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CEO/Executive Editor Dan Pulcrano NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN [ISSN 1532-0154] (incorporating the Sonoma County Independent) is published weekly, on Wednesdays, by Metrosa Inc., located at: 847 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Phone: 707.527.1200; fax: 707.527.1288; e-mail: editor@bohemian.com. It is a legally adjudicated publication of the county of Sonoma by Superior Court of California decree No. 119483. Member: Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, National Newspaper Association, California Newspaper Publishers Association, Verified Audit Circulation. Subscriptions (per year): Sonoma County $75; out-of-county $90. Thirdclass postage paid at Santa Rosa, CA. FREE DISTRIBUTION: The BOHEMIAN is available free of charge at numerous locations, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for one dollar, payable in advance at The BOHEMIAN’s office. The BOHEMIAN may be distributed only by its authorized distributors. No person may, without permission of the publisher, take more than one copy of each issue.The BOHEMIAN is printed on 40 % recycled paper.

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BOHEMIAN

Rhapsodies Hello, Rain!

The drought isn’t over but it’s looking better BY SHIRLEE ZANE

’T

is the season to be jolly, not just because it’s the holidays, but because of all the rain we’ve received this month. Since Dec. 8, Mother Nature has delivered us a series of late autumn storms followed by a significant atmospheric river on Dec. 11. This “river in the sky” has increased storage in our local water supply reservoirs, bringing Lake Mendocino up to 66 percent of water storage capacity from 45 percent earlier this month, and Lake Sonoma to 70 percent, compared to 55 percent.

In terms of rainfall, our region (the Santa Rosa Basin) had only received 40 percent of average before the storms, but since the deluge, our region is at 158 percent of average, or 13.33 inches since Oct. 1. That’s a lot of numbers thrown at you all at once, so let’s get down to the bottom line: we can’t declare that the drought is over just yet. But the rain has certainly taken the edge off the drought, and we are headed in the right direction. What do we need to get out of this drought? Three things: 1. We need above average rainfall to continue into the winter and spring months (36 inches of average rainfall in Santa Rosa, for example).

2. Timing of rainfall is critical. We need a steady stream of rainfall through spring, not one large storm, due to how lakes Mendocino and Sonoma are operated under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s flood control operation manual. (See “Reservoir Cogs,” Dec. 3.)

3. Save what we get. The rain we do get needs to be saved in case we don’t get any more this year. Keep up those conservation habits and turn off that irrigation system!

What we don’t need: December 2012! That month saw heavy rainfall fill our reservoirs, followed by an extremely dry winter and spring; i.e., the drought.

For now, appreciate the rain. It’s a good thing, and we need more of it. But please don’t stop those water-conservation habits. We need to save every drop. Stay up to date on drought conditions at www.sonomacountywater.org or follow us on Facebook.

Shirlee Zane is director of the Sonoma County Water Agency and a member of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.

Open Mic is a weekly feature in the ‘Bohemian.’ We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write openmic@bohemian.com.

Solitary Man

I just finished your article “Down in the Hole”(Dec. 10). I saw the Bohemian in a free paper dispenser. This is not my usual conduit for news content consumption, but I was intrigued by the art and the Tom Waits song reference. Without opening the paper, my wife and I began speculating on what the article was referring to with the caption: “North Bay Isolation Cells from the Inside Out.” Her final bet was on “some sort of sex thing,” and mine was on “the Microsoft Store.”

What a well-written and thoroughly frightening article! Your personal experience and lack of shrill tone makes your article flatly convincing.

The complexities and nuances of suicidal musings is a topic I have not contemplated on a conscious level much, and I don’t plan on doing it in front of a cop any time soon, that’s for dammed sure. I had no idea this type of thing was as widespread as you indicate.

I am 60 now, and used to work as a parttime tech in psych-units in California in the late ‘70s, before Reagan gutted the budget for mental health. What you describe sounds like the classic 5150.

Back then, heavy medication was more prevalent than isolation. Isolation was relatively rare, and was reserved for violent situations in the units I worked at in San Francisco (St. Mary’s and Mt. Zion).

The penal system had not yet merged with the psych-medical system yet. This sounds like a very bad marriage. I had no idea that suicide questions have become a pop quiz during a routine pullover for a possible DUI. Q: Have you ever had thoughts about killing yourself?

A: Not until you pulled me over.

Why is the jack-booted thug frowning?

These guys tend to have a zero tolerance for humor, but mumbling about depression and suicide is a giant red flag in almost any social context. If a friend or family member does it, pay attention. It’s not exactly Darwin Award

level, buts it’s inappropriate behavior, to say the least. It definitely should not be the job of the sheriff’s office to plant the idea in a person’s head.

On a side note, Robin Williams was staring down the barrel of some very serious medical issues unrelated to clinical depression. Suicide might have been more of an informed decision than the press is willing to discuss. Thanks for an excellent and illuminating article.

BRUCE MACLEOD San Anselmo

Abrupt Ending We, the clinical mental health staff of the Community Family Service Agency, would like to take this opportunity to address the Sonoma County communities whom the Family Service Agency has served for over 50 years.

On Dec. 2, 2014, we were informed by the administration that the counseling department would be closed in slightly over two weeks, on Dec. 19. We received this news with great sadness and concern for the continuity of care for the people with whom we have worked so closely over several decades, as well as the staff itself. We apologize to our clients for this abrupt ending.

Unfortunately, we were not consulted regarding the clinical concerns involved in ending services. Our staff is dedicated to finding immediate services for all of our current clients.

Our nonprofit clinic has provided lowcost mental-health services for over 50 years. We have served children, teens, adults, seniors, couples and families, and have provided a number of courtmandated services to Sonoma County.

We have provided counseling in the schools, women’s shelters and in the Sonoma County Jail.

We have had a highly reputable program for training interns to become licensed as clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and licensed clinical social workers. Many of our alumni serve the Sonoma County community in multiple capacities.

Rants

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

THIS MODERN WORLD

7

By Tom Tomorrow

HOLIDAY SALE SALE GOI GOING NG ON NG ON NOW! We want to thank the community for embracing us all these years and giving us the opportunity to serve our clients in their time of need. We also want to thank our alumni interns, former supervisors and staff, and donors for all they have given and express our gratitude to all who have been on this journey.

CLINICAL STAFF OF THE CFSA Santa Rosa

Called Home I was reading a story in your paper from many years ago about my grandmother, Chicki Downs (“The Breast Laid Plans,” Aug. 22, 2002). The story was written by Allie Gottlieb. I just wanted to see if you could pass along a thank you to Allie for a beautiful story, and to let her know Chicki went home to the Lord today. It was peaceful, and she was ready to go.

She has missed my grandfather dearly for many years and has been waiting, with longing in her heart, for the day

that the Lord called her home to be with Grandpa Barney.

BYRON DOWNS

Castle Rock, Colo.

Take It to Sacramento Wall Street vs. California schools budget (“Teachable Moment,” Dec. 10). Confused by the comparison. The governor has a $6 billion surplus; March in Sacramento first. Stop focusing on observers and start negotiating the salaries, since the contract isn’t even up yet. You’d get 2.5 percent now and likely another 2.5 percent in June if you’d get to the table. You’re harming yourselves over principle (right or wrong).

GIVE THE GIFT OF CREATIVITY ATIVI

‘LISTEN TO ALL SIDES’ Via Bohemian.com

Write to us at letters@bohemian.com.

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NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

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THE

Paper

DEBR IEFER High Times at Emerald Cup Last month in Las Vegas, marijuana advocates were horrified to watch cannabis culture collide with corporate greed at the National Cannabis Industry Association Conference.

Debby Goldsberry, 2013’s Emerald Cup Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a 25-year medicalcannabis activist, described the scene to a reporter over the weekend as “suits and ties with dollar signs in their eyes.”

This year’s well-attended Emerald Cup at the Sonoma Fairgrounds served as a welcome antidote to the Vegas scene. It was not only the best weed fest in the West— or any other direction—but functioned as a spiritual cleansing with thick clouds of skunky smoke and the fruity smells of worldclass extracts (thanks to Baked in Humboldt and the Sonoma County Collective).

DUNGENESS AND DRAGGERS A fishing-permit buyback program has had an as-yet-undetermined effect on the health of California’s fisheries.

Feeling the Pinch Too little too late? Feds to refinance 2003 commercialfishing buyback loan BY TOM GOGOLA

T

his month, Congress announced it would work to reduce the financial strain on commercial fishermen who participated in a federal buyback of permits and fishing boats, mostly draggers, in California back in 2003.

There’s a bill in the House to refinance a buyback loan at a lower rate than the 5 percent set by the feds when the buyback was enacted.

It’s welcome news for commercial fishermen—but what good did the original buyback do, if any?

Liz Ryan, a fisheries expert with the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), says that the buyback program, aimed at reducing fishing pressure, worked under the principle of the reverse auction.

Fishermen who offered the lowest for-sale price to the government were the first to have their boats and ) 10

Besides record crowds (about 10,000) and all sorts of merchandise for sale, the Emerald Cup was a showcase of open minds committed to freedom, health and wellness. As California looks at a likely future of highly regulated, legalized cannabis in 2015, it’s inevitable that some people will get into the business strictly for the money. That’s the American dream for lots of people, after all.

But members of the cannabis community have always valued freedom over safety, compassion over currency and wellness over material wealth.

The Emerald Cup’s medical emphasis highlighted many patient-centered services and products that will enable humans to live healthier, more productive lives. As such, the Santa Rosa event represented the victory of cannabis capitalism over cannabis corporatization. ) 10

The Bohemian started as The Paper in 1978.

Dear Friend, I wanted to let everyone know what happened while I was in college. It was a moment that changed my life forever. But before I tell you about my experience, I wanted to tell you my story from the start.

Let me start by explaining the photo in this letter, I’m the guy in the middle, Dr. Taatjes.

You know when I meet people in town and they usually say, “Oh yeah, I know you, you’re Dr. Taatjes. You’ve been in Petaluma for years…” Well, that’s me.

Twenty-six years ago something happened to me that changed my life forever. Let me tell you my story.

I was studying pre-Med in college, in hopes of becoming a medical doctor. Things were looking up, and life was good, until things took a turn for the worse.

I began to have terrible back and stomach problems. For a young guy, I felt pretty rotten.

My back hurt so badly that I had a hard time even concentrating in class. I was miserable.

The medical doctors tried different drugs, but they only made me feel like I was in a “cloud.”

I was just not getting better.

A friend of mine convinced me to give a chiropractor a try. The chiropractor did an my spine. The adjustment didn’t hurt, it actually felt good. I got relief, and I soon was off all medication. It worked so well that I decided, then and there, to become a chiropractor myself.

Now for my kids, Hayden and Henry. They have been under chiropractic care their entire lives. And, unlike most other kids in their class, they never get the “common” childhood illnesses like ear infections, asthma and allergies. In fact, they have never taken a drug in their lives. And they are now 19 and 21!

It’s strange how life is, because now people come to see me with their back problems and stomach problems. They come to me with their headaches, migraines, chronic pain, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, whiplash from car accidents, asthma, allergies, numbness in limbs, athletic injuries, just to name a few.

If drugs make people well, then those who take the most should be the healthiest, but that simply isn’t the case.

With chiropractic we don’t add anything to the body or take anything from it. We

Tea with Doc and remove it thus enhancing the healing capacities of the body. We get tremendous results…it really is as simple as that.

Here’s what some of my patients had to say: “I have had a problem with migraines as well as low back pain. Even after seeing doctors and other health professionals, the pains remained. After coming to Dr. Joel, they have helped tremendously. They even take away my migraines. They’re great!” (Judy E.) “I came in pending laser surgery for two herniated discs. Over a few months here the need for surgery subsided, and the pain has subsided to a mild discomfort with occasional morning stiffness. Over all, I feel better visit after visit. It’s a gradual process.” (Jaime O.) Several times a day patients thank me for helping them with their health problems. But I can’t really take the credit.

Find out for yourself and benefit from an AMAZING OFFER. Look, it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg to correct your health.

You are going to write a check to someone for your health care expenses, you may as well write one for a lesser amount for chiropractic. When you bring in this article

by November 30, 2014, you will receive my entire new patient exam for $27. That’s with ball of wax. This exam could cost you $350 elsewhere. Great care at a great fee…

Please, I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because I have a lower exam fee. You’ll get

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I’m a graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic who regularly goes to monthly educational chiropractic seminars. I’ve been entrusted to take care of tiny babies to neighbors that you may know. I just have that low exam fee to help more people who need care.

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Do You have A Pinched Nerve?

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permits bought out.

Those fishermen got cash in exchange for giving up their boats and permits. The boats were permanently retired from fishing, the permits torn up. The remaining California groundfish fleet was then on hook for a combination loan-grant program that sent $37.5 million via the government loan, and another $10 million in grant money, to fishermen willing to hang up their skins.

“The loan has to be paid back by the industry itself,” says Ryan. Under the program, loan payments are taken directly out of fish sales, and sent to the feds by the buyers. But more than a decade after the buyback, which affected 91 boats and 239 permits, NOAA can’t say whether the program helped save collapsing groundfish stocks in California, which comprise 90 species.

“It was the buyback’s intention that the fisheries recover, but it’s not as if we have the staff,” says Ryan, to monitor the efficacy of the program. “You can’t say that the buyback has helped these fisheries to recover.”

What you can say, adds NOAA spokeswoman Connie Barclay, is that “it’s one of the tools contributing to the ending of overfishing.”

For Bodega Bay fisherman Tony Anello, the buyback program was an example of “closing the gate after the cows have already left.”

Anello supported the move to reduce the number of draggers in the state commercial fleet. It’s a destructive, wasteful way to harvest the ocean’s bounty.

Anello and his family run crab boats in Bodega Bay and own the Spud Point Crab Co. He says pressures on Dungeness crab, combined with a very shaky salmon fishery, means uncertainty is still the rule of the day—and fishermen are hitting the crab hard to make ends meet.

Anello has already seen a dropoff in his crab catch this year. His

traps are now coming out of the briny with one to four crabs, he says.

“Right now, the crab industry is overcapitalized,” he says. “I’m surprised that the fishery has held up as well as it has.”

‘You can’t say that the buyback has helped these fisheries recover.’

And forget the salmon, he says.

“If you don’t catch enough crab during the season, you’re going to starve. There aren’t enough salmon.”

Humboldt State University economics professor Dr. Steven Hackett has researched the socioeconomics of fisheries management and asks the question: “How do you sustain fishermen and the industry cluster that surrounds them?”

Bodega Bay has an interlocking economy driven by fish and crabs: there are slip fees, fuel docks, fish processors, marine engine repair shops. The main impediments to sustaining a healthy industry cluster, says Hackett, are a tight regulatory climate factored in with prohibitive costs to enter and maintain a commercialfishing business.

“We’ve seen years where people really struggle,” he says. “And it doesn’t take too many of those before you have to find another line of work—and that cascades into the industry cluster.”

DEBRIEFER

(8

Canadian panelist Phillippe Lucas brought the point home Saturday.

He noted that Canada pays for medical cannabis for its veterans, which requires a well-regulated system to ensure a consistent product. You’ll need at least $4 million to break into Canada’s medical cannabis industry, says Lucas, who is the vice president of patient relations and research at Tilray, a large medical cannabis corporation in Canada.

Tilray has been able to “harness the power of capitalism,” says Lucas, to provide safe, consistent cannabis to suffering patients. The company is also involved in groundbreaking research. One upcoming study will test crossapplicability in post-traumatic stress disorder patients by examining military veterans, police officers and sexual assault victims who utilize cannabis to treat their PTSD. There’s a similar study underway in Colorado focused on military vets, but elsewhere in the States, research is stifled by cannabis’ federal classification as a Schedule I controlled substance—which says it has no medical value whatsoever.

As California lurches toward legalization—all roads are leading to 2016 as the Year—access to medical cannabis still varies county to county and city to city.

For example, Marin County’s oldest licensed dispensary was shut down years ago for being too close to a baseball field. Patients there are currently being served by delivery services, or by going out of county.

This reporter goes to the Cannabis Buyer’s Club of Berkeley (CBCB), which also offers yoga, aura readings and peer support.

Director of CBCB Aundre Speciale spoke at the Emerald Cup’s women’s panel on Saturday. She was asked: What business practices make for a successful cannabis operation?

She says “love” has always been her business model.—Jacqueline Patterson

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TEQUILA TEMPLE El Barrio’s cocktails sport female-centric names like ‘La Patrona’ and ‘La Jefa.’

Buzzworthy El Barrio is the new kid on Guerneville’s expanding foodie block BY FLORA TSAPOVSKY

T

he last five years have taken Guerneville from a sleepy vacation spot to a talked-about foodie destination. Sure, the charm was always there, but it took stylish spots like Big Bottom Market, Boon and, most recently, Seaside Metal to get the buzz going.

Some may claim, however, that a town’s transformation into a

lucrative gourmet empire couldn’t be complete without a niche bar. Now Guerneville has one of those too. El Barrio, an agave and bourbon bar, has joined the nondescript sports bars and LGBT-favored disco-ball-spinning clubs.

El Barrio is the new venture by Crista Luedtke, a partner at Big Bottom and the one-woman force behind Boon Hotel and Spa, and it’s a curious one. Earthy tones and Mexican-inspired stripes tastefully dictate the decor, and the lights

are muted but bright enough for everyone to enjoy the meticulous styling. Lacking the happy-golucky abandon typical to the local bars, El Barrio opts instead for a classy, relaxed vibe.

“Guerneville has changed a lot in the last eight years,” says Luedtke. “While it still remains a great gay scene, we have such a mix of Bay Area travelers that come to explore.”

Chances are, those travelers are into mixology and complex flavors, and El Barrio greets them

well prepared. The cocktail menu is based on tequila, mescal, bourbon and coffee liquors, and lists more than a hundred labels. “I love the smoky qualities of these spirits, and how they work so well together,” gushes Luedtke. “There are so many different flavor profiles present.”

The cocktails were crafted with Christina Cabrera, Leudtke’s San Francisco–based bar consultant, and their names carry a fun girlpower message. There’s La Jefa, a fiery concoction of rye, lemon, maple, ancho chile, Angostura bitters and egg whites ($11), and the refreshing La Patrona, featuring tequila, Aperol and grapefruit bitters, adorned with smoked salt ($11). For the less adventurous, there’s Michelada ($7), a housemade sangria with a twist, bottled and drafter beer, and wine by the glass.

Prices may be a little steep, but El Barrio seems to be connecting with the locals. “We have already developed groups of locals who love it and have become regulars,” contests Luedtke. “My ladies group who leaves the hubbies behind and comes for girls night out; the group of restaurantindustry peeps, before or after their shifts; the local Latin crowd who loves Mexican beers on tap and great tequilas.”

All of the above may enjoy the winter Wednesday-night pozole dinner, which includes the famous pork stew and a seasonal vegetable side for $11. On regular nights, snacks include chips with salsa and guacamole, queso dips, a plate of crunchy, spicy cucumbers and, more exciting, Mexican devilled eggs. The classic appetizer undergoes an exotic upgrade here with cilantro lime pesto and chili dust (5$).

El Barrio does exotic, delicious and upscale really well. With time, its novel zest and polished serenity should mix with the potent local flavor—and another winning cocktail will emerge.

El Barrio, 16230 Main St., Guerneville.

707.604.7601.

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NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

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5755 MOUNTAIN HAWK WAY SANTA ROSA, CA

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

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Dining

overlooking bay. Lunch and dinner daily. (Cash only.)

350 Harbor Dr, Sausalito.

415.331.FISH.

Our selective list of North Bay restaurants is subject to menu, pricing and schedule changes. Call ďŹ rst for conďŹ rmation.

Restaurants in these listings appear on a rotating basis. For expanded listings, visit www.bohemian.com.

Il Piccolo Caffe Italian. $$. Big, ample portions at this premier spot on Sausalito’s spirited waterfront. Breakfast and lunch daily. 660 Bridgeway, Ste 3, Sausalito. 415.289.1195.

COST: $ = Under $12; $$ = $13-$20; $$$ = $21-$26; $$$$ = Over $27

Rating indicates the low to average cost of a full dinner for one person, exclusive of desserts, beverages and tip.

S O N O MA CO U N T Y

14415 Coast Hwy 1, Valley Ford (at the Valley Ford Hotel).

707.876.1983.

Cape Cod Fish & Chips

plentiful staff at outstanding and creative pizzeria.

Excellent and affordable wine list. Lunch and dinner daily. Creekside Center, 53 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa.

707.544.3221.

Fish and chips. $. A dingy hole in the wall–just like a real chippy! This popular lunch spot offers perfectly cooked fish and chips to eat in or take out.

Open daily. 7530 Commerce Blvd, Cotati. 707.792.0982.

Dempsey’s Alehouse Gourmet pub fare. $-$$.

Popular brewpub and bistro, award-winning handcrafted beers, outdoor dining in summer and pork chops to die for. Lunch and dinner daily.

50 E Washington St, Petaluma.

707.765.9694.

Gary Chu’s Chinese. $$.

Celebrate the Holidays with us!

New bar menu & remodel!

Family style Italian dinners since 1943

Negri’s N egri’s Restaurant Re staurant 3700 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental s negrisrestaurant.com

BEVERAGES t POPSICLES t LIVEďšşCULTURED FOODS

KEFIR

non-dairy

Come get Enlivened! Our kid friendly TASTING BAR is where you can experience our live-cultured non-dairy kefir products.

Now Locally available @ Community Markets, Zodiacs, Healdsburg SHED, Guayaki Mate Bar, Petaluma SEED Bank...

thekeďŹ ry.com 707.280.6502

972 Gravenstein Hwy S Sebastopol, CA North Bay Wholesale, Keg and Bottle Inquiries Welcome!

Fine Chinese food in elegant setting. Lunch and dinner, Tues-Sun. 611 Fifth St, Santa Rosa. 707.526.5840.

Hikuni Sushi Bar & Hibachi Japanese. $$$.

Terrific teppanyaki plus a full sushi bar, tonkatsu, udon and bento. Lunch and dinner daily. 4100 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa. 707.539.9188.

Juanita Juanita Mexican. $. Fun and funky. Lunch and dinner daily. 19114 Arnold Dr, Sonoma. 707.935.3981.

Mac’s Delicatessen Diner. $. Large selection of Jewish-style sandwiches; excellent cole slaw. Breakfast and lunch, Mon-Sat. 630 Fourth St, Santa Rosa.

707.545.3785.

Pongo’s Kitchen & Tap Thai. $$. Family-owned and operated with superfresh ingredients and a full kids’ menu. Lunch and dinner daily. 701 Sonoma Mt Pkwy, Petaluma. 707.765.9800.

Rocker Oysterfeller’s American. $$-$$$. Friendly, warm service in a spot whose menu is thick with local, organic ingredients. Dinner, Thurs-Sun; brunch, Sun.

Rosso Pizzeria & Wine Bar Pizza. $-$$. Friendly,

Sante California cuisine.

Mountain Home Inn American. $$-$$$$. Great summer sandwiches with a view atop Mt Tamalpais.

Breakfast, Sat-Sun; lunch and dinner, Wed-Sun. 810 Panoramic Dr, Mill Valley.

415.381.9000.

Nick’s Cove Seafood/ contemporary American. $$$$.

Fresh from the bay oysters, upscale seafood, some steaks and a great burger. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

23240 State Route 1, Marshall.

415.663.1033.

$$$. In this world-class spa setting sample Sonoma County-inspired dishes or an elegant traditional brunch.

Dinner daily; brunch, Sun. 18140 Sonoma Hwy, Boyes Hot Springs. 707.939.2415.

Robata Grill & Sushi

Sonoma Chocolatiers

Salito’s Crab House

Dessert and tea. $. Fine flavors of tea and artisanal chocolates.

All chocolates are 62-85 percent Scharffen Berger dark chocolate. Luscious and addictive; vegan options, bold flavors, low sugar, local and organic ingredients. 6988 McKinley St., Sebastopol.

707.829.1181.

Sushi Tozai Japanese. $$.

Spare, clean ambiance and some of the freshest sushi you’ll ever eat. Lunch and dinner, Tues-Sun. 7531 Healdsburg Ave, Sebastopol. 707.824.9886.

MARIN CO U N T Y Casa Maùana Mexican. $. Big burritos a stone’s throw from the perfect picnic spot: Perri Park. The horchata is divine. Lunch and dinner daily. 85 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax.

415.454.2384.

Finnegan’s Marin Pub fare. $$. Irish bar with the traditional stuff. Lunch and dinner daily. 877 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.899.1516.

Fish Seafood. $$-$$$.

Incredibly fresh seafood in incredibly relaxed setting

Japanese. $$. Mmm. With thick slices of fresh sashimi, Robata knows how to do it. The rolls are big winners. Lunch, MonFri; dinner daily. 591 Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley. 415.381.8400.

Seafood . $$$. Waterfront setting with extensive marine menu plus steak and other American staples. Lunch and dinner daily. 1200 Bridgeway Ave, Sausalito. 415.331.3226.

Sol Food Puerto Rican. $.

Flavorful, authentic and homestyle at this Puerto Rican eatery, which is as hole-in-thewall as they come. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. San Rafael locations: 811 Fourth St; 901 & 903 Lincoln Ave. 415.451.4765. Mill Valley location: 401 Miller Ave, Mill Valley. 415.380.1986.

Sorella Caffe Italian. $$. The embodiment of Fairfax casual, with delicious, high-quality food that lacks pretension. Dinner, TuesSun. 107 Bolinas Rd, Farifax.

415.258.4520.

The William Tell House American & Italian. $$. Marin County’s oldest saloon. Casual and jovial atmosphere. Steaks, pasta, chicken and fish all served with soup or salad. Lunch and dinner daily. 26955 Hwy 1, Tomales. 707.878.2403

Yet Wah Chinese. $$.

Can’t go wrong here. Special Dungeness crab dishes for dinner; dim sum for lunch.

Lunch and dinner daily.

1238 Fourth St, San Rafael.

415.460.9883.

Carpe Diem Wine Bar Californian. $-$$. Right in the heart of downtown Napa, Carpe Diem’s contemporary and innovative menu includes a variety of seasonal flatbreads, an ostrich burger, the famed short-rib sliders and much more. Over 45 wines by the glass, six draft beers and an impressive reserve wine list round out this warm, inviting space. Dinner daily. 1001 Second St., Napa.

707.224.0800.

Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen Eclectic. $$-$$$. As comfortable as it sounds, with a rich and varied melting pot of a menu. Lunch and dinner daily.

1327 Railroad Ave, St Helena.

707.963.1200.

Cole’s Chop House American steakhouse. $$$$$. Handsome, upscale 1950s-era steakhouse serving chophouse classics like dryaged porterhouse steak and Black Angus filet mignon.

Wash down the red meat with a “nostalgia” cocktail. Dinner daily. 1122 Main St, Napa.

707.224.6328.

Gillwoods Cafe Diner. $-$$. Classic hometown diner, specializes in the homemade.

Breakfast and lunch daily.

1313 Main St, St Helena.

707.963.1788.

Gott’s Roadside Tray Gourmet Diner. $-$$.

Formerly Taylor’ Automatic Refresher. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 933 Main St, St Helena. 707.963.3486. Also at Oxbow Public Market, 644 First St, Napa. 707.224,6900.

La Toque Restaurant French-inspired. $$$$. Set in a comfortable elegantly rustic dining room reminiscent of a French lodge, with a stone fireplace centerpiece, La Toque makes for memorable special-occasion dining. The elaborate wine pairing menus are luxuriously inspired. Dinner daily. 1314 McKinstry St, Napa.

707.257.5157.

Pizza Azzurro Italian. $.

Run by a former Tra Vigne and Lark Creek Inn alum, the pizza is simple and thin, and ranks as some of the best in the North

Pop-Up Ramen Sebastopol’s excellent Ramen Gaijin opened the doors to its new home Friday. The restaurant now occupies the space formerly held by the Forchetta half of Forchetta/ Bastoni, a combo Italian and Southeast Asian restaurant. The Italian side of the restaurant never quite caught fire, so now it’s a combo Japanese and Southeast Asian restaurant.

Ramen Gaijin owners Matthew Williams and Moishe Hahn-Schuman moved from Woodfour Brewing Co. where they ran a once-a-month pop-up restaurant. Ramen Gaijin is still a pop-up, but it feels more permanent with the art they’ve hung from the ceiling, a community board that lists all their Sonoma County suppliers and other touches. And they’re open four days a week.

West County is a better place for it.

The “Sonoma County–style” ramen is as delicious as ever. The infinitely deep flavors of the soup in the shoyu ramen ($14, a combination of chicken and dashi broth) are coaxed from hours of slow simmering in big pots. Add springy house-made rye noodles and outstanding toppings like wood ear mushrooms, pork belly, half a soft boiled mirin- and soy-sauce-marinated egg, and bamboo shoots, and you’ve got a great meal in bowl. While the menu will change, currently there is also a vegetarian sesameand miso-based ramen, and a fiery “tan tan” ramen on the menu. Other options include albacore tataki ($11), karaage chicken ($9), a winter vegetable salad ($6) and an excellent black sesame ice cream ($7).

There’s also a great lineup of beverages: Japanese and local brews, Japanese whiskey and short list of sake chosen by master sake sommelier Stewart Morris.

Ramen Gaijin is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday-Saturday. 6948 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. 707.827.3609. www.facebook. com/RamenGaijin.—Stett Holbrook

Bay. Lunch and dinner daily.

1260 Main St (at Clinton), Napa.

707.255.5552.

Red Rock Cafe & Backdoor BBQ American.

$-$$. Cafe specializing in barbecue and classic diner fare.

Messy, delicious. Lunch and dinner daily. 1010 Lincoln Ave, Napa. 707.252.9250.

Chocolate Ch ocolate Sonoma County’s Sonoma County’s Best B est Chocolatier Chocolatier since since 2009 2009

Native Peruvian Cuisine

Exquisite Ceviche & Paella

522 7th St Santa Rosa 707.324.9548 laperlasr.com

Handmade H andmade Dark Dark Chocolate Chocolate T ASTE THE THE DARK DARK SIDE SIDE TASTE

66988 988 M McKinley cK inl e y Street, S t r ee t, Sebastopol Seb a s t op ol ((next ne x t tto oW Whole h o l e FFoods) o o d s)

ssonomachocolatiers.com onomachocolatiers.com m

Prix Fixe Prix Fixe Specials Sp ecial s Thur Tues–Thur T ues –Th

$

15 pp 215 2-course course llunch u nch 29pppp 33-course -course dinner dinner

$

Thai House Lunch specials start at $7.95 Includes soup or salad Mon-Fri only

Open 7 days a week Sun-Th 11:30-9:30 Fri-Sat 11:30-10:00 525 4th Street(Upstairs) 707.526.3939

10 years 10 years strong! s t ro n g !

O r iginal Owners O w ne rs Original

NORTH N ORT H INDIAN INDI A N CUISINE C U ISINE

70 7.53 8 .33 67 707.538.3367 Mission 5522 M ission Circle, Ci rcle, Santa Sa nt a Rosa Ro s a (at (a at H Hwy w y 12 & M Mission i ssion Blvd.)

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NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

N A PA CO U N TY

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SMALL BITES

FAMILY FRIENDS FESTIVITIES

LIVE RAW LOVE HAPPY HEALTHY HOLIDAYS

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NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

Wineries GROWLERS OF BUCH

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revive kombucha revivekombucha.com for healthy holiday cocktail recipes

Most reviews by James Knight. Note: Those listings marked ‘WC’ denote wineries with caves. These wineries are usually only open to the public by appointment.

Wineries in these listings appear on a rotating basis.

SONOMA CO U N TY Cartograph Wines From a kayak in Minocqua Lake to the streets of Healdsburg, Alan Baker followed his muse. On-point Pinot Noir, GewĂźrztraminer with gravitas.

340 Center St., Healdsburg.

Open noon–6:30pm daily.

707.433.8270.

Donelan Family Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are “gateway drugs� to their lush Syrah. 3352 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa. By appointment only, Monday–Saturday.

707.591.0782.

Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery Pinot meets Pinotage at the edge of the continent. Take the turnoff to Meyers Grade Road and don’t look back. 15725 Meyers Grade Road, Jenner. Open daily, 10am–6pm. Tasting fee, $10.

707.847.3460.

La Crema Winery Stylish

Aordable Aordable V accination Vaccination Clinics C linics

ever y Sunday S unday a every 9: 30 –11: 3 0 am a 9:30–11:30am

Western W estern F Farm arm Center Center

21 W 21 West est 7 7th th S Street tr e et 3 ANTA 2OSA s 3ANTA 2OSA s w w w.westernfarmc enter. com www.westernfarmcenter.com

salon offers hip urbanites limited-release country cousins of the top-selling restaurant brand. Pop in for the Pinot, stay for the Syrah.

235 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. Open daily, 10:30am–5:30pm.

707.431.9400.

Mill Creek While the historically inspired building is just spinning a decorative wheel, quaint is just a footnote to quality. All the wines are above average. 1401 Westside Road, Healdsburg. Open daily, 10am–4pm. 707.431.2121.

Murphy-Goode Winery Value is a premium. Be sure to try the Brenda Block Cabernet and Fume Blanc.

The new tasting room is a classy, low-key experience.

20 Matheson St., Healdsburg.

Open daily, 10:30am–5:30pm.

800.499.7644.

Repris Wines A new crew reignites a blast from the past at historic Moon Mountain Vineyard. A work in progress with fantastic views.

1700 Moon Mountain Road, Sonoma. By appointment only.

707.931.7701.

Soda Rock Winery King suites, water tower room, and rustic barn—all perfect for weddings. Pair the Zinfandel with pancakes in the morning.

8015 Hwy. 128, Healdsburg.

Daily, 11am–5pm. Tasting fee, $5. 707.433.3303.

Talisman Wine Husbandand-wife industry veterans play out their passion for Pinot in unassuming warehouse space—now pouring earthy, spicy Pinot in rustic Glen Ellen. Brunch alert: steps away from Garden Court Cafe.

13651 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen.

Thursday–Monday, noon– 5pm and by appt. Tasting fee, $25. 707.721.1628.

Valdez Family Winery Ulises Valdez toiled in the vineyard of Zinfandel for over 20 years. Rare St. Peter’s Church Zin. 113 Mill St., Healdsburg. Thursday– Sunday, 11am–5pm. Tasting fee, $10. 707.433.3710.

Wilson Winery Scenic setting and rustic-modern tasting room makes for an atmospheric, recommended visit. Single-vineyard Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Petite Sirah win awards for good reason— namely, even curmudgeons take one sip and turn into believers. 1960 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. Open daily, 11am to 5pm. Tastings are $5; $10 for reserves. 707.433.4355.

N A PA CO U N TY Brown Estate Vineyards (WC) A beautifully restored and converted stone and redwood barn is the winery and tasting room facility at Brown Estate. And the construction of a 6,500-square-foot subterranean wine cave was completed in 2005. Visitors are currently limited to wine club members by appointment only.

3233 Sage Canyon Road, Napa.

707.963.2435.

Corison Winery Winemaker Cathy Corison proudly describes herself as a “Cabernet chauvinist.�

987 St. Helena Hwy., St. Helena. By appointment.

707.963.0826.

Goosecross Cellars Taste Sauvignon Blanc in friendly barrel room bar; your choice of goose or snow leopard on the label.

Goosecross partners with charities and nonprofits. 119 State Lane, Yountville. By appointment, 10am–4:30 pm. Tasting fee $20–$25.

707.944.1986.

Grgich Hills Mike Grgich’s Chardonnays famously beat the competition at the 1976 “Judgment of Paris� and the allestate winery is solar-powered and practices organic and biodynamic. 1829 St. Helena Hwy., Rutherford. Open daily, 9:30am–4:30pm. 707.963.2784.

Hess Collection Winery An intellectual outpost of art and wine housed in the century-old Christian Brother’s winery. Cab is the signature varietal. 4411 Redwood Road, Napa. Open daily, 10am–4pm. 707.255.1144.

Jericho Canyon Vineyard Oh boy, boutique Napa Cab from celebrity consultant Michel Rolland and high-rollers who used to spend half the year in Hawaii? Well, yeah, but they’re super nice, work hard, and their wines are tops. Cab and Sauv Blanc.

3322 Old Lawley Toll Road, Calistoga. Tour and tasting by appointment only, $30.

707.942.9665.

Madonna Estate Millennial contingent of multigenerational family winery, once known as Mount St. John, finds success running it old-school: touristy, oldfashioned, and wildly popular.

Refreshing Gewßrztraminer for summer picnics. 5400 Old Sonoma Road, Napa. Daily 10am to 5pm; $5–$10.

707.255.8864.

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Pinot Noir in five holiday aromas

BY JAMES KNIGHT

I

t’s not just because I had these leftovers that I’m still talking about Pinot Noir, weeks after Thanksgiving.

Pinot Noir may be the ideal lubricant for turkey and ham (latkes with apple sauce—I’d go with Chardonnay), but some of its varietal characteristics also have a unique association with the fragrance of the season, that nostalgic blend of cinnamic aldehydes and terpenoids that we think of as Yuletide. Nice time to practice winetasting. Instead of worrying about your wine vocabulary, close your eyes and let your descriptors come from a place where smell and memory dwell together in the heart. Speaking of leftovers, every one of these wines held firm a day after opening.

Folie à Deux 2012 Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($20) Fruitcake: the aroma released when those candied things in fruitcake are freshly sliced in half. Lush and inviting, with plum and cherry flavors trending vanilla-cherry cola and firmness dignifying the finish, it’s a good showing from this Napa mega-producer.

Frank Family 2012 Carneros Pinot Noir ($35) The sooty, smoky smell of the hearth reminds me of Christmases at a grandfather’s house a long time ago—and now I recall that they always had an extra-fancy tree, after just a whiff of this wine. But the soot is a note, not the song, and there’s rich, red fruit in here, somewhat locked down under tannin, waiting to be revealed.

Taken Wine Co. ‘Complicated’ 2013 Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($20) Pinot reminds me of “Christmas candle” when it smells like potpourri—spices and dried fruits—but in a more waxy, chemical way. Despite the coy name, this turns out to be enjoyably simple, with a bright, tight palate of cinnamonspiced lingonberry jam. (If you’re wondering about the name, other wines in their lineup include “Taken” and the upcoming “Available.” No word on “Just Bitter.”)

J Vineyards 2012 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($40) Peppermint candy cane is just one of the cool, spicy aromas I get from the J—also fir and white chocolate. Interestingly, a darker, clove spice note infuses the red-fruited but drying palate. Maybe it’s the mintiness, but I’d have this with lamb.

Rodney Strong 2013 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($30) The fresh, balsamic aroma of fir tree is like the “forest floor” descriptor often dropped on Pinot, but different. This has a warm, savory scent of drying needles, like a noble, dying little tree that’s been lit up for a few weeks. The cranberry-cherry flavor is crunchy and crisp; cinnamon, vanilla and sage add glitter to the tart red fruit.

WHEN:

1/11, 2-6:30pm 1/12, 6:30-10:30pm

CALLBACKS:

1/18, 2-6:30pm 1/19, 6:30-10:30pm

WHERE:

Arlene Francis Center 99 6th Street Santa Rosa, CA

FOR INFO & AUDITION APPOINTMENTS

shakespeareinthecannery@gmail.com w/day & time or Call 707-235-9159 PREPARE:

Two contrasting speeches of desired role or similar.

Celebrate the Holidays at The Inn at the Tides Serving Lunch and Dinner

Christmas Day Thursday, December 25, 1pm–8pm

Dinner Party and Dancing New Year’s Eve

Thursday, December 31, 7pm–1am 5-Course Menu, Dancing, Party Favors, Midnight Toast

Inn at the Tides 800 Hwy One, Bodega Bay Reservations: 800.541.7788 / Menus & Info: www.InnattheTides.com

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

Nose Like a Cherry

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

18

The Fighter After years of self-neglect, Megan Farnham rebuilt her life around mixed martial arts. So why won’t anyone fight her? BY DAVID TEMPLETON

C

ameras flash from beyond the chainlink fence as the gray-jacketed announcer, a fight card in one hand and a microphone in the other, steps into the center of the cage.

“First . . . introducing . . . fighting out of the blue corner . . . from Lakeport, California . . . weighing in at 122 pounds . . .

Miss Amanda Brackett!”

Bracket, in her corner, briefly raises her arms above her head, quickly adjusting her helmet and mouth guard, her eyes darting over to take in her opponent, a tattooed young woman now bouncing up and down on the other side of the combat area.

“Next . . . fighting out of the red corner . . . weighing in at 124 pounds . . . from Santa Rosa, California . . . Megan Farnham!”

It’s Saturday night, Oct. 20, 2012—fight night at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, a series of mixed martial arts matches featuring male and female amateur cage fighters.

Though the video doesn’t show the audience, from the sound of it, Farnham has a lot of fans out there in the stands. Cheering, whistling and whooping, the noisy crowd shouts their support at deafening levels, as Farnham stands in her own corner, waiting

for the bell, mere seconds away from her first official cage fight.

The bell rings, and the fight is on.

Farnham, all focused energy and pent-up anticipation, throws the first couple of punches and the first kick. The fighters trade more kicks, more blows, blocking and bobbing as the battle gradually scoots closer and closer to the perimeter of the cage. As their kicks and punches catapult back and forth, the opponents circle each other, semi-waltzing at arm’s length, now moving back through the center and over to the opposite side of the cage.

Brackett pulls up a surge of energy and attacks Farnham with a barrage of blows to the body and face, driving her back for a brief few seconds. Farnham responds with her own re-energized attack, as if drawing inspiration from each strike she absorbs. Brackett begins to weary as her opponent drives her back across the arena, until a kick from Farnham is intercepted, Brackett holding on firmly as Farnham is forced to hop on one leg.

This looks bad.

But Farnham, after a few awkward seconds, turns the move against Brackett, forcing her competitor to the ground and gaining a firm hold on her from above. Brackett throws desperate punches that miss their mark, as Farnham pulls her to her feet and tosses her off.

Moments later—after Bracket briefly drives Farnham to the fence—the fighter from Santa Rosa moves sharply forward, grabs Bracket by the arms, and throws her to the ground.

Bracket rises quickly and steps into a fierce volley of punches to the face that clearly exhausts what remains of her determination. Driven back to the fence, Brackett feebly blocks the punches, absorbing a few additional kicks to the leg and stomach before turning and walking away from Farnham, who follows for a few seconds, not yet understanding that she’s just won her very first fight.

The referee, recognizing that Brackett is done, ends the match.

“The winner, by referee stoppage—Megan Farnham!”

In the video, the expression on Farnham’s face, as she resumes bouncing, both arms raised above her head, is priceless. Farnham is grinning from ear to ear, not so much a look of triumph as an expression of gradually dawning awareness that after years of setbacks, disappointments and extremely hard work, this is what it feels like to be a winner.

‘G

round and pound!

That’s when the fight has been taken to the ground, and now you’re ) 20 basically wrestling,”

FISTS OF FURY Megan

Farnham spars with trainer Ben Brown at his Santa Rosa gym.

19 NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

Michael Amsler

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

20

The Fighter ( 18

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explains Farnham, describing one of her favorite combat moves. “You’re moving and striking, while not getting up. You’re trying to hold them down, to pin them to ground and to strike them at the same time. Ground and pound!�

She’s grinning again.

It’s two years after her ďŹ rst ďŹ ght. As Farnham talks, she organizes a row of glasses tucked behind the bar at Jack & Tony’s, where until recently she worked as a bartender. Having just learned she’ll be ďŹ ghting in December’s Ultimate Reno Combat in Nevada, Farnham is clearly pumped up for a chance to ďŹ ght again. Since 2012, she’s been training hard, but has only landed a handful of ďŹ ghts. She remains undefeated, and is hungry for more chances to take her training to the cage.

For some reason, though, in recent months, opponents have made a habit of withdrawing just before the ďŹ ght, commonly citing 11th-hour injuries. One of her most recent matches-thatnever-happened was a cage ďŹ ght in Petaluma. With three different women lined up to take her on—all in the same weight class, with similar experience levels—Farnham and her trainers assumed it was a done deal and were preparing hard for the event.

All three opponents declined to ďŹ ght at the last minute.

So today, a day before Halloween, with her sights now set on Reno, Farnham is psyched.

Voted the best amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) production in America, the Ultimate Reno Combat will be a big move forward. “People told me it was a bad idea to have my ďŹ rst ďŹ ght in my home town,â€? Farnham says of the 2012 ďŹ ght, video of which can be easily found on YouTube. “The thought is, ďŹ ghting in front of your friends just puts too much extra pressure on you,â€? she explains. “But that was a big deal for me, and I wanted my friends there. And I think it actually helped me. I wanted them to see me up there, in shape, ready to go,

in the cage—because there were those who said it would never happen.�

In mixed martial arts, ďŹ ghters employ a combination of all the martial arts disciplines: Muay Thai, boxing, judo, wrestling, jujitsu, all at one time. So ďŹ ghters must have command of a huge toolbox of moves and approaches.

They also need to be in incredibly good shape. “You get somebody who’s a 10year wrestler, does kickboxing and stuff, pitted against somebody who has six years in Muay Thai and only has a couple years jujitsu,â€? Farnham describes. “But they have the same number of ďŹ ghts, so you match them up that way, and it’s a ‘best of the best’ kind of thing. “I have a boxing coach, a jujitsu coach, a Muay Thai coach,â€? she says. “I train everything separately, but I compete using the combination. Some people just train MMA. You’re kicking, you’re punching, you’re doing the ground-and-pound stuff, but there are a lot of holes in your training because of that, because you’re training MMA as an overall thing instead of hammering on the speciďŹ cs. The speciďŹ cs are where the power is. That’s where the muscle memory comes from in all of these different disciplines.

So I train it all separate and put it together in the cage.�

F

arnham works out six to eight hours a day, trading her ďŹ ght training with other regimens, track running and sprints, bleachers and CrossFit exercises, with plenty of sparring and one-on-one work with her trainers, “hammeringâ€? those allimportant speciďŹ cs.

It is, Farnham allows, a full-on obsession. “A friend stopped by the other day and said, ‘I haven’t seen you in a while. You must be doing good in your life.’� Farnham laughs. “Uh. Yeah. I’ve been very busy! Work and training is pretty much all I do.�

Such was not always the case.

There was a time, not so long ago, when Farnham’s life looked to be heading off the rails. “I was overweight. I was

Michael Amsler

21

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want or need. You have to make it happen. So instead of drinking all day, I decided to ďŹ nd a way to get in shape that I could stick with, something that would really inspire.â€?

Even Farnham’s mother couldn’t have predicted she’d ďŹ nd that inspiration in a 30-foot diameter steel cage. But she surely couldn’t argue with the results. “I lost 48 pounds between the day I walked in to my ďŹ rst training session and the day I had my ďŹ rst ďŹ ght,â€? Farnham says proudly. “And I’ve kept it off since. It saved my life. Fighting saved my life completely.â€?

Her ďŹ ght with alcohol was a different matter.

She’d been training, gradually acquiring skills, losing weight and building conďŹ dence, but was still drinking, still landing in trouble— and nowhere near ready to begin competing as a mixed martial artist. “Then,â€? she recalls, “another ďŹ ghter, this girl who dated my brother—pretty ) 22

REA

drinking a lot,� she admits. “I was working the bars and stuff, and not taking care of myself. I was in trouble with the police. I was in and out of the courts. All alcoholrelated stuff.�

She was young. She’d found a niche as a bartender, where her friendly personality and gift for gab made her popular with customers. She was fond of nightclubs, frequently partying with friends, drinking hard with her brothers, whom she describes as “great big Irishmen.�

Then her mother passed away after a battle with breast cancer.

Worried about her daughter’s self-neglect and addictive tendencies, Farnham’s mother made her promise that she would take a hard look at her choices, ďŹ nd a way to take control of her life, her health and her future. “I promised. And after mom passed, I just knew I had to make a change,â€? Farnham says. “Life is short. I’d wasted so much of my life, I just didn’t want to waste time anymore. I realized life doesn’t always give you what you

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much my arch-rival, I guess—she came in, and she asked me how my training was going. And I said, ‘You know what? I love my training so much! I’m going to get serious about it. I’m going to quit drinking. I’m going to lose some more weight, and I’m going to start competing as a fighter.’

“And she laughed,” Farnham continues. “She laughed! And she spat her drink out. I’ll never forget this moment for as long as I live. She spat out her drink, and she said, ‘Yeah right, Megan!

There’s no way you can ever do that. Come on, girl. Let’s be real.’

And after that, I didn’t drink for a whole year.”

Maybe it was the inner MMA fighter that she gradually awakened, but this was one challenge Farnham knew she had to meet head on. She swore off drinking and went a full 365 days sober, just to see what that was like.

“It changed my life,” she says.

“Now, because of that year, I can have a glass of wine once in a while, and then I’m done. I can just stop and go home. I no longer have the urge or the need to get drunk.”

“It took someone telling me I couldn’t do it to make me finally do it,” she says, laughing. “I quit drinking. I lost more weight. And then—just like I said I would—I started competing.

“And to this day, I’m undefeated. I just have a hard time getting anyone to fight me.”

Asked if she’s ever met her “arch-rival” in a cage, Farnham grins.

“No, but I’ve fought more times than she has. And I have a better record than she has. So I’ve never fought her—but I did once beat the girl who beat her—so that’s the same thing, right?”

‘L

eft hook! Right body shot!

“Left hook! Body shot!

Good job!”

There’s a banner on the wall at Phas3 Martial Arts in Santa Rosa.

“Training People . . . Reconditioning Lives.”

This is the “essentials class,”

where owner Ben Brown oversees a mix of novices and advanced students, all working the basic essentials of the Muay Thai martial arts discipline. He moves easily, with constant admonitions and encouragements, between the newcomers working out on the bags—“Don’t forget to kick! If you kick your opponent a lot in the first round, you’re going to knock them out in the second round!”— and the more advanced students doing drills in the corner ring.

After years of training at other Muay Thai schools, Farnham has found a home here, and a major supporter in Ben Brown.

“The most common definition of Muay Thai,” Brown explains after the class, “is ‘the Art of Eight Limbs.’ You hit with your hands, your legs, your elbows and your knees. Eight limbs. It’s the national sport of Thailand.”

Brown, who started training as a martial artist at the age of fourand-a-half, and who’s been teaching martial arts since he was 14, established his Muay Thai school on Summerfield 11 years ago.

“Megan’s an amazing girl, and pardon my language, she is a goddamned tough fighter, a tough fighter,” he says. “But she’s also a great representation of humanity. She’s positive, friendly, hardworking, and she has never failed to give me what I ask for during a training session. Even when I think it’s maybe a little beyond her, she delivers.”

Brown recalls his first training session with Farnham.

“Megan came in here with a little bit of post-traumatic-stress from negative experiences at her most recent gym,” he says.

“Her confidence was a little bit wrecked. She’d been beaten down. She hadn’t been supported enough in her goals to get fights.

“But she was very, very hungry—I could see that,” he goes on. “In this business, talent isn’t enough. I’ve had plenty of talented people train here.

Talent alone won’t do it. It’s about hunger. It’s about commitment.

I’ll take a committed student over a talented student any day. And I could see from the moment she walked in here that Megan had talent, hunger and commitment.

against your opponent,” says Brown. “All the public sees is two people swinging at each other, but there were some hard, hard fights leading up to it, a series of very careful negotiations to put that fighter in a scenario where they can win.

“And female fighters, for good or bad, typically have a harder time finding opponents,” Brown shrugs.

“It’s very hard for a good fighter like Megan to find someone willing to fight her. The pool of competent female fighters is small, for one thing—and coaches have a tendency to protect their female fighters more than their male fighters.”

Think of it as a metaphor for life.

A vast school of hard knocks, in which we learn how strong we are, help form the decisions about what kind of person we want to be and what we need to learn—and let go of—to be our best selves.

And every so often, we step into a cage and do battle with whatever it is that stands between us and the best version of ourselves.

“Life is an exercise of commitment,” says Brown. “And MMA fighting, it’s definitely about commitment. So what does Megan do now? She does what she does. She nods her head. She takes a step forward. She gets her hands up. She keeps her chin down—and she keeps on training.

“And she trusts me to find her that next fight. And I will.”

But sometimes it turns out that another battle these fighters must survive is having their next fight fall out.

“That’s emotionally devastating for a fighter whose put everything into her training,” remarks Brown.

“When Megan found out about Reno, you could tell it was a blow.

A big blow. But while I know it really upset her, she took it on the chin. She took that news the same way she takes a punch to the face.

“She said, ‘Ouch.’ Then she said, ‘OK, What’s next?’”

23 NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

“What she needed was the commitment of the people around her. I told her, ‘If you don’t quit on me, I will never quit on you.’”

What Brown soon observed, after providing Farnham with the kind of unconditional support she’d been craving, was a fighter quickly transforming into an even more powerful competitor—and more.

“This incredibly strong, wonderful, positive, friendly personality came out,” he says.

“She became stronger at every level. Now she’s starting to help others with their training, cheering people on when they feel weak, encouraging them to dig deep.”

‘After mom passed, I just knew I had to make a change.’

I

t’s the middle of December, a week after the Ultimate Reno Combat, where—par for the course—Farnham’s scheduled opponent pulled out of the fight with only hours to spare.

After months of training, focusing on this one, allimportant fight, Megan Farnham was left in the lurch, all dressed up with no cage to work the groundand-pound in.

“It’s really tricky because, honestly, things like this—this interview, publicity about her, and the various videos we’ve made, the YouTube footage of her fighting—all of that makes it hard for us to find someone willing to fight her,” says Brown. “Other fighters are scared of her.”

To be a fighter, there are a number of battles a competitor must survive before she puts on her gloves and steps into the cage.

Finding the right promoter is one.

Finding the right opponent is another. Agreeing on the correct weight for the match. Making that weight. And dealing with the anticipation that comes between the time she gets on the scale and the moment she throws her first punch.

“That’s five battles you have to fight before you face off

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NORTH NO R TH BAY B A Y BOHEMIAN B O H E M I A N | DECEMBER D E C E M BE R 17-23, 1 7 - 23 , 2014 2011 4 | BOHEMIAN.COM B OH EMI AN . C O M

CULTURE

25

GO SEE THIS The Blind Boys of Alabama return for their beloved Christmas show on Dec. 21 at the Wells Fargo Center. See Concerts, p31.

HEALDSBURG

P E TA L U M A

S A N TA R O S A

N A PA

Do It Live

Three e Strings

Short Stories

Holiday Choir C

Engaging Engaging g g g inter interviews, views, ear-opening ear-opening p g music and ffascinating ascinating sto stories ories ar aree all part of the popular rradio adio show ‘West ‘West Coast Live Live.’.’ Hosted by Sedge Sedge Thomson, travels this weekly institution tr a avels up and down the coast, talking to t authors, cultural artists and other cul turall pioneers. This week is the last chance of o the year to catch the show in personn in the North Bay. B ay. Thomson welcomes Maker Media Dale ffounder ounder D ale Dougherty, Dougherty, comedian Will Durst harmonica D urst stops by and harm onica legend Charlie Musselwhite swa swaps ps stories stories, while music fr from om acoust acoustic ic duo the Easy Easy LLeaves eaves and piano fr from om Mike M Greensill Greensill make ffor or a special, not-t not-to-be-missed o-be-missed West eest Coast program pr ogram of entertainmen entertainment. nt. W Saturdaayy, D Dec. ec. 20, at LLive ive goes live on Saturday, SSHED, HED, 25 North SSt., t., Healdsburg.

Healddsburg. 10am. $15. 707 707.431.7433.

7..431.7433.

Individuallyy, the members of Individually, instrumental instrumenta al A Americana mericana trio Haas Kowert K owert T Tice icee thrill with their classically trained tr ained perf performances o ormances and tr troubadour oubadour transcend sensibilities;; together, together, they tr anscend their rroots oots with w powerful compositions Brittany and dynamicc melodies. Fiddler B rittany Haas (Cr (Crooked ooked SStill), till), bassist P Paul aul KKowert owert (Punch B Brothers) rothers) and guitarist Jor Jordan dan TTice ice (T (Tony Toony TTrischka) r rischka) have shar shared ed stages late-night around and late-nig ght drives ar ound the EEastern astern since SSeaboard eaboard sin nce their college days, yet it took seven n years ffor or them to finally oou collaborate collabor ate on o their debut album, YYou Haas KKowert owert TTice ice take the G Got ot This. Haas stage SSaturday, aturday d y, D Dec. ec. 20, at the Mystic Theatre, Theatr e, 23 P Petaluma etaluma B Blvd. lvd. N., P Petaluma. etaluma.

8:30pm. $16 $16–$20.

6–$20. 707 707.765.2121.

7..765.2121.

They’ve y been at it ffor or 20 yyears, bu but ut Woody, W oody, B Buzz uzz Lightyear Lightyear and the ga gang ng from fr om ‘T ‘Toy Toy o Story’ Story’ haven haven’t ’t aged a bi bit. it. Now you can bring the ffamily amily ffor or a spec special cial ooy Story Story double ffeature eature of two holiday TToy short films playing on the big scr screen e in een SSonoma onoma County ffor or the first time. “Toy “Toy SStory tory That TTime ime For Forgot” got” and “Toy “Toy Story Story of TTerror” error ” will be shown, ffollowed ollowed by b a Q&A director Purcell.

Q& A with Pixar dir ector SSteve teve Pur c cell.

Purcell Pur cell will also be raffling raffling off a VIP Pixar special V IP tour ffor or eight of the Pi xar animation studios in EEmeryville. meryville The meryville.

Thhe entiree event, benefiting the Children’s entir Children e ’s County, happens Museum of SSonoma onoma County y, happe ens Dec. Jackson on SSunday, undayy, D ec. 21, at the Jack son Theater at SSonoma onoma Country D Day ay SSchool, c chool, 4400 Day Day School School Place, Santa Santa R Rosa. osa. 4pm. $30. 707.284.3200.

7077..284.3200.

Oakland’s O akland’ss Interf akland Interfaith aith Gospel G Choir is ordinary choir.. The They aree rrenowned no or dinary choir ey ar enowned across acr oss the country ffor orr their inspiring performances, perf ormances, mixing classical arrangements ar rangements and con contemporary temporary attitudes, and appearing on G Grammy-winning ram mmy-winning albums from fr om diverse artists lilike ke LLinda inda R Ronstadt onstadt and MC Hammer Hammer.. LLocally, ocaallyy, the choir is a Bay Area B ay A rea institution known k ffor or its music workshops, work shops, youth ens ensembles sembles and annual holiday concerts. Thiss year year,, the choir lend its soulful voices and ric rich, ch,, diverse collection of compositions ffor or an inspir inspirational ational night of multicultural mul ticultural music, with with traditional traditional gospel quartet the Priesthoodd Nation opening the show.. The O show Oakland akland Inte Interfaith erfaith G Gospel ospel Choir celebrates celebr ates the season n on Tuesday, Tuesday, D ec. 23, at City Winery y, 1030 Main SSt., t., Dec. Winery, Napa. 8pm. $20–$25 $20–$25.. 707 707.260.1600.

7..260.1600.

—Charlie —C h lie S har Swanson wanson

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

26

Arts Ideas GOOD DOG Richard Olate went from the streets of Santiago to the world stage with more than a little help from his dogs.

Bow Wow!

The talented Olate Dogs tour the North Bay this holiday season BY CHARLIE SWANSON

R

ichard Olate’s story is the epitome of the American dream. A thirdgeneration circus performer by birth, Richard was five years old when he had to start selling newspapers on the street corner and fish at the docks in his hometown of Santiago, Chile, to help support a family of 22 siblings raised by a single mother.

When he was 12, he found a poodle on the side of the road, one of many strays on the streets of the city, and Richard immediately found he had a natural talent to train and perform with his furry friend. Soon, that one poodle turned into a pack of pups that Richard trained to walk upright, jump rope and even do backflips.

Richard and his dogs had lived and performed throughout South America for decades when a Circus Vargas scout discovered them in 1989 and brought them to

America to travel with large-scale circuses coast to coast. Richard’s youngest son, Nicholas, a natural performer himself, joined the act at age 15, and supports his father onstage and off. The Olate dog show comes to the North Bay this month.

“We stayed dedicated and worked hard, and over the course of many years here, my father and I were able to get on America’s Got Talent, and win it,” says Olate.

That’s right, the Olate Dogs took the million-dollar first prize on

the television show’s 2012 season, catapulting them into the hearts of viewers and judges alike.

“I was just so excited for [my father],” says Olate about winning the competition. “I was excited for him to accomplish that, with or without my help, because I knew where he came from and his background.”

Richard Olate’s care for his dogs and his method of training are unique. He does not use food to train, nor does he resort to aggressive discipline or strenuous working schedules for his dogs.

“He’s just exceptionally patient with them, and finds a way to get the dog excited, by playing with them,” says Olate. “Dogs are very intelligent, and they really do enjoy performing. There’re no vigorous hours or anything. You just have to find what the dogs enjoy doing and work with that.”

Olate performs as his father’s right-hand man, assisting in handling the dozens of dogs and the lengthy routines. More than just the quick tricks they perform on television, the Olate Dogs carry out fully realized and substantial comedy, dance and trick routines.

The traveling troupe, which includes 22 dogs, including 10 rescue dogs, are performing a special Holiday Rescue Tour throughout California, raising awareness for rescue animals and donating thousands of dog meals to shelters through their sponsor, Halo. The show also brings the message of what rescue dogs can do for people.

“There’s nothing more selfless than to save an innocent animal’s life and love them,” says Olate.

The Olate Dogs delight audiences on Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall (126 First St., Sonoma; 2pm; $25–$35) and again on Monday, Dec. 29, at the Raven Theater (115 North St., Healdsburg; 7:30pm; $25–$35). Olatedogs.com.

BABE IN ARMS ‘Best Christmas

Pagent Ever’ offers a delightfully subversive take on the holidays.

Darkness and Light Old tales illuminated by unexpected insights

BY DAVID TEMPLETON

C

inderella, a beatendown member of the 99 percent, works her fingers to the bone providing luxuries for her spoiled step-sisters, living off the crumbs left over from their daily servings of birthday cake.

In Crumbs: A Cinderella Story, the Imaginists unleash a modern fable for the post-Occupy age.

Inventively and passionately performed—the ensemble taking turns playing musical accompaniment—Crumbs blends elements of dark comedy, political satire and horror with frequent and brilliant alternating flashes of gruesome violence and breathtaking beauty.

Make no mistake, while there are

The tone is decidedly lighter— but hardly lacking in feeling—in Raven Player’s uneven but emotionally rich (and very funny) staging of Barbara Robinson’s Best Christmas Pageant Ever. A warm slice of big-hearted, madefor-the-holidays confection (with a delightfully subversive edge), the story of a small-town Nativity pageant gone wrong was adapted from Robinson’s 1971 novel of the same name.

As the local church prepares for its Christmas pageant, the annual event looks to be no different than any other year. Then the town terrors, the juvenile delinquent Herdman kids, learn free snacks are served during rehearsal.

They manage to snap up all the major roles—and the pageant now appears to be doomed.

It’s the way the Herdmans approach the Nativity story that gives the play its charm, calling out the injustice of a baby forced to sleep in a manger—“Where are the protective services people in this town?”—and pointing out the inefficiencies in the messenger angel’s choice of words to the shepherds. Ultimately, it turns out that the horrible Herdmans might understand the Nativity story better than just about anyone else.

Directed by Steven David Martin, Pageant is the definition of community theater: a play for the community, filled with members of the community, in a story about the power of community.

Rating (out of 5): ‘Crumbs: A Cinderella Story’ runs through Dec. 21 at the Imaginists, 461 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa. $15– $20. 707.528.7554. ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ runs through Dec. 21 at Raven Theater Windsor.

195 Windsor River Road, Windsor. $10–$20 707.433.6335.

27 NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

Stage

princes and slippers and magic spells, this is no Disney tale.

Packed with striking imagery—a tree made of rags, a mountain of cast-off clothes, a butchered goat made of shredded red ribbons— this is more nightmare than fairy tale, a powerful, poetic, deeply angry critique of greed and consumerism, one in which any happy ending comes with a cost.

Rating (out of 5):

28

GOLDEN GLOBE

®

DRAMA

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

N O M I N E E

BEST ACTRESS • REESE WITHERSPOON

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD NOMINEE

Film

®

BEST ACTRESS • REESE WITHERSPOON

WHERE’S THE MAGIC? Though the computer graphics are poor, the ‘The Hobbit’ does have its moments.

Hobbled NOW PLAYING IN THEATRES EVERYWHERE CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATRES AND SHOWTIMES

Peter Jackson’s final ‘Hobbit’ installment stumbles

BY RICHARD VON BUSACK

B

leary visuals, a blearier narrative and a stage groaning with characters in search of a stopping point— The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies is the keystone in the arch between the two trilogies, and the masonry is shaky.

Once upon a time, the fate of Middle Earth depended on locating the dread ring of power; now it’s all about debt collection. Refugee Lake Town people try to pick up their share of the dwarves’ loot. Following them, an army of elves arrives, trying to retrieve a pawned necklace. The toxic gold hoard of the dear departed Smaug is poisoning Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), handsomest and tallest of the dwarves. Battalions of orcs arrives, riding their giant hyenas. Also coming in for the fight: Thorin’s relative, a hog-mounted dwarf named Dain (Billy Connolly).

There are only a few scenes in all the scrimmage where it seems that director Peter Jackson doesn’t get his yarn tangled. One is the moment where we

see the huge orc Azog the Defiler (Manu Bennett of TV’s Arrow) floating in the water under a layer of ice after his fight with Thorin. Better still is the weirdly intimate way these two combatants, dwarf and orc, look at each other when they’re temporarily exhausted—it’s the observant detail that would have been noted in Beowulf. During another fray, Legolas (Orlando Bloom) tosses his fine silver braids and reaches back for an arrow with that sure smooth gesture we love—only to find his quiver empty.

The rest, one can shrug off. The CG is as thick as mayonnaise, and is often used to laughable effect. In one scene, as a castle falls, Legolas runs up the tumbling stones of the building like a staircase, as if he were Bugs Bunny.

Other parts just seem ill-advised.

When the orc Bolg (Lawrence Makoare) corners the only female in the picture to get more than five minutes onscreen, Evangeline Lilly’s warrior elf Tauriel, he licks the place where his lips would be. Rapiness isn’t quite what you expect from this epic.

‘The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies’ is playing in wide North Bay release.

REWIND The North Bay punk and

indie music scene of the ’80s–2000s comes back to life for one night of fun.

Reunion Nostalgia Fest packs a punch of the past

BY CHARLIE SWANSON

M

ilan Kundera called nostalgia “the suffering caused by an unappeased yearning to return.” For generations of North Bay punk and indie bands and fans, that yearning will be appeased at Nostalgia Fest 2014, Dec. 20 at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma.

A benefit for the venue, the show boasts a rare lineup of local punk bands Schlong, the Skirt Boys, Dr. Frank and Chomp Hard, with indie rockers the Librarians and Escape Engine/Fight Like Fight, and ska revivalists Slow Gherkin filling out the bill. We asked some of the artists to wax nostalgic and share their musical memories of the North Bay. James Rickman (Slow Gherkin) I remember way more awesome bands than I thought could come out of a cluster of sleepy towns: the Conspiracy, Blind Spot, Kid Dynamo, Adjective Noun!

Remember those mad bastards?

Jesse Wickman. Caitlin Love.

Nostalgia Fest takes the trip down memory lane on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Phoenix Theater, 201 Washington St., Petaluma. 6pm. $10–$35.

707.762.3565.

29

Upcoming Concerts at

Sebastopol Community Cultural Center From Ireland

Lunasa with

Karan Casey

Friday, December 19th, 8pm

Mr. Music’s Holiday Sing-Along ng Saturday, December 20th

New Year’s Eve Bash:

It’s A Beautiful Day Sebastopol David Laflamme December 31st, 8pm Community

Cultural Center

Tickets and Information: seb.org or 707-823-1511

112/19 2 /19 – 12/24 12 /24

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12 / 22 ! All A ll seats seat s $5! $ 5!

551 5 51 S Summerfield ummer field Road R oad S an t a R Santa Rosa osa 707.522.0719 707. 522 .0719 www.summerfieldcinemas.com w w w.-summe r-fie ldc ine mas .c om

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

Music

Logan Whitehurst. And the Velvet Teen, who played in Brooklyn this year to a packed room full of people who loved them as much as I do. Most of all, I remember the Phoenix, epic and intimate all at once. A nook for every mood—the quarter pipe, the shady balcony, the backstage room. I can almost smell it right now, and I can’t believe we get to go back.

Ash Scheiding (Escape Engine/ Fight Like Fight) Mostly, I recall the awesome community we all had in Sonoma County throughout the 2000s. We had a giant group of prolific friends, and we inspired each other. Musicians and supporters collaborated on each other’s recordings and helped each other record albums, made merch and album art together, provided resources for each other’s shows and tours. Our musical idols were other independent artists that we could actually contact, befriend and play shows with. That was super-rad and still sometimes blows my mind.

Damon Larson (the Librarians) Although most of the Librarians lived in Oakland and thereabouts, we were really proud of being welcomed into the North Bay indie scene. We loved the way the bands and fans stuck together.

You had institutions like Section M magazine and Pandacide Records helping make the scene what it was and giving the bands some visibility. We played more North Bay shows than we can remember, many of our favorites at the Phoenix Theater.

One night playing there, our frontman Ryan decided to invite the crowd up onto the stage with us. If you know the size of the stage at the Phoenix, you’ll understand the chaos this might cause. It was pretty insane having 50 fans jumping around us, singing into the mics, bumping into our instruments. We couldn’t hear what we were doing and I doubt we hit any of the notes, but it ranks up there with my all-time favorite liveperformance experiences.

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

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EQUIPTO I.L.A.M. / DIRTBAG DAN Winter Fresh Out West Tour SUN DEC 21 › Starts at /gd › $5–$10 Burning Man DJs & Vendors

DEFAULT PLAYGROUND DJ RAJA / BILLY SEAL / EDRUM Winter Solstice Celebration & Campoline Fundraiser TUE DEC 23 › JkXikj Xk .gd › FREE Psych / Folk / Rock

Wine Country

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Pimps of Joytime NYE Celebration

www.sweetwatermusichall.com 19 Corte Madera Ave Mill Valley CafĂŠ 415.388.1700 | Box Office 415.388.3850

Concerts Clubs & SONOMA COUNTY Venues Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show Celebrate the holidays with the multi-Grammy-winning living legends of gospel. Dec 21, 8pm. $28-$35. Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3600.

Lil B Berkeley recording artist brings a positive vibe to his infectious hits. Dec 19, 8pm. $30. Phoenix Theater, 201 Washington St, Petaluma. 707.762.3565.

A Winter Gift World-renowned Celtic harpists Patrick Ball, Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter present joyous works of beloved holiday music. Dec 20, 8pm. $15-$20. Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Ct, Occidental. 707.542.7143.

MARIN COUNTY Narada Michael Walden Holiday Jam Legendary Dionne Warwick performs alongside her talented granddaughter, singer, songwriter Cheyenne Elliott, in a benefit for music programs for local youth. Dec 20, 8pm. $125-$175. 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.383.9600.

New Century Chamber Orchestra The orchestra performs classical holiday favorites with the San Francisco Girls Chorus.

Dec 21, 5pm. $29-$61. Osher Marin JCC, 200 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael. 415.444.8000.

Zigaboo Modeliste Funky Miracle Holiday Bash Party and toy drive features the master drummer and his band New Aahkesstra. Dec 19, 8pm. $18-$20. Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.3850.

NAPA COUNTY Todd Morgan & the Emblems Youthful and exuberant Sacramento-based rock band comes back to Napa, with special guest Kristen Van Dyke.

Dec 18, 7pm. $10. Silo’s, 530 Main St, Napa. 707.251.5833.

SONOMA COUNTY A’Roma Roasters Dec 19, Organix. Dec 20, Now & Zen. 95 Fifth St, Santa Rosa.

707.576.7765.

Aqus Cafe Dec 19, Spark & Whisper. Dec 20, the Farallons. Dec 21, 2pm, Gary Vogensen’s Sunday Ramble. 189 H St, Petaluma.

707.778.6060.

Hotel Healdsburg Dec 20, Michael Coleman Trio with Eric Markowitz and Evan Hughes. 25 Matheson St, Healdsburg. 707.431.2800.

Jackson Theater Dec 20, Sing-Along Messiah.

Sonoma Country Day School, 4400 Day School Place, Santa Rosa. 707.284.3200.

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Wed 12/17

Karaoke Night

Lagunitas Tap Room

Thur 12/18

Dec 17, Gypsy Trio. Dec 18, Red Valley Trappers. Dec 19, Rhythm Drivers. Dec 20, Bear’s Belly.

Dec 21, Presti. 1280 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma. 707.778.8776.

Fri 12/19 #1 Variety Show in the .'. (, g\i]fid\ij

Main Street Station

LoveBeat Productions Event

North Bay Cabaret 7

Dec 19, Susan Sutton Jazz Trio.

Dec 20, Jess Petty. 16280 Main St, Guerneville. 707.869.0501.

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Dec 18, Mandela: The Hip Hop Shop. Dec 19, Aiden. Dec 20, Earnest heavy metal show.

99 Sixth St, Santa Rosa.

707.528.3009.

Monroe Dance Hall

Wed 12/31

Dec 19, the Crabapples. Dec 20, Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s. 1400 W College Ave, Santa Rosa. 707.529.5450.

]\Xk A-Plus & Casual ]ifd Heiroglyphics/Souls

Bergamot Alley

Murphy’s Irish Pub

Arlene Francis Center

Dec 19, the Dixie Giants.

328-A Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg. 707.433.8720.

Dry Creek Kitchen Dec 22, Bill Horvitz and Scott Walton Duo. Dec 23, Terry Henry and Gary Digman Duo. 317 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg. 707.431.0330.

Epicurean Connection Dec 19, Mark McDonald. Dec 21, 5 Cent Coffee. 122 West Napa St, Sonoma. 707.935.7960.

Flamingo Lounge Dec 19, Hot for Teacher. Dec 20, Lumberyard. 2777 Fourth St, Santa Rosa. 707.545.8530.

Forestville Club Dec 18, Eric Lindell. Dec 19, the Mountain Squirrel. 6250 Front St, Forestville. 707.887.2594.

French Garden Dec 19, Ring of Truth Trio. Dec 20, Susan Comstock Swingtet.

Dec 21, Mama Loshn. 8050 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol.

707.824.2030.

Green Music Center Dec 19, A Johnny Mathis Christmas. Sold-out. Dec 21, 3pm, Handel’s Messiah. Dec 22, Dave Koz and friends.

1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, 866.955.6040.

HopMonk Sebastopol Dec 17, BrainStorm Holiday Party featuring Russ Liquid.

Dec 19, Ugly X-Mas Sweater Party with Frankie Boots & the County Line. Dec 20, One Drop. Dec 22, DJ Mr. E. Dec 24,

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

Music

31

BrainStorm EDM party.

230 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol.

707.829.7300.

Dec 18, Kristen Pearce and Kyle Martin. Dec 19, David Thom Band. Dec 20, the Perfect Crime. Dec 21, Mark Larson Trio. 464 First St E, Sonoma.

707.935.0660.

Family Room

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Mystic Theatre Dec 20, Haas Kowert Tice.

23 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma.

707.765.2121.

Petaluma Valley Baptist Church Dec 20, “An evening in December” with the Petaluma Chorale. 580 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma.

Phoenix Theater Dec 20, 5pm, Nostalgia Fest 2014. 201 Washington St, Petaluma. 707.762.3565.

Redwood Cafe Dec 19, the Chime Travelers.

Dec 21, Gold Coast Jazz Band.

8240 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati.

707.795.7868.

Rio Nido Roadhouse Dec 20, the Thugz.

14540 Canyon 2 Rd, Rio Nido.

707.869.0821.

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390 Morris St, Sebastopol.

707.823.1511.

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Great Gifts for Every Budget !

2226 4th Street, San Rafael 415.258.9745 bedrockmusicandvideo.org

Wed, Dec 17 8:45â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:45am JAZZERCISE with PATTI JOHNSON 10:15amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE 12:40pm Youth and Family 5:45-6:45pm REGULAR JAZZERCISE 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10pm SINGLE & PAIRS SQUARE Dance CLub Thur, Dec 18 8:45â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:45am JAZZERCISE with PATTI JOHNSON 5:45-6:45pm REGULAR JAZZERCISE 7:15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10pm CIRCLES & SQUARES Square Dance Club Fri, Dec 19 8:45â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:45am JAZZERCISE with PATTI JOHNSON 7:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10:30pm North Bay Country Dance Society/ Contra Dance hosts THE CRABAPPLES Sat, Dec 20 8:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:30am JAZZERCISE 10:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12:30 SCOTTISH CHALLENGE Dance Class 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;11pm DJ Steve Luther presents MITCH WOODS AND HIS ROCKET 88'S Sun, Dec 21 8:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:30am JAZZERCISE 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:30pm Steve Luther DJ COUNTRY WESTERN LESSONS AND DANCING Mon, Dec 22 8:45â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:45am JAZZERCISE with PATTI JOHNSON 5:45-6:45pm REGULAR JAZZERCISE 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:30pm SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Tue, Dec 23 8:45â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:45am JAZZERCISE with PATTI JOHNSON 5:45-6:45pm REGULAR JAZZERCISE 7:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9pm AFRICAN AND WORLD MUSIC & DANCE

Santa Rosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Social Hall since 1922

1400 W. College Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Santa Rosa, CA 707.539.5507 â&#x20AC;˘ www.monroe-hall.com

Dec 19, Pepperland Christmas Party. Dec 20, Equipto with I.L.A.M. and Dirtbag Dan. Dec 21, Default Playground. Dec 23, the Corner Store Kids with Harmonic Resonance. 755 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol.

707.829.2722.

Spanckyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dec 20, Allison Chains.

8201 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati.

707.664.0169.

Sprengerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tap Room Dec 20, Sweet Leaf acoustic show. 446 B St, Santa Rosa.

707.544.8277.

Tradewinds Dec 17, Sonoma County Blues Society. Dec 19, Joe Blonde & the Tan. Dec 20, the David Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ore Band. Dec 22, the Bobby Young Project. Tues, Jeremyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open Mic. Thurs, DJ Dave. 8 210 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati.

707.795.7878.

Twin Oaks Tavern Dec 17, Hot Grubb. Dec 19, Yo! Pizza Face. Dec 20, the Sorentinos Christmas Show.

Dec 21, Blues and BBQ with Mitch Woods Trio. Dec 22, the Blues Defenders Pro Jam. 5745 Old Redwood Hwy, Penngrove.

707.795.5118.

Whiskey Tip

LIVE MUSIC & DANCING EVERY FRI & SAT NIGHT! DEC 19 > $10 adv / $12 door

Hot for Teacher Van Halen Tribute Band

DEC 20 > $10 adv / $12 door

Lumberyard

Classic Rock, Funk, Soul, Techno Dance

DEC 26 > $10 adv / $12 door

TBA

Mt. Analogue by Sutter Marin, 1971

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

32

5FOUI 4U 4BOUB 3PTB t 5VFo4BU o 707 t calabigallery.com

DEC 27 > $10 adv / $12 door

Top Secret

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Party in the Ballroom and Lounge DEC 18 > Local Artists / no cover

Dave Land

Country Band

DEC 25 > No Band Tonight

Merry Christmas

2777 4th Street | Santa Rosa flamingoresort.inticketing.com

Dec 19, Posada NavideĂąa.

50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3600.

Zodiacs Dec 18, Dylan Chambers & Midnight Transit. Dec 19, Christmas Jug Band. Dec 20, Brethren Of The Coast and Midnight North.

256 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma. 707.773.7751.

Dec 18, Throckmorton Community Chorus. Dec 21, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Romancing the Solsticeâ&#x20AC;? with tenor Jonah Hopton, soprano Anayana White and friends.

142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.383.9600.

LIVE ROOTS & AMERICANA MUSIC EVERY THUR NIGHT!

At the Veterans Building 282 South High St. Sebastopol, CA 95472 707.829.4797 www.sebarts.org

Beat. Dec 20, Soul Ska. Dec 21, Voodoo Switch. Dec 23, Korty and friends. Dec 24, Fenton Coolfoot & the Right Time.

17 Broadway Blvd, Fairfax.

415.459.1091.

Open Secret

First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael

Dec 20, Radiance Kirtan Band.

923 C St, San Rafael. 415.457.4191.

Dec 21, 5pm, SoulSong. Dec 24, 5pm, Christmas Eve Family Carols and Service. 1510 Fifth St, San Rafael.

Osteria Divino

Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nightclub Dec 19, MANIA (Beatles tribute band). 842 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.226.0262.

HopMonk Novato Dec 17, Open Mic. Dec 18, Ridgway Space Station. Dec 19, Groovtown. Dec 20, the Highway Poets. Dec 21, Brittany Bexton. 224 Vintage Way, Novato. 415.892.6200.

Marin Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Veterans Memorial Auditorium Dec 21, 4pm, Singers Marin Presents: Tis the Season. Dec 22, Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band.

10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415.499.6800.

19 Broadway Club Dec 17, Fenton Coolfoot & the Right Time. Dec 18, the Shams. Dec 19, the English

Wells Fargo Center

142 Throckmorton Theatre

DEC 31 > $55

Dec 17, Pro Blues Jam. Dec 18, Achilles Wheel. Dec 19, Soul Tower. Dec 20, Tim Hockenberry. Dec 23, Xmas party with Billy D. 919 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.813.5600.

Dec 17, Jonathan Poretz. Dec 18, Jarrett Cherner Trio. Dec 19, Grant Levin Trio. Dec 20, Hippopotamus Trio. Dec 21, Passion Habanera. Dec 23, Michael Fecskes. Dec 24, Ken Cook Trio. 37 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.9355.

Panama Hotel Restaurant Dec 17, Martha Crawford and friends. Dec 18, Deborah Winters. Dec 21, Arthur Javier.

Dec 23, Lorin Rowan. 4 Bayview St, San Rafael. 415.457.3993.

Periâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Silver Dollar Dec 17, the Elvis Johnson Soul Revue. Dec 18, Burnsyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sugar Shack. Dec 19, Ann Halen. Dec 20, Rusty Evans and the Ring of Fire. Dec 21, La Mandanga.

Dec 23, Tommy Odetto and Tim Baker. Dec 24, the Substitutes.

29 Broadway, Fairfax.

415.459.9910.

Rancho Nicasio Dec 20, Lavay Smith & Her

Dec 19, North Bay Cabaret.

Dec 20, Family Room X-Mas Bash & Ugly Sweater Party.

1910 Sebastopol Rd, Santa Rosa. 707.843.5535.

MARIN COUNTY

High Energy Dance Band

Fenix

Dance Palace Dec 18, Doug Adamz. Dec 21, Sing-Along Messiah. Dec 24, 5pm, Christmas Eve candle lighting and carols. 503 B St, Pt Reyes Station. 415.663.1075.

San Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City Guide

Tyler, the Creator Hellraising rap star continues to turn the music industry on its head. Dec 18 at the Warfield.

Rue â&#x20AC;&#x2122;66 S.F.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only authentic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;60s French yĂŠ yĂŠ band combine female vocals with throwback pop melodies. Dec 20 at Hemlock Tavern.

Lia Rose S.F. songwriter, formerly of Minipop and Built for the Sea, presents her heartrending solo music. Dec 20 at the Chapel.

Toh Kay Acoustic outing from songwriter known for gentle, infectious melodies. Dec 21 at Great American Music Hall.

Finish Ticket S.F. indie band is the perfect mix between heartfelt indie rock and roll and catchy pop melodies. Dec 22 at the Fillmore.

Find more San Francisco events by subscribing to the email newsletter at www.sfstation.com.

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CRITICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHOICE

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

CaliMike

Red Hot Skillet Lickers. Dec 21, Tim Cainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas sing along. Dec 23, Jeremy Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Antonio and Darren Nelson.

Dec 24, Christmas Eve with the Priesthood. 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio. 415.662.2219.

Sausalito Seahorse Dec 18, Charity Goodin. Dec 19, â&#x20AC;&#x153;De-Lite-Fulâ&#x20AC;? holiday party with Will Magid Trio. Dec 20, Tito y Su Son de Cuba. Dec 21, Mazacote. 305 Harbor View Dr, Sausalito. 415.331.2899.

Sleeping Lady

Smileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Schooner Saloon Dec 18, Low Watters. Dec 19, This Old Earthquake. Dec 20, Just Friends. 41 Wharf Rd, Bolinas. 415.868.1311.

Sweetwater Music Hall Dec 20-21, Christmas Jug Band. Dec 23, Matt Jaffe & the Distractions holiday celebration. 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.3850.

Terrapin Crossroads Dec 17, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;70s Grateful Dead Night with Scott Law. Dec 18, San Geronimo. Dec 19, Walking Spanish. Dec 20, Colonel & the Mermaids. Dec 21, Midnight North. Dec 23, Lazyman. Dec 24, Terrapin All-Stars with Ross James. 100 Yacht Club Dr, San Rafael. 415.524.2773.

NAPA COUNTY City Winery Napa

Siloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dec 17, Mike Greensill. Dec 19, San Geronimo. Dec 20, Go by Ocean. Dec 23, Tori & Chad. Dec 24, Holiday Carols with Wesla Whitfield & Mike Greensill. 530 Main St, Napa. 707.251.5833.

Uva Trattoria Dec 17, Tom Duarte. Dec 18, Three on a Match. Dec 19, Fundz Jazz. Dec 20, Jack Pollard and Dan Daniels. Dec 21, Tom Duarte. Dec 24, Bob Castell. 1040 Clinton St, Napa.

707.255.6646.

The Nutcrackers are coming Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as ubiquitous as eggnog, as unavoidable as mistletoe, and no Christmas would be complete without a performance of the classic Nutcracker ballet. This weekend is the time to take one in, with several offerings of the show throughout the North Bay. The prize for the company that traveled the farthest to perform goes to the Moscow Ballet, made up of 40 world-class Russian artists. Tchaikovskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s score accompanies the knockout dancing and spectacular solo performances when the Moscow Ballet performs two shows, 3pm and 7pm, on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Wells Fargo Center (50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa; $33 and up; 707.546.3600).

Another family-friendly tradition takes place at Analy High School, when the Sebastopol Ballet presents the Nutcracker with a cast of local dance students and guest performers. This audience favorite also includes Sugar Plum parties for kids before each matinee performance, with a chance to meet the dancers in costume and enjoy some sweet treats. The shows happen Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Sunday, Dec. 9â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21, at Analy High (6950 Analy Ave., Sebastopol; times vary; $12â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$22; 800.838.3006).

In the Napa Valley, another local troupe puts its own magical slant on the beloved show when the Napa Regional Dance Company performs the Nutcracker three times over two days, with live music by the Symphony Orchestra of Northern California for the evening show. The performances commence on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21, at the Lincoln Theater (100 California Drive, Yountville; $25â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$35; 707.226.8742).â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Charlie Swanson

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Dec 17, Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola. Dec 18, Howie Day. Dec 19, Afrolicious with Lazyman. Dec 20, VOENA: Wintersong. Dec 21, Wintersongs by Sing Napa Valley. Dec 23, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Ensemble. 1030 Main St, Napa. 707.260.1600.

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se every e era e & style t e s jewelry e e s furniture f t e s fruit f t

Dec 17, Rory McNamera & the Ring of Truth Trio. Dec 18, Samurai Wolf. Dec 19, Jazzitude. Dec 20, Jerry Hannan Band. Dec 21, Amanda Addleman. Sat, Ukulele Jam Session. 23 Broadway, Fairfax.

415.485.1182.

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

34

Arts Events Galleries RECEPTIONS Dec 21 Gallery Route One, “The Takeaway Show,” small and affordable art you can buy right off the wall. 3pm. 11101 Hwy 1, Pt Reyes Station.

415.663.1347.

SONOMA COUNTY

Eggen & Lance Chapel

Riverfront Art Gallery

Through Jan 8, “Unplug– Enlighten–Protect,” art by Olivia Boyd. 1540 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa. 707.545.3747.

Through Jan 4, “The Sacred & the Profane,” photography by Jan Reddick is shown along with Jim Coda’s “The Wildlife of Yellowstone” photography.

132 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma.

Wed, Thurs and Sun, 11 to 6. FriSat, 11 to 8. 707.775.4ART.

Fulton X Gallery Through Jan 11, “Urban | Suburban | Rural,” dozens of artists examine the environments we live and thrive in, and how they shape our lives. 1200 River Rd, Fulton.

707.477.0657.

Gallery One Through Dec 30, “You Cannot Miss Red,” juried, multimedia show. 209 Western Ave, Petaluma. 707.778.8277.

C14 Contemporary Arts

Graton Gallery

Through Dec 25, “Little X Little,” a small works show with over 20 artists working in a variety of media. 6780 Depot St, Suite 100, Sebastopol.

707.827.3020.

Through Jan 11, “Fun & Games,” works by Mylette Welch, Cynthia Jackson, Ann Sete and others. 9048 Graton Rd, Graton. Tues-Sun, 10:30 to 6.

707.829.8912.

Calabi Gallery

Healdsburg Center for the Arts

Through Dec 27, “Postwar Modernism of the West,” exhibits under appreciated though vitally influential Western postwar artists. 456 10th St, Santa Rosa. Tues-Sun, 11 to 5. 707.781.7070.

Charles M. Schulz Museum Through Jan 4, “Journey to the Reuben: The Early Years,” rarely exhibited original Peanuts strips and early pre-Peanuts cartoons are featured.

2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa.

Mon-Fri, noon to 5; Sat-Sun, 10 to 5. 707.579.4452.

Chroma Gallery Through Dec 28, “Art Mechanique,” artist Ken Berman welcomes you into his mysterious, architectural world of paintings. 312 South A St, Santa Rosa. 707.293.6051.

The Corner Store Collective Through Dec 21, “De-Luxe: Deconstructing Luxury,” Amber Iwata and Angie Crabtree break down the American Dream with painted benjamins, bling and delectable foods. 575 Ross St, Santa Rosa. 707.292.9580.

Dutton-Goldfield Winery Through Jan 13, “Victoria Kochergen Exhibit,” showing the artists detailed botanical drawings. 3100 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol. Daily, 10am to 4:30pm. 707.827.3600.

Through Dec 31, “Art for the Holidays,” a lively variety of art and craft items are on display, from 22 artists and craftspeople. 130 Plaza St, Healdsburg. Daily, 11 to 6.

707.431.1970.

Laguna de Santa Rosa Environmental Center Through Dec 22, “Splendor of Autumn,” oil paintings from Donna DeLaBriandais.

900 Sanford Rd, Santa Rosa.

707.527.9277.

Occidental Center for the Arts Through Dec 21, “Art as Gifts for the Holidays,” print show and sale. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct, Occidental.

707.542.7143.

Quercia Gallery Through Dec 29, “Infinite,” new minimalist and atmospheric paintings by Rob Quercia focus on boundless horizons and perpetual light. 25193 Hwy 116, Duncans Mills. 707.865.0243.

Risk Press Gallery Through Dec 31, “Kaye CooperMead” the artist presents a large selection of her handcrafted jewelry made from semi-precious stones in the final show at RiskPress Gallery.

Farewell Reception, Dec 28 at 1pm. 7345 Healdsburg Ave, Sebastopol.

Russian River Art Gallery Through Dec 24, “Artisan Gift Show,” displaying well known and newly discovered local fibre artists, woodworkers, apparel designers, jewelers, toymakers and more. 16357 Main St, Guerneville. Daily, 10 to 6. 707.869.9099.

Sculpturesite Gallery Through Jan 4, “Being Woman,” five sculptures respond to issues facing women today.

23588 Arnold Dr, Sonoma.

Sebastopol Center for the Arts Through Jan 5, “Members Show,” annual non-juried show gives members a chance to showcase their most exciting pieces. 282 S High St, Sebastopol. Tues-Fri, 10 to 4; Sat, 1 to 4. 707.829.4797.

SoCo Coffee Through Dec 28, “All in One,” recent still life and landscape paintings by Hally DeCarion.

1015 Fourth St, Santa Rosa.

707.433.1660.

Sonoma County Museum Through Jan 11, “Roseland: Stories from the Community,” members of the community have developed content around various questions concerning the neighborhood.

425 Seventh St, Santa Rosa. Tues-Sun, 11 to 4.

707.579.1500.

Upstairs Art Gallery Dec 17-28, “It’s All About the Beads,” displaying the jems of Jo Tobin-Charlston. 306 Center St, Healdsburg. SunThurs, 10 to 6; Fri-Sat, 10 to 9.

707.431.4214.

West County Museum Through Dec 28, “Batikletcawi Was Here,” displays important native artifacts and local Pomo art. 261 S Main St, Sebastopol. Thurs-Sun, 1 to 4.

707.829.6711.

MARIN COUNTY Bolinas Museum Through Jan 4, “Ocean Wonders & Wellness,” several exhibits display paintings, photography and wearable art that reflects our precious ocean resources. Through Jun 14, “40 Years of the Hearsay News,” exhibit includes more than 50,000 pages bound in volumes to peruse. 48 Wharf Rd, Bolinas. Fri, 1 to 5; Sat-Sun, noon to 5; and by appointment.

415.868.0330.

Falkirk Cultural Center Through Dec 27, “Three Ways of Seeing Water,” paintings by Will Noble, Mary Wagstaff, and Nelson Hee. 1408 Mission Ave, San Rafael. 415.485.3438.

Gallery Bergelli Through Dec 26, “December Group Show,” new paintings by gallery artists. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454.

Marin Civic Center Through Jan 8, “The View from Marin,” artwork by members of Marin MOCA is on display. 3501 Civic Center Dr, San Rafael.

415.499.6400.

Marin Community Foundation Through Jan 9, “Inner Worlds: Conscious Unconscious,” exhibits five artists who lived in the North Bay since the 1950s; features post-surrealism, Beat culture and abstract expressionism. 5 Hamilton Landing, Ste 200, Novato. Open Mon-Fri, 9 to 5.

Marin MOCA Through Jan 11, “Irregularities of Attention,” artist Deborah Sullivan bridges past and present and explores concepts such as home, technology, nature and spirituality. Novato Arts Center, Hamilton Field, 500 Palm Dr, Novato. Wed-Sun, 11 to 4, 415.506.0137.

Marty Knapp Photo Gallery Through Jan 11, “Glass,” photographer Marty Knapp shows his 20th annual Thanksgiving Holiday exhibit, featuring the manipulated effects of light as it passes through glass.

11245 Shoreline Hwy, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.8670.

O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Through Dec 20, “Illumination: Art of the Spirit,” abstract and expressionistic works highlight the spiritual side of art. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley.

Tues-Sat, 10 to 2; also by appointment. 415.388.4331.

Comedy Below the Belt Brandon Revels hosts this evening of standup comedy featuring local talent. Third Fri of every month, 9pm. $10. Jasper O’Farrell’s, 6957 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol, 707.829.2062.

Comedy Open Mic Third Sun of every month, 8pm.

Free. HopMonk Sebastopol, 230 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol, 707.829.7300.

Holiday Comedy Showcase Comedic evening with some of the Bay Area’s freshest faces.

Hosted by Griffin Daley. Dec 21, 7pm. $15. Fenix, 919 Fourth St, San Rafael, 415.813.5600.

Mort Sahl Social Satire from Sahl. Thurs. $15-$20. 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, 415.383.9600.

Magic Comedy Show A show that will tickle your rib cage, and blow your mind with sleight of hand magic alongside clean wholesome humor. Dec 17, 7pm. $15.

Shuffle’s Magical Ice Cream Shoppe, 528 Seventh St, Santa Rosa, 707.544.3535.

George’s Nightclub Thursdays, 8pm, Salsa y Sabor Thursday, Salsa lessons followed by DJs spinning the best of salsa and jazz tunes.

842 Fourth St, San Rafael 415.226.0262.

Lincoln Theater Dec 20-21, The Nutcracker, Enjoy Napa Regional Dance Company’s 14th annual production of the holiday tradition. 100 California Dr, Yountville 707.226.8742.

Marin Center Showcase Theatre Dec 20, 2 and 5:30pm, Dance with Sherry Studio: Tapcracker, a funny take on an old standard. $12-$22. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael 415.499.6800.

Marin Center’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium Dec 20, 1 and 5:30pm, Sophie and the Enchanted Toyshop, presented by Marin Dance Theatre. $28-$38. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael 415.499.6800.

Monroe Dance Hall

Wed. Spancky’s, 8201 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati, 707.664.0169.

Tuesdays, African and World Music and Dance. Wednesdays, Singles and Pairs Square Dance Club. Thursdays, Circles ‘n Squares Dance Club. Sundays, Country-Western dancing and lessons. Mondays, Scottish Country Dancing. 1400 W College Ave, Santa Rosa 707.529.5450.

Tuesday Night Comedy

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcrack

Mark Pitta hosts ongoing evenings with established comics and up-and-comers. $15-$20. 142 Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, 415.383.9600.

World-famous production comes to life for two performances in one day. Dec 20, 3 and 7pm. $33 and up.

Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa 707.546.3600.

Open Mic Comedy

Dance Sebastopol Ballet’s Nutcracker

Events Chanukah Party

Dec 19-21, Sebastopol Ballet presents the Nutcracker, a colorful and cherished tradition that includes sugar plum parties before matinees and fun for all ages. Dec 19-21. $12$22. Analy High School, 6950 Analy Ave, Sebastopol.

Join in the festivities for the fifth night of Chanukah.

Traditional food, wine, stories and music. Three-course dinner optional. Dec 20, 5pm. $11. Sonoma Wine Shop & La Bodega, 2295 Hwy 116 S, Sebastopol, 707.827.1832.

Bio

Community Healing Festival

Dec 20, 8pm, Christmas Dance for Single Professionals, Party features dancing to today’s hottest hits and the greatest songs of yesteryear. Festive holiday attire is recommended. $15. 2633 Bridgeway, Sausalito.

Full Hands-on-Healings, Clairvoyant Readings, and Aura Healings, all by donation. Dec 21, 6pm. Yoga One Petaluma, 110 Kentucky Street, Petaluma, 707.782.9642.

Community Meditation Practice

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CRITIC’S CHOICE

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

Sitting and walking meditation with free instruction. Followed by tea and snacks. Sun, 9am.

Free. Santa Rosa Shambhala Meditation Center, 709 Davis St, Santa Rosa, 707.545.4907.

Interfaith Israel Trip Info Night Come to an information night to learn more about two-week journey to Israel May 26 to Jun 9, 2015. Dec 20, 7pm. Free.

Congregation B’nai Israel, 740 Western Ave, Petaluma.

Radiant Presence With Peter Brown. Every other Tues. Open Secret, 923 C St, San Rafael, 415.457.4191.

Resource Clinic Get info on housing, transit, food stamps and Medi-Cal. Wed, 11am. Free. Petaluma Health Center, 1301 Southpoint Blvd, Petaluma, 707.559.7500.

Winter Circus A 1920s-style circus based on the traditional French Le Cirque de Bohème will transport you into a magical dream filled with enchantment, wonder and adventure.

Through Dec 22. Cornerstone Sonoma, 23570 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, 707.933.3010.

Field Trips Bohemia Hiker Series Bohemia docents share the beauty of this property through the changing seasons.

Registration is required.

Third Sat of every month, 10:30am. Bohemia Ecological Preserve, 8759 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental.

Wild Work Days Rediscover a reciprocal relationship with nature. Third Thurs of every month, 1pm.

Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Rd, Occidental, 707.874.1557.

Film

Star Power Local foundation helps special needs kids Santa Rosa philanthropists are blazing new trails with a foundation committed to providing a priceless musical experience for youths with special needs.

Reminiscent of other experience-based gift foundations, the Everybody Is a Star Foundation focuses its efforts on providing young people aged 11 to 22 with a creative outlet based on a platform of musical development and production. The result is the production of a studio recorded song and professionally filmed music video that promotes a sense of accomplishment in a group of young people that may otherwise have been excluded from the industry.

Everybody Is a Star was founded by Peter McEvilley and Howard Sapper with the intent to change that. The program coordinates festival appearances and other public exhibitions of featured performers, and providing “stars” with tools to make their name in the industry, whether through music production experience or broadcasting know-how. One such participant, Loren Moale, has found success as a broadcaster at a nonprofit Napa TV stemming from his experience with the foundation.

North Bay residents can look forward to more success stories and event appearances by this inspiring organization. If you’re interested in donating to support the program, go to Everybodystar.org.

—Jessie Janssen

Big Apple Circus: Metamorphosis New York’s original one-ring circus performs on screen.

Dec 18, 7pm. Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St, Sebastopol, 707.525.4840.

Capra Classics: It’s a Wonderful Life This holiday season, enjoy the most beloved films of Frank

Capra. Dec 21, 4 and 7pm. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St, San Rafael, ) 415.454.1222.

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NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

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NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

38

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Through workshops, clinics, and private instruction, our comprehensive after school experience is designed to hone music performance and ensemble skills in a creative and fun environment. We know from experience that playing in a band situation speeds learning and creates â&#x20AC;&#x153;seasonedâ&#x20AC;? musicians. Even relatively advanced musicians are amazed at the amount of progress they make when regularly playing with other musicians. Students work in a hands-on atmosphere that includes: Â&#x2021; /HDUQLQJ WKH QXWV DQG EROWV RI OLYH SHUIRUPDQFH Â&#x2021; 3ULYDWH LQVWUXFWLRQ Â&#x2021; 0XVLF WKHRU\ DQG VRQJZULWLQJ FRXUVHV Â&#x2021; 5RFN 5ROO )XQN -D]] PXVLF DSSUHFLDWLRQ Â&#x2021; 6WXGLR EDQG UHKHDUVDO WLPH DQG KDYLQJ IXQ Â&#x2021; ,QWHUDFWLQJ ZLWK RWKHU \RXQJ PXVLFLDQV Â&#x2021; ,QVWUXFWLRQ DQG FOLQLFV ZLWK PXVLF SURIHVVLRQDOV Â&#x2021; $ /,9( SHUIRUPDQFH IRU \RXU IULHQGV IDPLO\ Â&#x2021; +DQGV RQ UHFRUGLQJ LQ VWDWH RI WKH DUW SURIHVVLRQDO UHFRUGLQJ VWXGLR contact@livemusicianscoop.com Nathan Prowse: 707-527-8845 www.livemusicianscoop.com

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Film & Fork â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Theory of Everythingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; screens, with dinner at Cindyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Backstreet Kitchen next door.

Dec 22. $50. Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St, St Helena, 707.963.3946.

Finding Nemo Toys for Tots presents the film, bring a new unwrapped toy for admission. Dec 20, 1:30pm.

Sebastiani Theatre, 476 First St E, Sonoma, 707.996.9756.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Wonderful Life The holiday classic plays throughout the weekend. Dec 20-22, 1 and 7pm. Summerfield Cinemas, 551 Summerfield Rd, Santa Rosa, 707.528.4222.

Movie & a Meal Community event for all to share in. Third Fri of every month. $5-$10. Sonoma Shambhala Meditation Center, 255 W Napa St, Sonoma, 415.412.8570.

Scene Battle film fest Bring your favorite scene from your favorite movie on a DVD and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be shown in this all audience-participation festival.

Dec 17, 7pm. $5-$8. Rio Theater, 20396 Bohemian Hwy, Monte Rio, 707.865.0913.

Toy Story Short Film Festival Enjoy two short films for the first time on the big screen in Sonoma County. Participate in a Q&A with Pixar director Steve Purcell, enter to win a VIP Tour for 8 and grab a prize for the Best Toy Story costume. Dec 21, 4pm. $30. Jackson Theater, Sonoma Country Day School, 4400 Day School Place, Santa Rosa, 707.284.3200.

Food & Drink Christmas Eve Dining Special holiday menu. Dec 24. Left Bank Brasserie, 507 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur, 415.927.3331.

Demystifying Wine & Food Interactive discussions on pairings with delectable demonstrations. Sat-noon. $75.

Hall Winery, 401 St Helena Hwy S, St Helena, 707.967.2620.

eggs. Sat, 9am. Harvest Market, 19996 Seventh St E, Sonoma, 707.996.0712.

Locals Night Special menu items, musical performances and activities.

Tues, 5pm. Free. Oxbow Public Market, 610 First St, Napa.

Point Reyes Christmas Bird Count Dinner participants in the annual bird count can tally the species seen and generally enjoy the birding highlight of the season.

Reservations required. Dec 20, 5pm. Dance Palace, 503 B St, Pt Reyes Station, 415.663.1075.

Winter in the Wineries Tour, taste wine and meet winemakers at 14 heralded wineries, both large and small, in and around the town at the top of Napa Valley. Through Feb 8, 2015. $50. Calistoga wineries, various locations, Calistoga.

Readings

Bible and the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most celebrated playwright as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy. Through Dec 21. $37-$51. Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, 415.388.5208.

Crumbs An unlikely Cinderella story. Dec 18-21. $15-$20. the Imaginists, 461 Sebastopol Avenue, Santa Rosa, 707.528.7554.

Inspecting Carol A cutting satire on professional theater, this hilarious show follows a down-and-out theater companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desperate attempts to produce â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Christmas Carol.â&#x20AC;? Through Dec 21. $15-$25. Novato Theater Playhouse, 5420 Nave Dr, Novato, 415.883.4498.

Jolly Juliana This original holiday vaudeville extravaganza commemorates the roots of American theater.

Through Dec 21. $25-$32. Sixth Street Playhouse, 52 W Sixth St, Santa Rosa, 707.523.4185.

Other Desert Cities

Dec 21, 12:30pm, Poetry Open Mic. 6761 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol 707.829.6600.

Jon Robin Baitz wrote this intense family drama that ultimately affirms the spirit of Christmasâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;love, forgiveness and family. Through Dec 21.

Pegasus Theater Company, Rio Nido Lodge, Canyon Two Rd, Rio Nido. Through Dec 21. Main Stage West, 104 N Main St, Sebastopol.

Point Reyes Books

Scrooge: The Musical

Dec 21, 7pm, Winter Solstice poetry reading. Free. Fourth Monday of every month, Spanish book group. 11315 Hwy 1, Pt Reyes Station 415.663.1542.

This delightful musical version of the Charles Dickens classic combines live action with animated sequences. Through Dec 21. $22-$26. Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, 707.588.3400.

Bean Affair Dec 21, 1pm, Third Sunday Salon Holiday Solstice. 1270 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg 707.395.0177.

Coffee Catz

Theater The Best Christmas Pageant Ever The outrageous and hilarious tale of a Christmas play gone mad will delight all ages.

Through Dec 21. $10-$20.

Raven Theater Windsor, 195 Windsor River Rd, Windsor.

A Christmas Carol Director Aidan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly and the Sonoma Shakespeare Theatre bring the Dickensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; classic to life. Dec 19-23. Andrews Hall, Sonoma Community Center, 276 E Napa St, Sonoma, 707.938.4626x1.

Harvest Market

The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged)

Selling local and seasonal fruit, flowers, vegetables and

The Reduced Shakespeare Company skewers history, the

West Coast Live Weekly radio show comes to Healdsburg for a live performance. With music, readings and interviews hosted

by Sedge Thomson. Sat, Dec 20, 10am. $15. SHED, 25 North St, Healdsburg, 707.431.7433.

The BOHEMIANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calendar is produced as a service to the community. If you have an item for the calendar, send it to calendar@bohemian. com, or mail it to: NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN, 847 Fifth St, Santa Rosa CA 95404. Events costing more than $65 may be withheld. Deadline is two weeks prior to desired publication date.

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PLACE AN AD: Phone: 707.527.1200, Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm Fax: 707.527.1288 | Email: sales@bohemian.com

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SPIRITUAL

Connections Finding inspiration & connecting with your community

Unity of Santa Rosa An inclusive, spiritually-minded community.

All are welcome. Workshops and events.

Sunday School & Service 10:30am.

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SPECIAL HOLIDAY B-12 HOURS Come and get a B-12 shot to help you with your holiday stress and to boost your energy.

Tuesday December 23 & 30 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;6pm Normal Thursday Schedule resumes Jan 8 after New Years

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BY ROB BREZSNY

For the week of December 17

ARIES (March 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;April 19) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Too much happiness can make you unhappy,â&#x20AC;? reported journalist Marta Zaraska in the Washington Post. Citing research by psychologists, she concluded that being super-extra cheerful can make you selďŹ sh, gullible and more prone to stereotyped thinking. On the other hand, she said, maintaining merely moderate levels of happiness is pretty damn good for your mental and physical health.

So hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the takeaway, Aries: The astrological omens suggest youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re due for a surge of joy and pleasure.

Just be careful it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spill over into rash, delirious excess. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your watchword: well-grounded delight.

TAURUS (April 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;May 20)

In the 19th century, the Grimm brothers gathered over 200 old fairy tales from a variety of sources and published them in an unprecedented collection. Many of their stories are still popular, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cinderella,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Snow White,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hansel and Gretelâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rapunzel.â&#x20AC;? Around the same time they did their work, a storyteller named Franz Xaver von SchĂśnwerth assembled his own compendium of fantastic myths, fables and folklore. Unlike the Grimm brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; book, his work faded into obscurity. But it was rediscovered in 2011, and 500 lost fairy tales are now ďŹ nding their way into newly published books. I foresee a comparable phenomenon happening for you in 2015, Taurus. Forgotten stories will return. Raw material from the depths will resurface. Interesting news from the past will come ďŹ&#x201A;owing into the present.

GEMINI (May 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;June 20) Your ďŹ rst task is to ascertain the half-truth, the whole half-truth and nothing but the whole half-truth. Only then will you be able to ďŹ nd the other half of the truth. I realize it may be frustrating to use this approach. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d probably prefer to avoid wrangling with the deceptions and misdirections. But I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only way to jostle loose the hidden or missing information. For best results, be a cunning and unsentimental detective whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eager to solve the mystery. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t focus on ďŹ nding fault or assigning blame.

CANCER (June 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;July 22)

One of the ingredients that makes yoga mats so soft and springy is the chemical azodicarbonamide. The same stuff is added to the soles of shoes. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a third place where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s used, too: in the burger buns sold by McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Burger King, Wendyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and other fast food joints.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not suggesting that you order a big supply of azodicarbonamide and ingest it. But I do hope you will consider the metaphorical equivalent: doing whateverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s necessary to make yourself bouncy and ďŹ&#x201A;uffy and pliable and supple and resilient.

LEO (July 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;August 22)

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are two kinds of light,â&#x20AC;? said author James Thurber, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.â&#x20AC;? Lately you have been an abundant source of that ďŹ rst kind of light, Leo. The ďŹ re in your heart and the gleam in your eyes have not only brightened the mood wherever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gone. They have also clariďŹ ed confusing situations, warmed chilly attitudes and healed dispirited allies.

Thank you! In the coming weeks, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to see you continue on your hot streak. To help ensure that you do, keep your ego under control. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let it pretend that it owns the light youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re emitting. With a little introspection, you will continue to generate illumination, not glare.

VIRGO (August 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;September 22) Studies suggest that 57 percent of all people with access to the Internet have engaged in the practice known as ego-surďŹ ng. This modern art form consists of searching Google for mentions of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own name.

This is a suspiciously low ďŹ gure unless we factor in the data uncovered by my own researchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which is that a disproportionately small number of Virgos go ego-surďŹ ng: only 21 percent. If you are one of the 79 percent of your tribe who does not indulge, I invite you to remedy the situation. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an excellent time to risk exploring the potential beneďŹ ts of increased selfinterest and self-regard.

LIBRA (September 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;October 22) When I started writing horoscopes many years ago, I was a good astrologer but an unexceptional writer. Eventually, the practice of composing 12 packets of pithy prose every week allowed me to improve my authorial skills. The

stuff I composed in the early years wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bad, but I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to present it as my work any more. So should I feel guilty that I got paid and appreciated for those old efforts even though I was less than perfect?

Did I get away with something I shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have gotten away with? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think so. I was doing the best I could at the time. And even my unpolished astrological musings were helpful to many people. Now, Libra, I invite you to apply these meditations to you own unfolding destiny.

SCORPIO (October 23â&#x20AC;&#x201C;November 21) You may already know what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m about to tell you. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a core principle at the root of your Scorpio heritage. But I want to focus your attention on it. In the coming months, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be wise to keep it at the forefront of your conscious awareness. Here it is, courtesy of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have it in your power to invest everything you have lived throughâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; your experiments, false starts, errors, delusions, passions, your love and your hopeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;into your goal, with nothing left over.â&#x20AC;?

SAGITTARIUS (November 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;December 21) â&#x20AC;&#x153;A savage desire for strong emotions and sensations burns inside me: a rage against this soft-tinted, shallow, standardized and sterilized life.â&#x20AC;? So says Harry Haller, the protagonist of Herman Hesseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s novel Steppenwolf. His declaration could serve as an interesting point of reference for you in the coming months, Sagittariusâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not as a mood for everyday use, but as a poetic inspiration that you periodically call on to invigorate your lust for life. My invitation has a caveat, however. I advise you not to adopt the rest of Harry Hallerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rant, in which he says that he also has â&#x20AC;&#x153;a mad craving to smash something up, a department store, or a cathedral, or myself.â&#x20AC;?

CAPRICORN (December 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;January 19) I have lived near an open space preserve for ďŹ ve years.

Up until the last two months, it has been a peaceful, quite place. But then the coyotes moved in. Just after dusk every evening, a pack of them start yipping and yowling in the distance. At ďŹ rst I found the racket to be eerie and unsettling. It activated some primal unease in me. And yet the coyotes have never actually been a problem. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t roam into my neighborhood and try to bite people or prey on pets. So now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to relish the situation; the wild things are close and exciting, but not dangerous. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m guessing this has a metaphorical resemblance to what your life will be like in the next six months, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS (January 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;February 18) Stanstead, Quebec and Derby Line, Vermont, are really a single town that straddles the border between the United States and Canada. Many of the people who live there have dual citizenship, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still supposed to carry their passports with them at all times. I suspect you may experience a metaphorical version of this split in the coming months, Aquarius. You will be in a situation that has a split down the middle or a seemingly unnatural division. Whether it turns out to be a problem or an opportunity will depend on your adaptability and ďŹ&#x201A;exibility.

PISCES (February 19â&#x20AC;&#x201C;March 20)

When a dead tree topples over in the woods, its withered branches may get entangled with the branches of a living tree thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standing nearby. As years go by, the living tree must grow the best it can with the decaying wood trapped in its midst. Has something like that ever happened to you? Are you still carrying the rot that other people have burdened you with? If so, the coming months will be an excellent time to get disentangled. A tree isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t capable of freeing itself from the dead weight of the past, but you areâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;especially in the ďŹ rst half of 2015.

Go to REALASTROLOGY.COM to check out Rob Brezsnyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Expanded Weekly Audio Horoscopes and Daily Text Message Horoscopes. Audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1.877.873.4888 or 1.900.950.7700.

žŝ NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 17-23, 2014 | BOHEMIAN.COM

Classifieds

FREE WILL

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