(the mural behind our snack destination; it was in an enclosed garden)
in Guerneville that is...
which we later found out was a big vacation getaway
for gays in the Bay Area and for folks who enjoy wine tasting, being near nature, and such. Our destination was here, the former Bank of Guerneville...
which is nearly 100 years old and lay empty for the past 30 years until it was renovated and reopened as a fancy pie and ice cream shop as well as a retail and art collective. It was very hipster. Just look at the name of the ice cream company. There's an ampersand, ha ha. But seriously, we did want some ice cream AND pie.
The old bank is beautiful with fully restored signage, lighting, flooring, etc.
Their sandwich board kept getting knocked down by gusts of wind. This employee kept going out to prop it back up.
Let me also add that the day of our visit was also the same day the Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was legal nationwide! Yay! Hence, the rainbow balloons and the festive buzz that we felt on their main street.
There was an actual bank vault door which led to a back room (which wasn't open to the public at least during our visit, but from reading articles that I linked, serves as a sort of Historical Museum).
TC and I both had a cone while Bert opted for a pie which we all shared.
They are known for the green chile apple pie but Bert didn't want that (plus that combination didn't sound too good to me either). Instead, what he selected was a tried and true fave of his, Chocolate Peanut Butter.
Our cones - Ice Box Cookie for TC and Lagunitas Stout & Chunky for me:
The crust was so good! The filling and chocolate ganache topping was even better! As for our ice cream, I could barely taste the stout in mine (Lagunitas Brewing Company is local to nearby Petaluma, a place which Kirk recently posted on).
Off to the side was a retail shop, which was closed but from the looks of it, offered "uber" hipper-than-thou home decor which equates to pricey ass shit.
Nimble & Finn's was founded by two sisters who used to sell their homemade ice cream at local farmer's markets. This is their first brick and mortar store. The cream they use is from Straus Dairy Farm (which we passed by when we went to the Point Reyes Lighthouse).
On their main street is the River Theater, a music venue. There were other cute shops along the street and also behind the bank but it was getting late and we wanted to go rest at the hotel before having dinner later.
I loved seeing all of the tall trees...
A poster advertising the town's 4th of July celebration:
A closer look at the "Dig the Earth" mural. I stuck my hand through the fence to take this. I was hoping that I wouldn't drop it, otherwise, me and my cameraphone would be hosed.
Gosh, why can't our garden be as big and abundant as this one?
Articles:
The first two are from ThePressDemocrat: "New vision for Guerneville Bank" May 15, 2015 &
"Smith: Guerneville Bank Club add to resurgence along the river May 30, 2015
Plus:
"Guerneville Bank Club cashing in on art history, ice cream and pie" SFGate, June 10, 2015
"Historic Guerneville Bank building restored as retail, art collective" SonomaCounty, Spring 2015
and this usefulguide to Guerneville:
7x7.com
This was also quite cool, with photos documenting the building in the old days:
RussianRiverBankBuidling.tumblr.com
"Dig the Earth" video:
Plus opening day at the Guerneville Bank Club:
Guerneville Bank Club
16290 Main St.
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 666-9411
guernevillebankclub.com + fb page & reviews from tripadvisor and that four lettered site (with a whopping 4 reviews thus far)
It was such a long day so far and it was now time to make our way to the small seaside town of Jenner where we would be staying for the night...
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