Land, settle, first round
- Afternoon: Fly into SFO (San Francisco International Airport) — 75 minutes from the core. Drop bags at Sonoma Vineyard Guest House.
- Dinner: The Girl and the Fig (French bistro, $$$). Plaza bistro — charcuterie + duck confit, but a real crew room on the patio
- Night: Ease in at El Dorado Kitchen Bar — The courtyard bar at El Dorado Hotel — white-linen ambiance, Sonoma County wine pours, and the Plaza's best people-watching. Keep it reasonable; Saturday is the main event.