– Stefan Ruenzel

In 2004, Alder Yarrow typed the words “wine blog” into Google’s search engine and got zero results. A void to be filled, he thought. So Alder, wine lover, founded vinography.com and began to blog on the subject of wine. Red wine, white wine, cabernet, pinot, chardonnay, merlot, the perfect wine-to-dish match—all things wine have become an integral part of Alder’s life outside the box (where he is Founder and Principal of a design consulting firm).

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Fast-forward to 2008, type in “wine blog,” and you will find 941 thousand results. Vinography.com is first on what is now an interminable list. Call Alder the grandfather of wine blogging; he calls himself a “legitimate journalist” at the end of the day with a glass in hand and a laptop before him. Doug got the chance to catch up with Alder at Bin 38, a hopping wine bar in the Marina District of San Francisco, to discover his favorite places to wine out in the city.

Here’s a list of the places Alder mentioned:

Bin 38

CAV

Yield

Nectar Wine Lounge

California Wine Merchant

Vino Venue has closed its doors since we chatted with Alder.

Franco Folini

–M’Gee Johnston

Watching the video of San Francisco’s North Beach Food Tour makes me hungry.  There are so many good places to satisfy that hunger in North Beach too.  The focaccia bread at Liguria’s Bakery on Stockton St. is truly in a class of its own.  The only thing the Soracco family makes at the bakery is focaccia and when they sell out, they close for the day and go home.  I never tire of eating it ~ it’s delicious and hearty but not overwhelming.  On holidays, the line stretches around the block.  A few blocks away on Francisco and Stockton is Freddie’s Sandwiches, which has been there for as long as I can remember (a long time).  Get a sandwich and go sit in the sun to enjoy it while you hear the sea lions bark from Pier 39 and watch the parrots of Telegraph Hill flap overhead.  Another old favorite is Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store on Columbus.  It feels like old time San Francisco when you walk in.  It’s comfortable and some say they make the best cappuccino in the neighborhood.

– Jim Wirth

Well, at least one of them has feathers – the owl happens to be plastic. 

Every day for the past several weeks, from just outside the door of the OpenRoad.TV world headquarters in Sausalito, California, we’ve been hearing the coo coo cooing of a friendly pigeon that has decided to set up its nest and raise its family – to the ultimate dismay of the building owner.  With dogged determination, this little gal has overcome the rolled up chicken wire, and has actually used it to her advantage as a perfect platform atop which to build her nest.  And the menacing plastic owl, strategically placed to frighten away even the most brave and daring of pigeons, has become a constant and vigilant protector of the nest while the mother is away finding food, and a worthy companion when she is back home. 

Score:  Pigeon… 1, Landlord… 0.

– Jim Wirth

The folks over at the Monterey Bay Aquarium posted a neat video in their blog yesterday, on how to feed a white shark.

The bizarre thing is that while I write this post, playing on the TV is the Discovery Channel’s “Ocean of Fear: Worst Shark Attack Ever,” a documentary about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, which had been torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945 in the Philippine Sea. An amazing story, and very well done documentary narrated by “Mr. Hooper” himself, Richard Dreyfuss.

Well, we absolutely love the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and highly recommend it to anyone traveling near Carmel or the Monterey Peninsula. We’ve got a terrific video here on OpenRoad.TV where Doug McConnell goes behind the scenes to see otters, penguins, sharks and jellies: Monterey Bay Aquarium Inside Look. And when you have had your fill of undersea critters, you can watch another great video we’ve got online – Monterey on Foot, where Doug discovers the local flavor and side streets of historic Monterey with world-renowned chef, John Pisto.

– Jim Wirth

Photo: maggie loves hopey

The OpenRoad.TV crew uploaded a new video today, San Francisco’s Presidio & George Lucas, which takes you to a place not too many people think to visit when they are in San Francisco.  Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Presidio covers 1,491 acres and was in continuous operation as a military base from 1776 through 1994.  On October 1st of 1994, the Presidio was transferred to the National Park Service as it was no longer needed by the United States Military. 

While the Presidio offers a great mix of scenery, history and nature to its visitors, it does have its dark side.  One of the lesser known facts about the Presidio is that there is a cemetary on the grounds where visitors can pay their respects at gravestones bearing names like Mr. Twister, Raspberry, Tex, Saucy, Wilbur and Copper…  the beloved critters of the many military pet owners stationed at the Presidio throughout the years.

Oh, I bet you thought I was speaking of another dark side…. like maybe the dark side of the force!  In 1999, Star Wars creator George Lucas won the development rights for 15 acres of the Presidio, where he proceeded to construct approximately 900,000 square feet of offices to house 2,500 employees.  The new Letterman Digital Arts Center, named for the Letterman Army Hospital that was previously occupying the site, replaces the Industrial Light and Magic and LucasArts studios in San Rafael.  The video uploaded today at OpenRoad.TV gives you a very special inside look into the creative genius of George Lucas and his staff, which is a real treat since their offices are not open to the public.

– Jim Wirth

The San Jose Mercury News’ online publication MercuryNews.com ran a great article yesterday about how to Plan a trip to Southwest Utah, written by Associated Press Writer Roger Petterson.  In his article, Petterson provides a handful of very useful recommendations on destinations like Cedar City, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, and Zion National Park, complete with driving routes, and links to websites with even more helpful information.  Petterson has a real knack for writing  about trip planning for popular destinations throughout the United States, and you can find over 50 of his archived articles at The Free Library – you might just find what you’ve been looking for to plan your next trip.

If you are planning on visiting Southwest Utah anytime soon, in addition to visiting the websites recommended in Roger Petterson’s article, you will find some great videos to help with your planning right here on OpenRoad.TV:

          –  Grand Southwestern Roadtrip

          –  Canyoneering near Zion Park

          –  Picture Perfect Zion Park

          –  Moab Mountain Biking

          –  Colorado River Rafting

– Jim Wirth

Photo by leezsnow

Alaska!  Known to many as “The Last Frontier” and “Land of the Midnight Sun,” the Alaska territory was referred to as “Seward’s Folly” in 1867 during the battle between Secretary of State William H. Seward and the United States Congress over its purchase from Russia.  It may have seemed “folly” at the time, but in hindsight it was $7.2 Million very well spent!

We’ve uploaded several of our Alaska videos to OpenRoad.TV this week:  Alaska’s Glacier Bay & Whale Display, Alaska’s Kenai Fjords, Denali National Park, and America’s Northernmost Road.   Find even more videos of adventure in Alaska on our Alaska Map. 

During my own virtual exploration of Alaska this week, I came across three truly wonderful on-line journals.  The first is a blog called Alaskology written by Steve Edwards, special sections editor at the Anchorage Daily News.  Steve’s goal with Alaskology is to give readers a look at Alaska through local eyes, while bringing their attention to special events and vacation deals.

“Northern Girl” Angie M. is a self proclaimed “explorer of life – an avid lover of the outdoors and Alaska.” Angie regularly updates a journal on her site northerngirl.net with stories, useful information and stunning photographs of Alaskan wildlife, culture and events.  Be sure to also check out Angie’s northerngirl.net photo gallery.

And last, but certainly not least, is a blog from 28 year old Jill in Juneau called “Up in Alaska.”  Jill describes herself as “an Alaska journalist who likes to bicycle in horrendous conditions and eat goldfish crackers and Pepsi for breakfast.”   Jill biked 100 miles yesterday.  322 miles so far this month.  Jill biked 350 miles of the Iditarod Trail Invitational over seven days in February.  Yep – Jill likes to bicycle.  And as amazing as her bicycling feats may be, Jill tops it with the exemplary quality and style of her writing and photography.  I can’t wait to see where the road… or should I say snow… takes Jill next.

– Jim Wirth 

Mike Malandra is a professional landscape photographer.  Mike recently discovered the OpenRoad.TV group on Facebook and posted a few of his photos and video photo slideshows.  Mike spent a little time on the OpenRoad.TV website and loved what he saw, so he reached out to me through Facebook this week to say hello, and boy am I glad he did.  Being the curious person I am, I went out to Mike’s “Elements of Nature” photography website, and was very impressed with his work.  Mike’s online gallery showcases his landscape photos throughout a number of states in the American West, as well as New York, New Jersey, Florida and Hawaii.

One photo in particular, which Mike has titled “Rock Fins,” really jumped out at me, and Mike has graciously allowed me to share it here…

“Rock Fins” was photographed by Mike in March of 2007 at Utah’s Arches National Park in the Courthouse Towers area of the park.  Adequately named, Arches National Park boasts over 2,000 natural sandstone arches and many other unusual rock formations exposed over millions of years by the awesome forces of nature.  Thanks for sharing Mike, and keep up the great work!

And while we’ve got you thinking about the natural wonders of Utah, check out our Grand Southwestern Roadtrip and Zion National Park adventures.

– Jim Wirth 

Rosemary Rideout takes beautiful photographs.  Rosemary recently posted a few photos of desert wildflowers in the OpenRoad.TV forum for the rest of us to enjoy, and I just love the photo of the entrance to Coyote Canyon in Anza Borrego Desert State Park that she took on March 12th. 

Anzo Borrego Desert State Park was named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish name borrego, or bighorn sheep, and is the largest state park in California.  Visitors to the park can enjoy five-hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails as they explore the California desert.  To see more of Rosemary’s wonderful photos, check out her online gallery Rosemary Rideout Photography.

– M’Gee Johnston

One of our friends, Danella George, at the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) sent us their most recent newsletter celebrating this year’s crop of wildflowers. Now is the time to get out and see them before the dry days of summer wilt their beauty. From Death Valley to Modoc County you can enjoy the flush of springtime.