Published September 8, 2005

Sonoma Plein Air: A Celebration of Outdoor Painting features 45 nationally-recognized artists who paint primarily outdoors in fresh air, under trees, in open sun, at the beach, behind bushes, everywhere! The juried artists’ work created during this week will be on display in Sonoma Plaza on Saturday. Free classes for children, and oil, water, and pastel demos begin at 11:00 a.m. Exhibit runs until 5:00 pm. Chair Barbara White Perry is a talented painter herself who designed her and husband Fred Perry’s home in Sonoma. www.sonomapleinair.com

Sonoma Valley Chorale’s 33rd season starts Saturday with its “Twilight & Jazz in the Vineyards” at Gundlach-Bundschu Winery, where Kate Kennedy’s Avalon Players just finished their summer Shakespeare series. The evening includes cabaret performances at 6:00 p.m., followed by The Chorale’s Chamber ensemble and its Jazz Band in the open-air amphitheatre. Longtime Sonoma realtor and Chorale Director Jim Griewe, MA, conducts. $25 tickets at KSVY 91.3, 164 West Napa Street; Pharmaca; or call (707) 935-1576.

Sonoma Veterans’ Cemetery: A rare tribute all this week at the marble star, designed by Sonoma outdoor sculpture artist Robert Behrens, who also owns the elegant Cottage inn and Spa on First Street East. This week Sonoma remembers native son Timothy Shea, an Army Ranger killed in Iraq three weeks ago. Good place to meditate.

Where to hit golf balls without exorbitant fees: Los Arroyos Golf Club, 5000 Stage Gulch Road (707) 938-8835. Nine-hole flat course, occasionally windy, with small, congenial snack bar. Weekdays: $12 for nine holes, $17 for 18 holes; weekends: $14 for nine holes, $20 for 18 holes. Driving range: 18709 Arnold Drive. (707) 938-1660. Buckets of balls from $4-$8.

Great peaceful walk: Wolf House Trail at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen. Here you can see history and nature all at once: London’s Beauty Ranch in a forest of oak, madrone, Douglas fir, and redwood trees; streams; his House of Happy Walls, and loads of trails of varying levels of difficulty. Pick up the State Parks trail guide at Sonoma Barracks, San Francisco Solano Mission, Vallejo’s home, or at the entrance to Jack London State Park.