darker the chocolate, the greater the boost to your health. However, it is important to note that the flavonoid content of chocolate can be markedly influenced by food processing techniques. Some sources suggest that a daily ounce of chocolate containing at least 60 percent cacao provides all the flavonols you need to reap health benefits.
Flavonols have been shown to improve the ability of blood vessels to expand and contract, providing for better blood flow in your brain, hands and legs. They help the body use nitric oxide, which regulates blood pressure, thereby lowering it. They increase HDL (good) cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart attack. And like aspirin, flavonols decrease the stickiness of blood platelets, reducing the risk of blood clots and stroke. Dark chocolate’s benefits don’t stop at the heart. Some researchers suggest that flavonols may also help fight inflammation, prevent prostate disease and even boost your mood.
As for chocolate’s mood-altering qualities, what about its reputation as an aphrodisiac? Scharffenberger confides, “I think it’s a sex substitute, not an aphrodisiac. Chocolate affects your pleasure center in a minor way. If you can’t have sex, have chocolate.”
Grub Lounge
March 13, 2008
Ernesto's Mexican Food, Sacramento
When I first moved to midtown Sacramento, there was one restaurant down the street from me that always seemed to be overflowing with people, day or night, any season: Ernesto's Mexican Food. I was told the food was good, but despaired of ever knowing for myself since, as I said, it always seemed to be overflowing with people. Clearly I'd have had to put my name down last week for a table next month. (OK, so, maybe the patio was vacant when it was raining. My point still stands.)
Well, one day, my brother and I decided to brave the crowds for lunch. It was easier to get a table than I thought it would be—we even got to sit outside! Since that first bite of their grilled chicken, marinated and seasoned with spices like Heavenly, Tasteriffic and Muy Sabroso, I’ve been back several times.
Here’s where my review falls apart. I wish I could recommend more than either their grilled chicken Caesar salad or the chicken avocado salad. But I can’t, because those are the only two things I order when I go. I cannot resist them and make myself try something new. I know their tortilla chips are always fresh and hot, served with a chunky salsa and a bean and cheese dip (in separate bowls; it’s not a salsa-bean-cheese concoction). I know the nachos are good, because I’ve stolen some off my brother’s plate. Speaking of my brother, he swears by their fish tacos with its creamy chipotle sauce, not overly spicy but just spicy enough for his high tolerance. I know that the restaurant, which has been named Best Mexican Food by Sacramento Magazine, does not use lard, nor use any animal-based ingredients such as chicken stock in their vegetarian dishes. I am positive that many other dishes on the lunch and dinner menu, such as albondigas (Mexican meatball soup), shrimp ceviche or the fajitas, are delicious; I keep eyeing the strawberry margarita cheesecake on their dessert menu. They also serve up a weekend brunch menu that looks enticing.
But alas. As I was saying, if you wish to know about these other dishes, you’ll have to go there yourself. I don’t know about anything but the two plates I keep ordering. All I can say is, as we move into the summer months, be prepared to fight more aggressively for those coveted outside tables—better yet, get there early. Like last week.—A.C.
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 in Grub Lounge
###
March 1, 2008
Alejandro's Taqueria, Fairfield
What’s a wet burrito? Mmmmm. It’s two bangs for the buck, that’s what it is! Wet burritos make my tummy oh so happylicious, and then I pass out in frugal gastronomic bliss.
A wet burrito is most commonly referred to as a burrito “mojado”, which means “dunked or drenched” in Spanish. It’s a burrito with—usually red—sauce poured all over the top of it, hence the nickname “wet”. (For those unfamiliar with burrito culture, they are typically served “dry” and wrapped in tin foil for easy I-don’t-need-no-stinking-utensils eating.)
At Alejandro’s Taqueria in downtown Fairfield, the mojado comes drenched in red sauce and oozy melted cheddar cheese. At first glance, the dish looks like your standard burrito with sauce all over it, which is not special. Generally speaking, Alejandro’s burritos are terrific any way you order it: dry or wet. But with the mojado you get two dishes in one, and what was once normal turns into spectacular. You see, Alejandro’s always give you a side order of tortilla chips and salsa to accompany your ginormous burrito. (Seriously, these burritos can feed a family of twelve.) Now, take a chip and scoop up some oozy cheese and sauce. Better yet, catch some burrito innards at the same time and all of a sudden you’ve got nachos on steroids—rice, beans, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, chicken or beef, and goopy cheesy red sauce all served up on an edible spoon called the tortilla chip. It’s heavenly, I tell ya. You get a burrito and nachos experience all in the same dish without being tethered to either. And it’s just $6.
For those of you thinking, “Um. Michelle? This isn’t a new concept, honey. Hel-lo! You’re just dipping a chip.” Oh, stop raining on my parade.
Besides, I know good food; Alejandro’s dishes the best mojados in town. And if you don’t believe me, then just ask all those people waiting in line to place their order. —M.B.
Posted on Saturday, March 1, 2008 in Grub Lounge
###
February 28, 2008
Somerset Restaurant, Oakland
One of my mother’s and my favorite places to spend a girls’ day out is the College Avenue/Rockridge area of Oakland (just a mile or two down, College Avenue turns into Berkeley and leads directly to the campus). A couple Sundays ago, we met up at the Rockridge BART station, stashed our cars and began walking. Yeah, OK, the lot is supposed to be for BART patrons only—but it was virtually empty on a Sunday morning.
Our girls’ days are usually comprised of two goals: shopping for a particular item, and eating ... um, anything. The shopping goal for the day was to find myself a pair of black flats for me. It was a moral imperative, as I was currently flouting the UWL (Universal Womens Law) by not owning a single pair of black flats. (No, that doesn’t mean that I actually owned several pairs.) Anyway, in short order, I found these at Tootsie’s (5525 College Ave., (510) 595-7272).
When it came to lunch, though, we were at a standstill. It’s not as though there’s a lack of restaurants within the vicinity. Oliveto’s is always one of the better options, but I didn’t see much on the menu that appealed to me that particular day; and the other restaurants we passed (a bar and grill, Mexican, Chinese) seemed sort of pedestrian. We were in the Bay Area! Give me some good California cuisine. We kept walking, shopping and talking, and after about another hour, discovered and decided to try Somerset Restaurant, just a couple blocks from the Rockridge BART station.
The restaurant was small, on the dark-wood side, and bustling, with diners on the left 2/3 of the room, and a bar (with one of those old-fashioned Read Weight Free machines) on the right. Though the place was full, we were immediately seated. However, the table for two was squooshed up between a larger table and a short wall. Mom, looking a little claustrophobic, asked if there was anything else available. Within a few minutes, we had a larger table, more in the open and not hip-to-hip with another party.
The menu was chock-full of your standard California cuisine selections, many with a slight twist, and all of them sounding tasty. Some of the more intriguing lunch items included were an artichoke-black olive tart with spinach and feta cheese, broiled petrale sole with coconut-lemon rice, eggplant cutlet sandwich, and a roasted corn salad. (The dinner menu listed a carmelized Prosciutto and Black Mission fig dish with goat cheese, pistachios and port sauce, which made me wish we’d been there later.) Mom ordered the Cobb salad without the egg. Although I’m a sucker for salad, because she ordered one, I opted for the veggie pizza du jour. We also ordered a side of biscuits and iced tea.
Mom’s salad was huge and tasty, as most Cobb salads tend to be, with a very nice honey-mustard-Champagne dressing. Easily half of it was left by the time she was full. My pizza was delicious: the thin crust was crunchy, the veggies fresh and flavorful. Although I abhor raw onions of any sort, carmelized onions bring just the right touch of zing. And the fontina—well, it’s cheese. Is cheese ever wrong?
The Iced Tea Report: “It was a nice color, but a little on the weak side,” Mom reports. “There was enough flavor to pick up, though it wasn’t strong. It needed body. I wasn’t bowled over by it.”
Our server, incidentally, forgot our biscuits, but brought them right away when we mentioned we were still waiting for them. They were your standard buttermilk biscuits—freshly made, but nothing extraordinary.
One of the drawbacks of the restaurant is that the acoustics were terrible. It was crowded and so loud that Mom and I, even though we were seated off to the side, had to raise our voices to be heard. After lunch, we went to the antique store next door, and we could easily hear the diners through the wall.
Would we go there again? Yes, definitely. (However, Mom might bring her own tea next time.) —A.C.
Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 in Grub Lounge
###
February 16, 2008
Bistro Jeanty, Yountville
For quite some time I have wanted to check out Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. Not because it received a Michelin star on the 2008 Michelin list, but because it’s a popular favorite amongst locals in the Napa Valley. You’ll hear about many who go at least once a week for lunch or dinner and just eat at the bar. Apparently, it’s a local hangout.
I arrived for lunch at 11:28 a.m. (we had a reservation for 11:30) on Valentine’s Day. The front door was locked and there was an expectant crowd gathered on the sidewalk eagerly peering inside. Hmm. Interesting. To our relief, at exactly 11:30 they unlocked the front door and let us in. Phew. Hungry mobs can be a tad dangerous.
The atmosphere is cozy, casual and intimate just like a bistro should be. If you’re there with a date, ask for the table for two in front of the fireplace. It’s darling.
Deciding on lunch took forever. Everything on the menu was enticing: rabbit pâté with celery root apple salad, pike dumplings, pork belly with lentil balsamic and foie gras ragout, mussels steamed in red wine, cassoulet (baked beans with duck confit, sausage and apple smoked bacon), tournedos with black pepper crust. The list of yummies went on and on. Oh brother. I wanted one of everything.
(As a side note, I feel compelled to note that steak tartare was on the menu. This is the second or third time in as many weeks that I’ve noticed steak or “beef” tartare popping up on menus in both Northern and Southern California. Does this mean that it’s coming back in style? Or that I’ve been too busy to notice that it never went out of style?)
In the end, we decided to splurge knowing that we’d have to box up most as leftovers. This strategy was totally worth it! We started with croutons de foie blond (duck foie gras pâté with a port poached pear) and the sweetbreads and shiitake pie. Both were wonderful, but the pâté was particularly light and silky.
Next came the main courses. I had the coq au vin and my companion had the ham and leek quiche with a butter lettuce salad prepared the way I love to see it—gently washed whole leaves of butter lettuce topped with a simple vinaigrette, salt and pepper. That’s it. Nothing fancy, just fresh flavors. The entrées were simple, hearty and ridiculously delicious.
Although I was about to bust a gut, we had to order a dessert to share. And what else to order at a bistro but a crêpe—with powdered sugar, orange marmalade and a reduced orange brandy. Served flat, the crêpe was the size of a medium pizza.
After such an indulgent lunch, we clutched the prized to-go boxes to our chests and rolled ourselves in the direction of our automobiles, all the while discussing when we’d be back.
And despite the fact—or maybe because—it was Valentine’s Day, I have to admit that I fell a little bit (okay, a lot) in love with Bistro Jeanty. —M.B.
Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 in Grub Lounge
###
February 6, 2008
Hush, Laguna Beach
On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I was fortunate to garner an invitation to meet for drinks at Hush in Laguna Beach. Located on the main drag in downtown Laguna Beach, Hush offers a contemporary, upscale experience whether you’re in the elegant blue neon accented bar or the quietly sophisticated dining room. It’s a nice contrast to the rest of Laguna’s beachy casual establishments. Having checked out the website prior to arrival, I was intrigued by their extensive wine list and the variety of imported proteins.
In L.A.’s Friday night traffic, it took me over three hours to get from Santa Monica to Laguna Beach. So of course I was late, starving and nervy from driving illegally in the carpool lane. (If not for the HOV lane, I shudder to think how long it would have taken me.) By the time I reached the restaurant, all I wanted was a magnum of wine, a straw and a dark corner.
Although I had anticipated enjoying only a cocktail and appetizer, I was delighted to sit down for a real dinner.
Still shaky from the drive and unable to focus my eyes to read the menu, I gave up and asked the waiter to recommend his favorites. Sea bass? Great. Bring me one of those and another magnum of pinot noir, please.
Luckily, my companion for dinner was a bit more quick-witted. He started us out with one of Hush’s signature appetizers: Maine lobster-crayfish macaroni and cheese. Yup. You got it. Comfort food with style. Grated black truffles and white truffle oil added a little earthiness to the seafood flavors of this dish. While delicious, it might have been a little too earthy for my tastes. Truffles are tricky. The flavor balance needs to be perfect.
Next came the sea bass. Pan-seared and accompanied by Brussels sprouts and barley risotto, the dish was solid. The brandy reduction was a beautiful accent to both the lightness of the fish and the bitterness of the Brussels sprouts.
Finally it was time to choose dessert. (When I order my entrée, I always inquire about the desserts. It gives me something to look forward to.) Our waiter had cooed over the banana strudel made with phyllo dough. Can you call it strudel if it’s made with phyllo? I dunno. I was skeptical. In the end, I was urged to face my fears and order the strudel. Holy crapola! Am I glad that I did! The first bite was ambrosia. Warm banana wrapped in dough softened by crème caramel. The potential disaster with the combination of banana and caramel is that it can easily become overpoweringly sweet. This was not at all the case. It was nice and subtle, soft in its flavors and textures. If you really want that extra punch of sweet to come forward, enjoy the strudel with the Inniskillin Ice Wine, the suggested pairing. For a lighter taste, a blanc de blanc sparkling might be nice. Or more to my own taste, a deeper zinfandel port, which might bring out some depth in the flavors. No matter the pairing, the dessert was a heavenly way to end the meal.
Would I go back? Absolutely! It’s the ideal restaurant to single-course dine because the selections within each course are varied enough to be interesting. Go for appetizers only or just dessert and pair your culinary delights with something off the more than extensive wine list. It’ll feel decadent any way you play it.
And if you’re stumped on what to get because the options look too good? Just ask your waiter for his favorites and you won’t go wrong. I know I didn’t.—M. Branton
Posted on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 in Grub Lounge |
###
January 18, 2008
Rutherford Grill, Napa
Every couple of months, my mother and I like to meet up somewhere for lunch and a little shopping. It's often in the Napa Valley somewhere, since it's a sort of mid-point between my home (Sacramento) and hers (Danville). One question we always have is, Where to go for lunch? This time she decided she wanted to try Rutherford Grill. Mom, always knowing best, had the brilliant idea of getting there right as they opened for lunch. It was a Saturday, and we were seated right away, but the place filled up in no time at all.
Up came the menu. We try to eat healthfully, particularly if we have a day of shopping in.
Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 in Grub Lounge
Entertainment
Solano Calendar
Feb 27, 2008 to Feb 28, 2008 - “Flying animals and other attractions”
Marcia Cary is a former landscape designer and many of her paintings use shapes repeatedly seen in nature. Marcia acknowledges her connection with plants and their relationship...
Feb 27, 2008 to Mar 7, 2008 - Brian Copeland: Not a Genuine Black Man
"In 1972, the National Committee against Discrimination in Housing Called San Leandro, California 'a racist bastion of white supremacy.' It was named one of the most racist...
Feb 29, 2008 to Feb 29, 2008 - Audition: Ladies at the Alamo
The performance is presented by Horizon Arts Group. Written by Paul Zindel and directed by David Rodgers Jr.10 a.m.-1 p.m. March 1: by appointment only.Cast: 5 females...
Mar 10, 2008 to Mar 10, 2008 - Empty Bowls
Join the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano to celebrate 10 years in its building with an “Empty Bowls” event presented by Tesoro Corporation. Guests are invited to a...
Feb 27, 2008 to Mar 8, 2008 - Solano College Theatre presents Intimate Apparel
Esther, the heroine of Lynn Nottage's award-winning play, is an African-American seamstress in New York City of 1905, a time of tumult and transition in America. Her creations...
Feb 27, 2008 to May 30, 2012 - Americana: 50 States, 50 Months, 50 Exhibitions
The long-term presentation consists of 50 displays, each approximately one month long, coorganized by WattisInstitute director Jens Hoffmann and CCA's Graduate Program in...
Food & Spirits
Solano Magazine / February-March 2008 / Hawaii
Hawaii
A whole new world is just an afternoon away
Ana Cotham
Hawaiian Bath and Body
Hawaii is the perfect getaway for people in our region. It’s relatively close, at best a four-and-a-half hour flight, and good deals can be had for $300 or less if you stay alert and are willing to be flexible with times and layovers. However, the best flight direct to Honolulu from San Francisco, Oakland or Sacramento airports leaves between 8:30 and 9 a.m., putting you in Honolulu, the state capital on the island of O`ahu, just in time for lunch— a perfect way to kick off the first day of your vacation.
When my mother and I fly to Hawaii to visit my grandparents, our usual routine after lunch is to go to our favorite sites and do some shopping. But on our last trip, I decided to start with something a little different: a Deluxe Thalasso Therapy with Color and Essential Oils, and a Coconut and Lime Body Scrub—a sensible decision since airplane rides are hard on the body.
The treatments are on the menu at the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa, which is part of the Ko Olina Resort and Marina (about 20 minutes east of Honolulu), along with the Ko Olina Golf Club, Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club and the soon-to-be Disney Resort. It has a few brand-new buildings and lots of construction in a pretty and still relatively vacant expanse of shoreline. It also includes four man-made pristine lagoons, perfect for beach-lounging or lazy swimming.
We got there in time for lunch first, at Naupaka Terrace, the hotel’s outdoor bistro, which has a lovely, relaxed ambiance and prides itself on using local and healthful foods. I sampled the farmers market salad with fresh greens and a shiitake tomato vinaigrette, deliciously crunchy spring rolls and the coconut shrimp, which comes with an apricot dipping sauce charmingly served in a small, halved coconut shell. After lunch I checked into the spa.
The Ihilani Spa is an intimate space with a Roman bath, steam room, sauna and treatment rooms. It is one of two spas in the U.S. (New Jersey is the other) that offers the Thalasso treatment: a European-style underwater massage, with warm seawater pumped straight in from the ocean. Between the four treatment options—relaxation, circulation, toning and energizing—I opted for circulation, an unusual choice for my relaxing tendencies. Once in the huge, deep tub, the attendant massaged my feet, put an aromatherapy compress on my forehead, and turned on the jets with some soothing blue tub lights. It was like a high-tech Jacuzzi, with hard spray rolling up and down both sides of my body. The water was warm and clear; the lights and the essential oils were peaceful. After about ten minutes, the attendant returned to change the compress, adjusted the tub lights to a rotation of vibrant reds, greens and golds, and cooled the water temperature. I then knew why it was called circulation—it lowered my body temperature so much that I was shivering uncontrollably by the end of the treatment. My circulation was definitely invigorated.
I was then led to the body scrub treatment room. The scrub room attendant showed me the tray of ingredients: Hawaiian sea salt, tiny shreds of fresh coconut, and fresh lemon zest (they’d run out of lime that day). Afterward, I was led to the needle shower, a round shower stall with 16 jets to get you at all angles. Then, I went to look at my skin in the dressing room. The exfoliation left it bright red but exceptionally smooth; the redness faded immediately, but my skin remained smooth for several days.
After that, it was time to head back to Honolulu to resume our typical first-day activities. But while we have our own traditions, people on a new vacation in a new place will invariably create their own traditions, their own stories. Honolulu is unparalleled when it comes to catering to a cross-section of personal interests.
Usually, we have lunch at Gordon Biersch Brewery in Aloha Tower, an airy outdoor mall near Honolulu’s downtown financial district. Aloha Tower has plenty of tourist-friendly shops to browse, and the brewery’s patio, right on Honolulu Harbor where the cruise ships come in, is very relaxing. If you feel the need to walk off calamari and beer afterward, a stroll along the harbor takes you past fish food stands, where you can buy a handful of food to sprinkle into the water for the countless fish that bob up for a treat. (Traffic is notoriously bad, so it’s preferable to be mobile by foot whenever you can, but keep comfortable by wearing proper walking shoes instead of the sandals or flip-flops you might want to put on.)
About two miles east of Aloha Tower, at Ala Moana Boulevard and Ward Avenue, is where the shopping really starts. Ward Centers—comprised of Ward Centre, Ward Warehouse and a few other Ward entities—has a number of island apparel and gift shops as well as art galleries to check out. Just a few blocks farther down Ala Moana Boulevard is the aptly named Ala Moana Center. The large mall’s stores range from Hilo Hattie’s to Gucci, and a variety of other stores for both residents and tourists. There’s Lupicia for tea lovers, the Cookie Corner for cookie lovers, and the Slipper House for when you want to get started on your flip-flop or “slippah” collection.
Farther eastward is Waikiki, a true shopper’s paradise. Stores from Prada, Hermes and Tiffany & Co. to simple beachwear and surf shops, and the infamous ABC stores, line the streets. There are also a number of more concentrated shopping areas: The relatively new showcase Waikiki Beach Walk starts on Lewers Street between Kalia Road and Kalakaua Avenue; the International Marketplace is an open-air market of shops and artisan stands; and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center has more than 100 shops and restaurants to explore.
Some people might be more interested in Hawaii’s history and culture than its merchandise, and there is no shortage of places that will fulfill that desire. If there is any single must-see on O`ahu, it’s the USS Arizona National Memorial at Pearl Harbor, simply for the fact that it’s such an integral, emotional and living part of U.S. history. Guests can begin by exploring the exhibits at the Visitor’s Center. The tour itself begins with a short film about the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, followed by a boat trip to the memorial itself. The memorial sits atop the USS Arizona, which can still be seen underwater.
Museum buffs should take the time to visit the Bishop Museum. Founded in the late 1880s, the museum is renowned worldwide for its research projects, educational programs, and collection of artifacts, documents and photographs about Hawaii and other Pacific island cultures. On the local art side, Honolulu has numerous art galleries, from the esteemed Honolulu Academy of Art (honoluluacademy.org) to smaller spaces in and around Honolulu’s downtown (aka Chinatown) district that have regular hours and participate in a lively First Friday Hawaii, a monthly open-late event featuring free entertainment and special activities (firstfridayhawaii.com).
The beauty of Honolulu, though, is that if shopping or museums aren’t your forte, stretching your legs and soaking up some sunshine, or simply wandering around—strolling down Waikiki beach, or walking down Kalakaua Avenue toward the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium—is enough to fill an afternoon and more. And when it’s time to put up your feet, the Halekulani’s famous House Without a Key restaurant will welcome you for sunset cocktails with live Hawaiian music and hula dancing. With the legendary Diamond Head as your backdrop, what better way to welcome the sunset on your first day?
For more information, visit Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
HEALTH
Bridging the gap
California programs fill growing need for physician assistants and nursing professionals.
By Miriam Raftery
California will face a shortage of 5,000 to 17,000 doctors over the next decade. Increasingly, patient needs are being filled by physician assistants and nursing professionals.
Job opportunities
“There is definitely a demand for both physician assistants (PAs) and family nurse practitioners (FNPs),” says Michael Denis, a student enrolled in a PA program at the University of California, Davis. “With the current nationwide situation with health care, there’s a huge need to fill the gap with these mid-level providers.”
Both PAs and FNPs practice under supervision of a physician. The first PA program was founded at Duke University to create civilian jobs for military corpsmen and medics returning from Vietnam. In 2007, 245 million patient visits were made to PAs, according to the American Association of Physician Assistants (AAPA). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has ranked physician assistant as the fourth fastest growing profession nationally.
“PAs come from traditional or nontraditional medical backgrounds,” Denis notes. “Often they are paramedics, military or foreign medical graduates, whereas the nurse practitioners are the four-year, Bachelor of Science degree nurses who come from a nursing background. However, a lot of the protocols we are allowed to practice under are very similar.” Average salaries nationally are around $75,000 a year for PAs and around $77,000 for nurse practitioners, though certain specialties and locations command higher wages, he adds.
California also faces a shortage of nurses—a gap new training programs seek to fill. According to a May 2007 report from the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, the state is short 4,696 registered nurses (RNs)—a shortage that is expected to double by 2014. The gap is caused by population growth, an increasing number of older Californians, and nurses nearing retirement age.
According to the University of California, San Francisco’s Center for California Health Workforce Studies, the number of nursing school graduates in California has fortunately increased nearly 70 percent over the last five years, reaching a projected number of over 10,000 new RN graduates per year; new programs have also emerged to further ease the nursing shortage. The ratio of RNs per general population in California is much smaller versus the national ratio (about 650 full-time RNs per population of 100,000, versus 825) but as of 2006 California RNs typically earned a higher hourly wage ($36.12) than the national average ($28.71).
Education Opportunities
A $4.2 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, in support of its Betty Irene Moore Nursing initiative, has helped fund a partnership among City College of San Francisco, California Pacific Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital to launch an Associate Degree Nursing Education program. Classes began in fall 2005, with the program projected to graduate more than 80 nurses over a four-year period. The foundation has also awarded funds to establish the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis.
“We anticipate starting enrollment in about 2009,” says Ann Bonham, executive associate dean. “The focus initially will be on master’s and Ph.D.s. Then we will roll out a bachelor’s in nursing program approximately two years following that.”
The program aims to educate nursing students to practice in an increasingly complex health care system including not only hospital settings, but also community clinics, public health service, government agencies and other emerging health care environments.
“The Institute of Medicine came out with a report that said between 45,000 and 95,000 medical errors occur annually,” Bonham observes. “This is an amazing statistic. Who are better prepared to help improve patient safety than nursing professionals? They are putting their hands on the patients and families more than anybody else, figuratively speaking.”
The new school’s nursing curriculum will have four anchors. “One is inter-professional education,” Bonham explains. “That means nursing students and medical students are educating shoulder to shoulder, so they are seeing the same cases together. They are really learning how to communicate early in their careers, so these communication skills will go with them throughout the educational process.”
Other program anchors include:
- patient-centered technologies (including teletechnology, such as electronic medical records, in research and patient care)
- scientific rigor (enabling graduates to utilize best practices based on evidence, not instinct)
- preparation in leadership, management and communication skills.
Master’s degrees will be conferred following a two- to three-year program. Ph.D program length will vary depending on the scope of specific research projects.
“Another important thing is to provide qualified nurse educators,” Bonham says. “When we think about the nursing shortage in California and across the nation, one of the barriers is having sufficient faculty. The mean age is over 50 and many are retiring, so we have to think about new professoriate. We believe a key contribution of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing is to provide those outstanding nurse educators, as well as the practicing nurses.”
Touro University in Vallejo offers programs for nursing, physician assistants and other health care professions. Recently, Touro’s Vallejo campus became the first college in the nation to offer a joint master’s degree in both public health and physician assistant. The program has two tracks: community health and global health.
In January 2007, students in Touro’s double master program traveled to Ethiopia, where they worked at a hospital with a goal toward improving the health of people worldwide. Students helped conduct field research on malaria and evaluated the effectiveness of a tuberculosis treatment program.
Ryan Garson, a Touro student who participated in the Ethiopia project, plans to focus on pediatrics after graduating in 2008. He concludes, “This was definitely a worthwhile experience that gave me a global perspective on the delivery of health care from a public health viewpoint.”
As the baby boomer generation enters retirement age and demand increases for affordable and accessible healthcare services, career opportunities for students in nursing and physician assistant programs should remain strong for the foreseeable future.
Solano Magazine / February-March 2008 / Top Doctors 2008
Top Doctors 2008
Who would your doctor go see?
Solano Magazine
One of the most critical decisions you’ll ever make for yourself or your family is selecting the right physician: one who you feel comfortable with, who listens to your concerns and offers not just solutions but a sympathetic ear. Being in a region with such prominent, esteemed medical facilities, we know that such a choice can be difficult.
In our first Top Doctors survey in 2005, we asked licensed physicians practicing within our region who among their peers they would recommend to family and friends. The results appeared in our November/December 2005 issue. Complemented by a peer-reviewed list of physicians in the UC Davis Health System compiled by Best Doctors, the directory presented nearly 200 names in specialties ranging from allergy to vascular surgery.
Now, a couple years later, it is time to do it again. As before, we asked licensed physicians for their candidates in any or all of 29 specialties, or as a write-in, on our survey. (For information on how we conducted the survey, see the sidebar on page 50.) Thanks to all the physicians who took the time to respond, we are proud to present this directory of 101 doctors in 31 specialties. Some of these doctors appeared in our last survey, and many are new. We again included an updated list from Best Doctors.
We also spoke up close and personal with six doctors who represent a cross-section of specialties. In addition to their profiles, the physicians addressed one more critical question: how a patient should choose a physician. While it was pointed out that an insurance plan is often what dictates physician selection, all our physicians agreed that the individual should still select a doctor who they respect and trust with their health care decisions. For their answers, and answers from the doctors profiled in our 2005 survey, read “How to choose a physician”.
Without further ado, here are the results of our 2008 Top Doctors survey. We at Solano Magazine wish you the best of health and happiness for the year!
Allergy and Immunology
Ronald Brown, M.D.
Sutter West Medical Group
1970 Lake Blvd., Suite 2
Davis (530) 792-2820
Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
770 Mason St.
Vacaville (707) 454-5860
Guillermo Mendoza, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vacaville
3700 Vaca Valley Parkway
Vacaville (707) 453-5620
Larry Posner, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1100 Pear Tree Lane
Napa (707) 258-8100
Anesthesiology
Howard Haynes, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-3450
Daniel Masluk, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1000 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 252-4411, ext. 2715
Ryk Tanalski, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-3450
Cardiac Surgery
Ramzi Deeik, M.D.
Napa Valley Cardiac and
Thoracic Surgery
1100 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 254-9640
Robert Klingman, M.D.
Napa Valley Cardiac and
Thoracic Surgery
1100 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 254-9640
Cardiology
Cyrus Mancherje, M.D.
Intercommunity Medical Group/Solano Cardiology Consultants
1525 Webster St.
Fairfield (707) 423-2511
171 Butcher Road
Vacaville (707) 449-5970
Sergio Manubens, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3443 Villa Lane, Suite 2
Napa (707) 253-8280
Celeste Spillane, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1066
James Srebro, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3443 Villa Lane, Suite 2
Napa (707) 253-8280
David Williams, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1066
Colon and Rectal Surgery
George Berndt, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1062
Robert White, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3434 Villa Lane Suite 260
Napa (707) 224-7757
Dermatology
Eileen Crowley, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1052
Eric Fromer, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vacaville
3700 Vaca Valley Parkway
Vacaville (707) 453-5446
John Geisse, M.D.
Solano Dermatology Associates
2290 Sacramento St.
Vallejo (707) 643-5785
Robin Gray, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1052
Debra Horney, M.D.
Woodland Healthcare
1207 Fairchild Court
Woodland (530) 666-1631
Sarah Porkka, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1100 Trancas St., Suite 211
Napa (707) 224-4250
Diane Silver, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1100 Trancas St., Suite 301
Napa (707) 257-2888
Diagnostic Radiology
Andrew Nicks, M.D.
Radiology Medical Group of Napa
1000 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 257-4064
Patrick Saunders, M.D.
Woodland Healthcare
1207 Fairchild Court
Woodland (530) 666-1631
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Maggie Che, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vacaville
3700 Vaca Valley Parkway
Vacaville (707) 453-5000
Eugene Eisenberg, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3434 Villa Lane Suite 280
Napa (707) 259-6767
Yshay Shlesinger, M.D.
John Muir Network
400 El Cerro Blvd., Suite 106
Danville (925) 552-5280
Sue Stevens, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-2570
Family Practice/General Medicine
James Cotter, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Napa
3285 Claremont Way
Napa (707) 258-2500
John Dermody, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1001 Professional Drive
Napa (707) 252-0494
David Gilliam, M.D.
Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
1620 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite C
Fairfield (707) 428-4878
Thomas Suard, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1155 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 252-4781
Gastroenterology
David Freeto, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3443 Villa Lane, Suite 4
Napa (707) 257-0447
Aaron Levy, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-3264
Henry Mok, M.D.
Woodland Healthcare
1321 Cottonwood St.
Woodland (530) 668-2618
Merle Sogge, M.D.
Intercommunity Medical Group
1525 Webster St., Suite A
Fairfield (707) 423-2506
171 Butcher Road,
Vacaville (707) 449-5970
Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
2702 Low Court,
Fairfield (707) 432-2600
Robert Talley, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3443 Villa Lane Suite 4
Napa (707) 257-0447
Ali Vaziri, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
935 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 255-8207
General Surgery
Robert Dunham, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3434 Villa Lane Suite 260
Napa (707) 224-7757
Jay Isaacson, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1062
Robert Lanflisi, M.D.
Sutter Solano Medical Center
1245 Travis Blvd., Suite F
Fairfield (707) 426-4951
1001 Nut Tree Road, Vacaville
100 Hospital Drive, Suite 110, Vallejo
Douglas Lurie, M.D.
Woodland Healthcare
1321 Cottonwood St.
Woodland (530) 668-2618
Haroon Mojaddidi, M.D.
Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
2702 Low Court
Fairfield (707) 432-2600
Wendell Wenneker, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3443 Villa Lane, Suite 3
Napa (707) 226-2031
Gynecology / Obstetrics
Ruth Goldenberg, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1031
Susana Gomez-Gonzalez, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1100 Trancas St. Suite 209
Napa (707) 251-1850
Anat Sapan, M.D.
Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
770 Mason St.
Vacaville (707) 454-5800
100 Hospital Drive
Vallejo (707) 551-3600
Hematology
Bruce Clark, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1077
Chainarong Limvarapuss, M.D.
Sutter Solano Cancer Center
100 Hospital Drive, Suite 110
Vallejo, (707) 551-3300
2720 Low Court
Fairfield (707) 426-3911
Daniel Mirda, M.D.
Redwood Regional Medical Group
1100 Trancas St. Suite 256
Napa (707) 253-7161
Infectious Disease
Stuart Linne, M.D.
Woodland Healthcare
1207 Fairchild Court
Woodland (530) 668-2650
Stephen Parodi, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1075
Kenyon Rupnik, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3443 Villa Lane, Suite 9
Napa (707) 253-8901
Internal Medicine
Richard Fleming, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1025
David Jue, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3010 Beard Road
Napa (707) 257-1550
Thor Start, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1025
Neurology
Richard Beyer, M.D.
Woodland Healthcare
1207 Fairchild Court
Woodland (530) 668-2657
2330 W. Covell Blvd.
Davis (530) 756-2364
Ardith Courtney, D.O.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
980 Trancas St., Suite 5
Napa (707) 251-8610
Kai Lee, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-2590
Albert M. Mitchell, D.O.
NorthBay Medical Center
1101 B. Gale Wilson Blvd.,
Suite 206
Fairfield (707) 426-5915
Vivek Pai, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-2590
Margaret Schlatter, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1001 Professional Drive
Napa (707) 252-6546
Oncology
Bruce Clark, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1077
Paul Dugan, M.D.
Redwood Regional Medical Group
1100 Trancas St. Suite 256
Napa (707) 253-7161
Louis Fehrenbacher, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1077
Chainarong Limvarapuss, M.D.
Sutter Solano Cancer Center
100 Hospital Drive, Suite 110
Vallejo (707) 551-3300
2720 Low Court
Fairfield (707) 426-3911
James Long, M.D.
NorthBay Cancer Center
1860 Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 230
Fairfield (707) 429-6989
Daniel Mirda, M.D.
Redwood Regional Medical Group
1100 Trancas St. Suite 256
Napa (707) 253-7161
Gregory Smith, M.D.
St. Helena Hospital
6 Woodland Road Suite 304
St. Helena (707) 967-5721
Ophthalmology
Richard Beller, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
895 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 252-2020
John Hills, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vacaville
3700 Vaca Valley Parkway
Vacaville (707) 453-5600
Robert Miller, M.D.
Medical Vision Technology
120-A West Court St.
Woodland (530) 668-6000
635 Anderson Road, Davis
(530) 756-5040
Orthopedic Surgery
Mark Bernstein, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-2549
Dennis Chin, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-2549
John Diana, M.D.
Napa Valley Orthopaedic Medical Group, Inc.
1100 Trancas St. Suite 250
Napa (707) 254-7117
Adam Freedhand, M.D.
Napa Valley Orthopaedic Medical Group, Inc.
1100 Trancas St. Suite 250
Napa (707) 254-7117
Yassamin Hazrati, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-2549
John Kofoed, M.D.
Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
2702 Low Court
Fairfield (707) 432-2600
770 Mason St.
Vacaville (707) 454-5800
Steven McGrath, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-2549
Otolaryngology
Laurence Ariyasu, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1055
Kathleen Healey, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
980 Trancas St., Suite 10
Napa (707) 258-8037
Lorri Henderson, M.D.
Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
2702 Low Court
Fairfield (707) 432-2600
Jonathan Owens, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
895 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 252-0990
Tim Wild, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vacaville
3700 Vaca Valley Parkway
Vacaville (707) 453-5443
Murray Woolf, M.D.
NorthBay Medical Center
1710 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite D
Fairfield (707) 423-2000
Pain Management
Kevin Cheng, D.O.
Kaiser Permenente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1025
Pediatric Specialist
Don Wong, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
980 Trancas St., Suite 4
Napa (707) 253-7337
Pediatrics
Christine Loffler-Barry, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
2160 Jefferson St., Suite 260
Napa (707) 259-0700
Robert Losey, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1100 Trancas St. Suite 270
Napa (707) 252-1076
Edward Martin, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1037
Victoria Morgese, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
2160 Jefferson St., Suite 260
Napa (707) 259-0700
Psychiatry
Joel Fine, M.D.
NorthBay Healthcare
555 Mason St.
Vacaville (707) 447-3880
Anina Schwartz, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
1761 Broadway St., Suite 100
Vallejo (707) 645-2700
Rheumatology
Wilson Yap, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1075
Sleep Medicine
Hossein Razavi, M.D.
St. Helena Hospital
6 Woodland Road, Suite 203
St. Helena (707) 963-0267
Thoracic Surgery
Robert Klingman, M.D.
Napa Valley Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery
1100 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 254-9640
Trauma/Critical Care Surgeon
Jon Perlstein, M.D.
David Grant Medical Center
101 Bodin Circle
Travis AFB (707) 423-5224
Urology
Eric Engelman, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1092
Thomas Hildreth, M.D.
Queen of The Valley Medical Center
1100 Trancas St. Suite 213
Napa (707) 224-7944
Edward Levin, M.D.
Sutter Regional Medical Foundation
770 Mason St.
Vacaville (707) 454-5800
2702 Low Court
Fairfield (707) 432-2600
Ermis Nikas, D.O.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1092
Vascular & Interventional Radiology
David Goller, M.D.
Radiology Medical Group of Napa
1000 Trancas St.
Napa (707) 257-4064
Isaac Kaplan, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1315
Vascular Surgery
Chong Lee, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo (707) 651-1062
John Loftus, M.D.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center
3443 Villa Lane, Suite 3
Napa (707) 226-2031
More Background On SolanoMag.com
SolanoMag.com preserves the legacy of Solano Magazine, a regional lifestyle publication that served Northern California from 2003 until its closure in 2008. Based in Fairfield, California, the magazine covered the people, communities, restaurants, cultural attractions, businesses, healthcare institutions, and recreational opportunities that shaped everyday life in Solano County and neighboring Napa and Yolo counties. During its five-year existence, the publication developed a distinctive identity as a sophisticated, full-color magazine dedicated to celebrating a region situated between some of California's most influential metropolitan areas.
Unlike newspapers primarily concerned with breaking news, government affairs, and daily events, Solano Magazine emphasized the experiences that made Northern California an attractive place to live, work, visit, and raise a family. Its editorial coverage combined restaurant reviews, travel features, medical directories, arts reporting, community calendars, shopping recommendations, and profiles of noteworthy residents. The magazine also sought to connect businesses with a regional audience interested in lifestyle products, services, entertainment, and professional resources.
Although the original publication ceased operations in 2008, SolanoMag.com continues to provide access to selected historical material, offering readers a glimpse into Northern California's regional culture during the mid-2000s. Its surviving articles document changing consumer interests, emerging dining destinations, healthcare developments, and community activities at a time when glossy regional magazines remained an important source of local information.
The story of SolanoMag.com is also an example of the opportunities and difficulties associated with independent regional publishing. The magazine experienced impressive early commercial growth, attracted readers across several counties, and participated in charitable activities before financial pressures brought its operations to an end during the economic downturn of 2008.
The Founding of Solano Magazine in 2003
Solano Magazine was launched in November 2003 by Michelle Branton and her husband, Michael Koks, who was an accountant. The couple recognized an opportunity to establish a regional lifestyle publication serving communities that were geographically connected but often separated by the coverage boundaries of individual newspapers. Their concept was straightforward: create a professionally produced magazine that would introduce readers to worthwhile experiences, organizations, businesses, and personalities throughout Solano, Napa, and Yolo counties.
Branton brought experience in marketing, advertising, and publishing to the venture. Originally from Hawaii, she had lived in Fairfield since the 1980s and developed a strong appreciation for the area's communities. Her background helped shape the magazine's combination of visually appealing editorial content and commercially attractive advertising opportunities. Koks contributed to the publishing enterprise, while Julia Smith, another experienced advertising professional, served as sales director.
A January 12, 2005, article by Rachel Raskin-Zrihen in the Vallejo Times-Herald, titled "Celebrating Solano," provides an unusually detailed contemporary account of the magazine's early development. Branton explained that the idea had been developing for approximately a decade before the right market opportunity emerged. She believed that residents needed a publication capable of looking beyond individual city boundaries and presenting the wider region as a connected cultural and commercial destination.
The founders conducted preliminary market research to assess interest from readers and advertisers. Their findings suggested that a regional magazine could attract sufficient support, particularly because the area's established newspapers generally concentrated on their immediate communities. The publication was conceived as a convenient alternative to consulting numerous newspapers to discover what was happening in neighboring cities.
The first issue reportedly generated an encouraging response. According to Branton's account in the 2005 newspaper interview, more than 500 copies sold during the opening weeks at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Fairfield alone. The store repeatedly requested additional copies, indicating early consumer interest in a magazine specifically devoted to the surrounding region.
Ownership, Management, and Publishing Operations
The original magazine was an independently developed publishing business associated with Michelle Branton and Michael Koks. Contemporary reporting identified both as publishers, with Branton playing a particularly visible role in editorial direction, creative development, marketing, and community relationships. Julia Smith led advertising sales, helping the magazine establish commercial relationships with businesses seeking exposure to readers across multiple counties.
By early 2005, approximately 30 full-time and part-time contributors and personnel were involved in producing each bimonthly issue. This figure reflected a combination of editorial, production, sales, and other publishing functions rather than necessarily representing 30 permanent employees. The operation depended on coordinating writers, photographers, designers, advertising representatives, and administrative personnel to produce a polished print publication every two months.
The magazine's historical business address was 711 Madison Street, Fairfield, California 94533, with the telephone number 707-428-4440. Fairfield was an appropriate headquarters because of its central location within Solano County and its accessibility to the broader Northern California region. The address and telephone number are historical business details and should not be interpreted as current contact information for an operating magazine.
Branton's publishing philosophy combined commercial ambition with community involvement. In the 2005 Times-Herald interview, she emphasized the satisfaction of discovering inspiring local people, identifying worthwhile community resources, and using the publication to promote regional organizations. Smith expressed a similar preference for working in a business whose success could have a direct effect on the community.
The current ownership and administration of the SolanoMag.com domain should be distinguished from the ownership of the original publication. The surviving website contains archived magazine material and later commentary, but that alone does not establish that the original publishing company or its management team continues to operate the domain.
Geographic Coverage and the Importance of Solano County's Location
One of Solano Magazine's most distinctive characteristics was its geographic reach. Rather than concentrating exclusively on Fairfield, the magazine treated Solano, Napa, Yolo, and nearby communities as parts of an interconnected Northern California lifestyle market. This approach reflected the actual movement of residents who frequently traveled between cities for employment, shopping, recreation, cultural events, and professional services.
Solano County occupies a strategic position between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento metropolitan region. Fairfield and neighboring Suisun City provide access to Interstate 80, while Interstate 680 connects the area with communities farther south. Vacaville, Vallejo, Benicia, Dixon, and Rio Vista contribute different economic, recreational, and cultural identities to the county. Napa Valley lies nearby, offering internationally recognized wineries, restaurants, and tourism destinations, while Davis and Woodland connect the region with the educational and agricultural resources of Yolo County.
This geographic setting was central to the magazine's editorial appeal. A Fairfield resident might be interested in dining in Yountville, attending a theatrical production in Davis, shopping in Walnut Creek, or spending a weekend in San Francisco. Similarly, residents of Napa or Vacaville might discover events, healthcare providers, or recreational destinations in neighboring communities through the magazine's reporting.
The publication therefore approached Northern California as a network of destinations rather than a collection of isolated towns. This perspective was especially useful for readers seeking experiences beyond their immediate neighborhoods without traveling far from home.
Its coverage also helped establish connections between urban and suburban lifestyles. Residents could enjoy access to metropolitan cultural institutions and upscale shopping while living in communities with comparatively smaller downtown districts, agricultural surroundings, and local traditions. By documenting those opportunities, Solano Magazine presented the region as a place with a diverse and increasingly sophisticated lifestyle.
Editorial Mission, Target Audience, and Publishing Style
The magazine's stated mission was to celebrate the lifestyles of Northern California residents through an intelligent combination of features, columns, guides, and practical resources. Its editorial approach emphasized quality presentation, regional relevance, and subjects that readers could apply to their personal and professional lives.
The target audience included affluent and influential consumers, homeowners, professionals, families, business owners, and residents interested in cultural activities, dining, travel, healthcare, and shopping. The publication's advertising strategy reflected this demographic emphasis, presenting the magazine as an attractive way for businesses to reach consumers with discretionary spending power.
However, the magazine was not limited to luxury products or expensive experiences. Its coverage also included affordable restaurants, family activities, educational opportunities, community events, children's accomplishments, and charitable initiatives. This balance helped distinguish it from publications devoted exclusively to high-end consumption.
The editorial style was conversational but informed. Restaurant coverage frequently incorporated personal observations and humor, while healthcare articles employed interviews, professional commentary, and research findings. Travel stories combined firsthand experiences with practical information, and community calendars presented accessible opportunities for local participation.
The physical magazine was described as a glossy, full-color publication with a coffee-table quality. Its bimonthly schedule allowed more extensive features and visual presentation than a typical daily newspaper. The format was intended to encourage readers to retain issues, consult recommendations, and return to articles over time.
This approach was particularly appropriate for evergreen subjects such as restaurant guides, physician directories, recreational destinations, and regional profiles. Although individual details could become outdated, the underlying articles often remained interesting beyond their original publication dates.
Food, Restaurants, and the Magazine's Culinary Coverage
Food and dining were among the magazine's most recognizable editorial interests. Its restaurant coverage combined recommendations with detailed descriptions of food, atmosphere, service, pricing, and the overall dining experience. The publication's Food & Spirits section and its more informal Grub Lounge reviews offered readers an opportunity to discover restaurants throughout Northern California and occasionally beyond the region.
Examples from 2008 illustrate the breadth of its coverage. Alejandro's Taqueria in downtown Fairfield received enthusiastic attention for its wet burrito, a generously portioned dish covered in red sauce and melted cheese. The review highlighted the restaurant's affordability, generous servings, and casual atmosphere, demonstrating that the magazine valued satisfying neighborhood restaurants alongside more expensive establishments.
In Sacramento, Ernesto's Mexican Food attracted attention for its grilled chicken Caesar salad, chicken avocado salad, fish tacos, and freshly prepared tortilla chips. The reviewer described a restaurant with a loyal following, outdoor seating, and a menu that encouraged repeat visits. The article also mentioned Ernesto's recognition by Sacramento Magazine for Mexican food, giving readers additional context about the restaurant's reputation at the time.
More upscale dining appeared in reviews of Bistro Jeanty in Yountville, Somerset Restaurant in Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood, Rutherford Grill in the Napa area, and Hush in Laguna Beach. The Bistro Jeanty feature described traditional French preparations such as coq au vin, cassoulet, pâté, and crêpes, while also discussing the restaurant's intimate atmosphere and its recognition in the 2008 Michelin Guide.
Somerset Restaurant received attention for its California-inspired cuisine, including fresh salads, vegetable pizza, and seafood preparations. The review also evaluated service, seating arrangements, noise levels, and even the quality of the iced tea. This combination of praise and criticism made the coverage more useful than a simple promotional description.
The magazine's culinary interests extended beyond restaurant reviews. A February–March 2008 feature titled "Chocolate Love," written by Shelly G. Keller, explored artisan chocolate production and the growing popularity of premium dark chocolate. The article examined the work of John Scharffenberger and Robert Steinberg, founders of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, and discussed the relationship between cacao sourcing, manufacturing techniques, flavor development, and consumer appreciation.
The feature also included comments from University of California, Davis researchers studying cocoa flavanols and cardiovascular health. Such reporting reflected the magazine's interest in connecting food trends with scientific research, although health claims from articles published in 2008 should be evaluated against current evidence.
Together, these examples demonstrate that Solano Magazine treated dining as both entertainment and an important expression of regional culture. Its reviews documented the restaurants, culinary preferences, and consumer experiences of Northern California during a period of growing interest in locally distinctive cuisine.
Healthcare Reporting and the Top Doctors Directory
Healthcare was another important component of the magazine's editorial identity. Its coverage addressed medical professionals, educational institutions, healthcare workforce challenges, and practical decisions facing patients and families. These subjects expanded the publication's usefulness beyond leisure activities and positioned it as a source of information about important regional services.
One of its most substantial editorial projects was the Top Doctors directory. The magazine introduced its first physician survey in 2005, asking licensed physicians practicing in the region which colleagues they would recommend to friends and family. The results appeared in the November–December 2005 issue and were supplemented by a peer-reviewed physician list associated with Best Doctors and the UC Davis Health System.
The magazine revisited the project in 2008, producing a directory of 101 physicians across 31 specialties. The survey covered fields including cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, oncology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and vascular surgery. It also featured interviews with six physicians who discussed their specialties and offered advice about selecting an appropriate doctor.
The directory included professionals associated with Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, NorthBay Healthcare, Queen of the Valley Medical Center, and other institutions throughout the region. Its practical value came from combining professional recommendations with names, specialties, institutional affiliations, and contact details.
The publication also explored healthcare workforce shortages. A feature by Miriam Raftery, titled "Bridging the Gap," examined demand for physician assistants and nursing professionals in California. It discussed training programs at UC Davis, Touro University in Vallejo, and other educational institutions, along with efforts to address shortages of healthcare professionals.
The article described the developing Betty Irene Moore nursing initiative and the importance of preparing nurses for increasingly complex clinical environments. Its emphasis on education, workforce development, and healthcare accessibility demonstrated that the magazine was willing to address regional issues with implications extending beyond consumer lifestyle choices.
These historical medical directories and articles remain useful for understanding the regional healthcare landscape of the mid-2000s. However, physician affiliations, contact information, professional credentials, and medical recommendations should not be assumed current.
Arts, Entertainment, and Community Events
Arts and entertainment occupied a prominent place in the magazine's coverage. The publication recognized that cultural activities were important to the quality of life in Solano County and that residents often traveled throughout the region to attend performances, exhibitions, festivals, and other events.
One notable initiative was Celebrating the Arts, a supplementary publication introduced in November 2004. According to contemporary newspaper reporting, it focused on artistic activity in Napa, Solano, and Yolo counties and received additional distribution through arts venues. The project was intended to increase regional recognition of artists and cultural organizations operating outside California's larger metropolitan centers.
The magazine's event calendar complemented this coverage by providing information about theater, exhibitions, lectures, charitable gatherings, and other activities. Examples from early 2008 included Solano College Theatre's production of Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel, a presentation of Brian Copeland's Not a Genuine Black Man, and activities associated with local arts organizations.
The calendar also listed events with broader cultural and educational significance, including exhibitions and fundraising activities. One example was an Empty Bowls event benefiting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, demonstrating how the magazine's cultural coverage overlapped with charitable participation.
The magazine's online calendar was particularly significant because it allowed a broader range of event submissions than might have been practical in a printed bimonthly publication. In an April 2009 post on Editors' Cantina, Ana Cotham described the extensive work involved in collecting and organizing submissions from the region. Her account offers insight into the editorial labor required to maintain a useful community calendar.
By combining arts journalism, event listings, and regional promotion, the magazine contributed to the visibility of cultural organizations that might otherwise have received attention only within their immediate communities.
Travel, Recreation, Shopping, and Regional Lifestyle
Travel coverage reflected the magazine's understanding that Northern California residents were interested in both nearby destinations and more ambitious vacations. Its editorial approach emphasized firsthand experiences, practical recommendations, shopping opportunities, and memorable attractions.
A February–March 2008 feature by Ana Cotham explored Hawaii as a vacation destination for Northern California travelers. The article discussed flights from San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento, along with accommodations, spa treatments, shopping, restaurants, and historical attractions on Oahu.
The feature included descriptions of the Ko Olina resort area, Honolulu's shopping districts, Pearl Harbor, the Bishop Museum, and Waikiki. Rather than presenting a generic destination overview, it incorporated personal experiences and detailed observations about specific attractions and services.
Regional recreation received similar attention. Northern California's wineries, golf courses, cultural venues, outdoor attractions, and shopping districts provided a large supply of subjects suitable for the magazine's lifestyle format. The publication could recommend a family outing near Winters, a restaurant in Napa Valley, or a shopping excursion in Walnut Creek while remaining relevant to its core readership.
Shopping was also an important editorial and advertising category. The magazine's readers had access to retail centers in Fairfield, Vacaville, Sacramento, San Francisco, and surrounding communities. This made shopping guides and recommendations commercially valuable because they could influence where residents spent money across the region.
The magazine's coverage of family activities helped broaden its appeal. Its Out and About feature identified destinations and experiences suitable for parents and children, while children's book reviews, youth accomplishments, and family event listings encouraged engagement with younger readers and their households.
Popularity, Circulation, and Early Commercial Success
Solano Magazine experienced substantial early commercial growth. The January 2005 Times-Herald report stated that the publication generated just under $1 million in revenue during 2004, its first full calendar year. Branton also reported that the business had reached its break-even point during its first year, an encouraging achievement for a newly established regional magazine.
The early bookstore sales, advertising support, and revenue figures suggest that the publication identified a genuine market opportunity. Its regional focus helped attract readers who wanted information about multiple communities, while advertisers could reach consumers beyond the limits of a single city's newspaper market.
The magazine's business model depended on several complementary sources of value. Readers received editorial features and recommendations, businesses obtained advertising exposure, and the publication benefited from being associated with regional culture and community activities. Its premium appearance further strengthened its appeal to advertisers interested in reaching established households and professional consumers.
The surviving website also displays a historical subscription offer of six issues for $9.95, consistent with its bimonthly publishing schedule. Such pricing indicates that paid subscriptions were part of its distribution strategy, although the relative contributions of subscriptions, newsstand sales, and advertising revenue cannot be established from the available records.
Despite evidence of early popularity, reliable independently audited circulation figures, comprehensive subscriber totals, and historical website traffic statistics were not located in the reviewed sources. It would therefore be misleading to assign the publication a precise peak readership or claim that it achieved a particular regional market share.
Its popularity is better understood through documented indicators: substantial first-year revenue, strong initial retail sales, regional advertising interest, a broad editorial program, and its continued recognition in contemporary accounts of Solano County publishing.
Community Involvement, Charitable Activities, and Recognition
The magazine's influence extended beyond publishing. Its management viewed community participation as an important responsibility and used the publication's relationships with businesses, organizations, and residents to support charitable initiatives.
One example was its annual golf fundraiser, known as Classic for Kids, which helped raise money for children's health insurance premiums. The event brought together community participants and business supporters around an issue directly affecting local families. A later Editors' Cantina post also identified Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa as a past contributor to the fundraiser, illustrating the regional partnerships associated with the initiative.
The publication also supported educational and cultural causes. Official minutes of the Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 4, 2006, document a particularly significant recognition. The board presented Certificates of Appreciation to donors, including Solano Magazine, that had each contributed at least $10,000 to the Book by Book fundraising campaign for the Fairfield Cordelia Library's opening-day collection.
This recognition is noteworthy because it establishes the magazine's community involvement through an official government record rather than solely through promotional statements. It also demonstrates that the publication contributed resources to institutions serving the broader public.
The available research did not establish that Solano Magazine received major national publishing awards or journalism prizes. However, its documented county recognition and involvement in charitable projects are meaningful examples of local impact. The magazine's physician directory and regional arts initiatives also created opportunities to recognize the achievements of others, reinforcing its role as a community-oriented publication.
Press Coverage and the Magazine's Public Reputation
The magazine received attention from regional news organizations during both its expansion and closure. The January 2005 Vallejo Times-Herald feature offered a positive account of the publication's early development, focusing on its founders, market strategy, advertising success, and ambitions for continued growth.
That article is particularly valuable because it includes interviews with the people responsible for the magazine and describes its operations while the business was active. It documents the founders' belief that Northern California needed a publication capable of presenting neighboring communities as a unified region.
Later reporting presented a more difficult picture. An article by Ben Antonius, attributed to McNaughton Newspapers and reproduced on SolanoMag.com, described the magazine's closure after approximately five years. The report included comments from former staff and discussed financial problems that emerged as the economic environment deteriorated.
Together, these accounts illustrate the contrast between the optimism surrounding the magazine's launch and the financial challenges that ultimately affected its survival.
As for reader reviews, the available record contains stronger evidence of sales and editorial reception than formal independent audience evaluations. The magazine's favorable early sales, community participation, and advertising relationships indicate local engagement, but they should not be confused with verified satisfaction ratings or comprehensive readership surveys.
The Closure of Solano Magazine in 2008
The magazine ceased publication in 2008, approximately five years after its November 2003 launch. Its closure coincided with the severe economic conditions that affected businesses, advertising markets, and consumer spending during the financial crisis.
According to the closure report by Ben Antonius, staff members learned that owner and publisher Michelle Branton had filed for bankruptcy while preparations were underway for an October issue. The report also described warning signs, including an August–September issue that had been produced but never printed.
The magazine's closure followed a period in which its early revenue achievements had suggested a promising future. However, producing a glossy regional magazine required substantial ongoing expenditures, including printing, distribution, editorial production, photography, design, and sales operations. A reduction in advertising revenue could create serious financial pressure, especially for an independent publisher without the resources of a larger media company.
The available reporting does not provide a complete accounting of the company's debts, liabilities, or bankruptcy proceedings. Consequently, the precise financial causes of the closure cannot be established beyond the difficulties described by contemporary reporting.
Associate editor Ana Cotham reportedly sent a farewell email on October 8, thanking supporters for their involvement over the previous five years. The account estimated that approximately 30 issues had been produced during the magazine's existence, consistent with its bimonthly publishing schedule.
The closure also reflected the vulnerability of local lifestyle publications during a period of major changes in media consumption. Print advertising faced pressure from the economic downturn and the expanding availability of online information. Although digital publishing offered new opportunities, maintaining an established print operation while adapting to changing advertising behavior could be particularly difficult for smaller companies.
SolanoMag.com as a Historical Website and Digital Archive
Today, SolanoMag.com is best understood as a historical resource rather than the active online edition of a regularly published magazine. The website preserves selected articles and descriptions associated with the original publication, including restaurant reviews, healthcare features, travel writing, event listings, and information about its publishing history.
The surviving material gives readers an opportunity to explore the magazine's editorial voice and the subjects that interested Northern California audiences during its final years. Features from the February–March 2008 issue are particularly informative because they demonstrate the publication's range, from artisan chocolate and medical education to travel and physician recommendations.
The website also contains later commentary unrelated to the original magazine's 2003–2008 publishing operations. Such additions should be distinguished from contemporaneous editorial material when researching the magazine's history.
Historical copies of websites can also be investigated through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, which is useful for comparing earlier site structures, locating former navigation categories, and identifying material that may no longer appear on the current domain. Archived pages, however, are not necessarily complete, and missing snapshots should not be interpreted as proof that particular content never existed.
For readers investigating the publication, the most useful approach is to consider the current website alongside contemporary newspaper reports, surviving editorial articles, official government records, and other independent historical sources. This provides a more complete picture than relying exclusively on the site's retrospective descriptions.
The Magazine's Cultural and Social Significance
Solano Magazine represented an effort to establish a stronger regional identity across communities that often looked toward San Francisco or Sacramento for cultural and commercial activity. Its central proposition was that Solano, Napa, and Yolo counties possessed enough distinctive people, businesses, institutions, and experiences to support their own sophisticated lifestyle publication.
That proposition carried cultural significance. By documenting local restaurants, artists, healthcare professionals, charitable organizations, and recreational opportunities, the magazine encouraged readers to recognize the value of resources close to home. It also introduced residents to neighboring communities, helping create a broader understanding of Northern California beyond traditional municipal boundaries.
The magazine's arts coverage supported cultural visibility, its healthcare reporting made professional information more accessible, and its charitable initiatives demonstrated a willingness to participate directly in community development. Its restaurant and travel features captured consumer tastes during a period when regional food culture and experiential tourism were attracting increasing attention.
The publication also illustrates the importance of independent regional media. Large metropolitan outlets may cover major developments affecting a region, but smaller publications can devote sustained attention to local personalities, community institutions, and everyday experiences that receive less coverage elsewhere.
Although Solano Magazine did not survive the financial challenges of 2008, its archived articles retain historical value. They preserve details about businesses, cultural events, professional services, and social interests that might otherwise be difficult to reconstruct.
The Lasting Legacy of SolanoMag.com
The legacy of SolanoMag.com rests on its preservation of a distinctive regional publishing venture. From its establishment in November 2003 to its closure in 2008, Solano Magazine sought to present Northern California as a connected region rich in cultural, recreational, commercial, and professional opportunities.
Its early success demonstrated that residents were interested in a publication that looked beyond individual city boundaries. Its editorial achievements included comprehensive physician directories, restaurant and travel features, arts coverage, and practical community information. Its charitable contributions, including support for children's healthcare and the Fairfield Cordelia Library, further connected the magazine with the communities it served.
The publication's closure illustrates the financial difficulties that can confront independent media organizations even after promising early growth. Nevertheless, its surviving articles provide a useful record of Northern California life during the mid-2000s and reveal how a regional magazine attempted to combine journalism, consumer guidance, cultural promotion, and community participation.
For former readers, local historians, researchers, and anyone interested in Solano County's cultural development, SolanoMag.com offers more than a collection of old lifestyle articles. It preserves evidence of a publishing enterprise that sought to strengthen connections among Northern California communities and celebrate the people and institutions that made the region distinctive.
