🌱 New Boutique Hotel + Old Madrona Owner Dies + Movie Theater Drinks?

Good day, friends! Simone here with your weekend edition of the Healdsburg Daily, full of all the local information you need to know right now. Today's issue includes updates on:

• Progress for the proposed movie theater downtown
• The death of the Madrona Manor's former owner
• A fancy new boutique hotel in Healdsburg — inside an existing hotel!
• And more...

But first, your weekend weather:

• Friday: Fog in the morning, then mostly sunny. Cooling off a little from this weirdly warm week... High: 80 Low: 53.
• Saturday: Clouds giving way to some sun. Even cooler, with some strong winds. High: 73 Low: 42.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny and windy again. High: 75 Low: 43.
• Monday: A little warmer and sunny. High: 78 Low: 48.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. If the Alexander Valley Film Society (AVFilm) does end up fulfilling their dream of building a movie theater in downtown Healdsburg next year, an alcohol permit and parking fees won't be a problem, according to the Healdsburg Tribune. "Acting with unusual alacrity" ahead of the City Council meeting this past Monday, "City of Healdsburg staff whipped together a new city policy governing the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in movie theaters in the downtown area — preemptively approving a proposal from AVFilms, which has yet to come to terms on their downtown Palace Cinema location," the Tribune reports. "The exception for theaters or auditoriums with live audiences to purchase and consume alcohol was necessary because in 2017, the council voted to limit alcoholic beverage businesses to one per block face in the Downtown Commercial zone. That measure was seen as a way to control the number of tasting rooms in the core downtown business district." Also: "Along with the code adjustment of allowing theaters to serve alcohol as a permitted use, the council also adjusted the parking in-lieu fees for downtown businesses, again to encourage a wider range of businesses downtown. The requirement of either mandated parking spaces or 'in lieu' fees which would allow a business to pay money in compensation for not being able to provide the parking spaces evolved over several years of planning commission and city council study." All good news for AVFilm's theater prospects! In response, Kathryn Hecht, head of the film society, reportedly gave a "very special thanks to the City of Healdsburg staff in particular for being so proactive." (Healdsburg Tribune)
2. Bill Konrad, the former owner of the historic Madrona Manor on the way out of town, reportedly passed away last month in his early 80s. Looks like he lived just long enough to see the Manor refurbished and reopened this year under new management. Bill was a Bay Area lawyer who moved to Healdsburg with his wife Trudi in 1999. The couple "began a new chapter in their lives when they purchased Madrona Manor and became innkeepers," his obituary says. "Bill had a passion for food and was thrilled to own a Michelin-starred restaurant. He reveled in meeting guests from around the world, and formed friendships with many of them. He always loved travel, food and wine, and time with his family in the peaceful setting of his Healdsburg home." May he rest in peace. (Healdsburg Patch & Forbes)
3. The Best Western Dry Creek Inn, that big hotel right off the 101 near Adel's, just opened a new boutique hotel within its own walls called "The Lodge at Healdsburg" — part of the "Tapestry Collection by Hilton." The inn did an "extensive, multi-million dollar interior renovation of its Villa Toscana building" that essentially converted the 60 rooms in the building into fancier, presumably more expensive little "villas." You can now make reservations for stays starting in March 2023. More specs from the press release: "The Lodge at Healdsburg features modern rooms designed by Atwater Inc. Studio. Inspired by the surrounding valleys, redwood trees and Russian River, the elevated aesthetic draws hues of sage green, navy blue, ivory and copper for a warm and intimate feel. The well-furnished rooms feature timeless European furniture paired with rustic woods, natural stones and Tuscan-inspired tiling in the bathrooms. The outdoor spaces transport guests to a Tuscan countryside with olive trees, bright red florals and natural graphite-colored furniture. The hotel's 60 remodeled villa guestrooms each feature a king bed, new furniture and wood flooring, a freestanding soaking tub, an in-room fireplace, a Nespresso machine and local art celebrating wine country." (Hospitality Net & The Lodge at Healdsburg)

This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, October 21

• Preschool Storytime for Kids Aged 3-6 at the Healdsburg Library (10:30-11:15AM)
• Free Fall Festival for Families at Healdsburg Elementary School (4-6PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries, Feat. All-Woman Band Foxes in the Henhouse (5-8PM)
• Corazón Healdsburg Hosts "Books & Roots" / "Libros y Raíces": Programa Familiar de Lectura Bilingüe con Actividades Sensoriales (6PM)
• John Courage Trio Birthday Bash at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)
• Sold-Out Show at Coyote Sonoma: Wonder Bread 5 (9-11PM)

Saturday, October 22

• Healdsburg Running Company Calistoga Run at Oak Hill Mine, With Brunch at Cafe Sarafornia (8AM)
• Multi-Family Parkland Farms Cul de Sac Yard Sale at 310-320 Equestrian Gap (8AM-12PM)
• Yard Sale at 437 Piper Street (8AM-2PM)
• Healdsburg Saturday Farmers Market (8:30AM-12PM)
• Farm to Pantry Glean at the Farm to Fight Hunger (8:30AM-12PM)
• Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Certification Course at Bacchus Landing (Weekly, 9AM-12:30PM)
• Read to a Dog at the Healdsburg Library (11AM)
• "Howl-O-Ween" Pet Parade & Costume Contest in the Healdsburg Plaza (12-2PM)
• Little Monsters Culinary Hosts Kids Cooking Class in Healdsburg With Harry Potter Theme (1-4PM)
• Monthly Ceramics Workshop at Healdsburg High School With Teacher Linus Lancaster: Wheel & Hand Building (1-4PM)
• Leo Steen Wines Fall Release Party (1-5PM)
• Alexander Valley Film Society (AVFilm) Hosts 2022 Impact Awards at Rodney Strong Vineyards (4PM)
• Artist Reception for New Exhibit at Little Saint, Featuring Artists Jessica Martin & Michelle L. Morby (4-6PM)
• Annual Winemaker Dinner in the Cellar at Comstock Wines (6PM)
• Latin Kings of Comedy Perform at the Luther Burbank Center (7PM)
• Second Street Band Live at Coyote Sonoma (8-11PM)
• San Geronimo Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

Sunday, October 23

• Montagne Russe Wines Hosts Fall Club Pickup Party at Bacchus Landing (11AM-5PM)
• Jason Bodlovich Live at VML Winery (11:30AM-4:30PM)

Monday, October 24

• New Art Exhibit at the Upstairs Art Gallery: "Hanging Out," a Collection of Watercolor Laundry Paintings by Tosya Shore (Oct. 24-Nov. 20, 11AM-6PM)
• Corazón Healdsburg Comité / Committee Meeting (6PM)

From my notebook:

• If you missed the Healdsburg City Council candidate forum at the Raven Theater earlier this month, you can now watch it online! (Healdsburg AAUW via Facebook)
• Did you feel the trio of small earthquakes that hit up near the Geysers on Wednesday night? (Healdsburg Patch)
• The Healdsburg Farmers Market next Tuesday is the last Tuesday market of the season. And the Tuesday-market season will be shorter next year, ending in September instead of October, the Tribune reports. “We seem to do okay when the concert season happens, but once August ends, our traffic dies down considerably,” says market manager Janet Ciel. (Healdsburg Tribune)

That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Daily? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com