Save the date

It’s time to take a break from the recession and explore Sonoma County, Marin, and the Bay Area for fun, relaxing, and tasty events. The iS Collection has a list of must-do events this season, whether you’re an art, sports, or wine lover.

March
The Mustard Festival: A Taste of Yountville Savor the finest restaurant fare, wine from local vineyards, and samplings of olive oils, mustards, and vinegars made in Yountville and Napa County. This event serves the best that the culinary capital of California has to offer while participating hotels and spas offer guests 20 percent discounts during the festival. You won’t want to miss it. Enjoy A Taste of Yountville, Saturday March 20th. mustardfestival.com/taste_of_yountville.html

April
Sonoma Valley Film Festival: Catch the 13th annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival, featuring 70 independent and international films. Enjoy a fun-filled week of film, food, wine, art, and music. So, mingle with filmmakers, actors, celebrity chefs, and world-renowned sommeliers, and watch a movie while you’re at it! The event takes place April 14-18. sonomafilmfest.org

Great Chefs of Marin: Support a good cause at this benefit for the Lifehouse foundation. Experience the sumptuous wines and cuisine from over 25 Marin restaurants and 25 local wineries. Meet chefs and winemakers while dancing to The Robert Vickers Orchestra and bidding on a live and silent auction. Save the date on Saturday, April 24. lifehouseagency.org/Great_Chefs_and_Wineries_2010/about.html

Sonoma County Museum’s Spring Gala: Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Sonoma County Museum at this all-night event held at John Ash’s Vintners Inn. Enjoy bidding on fine art and wining and dining at a world-renowned locale while supporting a good cause. The event is held Sunday, April 25. sonomacountymuseum.org

May
2nd Annual Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance. Are you a classic car aficionado? This is your chance to catch an elegant showcase of 200 rare cars. 18 different classes of European and American models will be shown, and if you love Porsches, this is the event for you. Janis Joplin’s 356 Porsche convertible will be the belle of the ball, brought to you all the way from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Check out this world-class car event in San Rafael, Sunday, May 16th. marinsonomaconcours.org.

Amgen Tour Bicycle Race: Take part in the largest cycling event in America, which happens right here in California! Stage 2 of the tour rides from Davis to Santa Rosa, so stand and cheer for these cyclists while supporting the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and The Wellness Community. Watch Stage 2, Monday, May 17, or catch all the tour dates throughout California May 16-23. amentourofcalifornia.com

Sonoma Jazz +: Nothing goes together better than jazz and the wine country. Enjoy a weekend of funk, blues, jazz, and soul in Sonoma’s Field of Dreams. Featuring legendary bands like Earth, Wind & Fire and Crosby, Stills, and Nash, the event combines the best of all genres. Enjoy strolling the historic Sonoma Plaza, listening to music and tasting special wine and food pairings during the day, Saturday and Sunday with the Wine & Song event. May 21st – 23rd. sonomajazz.org

San Francisco Black and White Ball: Why not dress-up and get this party started in 2010? Dance the night away at the Black and White Ball, featuring Tony Bennett and K.D. Lang. See the San Francisco Symphony Hall like you’ve never seen it before, bright with spectacular lights and amidst the city’s finest. The adventure begins Saturday, May 22. sfsymphony.org

July
Sonoma Valley Red and White Ball: Indulge in the best food and wine the region has to offer while getting your groove-on. Featuring premium wines from Sonoma Valley vineyards, an art-auction, and the unique opportunity of wearing your finest/silliest red and white frock, this will be a ball to remember. Get whisked off your feet July 17. sonomavalley.com

September
3rd Annual Sonoma Wine Country Weekend: Take a bite into Sonoma on this three day excursion into wine country. First, savor a winemaker’s lunch. Then, enjoy a Taste of Sonoma in the vineyards of MacMurray Ranch, sampling from more than 200 wineries and acclaimed chefs. Finally, experience the 18th Annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction, a giant bash held on the grounds of Cline Cellars in Sonoma. Toast the fall, starting the weekend of September 3rd – 5th.  sonomauncorked.com

Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival: Enjoy a weekend of Blues and Jazz at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville. Grammy award winning groups, bands from New Orleans, and local powerhouses will play this event. So, hang out on the beach in a picturesque setting and unwind as you kickback and listen to soulful music this Sept. 11 and 12. omegaevents.com/russianriverfestivals

Marin Rocks: This fall, celebrate the music that made the Bay Area legendary at the Marin Rocks exhibit. Footage of live concerts from the 1960s and 1970s, band posters, photographs of Vietnam War protests, and musical recordings of local bands and big acts like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, and Santana will grace the exhibit at the Marin History Museum in San Rafael this fall. marinhistory.org/marinrocks.html

October
Mill Valley Film Festival: Combining the best of world cinema, documentary, animation, shorts, and U.S. Cinema, this festival brings together industry professionals and film lovers to celebrate film. Directors, screenplay writers, and actors provide question and answer sessions, panels, and workshops during this event, and it’s a great time to learn more about your soon-to-be favorite films. The 33rd Mill Valley Film Festival happens this year from Oct. 7-17. cafilm.org/mvff/c4e.html

Sonoma ARTrails: Explore the back roads of Sonoma County as you wind your way through the 25th annual ARTrails. Drive through the heart of wine country as you visit artist studios and view their paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations, and get the opportunity to meet artists and ask them about their work. Show your support of local artists October 10-11 and 17-18. sonomaarts.com