Freedom of Hate Speech

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Freedom of Hate Speech

03.26.08

N early six and a half years ago, Novato High School’s student newspaper, The Buzz , published a controversial editorial entitled “Immigration.” Penned by the paper’s journalism program student-elected opinion editor, Andrew Smith, then a senior, “Immigration” suggested non-English-speaking immigrants be stopped and questioned. “Seems to me,” Smith wrote, “that the only reason why they can’t speak English is because they are illegal.” Smith advised, “If a person looks suspicious, then just stop them and ask a few questions, and if they answer ‘Que?’ detain them and see if they are legal.”

Smith went on to suggest that peace officers “should treat these people the way cops would treat a suspected criminal.” In fact, Smith claimed many undocumented aliens were just that. “Criminals usually flee here in order to escape their punishment.” Smith suggested that illegals work “manual labor while being paid under the table tax-free,” and are often involved in “drug dealing, robbery or even welfare.”

Reaction to Smith’s op-ed was swift. Many Novato community members were outraged by the piece. On Nov. 14, 2001, the day following publication of Smith’s editorial, about 150 students and parents met to protest it on the Novato High School campus. In response, the school’s superintendent ordered all remaining copies of the paper be seized, and a letter sent to Novato parents insisting Smith’s op-ed should never have found its way into print because it “negatively presented immigrants in general and Hispanics in particular.”

Smith felt his First Amendment rights were infringed upon and that he was being unfairly blamed for writing something both the school principal and his journalism teacher had originally OK’d. Moreover, because of the school administration’s irresponsible and arbitrary actions, Smith felt that he had suffered harassment, ridicule, taunts and that he had “become a target.”

“The only reason I wrote the article and the way I wrote it,” Smith told Fox News, “was to get people to read it and to think about the topic I was presenting.”

On May 2, 2001, Smith’s father, Dale Smith, filed a civil suit on behalf of his son in Marin County Superior Court. The suit claimed that because Andrew Smith had expressed an unpopular opinion, he had been illegally censored.

Thirteen years prior, in 1988, the United States Supreme Court gave public school officials the right to censor their school newspaper’s content, ruling that such abridgement does not violate a student-author’s First Amendment right to free speech. However, the State of California’s public school code Section 48907 ensures each student’s right to free expression unless it “so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the regulations, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school.”

This alleged incitement became the basis of the Novato school district’s claim that they had acted legally and responsibly in the case of Smith’s op-ed piece. The larger question was, which would take precedence, state or federal law?

The Smith family obtained counsel from the conservative Sacramento-based Pacific Legal Foundation. Their case was heard first by Marin County Superior Court Judge John A. Sutro Jr., who ruled in favor of the Novato Unified School District. Sutro upheld the school’s right to both remove Smith’s first op-ed piece, as well as allowing them to set limiting conditions on a second piece he’d written on the subject of “reverse discrimination.” This second piece never found its way into print.

Shortly after the Smith lawsuit was filed, Novato Unified School District spokesperson Dianne Pavia said, “It was never the district’s intent to usurp any student’s rights to freedom of speech, but the school district is charged by law to consider issues of safety and disruption to educational programs.”

California State’s First District Court of Appeal disagreed. On May 22 of last year, they reversed the Marin County Superior Court decision, ruling that the school district had indeed usurped Smith’s free speech rights. Speaking for the court, Justice Linda M. Gemollo wrote, “Schools may only prohibit speech that incites disruption, either because it specifically calls for a disturbance or because the manner of expression (as opposed to the content of the ideas) is so inflammatory that the speech itself provokes the disturbance.” Andrew Smith was awarded a declaration that his protected speech rights had been violated, along with $1 in nominal damages.

Novato’s school district challenged the Appeal Court ruling, taking the case before the highest court in the land. On Feb. 19 of this year, the United States Supreme Court decided against hearing Smith v. Novato Unified School District , giving precedence to California’s code 48907 over its own 1988 Supreme Court ruling, thus letting stand the Appeals Court decision favoring the Smiths.

In response to the Supreme Court deciding to forgo the case, Paul J. Beard II, the Smiths’ lead attorney said, “Andrew Smith can now claim a conclusive victory. But in a larger sense, all student journalists in California are winners, because this case establishes once and for all that they can’t be censored for not conforming to some ideological agenda.”


Outside Lands Festival – Full Lineup Announced

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Just got back from the Warriors game. Seven separate heart attacks. Baron matching Kobe point-for-point. Behind-the-back, over-the-shoulder layups and insane hail marys. Last few minutes, the lead dribbles back and forth. Bell: tied. Overtime. Place is in a frenzy. Came down to four seconds left. Monta gets a whistle and it’s bullshit. Kobe sinks two from the line and it’s over. Lakers 123, Warriors 119.
After pounding for three hours, my heart wasn’t even strong enough to break.
You see a game like that, you think you’ve seen it all. But no. I got home and caught the just-announced full lineup for the Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park on August 22, 23, and 24. Have you taken a look at everyone that’s playing this thing?!
I’ve got my own draft picks for the festival: Broken Social Scene, M. Ward, Manu Chao, Radiohead, Sharon Jones, Black Mountain, The Cool Kids, Lyrics Born, Tom Petty, Two Gallants, Nellie McKay, Primus, Steve Winwood, Beck, Little Brother, The Coup, Drive-by Truckers, Cafe Tacuba, and K’naan is where you’ll find me.
Also on board for the weekend: Wilco, Ben Harper, Widespread Panic, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Regina Spektor, Jack Johnson, Devendra Banhart, Cold War Kids, Andrew Bird, Steel Pulse, ALO, Matt Nathanson, Dredg, Grace Potter, Donovan Frankenreiter, Mother Hips, Sidestepper, Goapele, Bon Iver, Ivan Neville, Sean Hayes, Felice Brothers, Rupa & the April Fishes, and Back Door Slam.
Here’s the turnaround: 3-day general admission tickets are $225.50 – before service charges. I’ve got a feeling that single-day tickets will be available before too long.
Check the full details online here. Tickets go on sale this Sunday, March 30.
Chalk up another slam dunk for the folks at Another Planet, who in addition to booking the Independent and the Greek Theater are also forging ahead with the return of their excellent Treasure Island Festival in September.
Music fans: stoked. Warriors fans: hosed.

Annie Leibovitz at the Legion of Honor

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I wasn’t planning on stopping by the Annie Leibovitz exhibit at the Legion of Honor, A Photographer’s Life: 1990-2005, but I’m glad I did, if only to now have the authority to say that I shouldn’t have. It’s a very personal collection, burdened with the weight of death, and though there might have been some emotional strength that went into its assemblage—at least in the many photos of her dying father, her dying lover, and the birth and growth of her two children—I was neither wowed by its artistic merit nor moved by its naked storytelling. The overtly “revealing” timbre of the exhibit, in fact, reminded me of Lauryn Hill’s indulgent Unplugged album, which is a total piece of “this is the real me” crap that no one ever wants to suffer through again.

Visitors gathered instead, shoulder-to-shoulder, in the exhibit’s sadistically narrow “celebrity hallway,” packed with hundreds of tiny prints and magazine pages of Leibovitz’s famous photos. Likewise, there was much crowding around larger photographs sprinkled throughout the exhibit; of the famously pregnant Demi Moore, of Johnny Cash on his porch, of Queen Elizabeth II without her crown. And there was surely lots of talk, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war, around Leibovitz’s 2001 “Evil Empire” photograph of Bush, Cheney, Rice, Powell, Rumsfeld, Card and Tenet.

Many of these photos, and especially the gigantic landscape prints from Monument Park and Venice, are dazzling, and contain insightful and often sardonic descriptions by Leibovitz about her process (remarking on her portrait of Richard Avedon, she essentially says that Avedon knew how to take portraits correctly and that she still does not). But there’s an extreme sense of disconnect with the many, many personal photos, the banal explanations of which are like a very dull person’s slide-show commentary—“We went here. We did this.” The show’s accompanying $75.00, eight-pound book hopefully offers some more insight, but the choice of letting the viewer make up their own mind about these images is misguided.

At the end of it all, I can say two things. 1) I still really like Annie Liebovitz quite a lot, and 2) If I have to look at another photograph of Susan Sontag, I am going to throw up.

The Velvet Teen at the Phoenix Theater

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Partway through the Velvet Teen’s set last night at the Phoenix, Judah Nagler started noodling on the keyboard, playing snippets of music from game shows and Nintendo games. The crowd, of course, loved it, just as everyone at the Phoenix, whether they knew it or not, loved what it represented: that the Velvet Teen is loosening up. Weathering a difficult third album, a major lineup change, and a sporadic schedule, the band’s finally got their shit dialed back in, and last night’s show was the best Velvet Teen show I’ve seen in two years.
The set started with one of a few new songs—a good sign—but it wasn’t too long before they dipped into an oft-neglected back catalog, namely a brilliantly reworked “Red Like Roses” from Out Of The Fierce Parade. The opening keyboard chords, instantly recognizable, gave way to atmospheric guitar sounds from Matthew Izen that washed through the song like windblown silk. “Penecillin” sounded amazing, marking the welcome return of preset laptop tracks, and “Forlorn,” having found its home at the piano again, resonated across the crowd.
Sometimes I think the Velvet Teen should just re-record Cum Laude. “333” and “Building a Whale” have evolved into the violent Casey Deitz-driven juggernauts they were always meant to be, and the delicate mannerisms in the band’s expansive, slower version of “Noi Boi” bring out the song’s inner beauty. All told, it’s like they’ve settled in, kicked off their shoes, watched some Jeopardy! and played some Super Mario Bros., and learned how to breathe as a band again.
The topper on the band’s excellent set was the surprise encore—”Chimera Obscurant,” all 13 crashing, crazy minutes of it. For, like, the first time in forever. It’s a favorite of mine for reasons too long to get into here, and the Velvet Teen drove it straight through the heart of a raptured crowd, ditching the “free speech shouldn’t cost” stop and letting it just roll on and on and on and on and on and on and on. Pure bliss.
Opening bands: I missed Goodriddler, which sucks because Nick’s amazing, and I watched all of Aloha and remained underwhelmed. They’re like the band that has a lot of great things going for them—distorted vibes, interesting guitar phrases, an incredible drummer—but somehow they just don’t add up. My friend Josh is all over ’em (“Sugar is sweet!” he remarked of the band’s 2002 full-length, completely unaware of what he’d just said), which is a sign that in five years, I’ll come around and slap myself on the head.
At the end of the night, people were still talking about Body or Brain, who played the lobby. Best new band right now, no contest. Upbeat, hyperjangly infectious pop, led by Jakie Lieber, a madman. Jakie plays unbelievable riffs on the electric guitar with his bare hands, no pick, and he simultaneously moves around like a clock spring that’s frantically uncoiling. I hunched down near the floor and watched as he jumped, kicked, slung the guitar around his back, tap-danced, did the fucking splits, and moonwalked, all while playing the guitar and not missing a note. I met him a few weekends ago while writing an article about his hardcore band, the Grand Color Crayon, and he’s also got solo recordings that sound like Doug Martsch’s acoustic stuff. Is there anything the kid can’t do? I mean, besides finally move out of Napa someday?
(Jakie jumps around way too fast to be photographed, and this is the best I could do. —–>)

Boredoms at the Fillmore

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Unless you own a ticket stub from seeing God, I can guarantee that you’ve never seen anything like the Boredoms.
As for me, I’d witnessed neither deity when I bought my tickets to Tuesday’s show at the Fillmore, but after what can only be described as one of the most inspiring and incredible performances ever given, I feel like I got a 2-for-1 deal.
First off, the band set up in the middle of the floor of the Fillmore, with towers of speakers placed in each corner of the room. Three drum sets bordered the stage, all facing each other, alongside a gigantic tower of electric guitars, sawed flat at the ends and bracketed together with their necks sticking out on either side. Racks of electronics, percussion, keyboards, and amplifiers lined the circular setup, and the Fillmore’s lights landed squarely in the center of it all like a boxing ring. In other words: holy shit.
The Boredoms, one by one, entered through the crowd and climbed on stage, and all the lights went out—even the Fillmore’s purple chandeliers. Boredoms ringleader Yamatsuka Eye appeared with illuminated globes on his hands, and an unholy static ravaged the speakers, like an extraterrestrial message that flitted in and out of recognizance as Eye thrashed his arms around and around. His head tilted back towards the ceiling, and he repeatedly shouted something resembling “hello,” as if trying to contact life on other planes in the swarm of strange theremin-like hand noise.
Suddenly, three drummers simultaneously pounded a propulsive, hectic beat, and Eye worked an electronics board, adding more and more layers to the already thick sound. A slowly building crescendo built dramatically over the next six minutes, until Eye grabbed a five-foot staff and, with a sweeping, athletic motion, slammed it against the tower of electric guitars, striking all seven necks at once with a powerful, thundering curdle of distortion that shook the entire audience like the walls of Jericho. The drums raced on, and Eye flipped his dreadlocks around to shout more things to the sky, slamming himself upon the tower of guitars, and I’ll be damned if somewhere in the middle of it all I didn’t see the ceiling open up and the divine light of salvation fill the room.
This was no regular noise jam: throughout the set, a tight compositional structure was clear, despite the grand illusion of improvisational mania. Themes emerged, then disappeared, then re-emerged 20 minutes later. Yoshimi turned away from her drums and played keyboards, then sang, then turned back to her drums to participate in triple call-and-response drum fills while singing. Eye adjusted the capos placed on the guitars to create different notes, beating their strings individually in repeating patterns and hammering away at them collectively during climaxes with cymbals and vocals.
How does one react to this music? Many stared, agape and dumbfounded. Some threw their arms up and pumped their fists. Still others tried various forms of interpretive swirly-dancing, appropriately coinciding with the sounds swirling around all four corners of the room. I didn’t know how to react; I was mesmerized. When it ended, over an hour later, the crowd clapped and clapped and clapped and probably didn’t even want an encore—we all just needed to.
But the most amazing thing, I think, is that after a full set of Olympic gymnastics, after jumping and heaving and dancing, and after a beautiful encore that eventually came and closed the night out with appropriate serenity, Eye climbed off the stage and onto a pair of crutches, hobbling backstage. Can Eye really not walk, and could all of that energy and physical exertion really have come from a disabled man? Unbelievable.

The Last Record Store

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There are certain things we say in life that we never thought we’d ever, ever say. Things like, “Let’s go out to sushi,” or “I’ve been kinda into reggae lately.” And today, I find myself saying one of those unthinkable things. After 14 years, I have worked my final day at the Last Record Store.
Maybe “worked” isn’t the right word, since my last day at the store on Monday was full of telephone calls and people stopping in, wishing me well, shaking my hand, reminding me of the first record they bought off me, telling me how much I’d helped them out in different ways—basically flashing 14 years of my life before my eyes. It was an overwhelming display of what I’d meant to the store, which is something I’d never really thought about, because the store always meant so much more to me.
I started coming to the Last Record Store in 1988, when I was 12 years old and used to ride my skateboard all over downtown Santa Rosa. My mom would give me $5 for food, but of course I starved myself and bought hardcore records instead. In fact, I still have the first record I ever bought there—a 7″ compilation called ‘We’ve Got Your Shorts.’
As time went on, I guess I grew to be a familiar face around the store. I was hooked on records, buying everything from DRI to Sinatra, and bridging the styles by recording ‘Punk Piano’—punk rock songs played easy-listening style—to sell in the local demo tapes section. The store also stocked my zine, Positively Fourth Street, and sold records by my band, Ground Round. I still distinctly remember asking a fairly bewildered Scott if it was okay to put up a flyer bearing the phrase “In the Name of God, Fuck You.” Then, in 1993, a miracle happened: I got asked to work there.
I didn’t know, at the time, that everyone in the world wanted to work at the Last Record Store, but at 18, I definitely knew that it was the place for me. I loved the atmosphere, the freedom to be myself, and the fact that Hoyt and Doug really ran the place in their own anti-corporate and unconventional way. I began a crash course in every single section, starting with a heavy jazz infatuation, going through a deep country phase, diving headlong into hip-hop, eating up everything and finding myself surprised at every turn.
Oh, I learned a lot about life, too. Things like how to treat people properly, and how not to be a snob, and how actions and achievements mean more than opinions and ideals. But I dug learning about music most of all; my co-workers, naturally, being founts of information, along with most of the customers. Eventually I was put in charge of the vinyl annex, which opened up whole new possibilities for listening, be it crazy international music, old blues records, new electronica stuff, the standard classical repertoire, any classic rock I might have missed. There was always one threshold, however, that I refused to cross: I never, ever listened to reggae.

It’d be impossible, and would definitely get some people in trouble, to list all of the amazing things that happened at the store while I worked there. Nevertheless, interesting stuff seemed to happen every day, like the time that Doug rigged a huge PA speaker up on the roof and blared Mule Variations at midnight, all over downtown Santa Rosa. The day that Seth walked in and plopped an owl on the counter, very beautiful and very dead. The crazy half-naked stripper who invited me to dinner, or the many other solicitations one gets when they work at a record store, none of which need to be retold here.
The strangers who met in the aisles and would later start coming in together. The beautiful girl who I met in the aisles, fell in love with, and married. The bands that made flyers out of vacuum cleaners and folding chairs, the folks who dropped off their insane flyers and zines and mix CDs, and the people who brought us free things like cake and chocolate and beer and movies and tickets to shows and chicken casserole. Why? Just because.
I’ve also seen the Last Record Store skillfully adapt to a lot of changes over the years. Getting a cash register, for one. Closing the vinyl annex. Moving to Mendocino Avenue. Getting a computer and an email list. Weathering the mp3 storm. Weathering the economy and the changing face of the music industry. Watching Musicland, the Wherehouse, and Tower Records all go under. And yet, through it all, standing strong, because in mine and many other people’s opinions, it’s still the best and most amazing record store in the world.
For the last four years, I wrote the Last Record Store Newsletter every week, which, if you’re interested, can be perused here. But I’ve also for the last four years been writing more and more for the Bohemian, which is where I’m going to be full-time from now on. For those lovable ones among you who are going to miss my dependable presence behind the counter—my misguided recommendations, my unintelligible blathering, and my failed jokes—well, hopefully it’ll translate in print. Between you and me, I’ve actually been kinda into reggae lately. Just a little.
So thanks to Doug and Hoyt for giving me a job and treating me like a son for fourteen years. Thanks to all my awesome co-workers for the camaraderie. Thanks especially to all the wonderful regular customers who I’ve met over the years—you, more than anyone, and more than you know, made it worthwhile. I’m gonna miss the shit, for sure, but another door has opened, and it’s time to move on.

Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz Coming To Sebastopol!

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People at Gogol Bordello’s typically frenetic and crazy show at the Warfield Theater last week might have been too caught up in the mayhem to notice, but amidst the gypsy-punk rollicking and flailing bodies, singer Eugene Hutz announced to the crowd that he was going to be part of some sort of Gypsy festival in Sebastopol. With his Eastern European background, surely, he must have meant Sevastopol, the Ukranian city on the Crimea peninsula. Right?
Sonoma County, get out your herring and borscht: confirmed by Voice of Roma—the group who puts on the yearly festival—Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello will appear as a guest DJ at this year’s 12th Annual Herdejezi Festival at the Sebastopol Veterans Building on Friday, May 2nd. Also on the bill for the rest of the weekend’s festivities are Yuri Yunakov, Vadim Kopalkov, Petra Safarova, Reyhan Tuzsuz, and Brass Menazeri. Crowd-surfing on top of a marching bass drum is optional.
For those who don’t know, Gogol Bordello is one of the most mind-blowing live bands in the world right now, recalling the raucousness of the Pogues, the passion of the Clash, and the endurance of a young Bruce Springsteen. Hutz, the band’s enigmatic frontman, also has a show-stealing role in the wonderfully off-kilter film Everything is Illuminated.
Thanks to Caitlin for the heads up.

First Novels at the Toad in the Hole

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The Toad in the Hole has an official fire capacity of, like, 48, and I usually feel really bad for Eddie, their doorman. Part of his job is to be the messenger of bad news and to turn paying customers away when the place is hopping—which was definitely the case last Saturday night. Chalk it up to First Novels, with the match-made-in-heaven pairing of Andy Asp and Brian Fitzpatrick, to pack the tiny Toad in the Hole and to leave latecomers stranded on the sidewalk outside.
Andy and Brian, who for years played together in Cropduster and seem essentially like soulmates at this point, are a thrill to watch together—sometimes you think Brian’s the luckiest guy in the world to play with Andy, sometimes you think Andy’s the luckiest guy in the world to play with Brian. Their songs, influenced by tunesmiths like John Prine, Tim Hardin and Neil Young, are microcosms of wonder, and between Andy’s voice and Brian’s guitar work, they’re played with a hypnotic, untainted delicacy. Note to people who try to talk to me when Andy and Brian are playing: dude, be quiet.
Special mention must be made of Muir Houghton, upright bassist extraordinaire, who picks up songs on the spot and plays them like he’s played them forever. I’ve seen him a few times now, and whether bowing or plucking, whether playing with John Courage or Amber Lee or First Novels, he’s always on top of his game.
The Spindles played last, and incidentally, I don’t think they’ve ever been better, benefiting greatly from the addition of new drummer Jonathan Hughes, who plays with a really thoughtful and compatible sense of taste. Sweet-lookin’ drum kit, too.

Bohemian Best of Culture 2008 Readers Choice

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Bohemian Best of Culture 2008 Readers Choice

03.19.08
Best Art Gallery

Marin

Gallery Route One

11101 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1347.

Napa

Di Rosa Preserve

5200 Carneros Hwy., Napa. 707.226.5991.

Sonoma

First Place Tie

Riverfront Art Gallery

132 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma.707.775.4278.

The Quicksilver Mine Co.

6671 Front St., Forestville.707.887.0799.

Honorable Mention

A Street Gallery

312 S. A St., Santa Rosa.707.578.9124.

Best Outdoor Art Event

Marin

Sausalito Art Festival

www.sausalitoartfestival.org

Napa

Napa Wine & Crafts Faire

www.napadowntown.com

Sonoma

ARTrails

www.arttrails.org

Honorable Mention

Petaluma Art in the Park

Walnut Park at D Street, Petaluma. 707.793.2113.

Best Dance Studio

Marin

Dance Arts Studios

704 Mission Ave., San Rafael.415.459.1020.

Napa

Napa Valley Dance Center

950 Pearl St., Napa. 707.255.2701.

Sonoma

The Dance Center

56 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa.707.575.8277.

Honorable Mention

Ellington Hall

3535 Industrial Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.545.6150.

Best Ballet Company

Marin

Marin Ballet

100 Elm St., San Rafael.415.453.6705.

Napa

Napa Valley Ballet

P.O. Box 4256, Napa. 707.294.2568.

Sonoma

Petaluma City Ballet

110 Howard St., Petaluma.707.765.2660.

Honorable Mention

Sebastopol Ballet

390 Morris St., Sebastopol.707.824.8006.

Best Performing Dance Company

Marin

Marin Ballet

100 Elm St., San Rafael.415.453.6705.

Napa

Napa Valley Dance Center

950 Pearl St., Napa.707.255.2701.

Sonoma

The Dance Center

56 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa.707.575.8277.

Honorable Mention

La Fibi Flamenco

208 Hayes Ave., Petaluma. 707.762.5201.

Best Theater Troupe

Marin

Marin Theatre Company

397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley.415.388.5200.

Napa

Dream Weavers

1637 Imola Ave., Napa. 707.255.5483.

Sonoma

Sixth Street Playhouse

52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa.707.523.4185.

Honorable Mention

Raven Players

734 Johnson St., Healdsburg.707.433.6335.

Best Place to Dance

Marin

Rancho Nicasio

1 Old Ranchero Road, Nicasio.415.662.2219.

Napa

Hydro Bar & Grill

1403 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.707.942.9777.

Sonoma

Last Day Saloon

120 Fifth St., Santa Rosa.707.545.2343.

Honorable Mention

Seven Ultralounge

528 Seventh St., Santa Rosa.707.528.4700.

Best Festival

Marin

Italian Street Painting Festival

999 Fifth St., Ste. 290, San Rafael.415.457.4878.

Napa

Mustard Festival

www.mustardfestival.org

Sonoma

Harmony Festival

www.harmonyfestival.com

Honorable Mention

Apple Blossom Festival

www.sebastopol.org

Best Performing Arts Center

Marin

Marin Civic Center

10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael.415.421.8497.

Napa

First Place Tie

Lincoln Theater

100 California Drive, Yountville.707.944.1300.

Napa Valley Opera House

1030 Main St., Napa.707.226.7372.

Sonoma

Wells Fargo Center for the Performing Arts

50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa.707.546.3600.

Honorable Mention

Spreckels Performing Arts Center

5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park.707.588.3400.

Lincoln Theater and Napa Valley Opera House: Napa’s Finest

Nestled among the grounds of the Veterans Home of California with its old buildings and remote valley location, Yountville’s Lincoln Theater is a thing of beauty, even before one walks in the door. Approaching the property for an evening summer show, attendees are sprinkled by late-day sun streaks that shine through the thick trees covering the driveway, and a walk from the parking lot to the theater lobby passes stucco barracks, rusted cannons and historical markers.

Once inside, a grand, curving staircase leads to the balcony section, while stratospheric ceilings and large works of art give the lobby a formal elegance. The raked hall makes for good viewing whether in the back row or in the box seats, and their hosting of select Festival del Sole events each summer brings out world-class classical performers—just a few of the reasons that you chose the Lincoln Theater in a first-place tie with the Napa Valley Opera House as the best performing arts centers in Napa County.

And what a tie it is. Whereas the Lincoln Theater holds a large audience yet manages to seem intimate, the Napa Valley Opera House holds a small audience but manages to appear sweeping and grand. The performance hall’s second-floor placement makes for crowded clusters near the lobby stairs after the 10-minute light warning, but the place turns open and inviting once you get up and inside, a miracle of restoration to the old theater’s original 1879 décor.

Rounded walls, wooded wainscoting and illuminated crown molding enliven the theater with classicism, and with only 500 seats, there’s no feeling whatsoever of a wall between performer and audience in the miniature space. Recent headliner Rufus Wainwright said it best: “This is such a cute little opera house!” he exclaimed from the stage. “I’m imagining a cute little production of Aida, with baby elephants playing big elephants, and little midget singers!” And, yes, amid its regular bookings of theater as well as jazz, pop, folk, and classical music, the Napa Valley Opera House still does opera—look for Cosi Fan Tutte, Don Pasquale and La Boheme later this year.

Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive, Yountville.707.944.1300. Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St., Napa. 707.226.7372. —G.M.

Best Media Personality

Marin

Gus Conde, KWMR 90.5-FM

P.O. Box 1262, Pt. Reyes Station.415.663.0905.

Napa

L. Pierce Carson, Napa Valley Register

1615 Second St., Napa.707.226.3711.

Sonoma

Bill Bowker, KRSH 95.9-FM

3565 Standish Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.588.0707.

Honorable Mention

Brent Farris, KZST 100.1-FM

3392 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.707.528.4434.

Gus Conde and KWMR: Radio’s sweet and savory audio pie

It’s just what you’d expect from the land of cosmic hot tubs, proud liberality and stratospherically priced bungalows. Indeed, KWMR 90.5-FM community radio is everything you’d expect—and then some. As Marin County’s one and only broadcast station, it serves up hot, fat slices of both the sweet and the savory: fruity, nutty, meaty and cool creamy slices of radio pie. Musically, KWMR casts an eccentric/eclectic net over programming, ranging from the deep tracks of Bach and Bartók to space jazz, bluegrass, Tibetan Monk chants, old-timey rock ‘n’ roll and bowhead whale whistles, those subpop genres you’d expect every sophisticated Marin west-ender to bury between his or her well-fed ears.

KWMR has a paid staff of just four, an 18-watt low-power signal, lots of accomplished dedicated volunteers and a mission to western Marin County that extends to its role as the area’s sole broadcast emergency info provider.

Among the regular favorites is “Barrio Vibes,” broadcast at 8:10 each Friday morning and hosted by Point Reyes National Seashore ranger and part Mayan Indian, Augusto “Gus” Conde, your pick for Best Media Personality in Marin. “Barrio Vibes” is a bilingual talkfest-cum-music-show combining Spanish tunes of the Americas as well as English and other language songs from Conde’s personal collection. In addition to the music, Conde and his guests discuss issues facing the large and growing Spanish-speaking populace of western Marin.

Beyond the tunes and disasters, KWMR comes in with “West Marin Green Cuisine,” lit blasts, environmental updates and intrigues, historical sketches, Commonweal school conversations, nature explorations, kitsch, a show called “The Hippie from Olema” as well as programming for Sufis, deep-sea ocean-life divers, fine-art junkies and film nuts, while featuring audio scenes from interesting places like the Cockroach Hall of Fame, as well as interviews with the obscure, the notable and such famed guests as Noam Chomsky. KWMR calls itself “Homegrown Radio for West Marin,” which is to say that it’s not Manhattan, Montana or Mississippi.—P.J.P.

Best Band

Marin

Til Dawn

www.myspace.com/123tildawn456

Napa

Johnny Smith Group

www.johnnysmithgroup.com

Sonoma

Pat Jordan Band

www.patjordanband.com

Honorable Mention

Pumps: Fire

www.myspace.com/pumpsfiresound

Best Music Festival

Marin

Novato Music Art & Wine Festival

www.novato.org

Napa

Mustard, Mud & Music Festival

www.calistogajazz.org

Sonoma

Harmony Festival

www.harmonyfestival.com

Honorable Mention

Russian River Blues Festival

www.russianriverfestivals.com

Best Music Venue

Marin

19 Broadway Nite Club

19 Broadway Blvd., Fairfax.415.459.1091.

Napa

First Place Tie

Outdoor Concerts at COPIA

500 First St., Napa.707.259.1600.

Napa Valley Opera House

1030 Main St., Napa.707.226.7372.

Sonoma

Mystic Theatre

23 Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma.707.765.2121.

Honorable Mention

Wells Fargo Center for the Performing Arts

50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa.707.546.3600.

Best Media

Napa

KVON / KVYN

1124 Foster Road, Napa. 707.258.1111.

Sonoma

KRSH 95.9-FM

3565 Standish Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.588.0707.

Best Movie Theater

Marin

Christopher Smith Rafael Film Center

1118 Fourth St., San Rafael.415.454.1222.

Napa

Cameo Cinema

1340 Main St., St. Helena.707.963.9779.

Sonoma

Rialto Cinemas Lakeside

551 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa.707.525.4840.

Honorable Mention

Roxy Stadium 14 Cinemas

85 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.707.522.0330.

Best Museum

Marin

First Place Tie

Marin History Museum

1125 B St., San Rafael.415.454.8538.

Bolinas Art Museum

48 Wharf Road, Bolinas.415.868.0330.

Napa

Di Rosa Preserve

5200 Carneros Hwy., Napa.707.226.5991.

Sonoma

Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center

2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa.707.579.4452.

Honorable Mention

Sonoma County Museum

425 Seventh St., Santa Rosa.707.579.1500.


Bohemian Best of Everyday 2008 Reader’s Choice

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Bohemian Best of Everyday 2008 Reader’s Choice

03.19.08
Best Hospital HealthCare Clinic

Marin

Marin General Hospital

250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae. 415.925.7000.

Napa

Queen of the Valley Medical Center

1000 Trancas St., Napa. 707.252.4411.

Sonoma

St. Joseph Health System&–Sonoma County

151 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa. 707.547.2500. 400 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. 707.778.1111.

Honorable Mention

Palm Drive Hospital

501 Petaluma Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.823.8511.

Best Med Spa

Marin

First Place Tie

Dr. Robert G. Aycock

575 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae. 415.925.1700.

Mt. Tam Laser & Skin Care

1030 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ste. 130, Kentfield. 415.482.3888.

Napa

Synergy Medical Fitness Center

3421 Villa Lane, Napa. 707.251.1395.

Sonoma

Allegro MedSpa

4625 Quigg Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.537.2123.

Honorable Mention

Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary

209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone. 707.823.8231.

Best Holistic Practitioner

Marin

Dr. Fernando Ulloa

711 D St., San Rafael. 415.454.4100.

Napa

Janet Garvey-Stangvik, Napa Valley Center for Spiritual Living

1227 Coombs St., Napa. 707.252.4847.

Sonoma

Ian McCullough, Sebastopol Family Acupuncture

490 Pitt Ave., Sebastopol. 707.823.4300.

Honorable Mention

William Prange, OMD

2640 Olsen Road, Sebastopol. 707.829.1991.

Best Acupuncturist

Marin

Joseph Odom

22 Belle Ave., San Anselmo. 415.258.9551.

Napa

Jennifer Chen Everett, Natural Healing Center

901 Trancas St., Napa. 707.226.5393.

Sonoma

Ian McCullough, Sebastopol Family Acupuncture

490 Pitt Ave., Sebastopol. 707.823.4300.

Honorable Mention

David Russell, Russell Family Acupuncture

134 Howard St., Petaluma. 707.773.3375.

Best Chiropractor

Marin

Scott Lessard

911 Mission Ave., San Rafael. 415.453.8587.

Napa

Giles Family Chiropractic

2020 Redwood Road, Napa. 707.251.9363.

Sonoma

Carr Chiropractic

711 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.431.7255.

Honorable Mention

Jake Quihous, The Chiropractic Center

1819 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.523.9850.

Best Optical Store

Marin

Rims & Goggles

606 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley. 415.383.9480.

Napa

Site for Sore Eyes

1333 Napa Town Center, Napa. 707.224.7483.

Sonoma

Sonoma Eyeworks

534 Larkfield Shopping Center, Santa Rosa. 707.578.2020.

Honorable Mention

Optical World Optometry

1054 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa. 707.544.3000.

Empire Optometry

800 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.542.1554.

Best Orthodontist

Napa

Dr. Charles de Lorimier

3434 Villa Lane, Napa. 707.255.0555.

Sonoma

Bernstein Orthodontics

515 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa.707.575.0600.

8741 Brooks Road, S., Windsor. 707.836.8360.

Honorable Mention

Dr. Brian W. Payne

36 Doctors Park Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.546.5234.

9025 Old Redwood Hwy., Ste. A, Windsor. 707.838.4959.

Best Esthetic Dentist

Marin

Dr. Michael G. Dab

750 Las Gallinas Ave., Ste. 111, San Rafael. 415.472.5211.

Napa

Dr. Samuel Gittings

3435 Valle Verde Drive, Ste. A, Napa. 707.253.2770.

Sonoma

Dr. Michael Neal

1310 Prentice Drive, Ste. A, Healdsburg. 707.433.6910.

Honorable Mention

Dr. John W. Buzza

2448 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa. 707.573.0600.

Best Laser Surgery Center

Napa

Eye Care Center

895 Trancas St., Napa. 707.252.2020.

Sonoma

Aesthetic Laser & Vein Center of the North Bay

170 Farmer’s Lane, Ste. 6B, Santa Rosa. 707.546.8346.

Honorable Mention

Laser Vue Eye Center

3540 Mendocino Ave., Ste. 200, Santa Rosa. 707.522.6200.

Best Plastic Surgeon

Marin

Dr. Robert G. Aycock

575 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae. 415.925.1700.

Napa

Dr. John P. Zimmerman

3443 Villa Lane, Ste. 10, Napa. 707.258.6077.

Sonoma

Dr. Francisco Canales, Allegro MedSpa

4625 Quigg Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.537.2111.

Honorable Mention

Dr. David E. Marcus

1128 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.575.1626.

Best Body Art Place

Marin

Spider Murphy’s

1006 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael. 415.460.6979.

Napa

Garage Ink Studios

814 Third St., Napa. 707.254.7125.

Sonoma

Buddha’s Palm

974 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol. 707.829.7256.

Honorable Mention

Monkey Wrench

1700 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.575.0610.

Best Hair Salon

Marin

Benvenuto

536 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo. 415.454.1347.

Napa

Iveta Salon & Gallery

1341 Napa Town Center, Napa. 707.259.0517.

Sonoma

Troy Michael’s Salon

967 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol. 707.829.2100.

Honorable Mention

Pomegranate Salon

824 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.528.2923.

Best Tanning Salon

Sonoma

Bronze&–A Tanning Studio

52 Mission Circle, Santa Rosa. 707.538.1580.

Shiloh Shopping Center, 6500 Hembree Lane, Ste. 210, Windsor. 707.837.7331.

Honorable Mention

Great Sunsations Tanning Spa

508 Seventh St., in the Brickyard Center, Santa Rosa. 707.545.6786.

Best Clothing Store Women

Marin

Duarteau Boutique

919 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.258.0313.

Napa

First Place Tie

The Mustard Seed

1301 Napa Town Center, Napa. 707.255.4222.

Pearl Wonderful Clothing

1428 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.3236.

Sonoma

Arboretum

332 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.7033.

Honorable Mention

Dressers

141 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.829.8757.

Best Clothing Store Men

Marin

Louis Thomas Fine Men’s Apparel & Formal Wear

211 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera. 415.924.1715.

Napa

First Place Tie

Williamson & Company Menswear

1267 Napa Town Center, Napa. 707.224.5284.

Mario’s

1223 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.1603.

Sonoma

Arboretum

332 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.7033.

Honorable Mention

Outlander Men’s Gear

103 Plaza St., Healdsburg. 707.433.7800.

Best Secondhand Store

Marin

Encore Fine Consignments

11 Mary St., San Rafael. 415.456.7309.

Napa

LoLo’s

1120 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.7972.

Sonoma

Sack’s On the Square

116 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.541.7227.

Honorable Mention

Launch

971 Gravenstein Ave., Sebastopol. 707.829.3312.

Best Vintage Clothing Store

Marin

Deja Nu

1224 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.258.0200.

Napa

Wild Cat!

1210 First St., Napa. 707-224-3162.

Sonoma

Hot Couture

101 Third St., Santa Rosa. 707.528.7247.

Honorable Mention

Aubergine

3690 Bohemian Hwy., Occidental. 707.874.9034.

755 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 707.827.3460.

Best Shoe Store

Marin

Mara’s Shoes

824 Grant Ave., Novato. 415.892.3732.

Napa

Shoes on First

1227 First St., Napa. 707.252.7280.

Sonoma

Sole Desire

441 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa. 707.571.8643.

2411 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.542.1690.

500 W. Napa St., Sonoma. 707.933.1702.

151 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma. 707.778.6967.

Honorable Mention

Rainsong Shoes

117 Plaza St., Healdsburg. 707.433.8058.

2410 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.576.8919.

Best Day Spa

Marin

Spa de Novato

1305 Grant Ave., Novato. 415.897.4511.

Napa

Greenhaus European Day Spa

1300 Pearl St., Napa. 707.257.8837.

Sonoma

Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary

209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone. 707.823.8231.

Honorable Mention

Mermaid’s Spa

115 S. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.823.3535.

Best Resort Spa

Marin

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa

801 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.0502.

Napa

Solage Calistoga

755 Silverado Trail, Calistoga. 866.942.7442.

Sonoma

First Place Tie

Kenwood Inn & Spa

10400 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood. 707.833.1293.

Flamingo Resort Hotel

2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.545.8530.

Best Feed Store

Marin

Toby’s Feed Barn

11250 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1223.

Napa

Wilson’s Feed Supply

1700 Yajome St., Napa. 707.252.0316.

Sonoma

Western Farm Center

21 W. Seventh St., Santa Rosa. 707.545.0721.

Honorable Mention

Frizelle-Enos Company

265 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 707.823.6404.

Best Animal Shelter

Marin

Marin Humane Society

171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato. 415.506.6263.

Napa

We Care Animal Rescue

1345 Charter Oak Ave., St. Helena. 707.963.7044.

Sonoma

Humane Society & SPCA of Sonoma County

5345 Hwy. 12, Santa Rosa. 707.542.0882.

Honorable Mention

Healdsburg Animal Shelter

570 Westside Road, Healdsburg. 707.431.3386.

Best Kennel

Marin

Bed & Biscuits Doggie Inn & Salon

4240 Redwood Hwy., San Rafael. 415.499.0199.

Napa

Bonny Doone Kennel

1003 Los Carneros Ave., Napa. 707.226.1200.

Sonoma

Olivet Kennel & Dog Training Resort

2404 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. 707.542.2066.

Honorable Mention

Humane Society & SPCA of Sonoma County

5345 Hwy. 12, Santa Rosa. 707.542.0882.

Best Dog Camp

Marin

Camp K-9

5810 Paradise Drive, Corte Madera. 415.924.2267.

Sonoma

Camp Bow Wow

2120 Bluebell Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.546.2267.

Honorable Mention

Olivet Kennel

2404 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. 707.542.2066.

Best Doggie Daycare

Marin

Wags N Woofs

254 Shoreline Hwy., Mill Valley. 415.383.2111.

Napa

Camp Rawhide

1452 Silverado Trail, Napa. 707.226.6010.

Sonoma

Camp Bow Wow

2120 Bluebell Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.546.2267.

Honorable Mention

Olivet Kennel & Dog Training Resort

2404 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. 707.542.2066.

Best Dog Park

Marin

Mill Valley Dog Park

In Bayfront Park, Sycamore Avenue at Camino Alto.

Napa

Alston Park

Dry Creek Road, Napa. 707.257.9529.

Sonoma

Ragle Ranch Park

500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol. 707.823.7262.

Honorable Mention

Villa Chanticleer Dog Park

Look for Dog Park sign on way to Villa Chanticleer, 1248 N. Fitch Mountain Road, Healdsburg.

Best Dog Beach

Marin

Stinson Beach

Highway 1, between Mill Valley and Bolinas.

Napa

Napa River at John F. Kennedy Park

Highway 221 just south of Napa Valley College. 707.257.9529.

Sonoma

Dillon Beach

1 Beach Ave., Dillon Beach.

Honorable Mention

Salmon Creek Beach, Bodega Bay

Between Jenner and Bodega Bay on Highway 1. 707.875.3483.

Best Dog Trainer

Marin

Marin Humane Society

171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato. 415.506.6263.

Napa

Dina Mitchell, Caninestein Dog Training

547 Randolph St., Apt. C, Napa. 707.254.9615.

Sonoma

Sapir Weiss, Olivet Kennel & Dog Training Resort

2404 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. 707.542.2066.

Honorable Mention

Patty Malnick, Happy Dogs

3687 Hemlock St., Santa Rosa. 707.570.2809.

Best Groomer

Marin

Canine Design, Lois Amaru

1435 Fourth St., Ste. C, San Rafael. 415.456.4112.

Napa

Tails of the City

2205-A Main St., Napa. 707.254.7877.

Sonoma

Stephanie Burgasser, Humane Society & SPCA of Sonoma County

5345 Hwy. 12, Santa Rosa. 707.542.0882.

Honorable Mention

The Soggy Doggy

452 Tenth St., Santa Rosa. 707.542.0244.

Best Pet Boutique

Marin

Canine Design

1435 Fourth St., Ste. C, San Rafael. 415.456.4112.

Napa

Vineyard Dog

1136 Main St., Napa. 707.226.5300.

Sonoma

Healdsburg Dog House

212 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.431.1044.

Honorable Mention

Fideaux

401 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.9935.

Best Veterinarian

Marin

Dr. Mary Whitney, Pt. Reyes Animal Hospital

11030 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1533.

Napa

Dr. Paul Hess, Silverado Veterinary Hospital

2035 Silverado Trail, Napa. 707.224.7953.

Sonoma

Dr. David McCrystle

135 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.5539.

Honorable Mention

Dr. Grant Patrick, Montecito Veterinary Center

4900 Sonoma Hwy., Santa Rosa. 707.539.2322.

Best Animal Surgeon

Marin

San Rafael Animal Hospital

419 Irwin St., San Rafael. 415.453.2004.

Napa

Dr. Paul O. Hess, Silverado Veterinary Hospital

2035 Silverado Trail, Napa. 707.224.7953.

Sonoma

Dr. David McCrystle

135 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.5539.

Honorable Mention

Dr. Gilbert T. Robello

1370 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa. 707.579.5900.

Best Cigar Pipe Shop

Marin

Mighty Quinn

1099 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.457.2420.

Napa

Baker Street Tobacco Clocks

1018 First St., Napa. 707.255.4434.

Sonoma

Mighty Quinn

3372 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.545.5081.

Honorable Mention

Homeblown Glass

705 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.591.0420.

7108 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. 707.824.8242.

Peacepipe

622 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.541.7016.

Best Grocery Store

Marin

First Place Tie

United Markets

515 Third St., San Rafael. 415.454.8912.

100 Redhill Ave., San Anselmo. 415.456.1271.

Good Earth Natural & Organic Foods

1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax. 415.454.0123.

Napa

Vallerga’s Market

3385 Solano Ave., Napa. 707.253.2621.

Sonoma

Oliver’s Market

546 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati. 707.795.9501.

560 Montecito Court, Santa Rosa. 707.537.7123.

561 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa. 707.284.3530.

Honorable Mention

Pacific Markets

550 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. 707.823.4916.

1465 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3663.

901 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park. 707.585.9643.

Best Natural Foods Store

Marin

Good Earth Natural & Organic Foods

1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax. 415.454.0123.

Napa

Golden Carrot Natural Foods

1621 W. Imola Ave., Napa. 707.224.3117.

Sonoma

Community Market

1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.546.1806.

Honorable Mention

Oliver’s Market

546 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati. 707.795.9501.

560 Montecito Court, Santa Rosa. 707.537.7123.

461 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa. 707.284.3530.

Best Ethnic Market

Marin

Asian Market

5 Mary St., San Rafael. 415.459.7133.

Napa

Oxbow Public Market

610 First St., Napa. 707.226.6529.

Sonoma

Lola’s Market

1680 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa. 707.571.7579.

440 Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.577.8846.

Honorable Mention

Asia Market

1110 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa. 707.546.9618.

Best Culinary Store

Marin

Pini Ace Hardware

1535 S. Novato Blvd., Novato. 415.892.1577.

Napa

Shackford’s Kitchen Store

1350 Main St., Napa. 707.226.2132.

Sonoma

Hardisty’s

1565 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.545.0534.

Honorable Mention

McCoy’s Cookware

2579 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.526.3856.

Best Antique Shop

Marin

Dove Place Antiques & Consignment

160 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo. 415.453.1490.

Napa

Silverado Antique Center

1210 Napa Town Center, Napa. 707.253.1966.

Sonoma

Whistle Stop Antiques

130 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.542.9474.

Honorable Mention

Antique Society

2661 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol. 707.829.1733.

Best Appliance Store

Marin

Martin & Harris Appliances

2158 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.454.2021.

Napa

Harbison Appliance

333 Third St., Napa. 707.253.2141.

Sonoma

Asien’s Appliances

1801 Piner Road, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3749.

Honorable Mention

TeeVax

422 Wilson St., Santa Rosa. 707.545.1195.

Best Furniture Store

Marin

Sunrise Home

831 B St., San Rafael. 415.456.3939.

Napa

Custom House Furniture

706 Trancas St., Napa. 707.224.5544.

Sonoma

Pedersen’s Furniture Company

707 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 707.542.1855.

Honorable Mention

Gado Gado International

129 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.525.8244.

Best Home Furnishings

Sonoma

Cokas Diko

529 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.548.4044.

9000 Windsor Road, Windsor. 707.838.6555.

Honorable Mention

Pedersen’s Furniture Company

707 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 707.542.1855.

Best Home Improvement

Napa

Steve’s Hardware & Homeware

1370 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.3423.

Sonoma

Friedman’s Home Improvement

4055 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.584.7811.

1360 Broadway Ave., Sonoma. 707.939.8811.

Honorable Mention

Sebastopol Hardware Center

660 Hwy. 116 N., Sebastopol. 707.823.7688.

Best Nursery

Marin

Sloat Garden Centers

www.sloatgardens.com

Napa

Whiting Nursery

738 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.5358.

Sonoma

Harmony Farm Supply & Nursery

3244 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. 707.823.9125.

Honorable Mention

King’s Nursery

1212 13th St., Santa Rosa. 707.542.4782.

Best Home Builder

Marin

First Place Tie

Steve Rempe Contractor Inc.

1020 Railroad Ave., Novato. 415.897.9126.

Jack Mosher Construction Inc.

504 Red Hill Ave., San Anselmo. 415.457.0713.

Napa

Christopherson Homes Inc.

1315 Airport Blvd., Santa Rosa. 707.542.8222.

Sonoma

Christopherson Homes Inc.

1315 Airport Blvd., Santa Rosa. 707.524.8222.

Honorable Mention

Monsoon Construction Company

P.O. Box 1502, Healdsburg. 707.433.7813.

Best Real Estate Agent & Company

Marin

Carol Scott, Bradley Real Estate

700 Fifth Ave., San Rafael. 415.258.4141.

Napa

Fay Guman Real Estate Services

1025 Mt. George Ave., Napa. 707.255.5316.

Sonoma

Jeffrey Seligson, Prudential Real Estate

7300 Healdsburg Ave., Sebastopol. 707.829.2011.

Honorable Mention

Gail Ryan, Healdsburg Realty

709 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.431.9757.

Best Bank

Marin

Bank of Marin

www.bankofmarin.com

Napa

Napa Community Bank

700 Trancas St., Napa. 707.227.9300.

Sonoma

Exchange Bank

545 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.524.3000.

Honorable Mention

Redwood Credit Union

www.redwoodcu.org

Best Nonprofit

Marin

West Marin Family Center

11550 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.8101.

Napa

Arts Council Napa Valley

1041 Jefferson St., Ste. 4, Napa. 707.257.2117.

Sonoma

Sutter VNA & Hospice Foundation

1110 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.535.5700.

Honorable Mention

Humane Society & SPCA of Sonoma County

5345 Hwy. 12, Santa Rosa. 707.542.0882.

Best Auto Dealer New

Marin

RAB Motors

540 W. Francisco Blvd., San Rafael. 415.454.0582.

Napa

Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet

583 Soscol Ave., Napa. 707.255.7600.

Sonoma

Freeman Toyota

2875 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.542.1791.

Honorable Mention

Manly Honda

2750 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.542.5377.

Best Auto Dealer Used

Marin

RAB Motors

540 W. Francisco Blvd., San Rafael. 415.454.0582.

Napa

Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet

583 Soscol Ave., Napa. 707.255.7600.

Sonoma

Freeman Toyota

2875 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.542.1791.

Honorable Mention

Manly Honda

2750 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.542.5377.

Best Auto Detailing

Marin

Anthony’s Auto Craft Inc.

103 Verdi St., San Rafael. 415.456.7591.

Napa

Classic Car Wash

1050 Freeway Drive, Napa. 707.255.5655.

Sonoma

First Place Tie

Autobahn Auto Detailing

3485 Airway Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.528.8455.

Silveira

985 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.5541.

Honorable Mention

Freeman Toyota

2875 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.542.1791.

Best Auto Repair

Marin

Anthony’s Auto Craft Inc.

103 Verdi St., San Rafael. 415.456.7591.

Napa

Advanced Auto Body Center

2497 Second St., Napa. 707.226.9693.

Sonoma

Out West Garage

321 Second St., Petaluma. 707.769.0162.

Honorable Mention

Tri Star Automotive

484 Kenwood Court, Santa Rosa. 707.571.8866.

Best Mode of Alt Transportation

Marin

Golden Gate Ferry

www.goldengateferry.org

Napa

Evans Transportation

4075 Solano Ave., Napa. 707.253.1300.

Sonoma

Sonoma County Transit

www.sctransit.com

Honorable Mention

Rickshaw Rudy’s

P.O. Box 1585, Windsor. 707.838.9922.

Best Motorcycle Shop

Marin

Golden Gate Harley Davidson

13 San Clemente Drive, Corte Madera. 415.927.4464.

7077 Redwood Blvd., Novato. 415.878.4988.

Napa

Yamaha of Napa

459 Soscol Ave., Napa. 707.254.7432.

Sonoma

Moto Meccanica

1111 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa. 707.578.6686.

Honorable Mention

Michael’s Harley Davidson

7601 Redwood Drive, Cotati. 707.793.9180.

Best Scooter Shop

Napa

Big Kid Toys

476 Soscol Ave., Napa. 707.256.3300.

Sonoma

Revolution Moto

307 D St., Santa Rosa. 707.523.2371.

Honorable Mention

Zap

501 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.545.5190.

Best Electronics Store

Marin

Marin Electronics

823 Fourth St., San Rafael. 800.321.4524.

Napa

Abe’s Electronics

1030 Lincoln Ave., Napa. 707.265.8575.

Sonoma

California Audio & Video

10101 Main St., Penngrove. 707.795.9065.

Honorable Mention

HSC Electronics & Computers

5681 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park. 707.585.7344.

Best Independent Computer Store

Marin

Marin Mac Store

1031 C St., San Rafael. 415.459.9380.

Sonoma

Wine Country Computers

424 Center St., Healdsburg. 707.431.8818.

Honorable Mention

Santa Rosa Computers

820 Piner Road, Santa Rosa. 707.570.2040.

Best Internet Provider

Marin

Horizon Cable

www.horizoncable.com

Napa

Napanet

www.napanet.net

Sonoma

Sonic.Net

www.sonic.net

Honorable Mention

Silicon Valley North

www.svn.net

sonic.net: sympathetic and serene

“Um, hi. I’m one of your customers, one of your dumber customers. You know how you guys, and yeah, I guess every other IT professional, always natters on about the importance of keeping passwords and log-ins, you know, separate from the computer? How you folks are always nagging dumb people like me about writing stuff down and putting it somewhere where it can be found again? Well, I’m just calling to tell you that you were right. Turns out that leaving every log-in and pass I have from my kids’ FAFSA interface to my grudging MySpace log-in to . . . well, that’s why I’m calling . . . it’s all on those electronic sticky notes, the ones that are like virtual Post-Its, do you know those? Yeah, they’re great. Anyway, that program seems to have died or I accidentally erased it from my hard drive or fairies came in the night and stole it, I dunno, but they’re gone, and now I don’t know how to access my web-based email for you guys because without them I evidently have no brain and I certainly have no password. Can you help?”

The above could be an annual transcription from certain dumb editors, those who do in fact keep every vital piece of information sketchily stored on those great little sticky notes that are just like virtual Post-Its and that have, on occasion, simply gone away. Which is when I must bore and annoy the good folks at Sonic.net, your pick for Best Internet Service Provider for Sonoma County. They’re my ISP, too, and I must confess to a deep and rigorous love. Because every year when I have once again totally forgotten how to log on to my web-based email and the stickies have forsaken me, I have once again called them, delivered the long boring ramble transcribed above, and a helpful person has been able to cleverly mask his (obvious, innate) hatred for me and my stupidity by making everything right. In minutes. As if by magic. Or by fairies. Or perhaps it’s the virtual stickies working their goodness on everything. The Internets, go figure. Sonic.net, www.sonic.net—G.G..

Best Independent Copy Biz Services

Marin

Pt. Reyes Printing

65 Third St., Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.9355.

Napa

The Copy Corner

2200 Jefferson St., Napa. 707.258.1835.

Sonoma

Sprint Copy Center

175 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.823.3900.

Honorable Mention

Jensen’s Copy & Fine Arts Supply

336 Center St., Healdsburg. 707.433.8831.

Best Fair Trade Sustainable Goods Business

Marin

Coyuchi Inc.

11101 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.8077.

Sonoma

Kindred Fair Trade Handcrafts

605 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.579.1459.

Honorable Mention

Real Goods

www.realgoodssolar.com

Best Gift Shop

Marin

Bloomworks

200 Bon Air Shopping Center, Greenbrae. 415.464.8166.

518 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo. 415.453.2478.

Napa

Visions of the Napa Valley

6540 Washington St., Yountville. 707.944.1277.

Sonoma

Milk & Honey

123 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.824.1155.

Honorable Mention

Mr. Moon’s

316 Center St., Healdsburg. 707.433.6666.

Best Musical Instruments Store

Marin

Bananas at Large

1504 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.457.7600.

Napa

Napa Music Supply

2026 Redwood Road, Napa. 707.265.8275.

Sonoma

People’s Music

122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.823.7664.

Honorable Mention

Zone Music

7884 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati. 707.644.1213.

Best Jewelry Store

Marin

Stephan-Hill Jewelry Designers

1226 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.459.5808.

Napa

Napa Valley Jewelers

1317 North Town Center, Napa. 707.224.0997.

Sonoma

Artisana

146 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.829.3036.

Honorable Mention

Earthworks

350 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa. 707.528.7181.

403 First St. W., Sonoma. 707.935.0290.

Best Costume Shop

Marin

The Belrose

1415 Fifth Ave., San Rafael. 415.454.6422.

Napa

Wild Cat!

1210 First St., Napa. 707.257.8702.

Sonoma

Disguise the Limit / Funny Business

100 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.575.1477.

Honorable Mention

HeeBee JeeBee’s

46 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 707.773.3222.

Best Art Supplies

Marin

Perry’s Art Supplies & Framing

128 Greenfield Ave., San Anselmo. 415.454.3317.

Napa

Napa Valley Art Supply

(in Cartons and Crates) 253-A Walnut St., Napa. 707.224.7447.

Sonoma

Rileystreet Art Supply

103 Maxwell Ct., Santa Rosa. 707.526.2416.

Honorable Mention

Village Art Supply

525 Hahman Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.575.4501.

Best Framing Shop

Marin

Cheap Pete’s

221 Third St., San Rafael. 415.455.8055.

Sonoma

Hammerfriar Gallery

129 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.473.9600.

Honorable Mention

My Daughter the Framer

1617 Terrace Way, Santa Rosa. 707.542.3599.

Best Bookstore New

Marin

Book Passage

51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 415.927.0960.

Napa

Copperfield’s Books

www.copperfields.net

Sonoma

Copperfield’s Books

www.copperfields.net

Honorable Mention

North Light Books & Cafe

550 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati. 707.792.4300.

Best Bookstore Used

Marin

First Place Tie

San Anselmo Booksmith

615 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo. 415.459.7323.

Pt. Reyes Books

11315 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1542.

Napa

Copperfield’s Books

www.copperfields.net

Sonoma

Copperfield’s Books

www.copperfields.net

Honorable Mention

Treehorn Books

625 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.525.1782.

Book Passage: Intellectual smorgie

By and large—and with the obvious exception of Michael Chabon—writers are an ugly lot. That allows them to freely shop at the same grocery store you do, pump discount gas into their used cars just in front of you and be passed out at the local pub on the stool right next to you without you being ever the wiser. Not counting such superstars as Amy Tan, who keeps a pied-à-terre in Sausalito, thus making her a North Bay neighbor, most writers, even the searingly beloved, can freely go through their days unrecognized. (Paparazzi aren’t generally interested in skinny neurotic people whose most pumped-up feature is the wrist.) Such anonymity is maintained until they’re under the modest spotlight provided by Book Passage, your pick for Best New Bookstore in Marin County. At near-nightly free events, Book Passage is fairly the 92nd Street Y for the Left Coast set, sending superstar writer after superstar writer in through its doors for intimate readings, lively discussions, popular conferences, bustling book clubs and many fundraising events.

Started in 1976 by Elaine Petrocelli and her husband Bill, Book Passage now hosts some 700 readings a year in its Corte Madera store and newer outlet in San Francisco’s Ferry Building. Al Gore has held sway there as has Dave Barry. Marin writers Anne Lamott and Isabel Allende are guaranteed to be in the house when they’ve got new releases. Threatened by that Other Bookstore taking over corporate residence at the Corte Madera Town Center, Book Passage has serenely continued to do what it’s always done best, connecting readers with writers. There are not many other bookstores anywhere—the North Bay or beyond—where a reader can daydream over the many Paris apartments for rent before taking a French class before having a lovely lunch before purchasing a book before taking a writing class or even before attending a two-day conference led by premiere writers and literary agents. Book Passage has made such a delicious intellectual buffet a daily reality.

The Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 415.927.0960.—G.G.

Best CD Store New

Marin

Bedrock

2226 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.258.9745.

Sonoma

Last Record Store

1899-A Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.525.1963.

Honorable Mention

Backdoor Disc & Tape

7665 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati. 707.795.9597.

Best CD Store Used

Marin

Watts Music

1211 Grant Ave., Novato. 415.897.2892.

Sonoma

Last Record Store

1899-A Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.525.1963.

Honorable Mention

Backdoor Disc & Tape

7665 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati. 707.795.9597.

Best Video Rental

Marin

Video Droid

www.videodroid.net

Napa

Peter’s Video

1000 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga. 707.942.4751.

1200-D Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.2739.

Sonoma

Box Office Video

6960 McKinley Ave., Sebastopol. 707.823.9798.

Honorable Mention

Video Droid

[ http://www.videodroid.net ]www.videodroid.net


Freedom of Hate Speech

03.26.08N early six and a half years ago, Novato High School's student newspaper, The Buzz , published a controversial editorial entitled "Immigration." Penned by the paper's journalism program student-elected opinion editor, Andrew Smith, then a senior, "Immigration" suggested non-English-speaking immigrants be stopped and questioned. "Seems to me," Smith wrote, "that the only reason why they can't speak English is...
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Outside Lands Festival – Full Lineup Announced

Just got back from the Warriors game. Seven separate heart attacks. Baron matching Kobe point-for-point. Behind-the-back, over-the-shoulder layups and insane hail marys. Last few minutes, the lead dribbles back and forth. Bell: tied. Overtime. Place is in a frenzy. Came down to four seconds left. Monta gets a whistle and it's bullshit. Kobe sinks two from the line and...
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Annie Leibovitz at the Legion of Honor

I wasn’t planning on stopping by the Annie Leibovitz exhibit at the Legion of Honor, A Photographer’s Life: 1990-2005, but I’m glad I did, if only to now have the authority to say that I shouldn’t have. It’s a very personal collection, burdened with the weight of death, and though there might have been some emotional strength that went...
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The Velvet Teen at the Phoenix Theater

Partway through the Velvet Teen's set last night at the Phoenix, Judah Nagler started noodling on the keyboard, playing snippets of music from game shows and Nintendo games. The crowd, of course, loved it, just as everyone at the Phoenix, whether they knew it or not, loved what it represented: that the Velvet Teen is loosening up. Weathering a...
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Boredoms at the Fillmore

Unless you own a ticket stub from seeing God, I can guarantee that you've never seen anything like the Boredoms. As for me, I'd witnessed neither deity when I bought my tickets to Tuesday's show at the Fillmore, but after what can only be described as one of the most inspiring and incredible performances ever given, I feel like I...
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The Last Record Store

There are certain things we say in life that we never thought we'd ever, ever say. Things like, "Let's go out to sushi," or "I've been kinda into reggae lately." And today, I find myself saying one of those unthinkable things. After 14 years, I have worked my final day at the Last Record Store. Maybe "worked" isn't the right...
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Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz Coming To Sebastopol!

People at Gogol Bordello's typically frenetic and crazy show at the Warfield Theater last week might have been too caught up in the mayhem to notice, but amidst the gypsy-punk rollicking and flailing bodies, singer Eugene Hutz announced to the crowd that he was going to be part of some sort of Gypsy festival in Sebastopol. With his Eastern...
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First Novels at the Toad in the Hole

The Toad in the Hole has an official fire capacity of, like, 48, and I usually feel really bad for Eddie, their doorman. Part of his job is to be the messenger of bad news and to turn paying customers away when the place is hopping—which was definitely the case last Saturday night. Chalk it up to First Novels,...
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Bohemian Best of Culture 2008 Readers Choice

03.19.08Best Art GalleryMarinGallery Route One11101 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1347.NapaDi Rosa Preserve5200 Carneros Hwy., Napa. 707.226.5991.SonomaFirst Place TieRiverfront Art Gallery 132 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma.707.775.4278.The Quicksilver Mine Co. 6671 Front St., Forestville.707.887.0799.Honorable MentionA Street Gallery312 S. A St., Santa Rosa.707.578.9124.Best Outdoor Art EventMarinSausalito Art Festivalwww.sausalitoartfestival.orgNapaNapa Wine & Crafts Fairewww.napadowntown.comSonomaARTrailswww.arttrails.orgHonorable MentionPetaluma Art in the Park Walnut Park at D...
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Bohemian Best of Everyday 2008 Reader’s Choice

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