Healdsburg Weekend Jan 11-13

Things were quiet in Healdsburg last week, in the receding tide of the Holiday Season. But there are signs of life in the little town that time just rediscovered this week, and before you know it we'll be the center of the culinary/cycling/winemaking/brewing/luthier/clothier world again.

It will be the third and last weekend of the Girl Scouts Christmas Tree pick-up, so if you still have that fir or pine dropping its needles somewhere on the grounds, give the Scouts at call at 322-3053 or email Teresa Ramirez, and they'll come pick it up Saturday or Sunday. It's only a few bucks, and it goes to the Girls.

It's also the last weekend for the Art of Ron Wood at Just for You gallery on Plaza St. These large-canvas works explode with colors and shadow, representing an emotional as well as representational look at familiar faces of the Rolling Stones. This show was originally scheduled for a shorter run, but has been extended to this Saturday, January 12.

Friday, if the winter chill is getting in your bones and a nice cuppa soup is just what you need, look into the Relish Culinary Center's workshop Winter Stocks and Soups. Chef Tracey Shepos will share recipes and techniques to help you make a variety of classic stocks that form the foundation for a wide variety of dishes, from soup to stew. And you get to do it, hands-on. Cost is $89, Friday night from 6  - 9 p.m. Call 431-9999 to sign up.

Saturday evening the San Francisco 49ers try to go deeper into the NFC playoffs, meeting the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick. You probably don't have tickets - they sold out in three minutes - but if you have a TV or can walk to one, kickoff is about 5 p.m. This survey of places to watch football from last year is still good, aside from attrition.

Okay, so $105 for dinner isn't everyone's cup of tea, or bowl of pinot, but when it's a Knights Bridge and Sonoma Cutrer Winemaker's Dinner at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen, it might be worth the tab. Two excellent winemakers from different parts of the county, each with very distinctive wines. Check out the menu and you'll agree. It's Sunday, January 13; reservations still available at 431-0330, but not for long. Starts at 6:15.

The epic blockbusters of the season are converging on the Raven Film Center this next week. Although the PG-13 "The Hobbit" leaves town Thursday night after a four-week run, it makes room for the controversial R-rated "Zero Dark Thirty" from Academy Award-winning director Kathleen Bigelow.

Another R-rated feature from gleeful provocateur Quentin Tarantino is "Django Unchained," entering its second week. Hanging on are "Les Miz" and "Lincoln," one of which will win some Oscars. Here are the showtimes, or call 522-0330 to listen to a recording.