Crying is a sweet deal when Annie the Baker comes to town

It’s not even the weekend and I’ve already cried. And not the typical boo-hoo like when I wept over Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sex and the City) eventual marriage to Big even though he ditched her at the alter, or the cry when Denis Leary’s character on the phenom of a TV show Rescue Me (FX) fell off the wagon with his sad and destructive bravado. And not even the tears I shed as I trolled the streets of LA for six excruciating years trying to conjure up a decent cookie that would have just a scant trace of the sinfully rich peanut butter drop from NYC’s City Bakery. Thankfully I got the hell out of LA and moved to Napa. With a stop off at St. Helena’s weekly Farmer’s Market
(Fridays 7:30-12) I stumbled into cookie heaven by way of Annie the Baker’s bumping booth. She’s a diehard Steelers fan, a point you can’t miss between her color scheme, life-sized mascot and flaming yellow VW Beetle (her bakery mobile!). Annie entertains you at the moment you step into her domain. But quickly all arrows point elsewhere once she slips one of her magical cookies into your eagerly awaiting paw. With one bite of her peanut butter with milk chocolate chip cookie I shed my first tear, and by the time I finished up my taste test (oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, chocolate chip/toffee - all of which are killer) I was weeping like a colicky baby. All of her cookies strike a unique balance between sumptuous chewy cookie dough and dense flavorful baked cookie punch. One week under her spell and I've given her a permanent placement my calendar so that I never forget my weekly pitstop at her culinary dreamland. Instead of sugar plums I dream about how I can get me some more of that magic. Check her at the Market on Fridays and follow her on Facebook (ANNIETHEBAKER) so you don't miss any of her surprise cookie spotings/showings around town. Bring a hankie…tears have never tasted so damn good! Wacky WineSense Rating: 4 Grapes! (must eat)

Ditch the road bikes and pedal "cruise" style

Whether you’re visiting, new in town or a bona fide locale I challenge you to take the beach cruiser challenge. The standard bike varietals (mountain, road, anything with gears) are almost as common as the grapes in these parts. But in touring the wine country by beach cruiser (limited to no gears, comfy fat seats and high handle bars) you’re granted the true wine co experience. Wine aside the most remarkable thing out here is the view. One grape after another, vines large and small are bubbling all over the place. Tall and sprightly, aged and craggy, and the virgins. Whether you're into the flats or pedal pushing through the rolling hills, you’ll miss out on it all if you’re biking or driving too fast. So ditch the limos and standard fare cycles and motorized scooters and opt to cruise through the Valley in scene grabbing style. As you sweat your way up and over these magical humps and bumps of wine gold you’ll witness greatness in the making with every puffy peddle stroke. Glorious! Bike rentals and purchase: Calistoga and St. Helena.