Free Will Astrology, Dec. 10-16

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Home is a building you live in. It’s also a metaphor for the inner world you carry within you. Is it an expansive and luminous place filled with windows that look out onto vast vistas? Or is it cramped, dark and in disrepair, a psychic space where it’s hard to feel comfortable? Does it have a floor plan you love and made yourself? Or was it designed according to other people’s expectations? It may be neither of those extremes, of course. My hope is that this horoscope will prod you to renovate aspects of your soul’s architecture. The coming months will be an excellent time for this sacred work.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): During the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1872, workers made an uncanny discovery: They could detect approaching storms by observing vibrations in the bridge’s cables. The massive metal structure was an inadvertent meteorological instrument. I’m predicting that your intuition will operate with comparable sensitivity in the coming months, Taurus. You will have a striking capacity to notice subtle signals in your environment. What others regard as background noise will reveal rich clues to you. Hot tip: Be extra alert for nuanced professional opportunities and social realignments. Like the bridge workers, you will be attuned to early signs of changing conditions. 

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Sloths are so energy-efficient they can survive on 160 calories per day: the equivalent of an apple. They’ve mastered the art of thriving on minimal intake by moving deliberately and digesting thoroughly. Life is inviting you to learn from sloths, Gemini. The coming weeks will be a good time to take an inventory of your energy strategies. Are you burning fuel frantically, or are you extracting maximum nourishment from what you already possess? However you answer that question, I urge you to experiment with being more efficient—but without depriving yourself. Try measuring your productivity not by speed and flash but by the diligence of your extraction. Dig deep and be thorough. Your nervous system and bank account will thank you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The Danish concept of arbejdsglæde refers to the happiness and satisfaction derived from work. It’s the joy found in labor itself, not just in its financial rewards and prestige. It’s about exulting in the self-transformations you generate as you do your job. Now is an excellent time to claim this joy more than ever, Cancerian. Meditate with relish on all the character-building and soul-growth opportunities your work offers you and will continue to provide.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the deep Pacific Ocean, fields of giant tube worms thrive in total darkness around hydrothermal vents, converting toxic chemicals into life-sustaining energy. These weirdly resilient creatures challenge our assumptions about which environments can support growth. I suspect your innovative approach to gathering resources in the coming months will display their adaptability. Situations that others find inhospitable or unmanageable will be intriguing opportunities for you. For best results, you should ruminate on how limitations could actually protect and nurture your development. You may discover that conventional sustenance isn’t your only option. 

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): For a long time, scientists didn’t understand why humans have an organ called the appendix. Most thought it was useless. But it turns out that the appendix is more active than anyone knew. Among other functions, it’s a safe haven for beneficial gut bacteria. If a health crisis disrupts our microbiome, this unsung hero repopulates our intestines with the helpful microbes we need. What was once considered irrelevant is actually a backup drive. With that in mind as a metaphor, here’s my question, Virgo: How many other parts of your world may be playing long games and performing unnoticed services that you haven’t understood yet? Investigate that possibility.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the coming months, you’ll be asked to wield your Libran specialties more than ever. Your allies and inner circle will need you to provide wise counsel and lucid analysis. For everyone’s sake, I hope you balance compassion with clarity and generosity with discernment. Certain collaborations will need corrective measures but shouldn’t be abandoned. Your gift will lie in finding equilibrium that honors everyone’s dignity. When in doubt, ask: “What would restore harmony rather than merely appear polite?” True diplomacy is soulful, not superficial. Bonus: The equilibrium you achieve could resonate far beyond your immediate circle.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Hubble Space Telescope is a school bus-sized space observatory orbiting 320 miles above the Earth. There, it observes the universe free from atmospheric distortion. Its instruments and detectors need to be recalibrated continuously. Daily monitors, weekly checks and yearly updates keep the telescope’s tech sharp as it ages. I believe it’s a good time for you Scorpios to do your own recalibrations. Subtle misalignments between your intentions and actions can now be corrected. Your basic vision and plans are sound; the adjustments required are minor. For best results, have maximum fun as you fine-tune your fundamentals.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Leonardo da Vinci painted his iconic Mona Lisa on a thin panel of poplar wood, which naturally expands and contracts with changes in humidity. Over the centuries, this movement has caused a crack and measurable warping. One side of the classic opus is bending a bit more than the other.​ Let’s use this as a metaphor for you, Sagittarius. I suspect that a fine quality you are known for and proud of is changing shape. This should be liberating, not worrisome. If even the Mona Lisa can’t remain static, why should you? I say: Let your masterwork age. Just manage the process with grace and generosity. The central beauty may be changing, but it’s still beautiful.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Apoptosis” is a word referring to programmed cell death. It’s a process by which your aging, damaged or obsolete cells deliberately destroy themselves for the benefit of your organism as a whole. This “cellular suicide” is carefully regulated and crucial for development, maintenance and protection against diseases. About 50-70 billion cells die in you every day, sacrificing themselves so you can live better. Let’s use this healthy process as a psychospiritual metaphor. What aspects of your behavior and belief system need to die off right now so as to promote your total well-being?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Which parts of your foundations are built to strengthen with age? Which are showing cracks? The coming months will be an excellent time to reinforce basic structures so they will serve you well into the future. Don’t just patch problems. Rebuild and renovate using the very best ingredients. Your enduring legacy will depend on this work, so choose materials that strengthen as they mature rather than crumble. Nothing’s permanent in life, but some things are sturdier and more lasting than others.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Along the Danube River in Europe, migrating storks return each spring to rebuild massive nests atop church steeples, roofs and trees. New generations often reuse previous bases, adding additional twigs, grass, roots and even human-made stuff like cloth and plastics. Some of these structures have lasted for centuries and weigh half a ton. Let’s make this a prime metaphor for you in the coming months, Pisces. I see your role as an innovator who improves and enhances good traditions. You will bring your personal genius to established beauty and value. You will blend your futuristic vision with ancestral steadiness, bridging tomorrow with yesterday.

Your Letters, Dec. 10

Locals First

Tourism may be great for the brochures, but it’s steadily eroding the North Bay for the people who actually live here. Businesses that once depended on regulars now chase visitors with money to burn, pricing out locals and reshaping entire neighborhoods around weekend traffic.

That might feel sustainable in boom times, but we’ve already seen what happens when the music stops. During the pandemic—and every fire, flood and downturn before it—it wasn’t tourists who kept local shops afloat. It was locals buying takeout, gift cards and whatever else they could to keep doors open.

If businesses continue to treat locals as an afterthought, they’ll find themselves without a lifeline when the next crisis inevitably arrives. Visitors come and go. Locals stay, spend consistently and keep the community alive year-round.

Ignore them long enough, and there may not be much of a North Bay left to “experience.”

A. Garcia
North Bay

Food for Thought

Regarding “Uncommon Sense Woes” (Nov. 19), I’m curious who, or what, is the entity or entities we’re referring to here when stating they may be behind the demise of democracy?

Yes, humans are very complex in some ways, and we cling fiercely to our illusions. But, wondering if anti-intellectualism is the only force at play when reducing and flattening our experience. 

Intellectuals have been at the core of complex social changes on account of our abilities to extrapolate, I believe. However, many spiritual people are tuned into the complexities of the non-tangible world, which has a deep richness. Just food for thought.

Tobi Lessem
Via Bohemian.com

Announcing Our 2025 North Bay Music Awards Winners

If 2025 has taught us anything, it’s that the North Bay still knows how to make noise—in all the right ways. Between packed clubs, porch sessions and festivals sprouting like spring weeds, the local music scene continues to prove that North Bay is more than wine and wellness—it’s got an endless supply of rhythm and rebellion too.

This year’s North Bay Music Awards—the beloved NorBays—once again rallied readers to shout out their favorite bands, performers and behind-the-scenes heroes who keep the amps humming and the dance floors full. The turnout was huge (apparently democracy works best when guitars are involved), and the results are in.

From roots and rock to hip-hop, jazz and the genre-defying experiments that only the North Bay could birth, the region remains a fertile ground for sound. The NorBays are our annual reminder that every garage, grange hall and tavern stage is part of something larger—a community stitched together by melody, sweat and shared applause.

Of course, anyone bold enough to get up there and make something beautiful is already a winner in our book. But for posterity’s sake—and bragging rights—here are your 2025 North Bay Music Awards winners, as voted by our readers.

Best Americana

Flowstone

flowstoneband.com

Best Blues

Spike Sikes & his Awesome Hotcakes

awesomehotcakes.com

Best Country

Court ‘n’ Disaster

cndband.com

Best Dance Crew

Fargo Brothers

fargobrothers.com

Best DJ (live)

Konnex

facebook.com/DeeJayKonnex

Best DJ (radio)

Mindi Levine

krsh.com/show/mindi-in-the-morning

Best Drag Show

Forbidden Kiss

caltheatre.com/forbidden-kiss-live

Best Electronica

Eki Shola

ekishola.com

Best Female Solo Artist

Ellie James

thisiselliejames.com

Best Folk

Fargo Brothers

fargobrothers.com

Best Funk Band

Marshall House Project

marshallhouseproject.com

Best Hip-Hop

LaiddBackZach

instagram.com/laiddbackzach

Best Indie

Ellie James & The Electric Dream

thisiselliejames.com

Best Jazz

Nate Lopez

natelopez.com

Best Lead Vocals

Sophia Kandler

instagram.com/so_kandler

Best Male Solo Artist

Nate Lopez

natelopez.com

Best Metal

Immortallica

facebook.com/ImmortallicA707

Best Music Instructor

Gregory Baeley

instagram.com/gregorybaeley

Best Music Venue

HopMonk Sebastopol

hopmonk.com/sebastopol

Best Open Mic Venue

Open Mic with Ceni at HopMonk Sebastopol

hopmonk.com/sebastopol

Best Promoter

Jake Ward

northbayevents.com

Best Punk

BLVKOUT

vvartists.com/blvkout

Best R&B

Spike Sikes & his Awesome Hotcakes

awesomehotcakes.com

Best Reggae

Sol Horizon

solhorizonband.com

Best Rock

945

instagram.com/945theband

Best Short Music Film or Documentary

Finding Lucinda

findinglucindafilm.com

Best Songwriter

Ellie James

thisiselliejames.com

Most North Bay Vibe

Flowstone

flowstoneband.com

— Weeklys Staff

A celebration of our NorBay winners runs from 6 to 8 pm, Thursday, Dec. 4, at HopMonk Sebastopol, 230 Petaluma Ave. For more information, visit hopmonk.com/sebastopol.

Delta Blues Master, For Roy Rogers, the Blues is a Statement

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Though named after the King of the Cowboys, guitarist Roy Rogers isn’t a country and western yodeler. The Bay Area resident and Redding native is an acclaimed Delta blues musician and producer. 

His extensive credits include work with a diverse array of celebrated figures, including John Lee Hooker, Norton Buffalo, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Ray Manzarek. But Rogers’ body of work under his own name—showcased on dozens of albums—has earned him fame in and beyond the world of blues. 

Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings perform in the Abbey at Sebastopol’s HopMonk Tavern this Dec. 13.

Roy Rogers’ musical journey has taken him far and wide. In the early, pre-Beatles 1960s, he was already playing in a band. The group’s repertoire included “Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, standard fare of the time,” he recalled. But when his older brother brought home a vinyl copy of Robert Johnson’s King of the Delta Blues Singers, his life changed. “That record blew my mind,” said Rogers. “‘What is this? How does he do that?’” he remembered thinking.

Hearing Johnson’s powerful voice and unusual guitar tunings struck a chord with the then-teenage musician. “Nobody could approach him rhythmically,” Rogers said. “He borrowed from other guys—like Son House—but Robert put it all together in a way that was just stunning. Still is; always will be.”

Thus inspired, Rogers dove deeper into the world of blues. Reading the credits on the back of early releases from British groups like The Animals and The Rolling Stones, he was fascinated by their blues-oriented songs. He recalled wondering, “‘Who’s McKinley Morganfield? Who’s Chester Burnett?’ I was a kid, so I didn’t know who those guys were.”

But he made a point of finding out. The ’60s brought the peak of the Fillmore West and Avalon Ballroom, so he got to see legendary blues musicians like Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker live onstage. Rogers was especially moved by the blues’ Delta variant. “The passion and delivery of that type of blues … it all emanates from there for me,” he said. By the time British blues boom artists like John Mayall’s Blues Breakers and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac came to the attention of American ears, Rogers was already a seasoned blues guitarist.

Rogers worked regularly, teaming up with fellow Bay Area musician David Burgin. “It was a harmonica and slide-guitar duet in the Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee mold,” he said. The pair gigged extensively, releasing A Foot in the Door in 1978. By 1980, Rogers had earned a spot in John Lee Hooker’s band. He went on to play on and produce four of Hooker’s albums, including the 1989 Grammy-winning release, The Healer. And he learned a lot working with the legendary figure. “You’re not trying to reach everybody” with your music, Hooker told him. “You’re trying to make a statement.”

Like many guitarists, Rogers plays a variety of models. But one instrument closely associated with him is a double-neck model based on a Gibson 125. For his playing, one neck might be tuned in standard fashion, with the other set to an open tuning, best for the distinctive slide playing that characterizes much of Rogers’ work. “The whole Delta blues [style] is based on being able to approach the music as a soloist,” he said. 

While Rogers is steeped in the blues, he uses the form as a foundation, not the be-all and end-all. “I don’t consider myself a straight-ahead blues guy,” he said. “Because I like to stretch the envelope.” That musical open-mindedness and versatility has led to work—live dates, studio sessions, production—with an extensive assortment of musicians outside the blues idiom.

Rogers’ credits in the 1990s and beyond include work with Miles Davis, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, fellow Bay Area musical heroes Steve Miller and Carlos Santana, and many more. He also recorded and released a trio of albums with former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek.

Even amid his numerous collaborative projects in various genres, the giants of blues remain closest to Rogers’ heart. “It all goes back to the Delta blues,” he said. “And if I can come within even a minuscule approach of what they achieved, I’m a happy guy.”

Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings perform at 8pm, Saturday, Dec. 13, at HopMonk Sebastopol, 230 Petaluma Ave. Tickets, $48-$60, are available at wl.eventim.us/HopMonkSebastopol.

Back on the Air: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ returns to Spreckels

Back by popular demand, Rohnert Park’s Spreckels Theatre Company presents Joe Landry’s It’s a Wonderful Life, a family-friendly radio play adaption of the Christmastime staple best known for the classic 1946 film starring Jimmy Stewart. It runs in the Spreckels Performing Arts Center’s Condiotti Studio Theater through Dec. 14. 

Featuring several actors from last year’s cast, and directed by Jenny Hollingworth, the show offers a nostalgic holiday story with an absolutely beautiful set by Eddy Hansen, live Foley sounds performed with fluid skill by Gabe Adelman and plucky piano music by Janis Dunson Wilson. The atmosphere is charming and feels authentic. If one has ever listened to radio plays, they’ll be right at home.

Nic Moore runs a proverbial and moving marathon as the actor playing George Bailey, our classic American Everyman, who has a sudden crisis brought on by his small town, 1940s existence and wishes he’d never been born, setting off a nightmare scenario in which he witnesses a world without himself. 

This is a strong performance, and Moore is intense—never missing a beat. His work is full of intention and connection with his fellow actors: Rosie Frater, John Craven, Allison Lovelace and Matt Farrell (who are themselves portraying actors performing said radio play).

Allison Lovelace is steady and vibrant as George’s love, Mary. The brilliant Rosie Frater plays multiple supporting roles (as do Craven and Farrell) with frightening ease, smoothly transitioning from adult to child, all with absolute distinction and sharp characterization. Frater is a true marvel. 

John Craven convinces as the dastardly Mr. Potter, the thorn in George’s side, and Matt Farrell offers some good-natured chaos as helpful angel Clarence. There are many distinctions that have to be made to play multiple characters, and this cast is mostly successful, with a few minor quibbles.

The Foley aspects make this production. Magic is created with cornflakes, a bag full of glass and a mallet, and two shoes being precisely clacked together, amongst other ingenious techniques. This gorgeous work is worth the ticket price alone, but is also supported by colorful period costumes (Adriana Gutierrez), finely detailed props (Mary Jo Hamilton) and warm lighting (Hansen).

After rewarding the cast with a standing ovation, the audience walked away sniffling and smiling. For a little holiday cheer, one might consider catching this show.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play’ runs through Dec. 14 in the Condiotti Experimental Theater at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $14–$34. 707.588.3400. spreckelsonline.com.

Trump vs. Higher Ed, a Direct Attack on the Freedom of Speech

After waging war on public broadcasting and the arts, the Trump administration threatened recently to cut federal funding to nine prominent colleges unless they restricted campus speech that opposed conservatives.

“Academic freedom is not absolute,” read part of a Compact for Excellence in Higher Education that offered the schools preferential research funding if they obliged with a laundry list of demands that would restrict expression. If any school refused the demands, it “elects to forego federal benefits,” the compact read.

While the corporate media chose to gloss over the full extent to which the proposal undermined free expression, thousands of students across the country read it for themselves and took to the streets, demanding that their schools not capitulate.

And although none of the initial nine universities have signed on thus far, President Donald Trump has now offered the agreement to every college in the country.

What Does the Compact Say?

The compact was sent on Oct. 2 to the University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin, Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia.

Nine pages long, it listed almost two dozen demands. Among the most controversial was one requiring schools to abolish “institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas.” Students noted these terms were vague, perhaps intentionally.

“What does that mean?” said Raya Gupta, a freshman at Brown who protested the compact. “We can be pretty sure that the Trump administration is going to use that to shut down programs like the Center for Students of Color and our LGBTQ+ center.”

The compact also demanded professors, when acting “as university representatives,” refrain from speaking on “societal and political events.”

Timmons Roberts, a professor of environment and society at Brown, said his courses on climate change fall into those categories.

“How am I going to teach what I need to teach?” he said. “That is a direct attack on the freedom of speech.”

In another clause, the compact demanded that universities “screen out” international students who “demonstrate hostility” to U.S. values and allies, and share “all available information” with the State Department.

Universities risk “saturating the campus with noxious values, such as anti-Semitism,” the compact read.

Notably, the State Department this year has revoked the visas of hundreds of students it accuses without evidence of supporting antisemitic terrorism.

Students and faculty claimed other demands—a limit on international students to 15% of the school population, sex-based definitions of gender and an SAT requirement—eroded institutional independence.

“We are not a dog,” said Clay Dickerson, the student council president at UVA, at a protest. “We are not to be leashed up by the federal government and dragged around.”

How Did Universities Respond?

Although federal officials set a final deadline of Nov. 21 to respond to the compact, seven of the original nine schools had already rejected it at the time. 

Emphasizing the importance of academic freedom, Vanderbilt stated it was providing feedback as part of a dialogue but not yet deciding whether to accept or reject the compact. The University of Texas at Austin’s response was more positive, welcoming the opportunity and expressing a desire to work with the administration. However, it has yet to publicly commit to signing the agreement.

But, in a social media post, Trump expanded the compact’s scope to all universities, claiming it will “bring about the Golden Age” of higher education.

While only two universities—the New College of Florida and Valley Forge Military College—have officially agreed to the compact, many of the schools that rejected it appeared more concerned with preserving merit-based research funding than protecting free expression.

In his response to the federal government, Arizona president Suresh Garimella wrote that his school has “much common ground” with the compact’s ideas, but does not agree with “a federal research funding system based on anything other than merit.”

UVA interim president Paul Mahoney’s response was almost identical. Penn president Larry Jameson’s only justification was that he is “committed to merit-based achievement.” MIT president Sally Kornbluth wrote that the compact would “restrict” her school’s independence. But “fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone,” she wrote.

Only three schools—Brown, Dartmouth and USC—heavily emphasized academic freedom in their responses.

“It’s disappointing,” said Jade Personna, a senior at MIT who protested against the compact, “that the school, which has a lot more power and leverage than I do, is not willing to stand up for us in that way.”

Personna said she believed MIT treaded lightly to prevent a brash response from Trump. But she would have preferred “stronger language,” she added.

It remains unclear what will happen to the schools that did not sign. In early November, Project Censored requested comment from the Education Department, but received an automated response: “Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of [a spending bill]. … We will respond to emails once government functions resume.”

What Did the Media Cover?

The Wall Street Journal reported first on the compact, but its main and deck headlines included no mention of free speech. Six paragraphs in, after referencing the SAT requirement, the story mentioned the clause banning “institutional units” that “belittle” conservative values.

The article included no reference to clauses prohibiting professors from discussing “societal and political events” and mandating that schools screen foreign students who “demonstrate hostility” to U.S. allies. Neither did stories by The New York Times, CNN and USA Today.

The Washington Post’s story does mention the “societal and political events” clause—30 paragraphs in. But, like the others, it doesn’t say international students would be screened for their values.

In its framing, CNN initially downplayed free speech implications, describing the effective ban on anti-conservative speech as a policy “to foster ‘a vibrant marketplace of ideas on campus,’” before quoting the rest of the clause seven paragraphs in.

Personna, the MIT student, said it was “concerning” to see that the establishment press did not cover all of the compact’s free-speech implications. Although she read the compact in full, individuals who relied on media summaries may have lacked critical information. “We all need to look at the things that are most alarming,” she said in reference to the compact’s free-speech clauses, because they can become a “stepping stone for the Trump administration to expand its power further.”

But even with the selective coverage, student groups on campus publicized the unfiltered truth, Personna said.

“The Trump administration very much miscalculated … how easy it would be to coerce people into signing something like this,” she said.

James Libresco is a first-year student at Brown University studying political science.

Pour it Forward, Toys Through Time and a Studio 54 Disco Party

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Petaluma

Pour It Forward

Lagunitas Brewing Company hosts a community-minded holiday bash with Hops & Holidaze: Pour It Forward, a full-day celebration benefiting the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Expect a lively mix of local makers curated by SoCo Market, holiday food specials, live music and the seasonal return of Lagunitas Sucks on tap and in 16-ounce cans. Guests who bring a non-perishable food donation receive 15% off in the Schwag Shop, extending the Taproom’s employee-led food-drive effort to the broader community. Bands on deck include Morris LeGrande, Solid Air and Dan Durkin, keeping the winter tent festive from midday to evening. Suggest one wear an ugly Christmas sweater. 12–8pm, Saturday, Dec. 6, Lagunitas Taproom, 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. Reservations via OpenTable at bit.ly/4rqlJCl.

Petaluma

Toys Through Time

The Petaluma Historical Library & Museum rings in the season with its annual Members’ Holiday Party—and a first look at Toys Through Time: From Machine Age to Space Age. This new exhibition pairs antique mechanical toys with iconic Star Wars collectibles to explore how play has echoed (and shaped) the imaginations of different eras. Bank on a festive gathering, a special demonstration of antique mechanical toys in action and—if rumors on the “comlinks” are true—a visit from some unexpected guests. 4–6pm, Saturday, Dec. 6, Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 20 Fourth St. Free for members. RSVP required at bit.ly/luma-toys.

Novato

Studio 54 Disco Dance Party

HopMonk Novato transforms into its own slice of 1970s New York City when Studio 54 (yes, named for that Studio 54) brings a hedonistic disco dance party to the Session Room. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Angie Maserati and backed by a six-piece band of seasoned Marin musicians, the group dives into classics by Donna Summer, Chic, KC and the Sunshine Band, Michael Jackson, The Bee Gees, Kool & the Gang and more. Anticipate glitter, groove and wall-to-wall dance-floor nostalgia. 9pm, Saturday, Dec. 13, HopMonk Tavern Novato, 224 Vintage Way. $60.26. bit.ly/studio54-novato.

San Rafael

C.S. Lewis Gets Christmas

C.S. Lewis didn’t always believe in the Christmas story—but an evening conversation with J.R.R. Tolkien changed everything. The Christmas With C.S. Lewis theatrical event at Showcase Theater invites audiences into Lewis’ Oxford home in England on Christmas Eve, where visiting Americans are treated to his warm, witty and deeply personal reflections on myth, faith, friendship and the moment that forever transformed his understanding of the holiday. 2 & 7:30pm, Friday, Dec. 5, Showcase Theater, 10 Ave. of the Flags, San Rafael. $64–$75. Tickets at bit.ly/cslewis-marin.

Locally Made, Locally Minded, Made Local Marketplace

Made Local Marketplace is a small shop with a big mission—offer “locally sourced, curated goods made in the North Bay.” 

The brainchild of Willow Fish Peterson, the shop has an awesome variety of goods from more than 150 local makers, artists and brands. So to say there’s a little something for everyone would be an understatement.

To this point, Fish Peterson says, “Shopping local isn’t just about finding a great gift—it’s an investment in the North Bay’s creative community. Every dollar spent here circulates through our local economy, supporting real people, real makers and real jobs.” 

She adds, “Our curated gift boxes have become one of the easiest ways for people to support local makers. Every item inside is made right here in the North Bay, and we offer pickup, delivery and shipping so you can send local love anywhere.”

Locally made highlights include the clever and beautifully rendered wood and resin charcuterie boards, serving plates and artwork from West Coast Vibez. Artists and co-founders Doreen Griffiths, Tim Curtis and Jeanine Curtis lean-in to the beautiful coastline we share in the North Bay to create eye-catching work that really feels one of a kind.

Another thoughtful gift comes in the form of candles from Green Castle Rock Gardens. Each one is hand poured and made of 100% soy wax, which makes them toxin free. There are some very intriguing and lovely scents available, including Harvest Moon, Cashmere Plum, Garden Mint and Black Violet Saffron, to name a few.

Clearly the vibe here is chill as we head out of arguably the dumbest timeline (2025) and into the unknown. Selfcare is key—starting with a gift from MoonEssence Bath Products.

Maker of natural handcrafted artisan body care products, MoonEssence has a lovely variety of soaps, lotions and serums to help soothe all the wrinkles accumulated with each bizarro headline. The products make great gifts for everyone, including oneself.

“When you shop local, you’re voting for the kind of community you want to live in,” reminds Fish Peterson. “You’re helping your neighbors thrive.”

Made Local Marketplace is located at 2421 Magowan Dr., Santa Rosa and 881 Grant Ave., Novato. madelocalmarketplace.com

Artisanal Gifting, a Hyper-Local Gift Guide

The North Bay’s artisanal offerings are a haven for those who think outside of the big box store when it comes to holiday gifting.

What follows is a curated collection of makers whose work is as distinctive as the places they inhabit.

In Point Reyes Station, Wild West Ferments channels flavors gleaned from Maggie Levinger and Luke Regalbuto’s travels among nomadic fermenters abroad. Their rediscovery of a Bosnian juniper berry beverage informs a shop now tucked into the former Cowgirl Creamery space. Everything here—from their kraut and kimchi to their fermented sodas—ages to perfection in ceramic crocks or oak barrels.

80 4th St., Point Reyes Station. 415.310.5700. wildwestferments.com

Petaluma’s LALA’s Jam Bar sprang from Leslie “Lala” Goodrich’s decision to operate under California’s Cottage Food laws. She produces small-batch jams and fruit spreads from her little yellow cottage on Washington Street, including her Petaluma FOG blend—figs, orange juice and ginger—which remains one of Sonoma County’s great edible souvenirs. The Jam Hotline (707.773.1083) is both real and enthusiastically used.

720 E. Washington St., Petaluma. lalasjams.com

In Sebastopol, Little Apple Treats operates as a “peel-to-pip” closed-loop farm where orchard, kitchen and aging room form a single ecosystem. Joanne Krueger’s candy cap mushroom caramels—featuring wild-foraged fungi with an uncanny maple aroma—became Good Food Award finalists, while her apple cider vinegar rests in French oak wine barrels like a quiet experiment in patience.

707.849.8547. littleappletreats.com

Down the road at The Barlow, glass artist Michael Dickinson of Dickinson Glass suspends pocket universes inside clear spheres. His “black hole” marbles—made by heating and vaporizing clippings of gold and silver, then trapping the resulting nebulas inside layers of molten glass—are always singular. Dickinson’s compact studio doubles as a glassblowing classroom.

4200 Green Valley School Rd., Sebastopol. 707.690.4136. dickinsonglass.com

Another Sebastopol institution, Nichibei Potters, reflects the long-running collaboration between Cheryl Costantini, who trained for years as an apprentice in Japan, and her husband, Mikio Matsumoto, whose expressive face motifs have become something of a signature since the mid-1980s. Their work appears in the Asian Art Museum; their home studio remains open by appointment.

1991 Burnside Rd., Sebastopol. 707.823.0950. nichibeipotters.com

In San Rafael, North Bay Candleworks emerged from ER nurse Doug Coomer’s need to decompress after shifts. His Marin Landmark line—“Karl the Fog,” “Muir Woods,” “Mount Tamalpais”—captures local microclimates with surprising fidelity. Each candle is hand-poured with soy and coconut wax and will light up the life of whomever is lucky enough to receive one.

757 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 19, San Rafael. northbaycandleworks.com

Finally, San Anselmo’s Compass Rose Design is the realm of Creek Van Houten, who transforms salvaged heirlooms into contemporary jewelry. Antique buttons become pendants; vintage teaspoons become charms; spent watch parts evolve into steampunk relics. She began with lost-wax casting at a young age alongside her dentist father—a plausible origin story for work that merges precision with whimsy.

compassrosedesign.com

In Napa, the Soap Company gets the obvious joke out of the way early with names like “Cabernet Soapignon” and “Clean O Noir,” then proceeds to back up the puns with actual craftsmanship. Sophia and Garrett Williams hand-pour each batch of bars at their Bel Aire Plaza shop, wrapping them in flower-petal paper with a light hand. The berry-scented cabernet version includes cocoa butter and a dose of red wine, which is either a selling point or a waste of good cab, depending on one’s threshold for novelty. Either way, it makes a defensible gift.

3816 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa. 707.963.5010. napasoap.com

Community & Cookies, Local Baker Gets Kids Involved

Courtney Clifton runs a cottage food bakery out of her Santa Rosa home called Cove & Crumb, specializing in royal icing cookies. 

She combines a love for art, baking and family life to create stunning cookies for special occasions that also happen to taste good. Her traditional sugar cookies are an almond and vanilla bean flavor, but she can make chocolate, birthday cake or other flavors upon request. However, in the Cove & Crumb case, these cookies truly are too beautiful to eat. 

The busy mom also works with Hanna Center, a nonprofit that provides mental health and community services in Sonoma, to lead their Winter Culinary Camp this year. This camp gives kids a fun, hands-on experience to learn basic cooking skills, recipes and kitchen safety. Hanna is also offering other winter skill-building experiences on their 90-acre campus, including basketball and LEGO robotics, to give local kids a place to learn, grow and explore during the holiday break, Dec. 29–Jan. 3. Clifton loves getting to work with kids, and is inspired to support the incredible work Hanna Center does for Sonoma families.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Courtney Clifton: My first ‘order’ was a gender reveal set of cookies for my sister. It was such a hit that people began asking for their own custom cookies. It wasn’t long before I became an official cookie business. 

I started working with Hanna Center because I wanted to give back to the community in a meaningful way and partner with an organization that truly makes a difference in Sonoma. Their mission to support local families through mental health services and youth programs really resonated with me. Being able to share my love for baking and cooking with kids while contributing to a place that brings so much good to our community is incredibly rewarding.

Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.

All of my cookies (and ‘aha’ moments) are products of late nights with iced coffee and Alani energy drinks. 

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

My current morning obsession is a vanilla latte. I like to end the day with a cozy tea or Golden State Cider.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

El Gallo Negro’s seasonal margaritas are my go-to.

If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?

Lemon drop martinis.

Hanna Center, 17000 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, 707.996.6767. hannacenter.org. Cove & Crumb, coveandcrumb.com.

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Courtney Clifton teaches basic cooking to kids at the nonprofit Hanna Center's Winter Culinary Camp.
Courtney Clifton runs a cottage food bakery out of her Santa Rosa home called Cove & Crumb, specializing in royal icing cookies.  She combines a love for art, baking and family life to create stunning cookies for special occasions that also happen to taste good. Her traditional sugar cookies are an almond and vanilla bean flavor, but she can make...
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