Fern Bar, located in Sebastopol’s Barlow district, is known for its good times.
But its upcoming Drag Trivia Night on Thursday, March 23, from 6–8:30pm, will undoubtedly prove to be an excessively good time. Presented by THTR Productions and Fern Bar, and hosted by Bay Area bombshell Sasha Devaroe, the disco-themed event will include food, drinks, performances and, of course, trivia. The prix fixe menu includes a four-course dinner, and neighboring Barlow businesses will award prizes during the evening.
When I spoke to Fern Bar owner Sam Levy recently, he told me, “People come to Fern Bar to have a good time. We are lucky—we get to host a special night out with wonderful guests who appreciate what our team does. I get to work hard with people I respect, and feel fortunate to be a part of Fern Bar.”
“We have dozens of signature drinks with and without alcohol,” he added. “My favorites right now are our Golden Hour non-alcoholic cocktail and the Neighbors Bounty cocktail. We are donating a dollar from every drink to Food For Thought. We have won Best Cocktails and Bar four years in a row with the Bohemian, and two years in a row with the Press Democrat. We are best known for our Bar Program.”
Like most local businesses, Fern Bar rolled with the punches during the past few disaster-filled years. “Things have been pretty good recently, but it’s been a long few years of endless hurdles,” Levy said. “We went from wildfires and a flood, into COVID. It was crazy for a bit, but we have a wonderful team making incredible food and drinks every night, a very supportive and positive community, and a great space to celebrate life in.”
Live music on Sundays from 6-8pm has proved popular. Upcoming bands include Jazz Gathering: Michael Price & Co., Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes and the Greg Hester Trio. In his efforts to host a different band each week, Levy is always on the lookout for new talent. The Fern Bar website includes a contact link for interested musicians.
Fern Bar serves brunch on weekends and provides dinner service seven nights a week, and hopes to bring lunches back this spring. While reservations can be made online, Levy also encourages drop-ins.
Drag Queen Sasha Devaroe, a hit in both the Central Valley and the Bay Area, is a high-energy, animated entertainer, judging from video clips on her Facebook page. She also sells her own line of makeup. Her debut at Fern Bar is sure to be a blast.
“All the stuff in the national news recently about the dangerous, fear-based culture war on drag shows and trans youth has made me proud to be a part of a community that celebrates our differences,” Levy said. He added, “I’m sure this Trivia Night won’t be our last.”
Tickets for Drag Trivia Night are $75 and can be purchased at opentable.com/r/fern-bar-sebastopol. Ticket price includes admission and a four-course dinner.
Fern Bar, 6780 Depot St., Ste. 120, Sebastopol. Dinner Mon–Sun, 5–9pm; brunch Sat–Sun, 11am to 3pm. 707.861.9603. fernbar.com.
