Nick's Cove

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Stories from the Coast - The Nick's Cove Blog

Events

Summer Events at Nick’s

Summer is one of our favorite times of year here at the coast. The weather is cooler here than it is inland complete with beautiful views of the bay, and of course breathtaking sunsets! The weekends are picking up and we now have our waterfront Oyster Bar open from 12-4 on Saturdays and Sundays. Here we serve up fresh oysters, clam chowder, select salads and of course, hand-crafted cocktails.

And new this summer, we invite you to visit our Bayside Market which is held the first Saturday of every month from 1-4pm on the waterfront lounge. We are happy to have some our favorite local vendors join us each month, including Freestone Farms, Folly Cheese Company, Tomales Bakery, Boheme Wines and many more!

Come join the fun with us all summer long!

 

 

 

 

Santa’s Coming to Tomales Bay!

The most magical time of year is upon us! The holidays are a wonderful time to get together with family and friends, eat all kinds of goodies, and take pictures with Santa. Luckily, we have you covered for all of the above.

Mark your calendars, because Santa is making his seventh annual visit to Nick’s Cove on Sunday, December 3rd from 3-5 pm. Complimentary photos and treats will be available out in our festive Boat Shack for all participants, and even your four-legged friends are welcome!

This year we also want to give back to the local children affected by the horrendous fires that recently tore through our community, so we are teaming up with Toys for Tots. Throughout the month of November, and ending on Sunday, December 3rd, Nick’s Cove is a Toys for Tots donation site, so please remember to bring a toy (or two) with you next time you come out to visit. Anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy to share will receive a special gift from Nick’s Cove. We hope to see you out here soon!

Happy Holidays,

 

 

The LOVE PLANE Experience

As a farewell tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, Antenna Theater’s artistic director, Chris Hardman, plans to have a skywriter sketch a big heart in the sky between the arches of the Golden Gate Bridge on Sunday, October 1st.

The event is dotingly named The LOVE PLANE Experience and is set to occur at 4pm sharp on Sunday, so if you are in the area be sure to find a great spot to view it! The aerial display is only expected to be visible in the sky for three to seven minutes before being swept away; a nice reminder that although the 50th Summer of Love may have passed, the beauty of the message remains.

To learn more about the event and get a “behind the scenes” look at the tribute, visit this article posted in the Marin IJ here.

Much Love,

 

 

 

 

4 Nearby Spots to Visit this Summer

With the wonderful weather of Wine Country, it seems like summer is nearly a year-round joy as the fun stretches into fall.  If you are looking for a special and unique way to spend a day in Sonoma County, here are a few ideas from our staff of locals:

Stroll and Shop Downtown Petaluma. Browse the town, go shopping, antiquing, wine tasting or enjoy a book in the park. Whether shopping for the home and family or for gifts, there are boutique clothing shops, hand-crafted jewelry stores, bed and bath shops, fine furniture stores and unique art galleries. And don’t forget to grab an ice cream cone or a craft beer to treat yourself afterwards!

 

Go on a Safari at Safari West. Who knew you could experience an African adventure in the heart of wine country? Spend the day exploring the Sonoma Serengeti on an African safari alongside romping herds of exotic wildlife or relax in a luxury safari tent under the gaze of a graceful giraffe.

 

Learn about a beloved local artist at the Charles Schulz Museum. Housing the largest collection of Peanuts strips in the world, the Museum explores the art and nuances of Schulz’s craft. View original comic strips, learn about the art of cartooning and Schulz’s role in its development, view a re-creation of Schulz’s art studio, and draw your own cartoons in a hands-on education room.  An added bonus is the adjacent ice-skating rink which is a great way to beat the heat on those warm summer days.

 

Soak in Live Music at the Green Music Center. The GMC Summer 2017 lineup features 15 concerts on the stage of Weill Hall + Lawn, featuring some of the biggest names in blues, soul, hip-hop, country, jazz and mariachi. Whether you’re bringing your picnic basket and blanket to sit on the beautifully landscaped lawn, or getting front row seats inside the unparalleled Weill Hall, you’re sure to enjoy your Summer at the Green!

 

Adventure on,

 

 

 

 

Best Bite Competition Recap

In case you missed it, last weekend was the 11th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival held in Petaluma.  It was an amazing weekend full of educational demos, fun competition and the creamiest cheeses.  To kick start the weekend, Nick’s Cove participated in the “Ultimate Best Bite Competition” on Friday night where we won 3rd place! Chef Joshua Seibert dazzled the judges with his Deep Fried Arancini made with Marin French Petite Breakfast Cheese and chipotle aioli, topped with micro cilantro from our on-site garden, “The Croft”.

We had many fans of this dish; each coming back for second and third bites.  Many thanks to our supporters — we’re so grateful for all who voted for us at the competition. Be sure to come into the restaurant soon, as it will be featured on our menu for a limited time.

Happy Eats!

 

 

Santa is Coming!

santanickscoveThanksgiving is a beloved holiday here at Nick’s, but I will let you in on a little secret– I think I actually enjoy Santa’s visit more. Now that Turkey day is behind us, we can forward to Santa’s arrival with joy and anticipation!

This year, Santa will make is annual visit by trusty water sleigh and will be full of treats and holiday wishes! Santa will pull up to the dock at the Boat Shack on Sunday, December 4. We would love it if you could join us for complimentary pictures with Santa, hot chocolate, and other tasty treats. The full menu, including seasonal cocktails, will be available throughout the day in the restaurant. If you are 21 and over, you’re also welcome to order a cocktail inside at the bar and take it out to the Boat Shack.

And in the spirit of the holidays, during the month of December, we will be donating the proceeds of a special winter cocktail, the Good Neighbor, to Toys for Tots. The Good Neighbor is a play on a Brandy Alexander, using fresh buffalo milk from neighboring farm Di Bufala Dairy, Tempus Fugit Crème de Cacao from Petaluma, Germain Robin Brandy from Ukiah, and a dusting of nutmeg and truffle for $14. I know what my favorite drink will be this month– won’t you join us?

Cheers,

David

 

 

Unforgettable Weddings

027 (1)Wedding season is in full swing, and here at Nick’s Cove, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting a lot of fun groups.  Choosing an intimate venue such as Nick’s allows the flexibility for some creativity.

A traditional wedding has a quiet ceremony, mingling during the cocktail hour, and plated dinner during the reception. If you’re interested in infusing your wedding with a little more action, there are some ways you can accomplish this.  Here are our top three favorite suggestions:

 

Have games during the cocktail hour and/or reception.
Outdoor games such as bean bag toss (corn hole), horseshoes, lawn bowling, giant Jenga, and bocce ball are increasingly popular. Set up a few stations to keep guests occupied while you’re having your photos taken or when they need a break from dancing.

Create a flash dance.
This can be quite a challenge, but if you are able to pull it off, can be very rewarding. Get a group together that consists of your wedding party and other close family and friends.  Create a dance that is upbeat and catchy and send a video for the group to learn. Your guests will love the surprise and it will become the talk of the evening. Hey, maybe you’ll even become the next YouTube sensation.Games3

Have a photo booth.
Hiring a professional photo booth can be really helpful because the booth attendant usually does a stellar job of encouraging guests to take pictures. You could also use the extra copies to double as your guest book. Have your friends and family attach their silly photos next to their wishes – it will always be entertaining to look through.

I hope this gives you a little inspiration for your big day. Just remember that the day is focused on celebrating your love, so stay true to that and have some fun.  Happy Planning!

 

Cheers,

Erikka

 

 

 

 

Summer is coming . . .

And that means it’s time for cool, refreshing desserts to make their way onto the menu, nudging the warm, comforting sweets out the proverbial door. Though its only halfway through February, the chilly, rainy weather seems to be giving way to gorgeous sun soaked days and Technicolor sunsets here on the Tomales Coast.
IMG_4414I’ve starting planning my future menus accordingly and have been researching ice creams, sorbets, and granitas daily. For Valentine’s Day itself, along with the necessary over-the-top chocolate dessert, the Malted Fudge Torte, I decided to offer something a little lighter and refreshing to conclude the decadent dinner presented by our talented Executive Chef Austin Perkins. I took the nostalgic orange and vanilla “creamsicle” many of us grew up with, and gave it a more refined tropical twist with a parfait of Passion Fruit Sorbet, paired with Fior De Latte Buffalo Milk Gelato, garnished with Champagne Sabayon and Raspberry Coulis for a romantic touch.  As if Mother Nature herself knew what I had planned, Valentine’s Day and evening were sunny and warm, just right for a cool dessert! The resounding success of the Passion Fruit Creamsicle has inspired me to add it to the current dessert menu for a limited time, while I wait for spring to give me some local bounty with which I cancreate my spring and summer menus!

jenna

I Love Love

forDit_2016-02-10 10.20.59While I don’t really buy into the chocolates and roses that have been flooding the stores since December 26th, I do love Valentine’s Day. Call me sentimental, but I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the day set aside to express your love and gratitude for those people in your life that truly matter. Do I think you should express that gratitude and love every day, yes … but there’s also something special about an entire day centered around the peacefulness of love!
Valentine’s Day is not just for lovers … or for romance … it’s a day to express to all who matter that you appreciate them, love them; that the gifts of their friendship and their love make a difference in your life. We can all find someone who fits this role. Take a moment this February 14th and send your love and gratitude to all those who matter in your life. You will feel good … and so will they!

dena

BMW Road Trip

I am always interested in how people find us; what magazine article they read, what social media they saw, what advertisement they saw; was it their friend’s word-of-mouth, or the ultimate: return guests! Today I was in the lodging office talking with a lovely man as he was turning in his keys and settling up his charges. He was very generous with his compliments and his accolades of fine food, excellent customer service, lovely cottages … So, I asked him, “How did you hear about us?” .

And, well, his response was new for me: he belongs to a BMW owners’ club and had read an article in their club member magazine, “Roundel”.  A while back a large group of BMW owners were on a road trip from LA to the Napa Valley with a stop for lunch at Nick’ s Cove and the magazine covered their trip. He enjoyed the article so much he booked a cottage and created his own road trip directly to us! So, BMW, thank you for sending us such lovely guests … with such beautiful cars!

dena-signature

photography by Frankie Frankeny, Cindi de Channes, Val Atkinson
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