Thanks Bertha!

Winery tours, shopping in Healdsburg, a visit to an olive oil farm, dining at area restaurants, a foot massage in the spa – these are some of the tasks I will tackle starting Tuesday when two videographers and I fly to Northern California’s wine country.

Our assignment? Stay in Manzanita, a four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home in the gated Mayacama Resort in Santa Rosa for Inspirato, the Denver-based luxury vacation club. Inspirato has asked our team to shoot video packages, write a blog, post on social media sites and later write a full feature story about the property and things to see and do nearby.

With the capable guidance of Inspirato’s on-site concierge Katie Ciocca, we are planning to cram our four-day visit with sights, sounds and tastes of a slice of Northern California’s wine country. Follow along and I’ll take you with me on the trip. I’ll post notes and photos on all we see and do.

Inspirato members have access to the Mayacama Resort zx 630 amenities such as a clubhouse with European spa services, a 3,000-square-foot wine cellar, gourmet dining and five-star service. There are hiking trails throughout the property as well as swim and tennis facilities.

On Wednesday, our plan includes poking around the independently owned shops in Healdsburg, the closest town to the resort.  We’ll check out jewelry at Gallery Lulo; the wares at Mercantile, a store owned by a former editor of Women’s Wear Daily and visit Limestone, a shop owned by Denver’s District Meats chef/owner Charlie Palmer’s wife, Lisa.

Wednesday will also include a tour of DaVero farm and winery five minutes outside of Healdsburg with owner Colleen McGlynn. DaVero is famous for its Dry Creek Estate Extra-virgin Olive Oil and its Dry Creek Estate Meyer Lemon Olive Oil – a favorite of Food Network celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis.

The farm also grows Meyer lemons, oranges, tangerines, peaches, plums, apples, pears, blackberries, quince, figs persimmons, pomegranates, lavender and a variety of vegetables.

Thursday will be winery day under the willing wing of Emery Bodell with Lancaster Estate Vineyard & Winery who has offered to be our personal tour guide of local wine producers.

And in between stops, we’ll likely grab coffee at The Flying Goat and caviar at Cyrus Restaurant. I know it all sounds like tough duty, but you know what they say…

Singing stars

Singers Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin have been best friends for a long time. Now the two stars are collaborating on their first ever mini-tour, sharing a stage and each other’s songs.

They’re only doing a few full concerts, and Colorado Academy has the only one in the state – an intimate fundraising benefit concert at the school, 3800 S. Pierce St., Denver, on Cinco de Mayo (Saturday).

With hits like Passionate Kisses and Sunny Came Home, both singers are longtime Colorado favorites. The benefit raises scholarship money through the Boettcher Financial Aid Endowment Challenge.  Tickets are $125 by contacting Tricia Wales at 303-914-2509 or tricia.wales@coloradoacademy.org.

Eavesdropping on a woman: “Do you think there’s valet parking in heaven?”

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