03.23.11 home | north bay bohemian index | news | north bay | Best of the North Bay 2011 ## Culture Reader's Picks ### Best Reaching Across the Rubber Mat A cyclist taking a yoga class to salve his aching hamstrings becomes fast friends with the cyclist on the mat next to him. A woman in desperate need of daycare finds it after an announcement by her yoga teacher. A couple meets and falls in love. At Solstice Dance and Yoga Studio, relationship-building is par for the course, and is one of the reasons why it's your pick for Best Dance Studio in Sonoma County. "We have a sense of community. People make friends, people get together," says Claire Zenet, who started the studio four years ago with Elana Quihuis. Solstice offers a wide variety of yoga classes as well as bellydance, NIA, Zumba, and core strength classes with chiropractor Dr. Jake, and Zenet says that one reason people keep coming back to the studio, aside from the sense of community, is because of the expertise and the dedication of the teachers. "It's not just work to us," she says. "It's something we love."—L.C. ### Best Art Gallery Marin Gallery Route One 11101 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1347. Napa Di Rosa Preserve 5200 Carneros Hwy., Napa. 707.226.5991. Sonoma Riverfront Art Gallery 132 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.775.4278. Honorable Mention Quicksilver Mine Co. 6671 Front St., Forestville. 707.887.0146. ### Best Museum Marin Bay Area Discovery Museum 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. 415.339.3900. Napa Sharpsteen Museum 1311 Washington St., Calistoga. 707.942.5911. Sonoma Charles M. Schulz Museum 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.579.4452. Honorable Mention Sonoma County Museum 425 Seventh St., Santa Rosa. 707.579.1500. ### Best Outdoor Art Event Marin Sausalito Art Festival www.sausalitoartfestival.org Napa Calistoga Art in the Park www.calistogaartcenter.org Sonoma ARTrails http://sonomaarts.com/artrails Honorable Mention Great West End & Railroad Square Handcar Regatta www.handcar-regatta.com ### Best Movie Theater Marin Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.454.1222. Napa Cameo Cinema 1340 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.9779. Sonoma Rialto Cinemas www.rialtocinemas.com (Note: 551 Summerfield Road is now Summerfield Cinemas.) Honorable Mention Sebastiani Theater 476 First St. E., Sonoma. 707.796.9765. ### Best Ballet Company Marin Marin Ballet 100 Elm St., San Rafael. 415.453.6705. Napa Napa Regional Dance Company 1527 Polk St., Napa. 707.252.4615. Sonoma Sebastopol Ballet School 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. 707.824.8006. Honorable Mention Dance Center 56 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 707.575.8277. ### Best Performing Dance Company Marin Roco Dance & Fitness 237 Shoreline Hwy., Mill Valley. 415.388.6786. Napa Napa Valley Ballet www.napavalleyballet.org Sonoma Joweh www.terrianneandjoweh.com Honorable Mention Raks Rosa Dance Company www.raksrosa.com ### Best Dance Studio Marin Roco Dance & Fitness 237 Shoreline Hwy., Mill Valley. 415.388.6786. Napa Academy of Danse 1123 Jordan Lane, Napa. 707.226.6170. Sonoma Solstice Dance & Yoga Studio 2450 Third St., Santa Rosa. 707.322.0701. Honorable Mention Dance Center 56 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 707.575.8277. ### Best Place to Dance Marin Rancho Nicasio 1 Old Ranchero Road, Nicasio. 415.662.2219. Napa Uptown Theatre 1350 Third St., Napa. 707.259.0123. Sonoma Hopmonk Tavern 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 707.829.7300. Honorable Mention Tie Aubergine Vintage Emporium & Cafe 755 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 707.827.3460. Mystic Theatre 23 Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma. 707.765.9211. ### Best Media Personality Marin Professor Cosmo, KWMR 90.5-FM State Route 1, Ste. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.8068. Napa Kellie Fuller, KVYN 99.3-FM 1124 Foster Road, Napa. 707.257.8463. Sonoma Brent Farris, KZST 100.1-FM 3392 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.528.4434. Honorable Mention Bill Bowker, KRSH 95.9-FM 3565 Standish Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.588.0707. ### Best Festival Marin Italian Street Painting Festival 999 Fifth St., Ste. 290, San Rafael. 415.457.4878. Napa Festival Del Sole 1556 First St., Napa. 707.294.2800. Sonoma Great West End & Railroad Square Handcar Regatta www.handcar-regatta.com Honorable Mention Harmony Festival www.harmonyfestival.com ### Best Music Festival Marin KWMR Far West Fest State Route 1, Ste. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.8068. Napa First Place Tie Mustard Mud & Music Festival www.calistogavisitors.com Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Music Festival 7801 St. Helena Hwy., St. Helena. 888.766.6328. Sonoma Harmony Festival www.harmonyfestival.com Honorable Mention Russian River Jazz & Blues Fest www.omegaevents.com ### Best Performing Arts Center Marin The Playhouse in San Anselmo 27 Kensington Road, San Anselmo. 415.456.8555. Napa Napa Valley Opera House 1030 Main St., Napa. 707.226.7372. Sonoma Wells Fargo Center for the Arts 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707.527.7006. Honorable Mention Sixth Street Playhouse 52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 707.523.4185. ### Best Theater Troupe Marin Marin Theatre Company 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. 415.388.5208. Napa Lucky Penny Productions www.luckypennynapa.com Sonoma The Imaginists Theatre Collective www.theimaginists.org Honorable Mention Sixth Street Playhouse 52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 707.523.4185. ### Best Band Marin Petty Theft www.pettytheftrocks.com Napa Brian Cline Band www.briancline.com Sonoma Peter Welker www.peterwelker.com Honorable Mention Dgiin www.dgiin.com ### Best Music Venue Marin 142 Throckmorton Theatre 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 415.383.9600. Napa Uptown Theatre 1350 Third St., Napa. 707.259.0123. Sonoma McNear's Mystic Theater 23 Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma. 707.765.2121. Honorable Mention Hopmonk Tavern 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 707.829.7300. Send a letter to the editor about this story.