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Bohemian

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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 Halfway There Tom, I didn’t see you mention (“Mind the Gap,” Nov. 25) that half of the Larkspur extension money has already been pledged by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (http://bit.ly/1MRI4j5). Thus, if the transportation bill is passed into law with the $20 million for the Larkspur extension, then the extension is nearly completely funded.

The Lawmen Nobody has the right to “make-up rules as they go,” like the police seem to do daily in Rohnert Park (“Back Door Men,” Sept. 23). They swore to serve and protect. Each and every police officer “knows” the law. Rohnert Park has a long history of made-up police rules.

MICKI MARILYN MCKENZIE Via Bohemian.com

WAITING FOR SMART Via Bohemian.com

THIS MODERN WORLD

Closing the Door Our government’s response to Syrian refugees points out a failed foreign policy that helped create the current situation in the region. It was not so long ago that a war was fought (on the cheap and that we are still paying for) to oust a dictator and bring stability and peace to the Middle East. Now, after a decade, neither a stable nor peaceful environment exists in that part of the world; rather, a vacuum has been filled by an even more radical and

By Tom Tomorrow

fundamentalist outlook on how the world should be. As a result, thousands of men, women and children have been displaced, not only from Syria, but from many other Middle Eastern countries.

Faced with an exodus of people fleeing for safety, we may very well shut the door in their faces. Our history points to another war, fought 70 years ago, when our policy toward members of a minority religion seeking asylum from the dark clouds of anti-Semitism in Europe was the same: refugees turned away at our shores to face what surely was death.

Elected officials quick to cast aside the Syrian refugees are now prisoners of their own country’s history. They should look to their own heritage and realize that two or three generations ago, they too came from immigrant stock. I would invite those same elected officials to take an excursion to that small island near New York City where that great lady sculpture resides and read, or reread, poet Emma Lazarus’ inscription.

E. G. SINGER Santa Rosa

Clearcut Square?

I know it was in small print on the back pages of the local paper, so you may not have noticed, but they are planning on cutting down the redwood trees in Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa as part of the reunification of the square project to make way for more public parking. Do we want a square or a parking lot? The city claims to be open for feedback.

LIBBY BOTTRELL Santa Rosa

Write to us at letters@bohemian.com.

Street Theater Local activists use Black Friday to stage protest BY SUSAN LAMONT

W

hile many people were out shopping on Black Friday, about 25 Sonoma County residents staged some street theater at the Santa Rosa Mall to highlight alleged law enforcement brutality, specifically the alleged beatings of 20 inmates at the Sonoma County Adult Detention Center by sheriff deputies in May. There was an inmate in orange prison garb and three deputies dressed in black with black ski masks, dressed as they were at the jail.

Actors representing Sheriff Steve Freitas and District Attorney Jill Ravitch were on hand to deny all the accusations.

An announcer explained the action so shoppers would understand the event. Large signs were held up announcing the reenactment.

After the attacks in Paris, the activists did not want to be confused with terrorists at the mall, particularly while wearing the masks. The safety of actors and shoppers was paramount.

The skit was repeated seven times in the mall and a few more times outside. Mall security was informed about the action and accompanied the performers, but did not interfere. Mall security took some flack last year for harassing the parents of Andy Lopez during a protest, and the mall owners subsequently have taken a hands-off approach.

Many shoppers stopped to watch the performances and seemed interested in knowing more. Many snapped up the fliers explaining what happened at the jail. Several people approached the activists to tell of their own experiences at the hands of Sonoma County deputies.

Sheriff Freitas has said that the inmates—locked in individual 6-by10-foot cells with no access to each other and taken individually from their cells with their hands handcuffed behind their backs— were creating a “coordinated mass disturbance.” His office did not explain how this was feasible.

District Attorney Ravitch does not feel that 20 inmates complaining about abuse warrants investigation. In response to a question at a public meeting, Ravitch said that inmates have every reason to lie. She did not mention that brutal deputies and the sheriff might have good reason to lie as well. She acknowledged that receiving complaints about the sheriff's office and county jail is an almost daily occurrence, and she regularly chooses not to investigate. The sheriff has assured her that everything is just fine.

Susan Lamont is a local peace and social justice activist, writer and artist who retired this year from the Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County.

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.

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Rants

7

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THE

Paper

DEBR IEFER DOJ Go Home Last week a trio of California lawmakers sent a letter to United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch that implored the Department of Justice to lay off the medical marijuana busts in California, forever, in light of “comprehensive, stringent and enforceable industry regulations recently signed into law.”

In their letter, U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, Dana Rohrabacher and Sam Farr wrote that they were “concerned that the Department of Justice [DOJ] continues to threaten individuals and businesses acting within the scope of states law on the medicinal use of marijuana despite formal guidance on exercising prosecutorial discretion and recent changes to federal law. It is counterproductive and economically prohibitive to continue a path of hostility toward dispensaries.”

POSTHUMOUS Brittany Maynard, who chose physician-assisted death in 2014, helped spark a national debate about ‘death with dignity.’

Dying Wishes Will California’s new physician-assisted death law make it too easy to die? BY STEPHANIE HILLER

P

hysician-assisted death is not suicide.

The new End of Life Option Act, passed in August and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 8, makes it legal for a physician to prescribe a drug to end a patient’s life.

“But it is not suicide,” says Toni Broaddus, California campaign

director of Compassion & Choices, the organization that lobbied hardest in favor of the bill, “and it will not say ‘suicide’ on the death certificate.” Physicianassisted suicide is still illegal in California.

“Californians like to have options,” she says. The issue is about choice: choice at the beginning and choice at the end.

The bill allows patients to

choose to end their life rather than suffer until its “natural” end. “It’s a relief for people to know that it’s an option,” says Iris Compton, who facilitates the Elders Salon Sonoma, an agingissues discussion group.

While a majority of Californians hailed the passage of the controversial bill, advocates for the disabled say the ) 11 implications are grim.

Hostility, you say? It’s running strong locally. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, for example, has adopted a generally hostile posture when it comes to its relationship with local medical cannabis providers. The federal ban on cannabis has in recent months been toted out by Sonoma law enforcement as the department has shown exactly zero interest in backing off from weed busts locally.

For example: Following the recent destruction of hundreds of cannabis plants in Forestville that were reportedly being grown for AIDS patients by “Oaky” Joe Munson, a department spokesperson told the S.F. Weekly that it reserved the option to enforce the law as it existed before the advent of Proposition 215—the 1996 measure that created the nation’s first medical cannabis law.

The letter to the DOJ highlights “counterproductive” efforts by the DOJ to crack down on dispensaries that are legally permissible under state law— ) 11 The Bohemian started as The Paper in 1978.

9

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Lee and Farr are Democrats, while Rohrabacher remains in the death grip of a Republican Party that has shown little interest in legalizing pot. Yet Rohrabacher supports the legalization of recreational cannabis and he surfs. He also supported George Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s torture policies at Gitmo on his way to becoming an unapologetic Islamophobe who also ran with the mujahideen in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. He must be high, since Rohrabacher doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe that global warming is caused by humans. But at least he recognizes a state right when he sees one.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those of us born with visible or severe limitations are frequently told that our lives are not worth living,â&#x20AC;? writes Adrienne Lauby in the Peace Press, a bimonthly publication of the Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want our deaths determined by doctors working for HMOs who understand how much cheaper a suicide pill is than health treatments,â&#x20AC;? says Lauby, who hosts Pushing Limits, KPFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disability show.

All California organizations for the disabled opposed the bill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Until youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent many years in and out of hospitals, you may not understand how ďŹ&#x201A;awed the healthcare system is,â&#x20AC;? says Lauby. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are regulations, but mistakes are made and patients are manipulated. You have the basic problem of healthcare being proďŹ t-driven. . . . Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to imagine people being given the medicine to save money.â&#x20AC;?

In the Netherlands, where a similar law has been in place since 2002, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the rate of assisted suicide has gone up many times, and the amount of money for long-term care and medical assistance at the end of life has gone down,â&#x20AC;? she says.

Dr. Ira Byock, a leader in palliative care in the United States, also cited the Netherlands in an Los Angeles Times op-ed that opposed the law. Instead of letting doctors assist in patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; deaths, Byock wants to see better palliative care. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last fallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute of Medicine report â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dying in America,â&#x20AC;? detailed deďŹ ciencies in medical training and practice that contribute to needless suffering,â&#x20AC;? he wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It also lays out steps that healthcare and long-term care systems, insurers, medical schools and policymakers can take to reliably resolve this crisis.â&#x20AC;?

In Oregon, the state whose legislation is the model for the California law, the experience has been different. There, less than 1 percent of patients ask for a prescription, and of those, only one-third actually take it.

If not actually pushing people toward suicide, will the new law

tend to decrease the amount of time and money allotted to palliative care for people with prolonged terminal illnesses?

This is of special concern to poor people who are dependent on state insurance: Will the law push them to take the pill rather than endure prolonged suffering without the comforts of quality palliative care?

And what about the elderly?

With a steadily rising population of elders, many of whom are disabled and lack essential services, pressure to expedite their deaths could increase.

But Broaddus believes safeguards in the law protect against such dark outcomes. The process of obtaining the prescription is cumbersome.

Patients must be in hospice care and diagnosed with a terminal illness and then interviewed by a mental-health provider to assure mental competence.

Two doctors, seen separately, two weeks apart, must agree that the prescription is warranted.

For their protection, patients with terminal dementia are not permitted to request a prescription, another wrinkle in this complicated issue.

The concern is not so much that patients will be routinely forced to choose death by their insurance companies, but that cutbacks in palliative care will push people to choose to die before itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s their time.

For those whose disease cannot be ameliorated, the value of this option is clear. Brittany Maynard moved to Oregon to take her life after she was diagnosed with a virulent form of brain cancer that blocked the effects of pain medication. An unassisted death would have meant unrelieved misery for Maynard, whose rightto-die advocacy started a national conversation about the issue.

For now, most patients arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t running off to die under the new state law, says Yvonne Baginski, publisher of Born to Age, an annual digest of information for seniors. Baginski has done endof-life work for three decades and says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to see a huge onslaught of people seeking this.

People are afraid to die. They expect a miracle until the end.â&#x20AC;?

NORTH BAY BOH EMI A N | DEC E M BE R 2-8 , 20 1 5 | BO H E M I AN.COM

12

Dining

bacon and maple syrup. But I prefer a fully savory path, greased with bacon and finished with cheese and hot sauce or pickled peppers.

What makes these French toast variations a little more fun, in a naughty way, is that any permutation of French toast and bacon would get it banned from a diet plan. Sugar, fat, processed carbohydrates and the ultimate processed meat, bacon, are all bogeyman foods these days.

French toast with bacon is not Paleo, low-carb, Atkins, South Beach, vegetarian or vegan, and it definitely isn’t kosher.

This is extreme comfort food, and it goes well with either coffee or wine.

‘LOST BREAD’ FOUND French toast isn’t just for breakfast anymore.

Freedom Toast The continental solution for stale bread

T

hanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, and there’s more holiday fare ahead—so what to do with all of the hard, crusty bread that will now accumulate, since there is no longer a big cavity in some dead turkey to pack it into? Fortunately, the French have the answer, in the form of a very old dish called pain perdu.

References to this dish appear

in Apicius, an ancient Roman cookbook that is one of the world’s oldest. However, you may have heard of it under the name “French toast,” a term that isn’t used in France any more than “American football” is used here.

The French name, which means “lost bread,” hints at the utility of the dish as a way to recover bread that would otherwise be too far gone to eat.

As the French and Romans were well aware, the most bulletproof chunks of expired bread, providing they aren’t moldy or

BY ARI LEVAUX rotten, can be brought back to life with a soak in a mixture of eggs and milk. When the soaked bread pieces are pan-fried, the age and previous condition of the bread are quickly forgotten.

As a morning meal, French toast is often dismissed as little more than a system to deliver maple syrup and berries into your mouth. But savory versions can be made as well, as can sweet and savory combinations. There is no reason why, for example, sweet French toast can’t be cooked in bacon grease and served with

Given my kids’ reluctance to eat anything green, I discovered that I could slip significant amounts of parsley, seaweed, broccoli and even kale into the French toast pan, and it would disappear along with the egged bread and bacon.

These additions take French toast out of the realm of breakfast fare and make it appropriate for any meal. For non-breakfast eaters like myself, who nonetheless appreciate the traditional breakfast arts, savory French toast is a true game changer.

I shared a cabin last week with two hunters, and none of us had time for breakfast, let alone a big ol’ greasy wad in our bellies as we charged up a mountain.

Because—make no mistake— were we to have made time for breakfast, it would have been big and it would have been greasy.

Pain Perdu For four slices from a loaf of bread, or the equivalent in baguette medallions, use two eggs and a quarter cup of milk, beaten together.

Very hard bread needs to be soaked at least an hour, preferably overnight, in the egg mixture, while fresh bread requires only a few minutes. There is nothing wrong with keeping some crusty bread soaking in egg in the fridge, ready at a moment’s notice.

Prepare the pan for cooking— which is to say, cook bacon in the pan. When the bacon is about half-done, add any vegetables that take a while to cook, like kale or broccoli. When they are near done, push the bacon and green things to the side of the pan, add oil or butter (if the bacon isn’t very fatty) and add the eggsoaked bread, along with some chopped garlic. Cook slowly on low heat.

After achieving a brown on all sides, add faster-cooking greens like parsley or nori. When it’s nearly cooked, add some cheese, if desired. Little chunks of brie are a decadent way to stay on the French theme. But since this dish breaks ranks with virtually every other diet and theme, why keep it French? Slices of cheddar work beautifully, as do shredded Italian hard cheeses.

And since nothing is sacred anymore, I should mention that savory French toast can also be prepared without bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with something spicy, and a dollop of mayo, perhaps, with your choice of coffee or wine.

13 NO RTH BAY BO H E M I AN | D EC E M BE R 2-8, 201 5 | BOH EMI A N.COM

But by evening, with the hunting done for the day and the fire stoked, stale bread became a delivery system for protein and veggie-rich awesomeness that our bodies recognized would help us recover from a rough day.

With the wind howling outside the cabin, pain perdu is extreme comfort food, and it goes well with either coffee or wine.

+++++

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320 West 3rd St, Ste G Santa Rosa • 707.595.4447 www.phocrazy.biz

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NORTH BAY BOH E MI A N | DEC E M BE R 2-8 , 20 1 5 | BO H E M I AN.COM

14

Lo Coco’s Cucina Rustica

2015

Voted Best Italian restaurant of the North Bay. —North Bay Bohemian

Dining Our selective list of North Bay restaurants is subject to menu, pricing and schedule changes. Call first for confirmation.

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

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 Dry Creek Kitchen American. $$$-$$$$. Refined and contemporary American menu with multicultural influence. Seafood and vegetables reign! Dinner daily; lunch, Fri-Sun. 317 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg. 707.431.0330.

LoCoco’s is everything an Italian restaurant should be—boisterous, busy, fun, with excellent authentic food of the best quality: fresh seafood, meats and pasta.

70 7-52 3 -2 2 27

Serving Lunch & Dinner

Historic Railroad Square, 117 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa

Open Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve R ated

Hallie’s Diner American and more. $-$$. Classic diner food with a gourmet touch, plus Latin American items and homemade pizzas. Great for breakfast. Breakfast and lunch daily. 125 Keller St, Petaluma.

707.773.1143.

Hamburger Ranch & Pasta Farm American. $.

Old-fashioned, informal mom’n’-pop roadhouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

31195 N Redwood Hwy, Cloverdale. 707.894.5616.

LaSalette Portuguese.

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Gift Certificates Available LoCocos.net

$$-$$$. Authentic rustic dishes include classic lusty Portuguese stews and seafood. Dinner, Wed-Sun. 452-H First St E, Sonoma.

707.938.1927.

Pamposh Indian. $-$$.

We’re Smokin’! w (EMP] 0YRGL ERH (MRRIV 7TIGMEPW w :IKIXEVMER *VMIRHP] Menu w 'EXIVMRK

Clean, fresh, exciting traditional Indian food. Chicken tikka masala is indescribably good.

Lunch and dinner, Tues-Sat; dinner, Sun. 52 Mission Circle, Ste 110, Santa Rosa.

707.538.3367.

Phyllis’ Giant Burgers

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Happy Hour!

M-W-Th

Juicy Pig Restaurant & Bar 16440 4th Street | Guerneville 707.604.7120 | thejuicypig.net

American. $. Come with a hearty appetite for an oldfashioned patty. Lunch and dinner daily. Two Sonoma County locations: 4910 Sonoma Hwy, Ste B, Santa Rosa.

707.538.4000. 1774 Piner Road #B, Santa Rosa. 707.521.0890.

Two Marin County locations: 924 Diablo Ave, Novato.

415.898.8294. 2202 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.456.0866.

Saddles Steakhouse. $$$$$$$. A steakhouse in the

best American tradition, with top-quality grass-fed beef. Pies are made from fruit trees on restaurant property. Dinner daily.

29 E MacArthur St, Sonoma.

707.933.3191.

Sonoma Chocolatiers 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.

Thai Taste Restaurant Thai. $-$$. Lovely ambiance and daily specials showcase authentic Thai flavors. A hidden gem in Santa Rosa’s Montecito neighborhood. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Fri; dinner, Sat. 170 Farmers Lane #8, Santa Rosa. 707.526.3888.

Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar Seafood. $$. Delicious preparations of the freshest fish and shellfish. Lunch and dinner daily. 403 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg. 707.433.9191.

Yao-Kiku Japanese. $$-$$$. Fresh sushi with ingredients flown in from Japan steals the show in this popular neighborhood restaurant. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat. 2700 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa. 707.578.8180.

MARIN CO U N T Y Cafe Gratitude Vegetarian. $-$$. Mecca for vegans and raw foodists.

Clean, light, refreshing food.

2200 Fourth St, San Rafael.

415.824.4652.

Casa Mañana 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.

Fradelizio’s Italian. $$.

Locally sourced northern Italian dishes with a Californiacuisine touch. The house red is a custom blend from owner Paul Fradelizio. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch, Sat-Sun. 35 Broadway Blvd, Fairfax.

415.459.1618.

Iron Springs Pub & Brewery Brewpub. $$.

Pub grub gets a pub-cuisine facelift. Lunch, Wed-Sun; dinner daily. 765 Center Blvd, Fairfax. 415.485.1005.

Joe’s Taco Lounge & Salsaria Mexican. $. Mostly authentic Mexican menu with American standbys. Lunch and dinner daily; takeout, too.

382 Miller Ave, Mill Valley.

415.383.8164.

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.

Salito’s Crab House 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.

Sushiholic Japanese. $$$$. A nice addition to the local lineup, with a lengthy and wellcrafted repertoire including uncommon dishes like nabeyaki udon, zaru soba, yosenabe and sea bass teriyaki.

Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat. Rowland Plaza, 112-C Vintage Way, Novato. 415.898.8500.

Tommy’s Wok Chinese. $-$$. Tasty and filling Chinese fare without the greasy weigh-down. Nice vegetarian selections, too. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat; dinner only, Sun; closed Tues.

3001 Bridgeway Ave, Sausalito.

415.332.5818.

The William Tell House American & Italian. $$. Marin County’s oldest saloon. Casual and jovial

Bistro Jeanty French. $$$.

Rich, homey cuisine. A perfect choice when you can’t get a chance to do your Laundry.

Lunch and dinner daily.

6510 Washington St, Yountville.

707.944.4870.

Boonfly Cafe California cuisine. $-$$. Extraordinary food in an extraordinary setting. Perfect pasta and mussels. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 4080 Sonoma Hwy, Napa. 707.299.4900.

Compadres Rio Grille

California cuisine. $$$.

California bistro fare that nearly always hits the mark.

Lunch and dinner daily; brunch, Sat-Sun. 4050 Byway E, Napa.

707.257.1999.

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

Breakfast and lunch daily.

1313 Main St, St Helena.

707.963.1788.

La Toque Restaurant French-inspired. $$$$. Set in a comfortable elegantly rustic dining room reminiscent of a French lodge, with a stone fireplace centerpiece. 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 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.

All of a sudden, barbecue is booming in the North Bay. In the past few months, three new barbecue joints have opened: Kinsmoke in Healdsburg, Sauced BBQ & Spirits in Petaluma and the Juicy Pig in Guerneville.

Kinsmoke (304 Center St., Healdsburg; 707.473.8440), located in what was the Center Street Deli, doesn’t claim any one style of barbecue, but instead serves a little bit of everything—Texas-style beef brisket (very good), St. Louis pork ribs and North Carolina pulled pork, as well as burgers, wings, sausage and even a coffee-rubbed porterhouse steak. Once you find a seat in the always-crowded dining room, your server will drop a quintet of sauces on your table. My favorite is the vinegar-based North Carolina–style sauce.

Sauced (151 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma; 707.410.4400) weaves a little Tex-Mex into its menu (“rednexican” nachos, chili con queso, puffy pork-belly tacos), but it’s all about the slow-cooked meats and sandwiches.

Most exciting for me are the burnt-end sandwiches. The meat comes from the end pieces of brisket, and are crusty, juicy and flavorful—a rare treat and always in short supply. Bonus: Sauced also makes its own beer.

Located where Bucks Rivermill Dinner Theater used to be, the Juicy Pig (164400 Fourth St., Guerneville; 707.604.7120) brings brisket, North Carolina–style chopped pork, smoked chicken, St. Louis pork ribs, burgers and fat Reuben sandwiches with housemade pastrami to Guerneville’s growing restaurant row.—Stett Holbrook

the food y ou row l og

Saturdays & Wednesdays 8:30–1pm at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts eat

Fumé Bistro & Bar

Where’s There’s Smoke

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Western/Mexican. $-$$.

Contemporary food and outdoor dining with a Mexican flavor. Located on the river and serving authentic cocktails.

Nightly specials and an abiding love of the San Francisco Giants. 505 Lincoln Ave, Napa. Lunch and dinner daily.

707.253.1111.

Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market Where It’s Always Fresh, Local and Fun. Happy Holidays!

We lo ve t

N A PA CO U N TY

SMALL BITES

thesantarosafarmersmarket.com

Simply Vietnam Traditional Vietnamese Restaurant

Mon–Sat 10–9pm ~ Sun 11–8 966 North Dutton Ave. Santa Rosa 707.566.8910 www.simply-vietnam.com

100% VEGAN JUICE & SMOOTHIE BAR Redd California cuisine. $$$$$. Rich dishes balanced by subtle flavors and careful yet casual presentation. Brunch at Redd is exceptional. Lunch, Mon-Sat; dinner daily; brunch, Sun. 6480 Washington St, Yountville. 707.944.2222.

Siena California-Tuscan.

$$$$. Sophisticated, terroirinformed cooking celebrates the local and seasonal, with electric combinations like sorrel-wrapped ahi tuna puttanesca. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; brunch, Sun. 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa.

707.251.1900.

• Independent local business owner • Sourcing organic produce locally • Employing local people

YOU’RE ONLY 20 MILES AWAY FROM TRILLIONS OF BUBBLES. COME FOR A TOUR, STAY FOR LUNCH!

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• Supporting the local community • Free WIFI

T 707.849.1088 7300 HEALDSBURG AVE, SUITE A SEBASTOPOL

KORBEL CHAMPAGNE CELLARS 13250 RIVER ROAD | GUERNEVILLE 707.824.70 0 0 | KORBEL.COM

15 NO RTH BAY BO H E M I AN | D EC E M BE R 2-8, 201 5 | BOH EMI A N.COM

atmosphere. Steaks, pasta, chicken and fish all served with soup or salad. Lunch and dinner daily. 26955 Hwy 1, Tomales. 707.878.2403

NORTH BAY BOH E MI A N | DEC E M BE R 2-8 , 20 1 5 | BO H E M I AN.COM

16

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Dinner Party THE BAY VIEW RESTAURANT AT THE INN AT THE TIDES

THURS , DEC .

31, 7 PM-1 PM

7PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hors Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oeuvres Reception / No-Host Bar 8PM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dinner

Wineries

Most reviews by James Knight. Note: Those listings marked â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;WCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; denote wineries with caves. These wineries are usually only open to the public by appointment.

Wineries in these listings appear on a rotating basis.

4 Course Dinner Including wine, Dancing, Party Favors, Midnight Toast, $90 PLUS TAX AND GRATUITY

Chilled Seafood Antipasto

paired with Domaine Chandon ĂŠtoile RosĂŠ

Strawberry Risotto

paired with 2013 Petroni Vineyards Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley

Surf and Turf

paired with Beaulieu Vineyards Reserve Tapestry, Napa Valley

Royal Strega Tower

paired with Ruggeri Prosecco RESERVATIONS:

(800) 541-7788800 Highway One, Bodega Bay | www.innatthetides.com

SONOMA CO U N TY Banshee Wines Everythingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for sale at rustichipster aesthetic downtown tasting room, including the nicely priced Sonoma Coast Pinot. 325 Center St., Healdsburg. Daily, 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;7pm.

Tasting fee, $15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$30.

707.395.0915.

Freeman Vineyard & Winery Rundown, trashedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;this little winery had seen better times when the Freemans found it. With a spotless crush pad and new horseshoe-shaped cave, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s giving back the love. Pinot Noir from top West County vineyards.

1300 Montgomery Road, Sebastopol. By appointment only. 707.823.6937.

Harvest Moon Winery

707t t GPVSUI TUSFFU TBOUB SPTB KBDLTPOTCBSBOEPWFO DPN

Two paths diverged in a bramble, and the one lesstraveled leads here. Tart, taut, and enchanting loweralcohol Zinfandel in modest, comfortable tasting room in the middle of family-owned vineyards. Sparkling GewĂźrz, too. 2192 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. Open daily, 10:30amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5pm. 707.573.8711.

Jordan Vineyard & Winery Fronted by poplars, wreathed in ivy, robed in privetsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Ă la chateau. Favored by restaurants nationwide, Cab and Chardonnay are served in a sumptuous sitdown tasting with cheese and hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres. How do they peel those little eggs?

1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg. Tour and tasting, Mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Saturday, Sundays through October. $20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$30.

800.654.1213.

open daily, 10:30amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;4:30pm.

707.833.5501.

Longboard Vineyards If serious surfers are said to anticipate an approaching wave with focused contemplation, then it only follows that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d pursue winemaking with corresponding studiousness.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the case at Longboard.

5 Fitch St., Healdsburg. Open Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Saturday, 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7pm; Sunday, 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;5pm.

707.433.3473.

Mutt Lynch Lap up â&#x20AC;&#x153;Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Friendâ&#x20AC;? Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel and other delish wines; sales benefit dog organizations. Bren. New, dogfriendly location. 9050 Windsor Road, Windsor. Monâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Sat 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;6pm; Sun noonâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;5pm.

707.687.5089.

Old World Winery Meaning, a simpler time when grapes were trodden under bare foot and wine was made the natural way? Yes. Fun fact: the small, family-owned winery was the original Williams-Selyem location. 850 River Road, Fulton. Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sunday 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;5pm or by appointment. Tasting fee $5.

707.578.3148.

Sanglier Cellars The core wines are sourced from Kick Ranch, the sought-after RhĂ´ne varietal sensation. 132 Plaza St., Healdsburg. Open daily, 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;5pm; Saturday til 7pm.

Tasting fee, $10. 707.433.6104.

Sonoma Valley Portworks Although itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a small-time crime to call a wine â&#x20AC;&#x153;portâ&#x20AC;? what wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t made in Portugal, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all on the level here at the home of DECO California Port. Everybody gets a button: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lick my glass!â&#x20AC;?

613 Second St., Petaluma.

Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Monday, noon to 5pm. No fee. 707.769.5203.

Kunde Estate Winery (WC) Kunde is one of 12 wineries in Sonoma County to be distinguished with Second Level Green Business Certification. It also has beautiful wine caves carved into 5-million-year-old volcanic rock. 9825 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood. Tasting room

N A PA CO U N TY Beaulieu Vineyard History in a glassful of dustâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rutherford dust. Somethingfor-everyone smorgasbord

of solid varietal wines, plus library selections of flagship Georges de Latour Cab back to 1970. 1960 St. Helena Hwy., Rutherford. Daily, 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;5pm.

Tastings $15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$20; Reserve Room, $35. 707.967.5233.

Cain Think you know about what food to pair with Napa Valley â&#x20AC;&#x153;mountain grownâ&#x20AC;?

Cabernet Sauvignon? How about sake-marinated poached cod in a light broth?

Yeah, it is different up here.

3800 Langtry Road, St. Helena. Tour and tasting by appointment only, Mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday, 10am and 11:30am; Saturday, 10am and noon. $35.

707.963.1616.

Goosecross Cellars Taste Sauvignon Blanc in friendly barrel room bar; your choice of goose or snow leopard on the label. 119 State Lane, Yountville.

By appointment, 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;4:30 pm. Tasting fee $20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$25.

707.944.1986.

Monticello Vineyards Thomas Jefferson had no success growing wine grapes; happily, the Corley family has made a go of it. Although winetasting is not conducted in the handsome reproduction building itself, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a shaded picnic area adjacent. 4242 Big Ranch Rd., Napa. Open daily, 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;4:30pm. $15.

707.253.2802, ext. 18.

RustRidge Ranch Down one of Napaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less-traveled roads, the story began with thoroughbred horses. Bed and breakfast stays available in a rambling ranch house with wall-to-wall horse decor.

2910 Lower Chiles Valley Road, St. Helena. By appointment, 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;4pm. Tasting fee, $20.

707.965.9353.

Swanson Vineyards Not lotus-eating, per se, but caviar, Grana Padano, artisan chocolate bonbonsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;same idea. Whimsically elegant Salon or informal, candy-striped Sip Shoppe. 1271 Manley Lane, Rutherford. Sip Shoppe Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Sunday 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;5pm; call or ring gate. Fee $15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$20.

Salon by appointment, $60.

707.754.4018.

17

Why is a one-time blending grape now a varietal darling? BY JAMES KNIGHT

P

etite Sirah first made an impression on me as a grape, not as a finished wine. This was back when I had a harvest gig sampling grapesugar content for a big Zinfandel producer in the old-school vineyards of Mendocino County. If you wanted to buy Zinfandel from those old growers, you had to agree to buy their â&#x20AC;&#x153;Petsâ&#x20AC;? as well.

What impressed me about Petite Sirah was its total lack of charm as a fresh eating grape. Individual Zinfandel berries, as they near ripeness, make for tasty morning snacks when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve skipped breakfast and driven 60 miles to start the day. With Pets, you have to scoop into tight, crunchy bunches of mean, watery juice. Its tannin-rich skin is the key to the grapeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longstanding reputation in California.

Petite Sirah was created in 1880 by a French nurseryman, dude by the name of Durifâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which is also a recognized name for the variety. A cross of Syrah with Peloursin, it was promptly imported to California, where it became a mainstay of field blends with Zinfandel and Carignane.

Priest Ranch 2011 Somerston Estate Napa Valley Petite Sirah ($40) My favorite of a recent tasting, this wine integrates a sweet sensation of blackberry juice with furry, tongue-coating tannins a little more pleasurably than the others.

Carol Shelton 2012 Florence Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah ($40) Vaguely fruity aromas of grape jelly lurk beneath stone and rusty ironâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;maybe smokehouse almonds and a hint of oaky bourbon, too. A tart line of acidity runs through it; like drinking blackberry wine out of an iron flask.

Collier Falls 2011 Hillside Estate Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah ($40) Calling up aromas of blackberry cobbler and rye bread with caraway, this feels as heavily pigmented on the tongue as it looks on the glass, but the tannins are pretty harmless.

Frank Family 2012 Napa Valley Petite Sirah ($35) Savory marjoram aroma, with plum and apricot fruit leading to a long but fairly drying finishâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even the wineryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tasting notes agree about that finish.

Carol Shelton 2012 Rockpile Vineyard Petite Sirah ($40) With heavily toasted oak and a deep, rich purple color, this just might be the kind of Petite Sirah said to blossom after a good stay in the cellar.

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Specials and a new video on our updated website

Chocolate

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NO RTH BAY BO H E M I AN | D EC E M BE R 2-8, 201 5 | BOH EMI A N.COM

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NORTH BAY BOH E MI A N | DEC E M BE R 2-8 , 20 1 5 | BO H E M I AN.COM

18

Holiday Giving & Receiving These are a few of our favorite places for things

I

usually start out the holiday season with a modest gift list and a renewed, if fragile, pledge that this year is going to be different. I won’t wait until the last minute to buy gifts. (Maybe I’ll start early and make my gifts!

Fat chance there.) I won’t rail against the ever-deepening tar pit of crass commercialism. And I won’t, under any circumstance, step foot in a mall. There is nothing to snuff out my flickering holiday spirit and bonhomie than a trip to the mall, any mall.

Yes, malls are convenient in that they offer one-stop shopping, but

Ink.Paper.Plate Studio & Shop Sirima Sataman’s printmaking shop in downtown Point Reyes Station is more than just that. It’s a gathering space for adults eager to learn something new about printmaking, and maybe jam out

a little on some old Townes Van Zandt tunes.

Enter the shop on a typical Saturday afternoon, and Sataman is orchestrating music that’s heavy on the ukulele and cowboy chords as she creates extremely cool linocut prints and teaches people to become skilled

convenience is just apathy, poor labor conditions and waste in disguise.

I want to give (and receive) stuff with a story behind it, other than that it came on a container ship from China.

In reality, I probably won’t get my shopping done early this year, and I’ll likely slide into a seasonal tirade against holiday commercialism, but I’m committed to shunning the mall and instead supporting independent stores. Fortunately, that’s easy to do in the North Bay, with its multitude of great local shops, artists and producers. In that spirit, we present the following guide to some of our favorite local shops, producers and artists.

—Stett Holbrook

printmakers themselves. Sataman offers a big list of classes and all sorts of personalized teachable moments on a chalkboard menu behind the counter, and she says a number of people have called this holiday season to inquire about Ye Olde Popular Gift Certificates, which she has a-plenty.

The shop is also a great stop-in for stocking stuffers and holiday cards—lots of cool mini artmakers are on offer, such as a wallet-size watercolor palette spread through a shop that’s both a working studio and a retail joint. Sataman only asks that you leave the kids outside or

Healdsburg Shed In the food- and drink-obsessed North Bay, you really can’t do better than the Shed, an impeccably curated store that celebrates a life well lived, be it in the garden, the kitchen or at the table. To be sure, not everything is locally made. There are dowryworthy garden tools, beekeeping supplies, and what is surely the North Bay’s top spot for Japanese knives, garden tools, rice cookers and donabe (fire proof clay) cookware.

The countertop donabe smoker ($250) is at the top of my wish list.

The pantry section of the store is like a museum of the world’s best condiments, spices, oils, vinegar and chocolates. Choose a bottle from the lineup of local olive oils for a great locally grown and made gift. There’s a small but well-chosen selection of food and drink books too. Oh, and how about a little cloth bag of locally grown wheat, milled in-house?

It pretty much comes in its own stocking. The modern, creek-side building (which won a James Beard Award for architectural design) and the superb restaurant are no slouches either. 25 North St., Healdsburg. 707.431.7433.—S.H.

47th Annual Industrial Center Building Winter Open Studios The annual ICB Winter Open Studios, which takes place Dec. 5–6, from 11am to 6pm in the lofts of a historic World War II–era building near the Sausalito

waterfront, always provides the opportunity for holiday shoppers to find photography, paintings, sculpture and more by local artists. But this year, the talented community has united to try something new: more than 30 artists will donate pieces of work to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

Taking the theme of migration, the collective effort—envisioned by paper artist Ingrid Butler and organized by oil painter Jennifer Fearon—honors the act of those who leave their homes in search of better lives. The idea came about, Fearon says, to call attention to the international refugee crisis, and to support those currently suffering.

“One of the challenges we have as artists is connecting with larger causes,” Fearon says. “As a group, we have an opportunity to do that. Doctors Without Borders is fantastic because their humanitarian aid is completely independent. They give aid to whoever needs it.”

A colorful installation (directed

by Butler, and in collaboration with ICB artists) of more than 4,000 hand-cut butterflies will symbolize a “movement of hope,” and 100 percent of the sales of designated pieces will support Doctors Without Borders’ work with refugees and internally displaced people affected by conflict.

Fearon hopes that Open Studios visitors will walk away with a sense that the collaborative ICB artists are aware of, and connected to, the events of the larger world.

“As artists, we have a responsibility to bring awareness of what’s going on,” she says.

“And we’re interested in trying to have an impact.” 480 Gate 5 Road, Sausalito. icbartists.com.

—Molly Oleson

Calistoga Depot Whenever I read The Boxcar Children books as a child, I imagined a life on the tracks, cozy in a railroad car and solving mysteries. Silly, but every time I visit the Calistoga Depot on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Calistoga,

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GOING TO POT Sausalito’s 47-year-old Health Ceramics is a North Bay institution for beautifully made tableware and tile.

that feeling comes back.

Originally built in 1868 by Napa Valley settler Samuel Brannan, one year before the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Calistoga Depot train station and designated California Historical Landmark was restored in 1978 by the Calistoga Depot Association, and today houses six railroad cars containing historical exhibits and retail shops.

One such shop is the Calistoga Wine Stop, located inside a former Central Pacific Railroad car. Operated by Tom and Tammy Pelter since 1986, this family business has been helping customers find Napa and Sonoma County wines that are little off the beaten path. The tasting room, open Thursdays through Mondays, specializes in smaller producers who would not otherwise have their own tasting space. The Wine Stop also has its own family wine, Pelter, a Cabernet Sauvignon that’s available exclusively in the depot.

One of the newer shops in the depot is Flowers & All That Jazz,

which opened just this year. By the name, its clear that the shop specializes in floral arrangements, and that’s true; but the studio and shop, again cozily packed into another train car, also showcases “jazzy” prints, apparel and jewelry by local artisans that will appeal to all ages. There are even custom gift baskets, and many floral arrangements are available in vintage or repurposed pieces for one-of-a-kind displays.

1458 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.

—Charlie Swanson

Heath Ceramics Since its founding in 1948, Heath Ceramics has been owned by two families, and has expanded from its Sausalito-based factory to showrooms in San Francisco and Los Angeles. But one of the coolest things about shopping locally for the handmade, brightly colored tableware and architectural tile is that you can see exactly how it’s all produced by a team of 40 craftspeople.

Inside the historic ) 20 15,000-square-foot

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at home. This is an adults-only playground where you can learn to create letterpress greeting cards, set type and make your own dang poster. Sataman can help you transfer screen-print artwork onto fabric—scarves, dishtowel, whatever you got—and also offers a class called Scrappy Little Books, which is all about the art of bookbinding. In the era of Kindle, no less. Classes run Wednesday through Sunday.

11401 Hwy. 1, Point Reyes Station. inkpaperplate.com.—Tom Gogola

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Are you ready for the holidays?

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Gift Guide ( 19 factory, nestled among artist studios and designed by Marquis & Stoller, is a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how clay is made, and where product shapes are formed, glazed, trimmed and ďŹ red.

Check out Heathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bold, seasonal classical red collection, meant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;bring warmth indoors when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold outside,â&#x20AC;? and ďŹ&#x201A;ip through the new Tile Makes the Room, a book featuring the work of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading designers and architects.

Working tours of the factory are offered on Fridays and Saturdays, and visitors can even score near-perfect dinnerware thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discounted because it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet quality standardsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;evidence that these guys care deeply about their craft. 400 Gate 5 Road, Sausalito. heathceramics.com.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;M.O.

Marin Jewelers Guild Need a special bracelet, necklace or ring for someone who means the world to you? Look no further than the Marin Jewelers Guild, a cooperative of local artists who display their work in a beautiful, inviting gallery on Fourth Street in San Rafael.

Hand-fabricated pieces made of silver, copper, gold and bronze are available, and stones like turquoise, amber and sapphire add splashes of color. The motto of the guild is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Know your jeweler,â&#x20AC;? and the local community is provided with opportunities to engage with the artisans on a regular basis.

The galleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current window display educates curious shoppers about topaz: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When worn as an amulet,â&#x20AC;? a yellow sign reads, â&#x20AC;&#x153;topaz was said to drive away sadness, strengthen the intellect, and bestow courage.â&#x20AC;?

Commission a piece and work in collaboration with your favorite jeweler. Your loved ones will thank you for years to come. 1331 Fourth St., San Rafael. marinjewelersguild.com.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;M.O.

Northern Light Surf Shop & Bodega Bay Surf Shack I moved to the North Bay from Santa Cruz ďŹ ve years ago, a town with more than its fair share of surf shops (and more than its share of good waves). But when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on, the North Coast can be as good as anywhere, yet not so good that surfers are going to come far away to surf here. And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s low-key surf scene and friendly locals over Santa Cruzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crowded lineups and bad vibes any day.

Part of the local surf scene emanates from the year-round stoke served up at Northern Light Surf Shop and Bodega Bay Surf Shack. Bodega and Bodega Bay donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the tourist traffic of warmer beach towns, so these shops have to cater to the crusty, cold-water-loving locals. Yes, they sell plenty of T-shirts, hoodies and glass pipes to ďŹ ll in the gaps during lean months, but these are core surf shops whose stock in trade are boards and wetsuits made for North Coast waves.

Sure, you can buy everything you want online and you might get it cheaper, but when you shop at one of these stores your dollars stay in the community and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing your part to keep the local surf scene alive. Northern Light Surf Shop, 17191 Bodega Hwy., Bodega (707.876.3032); Bodega Bay Surf Shack, 1400 Hwy. 1, Bodega Bay (707.340.9404).â&#x20AC;&#x201D;S.H.

Shutterbug Camera Shops Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the thing: The era of the big box store has really put the crimp on old-timey retail establishments that focus on one thing and one thing only. In this case, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about cameras, one of the more popular holiday season gifts, and Shutterbug Camera Shops. Sure, you can save a little and go drop coin on a new DSLR camera at Best Buy. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got lots of them, and the staff there can actually be pretty helpful. But youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to

21 NO RTH BAY BO H E M I AN | D EC E M BE R 2-8, 201 5 | BOH EMI A N.COM

COLD WATER, WARM HEART Got a surfer on your list? Don’t surf the web, surf on over to Northern Light Surf Shop or Bodega Bay Surf Shack.

accessorize; you’ll need a whole kit to go with that Nikon you’ve just nabbed—lens cleaners and zoom lenses, a tripod, perhaps?

Shutterbug has the camera and all the associated gear to unleash that inner Weegee desperate for release.

Yes, your Smartphone takes nice pictures, and we can thank the advent of such technologies to the extent that they’re useful in keeping the police honest. That’s a gift in itself. But I like the bulk and gravitas of an actual camera body, with an actual lens that you can switch-out with another lens, like the pros do.

We all know by now that the rub on iPhones and Smartphones is that they’re pretty great at doing everything except their primary function, which is to be a telephone. They’re terrible at that. So stick that in your selfie generator and head to Shutterbug Camera Shops this holiday season for a proper digital camera of the “old school.” The staff is pleasant and won’t hound you straight out of the gate with “Can I help you?”—which is always appreciated, like a candy cane.

3011 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.

707.546.3456.—T.G.

Duncans Mills With the wooden planks creaking underfoot and the old-styled street lamps overhead, the scene in Duncans Mills looks straight out of 1880, complete with classic small-town charm and wonder. If you’ve been meaning to stop there, there’s no better time than now to visit the cluster of shops and cafes along Highwayy 116 that the former logging outpost now offers.

And, there’s no better way to start a day of shopping in Duncans Mills than grabbing a hearty meal at Cape Fear Cafe, a local favorite that serves straightforward California fare with a Southern twist. It’s also a great place to grab a craft beer before you peruse the shops surrounding the cafe.

Make sure to visit Pig Alley, a retail store that sells handmade crafts, jewelry and décor, including items from wellknown designers like Northern California jeweler Holly Yashi.

Then poke your head into the colorful Worldly Goods, a shop that imports global items, from African masks to Ecuadorian weavings to reclaimed ) 22 wood furniture, all made

1327 Main St, Saint Helena Open Daily: Hours 10am–6pm Order online or by phone: 707.968.9182 | rabbitrabbitfairtrade.com

Gift Guide ( 21

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through fair trade and sustainable means.

For the artistically minded gift giver, there are several galleries to choose from. First, check out the Christopher Queen Gallery for classic California art dating from the mid 19th to early 20th century, as well as more contemporary works. Then, make sure to ďŹ nd the Quercia Gallery, where local artists show new works on a regular basis. Owned and operated by plein air painter Ron Quercia and clay sculptor Bobbi Jeanne Quercia since 1990, the gallery also offers hand-ďŹ nished frames and frame restoration. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;C.S.

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I love a kit, and I especially love a kit when you can buy your kit and have a fancy-sounding lunch in Napa at the same time. Enter NapaStyle, which is as much a state of mind as it is a multipronged endeavor of goodness and goodies, a catalogue-driven cavalcade of delights that range from hammered-copper jugs to weird chutneys.

One product in particular jumped out as just the sort of allinclusive kit that is guaranteed to provide at least one night of family pleasure over the holidays, before everyone starts ďŹ ghting again.

Why, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Gourmet Game Night Gift Set! And it sort of embodies the spirit of NapaStyle as a whole.

For 99 bucks, it ought to. The kit is centered around the parlor dice game Shut the Box and also includes a couple of bags of â&#x20AC;&#x153;beerkissedâ&#x20AC;? caramel popcorn, some beer brittle, pistachios dipped in chocolate, all packed in a retro-notchic wooden crate. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sort of like when Blockbuster threw in some microwave popcorn with your rentalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;remember those days?

And how about that lunch?

NapaStyle is kind of amorphously epic when it comes to its output of product, which includes a grilled chèvre and strawberrywalnut pesto panini, along with fancy sets of forks and knives on the retail side. The goods are

available at the V Marketplace in Yountville, the NapaStyle ďŹ&#x201A;agship, which also ďŹ elds a â&#x20AC;&#x153;paninoteca e insalateriaâ&#x20AC;? menu. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fancy way of saying theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got some choice sandwiches and salads for you, too. 6525 Washington St., Yountville. 707.945.1229.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;T.G.

Favorite Things Corinne and Patrick Murray have called Sonoma County home for over 40 years, and have owned the popular Favorite Things store in Santa Rosa for 20. After a dead-end job working in an office, Corrine Murray opened the home and garden store, located on Fourth Street and Talbot Avenue.

Despite a lack of previous retail experience, she combined a keen eye for dĂŠcor and gifts with a neighborly attitude and a willingness to build relationships with regular customers.

Handbags and jewelry, wool scarves and mittens, seasonal gifts and rotating items, bright window displays and a spring garden tooâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;these are a few of the favorite things youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd on entering the store. While the shop keeps the selection fresh year-round, with holidayinspired offerings for everything from Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to Halloween, it truly transforms into a winter wonderland for Christmas.

In addition to a wide array of ornaments, Favorite Things is the place to go for stockings, mantelpieces and both indoor and outdoor holiday dĂŠcor, like plush Santa dolls and hanging garden lanterns.

The store tripled in size in 2003, and three years ago, Patrick joined the storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff after retiring from a career in liquor distribution. Favorite Things carries gift items perfect for any age, like hip canvas canteens and mugs, though the Murrays specialize in contemporary womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s items and accessories that anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mom would adore, as well as hard-to-ďŹ nd items like Annie Sloanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chalk paint.

1500 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.

707.541.7380.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;C.S.

Crush 23

The week’s events: a selective guide

M I L L VA L L E Y / P E TA LU M A

The Horse’s Mouth

British songwriter Cy Curnin is known to fans worldwide as the singer of the ‘80s band the Fixx, but Curnin isn’t stuck in the past. Since 2005, he’s added an acclaimed solo career to his résumé. When he’s not touring, Curnin is also a supporter of music-based cancer charities and a regular on mountainclimbing treks that help raise funds for treatment facilities.

Curnin plays Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 8pm at Sweetwater Music Hall (19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley; $22–$25; 415.388.1100) and on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 8:30pm at McNear’s Mystic Theatre (21 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma; $22; 707.765.2121).

SEBASTOPOL

Rock Solid It’s always a treat when San Francisco’s fun-loving rock ’n’ rollers the Stone Foxes make their way to the North Bay, and this weekend is extra sweet. That’s because the band has released their fourth LP, Twelve Spells. They are also wrapping up an extensive national tour, meaning the already uproarious, high-energy outfit will leave it all on the stage when they play with Sonoma County’s own reliably rocking favorites Kingsborough on Friday, Dec. 4, at 775 After Dark (Aubergine), 775 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 8pm. $15; 21 and over.

707.829.2722.

S A N TA R O S A / C O R T E M A D E R A

Art Therapy Bestselling author and therapist Lucia Capacchione first released her revolutionary book ‘The Creative Journal: The Art of Finding Yourself’ in 1980, guiding readers through drawing and writing exercises that aid in exploring the subconscious and emotions. Now, Capacchione is out with a 35th anniversary edition, which she shares with readings at 7pm on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Copperfield’s Books (775 Village Court, Santa Rosa; free; 707.578.8938) and at 7pm on Sunday, Dec. 6, at Book Passage (51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera; free; 415.927.0960).

S T. H E L E N A

Holiday Bites Two of Napa Valley’s most esteemed establishments are hosting a Holiday Entertaining event with all the festive ideas you’ll need. The Model Bakery teams up with V. Sattui Winery and cheese mongers for an afternoon event that includes holiday recipes, tastings, a copy of the “Model Bakery Cookbook” and more. RSVPs are a must. The bites commence on Sunday, Dec. 6, at V. Sattui Winery Barrel Cellar, 1111 White Lane, St. Helena. 2pm. $75. 707.963.7774.

—Charlie Swanson

REAL THING Virginia’s David Wax Museum play their blend of traditional Mexican son music and Americana at City Winery Napa on Wednesday, Dec. 9. See Clubs & Venues, p31.

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CULTURE

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Arts Ideas

ART HOUSE Grace Levine aims to spark a local art scene in Sebastopol at Kitty Hawk.

Out There Art takes flight at new Sebastopol craft boutique Kitty Hawk BY FLORA TSAPOVSKY

S

ebastopol isn’t short on cute clothing boutiques and chic dining spots, especially now that the Barlow shopping center is on the rise as a tourist attraction.

But those eclectic, artsy stores brimming with young energy and entrepreneurship, the type that made Portland, Ore., famous?

Open less than a year, Kitty Hawk is pioneering the niche, with great success.

This isn’t your average craft parlor. Located in a former

dentist’s building, the store has a sign out front that flatters passersby: “I think you’re very attractive.” Two feet away, handsome cutout figures of a man and a woman welcome the unassuming with their accurately illustrated features. Inside, customers are greeted by a big,

fluffy dog and his petite owner, looking like a character out of Astrid Lindgren’s Moomins. That would be Grace Levine, 26, artist and curator of unusual objects.

After Levine graduated from Chicago’s School of the Art Institute in 2012, Levine’s parents moved to California, and she followed. “I was presented with an opportunity to move to the place I’ve always wanted to end up or stay in the familiar,” she says.

“It was a difficult decision, but I made the leap.”

Right after moving, Levine toyed with the idea of a pop-up exhibition of her work, and occasionally other artists’, at a downstairs space in her parents’ office space. “I was cleaning houses for primary income, and a gallery seemed unrealistic,” she says.

When the lease was up, she threw a goodbye “anything goes” show, with more than 20 artists participating.

“Several people pulled me aside, smiling, and said, ‘You need to do this, the town needs this,’” Levine says. “And I thought, ‘Oh, maybe I should.’”

Now, Kitty Hawk is her full-time commitment. A labyrinth of tiny rooms, the shop displays Levine’s own artwork along with gifts, home decor, clothes and art by designers she carefully picks.

“I noticed at the shows I was having at the old space that attendees loved to look through small artists’ items for sale, and I was actually selling quite a bit,” Levine says. “This triggered the idea to go beyond white, sterile walls and create a more versatile space.”

Levine’s shop has whimsical embroidery by Brooklyn’s Coral & Tusk, crochet toys by Dutch designer Anne-Claire Petit, soaps by the hip label Apotheke, illustrated ceramic trays by a

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Kitty Hawk, 7203 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. 707.861.3904.

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brand curiously named Why Girls Go Astray and an array of antiques, postcards, art books and miscellaneous sculptures.

“Everything in there is something I myself would own,” Levine says. “I go to gift shows, I hunt for antiques, I meet with artists, and sometimes I’ll get a prickly feeling and want to share that.”

Besides displaying unique objects and handmade goods, Levine plans to infuse the local art scene with fresh talent.

“The Art Institute gave me the freedom to say, ‘Sure, you can paint a portrait, but maybe you could go deeper and get a little strange.’”

Levine’s latest series, In the Grand Scheme of Things, mixes a childlike, cartoonish style with absurd situations, gory or sexual at times. Done in watercolor or acrylic grays, blacks and reds, Levine’s work depicts young adults, kittens, dogs and aliens immersed in chaotic imagery, with tongue-in-cheek captions.

In November, Kitty Hawk hosted a solo exhibition by San Francisco artist Lindsay Stripling, and in January Levine plans a show featuring artists from around the country in which every piece will sell for $200. Her goal?

“To exhibit local and global emerging artists,” Levine says, “and bring an aesthetic to Sebastopol that perhaps isn’t here.”

When I ask Levine how the local art scene compares to Chicago, where she used to work at a gallery and exhibited some of her work, she praises the sense of community and the ability to make fruitful connections on the spot.

“I believe Chicago is more conceptual, contemporary—‘Let’s undo what we’ve learned,’” Levine says. “Locally, what I’ve noticed is the work tends to be based in realism, landscape, earth, spirituality and craft. This was unfamiliar to me, but I greatly appreciate it. I think both worlds need to be heard in the community.”

Stage Eric Chazankin

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BAH! Charles Siebert hardens his heart in Dickens’ holiday mainstay.

Turn of the Scrooge Sixth Street stages surprising ‘Carol’

BY DAVID TEMPLETON

‘I

wear the chains I forged in life!”

This ghostly report from the doomed spirit of Jacob Marley is among the most famous supernatural utterances in English literature.

It’s also a fair metaphor for the heavy weight of responsibility carried by any theater company brave enough to stage Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol. This unstoppably popular story has been around for better than 170 years, and along the way it has forged a long and weighty chain of expectations, adorations, misinterpretations, criticisms, dismissals and the weird, unkind backlashes that spring from any legendary story’s overfamiliarity.

Among the many reasons that 6th Street Playhouse’s production

of A Christmas Carol is one of the best surprises of 2015 is that it embraces everything that has made the tale so enduring while blazing new trails and finding fresh possibilities in what has, in some adaptations, become stale and predictable.

With a strong, adaptable cast, an inventive script by Michael Wilson, sprightly, emotionfocused direction from Craig Miller and a delightfully steampunk production design, this incarnation of the classic also makes maximum use of actor Charles Siebert as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Siebert rarely performs on local stages, and his North Bay appearances are always occasions to celebrate. As Scrooge, Siebert is fancifully mesmerizing and terrifically, touchingly real.

As Marley—materializing to deliver a dire warning to his former business partner—Alan Kaplan is wickedly, wackily menacing and also heartbreakingly earnest.

Miller has assembled a trio of comic actors as the spirits of Christmas (Jessica Headington, Nick Christenson and Ryan Severt) who deliver delightfully spectral comedy while consistently landing sharp, emotional punches.

The large, multi-age cast—with notably strong performances by Jeff Coté as Bob Cratchit, Harry Duke as Fezziwig and Crystal Carpenter as Belle—works incredibly well as a shape-shifting, character-changing, scenerymoving ensemble.

Particular praise must be given to Miller’s technical team, whose clockwork set (Jesse Dreikosen), mood-making lights (Steven Piechocki) and otherworldly sound design (Miller, with John Gromada) are some of the best seen at 6th Street in many a Christmas.

Rating (out of 5): 'A Christmas Carol’ runs Thursday– Sunday through Dec. 20 at 6th Street Playhouse. 52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. Thursday–Saturday, 8pm; 2pm matinees, Saturday, Dec. 12 and 19, and all Sundays. $15–$37. 707.523.4185.

Film

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Thank you for your vote!

BEST HOLISTIC HERBAL SHOP BEST HOLISTIC PRACTITIONER Joshua Margolis, LAc

Come see us at Farmacopia for: THE CHAMP â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Imagine itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Trump piĂąataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is probably not Sylvester Stalloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

coaching advice in latest â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rockyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sequel.

Eye of the Scion â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Creedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; moves â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rockyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; franchise to next generation BY RICHARD VON BUSACK

W

hether fuming with fury in the ring or shyly avoiding a ladyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes, Michael B. Jordan is something to see in Creed, the latest Rocky movie.

This is the seventh ďŹ lm in the franchise, and the one with the best director, Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station).

Jordan plays Adonis, known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donnie,â&#x20AC;? the illegitimate son of the late Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challenger in the original 1976 ďŹ lm.

Back then, Sylvester Stalloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rocky had a â&#x20AC;&#x153;million-to-one shotâ&#x20AC;? when he got his time in the ring with the mouthy Muhammad Ali surrogate Apollo Creed, played by former Oakland Raider Carl Weathers; Rocky and Apollo, the backstory tells us, later became the best of pals.

Today, Donnie is a buppie who club-ďŹ ghts in Mexico on weekends.

He leaves his suit-and-skyscraper job in L.A. for Philadelphia, where his celebrated father triumphed. Donnie is also there to tug on Rockyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleeve because he needs a trainer. Under the Italian Stallionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tutelage, Donnie gets good enough to attract the attention of a larger, meaner champ in Liverpool (played by the fearsome pro boxer Tony Bellew).

Philly provides texture, above all else. If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe in the adventures of Rocky Balboa, we can believe in the walls behind the boxer, the salt-damaged brick and torn wallpaper.

Stalloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endurance as a star deďŹ es all reason; he has survived the episodes in this series that went locoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;as in number four, where Rocky and Apollo took turns battling a Soviet cyborg. Stallone underplays, and the weight of age makes him look wise and noble.

Cooglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skill and style are demonstrated in a real-time, one-take ďŹ ght, reminding us that throwing punches and ducking is as key to a bout as enduring the blows. The ďŹ ght scenes recall Mike Tysonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comment that â&#x20AC;&#x153;everyone has a plan, until they get hit,â&#x20AC;? stressing the importance of a clear head despite the pain.

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Demi MooreWITH DavidBASHIR Duchovny WALTZ A MIGHTY HEART (1:00) THE 3:00 5:00

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(2:15)Mysterious, 7:20 R GREENBERG â&#x20AC;&#x153;Swoonly Romatic, Hilarious!â&#x20AC;?

(12:00) 9:50 R â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Slant5:00 Magazine #

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Spotlight R (11:15-2:15-5:15)-8:15

Brooklyn PG13 (10:30-1:15-4:00)-6:45-9:25

Trumbo R (10:15-1:00-3:45)-6:30-9:15

Theeb NR (10:15-12:45-3:30)-6:15-8:45 Suffragette PG13 (2:00) Sun 12/6 No Show Times!

Bridge of Spies PG13 (11:00-5:00)Sun 12/6 No Show Times!

Wed 12/9 only (11:00am)

Royal Shakespeare Company: Henry V Sunday 12/6@1pm Wednesday 12/9@6:30pm

Dec 8: (4:30) only 9: No (5:25) Fri, Sat, SunDec & Mon

DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THENow PENTAGON PAPERS Advance Tickets On Sale at Box OfďŹ ce!

9:50 AM (12:10) 4:30 6:50 6:50 Show Tue or Thu FROZEN RIVER (12:00) 2:30 NR 5:00No7:30 10:00 10:15 AM VICKY Their CRISTINA BARCELONA First Joint Venture In 25 Years!

10:20 AM CHANGELING %*; ., *5 Venessa RedgraveAND Meryl CHONGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Streep Glenn CloseAM CHEECH 10:40 RACHEL GETTING MARRIED HEYSHORTS WATCH THIS 2009 LIVE ACTION (Fri/Mon Only)) 10:45 AM EVENING 10:45 Sat, Apr17th at 11pm & Tue, Apr 20th 8pmAM 2009 ANIMATED SHORTS Only) Starts Fri,(Sun June 29th!

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= Bolshoi Ballet =

LADY OF THE CAMELIAS â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Creedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is playing in wide release in the North Bay.

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A

Music Laura-Lynn Petrick

NORTH BAY BOH EMI A N | DEC E M BE R 2-8 , 20 1 5 | BO H E M I AN.COM

28

RURAL LIVING Alex Bleeker (second

from left) recently made the move from Brooklyn to west Marin County.

Go West Alex Bleeker on freaks and friends Lunch & Dinner Sat & Sun Brunch 707.829.7300 230 PETALUMA AVE | SEBASTOPOL

OPEN MIC NIGHT

EVERY TUES AT 7PM WITH CHRIS THU DEC 3 SO LD OUT!

FRI DEC 4

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THE BOOTLEG HONEYS + DIRTY CELLO $15/DOORS 8/SHOW 8:45/21+

SUN DEC 6 SO LD OUT!

D I N N E R & A S H OW

Dec 4 JERRY HANNAN Fri

A Marin Treasure 8:00 / No Cover

Dec 5

DANNY CLICK

Sun

THE COVERLETTES

Sat

DRAGONSMOKE

+ ROEM BAUR (SOLO) $35/DOORS 7:30/SHOW 8:30/21+

THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS

$22-$25/DOORS 7:30/SHOW 8:15/21+

MON DEC 7 MONDAY NIGHT EDUTAINMENT WITH

DJ KONNEX BERFDAY BASH

$10/ LADIES $5 B4 11/DOORS-SHOW 10/21+

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REVEREND HORTON HEAT THE BELL RAYS, THE LOARDS OF ALTAMONT $35/DOORS 6:00/SHOW 6:45/21+

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Dec 6

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Songwriter/Guitar Slinger 8:30 AND THE HELL YEAHS !

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60s “Girl Group” Singing Sensations!

7:00

Dec 11 R ANCHO DEBUT !

DIRTY CELLO Fri

Bluegrass and Blues 8:00 / No Cover

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CHRISTMAS ROCK N’ROLL DANCE PARTY! 5:00

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On the Town Square, Nicasio www.ranchonicasio.com

BY CHARLIE SWANSON

S

ongwriter Alex Bleeker first gained national attention as the bassist for popular New Jersey indie-rock band Real Estate. While that outfit is known for dreamy pop songs filled with ethereal melodies, Bleeker shows a very different musical side as the founder and frontman of Alex Bleeker & the Freaks.

This year, Bleeker, who was living in Brooklyn, traded in the East Coast crowds and weather for a fresh start, moving to West Marin and soaking up the outdoorsy vibes heard throughout his latest album, Country Agenda.

Bleeker and his freaks play from the new record at Sweetwater Music Hall on Dec. 8.

“It’s really beautiful,” Bleeker says, when asked about his recent change of scenery. “I recorded this

new album in Stinson Beach, met some friends in the area through that, and it just felt like the right thing to do.”

An East Coast native, Bleeker nonetheless has long been influenced by Bay Area bands like the Grateful Dead. “American Beauty was the first Dead I ever heard, and I was just completely hooked,” Bleeker says. “I stole the album from my mom.”

Bleeker’s obsession with the Dead has only grown in the last few years. “There’s this perfect storm of rich country soul music,” he says. “There’s a deep Americana that really resonates with me that you can probably hear in the new record.”

Indeed, Country Agenda is an album awash in alluring melodies and acoustic warmth that recalls the stirring analog sounds of classic folk records. Recorded at Panoramic House Studio, Country Agenda also successfully encompasses the beauty and splendor of the North Bay, as the Freaks employ catchy hooks, resonating harmonies and soulful instrumentation.

When Bleeker formed the band six years back, it was more or less an amalgamation of friends and musicians that rotated regularly.

His first two records were, as he puts it, “cobbled together.” The band is now a permanent fixture consisting of Alex Steinberg (guitar), Nick Lenchner (bass), Dylan Shumaker (drums) and Jacob Wolf (keys).

Bleeker says this new album was a welcome collaborative effort.

“Creatively, it’s been amazing. I think this record is far and away our best, and that’s totally because of the people who play on it,” he says. “It actually feels a little silly to have the band be called Alex Bleeker & the Freaks anymore, because it’s such a group effort.

Together, the sum is greater than all the parts.”

Alex Bleeker & the Freaks perform on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley. 8pm. $15–$17. 415.388.1100.

Concerts SONOMA COUNTY The North Bay Sinfonietta Newly created chamber orchestra, under the auspices of the Santa Rosa Junior College, present a concert of Baroque favorites. Dec 4, 8pm. $5. Church of the Incarnation, 550 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa. 707.579.2604.

LeAnn Rimes Acclaimed country music star performs a holiday-themed concert as part of her national Today Is Christmas tour. Dec 8, 7:30pm. $49-$59. Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa.

707.546.3600.

Valley of the Moon Chamber Ensemble The ensemble returns for its ninth annual gala holiday concert, preceded by a wine and appetizer reception. Dec 5, 5pm. $125. Madrone Family Vineyards Estate, 777 Madrone Rd, Glen Ellen. 707.938.4626x1.

MARIN COUNTY Alex Bleeker & the Freaks New Jersey musician, recently relocated to Marin, brings the classic psyche-folk rock grooves from his latest album, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Country Agenda.â&#x20AC;? Dec 8, 8pm. $15-$17. Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.1100.

Del McCoury Band Famed bluegrass master and his longtime backing band perform two shows in one unforgettable night. Dec 4, 7 and 9:30pm. $37-$47.

Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley.

415.388.1100.

Michelle Schmittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Holiday Concert Bay Area singer and songwriter presents her seventh annual holiday benefit show, with VIP reception available. Dec 3, 8pm. $25-$100. Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.383.9600.

NAPA COUNTY Carlene Carter Americana legend performs

classic Carter family tunes and original roots songs off her new album, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carter Girl,â&#x20AC;? her first in 10 years. Dec 5, 7pm. $20-$40. Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, 100 California Dr, Yountville. 707.944.9900.

Milk Carton Kids Grammy-nominated folk duo play off their new album, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Monterey.â&#x20AC;? New York composer Julian Lage opens.

Dec 2, 8pm. $30-$50. Uptown Theatre, 1350 Third St, Napa.

707.259.0123.

Clubs & Venues SONOMA COUNTY Annex Wine Bar Dec 3, Judy Williams. Dec 4, Katie Garibaldi. Dec 5, the Mark Larson Band. Wed, Calvin Ross. 865 W Napa St, Sonoma.

707.938.7779.

Barley & Hops Tavern Dec 3, Mark McDonald. Dec 4, Jen Tucker. Dec 5, Earstu. 3688 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental.

707.874.9037.

The Big Easy Dec 2, Tracy Rose and friends.

Dec 3, Derek Irving & His Combo. Dec 4, Jeff Mattison & the Wayward Angels. Dec 5, the doRian Mode. 128 American Alley, Petaluma. 707.776.4631.

Brixx Pizzeria Dec 5, Market Farmers Band.

16 Kentucky St, Petaluma.

707.766.8162.

Burbank Auditorium Dec 8, SRJC Orchestra and SRHS Orchestra. SRJC, 1501 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa.

B&V Whiskey Bar & Grille Dec 4, the Bumblinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bones and Bang! Bang! Bang!. Dec 5, DJ Cal. Tues, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reggae Marketâ&#x20AC;? DJ night. 400 First St E, Sonoma.

707.938.7110.

Cellars of Sonoma Dec 3, John Pita. Dec 4, Greg Yoder. Dec 5, Ricky Alan Ray. Tues, Wavelength. 133 Fourth St, Santa Rosa. 707.578.1826.

Coffee Catz Dec 3, 4:30pm, DJ Kudjo.

Mon, open mic. Tues, 12pm, Jerry Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peaceful Piano

29

Corkscrew Wine Bar Dec 4, the Drifting Rich.

Dec 5, the Sticky Notes.

Dec 8, Staggerwing. 100 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma.

707.789.0505.

We Are Booking Company Holiday Parties EVERY SUN â&#x20AC;˘ 10:30â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2:30

Bloody Mary Brunch

Dry Creek Kitchen Dec 7, Susan Sutton and Piro Patton Duo. Dec 8, Bill Horvitz and Scott Walton. 317 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg.

707.431.0330.

EVERY SUN â&#x20AC;˘ 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8:30 â&#x20AC;˘ DANCE PARTY

Ellington Hall

Paint Nite

Dec 6, 1pm, Flying Eagle Jazz Band. 3535 Industrial Dr, Santa Rosa. 707.545.6150.

NEW SHOW: ON SALE DEC 4!

Blues Defenders with special guest

2/26/16

WED â&#x20AC;˘ DEC 2 â&#x20AC;˘ GO TO ANNIE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MUSIC HALL FB PAGE FOR DISCOUNT CODE

with 2016 Next Women of Country Tour

CMT Presents

Jennifer Nettles

with Brandy Clark and Special Guests Lindsay Ell & Tara Thompson

EVERY THURSDAY â&#x20AC;˘ 8-12PM

Free karaoke w/George Barich

Forestville Club

Become a Member to Get Your Tickets NOW!

FRI â&#x20AC;˘ DEC 4 â&#x20AC;˘ COUNTRY/AMERICANA DOORS 8PM, SHOW 9PM, COVER $10

Dec 5, the River City Band.

6250 Front St, Forestville.

707.887.2594.

John Courage Band Fly by Train Band

French Garden

DEC 7,10,13

Dec 4, Bearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Belly. Dec 5, the Ruminators. 8050 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol. 707.824.2030.

FRI â&#x20AC;˘ DEC 11

from Transcendenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Broadway Under The Stars

SAT â&#x20AC;˘ DEC 12

12/6 San Francisco Gay Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chorus

Sold Out Private Holiday Parties

BaseLov3, DJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s each room

Glaser Center Dec 6, 4pm, A Christmas Collage with the Healdsburg Chorus. 547 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa. 707.495.5620.

Official Emerald Cup â&#x20AC;&#x153;After Partyâ&#x20AC;?

120 Fifth St â&#x20AC;˘ Santa Rosa 707.542.1455

Green Music Center

DECEMBER

12/4 - 12/5 Joy to the World

Dec 5-7, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joy to the Worldâ&#x20AC;? with Santa Rosa Symphony. 1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, 866.955.6040.

Home for the Holidays 12/8 LeAnn Rimes: Today is Christmas Tour with special guest Ellee Duke

HopMonk Sebastopol

12/11

Dec 3, Dragonsmoke. Dec 4, Dixie Giants and Mipso. Dec 5, the Bootleg Honeys and Dirty Cello. Dec 6, the California Honeydrops. Dec 7, Monday Night Edutainment with DJ Konnex. Dec 8, Reverend Horton Heat with the Bell Rays. Dec 9, Lila Rose and Rachel Lark. 230 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol. 707.829.7300.

RODNEY STRONG VINEYARDS DANCE

Posada NavideĂąa

+65Âť; -69.,;ÂŻ>, :,9=, -66+ ;66

4J5LHYÂťZ +PUPUN /V\ZL

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HopMonk Sonoma

12/22 Dave Koz Christmas Tour 2015 12/23 Brian Setzer Orchestra 12th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour

+,33( 4(,

Dec 5, Sean Carscadden.

691 Broadway, Sonoma.

707.935.9100.

Hotel Healdsburg Dec 5, Ben Stolorow Quartet.

25 Matheson St, Healdsburg.

707.431.2800.

Dec 2, the Royal Deuces. Dec 3, Matt Bolton. Dec 4, the Steven Bates Band. Dec 5, the Stu Tails.

Dec 6, the Bitter Diamonds.

Dec 9, Sound of Sirens. 1280 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma.

707.778.8776. )

30

-90 Â&#x2039; ! 74 +669: Â&#x2039; 9,..(,

Psychic Medium John Edward

73<: /090,

:(; Â&#x2039; ! 74 +669: Â&#x2039; )3<,.9(::

Dec 6, 2pm, Music of Mozart holiday piano concert. 2400 London Ranch Rd, Glen Ellen.

707.938.5216.

Lagunitas Tap Room

1/10

*6330, )<++A

Jack London State Park

7669 4(5 : >/0:2,@ 73<: 49 +,*,4),9

JANUARY 2016

;644@ *(:;96 ;/, 7(052033,9:

JE Media, Inc presents

1/27 Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra

;/<9 Â&#x2039; ! 74 +669: Â&#x2039; :05.,9 :65.>90;,9

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7(<3( -<.( 5V *OPSKYLU <UKLY [V (SS (NLZ :OV^Z 7L[HS\TH )S]K 7L[HS\TH

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707.546.3600

wellsfargocenterarts.org

NO RTH BAY BO H E M I AN | D EC E M BE R 2-8, 201 5 | BOH EMI A N.COM

Music

Hour. 6761 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol. 707.829.6600.

NORTH BAY BOH E MI A N | DEC E M BE R 2-8 , 20 1 5 | BO H E M I AN.COM

30

Music ( 29

St Andrew Presbyterian Church

Main Street Bistro

Dec 6, 2:30pm, Valley of the Moon Chamber Ensemble. $30. 16290 Arnold Dr, Sonoma.

707.996.6024.

Dec 3, Wileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coyotes. Dec 5, Yancie Taylor. 16280 Main St, Guerneville. 707.869.0501.

music

.( 7 ! ! 7 ,,./ -* -* 7

Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Irish Pub

A Music Boutique in Healdsburg?

"0 7 ,,./ -* 7

Who would have thought.

We offer Private Music Lessons & Pop/Rock Band Collective Sessions.

Dec 3, Timothy Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill Band.

Dec 4, West Nile Ramblers. Dec 5, Andrew Freeman. Dec 6-7, 6pm, Old Time Radio Dinner Theater. 464 First St E, Sonoma.

707.935.0660.

1+ 7 ,,./ -* 7

Mystic Theatre

LESSONS / INSTRUMENTS/RECORDING

Authorized Dealer Gretsch G&L Larrivee Zildjian Ludwig Korg Vox '¡DGGDULR Apogee LR Baggs also taking consignments

Speed of Sound Music 452B Healdsburg Ave. 707.433.6843

Tune into

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Swingin' with Sinatraâ&#x20AC;?

Del McCoury Band

Hot Buttered Rum with One Grass Two Grass

The Blasters with Gamblers Mark, Thayer Sarrano 1% 7 ,,./ -* 7

Alex Bleeker & The Freaks PLAY DEAD! with The Range of Light Wilderness, Big Light

.(

7 ,,./ -* 7

Zepparella the All-Female Zeppelin Powerhouse with The Sherrie Phillips Band

"0

7 ,,./ -*

Mark Karan & Friends Ibogaine For the World Addiction Interruption Resources Benefit .(#% ,+#%.0 "+%) ,+#%.0

www.sweetwatermusichall.com 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley CafĂŠ 388-1700 | Box Office 388-3850

Gentle and Effective Acupuncture & Manual Medicine s Headaches s TMJ s Neck & Back Pain s Digestion s Body Aches

Best Holistic Practitioner

Joshua Margolis, LAC, DOMTP

95 Montgomery Drive, Ste. 126, Santa Rosa farmacopia.net/services/#joshua

707.861.0625

Dec 3, Cy Curnin. Dec 4, Della Mae. Dec 5, Tommy Castro & the Painkillers. 23 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma. 707.765.2121.

Occidental Center for the Arts Dec 5, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Got Nog?â&#x20AC;? with Occidental Community Choir. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct, Occidental. 707.874.9392.

Petaluma Historical Library & Museum Dec 6, 3pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Renaissance Christmasâ&#x20AC;? with the Festival Consort. 20 Fourth St, Petaluma. 707.778.4398.

Redwood Cafe Dec 4, Edith Piaf centennial tribute with Gypsy Kisses. Dec 5, Rhythm Rangers. Dec 7, open belly dance. Thurs, Open Mic. 8240 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati.

707.795.7868.

Rio Nido Roadhouse Dec 5, Weekend at Bernieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

14540 Canyon 2 Rd, Rio Nido.

707.869.0821.

Rossiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1906 Dec 2, Hot Grubb with dance lessons. Dec 4, Rett Hamer Blues Band. Dec 5, Pato Banton. Dec 6, Sweet Potato 5. Dec 9, Ricky Ray Band with dance lessons. 401 Grove St, Sonoma. 707.343.0044.

Ruth McGowanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brewpub Dec 4, John Roy Zat & Company.

Dec 5, the Borderline Boys. 131 E First St, Cloverdale. 707.894.9610.

Sebastopol Center for the Arts

Hosted by: Steve Jaxon-Vicario Saturday nights 6pm to 8pm

Get Fresh Enjoy Spa Day Packages, Massages, Facials, Fresh Mud Baths and More!

Calistoga

VOTED # 1 SPA

! mountviewhotel.com

St Seraphim Orthodox Church Dec 3-4, Cantiamo Sonoma Christmas concert. 90 Mountain View Ave, Santa Rosa. 707.539.3379.

The Tradewinds Bar Dec 5, Rewind Band. Tues, Open Mic. Wed, Sonoma County Blues Society. 8210 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati.

707.795.7878.

Twin Oaks Tavern Dec 2, Old School Country Band.

Dec 3, Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Workshop with Levi Lloyd. Dec 4, Hot Grubb.

Dec 5, Johnny Rawls. Dec 6, 5pm, Blues and BBQ with Ricky Alan Ray. Dec 8, PaintNite. Dec 9, Timothy Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neil Band. Mon, Blues Defenders Pro Jam. 5745 Old Redwood Hwy, Penngrove.

707.795.5118.

United Methodist Church Dec 5, 2pm, Sing-Along Messiah. 500 N Main St, Sebastopol.

Wells Fargo Center for the Arts Dec 3, Big Bad Voodoo Daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wild and Swinginâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Holiday Partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Dec 4-5, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joy to the Worldâ&#x20AC;? with Transcendence Theater. Dec 6, San Francisco Gay Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chorus â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Home for the Holidaysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa.

707.546.3600.

MARIN COUNTY Church of Saint Raphael Dec 5, 7:30pm and , Dec 6, 4pm, Holiday choral concert by candlelight with Marin Symphony Chamber Chorus.

1104 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael.

415.479.8100.

Fenix

Dec 5, 3pm, Healdsburg Community Band Holiday Concert. Dec 6, 3pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Got Nog?â&#x20AC;? with Occidental Community Choir. 282 S High St, Sebastopol. 707.829.4797.

Dec 4, the Ray Charles Project.

Dec 5, Forejour. Dec 6, Dos Four.

Wed, Pro blues jam. 919 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.813.5600.

Sebastopol Community Center Dec 5, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas. 390 Morris St, Sebastopol. 707.874.3176.

First Sunday of every month, 5pm, Erika Alstrom with Dale Alstromâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jazz Society. 1535 South Novato Blvd, Novato.

415.878.4977.

755 After Dark

HopMonk Novato

Dec 4, the Stone Foxes and Kingsborough. 755 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol. 707.829.2722.

Dec 3, Sonic Steps and Xâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s For Eyes. Dec 4, Beer Drinkerz & Hell Raiserz and Pretend 2 Jett.

Ghiringhelli Pizzeria Grill & Bar

Dec 5, Sacred Saturdayz reggae night. 224 Vintage Way, Novato.

415.892.6200.

JB Piano Company Dec 4, Audrey Moira Shimkas Trio. 540 Irwin St, San Rafael.

415.456.9280.

Marin Center Showcase Theatre Dec 5-6, Performing Arts Academy of Marin Holiday Spectacular. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael.

415.499.6800.

Mt Tamalpais United Methodist Church Dec 5, 3pm, Merola Opera Programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Opera & Ornamentsâ&#x20AC;? recital. Dec 6, 4pm, the Russian Chamber Orchestra. 410 Sycamore Ave, Mill Valley.

19 Broadway Club Dec 2, Book of Birds. Dec 3, Benefit for Mitch Brown. Dec 4, First Friday reggae night with Broken Silence Sound System.

Dec 6, 6pm, 19 Broadway Good Time Band. Dec 6, 9pm, Fairfax blues jam. Dec 8, Walt the Dog. Dec 9, Great Spirit Band. Mon, open mic. 17 Broadway Blvd, Fairfax. 415.459.1091.

No Name Bar Dec 4, Michael Aragon Quartet. Mon, Kimrea and the Dreamdogs. Tues, open mic.

757 Bridgeway, Sausalito.

415.332.1392.

Panama Hotel Restaurant Dec 2, Martha Crawford and friends. Dec 3, Joan Getz Quartet. Dec 8, James Moseley.

Dec 9, Lip Sticks with Paula Helene. 4 Bayview St, San Rafael. 415.457.3993.

Periâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Silver Dollar Dec 2, the Weissmen. Dec 3, Burnsyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sugar Shack.

Dec 4, Featherwitch. Dec 5, Achilles Wheel. Dec 8, Waldoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Special. Dec 9, Stickyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Backyard. Mon, Billy Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open mic. 29 Broadway, Fairfax.

415.459.9910.

Rancho Nicasio Dec 4, Jerry Hannan.

Dec 5, Danny Click & the Hell Yeahs. Dec 6, the Coverlettes Christmas Show.

1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio.

415.662.2219.

Sausalito Seahorse Dec 3, Connie Ducey with Lauralee Brown and Judy Hall Quartet. Dec 4, the Marinfidels.

Dec 5, Havana Nights with Tito y su Son de Cuba. Dec 6, Orquesta la Moderna Tradicion.

305 Harbor View Dr, Sausalito.

415.331.2899.

St Vincent’s Chapel

Dec 2, Cy Curnin. Dec 5, Hot Buttered Rum. Dec 6, the Blasters. Mon, Open Mic. 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley.

415.388.1100.

Tickets: Premium $27 General Advance $22; Door $25

Dec 4, New Monsoon. Dec 5-6, North Mississippi All Stars. Dec 8, Jason Crosby and friends.

100 Yacht Club Dr, San Rafael.

415.524.2773.

New Year’s Eve Bash

Throckmorton Theatre

NAPA COUNTY City Winery Napa Dec 3, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Dec 4, Justin Townes Earle. Dec 9, David Wax Museum with Marty O’Reilly. 1030 Main St, Napa.

707.260.1600.

Downtown Joe’s Brewery & Restaurant Dec 3, the Humdingers. Dec 4, Charles Wheal Band. Dec 5, the Voltones. 902 Main St, Napa.

707.258.2337.

Jarvis Conservatory Dec 5, It’s a Grand Night for Singers. 1711 Main St, Napa.

707.255.5445.

Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater Dec 3, Rock the Season Holiday Concert. Dec 4, the Sound of Christmas with the von Trapps.

Dec 6, 4pm, VOENA: Voices of the Season. Dec 7, USAF Band of the Golden West Holiday Concert. 100 California Dr, Yountville. 707.944.9900.

Silo’s Dec 4, Garage Band 101 for Kids. Dec 5, Scott Cooper & the Barrelmakers. Dec 6, Steve Sage and friends. 530 Main St, Napa. 707.251.5833.

Uva Trattoria Dec 2, Bob Castell Blanch. Dec 3, the Gentlemen of Jazz. Dec 4, Tony Macaroni Trio. Dec 5, Jack Pollard and Dan Daniels.

Dec 6, Nate Lopez. Dec 9, Justin Diaz. 1040 Clinton St, Napa.

707.255.6646.

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas Saturday, December 5 at 8:00pm

Terrapin Crossroads

Dec 4, “Jazzin’ Up Joys of the Season” with Deborah Winters & the Peter Welker All Star Band. Dec 6, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble. Wed, 12pm, Noon concert series. 142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley.

415.383.9600.

Upcoming Events at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center

David Luning Band plus the Highway Poets

Americana Made

Dance the Night Away! Toast in the New Year with dancing, drink, food, and lots of good cheer!

Sebastopol’s HopMonk goes back to roots for two shows

Thursday, December 31 at 8:00pm

HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol has a full dance card this week, and two of its best concerts include record releases by a couple of heavenly, harmonizing Americana bands—one from across the country and one from our backyard.

On Dec. 4, Chapel Hill, N.C., folk band Mipso (pictured) take the stage to play from their brand-new record, Old Time Reverie.

The four-piece modern string band has lived on the road in the two years since their 2013 debut, and embrace bluegrass, early country music and rhythmic folk-pop in their latest effort, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard bluegrass charts. If the band looks familiar, you may have seen them in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

The next night, Dec. 5, HopMonk welcomes the Bootleg Honeys, Sonoma County’s born-and-bred trio of Americana sweetness, to celebrate the release of their first full-length LP, Paint It Red. Alison Harris, Hannah Jern-Miller and Katie Phillips grew up in musical homes and bring three lifetimes of skill to the stage. Their dusty, chiming rock-and-roll guitars and powerful pipes make Paint It Red a lively and soulful collection of impeccable original tunes, perfect for dancing with your boots on.

Mipso plays with Dixie Giants on Friday, Dec. 4, and the Bootleg Honeys rock with Dirty Cello on Saturday, Dec. 5, at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol.

Doors at 8pm. $15. 707.829.7300.—Charlie Swanson

Tickets: General Advance $18; Door $25

Also Coming Soon Dave and Phil Alvin (acoustic) — Feb. 12th Ani Di Franco (at Analy High School Theatre) — Feb. 27th

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

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Sweetwater Music Hall

CRITIC’S CHOICE DL Anderson

Dec 4-6, “Holidays in Harmony” with Novato Music Association Chorus. 1 St Vincent’s Dr, San Rafael.

Arts Events

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Prince Gallery

RECEPTIONS Dec 1 Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hanlon Center for the Arts, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Art of the Spirit: Epiphany,â&#x20AC;? eclectic exhibit is juried by Rosemary Ishii MacConnell. 6pm. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331.

Dec 2 Redwood Cafe, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Monthly Art Exhibit,â&#x20AC;? the cafe welcomes local artists to display on their walls. 6pm.

8240 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati. 707.795.7868.

Dec 3 Robert Allen Fine Art, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lands End Allegory,â&#x20AC;? solo show of new works from San Francisco artist Jay Mercado. 5:30pm. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito.

415.331.2800.

Dec 4

SEBASTOPOL GALLERY

FINE ART Â&#x2039; CRAFTS Â&#x2039; JEWELRY

by Local Sonoma County Artists

Atlas Coffee Company, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Upland & Plain,â&#x20AC;? Richard Ciccarelliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhibit of oil paintings offers amazing looks at Taylor Mountain and the Llano de Santa Rosa. 5pm. 300 South A St, Santa Rosa. 707.526.1085.

12th Annual

Zen Fest Dec 6

Sebastopol Center for the Arts, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Annual Members

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150 North Main St. Â&#x2039; Sebastopol Â&#x2039; CA 11am - 6pm daily Â&#x2039; 707-829-7200 www.sebastopol-gallery.com

Galleries

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SONOMA COUNTY Charles M. Schulz Museum

Benefit for Stone Creek Zen Center

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Plants for Ponds Plants for Pollinators, Plants for People LBuffaloes by Michael McMillan, Woodblock Print, 1/3Â

707 calabigallery.com

3525 Stony Point Road Santa Rosa 707.529.5261 www.wildtoadnursery.com

Through Dec 13, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebrating 65 Years of Peanuts,â&#x20AC;? see how your favorite characters developed and changed in this installation celebrating 65 years of Peanuts comics.

2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa.

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

Chroma Gallery Through Dec 27, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Four Seasons: Sonoma County Landscapes,â&#x20AC;? paintings by Brooks Anderson, Thomas Creed and Donna DeLaBriandais capture natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beauty in their own unique styles.

312 South A St, Santa Rosa.

707.293.6051.

Show,â&#x20AC;? eclectic and inclusive exhibition displays membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; multimedia works that are available to purchase. 6pm. 282 S High St, Sebastopol. 707.829.4797.

Sonoma Community Center, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ephemeralities,â&#x20AC;?

Ceramic works by artist-inresidence, Xia Zhang. 5pm.

276 E Napa St, Sonoma.

707.938.4626.

Dec 5 Arts Guild of Sonoma, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holiday Invitational Show,â&#x20AC;? guild members get festive with these holiday-inspired works. 4pm. 140 E Napa St, Sonoma. 707.996.3115.

Petaluma Arts Center, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Petaluma Arts Center Membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Exhibition,â&#x20AC;?

Hella Merrill is the featured artist. 4pm. 230 Lakeville St, Petaluma. 707.762.5600.

Dec 7 Shige Sushi, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jenny Honnert Abell Solo Show,â&#x20AC;? the Santa Rosa artist exhibits mixed media works with a focus on subtle exotic imagery. 5pm. 8235 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati.

707.795.9753.

Graton Gallery Through Dec 13, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Double Vision,â&#x20AC;? paintings and more

by Bruce K Hopkins and Susan Shore, with guest artists. 9048 Graton Rd, Graton. Tues-Sat, 10:30 to 6; Sun, 10:30 to 4.

707.829.8912.

Gregory Roberts StudioC2 Through Dec 5, â&#x20AC;&#x153;GOBLET,â&#x20AC;?

Wyatt Amend exhibits a series of ritualized ceramic drinking vessels base on goblets, chalices and Champagne flutes. 620 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma. Thurs-Wed, 11 to 5.

415.533.0009.

Orpheus Wines Tasting Room Through Dec 20, â&#x20AC;&#x153;clear eyes, full hearts, canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose,â&#x20AC;? Marin artist Jamie Weinstein creates visual commentary on the everyday world. 8910 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood. 707.282.9231.

Through Dec 6, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hidebound,â&#x20AC;? a solo show from emerging artist Tyler Steele instills real-world dimensions within fantasy-like paintings. 122 American Alley, Petaluma. 707.889.0371.

Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club Through Dec 4, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mario Uribe Solo Show,â&#x20AC;? known locally as an arts activist and highly influenced by Asian brushwork and philosophy, Uribeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zen art displays through autumn. 333 Country Club Dr, Santa Rosa.

707.546.3485.

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Through Dec 6, â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Accomplishment in Creativity,â&#x20AC;? world-famous Egyptian tapestries made by imaginative youth are on display. Through Dec 6, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jane Baldwin: Kara Women Speak,â&#x20AC;? Sonoma Valley photographer gives voice to the women of the Omo River Valley of Southwestern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya.

551 Broadway, Sonoma. WedSun, 11 to 5. 707.939.SVMA.

Studio 428 Through Dec 5, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dart Project,â&#x20AC;? a multimedia group show of art projects made about a particular local site, chosen by throwing a dart at a map of Sonoma County. 428 Moore Ln, Healdsburg. by appointment 707.433.6842.

University Art Gallery Through Dec 13, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Linear Equations,â&#x20AC;? artists Mari Andrews, Marc Katano and Sabine Reckewell offer up works revolving around the line as an artistic element. Sonoma State University, 1801 E Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park.Tues-Fri, 11 to 4; SatSun, noon to 4. 707.664.2295.

MARIN COUNTY Falkirk Cultural Center Through Dec 20, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fall Juried Exhibit,â&#x20AC;? annual show displays works by many local artists.

1408 Mission Ave, San Rafael.

415.485.3438.

Gallery Route One Through Dec 6, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Museum of Curious Thought,â&#x20AC;? a retrospective exhibit of contemporary artist Betty Woolfolk is matched with video installation by Minoosh

Zomorodinia and abstract work from Johanna Baruch. 11101 Hwy 1, Pt Reyes Station. WedMon, 11 to 5. 415.663.1347.

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Through Dec 6, “Drawing / Secrets,” a nationally juried exhibit of drawings joins a member juried show revolving around the theme of secrets.

Novato Arts Center, Hamilton Field, 500 Palm Dr, Novato.

Wed-Sun, 11 to 4. 415.506.0137.

O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Through Dec 19, “Art of the Spirit: Epiphany,” eclectic exhibit is juried by Rosemary Ishii MacConnell. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley.

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

Seager Gray Gallery Through Dec 6, “James Shay: Grove Studies,” the Lucas Valley artist depicts the dramatic rolling hills of west Marin’s landscape. 108 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley.

Thomas Wood Fine Art Through Dec 6, “Thomas Wood Solo Show,” Wood’s new oil landscapes of Marin County express the beauty of nature and experience of time and place. town square, Nicasio. Sat-Sun, 1pm to 4pm 415.662.2006.

Comedy

‘JEWEL FLOWER’ Exotic mixed-media work from Jenny Honnert Abell shows on the art wall at Shige Sushi in Cotati. See Receptions, adjacent page.

2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy, Napa.

707.256.7500.

Silliness at Its Best With Dan Goodman, America’s favorite buffoon. Dec 9, 5:30pm. Free. Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, 100 California Dr, Yountville. 707.944.9900.

The Adam Carolla Show Enjoy a live taping of the top-rated comedy podcast.

Dec 3, 8pm. $35-$50. Uptown Theatre, 1350 Third St, Napa.

707.259.0123.

Dance

Ha Ha Ha Holiday!

Bold and expressive dancing is choreographed and performed

by SSU students. Dec 3-6. Evert B. Person Theatre. $5-$17, sonoma.edu. SSU, 1801 E Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park.

A Chirstmas comedy bonanza from the Crushers of Comedy brings cheer to all. Dec 5, 7pm. $20. Flamingo Lounge, 2777 Fourth St, Santa Rosa.

707.545.8530.

Heart & Soul Fall Dance Concert

Holiday Tango Gala

Funny new one-man show from standup and actor Brad Zimmerman. Dec 9, 7:30pm.

Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley.

415.383.9600.

Special performance and milonga is set to the live music of Seth Asarnow y Su Sexteto Tipico. Dec 4, 7pm. Alma del Tango Studio. $25-$30. 167 Tunstead Ave, San Anselmo 415.459.8966.

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater

Stapleton Ballet’s Nutcracker

Family-friendly romp combines the award-winning comedy and juggling skills of Gregory Popovich plus the extraordinary talents of his performing pets. Dec 5, 11am and 2pm. $35. Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center,

Now in its 27th year, this production features inspired dancing and beautiful sets and costumes. Dec 5-6, 1pm and 5pm. Marin Center’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium. $22-$35.

10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael 415.473.6800.

My Rise to the Middle

Night Before Christmas Teresa Lubarsky’s Healdsburg Ballet presents the holiday favorite. Dec 5-6. Raven Theater. $15-$20. 115 North St, Healdsburg 707.433.3145.

Events Astronaut Lullabies Immersive live concert experience with Jim and Kathy Ocean, exploring inner and outer space, returns by popular demand. Sun, Dec 6, 3pm. $10-$20. SRJC Planetarium, Lark Hall, 1501 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa. 707.527.4465.

Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade Calistoga’s ag heritage and the holiday season comes together in this festive event.

Dec 5, 7pm. Free. Downtown Calistoga, Lincoln Ave, Calistoga.

Chanukah on Ice A Jewish Unity & Pride event at the ice-skating rink at Northgate. Dec 6, 6pm. Free.

Northgate Mall Community Room, 7000 Northgate Dr, San Rafael.

A Christmas Market & Craft Fair Fun holiday shopping. Dec 5,

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FEED the NEED! Join the

KIBBLE BOWL

CHALLENGE!

Help Sonoma Humane Society feed our shelter animals for an entire year. Join the Kibble Bowl Challenge today! Donate at sonomahumane.org/kibble-bowl $50 feeds the shelter for ½ a day $100 feeds the shelter for a whole day

}

located in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg

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10am. Free. Faith Lutheran Church of Sonoma Valley, 19355 Arnold Dr, Sonoma.

707.996.7365.

Dance Palace Holiday Crafts Fair Annual fair is filled with the sights, sounds and scents of the winter holidays, with a special focus on “Made in West Marin” handcrafted items and gifts. Dec 4, 4pm. Free. Dance Palace, 503 B St, Pt Reyes Station. 415.663.1075.

Festival of Lights Marin’s biggest Hanukkah celebration includes live music, latkes, crafts marketplace and kids’ activities. Dec 6, 11:30am.

Free. Osher Marin JCC, 200 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael.

415.444.8000.

Guerneville Art Barn Holiday Boutique

Artisan Craft Fair and Holiday Festival Live Entertainment • Silent Auction • Raffle Santa & Mrs. Claus • Food • Childrens’ Activities

Come celebrate community and the season with old-fashioned fun and lots of hand-made arts and crafts by over 60 local artisans. Great gift items!

Saturday, December 12, 10am-4pm Free Admission Center for Spiritual Living 2075 Occidental Rd, Santa Rosa

Seven local artists feature their hand-crafted decorations and cards, quilts, jewelry, clothing and other gifts in a cozy, warm and festive environment with refreshments. Dec 5-6, 10am.

Free. Maresca Barn Studio, 16120 Watson Rd, Guerneville.

707.869.9419.

Handmade Holiday Crafts Fair Over 70 local artists sell their gift-ready wares, with live entertainment and holiday goodies. Dec 5-6. $2. Finley Community Center, 2060 W College Ave, Santa Rosa.

707.543.3737.

Hands-On Hanukkah Hanukkah-themed event for families with young children. Dec 5, 1pm. Free.

Fundemonium, 579 Rohnert Park Expy W, Rohnert Park.

707.540.0701. Dec 7, 10am.

Free. Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.579.4452.

Hanukkah Hootenanny

Woman-Owned Woman-Owned Family-Friendly Family-Friendly

Latkes and libations rule the day in this 10th annual event.

Dec 6, 12pm. $55. Judd’s Hill Winery, 2332 Silverado Trail, Napa. 707.255.2332.

Holiday Arts Faire

Tues-Fri 7:30-6:00 321 Second Street

769-0162

Petaluma

HONDA TOYOT A M AZ DA NI S SAN SUBARU

Annual arts faire boasts handmade goods. Dec 5, 11am. San Geronimo Valley Community Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Geronimo. 415.488.8888.

Holiday Book & Bake Sale Books and baked goods go

together in this annual event hosted by River Friends of the Library. Dec 9-12. Guerneville Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville.

707.869.9004.

Holiday Gathering Tour along beautiful Mark West Creek and enjoy live music, hot cider, wreath-making and other holiday crafting. Dec 5, 1pm. by donation. Rancho Mark West Farm, 7125 St Helena Rd, Santa Rosa, landpaths.org.

Holiday Gift Show BINBA’s annual show offers unique handcrafted items for that someone special on your holiday list. Dec 5, 12pm. Brain Injury Network of the Bay Area, 1132 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur.

Holiday Lighted Boat Parade A parade of sparkling boats shine on the Petaluma River to ring in the season. Dec 5, 6pm.

Free. Petaluma River Turning Basin, 222 Weller St, Petaluma.

Holiday Lighting of the Vines Festive event offers crafts, snacks and fun with a lighting of the grapevine at dusk. Dec 5, 4pm. $25. Hamel Family Ranch, 15401 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma.

707.996.5800.

Holiday Open House View the home and greenhouse, and get freshbaked cookies and spiced tea.

Dec 5-6. $2. Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, Santa Rosa Avenue at Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa. 707.524.5445.

Holiday Open House Celebration Good food, great wine and close friends ring the season.

Bring an unwrapped new toy and receive savings on wine purchases. Dec 5, 4pm. $25.

DeLoach Vineyards, 1791 Olivet Rd, Santa Rosa. 707.755.3300.

Holiday Parade of Lights Old-fashioned parade fun.

Dec 5, 7pm. Free. Downtown Guerneville, Main St, Guerneville.

ICB Winter Open Studios Over 100 artists invite you to their 47th annual event, a “Migration Project” this year full of vibrant, multi-media art.

Dec 5-6, 11am. Free. Industrial Center Building, 480 Gate Five Rd, Sausalito.

It’s a Wonderful Life Holiday Party Step out in style in your best vintage attire and get

swinging with the sounds of live music from the 1940s on.

With limbo, dance cards and a James Stewart and Donna Reed lookalike contest. Dec 5, 8pm. $25. Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 Fourth St, Petaluma. 707.347.6692.

Landmarks Holiday Art & Craft Sale The Belvedere Tiburon Landmarks Society and local artists bring a wide range of gifts and holiday items. Dec 5, 10am. Free. Tiburon Art & Garden Center, 841 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon. 415.435.1853.

Mill Valley Holiday Craft Fair Over 55 artists sell their fine handmade arts and crafts, including woodwork, jewelry, glasswork, ceramics, decorations, knitwear, fiber arts and more. The day also features strolling vocals by Girls Night Out and baked goodies. Dec 5, 10am.

Free admssion. Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. 415.383.1370.

Mill Valley Winterfest There’s a snow slide, arts and crafts, live music, family activities, seasonal food and drinks, and, of course, Santa’s arrival in a fire truck. Dec 6, 11am. Free. Depot Plaza, Throckmorton and Miller, Mill Valley. 415.388.9700.

Napa B&B Holiday Tour & Taste Tour the town’s historical inns and savor winetastings and treats. Benefits local charities. Dec 5, 3pm. $75. Downtown Napa, First Street and Town Center, Napa. napaholidaytour.com.

Orange Ball Open Tennis Tournament Tennis tournament for kids seven to 10. Dec 5, 1pm. Mt. Tam Racquet Club, 1 Larkspur Plaza Dr, Larkspur. www. orangeballopen.com.

Toys for Tots Holiday Drive Santa Claus will be on hand for this festive family event. Please bring an unwrapped new toy or game. Dec 6, 1pm. Free.

American Legion Log Cabin, Memorial Park, 20 Veterans Place, San Anselmo.

Tree of Remembrance & Candle Lighting An opportunity to create a new holiday tradition that includes hanging an ornament on the tree and lighting a candle in memory of your loved one. Dec 3, 6pm. Fred Young ) Funeral Home, 428

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SRJC WORKED FOR ME. IT CAN WORK FOR YOU.

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Find us at these Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Markets: SF Ferry Plaza Marin Civic Center Marin County Market

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N Cloverdale Blvd, Cloverdale.

Dec 8, 6pm. Eggen & Lance Chapel, 1540 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa. 707.545.3747.

West Side Stories Petaluma GrandSlam Former comic turned storyteller Dave Pokorny hosts over a dozen local storytellers in competition. Dec 2, 7pm. $13-$18. Mystic Theatre, 23 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma.

707.477.4416.

Winter Market Holiday fun for all features pop-up shops, live music, mulled cider and treats. Also includes special Christmas Circus shows. Sat, 5pm. through Dec 26. Marin Country Mart, 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur.

For Sonoma & Napa’s Best!

Oct. 7 - Dec. 15 bohemian.com The Bohemian’s Best Of publishes in March 2016!

Year End Art Sale The artists at Fulton Crossing offer their works at discounts for your holiday shopping or art collecting needs. Dec 4-6.

Fulton Crossing, 1200 River Rd, Fulton.

Field Trips Deer Island Walk See raptors and other birds that spend the winter locally and discuss the changes that take place in the plant and animal communities as the wet season begins. Dec 6, 10am. Free. Deer Island, Deer Island Lane, Novato.

Headlands Nightlife Family-night hike lets you explore the lifestyle of nocturnal animals and have some fun around a campfire. Sat, Dec 5, 5:30pm.

NatureBridge, 1033 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito.

Stress-Free Wanderland

Library Celebrates 100 Years,” is presented by historical commissioner Judy Coy. Dec 3, 7pm. Free. San Anselmo Library, 110 Tunstead Ave, San Anselmo.

415.258.4656.

Dec 6, 2pm. $75. V Sattui Winery, 1111 White Ln, St Helena. 707.963.7774.

Sorrentino Due Volte

Family-friendly afternoon includes wine, food, crafts for the kids and merriment. Wine club members can get their holiday supply as well. Dec 6, 11am. $20. Trione Winery, 19550 Geyserville Ave, Geyserville.

707.814.8100.

One admission to Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Great Beauty” on Monday gets you a free admission to an advance screening of “Youth,” Sorrentino’s latest film. Dec 7-8. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St, San Rafael.

415.454.1222.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home This “Science on Screen” event includes a presentation by conservationist Mary Jane Schramm and a rare 35mm print of the beloved film. Dec 3, 7pm. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St, San Rafael.

415.454.1222.

Food & Drink Chocolate Art Bar Spend an afternoon with Michael Recchiuti playing and painting with chocolate. Dec 5, 2pm. $95. Cavallo Point, 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker, Sausalito. 415.339.4700.

Cookie Swap Bake up your favorite holiday cookies and trade them with other bakers to diversify your cookie supply this season.

Benefits low-income families.

Dec 8, 2pm. $5. Laguna Farm, 1764 Cooper Rd, Sebastopol.

Date Nite: Kiss ’Em Once for Me! Grab a date and join the Cooking School for a night of delicious servings. Dec 4, 6:30pm. $75. Cavallo Point, 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker, Sausalito. 415.339.4700.

Take a break from the holiday planning to relax in a serene area where you can take a solo stroll along the path towards a stress-free you.

Dec 5, 11am. Free. Point Bonita YMCA, 981 Fort Barry, Sausalito.

415.331.9622.

Educational Tasting: Champagne

Film

Holiday Entertaining

1915 to 2015 Film reenactment of the library’s original dedication, “1915 to 2015: San Anselmo

Learn what to pour and get the best prices for holiday fests and feasts. Limited seating. Thurs, Dec 3, 7pm. $35. Bergamot Alley, 328-A Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg.

707.433.8720.

Model Bakery’s motherdaughter duo Karen Mitchell and Sarah Mitchell Hansen offer some easy recipes, tastings, copies of “The Model Bakery Cookbook” and more.

Holiday Open House & Estate Guild Pickup Party

Holidaypalooza Wine club members only event lets you into the caves and meet the merry winemakers at Gun Bun. Dec 5. Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 2000 Denmark St, Sonoma.

707.938.5277.

Southern Christmas Prix fixe dinner takes inspiration from the holidays down south. Dec 8, 7pm. $55.

Fenix, 919 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.813.5600.

Zen Fest Holiday Sale Everyone will find something of interest with handcrafted gifts, used books, a silent auction, spiritual practice supplies and food. Dec 6, 9am. Free.

Masonic Center, 373 N Main St, Sebastopol. 707.829.1129.

For Kids Photos with Santa Claus Town Center Corte Madera will find itself once again on Santa Claus’s annual route from the North Pole during this holiday season to help spread holiday joy for families and children of all ages. Through Dec 24. Town Center Corte Madera, 100 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera. 415.924.2961.

Lectures The Art of Being Brave: Women in Film Brenda Chapman, Academy Award-winning director of “Brave,” and Zoe Elton, director of Programming for the Mill Valley Film Festival, talk about film, animation and women in the film industry. Dec 2, 7pm. $35-$70. Outdoor Art Club, 1 W Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley.

415.383.2582.

Keepin’ the Rain Out of the Drain Discover ways to retain the rain on your property and prevent

Diesel Bookstore Dec 4, 6pm, kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pajama party with Jim Averbeck. Dec 5, 1pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wild Edgeâ&#x20AC;? with Tom Killion, with art sale 2419 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur 415.785.8177.

Guerneville Library Dec 3, 12:30pm, Book Discussion Group, discussing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mysterious Stranger and Other Storiesâ&#x20AC;? by Mark Twain.

14107 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville 707.869.9004.

Healdsburg Copperfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Books Dec 5, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Steeped: Recipes Infused with Teaâ&#x20AC;? with Annelies Zijderveld. 104 Matheson St, Healdsburg 707.433.9270.

Open Secret Dec 5, 8pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sweet Healing: A Whole Health Journeyâ&#x20AC;? with Michael Bedar. Free. 923 C St, San Rafael 415.457.4191.

Petaluma Copperfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Books Dec 5, 2pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fantasticalâ&#x20AC;? with

San Rafael Library Dec 8, 6:30pm, virtual author talk with Ann Leckie, author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ancillary Justice!â&#x20AC;? talks via broadcast. Free. 1100 E St, San Rafael 415.485.3323.

Santa Rosa Copperfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Books Dec 5, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Creative Journalâ&#x20AC;? with Lucia Capacchione. 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa 707.578.8938.

Sebastopol Copperfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Books Dec 5, 2pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Harlow & Indiana (and Reese)â&#x20AC;? with Brittni and Jeff Vega. 138 N Main St, Sebastopol 707.823.2618.

Whole Foods Market Dec 5, 11am, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The New Christmas Treeâ&#x20AC;? with Carrie Brown. 3682 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa 707.224.6300.

Theater A Christmas Carol New stage version of the famous Dickens story of Ebenezer Scrooge comes to life for the whole family this holiday season. Through Dec 20. $15-$37. 6th Street Playhouse, 52 West Sixth St, Santa Rosa.

707.523.4185.

The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical Lucky Penny Productions presents an all-new and hilarious holiday romp that looks at Christmas antics in a Florida trailer park. Dec 4-19. $27-$38. Lucky Penny Community Arts Center, 1758 Industrial Way, Napa.

707.266.6305.

Little Women: The Musical Thomas Chapman directs award-winning actress Rebekah Pearson of Santa Rosa in the Broadway musical based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. Through Dec 20. $12-$26. Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. 707.588.3400.

Miracle on 34th Street This holiday classic of the People vs Kris Kringle never fails to warm hearts and spreading seasonal joy. Dec 4-13. Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, 209 N Cloverdale Blvd, Cloverdale. 707.829.2214.

Polar Bears New one man play from Bohemian contributor David Templeton is a heartwarming and holiday tale of fatherhood, death and Santa Claus. Dec 4-20. $15-$27. Main Stage West, 104 N Main St, Sebastopol.

707.823.0177.

. ion..CES & SAMPLIN Best t c e I GÂ&#x2021; el Â&#x2021; E-JU NO V

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Dec 5, Local Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Book Authors, Four authors appear and read. 87 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley 415.383.2665.

Dec 5, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plotted: A Literary Atlasâ&#x20AC;? with Andrew Degraff.

850 Fourth St, San Rafael 415.524.2800.

Ross Valley Players perform this funny farce about two famous theater divas embroiled in competitive productions and the Russian anarchist who threatens to blow it all up.

Through Dec 20. $14-$29. Barn Theatre, Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.456.9555.

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Depot Bookstore & Cafe

San Rafael Copperfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Books

The Ladies of the Camellias

LIE

Dec 2, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Furiously Happyâ&#x20AC;? with Jenny Lawson. Dec 5, 1pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Killing Voteâ&#x20AC;? with Bette and JJ Lamb. Dec 5, 4pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not All Bad Comes to Harm Youâ&#x20AC;? with Janice Mock. Dec 5, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Faces of Courageâ&#x20AC;? with Mark Tuschman. Dec 6, 1pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Passage to Cubaâ&#x20AC;? with Cynthia Carris Alonso. Dec 6, 4pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dog Medicineâ&#x20AC;? with Julie Barton. Dec 6, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Creative Journalâ&#x20AC;? with Lucia Capacchione. Dec 7, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Way of Wanderlustâ&#x20AC;? with Don George. Dec 8, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Paradox of Evolutionâ&#x20AC;? with Stephen Rothman. Dec 9, 7pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;David Browerâ&#x20AC;? with Tom Turner.

51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera 415.927.0960.

Dec 2, 4pm, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Comic Book Story of Beerâ&#x20AC;? with Mike Smith and Jonathan Hennessey, happy hour sale and signing.

Free. 725 Fourth St, Santa Rosa 707.545.2337.

UPP

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Dec 7, 6:30pm, A-Muse-ing Mondays with Rivertown Poets, with poets Kim Shuck and Chris Olander, followed by an open mic. 189 H St, Petaluma 707.778.6060.

Dec 6, 5pm, Cotati Poetry Series, a Eugene Ruggles memorial reading. First Sunday of every month, 5pm, Cotati Poetry Series. Free. 8240 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati 707.795.7868.

37

Beloved American holiday classic of idealistic George Baileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fateful Christmas Eve comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. Dec 4-20. $10-$25. Raven Theater Windsor, 195 Windsor River Rd, Windsor.

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NO RTH BAY BO H E M I AN | D EC E M BE R 2-8, 201 5 | BOH EMI A N.COM

storm water runoff with the installation of swales, rain gardens and more. Dec 3, 6pm.

Free. Petaluma Seed Bank, 199 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma.

707.773.1336.

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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Santaland Diaries Stage version of the David Sedaris memoir recounts an out-of-work slacker who decides to become a Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elf during the holiday crunch. Dec 4-13. $10-$25. Studio Theatre, 6th St Playhouse, 52 W Sixth St, Santa Rosa. 707.523.4185.

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Veterans Discount.

BY ROB BREZSNY

For the week of December 2

ARIES (March 21–April 19) “Charm is a way of getting the answer ‘yes’ without having asked any clear question,” wrote French author Albert Camus. I have rarely seen you better poised than you are now to embody and capitalize on this definition of “charm,” Aries. That’s good news, right? Well, mostly. But there are two caveats. First, wield your mojo as responsibly as you can. Infuse your bewitching allure with integrity.

Second, be precise about what it is you want to achieve—even if you don’t come right out and tell everyone what it is. Resist the temptation to throw your charm around haphazardly.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20)

Alternative Health Well-Being Araya707.478.2689 Thai Spa

Astrology

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Please call before 11pm.

No calls from blocked phone #.

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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 4857 Old Redwood Hwy. tel: 707.542.7729 www.UnityofSantaRosa.org

I suspect that in the coming days you will have an uncanny power to make at least one of your resurrection fantasies come true. Here are some of the possibilities: 1. If you’re brave enough to change your mind and shed some pride, you could retrieve an expired dream from limbo.

2. By stirring up a bit more chutzpah that you usually have at your disposal, you might be able to revive and even restore a forsaken promise. 3. Through an act of grace, it’s possible you will reanimate an ideal that was damaged or abandoned.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) To the other 11 signs of the zodiac, the way of the Gemini sometimes seems rife with paradox and contradiction. Many non-Geminis would feel paralyzed if they had to live in the midst of so much hubbub. But when you are at your best, you thrive in the web of riddles. In fact, your willingness to abide there is often what generates your special magic. Your breakthroughs are made possible by your high tolerance for uncertainty. How many times have I seen a Gemini who has been lost in indecision but then suddenly erupts with a burst of crackling insights? This is the kind of subtle miracle I expect to happen soon.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) In September of 1715, a band of Jacobite rebels gathered for a guerrilla attack on Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. Their plan was to scale the walls with rope ladders, aided by a double agent who was disguised as a castle sentry. But the scheme failed before it began. The rope ladders turned out to be too short to serve their intended purpose. The rebels retreated in disarray. Please make sure you’re not like them in the coming weeks, Cancerian. If you want to engage in a strenuous action, an innovative experiment or a bold stroke, be meticulous in your preparations.

Don’t scrimp on your props, accouterments, and resources.

LEO (July 23–August 22) If you give children the option of choosing between food that’s mushy and food that’s crunchy, a majority will choose the crunchy stuff. It’s more exciting to their mouths, a more lively texture for their teeth and tongues to play with. This has nothing to do with nutritional value, of course.

Soggy oatmeal may foster a kid’s well-being better than crispy potato chips. Let’s apply this lesson to the way you feed your inner child in the coming weeks.

Metaphorically speaking, I suggest you serve that precious part of you the kind of sustenance that’s both crunchy and healthy. In other words, make sure that what’s wholesome is also fun, and vice versa.

to your activities in the coming week, please. There will be virtually no advantage to indulging in frenetic, erratic, breakneck exertion. Be steady and smooth and straightforward.

SCORPIO (October 23–November 21) You will generate lucky anomalies and helpful flukes if you use shortcuts, flee from boredom and work smarter rather than harder. On the other hand, you’ll drum up wearisome weirdness and fruitless flukes if you meander all over the place, lose yourself in far-off fantasies and act as if you have all the time in the world. Be brisk and concise, Scorpio. Avoid loafing and vacillating. Associate with bubbly activators who make you laugh and loosen your iron grip. It’s a favorable time to polish off a lot of practical details with a light touch.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21) “Like all explorers, we are drawn to discover what’s out there without knowing yet if we have the courage to face it.” Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön said that, and now I’m telling you. According to my divinations, a new frontier is calling to you. An unprecedented question has awakened. The urge to leave your familiar circle is increasingly tempting. I don’t know if you should surrender to this brewing fascination. I don’t know if you will be able to gather the resources you would require to carry out your quest. What do you think?

Will you be able to summon the necessary audacity?

Maybe the better inquiry is this: Do you vow to use all your soulful ingenuity to summon the necessary audacity?

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19) “Once I witnessed a windstorm so severe that two 100-year-old trees were uprooted on the spot,” Mary Ruefle wrote in her book Madness, Rack, and Honey.

“The next day, walking among the wreckage, I found the friable nests of birds, completely intact and unharmed on the ground.” I think that’s a paradox you’d be wise to keep in mind, Capricorn. In the coming weeks, what’s most delicate and vulnerable about you will have more staying power than what’s massive and fixed. Trust your grace and tenderness more than your fierceness and forcefulness. They will make you as smart as you need to be.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18) Aztec king Montezuma II quenched his daily thirst with one specific beverage. He rarely drank anything else. It was ground cocoa beans mixed with chili peppers, water, vanilla and annatto. Spiced chocolate? You could call it that. The frothy brew was often served to him in golden goblets, each of which he used once and then hurled from his royal balcony into the lake below. He regarded this elixir as an aphrodisiac, and liked to quaff a few flagons before heading off to his harem.

I bring this up, Aquarius, because the coming weeks will be one of those exceptional times when you have a poetic license to be almost Montezuma-like. What’s your personal equivalent of his primal chocolate, golden goblets and harem?

PISCES (February 19–March 20) “Unfortunately,

is a famous white oak in Athens, Ga. It’s called the Tree That Owns Itself. According to legend, it belongs to no person or institution, but only to itself. The earth in which it’s planted and the land around it are also its sole possession. With this icon as your inspiration, I invite you to enhance and celebrate your sovereignty during the next seven months. What actions will enable you to own yourself more thoroughly? How can you boost your autonomy and become, more than ever before, the boss of you? It’s prime time to expedite this effort.

I’m pretty lucky,” my friend Rico said to me recently.

He meant that his relentless good fortune constantly threatens to undermine his ambition. How can he be motivated to try harder and grow smarter and get stronger if life is always showering him with blessings? He almost wishes he could suffer more so that he would have more angst to push against. I hope you won’t fall under the spell of that twisted logic in the coming weeks, Pisces. This is a phase of your cycle when you’re likely to be the beneficiary of an extra-strong flow of help and serendipity. Please say this affirmation as often as necessary: “Fortunately, I’m pretty lucky.”

LIBRA (September 23–October 22) Police in Los Angeles conducted an experiment on a 10-mile span of freeway. Drivers in three unmarked cars raced along as fast as they could while remaining in the same lane. The driver of the fourth car not only moved at top speed, but also changed lanes and jockeyed for position. Can you guess the results? The car that weaved in and out of the traffic flow arrived just slightly ahead of the other three. Apply this lesson

Go to REALASTROLOGY.COM to check out Rob Brezsny’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.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22) Your mascot

39 NO RTH BAY BO H E M I AN | D EC E M BE R 2-8, 201 5 | BOH E MI A N.COM

Classifieds

FREE WILL

Look for their bins at Oliverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stores.

Warm for the Holidays Their mission at Warm for the holidays is to provide homeless people with basic

resources to help them endure the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deceptively cold winters. Each year, dozens of homeless people die of exposure, and preexisting health conditions that are made worse by continual exposure to the elements. We and they believe that by providing items as basic as a sleeping bag or jacket will help save lives and alleviate the struggles homeless people face day and night.

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