Tabla de contenidos para December 2017 en Sunset

WHAT A YEAR, RIGHT? I think we can all agree that making it to this moment constitutes an achievement worth celebrating. So turn to page 40, pour a Finger Lime Vodka Gimlet, and join me in a toast to the theme of this December/January issue: holiday classics with a Western twist. Let’s start with a good old-fashioned house party, the kind where interesting and diverse strangers are packed elbow to elbow over platters of delectable food and drink. The most memorable hosts, in my experience, share a sort of madcap generosity, and Susan MacTavish Best is no exception (page 62). I was lucky enough to be one of the guests during our photo shoot at her San Francisco home, and between the brilliantly odd mix of people and the brass…

GARDEN FRESH “This is my tropical spin on a traditional holiday wreath,” says Harampolis, co-owner of Homestead Design Collective and Studio Choo. Bonus: After the holidays, you can remove the air plants to hang around the home and transplant the red hot pokers to your yard. HOW-TO Make bundles with evergreen cedar and tea tree (Melaleuca) and accents of huckleberry, myrtle, sumac, and variegated ivy; wire to a double-wire wreath frame. Create an organic look by making each bundle different. FOREVER FALL Crisp air and the crunch of leaves beneath your feet— we can’t blame you for wanting to hold onto autumn. This wreath of dried ingredients and warm tones delivers that and more. “For pops of hot color, add flowers from your garden or buy them from the grocery…

Amid the swirl of the holidays, it can be tempting to loosen the rules on your kids’ screen time. But mother of three Merrilee Liddiard has another suggestion: Give them a glue stick instead. “In our fast-paced digital age, I try to encourage creative, nostalgic play,” says Liddiard. A dollmaker and the editor of the children’s arts and crafts blog Mer Mag (merrileeliddiardshop.com), she recently invited a band of her kids’ friends to her Springville, Utah, home for a day of glittery fun. And while Liddiard’s known for her modern, magical aesthetic—her Pinterest account can leave the average parent gaping in disbelief—she believes in giving children enough freedom to put their own spin on a project. “Kids always have the coolest ideas,” she says. “Let them go for it.” SPLATTER…

This pluerry hangs ripe on the tree for six weeks—ample time to pick as you please. MIKE IRVINE, ASSOCIATE HOME & GARDEN EDITOR Winter homework Cold, wet weather means it’s time to get outside and plant your deciduous fruit trees. Buy trees bare-root (not in a pot with soil), cutting the trunk down to knee level to control height and promote healthy roots. “It may seem drastic, but that first big cut is essential,” says Phil Pursel, a manager at Dave Wilson Nursery. Visit davewilson.com for more planting tips as well as information on different varieties. Our pick? Sweet Treat Pluerry (above), which combines the juiciness of a plum and the candy sweetness of a cherry. PLANT In December, sow coolseason veggies like chard, cilantro, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustards, green…

SCOTT AND MOLLY Moffat were down to their last cans of sardines and crackers. With the roads leading to the nearest stores blocked, the young couple needed to figure out how to keep their three children, pets, and horses fed. And fast. “We were close to running out of food,” says Scott, a scruffy Big Sur native and carpenter who moved back here five years ago with Molly. “So we grabbed our backpacks and started bushwhacking our way out.” The kids stayed with a friend, and their parents returned after a daylong trek with 120 pounds of shelf items and produce. “Lesson learned: Always have a month’s worth of food on hand,” says Scott. “And build out a vegetable garden.” This happened in March, weeks after the crumbling Pfeiffer Canyon…

This was Plan B. Plan A was for Levi Velvick and his partner Lupe Cope to buy a home in San Francisco, where they’d rented for five years. But after being outbid on house after house in the city, Velvick remembered the 1885 former homestead he had spotted online a few months earlier. The couple drove the hour and 15 minutes north to Glen Ellen to take a look. “It was the biggest dump you’ve ever seen,” Velvick says before listing off its aesthetic sins: green shag carpet, dropped ceilings lacquered to a greasy high gloss, and rooms full of grasscloth wallpaper in 1980s-era peach. But the price was right. Plus, Velvick had a hunch he could coax charm out of the place. He was right, though it took a…

OAK TREE BÛCHE DE NOËL SERVES 12 TO 14 / 21⁄2 HOURS, PLUS TIME FOR COOKIES AND ACORNS The valley oaks that dot central California’s golden hills were the inspiration for this spin on the French holiday dessert. Guests are sure to be impressed, but the dessert is pretty easy to pull off if you start a day ahead. You’ll need a jelly roll pan; a small offset spatula and small fine-mesh strainer are also helpful. CAKE Salted butter for the pan 1⁄4 cup plus about 2 tsp. flour 5 large eggs, separated 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract FILLING 1⁄4 cup hazelnut-flavored liqueur 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 tbsp. powdered sugar 1⁄3 cup each toffee bits, such as Heath, and finely chopped…

AND OTHER GOOD STUFF FREE INFORMATION There are two easy ways to request information: VISIT sunsetgetaways.com MAIL the attached post-paid card TRAVEL ALASKA 101 Explore Fairbanks 102 ARIZONA 103 Experience Scottsdale 104 Tempe Arizona CALIFORNIA 105 Big Bear Visitors Bureau 106 City of Riverside 107 City of Twentynine Palms 108 Fairfield—Gateway to the Napa Valley 109 Gilroy Welcome Center 110 Huntington Beach—Surf City USA 111 San Bernardino County, California’s Outdoor Playground 112 Sonoma County Tourism Bureau 113 Stockton Visitors Bureau 114 Ukiah—Hub of Mendocino County 115 Visit Buena Park 116 Visit California 117 Visit Newport Beach 118 Visit Oakland 119 Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism 120 Yosemite Gold Country 121 Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce 122 CANADA 123 Marine Link Tours 124 St Lawrence Cruise Lines COLORADO 125 The Home Ranch INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL…

Pick the perfect tree Grab a hot cocoa and take the family on a Yuletide adventure to find a stately spruce, pine, or fir for your home. Here are the West’s most charming farms for sourcing your holiday tree: sunset.com/treefarms. Winter escapes Whether you’re looking for a splurge or a deal, these end-of-year trips will put you in the holiday spirit. From cozy lodges and snowy getaways to sunny beaches, our picks for the best places to visit this season: sunset.com/wintertravel. Healthy eats Superfoods, good-for-you soups, and more tasty ways to refresh and recharge your eating habits in the new year: sunset.com/healthy.…

When you think of L.A., one of the last things that comes to mind is nature. But in Frogtown, the Los Angeles River thrives anew as a result of revitalization efforts. The mixed industrial and residential pocket around it is showing signs of dramatic change too.Warehouses tucked between Riverside Drive and the concrete-bound waterway are transitioning to artists’ studios, galleries, homes, and restaurants, as well as a music venue import from Brook lyn. Throughout the area, cyclists abound, taking advantage of the bike path that follows the current. So ditch the car and pedal your way through L.A.’s favorite up-andcoming hood. 9 A.M. Start by fueling up with locally roasted Trystero C offee alongside hemp- and datelaced granola at Spoke Bicycle Cafe (spokebicyclecafe.com). Repurposed shipping containers shelter the extensive patio…

This pluerry hangs ripe on the tree for six weeks—ample time to pick as you please. MIKE IRVINE, ASSOCIATE HOME & GARDEN EDITOR Winter homework Cold, wet weather means it’s time to get outside and plant your deciduous fruit trees. Buy trees bare-root (not in a pot with soil), cutting the trunk down to knee level to control height and promote healthy roots. “It may seem drastic, but that first big cut is essential,” says Phil Pursel, a manager at Dave Wilson Nursery. Visit davewilson.com for more planting tips as well as information on different varieties. Our pick? Sweet Treat Pluerry (above), which combines the juiciness of a plum and the candy sweetness of a cherry. SHOP Orchard mason bees and leafcutter bees—gentle natives that are more efficient pollinators than…

This pluerry hangs ripe on the tree for six weeks—ample time to pick as you please. MIKE IRVINE, ASSOCIATE HOME & GARDEN EDITOR Winter homework Cold, wet weather means it’s time to get outside and plant your deciduous fruit trees. Buy trees bare-root (not in a pot with soil), cutting the trunk down to knee level to control height and promote healthy roots. “It may seem drastic, but that first big cut is essential,” says Phil Pursel, a manager at Dave Wilson Nursery. Visit davewilson.com for more planting tips as well as information on different varieties. Our pick? Sweet Treat Pluerry (above), which combines the juiciness of a plum and the candy sweetness of a cherry. PLANT In low desert, plant deciduous bare-root fruit trees such as apples, apricots, peaches,…

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge reopened in mid- October, freeing up the south-bound route into town from Monterey. To get the most up-to-date information on the bridge and future road closures, check sunset.com/bigsurclosure and dot.ca.gov. Once you’re there, be sure to hit these favorite spots. EAT At the Big Sur Taphouse, go straight for the spicy fish tacos and a pint or two of sour beer. (You’ll most likely be trading rounds with your bar mates anyway.) bigsur taphouse.com. STAY You don’t really need to pack much for a night at Ventana Big Sur’s new super-luxe glampsites. Safari-style tents come with a plush bed, a gasand- wood firepit, electricity, maps, and walking sticks for exploring the area’s trails and creeks. (Bonus: Guests can use the resort’s Japanese bathhouse and pools!) From $325;…

Salad for days THE TASTIEST MAKE-AHEAD LUNCH p. 84 LATER, SAD DESK LUNCH! Put in some time on Sunday and you won’t wind up reaching for that premade Caesar salad at lunch. Take a cue from Portland recipe developer and stylist Alison Wu (wuhaus.com; @alison__wu) and roast chickpeas, veggies, and seeds; throw a pot of quinoa on the stove; and whip up a quick dressing. With these building blocks on hand, making lunch becomes almost a grab-and-go affair. Here’s how she assembles a healthy, satisfying, infinitely riff-able salad. 1. In a lidded container, lay a base of quinoa, then a mix of rinsed and dried greens like baby arugula, torn kale and/or radicchio, and lettuces. 2. Layer in roasted veggies. Try carrots, sweet potatoes, or cauliflower. Got an extra 2…

THERE’S AN OLD SAYING about wine drinkers in this country: We talk dry but drink sweet—meaning that we secretly prefer wines with a little sugar left in them after the fermentation has been stopped. Brushing aside the snarky judgment buried in that, my contention is that we actually don’t drink sweet enough. Yes,we love our red blends that are soft and sippable because they have a smidgen of sugar. But we shun truly sweet wines—which leaves us missing out on the West’s exquisite dessert wines. I’m not talking about sweet fortified wines here (port, sherry, and the like), although those are also worthy of their share of today’s highly allocated carbs. I’m talking about late-harvest whites whose berries, in the Old World tradition, have been left on the vine until…

Enjoy the best in modern and classic design with a trip to one of our favorite winter retreats. To celebrate the debut of the Sunset Idea House in Palm Springs, we partnered with visitpalmsprings.com to craft an escape for two to the warm-weather oasis. The prize package (worth $1,742): an architecture tour with the Palm Springs Mod Squad; a private safari at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, including hands-on experiences like giraffe feedings; a $50 gift certificate for Village Pub; a $200 gift certificate for Copley’s on Palm Canyon; and a three-night stay at The Monkey Tree Hotel, a midcentury boutique property. To learn more about our Instagram contest, visit sunset.com/palmspringscontest (Nov 16–Jan 10). —Kendra Poppy SUNSET (ISSN 0039-5404) is published monthly (except for a combined Dec/Jan issue) in…

DIGITAL BONUS More great ideas for your sweetie, kids, parents, and everyone else on your list: sunset.com/gifts.…

This pluerry hangs ripe on the tree for six weeks—ample time to pick as you please. MIKE IRVINE, ASSOCIATE HOME & GARDEN EDITOR Winter homework Cold, wet weather means it’s time to get outside and plant your deciduous fruit trees. Buy trees bare-root (not in a pot with soil), cutting the trunk down to knee level to control height and promote healthy roots. “It may seem drastic, but that first big cut is essential,” says Phil Pursel, a manager at Dave Wilson Nursery. Visit davewilson.com for more planting tips as well as information on different varieties. Our pick? Sweet Treat Pluerry (above), which combines the juiciness of a plum and the candy sweetness of a cherry. PLANT In December, plant bareroot artichokes, arugula seedlings, fava beans, kale, and leaf lettuce,…

This pluerry hangs ripe on the tree for six weeks—ample time to pick as you please. MIKE IRVINE, ASSOCIATE HOME & GARDEN EDITOR Winter homework Cold, wet weather means it’s time to get outside and plant your deciduous fruit trees. Buy trees bare-root (not in a pot with soil), cutting the trunk down to knee level to control height and promote healthy roots. “It may seem drastic, but that first big cut is essential,” says Phil Pursel, a manager at Dave Wilson Nursery. Visit davewilson.com for more planting tips as well as information on different varieties. Our pick? Sweet Treat Pluerry (above), which combines the juiciness of a plum and the candy sweetness of a cherry. PLANT Grow your own sprouts with Botanical Interests Seed Sprouter ($24.95; botanical interests.com). Try…

M AT A SUSAN MACTAVISH BEST party, you might find yourself squeezed in the hallway next to a venture capitalist, or a trombone player, or a neuroscientist, deep in an unexpected conversation. Or maybe you’re in the dining room, helping yourself to a vast spread of food—beef tenderloin, smoked trout, roasted pork, tapenade. Or in the living room, sprawled on a sheepskin, listening to a musical performance or a talk on genetics or the history of Scotch whisky. You leave with business cards and phone numbers and new ideas, merrier than when you arrived. At least twice a month, here at her San Francisco townhouse and at her loft in New York, Best hosts 50 to 125 people—all with, she says, “a minimum of fuss.” As founder of a lifestyle…

SERVES 6 / 13⁄4 HOURS This gutsy North African dish of eggs poached in a super-flavorful tomato-based sauce gets even better with the addition of a mountain of greens. It makes a great brunch or dinner for a crowd of holiday guests. 13⁄4 lbs. mixed winter greens (such as kale, spinach, and Swiss chard), rinsed well, water shaken off 1 tsp. cumin seeds 1⁄2 tsp. each coriander and fennel seeds 1 tsp. each smoked paprika and red chile flakes 1⁄4 tsp. each freshly ground pepper and cardamom 6 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, chopped 1 large jalapeño chile, seeded and diced 11⁄4 cups (12 oz.) tomato sauce 1 1⁄2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 tsp. kosher salt 7 oz. feta cheese, coarsely crumbled 1⁄2…

1 Far Niente 2011 “Dolce” (Napa Valley; $85, 375 ml.) Gloriously spicy, with caramelized dried papaya and pear laced with orange zest. 2 Frank Family Lewis Vineyards Late Harvest Chardonnay (Carneros, Napa Valley; $100, 375 ml.) Honeyed pear and apricot nectar give way to exotic tropical fruit and spice. 3 Grgich Hills 2013 Late Harvest “Violetta” (Napa Valley; $85, 375 ml.) A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer, sandwiching rich but bright orange and dried stone-fruit flavors between earthy minerality and hightoned floral notes. 4 La Crema 2013 Saralee’s Vineyard “Sweet As” Gewürztraminer (Russian River Valley; $35, 375 ml.) A riot of jasmine and lavender wraps around juicy apple, Asian pear, and Meyer lemon. 5 Merry Edwards 2014 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley; $48, 375 ml.) Delicate honeysuckle, almond blossom, and kiwi…