Coastal Traveler - Summer 2008 - (Page 92)

coastaltraveler Fine art, antiques and collectables , Classic to modern. Buy and sell. 110 Petaluma Blvd No., Petaluma. 707.789.9553. Pierre’s Art & Antiques Petaluma By Dan Miner The historic riverfront town of Petaluma was founded in 1852. The Victorian mansions and riverfront brick buildings of the old-fashioned downtown are interspersed with Spanish colonial, neo-classical, Gothic Revival and Italianate samples. Espresso and antique shops, theatres and bookstores line the clean and hilly streets. Mid-19th century gold miners found a tremendous resource in the Petaluma River. Hunters set up camp in 1851, and by the1860s Petaluma was one of California’s largest cities. In the 20th century, Petaluma’s river port identity was transformed by Canadian immigrant Lyman Bruce, inventor of the modern, large-volume incubator. By 1930, four million chickens cooped around Petaluma were producing 41 million eggs a year for export throughout the state. High costs in the late 1940s forced thousands of chicken farmers to transfer ownership to a few large producers, but the era’s wealth is still visible in its buildings. Petaluma Boulevard parallels the river and is the main artery of old Petaluma. The ornate McNear and Old Mill Buildings are honeycombed with places to eat, shop, or catch a show. In the past couple of decades, antique stores have moved into almost every empty storefront. Parallel to Petaluma Boulevard, one block west from the river, is Kentucky Street, where several storefronts are made of flat-iron – the result of a belief, now known to be mistaken, that Great food, games, and banquets since 1886. Live Music. Full bar. 21-23 Petaluma Blvd. 707.765.2121. www.mcnears.com McNear’s Dining House & Theatre Modern, Hip, Healthy. New style tea cafe, serving 70 types of tea. 151 Second St., Petaluma 707.781.0657 www.oteao.com OTEAO Where to Stay Quality Inn 5100 Montero Way • 800.575.5755 The Metro 707.773.4900 • www.metrolodging.com Hotel Petaluma 707.762.4531 • www.hotelpetaluma.com Paintings, pottery, glass, jewelry, and decorative accessories. 209 Western Ave., Petaluma 707.778.8277. galleryonepetaluma.com Gallery One Where to Eat McNear’s House • 23 Petaluma Blvd. • 707.765.2121 OTEO • 151 Second St., Petaluma 707.781.0657 Hiro’s Restaurant • 707.763.2300 www.hirosrestaurant.com Where to Shop Pierre Art & Antiques 110 Petaluma Blvd. • 707.789.9553 Where to Play Mystic Theater 31 Petaluma Blvd. • 707.765.2121 such construction made buildings less vulnerable to fire. No Wal-Mart has killed this little downtown. Instead you’ll find espresso and cowboys, theatre and bookstores, antiques and movies. But Petaluma is threatened by development on its eastern edge, where there are many tract homes and malls. Let’s hope the town realizes how special it is, and fights to keep it from becoming the “historic” zone of a larger, more banal city. 92 coastaltraveler summer http://www.mcnears.com http://www.oteao.com http://www.metrolodging.com http://galleryonepetaluma.com http://www.hotelpetaluma.com http://www.hirosrestaurant.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Coastal Traveler - Summer 2008

Coastal Traveler - Summer 2008 Contents Coastal Connoisseur Coastal Picks Coastal Art Coastal Flyer Coastal Sex Coastal Eco Coastal Surfer Coastal Adventurer Coastal Snaps San Diego La Jolla Laguna Beach Malibu Santa Barbara San Luis Obispo Big Sur Carmel Monterey Santa Cruz San Francisco Sausalito Mill Valley Stinson Beach Bolinas Olema Point Reyes Station Fairfax Inverness Marshall, Tomales Sebastopol Petaluma Sonoma Coast Redwood Coast

Coastal Traveler - Summer 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.