Sebastopol
Jewish Film Festival
Jewish Community Center Sonoma County presents its 27th Annual Jewish Film Festival from 1 to 7pm, Tuesdays, Nov. 29 to Dec. 20, at Sebastopol’s Rialto Cinemas, and streaming online. This year’s lineup features films with several strong, fascinating female characters with effervescent performances from the actresses depicting them. Featuring an international lineup of films as yet unseen in Sonoma County, the program includes selections from France, Netherlands/Germany and the United States. Highlights include a career-crowning performance by French screen legend Françoise Fabian and the poignant genre-defying musical-documentary, A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff, in which the disgraced financier is metaphorically, and musically, “disowned.” A Hanukkah candle lighting will precede the Dec. 20 screenings. Tickets are $15, and $18 at the door, and season passes are $60 (pass holders can choose to watch each film either in-person or at home). For tickets, trailers and a film guide, visit jccsoco.org.
Napa
Terracotta Corridor
An exhibition of 21 clay sculptures, “Terracotta Corridor,” opens in the Napa Valley with an artist talk and reception at the Culinary Institute of America, Copia, followed by a bike tour from 1 to 4 pm, Saturday, Dec. 3. Presented by Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa and Mission Clay Products, the free outdoor exhibition features work by 11 ceramic artists from the Mission Clay Products Arts and Industry residency program. A selection of work from some 400 artists who participated in the program will be showcased in the RAD. On Dec. 3, RAD Napa executive director Shelly Willis will moderate a conversation from 1 to 2pm between participating artist John Toki and Bryan Vansell, the founder and director of the Arts and Industry residency program. The conversation will be immediately followed by a reception and bicycle tour guided by Toki and Chuck McMinn, president of RAD Napa. To sign up and secure a bicycle for the tour, email [email protected]. For more information, visit radnapa.org.
Yountville
2nd Annual Latke Throw Down
Presented by Bardessono Hotel & Spa, the 2nd Annual Latke Throw Down takes place from 5 to 7pm, Thursday, Dec. 15 at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington St. For those in need of a refresher, a latke is a type of potato pancake that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah. This year’s Latke Throwdown features an array of local luminaries in competition, including Jim Leiken, executive chef of Bardessono; Shane Soldinger of Silver Trident; Paul Brown, the partner/chef/baker of Paulie’s Bagels and Winston’s Café; and Itamar Abramovitch, Blossom Catering Company. The judges include Stacey Bressler of Bressler Vineyards, Rabbi Niles Goldstein of Congregation Beth Shalom of Napa Valley, Loveski Deli’s chef Christopher Kostow and Yountville community member Ada Press. Judd Finkelstein returns to emcee the event. Tickets are $10, with proceeds benefiting Parents CAN, a non-profit organization that provides parenting support. Reservations are encouraged and can be confirmed by emailing [email protected] (reserved tickets are paid for at the door).
Sausalito
Winter Open Studios
Returning for its 53rd year, the 2022 Winter Open Studios presents the work of over 100 working artists from a variety of disciplines from 11am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4, in Sausalito’s historic ICB Building, which had its start as a World War II shipbuilding warehouse. The artists who work in the building will be on hand to discuss work on offer, which includes sculpture, abstract and figurative paintings, photographs, fiber arts, jewelry, sound installations and more. This event is located at the ICB Building, 480 Gate Five Rd., Sausalito, and is free and open to the public, though guests are asked to register online at bit.ly/icb-art. For more information, visit www.icbartists.com.
