Autumnal Bounty:The cornucopia of fall events includes Al Jarreau at the Russian River Jazz Festival.
Fall Arts
As the days cool and grow shorter, there’s no lack of things to do
By Sara Bir
The raucous events of summer may be over once again, and cotton candy and fair rides, river days and gala auctions are perhaps receding into memory. But the calendar remains booked, weekends and evenings opening their yawning maws for theater and chamber music, lit events and festivals. Have at it: There’s never a dull moment in the North Bay.
[ September | October | November | Ongoing ]
‘The King and I’
Huge hoop skirts and sequin-encrusted Siamese king getups abound in The King and I, the opener for Santa Rosa Players’ 2003-2004 season. Aug. 29-Sept. 14. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $10-$22. 707.523.4185. www.nbtg.org.
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
This high-flying Marin Shakespeare Company version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream features veteran Cirque du Soleil and Pickle Family Circus performers playing various characters, adding a level of wonder to a play whose spirit is already very magical. Diane Wasnak–all 98 pounds of her–reprises her roll as Puck. Weekends, Aug. 29-Sept. 27. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, Dominican University, San Rafael. $15-$25. 415.499.4488. www.marinshakespeare.org.
Labor Day Party in the Park
The Blue Monday Foundation presents a Marin City blues and soul block party with Napata and the Kisses, Al Rapone and the Zydeco Express, youth activities, and great soul food. Sept. 1, 1-6pm. The 100 block of Drake Avenue, Marin City. Free. 415.332.8316.
San Francisco Mime Troupe
There are two more chances in the North Bay to catch Veronique of the Mounties, in which the United States blocks the spread of terrorism through Operation Frozen Freedom. Sept. 3, 7pm, Sebastiani Theatre, 476 First St. E., Sonoma; Sept. 14, 2:30pm, Walnut Park, Fourth and D streets, Petaluma. 415.285.1717. www.sfmt.org.
Sonoma County Legal Aid Golf Classic
Putt and drive through a day of golf, fun contests, prizes, and raffle items at this annual fundraiser to support legal-aid programs in the community. Box lunch included. Sept. 5. Oakmont Golf Club, Oakmont. Entry fee: $160- $185. 707.542.6664.
Rhythms for Restoration
Help the Sonoma Community Garden Native Plant Nursery at a benefit concert featuring Jethro Jeremiah and the Spellmerchants. Sept. 5, 7pm. Andrews Hall, Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. $5. 707.695.2164. www.spellmerchant.com.
KRSH Downtown Concert Series
Free music on Friday evenings in downtown Santa Rosa, presented by KRSH 95.9 FM: Will Bernard and Motherbug (Sept. 5), Eric Lindell (Sept. 12), 5AM (Sept. 19), Cannonball (Sept. 26), Scott Miller and the Commonwealth (Oct. 3), the Rancho All-Stars (Oct. 10.), and the Blazers (Oct. 17.). Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa. 707.588.0707.
Grow Biointensive
A three-day workshop offers gardeners a wealth of opportunity on sustainable minifarming. Presenters John Jeavons and Carol Cox will touch on composting, seed propagation, diet crops, and other topics. Sept. 5-7. Call for Willits location. $375, plus cost of reading materials. 707.459.0150. www.growbiointensive.org.
Dance around the World
The Women’s Voices collective presents an evening of dance to revitalize the spirit–bellydancing, Romani “Mask Dance,” flamenco, and more. After watching the dance, audience members will kick up their own heels to everyone’s favorite tunes. Sept. 6, 7:30pm. Ner Shalom, 85 La Plaza, Cotati. $15-$30. Benefits Women’s Voices. 707.575.5654.
Hands across the Valley
Hollywood celebrities and national sports figures infiltrate wineries of Napa Valley to raise big bucks for safety-net food programs. Bid on silent auction lots, dance up a storm to Butch Whacks and the Glass Packs, and enjoy food and wine. Sept. 6, 5:30-10pm. Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery, 1991 St. Helena Hwy., Rutherford. $125. 707.226.6136.
Napa Valley Harvest Festival
Winetasting, food sampling, beer sipping, live entertainment, an art show, and a raffle will keep this popular event chugging along. Over 20 restaurants will have food available, plus the Kiwanis famous barbecue will provide steak, rolls, and beans. Sept. 6, noon-4pm. Carriage House, Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main St., St. Helena. $40-$45 advance; $50 door. Benefits Kiwanis Club of Napa. 800.698.0997. www.napakiwanis.com.
Heirloom Tomato Festival
No regular tomatoes here! Garden tours, live music, wine tastings, and a juried art show are among the nontomato activities in store. Sept. 6, 11am-2pm. Kendall-Jackson Wine Center, 5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa. $40 advance purchase only. 800.769.3649. www.kj.com.
Jazz on the River
After last-minute emergency back surgery kept headliner Al Jarreau from last year’s Jazz on the River, Jarreau’s making good and will perform this year, along with Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, George Benson, Norman Brown, Joyce Cooling, Orquesta la Moderna Tradición, and more. Sept. 6-7. Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville. $47.50-$190. 510.655.9471. www.jazzontheriver.com.
Art for Life Auction and Exhibit
Face to Face/Sonoma County AIDS Network and the North Bay art community team up–as they have for 16 years–to auction off contemporary art and raise funds to support Face to Face’s client services. Over 250 pieces will be on display Sept. 4-6. Free. Auction, Sept. 7, 2-6pm. $50. The Friedman Center, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.544.1581.
Petaluma Art in the Park
Fine art ranging from garden goods to furniture fills up Walnut Park for a quaint outdoor marketplace. Sept. 6-7, 10am-5pm. Fourth and D streets, Petaluma. 707.773.1484.
Marin Poetry Center Traveling Show
Over 90 Marin Poetry Center members enlisted for readings at bookstores, galleries, and cultural centers throughout Marin County for this summer’s series of readings, the tail end of which stretches into late September. Aug. 26, Sept. 9, 16, 23, and 30. All shows at 7pm. 415.454.7644. www.marinpoetrycenter.com
The Robert Stewart Experience
Experience the Experience! A night of straight-ahead classic American jazz with self-taught saxophonist Robert “the Reverend” Stewart comes to you via the Sonoma County Jazz Society and the Tuesday Night Market in Sonoma’s plaza. Sept. 9, 6-8:15pm. Grindstead Amphitheater, Sonoma Plaza, Sonoma. Free. 707.938.5882.
San Francisco Comedy Competition
See promising comedians battle it out with laughs in this multivenue career-maker (1995 winner Doug Stanhope just replaced Jimmy Kimmel as host of Comedy Central’s Man Show). Sept. 9, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park; Sept. 19, Marin Center, San Rafael; Oct. 3, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa; Oct. 10, Napa Valley Opera House. www.sanfranciscocomedycompetition.com.
Osmosis Moon-Viewing Ceremonies
Celebrate the rising of the full moon in a serene garden setting with Japanese bamboo flute music, haiku poetry readings, and meditation. Sept. 10, 7-9pm, and Oct. 9, 6-8pm. Osmosis Enzyme Bath and Massage, 209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone. $12. 707.823.8231. www.osmosis.com.
Less-than-Amateur Film Festival
The first-ever edition of this film festival highlights local filmmakers as they bust out of their living rooms and onto a bigger screen. Benefits the Shop in Sonoma. Sept. 13, 7pm. MacArthur Place, 29 E. MacArthur St., Sonoma. $10. 707.935.0443.
Sonoma County Book Fair
The book fair takes over downtown Santa Rosa with readers and writers. Guest authors include Peter Beagle, Lynn Freed, Jesse Shepard, and locals Sara Andrews, Laurie Jacobson, and Michele Anna Jordan. Vendors, music, and the announcement of the new Sonoma County Poet Laureate round out the North Bay’s premiere literary event. Sept. 13, 10am-5pm. Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa. Free. 707.544.5913. www.sonomacountybookfair.org.
Napa Valley Open Studios Tour 2003
Get an up-close look at local artists’ studios and enjoy fine paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, and more. North Valley Tour Weekend, Sept. 13-14, 10am-5pm. South Valley Tour Weekend, Sept. 20-21, 10am-5pm. Exhibition reception: Friday, Sept. 5, 6-8pm, St. Supéry Vineyards and Winery, 8440 St. Helena Hwy., Rutherford. 707.257.2117. www.artscouncilnapavalley.org
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
More than just quality exhibiting artists, this Mill Valley tradition also features stages of live entertainment for kids and adults. There’s even a free shuttle from Tamalpais High School to obliterate parking hassles. Sept. 13-14. Throckmorton Avenue at Cascade Drive, Mill Valley. $5 adults; free for children 12 and under. 415.383.7955. www.mvfaf.org.
A Celebration of the Russian River 2003
Come out to give some lovin’ to the river that winds through the North Bay. Music, picnics, workshops, creek walks, history, arts and crafts, and all sorts of other events to raise our consciousness of the Russian River occur in Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties during this nine-day festival. Sept. 13-21. 707.874.2871. www.russianrivercelebration.org.
31st Annual Trade Feast Celebration
Native meals, storytellers, vendors, and traditional and contemporary dancers celebrate Native American cultural preservation through education at this family event. American Indian stars from screen and television will be there, too. Sept. 13-14. Marin Museum of the American Indian, 2200 Novato Blvd., Novato. 415.897.4064. www.marinindian.com.
Lucky Dog Theatre
Ensemble acting and singing that’s entirely off-the-cuff is in store from this improvisational Bay Area company’s Full Spectrum Improvisation, directed by founder Joya Cory. Sept. 14, 4pm, and Oct. 11, 8pm. Knights of Columbus Hall, 167 Tunstead Ave., San Anselmo. $12-$15. 415.564.4115.
Petaluma Progressive Festival
Hear activists on human rights, the environment, healthcare reform, and medical marijuana; see the San Francisco Mime Troupe; and groove to music from the Raging Grannies to hip-hop. Sept. 14, 11am-6pm. Free. 707.763.8184.
‘Postmortem’
In their 74th season (yikes!), Ross Valley Players provide a mystery full of murder and plot twists in Postmortem. Sept. 19-Oct. 26. The Barn Theater, Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. $12-$17. 415.456.9555. www.rossvalleyplayers.com.
Day on the Green
Spend a relaxing afternoon in the shade on the lawn of Friends House, a nonprofit Quaker-sponsored community for the elderly, for its annual fundraiser. A book, plant, and art sale, a barbecue lunch, an antiques evaluation corner, and Clo the Cow promise something for everyone. Sept. 20, 9:30am-3:30pm. 684 Benecia Drive, Santa Rosa. Free. 707.538.0152.
Bella Voce
Two evenings of operetta, arias, and show tunes featuring soprano Kathryn Zeager, baritone Shouvik Mondle, and accompanist Kristin Pankonin will benefit the Napa Valley Symphony. Dinner gala: Sept. 19, 6pm. $90. Sept. 20, 8pm. $30. The White Barn, 2727 Sulphur Springs Road, St. Helena. 707.963.7002.
Sonoma Plein Air 2003
After painting in various Sonoma County locations from Sept. 15 to Sept. 19, a juried group of 40 artists will show their work in the Sonoma Plaza at Sonoma Plein Air’s second annual all-day exhibition and sale of outdoor paintings. Sept. 20. Benefits Sonoma Valley Museum of Art’s education programs. 707.933.9756. www.sonomapleinair.com.
The Bard at Bundschu
Polish up on all of your rusty Shakespeare with Sandlot Shakespeare Company’s Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), which returns to Gundlach Bundschu Winery for an encore two-week run. Sept. 20-21 and 27-28, 6:30pm. 2000 Denmark St., Sonoma. $12 general; free for children under 12. 707.938.5277. www.sandlotshakespeare.com.
Celebrate Sustainability
Talk about locally grown organics at a roundtable forum with John Ash, see a demonstration on biodiesel and veggie oil power, and hear keynote speaker John Ikerd discuss buying locally at “Our Garden of Eatin’,” presented by the city of Santa Rosa, Clover Stornetta Farms, and Occidental’s Ad Hoc Committee. Come for the lavish buffet of sustainably grown foods, stay for the education. Advance registration recommended. Sept. 20, 10am-2pm. Finley Center, 260 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. Free; donations welcome. 707.874.3855.
Sebastopol Sustainability Conference and Festival
Back for a second year, like-minded folks gather in the green city of Sebastopol to exchange “blueprints, recipes, and remedies for optimal living.” Sept. 20-21. Downtown Sebastopol. 707.829.7153.
Petaluma Poetry Walk
Poets–including Diane di Prima, Brian Boldt, and Francesca Bell–infiltrate music halls, bookstores, and bakeries in downtown Petaluma to turn an ordinary Sunday afternoon into a celebration of the written and spoken word. Sept. 21, noon-7pm. Downtown Petaluma. Free. 707.769.0429. www.petalumapoetrywalk.com.
Glendi International Food Festival
Enjoy gyros, falafel, and other delightful street foods from Eritrea to Macedonia as Edessa performs live Balkan music for dancing (all the better to digest the international nosh). Sept. 20, 11am-9pm; Sept. 21, noon-6pm. Protection of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church, 90 Mountain View Ave., Santa Rosa. $8 adults; free for children under 12. 707.584.9491.
Sebastopol Celtic Music Festival
Musicians from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Quebec, and even Spain convene in Sebastopol for a four-day flurry of all things Celtic. Sept. 25-28. Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. 707.823.1511. www.monitor.net/celtic.
Puppet Workshop and Festival
Strings are attached at the Jarvis Conservatory’s annual Puppet Festival, where nationally known puppeteers perform a variety of puppetry techniques. Shows this year include The Frog Prince and Father Goose’s Tales. Sept. 26-27. 1711 Main St., Napa. Performances: $10 children; $20 adults. Workshop: $10. 707.255.5445.
‘Boy Gets Girl’
A blind date turns into an unsettling connection for a New York journalist and her soon-to-be stalker in Rebecca Gilman’s Boy Gets Girl, presented by Actors Theatre. Sept. 26-Oct. 26. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $15-$22. 707.523.4185. www.actorstheatre.com.
Morris Dancers on the Russian River
Morris dancers from up and down the West Coast convene to clog away the blues, Lancashire-style. Bufflehead, Iron Mountain Sword, Renegade Rose, and Sunset morris groups are all set to dance at various Russian River locations. Sept. 27-28. 510.612.1307.
Petaluma Downtown Antique Faire
One hundred eighty vendors join the existing antique stores of downtown Petaluma’s historic district for an endless variety of collectibles of yesteryear. Sept. 28, 8am-4pm. Free. 707.762.9348. www.petalumadowntown.com.
Lemony Snicket Himself
Get your tickets now to see massive literary failure Lemony Snicket, author of the Series of Unfortunate Events, live and in person. Sept. 29, 7pm. Santa Rosa High School Auditorium, 1235 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. $12; free with purchase of Lemony Snicket book. Tickets available at all Copperfield’s locations starting Sept. 1. 707.823.8991. www.copperfields.net.
Sharpsteen Museum
This trove of Napa Valley history (recently recarpeted) is gearing up to celebrate its 25th anniversary on Sept. 30. 1311 Washington St., Calistoga. 707.942.5911. www.sharpsteen-museum.org.
Mill Valley Film Festival
Videos, films, seminars, special productions by youth, and tributes are in store for film fans and filmmakers at this extensive festival, now in its 26th year. This year’s festival features a focus on African cinema–a great opportunity to learn about some new filmmakers. 100 Days, directed by Nick Hughes, is the first fictional feature film to focus on the Rwandan genocide; other films alight on the shores of Mill Valley from South Africa, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon. Oct. 2-12. 415.383.5256, ext. 146. www.finc.org.
Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Amateurs and professionals alike enter baked goods, wines, beers, and botanical bounties in the Harvest Fair, which also features the World Championship Grape Stomp, winetasting galore, fine art, and adorable livestock. Burn off all of those fair-food calories on Sunday morning’s 10K run. Oct. 3-5. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. $4 advance; $6 general; $2 kids. 707.545.4203. www.harvestfair.org.
‘My Gypsy’
Ten years in the making, Will Gordon’s new musical explores the hidden world of Roma culture in contemporary San Francisco by following the young Yalena through a star-crossed arranged marriage and love affair. Oct. 3-12. Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. $20-$25. 650.960.3536.
Fandango
Celebrate the end of the matanza (the yearly Spanish slaughter of the pigs) 1840s-style at the historic Petaluma Adobe with music and dancing. Oct. 4, 4-8pm. 3325 Adobe Road, Petaluma. 707.762.4871. www.parks.ca.gov.
Petaluma Invitational Band Review
It’s very hard work to be in a marching band–searing heat, heavy uniforms, burdensome instruments. But nothing gets a crowd going like the spirited sounds of a high school marching band. See area bands compete as the wheat is separated from the chaff in downtown Petaluma. Oct. 4. Sixth and B streets, Petaluma. Competition starts at 9am. 707.769.9650.
Calabash
A silent auction of gourd art, an exhibit of international gourd instruments, tours of Food for Thought’s organic gardens, and seasonal Sonoma County cuisine. Oct. 5, 1-5pm. Food for Thought, 6550 Railroad Ave., Forestville. $25-$30. Benefits Food for Thought AIDS food bank. 707.887.1647. www.calabashartfest.org.
Nineteenth Annual Sausalito Floating Homes Tour
Get a peek at the inside stories of the buoyant abodes crafty folks have made for themselves off the docks of the bay. Food, beverages, and entertainment will be handily located at the Kappas Marina green to wrap up the tour. Oct. 5, 11am-4pm. $25 advance; $30 gate. Shuttles depart from Gateway Shopping Center, Sausalito. 415.332.1916. www.floatinghomes.org.
‘The Good Doctor’
A composite of Neil Simon and Anton Chekov with music by Peter Link, the Broadway hit The Good Doctor features a roster of droll stories and affectionate portraits, presented by the Pacific Alliance Stage Company. Oct. 6-26. Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. 707.588.3400. www.rpcity.org/performingarts.
Marin Classic Theatre
Marin Classic Theatre concludes its season with The Glass Menagerie. Oct. 10-26. The Playhouse, 27 Kensington Road, San Anselmo. 415.892.8551. www.mctheatre.com.
World Wristwrestling Championship
If you want to see world-class wristwrestling, Petaluma’s your town–and it has been for years. Come see the rough and ready vie for the coveted World Wristwrestling Champion title. Oct. 11. 707.778.1430.
Halloween and Vine
Madonna Estate’s annual Halloween folk art show will be marked by the release of the winery’s first Hallovine, a 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon. Oct. 11, 9am-3pm. Madonna Estate Winery, 5400 Old Sonoma Road, Napa. 707.255.8864. www.halloweenandvine.com.
ARTrails
Artists across Sonoma County open their studios to collectors who like to view art at its source. Oct. 11-12 and 18-19. Free. Call 707.579.ARTS or go to www.artrails.org for maps.
Vines and Wines
Big-time auction lots–a weeklong stay at a Paris flat, a 1947 classic Ford truck, and, of course, exciting premium wines–form the core of Wines and Vines, a fundraiser for the Northern Sonoma Healthcare Foundation. The three-day extravaganza of wine, food, and entertainment offers a variety of casual and gala events. Oct. 16-18. Various locations in Healdsburg and Windsor. 707.431.0560. www.vinesandwines.org.
Bioneers Conference
The preeminent gathering of environmental visionaries brings together practical solutions for social and environmental challenges. Workshops, lectures, panels, and films galore will leave brains churning with positive stimulation. Oct. 17-19. Marin Center, Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. $109-$350. 505.986.0366. www.bioneers.org.
Cirque de la Lune
Broadway and soap-opera fans alike will delight in The Bold and the Beautiful leading man Jeff Trachta’s hosting of Spectrum’s annual gala Cirque de la Lune, a celebration of Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Concerns’ 21st anniversary. Wines, a silent auction, DJs, and fine foods make this big top a tent worth pitching. Oct. 18, 7pm-midnight. Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 415.457.1115, ext. 333. www.spectrummarin.org.
Conductor Alasdair Neale brings the Marin Symphony into its 51st season.
Marin Symphony
Kicking off its 51st season, the Marin Symphony presents “An Opening Night to Remember,” featuring violinist Chee-Yun. Alasdair Neale will conduct Kernis’ “Musica Celestis,” Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto no. 2 in G Minor, and Brahms’ Symphony no. 1. Oct. 26 and 28, 7:30pm. Preconcert talk at 6:30pm. Marin Center’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. $11-$49. 415.479.8100. www.marinsymphony.org.
Shakespeare at the Raven
The Raven Players work up a sweat with The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged), Nov. 7-21. Raven Film Center, 415 Center St., Healdsburg. 707.433.7005. www.ravenplayers.org.
Holiday Craft Faire
Handcrafted gifts, Santa, and holiday fun abound, Nov. 7-9. Friday, noon-6pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm. Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. Free. 707.778.4380.
North Bay Veterans Day Parade
See the largest and most colorful parade of its kind in Northern California. Nov. 8, 1pm. Downtown Petaluma. 707.763.6688.
Film Night in the Park
Think summer is already packed up and out the door? Hardly! Live up the remainder of crisp, clear evenings by taking in movies en plein air. There’s classics (Psycho, Arsenic and Old Lace), recent animated gems (The Iron Giant, Monsters Inc.) and newfound cult faves (My Big Fat Greek Wedding; O Brother, Where Art Thou?). Showtimes are at 8pm in parks all over Marin County. Weekends, Aug. 29-Oct. 4. Suggested donation: $5 adults; $2 children (that’s some cheap fun!). 415.453.4333. www.filmnight.org.
Napa Riverfront Third Thursdays
Take in the renaissance of downtown Napa with merchants, galleries, and restaurants opening their doors from Jarvis Conservatory to the Napa Mill. Park at COPIA and take a trolley, or just enjoy the walk to the Riverfront District. Third Thursday evenings of the month. First and Main streets, Napa. www.napariverfront.com.
Cinnabar Theater’s 30th Season
From Sept. 18 to Oct. 11, Quicksilver II Theater Company presents The Road to Mecca— which is not a Bob Hope tribute, but rather Athol Fugard’s tale of an elderly woman’s attempts to re-create Mecca in her own garden. Then, Oct. 24-Nov. 8, it’s Cinnabar Opera Theater’s world premiere of Janis Wilson and playwright Harry Reid’s The Wedding, a fictionalized history of a Pennsylvania coal-mining village circa 1870. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.763.8920. www.cinnabartheater.org.
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
I’ll Take Murder for 100 is Get a Clue Production’s latest work-in-progress, starring game-show host Rex Ravenwood, who’s gathering trivia questions at restaurants throughout the country–making for an interactive quiz show/murder mystery. Plays Saturdays at 7pm until mid-November. Michele’s Restaurant, Seventh and Adams streets, Santa Rosa. $41-$51 dinner and play. 707.542.2577. www.getaclueproductions.com.
Sonoma County Repertory Theatre
Sept. 5-20, Betty Cole-Graham’s Mad about the Movies paints one woman’s paen to the cinema. Then, the world premiere of A Song for Vanya, with original music and lyrics by Sonoma County residents Bret Martin, John Shillington, and Robin Eschner, adapts Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya to song. Oct. 3-Nov. 1. 104 N. Main St., Sebastapol. $18 general. 707.823.0177. www.sonoma-county-rep.com.
Santa Rosa Symphony
Oct. 18-20, Jeffrey Kahane conducts Berlioz’s “Royal Hunt and Storm” from Les Troyens and excerpts from Romeo and Juliet, as well as Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto no. 3 with pianist Simon Trpceski. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $15-$54. And in November, there’s a special series of performances of Mozart’s Requiem, with Robert Worth conducting the Santa Rosa Symphony Honor Choir. Nov. 7-9, various churches in Sonoma County. $20. 707.54.MUSIC. www.santarosasymphony.com.
Russian River Chamber Music
The world-class young string quartet Miro Quartet opens the RRCM’s 12th season on Oct. 25. Healdsburg Community Church, 1100 University Ave., Healdsburg. On Nov. 15, brothers Garah and Gregory Landes collaborate in Synchronicity, a piano and percussion duo performing a blend of classical and jazz-fusion music. All concerts start at 7:30pm; preconcert talks begin at 7pm. Windsor High School’s Performing Arts Theater, 8695 Windsor Road, Windsor. $20 adults; $10 students. 707.524.8700. www.russianrivermusic.org.
Redwood Arts Council
World-class music comes to West County. Cello and piano duo Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivian (Sept. 20), Bay Area chamber group the Streicher Trio (Oct. 11), and the Cypress String Quartet (Nov. 8) are all slated to perform. Various locations in West County. $20 general; $10 student. 707.874.1124. www.redwoodarts.org.
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Sebastopol Center for the Arts offers its popular, interactive Sculpture Jam this year, Oct. 3-5; the winners live on with prominent placement downtown. The center also has a new performance series, Casual Concerts, held the third Friday of the month. On Sept. 19, David Fiel, Kathrin Williams, and Sonia Tubridy, and Michael and Evelyn McFadden perform at 7:30pm. 6780 Depot St., Sebastopol. $5-$10 donation. 707.829.4797.
Spreckels Performing Arts Center
On Oct. 4, hear the genre-bending Quartet San Francisco perform a delightful mix of humor-tinged music, with world-class tango dancers Sandor and Parissa of Forever Tango onstage during a portion of the program. On Oct. 18, the dazzling foursome the Scholars of London bring “Five Hundred Years of Song,” with Renaissance madrigals to folk songs. On Nov. 1, the Savage Jazz Dance Company returns to grace Spreckels’ stage; on Nov. 8, flutist Eugenia Zuckerman appears with the Jacques Thibaud String Trio. The annual Festival of Harps returns on Nov. 15. 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. 707.588.3400. www.rpcity.org/performingarts.
Wynonna performs at the LBC on Sept. 20.
Luther Burbank Center
The LBC’s fall calendar presents plenty of reasons to drop in and get an earful of their new sound system. Darrell Hammond (Sept. 15), Wynonna with special guest Jimmy Wayne (Sept. 20), Jethro Tull flutist Ian Anderson (Sept. 26), comic George Carlin (Sept. 28), Mingus Big Band (Oct. 5), Dave Koz with the Saxophonic Tour (Oct. 8.), the Mystical Arts of Tibet (Oct. 23), This American Life‘s David Rakoff and Sarah Vowell (Oct 25), St. Martin in the Fields (Nov. 4), and the Umbilical Brothers (Nov. 12). 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3600. www.lbc.net.
Marin Center
Siberian dance troupe Krasnoyarsk (Sept. 7), the Drummers of West Africa (Sept. 28), the Shaolin Warriors (Oct. 4), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Oct. 10), Buena Vista Social Club’s Omara Portuondo (Oct. 24), multi-instumentalist Burhan Öçal (Oct. 25), Momix Dance Theatre (Nov. 2), and Bob Newhart (Nov. 21) all grace the Marin Center this fall. Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415.499.6800. www.marincenter.org.
Dance Palace Community Center
Wake the Dead jams Grateful Dead tunes Celtic-style (Sept. 6), Island Flavah performs Pacific Island dances (Sept. 13), Kathy Kallick and friends celebrate a CD release (Sept. 26), and performing artist, vocalist, and composer Russell Paul presents “Resounding Currents of Devotion” (Sept. 27). Fifth and B streets, Point Reyes Station. Annual rummage sale, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 10am-4pm. Toby’s Feed Barn, Highway 1, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1075. www.dancepalace.org.
Napa Valley Opera House
Paper doll Ennio stays on until Aug. 31, Eastern European folk music octet Les Yeux Noirs enchants on Sept. 3, and the patriotic and historic (kinda) musical 1776 runs Sept. 19-Oct. 5. Jim Gamble Puppets presents family fun on Sept. 21. 1030 Main St., Napa. 707.226.7372. www.nvoh.org.
Konocti Harbor
The B-52’s (Sept. 12), Kenny G (Sept. 21), Charlie Daniels Band with the Marshall Tucker Band (Oct. 3), George Jones (Oct. 26), and Eddie Money (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) will play Konocti’s intimate showroom, while Journey (Aug. 29), Chris Isaak (Aug. 30), Toby Keith (Aug. 31), the Goo Goo Dolls (Sept. 6), Brooks and Dunn (Sept. 13), Chicago (Sept. 14), and Alan Jackson (Sept. 27) are set to play the amphitheater. 8727 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville. 800.660.LAKE. www.konoctiharbor.com.
Falkirk Cultural Center
“A Tribute to the Divine Divas of Jazz” honors the likes of Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday, and features local celebrity Harold Jones with guest vocalist Jackie Ryan. Aug. 29, 8pm. $15-$20. The exhibit “Small Firms/ Great Projects” showcases small Marin and San Francisco architectural firms’ excellence in design. Opening party: Sept. 12, 5:30-7:30pm. Exhibit runs through Oct. 17. Harold Jones returns for Falkirk’s benefit big-band bash, “Count Basie Swing,” with special guest George Young. Sept. 27, 7-11pm. $25-$35. Reservations recommended. 1408 Mission Ave. at E Street, San Rafael. 415.485.3327. www.falkirkculturalcenter.org.
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
See the Latin American masterworks of “Colors of the Earth,” from Aug. 30 to Oct. 19. And on loan from the Mexican Museum in San Francisco will be pottery, textiles, religious paintings, masks, sculpture, and toys from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection. Then, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, SVMA’s annual “Dia de los Muertos” exhibition of commemorative altars takes up residence. 551 Broadway, Sonoma. 707.939.SVMA. www.svma.org.
William T. Wiley’s ‘Punch for Postulation’ is on display at SMOVA.
Sonoma Museum of Visual Art
The work of North Bay resident and icon of the ’60s and ’70s’ Funk Art movement William T. Wiley has been called “dude ranch dada” by the New York Times. On Oct. 4 at 7pm, join in “Conversation, Guitar, and a Microbrew” with Wiley, who will presumably play music, tell stories, and share a brewski or two. Wiley’s “Before Math and After Math” exhibit at SMOVA runs through Nov. 16. Also through Nov. 16, Santa Rosa artist David D’Andrade’s installation “The Garden of Earthly Delights” uses plastic tubing, wire, styrofoam, and hair to construct images that allude to Hieronymus Bosch’s famous Garden of Earthly Delights. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707.527.0297.
Sonoma County Museum
The SCM serves up an autumn bounty of programs: “A Sense of Place: Literary Sonoma,” a talk and reading by local authors Jonah Raskin, Kevin Brennan, and Greg Sarris (Sept. 5.); Book Arts Day with bookmaking, storytelling, and free admission (Sept. 6.); a panel discussion on “Vision and Light” at SRJC with a tour of “James Turrell: Light and Land” following (Sept. 15); an artist talk with James Turrell at SSU’s Evert B. Person Theatre (Sept. 16); Farming with the Wild book signing with Dan Imhoff (Oct. 2). “Over Sonoma: Aerial Views of Unusual and Exemplary Land Uses,” runs through Oct. 19. “James Turrell: Light and Land” runs though Jan. 4, 2004. 42 Seventh St., Santa Rosa. $7.50 general; $5 members. 707. 579.1500. www.sonomacountymuseum.org.
COPIA
“Salad Dressing: Food in Fashion” opens Sept. 19, while “Lunch Box Memories” opens Sept. 26, and “Delicate Deception: Delftware 1600-1800” opens Oct. 10. And keep your ears to the ground, because Jamie Oliver (aka the Naked Chef) will drop by COPIA on Oct. 18 (details to be announced). 500 First St., Napa. 888.51.COPIA. www.copia.org.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Opening on Sept. 30, the new exhibit “Play It by Ear” features whimsical creations from Bay Area sound artists. Experiment with sound, using unusual materials to create your own sonic art works. Check out a keyboard that activates dancing Slinkies, a giant music box, and a soundscape where you can see your movements. Through February 2004. East Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. $7 adults and children. 415.487.4398. www.badm.org.
Hand Fan Museum of Healdsburg
Experience the beauty of nature via hand fans at the Hand Fan Museum’s new exhibit, which features 75 vintage Asian and European hand fans decorated with flowers, birds, and landscapes. Through Oct. 31. 327 A Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.431.2500. www.handfanmuseum.com.
Charles M. Schulz Museum
The creator of “Peanuts” inspired countless cartoonists, but who inspired Schulz? The work of Billy DeBeck (“Barney Google”), George Harriman (“Krazy Kat”), Al Capp (“Li’l Abner”), and others will be on display in the new exhibit “A Legacy Continued.” Through Nov. 19. 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.579.4452. www.schulzmuseum.org.
Di Rosa Preserve/Off the Preserve!
The Tibetan monks of Gyudmed Monastery are in residence at Off the Preserve, where their Green Tara sand mandala will be on view until Sept. 1 at 2pm. On Oct. 18 at Off the Preserve in Napa, it’s the Preserve’s second annual gala exhibition and auction, “Au Naturel,” with art from Viola Frey, David Best, Enrique Chagoya, and others celebrating the symbiotic relationship between art and nature. Reservations required. Off the Preserve: 1142 Main St. 707.253.8300. Di Rosa Preserve, 5200 Carneros Hwy., Napa. 707. 226.5991. www.dirosapreserve.org.
From the August 28-September 3, 2003 issue of the North Bay Bohemian.
