Bodega Bay
Restore the Store
A landmark business since the 1850s, the Bodega Country Store was revived in 2018 by proprietor Ariel Coddington and refashioned into a valuable community resource, especially during the pandemic. In August, a drunk driver plowed through the store and closed the beloved business. The store is now in the prolonged and expensive process of rebuilding, and the community comes together to help cover costs at the Bodega Merchants Fundraiser, featuring several other local vendors selling their wares alongside local food and family activities. The fundraiser happens on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Bodega Bay Grange Hall, 17190 Bodega Hwy., Bodega. 11am to 5pm. Free admission. Facebook.com/thebodegacountrystore
Ross
Holiday Goodies
Marin Art & Garden Center is a hub for community gatherings, and the center packs in several holiday events in December, beginning this weekend. First, a longtime tradition continues when the online Holiday Greens Sale offers wreaths and garlands for pickup on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10am to 2pm. That same day, chamber group Eos Ensemble performs two special holiday concerts featuring the Mozart Flute Quartet and Corelli Christmas Concerto at 1pm and 3pm. In addition, Crown & Crumpet hosts the Holiday Tea extravaganza Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4–5, at 11am, 1:30pm and 4pm. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. Get details and tickets/reservations at maringarden.org/holidays.
Mill Valley
’Tis the Season
Presented by the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Enjoy Mill Valley Winterfest will be presented both virtually and dispersed in a variety of activities this season. Leading up to the event, kids accompanied by adults can enjoy a Winterfest Holiday Hunt to take photos/selfies wherever they find blue stars in the windows of participating Mill Valley businesses. Then, Winterfest’s live community event commences in an afternoon filled with live holiday music and dance performances, games and activities, holiday carols and a tree lighting at dusk on Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Depot Plaza, 87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 1–5pm. Free admission. enjoymillvalley.com/winterfest
Santa Rosa
Songs in Service
Eki’Shola and Lee Vandeveer met in 2018 during a small gathering of local femme musicians. During the pandemic, the two shared long, old-fashioned phone calls philosophizing, planning, visioning and complaining about all things related to the music business. One theme that started to emerge in the discussions was the idea of re-visioning the relationship between fundraising, community, social/climate justice and local musicians/artists. In this spirit, the two performers co-headline a fundraiser for the local social-justice advocates at North Bay Organizing Project on Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Lost Church, 427 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 2pm. $20–$25. Thelostchurch.org
—Charlie Swanson
