UPDATE: Visit Sunset Magazine's blogs...or their gardens

UPDATE: Sunset Magazine's One Block Diet blog has earned earned the Best Blog award, given out by one of America's most prestigious food awards programs. Dubbed “the Oscars of the food world,” by Time magazine, The James Beard Foundation Awards are a coveted honor for chefs, food media, authors, designers, and architects. It's pretty special company.

Make time to check out the blog and you'll see why they've been honored. The writing is lively, real, and a compelling look at the Sunset team's attempt at making beer, starting a beehive, making wine, and raising chickens (including an unfortunate encounter with rats—talk about gettin' real!). And while you're at it, visit the Sunset Traveler blog, which covers topics around the West (one of my recent faves was a post on watching puffins in Oregon).

Congratulations to the One Block bloggers at Sunset Magazine!

Meanwhile, don't forget you can take a free, self-guided tour of the Sunset Publishing Headquarters' beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds (be sure to peek into the test garden). Step inside the grand double doors of the Cliff May-designed landmark, pick up a free self-guided tour booklet, and roam the 7-acre grounds. You'll see everything from floral border plantings to tall redwoods. Strolling the gardens makes a great springtime outing, even if you come away a teensy bit intimidated by what they've managed to pack into their 'backyard'.

And to find out what’s growing in the editors’ own gardens, just check the masthead in the April issue; there's a mention of what every staffer has growing this spring in their own garden (tomatoes are big this year). It’s an inspiring idea; after all, you've gotta think, if these busy folks can grow it, why can’t I?

Details: 80 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA; open weekdays (holidays excluded) 9-4:30.