FIELD NOTE // FN-005 | LOCATION: PETALUMA | DATE: 2025-07-31
New Year’s Eve, by Chance
Some nights are planned. This one was pure chance.
We had spent the day driving up the scenic Sonoma coast, and on a whim, as dusk settled in, we made a pit stop in historic downtown Petaluma. The air was full of that pre-New Year's energy—a quiet hum of anticipation. The shops were closed, but their Christmas displays were still burning bright, and there was something special about experiencing them alone on the quiet streets.
As we walked towards the brighter lights, we stumbled upon this scene. A solitary Beetle, basking in the warm glow from a shop window, parked as if a film crew had staged it. No modern cars in front or behind it. Just a perfect, timeless moment. This is why you never leave home without your camera.
The rest of the evening followed the same script of pure luck. We got the last table at a packed Italian restaurant, a private booth in the back surrounded by photos from its speakeasy days. It was one of those rare, perfect nights that the universe serves up when you least expect it. A reminder to always see the vibe, capture it, and just roll with it.
