You’ve Got (Hate) Mail

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You’ve Got (Hate) Mail

It’s a shocker: A-list blogger Kathy Sierra found herself Photoshopped with a thong on her face in a hate post by another blogger.

By Richard Koman

Last month, a strange little episode of grown-up cyberbullying surprised tech culture, the blogosphere and the Internet as a whole. Kathy Sierra, an author and speaker whose special focus is “creating passionate users” for websites, announced on her blog that she was canceling a speaking engagement at the prestigious E-Tech Conference run by Sebastopol-based O’Reilly Media, which is also her publisher.

The reason, which she documented in excruciating detail on her blog, was that some particularly raucous attacks on her had escalated to death threats–in both words and images–which led her to literally fear for her life. A Photoshop image, posted on another site, of Sierra with a noose next to her head along with a user comment that “the only thing Kathy has to offer me is that noose in her neck size.” The last straw, she wrote, was a Photoshop image of Sierra, a striking blond, being suffocated by a pair of thong panties. The image contained the text: “I dream of Kathy Sierra.”

Announcing her cancellation, Sierra went out swinging, naming a number of “A-list” web personalities as responsible or culpable. There were recriminations that she was engaging in character assassination. Hundreds of women spoke up on her blog that they too had also been harassed, humiliated and threatened.

“She could have done more homework. Perhaps she overreacted,” Tim O’Reilly, a leading technology voice and Sierra’s publisher, said in a recent phone interview. “But it’s good that it came out. It pointed out that there’s a misogynistic thread in our society–much more than people realize. It’s not just online. There are zones of nastiness in our society–talk radio, Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh and the blogosphere. Maybe the difference is just in the code of conduct.”

If the blogosphere’s organic code of conduct is proving insufficient, perhaps a more explicit one could be created. O’Reilly’s impulse was for the blogging community to come together and agree to a code of conduct. It would not be a code to censor, he said, but one of censure. “Shame’s gotten a bad rap in recent years,” he says. It’s not a popular idea. It’s associated with a right-wing attitude, but we need to figure out where is the room for shame.”

Out of this idea–that problem behavior could be solved by the assertion of a group morality–a group of E-Tech attendees discussed what could be done. “The idea that came out was that we have the ability to set standards,” O’Reilly said. Among the precepts: Own your own words and the words you allow on your site. Don’t feed the trolls. And most contentiously, discourage anonymity.

Troubling to many was the fact that O’Reilly created a cute little “Civility Enforced” badge that sites in agreement with the code could post. O’Reilly’s badges, which even look like Western sheriff’s badges, rankled many as Uncle Tim riding into Dodge to bring some law and order to this town and make it safe for honest women. Even A-list blogger Robert Scoble, whose own wife was viciously attacked by trolls, worried that O’Reilly’s status in the industry would exert a subtle pressure to get on board. “Will I still be invited to his conferences if I don’t sign on?” he wondered.

Women being harassed online is no news at all to those who have been there all along. Erotica writer and online personality Violet Blue said in a phone interview, “It definitely happens to lots of women. It’s pedestrian and ordinary at this point. When you provide an opportunity to comment anonymously, it will bring out the worst in anyone. People are saying, ‘Kill the women and fuck them after they’re dead.’ It’s a way of emasculating women.”

Tara Hunt, a blogger who was an earlier target of the same people who threatened Sierra, emphasized in an IM conversation that misogyny on the web and in tech circles goes deeper than such obvious brutality. She points to an online video for startup company Ning, in which CEO Gina Bianchini–a very attractive woman in her 30s–demos the company’s service. Among the user comments: “David: That is one sexy CEO/Demo. She can Ning me anytime!!” “Ed: I thought this was well-done, informative demo.”

Hunt asks, “Is it misogyny? Or just the fact that the technology industry is still so young and clueless about how these comments damage a woman’s ability to function in this space? And these comments further go towards making it ‘OK’ to push women to the edge of this space.”

As a young woman, Hunt has had to make changes to prosper in the tech world. “I was advised by another woman to be less ‘feminine’ if I wanted to be heard–and it worked. Now I’m [seen as] a bitch to some, but it’s a better position, because I’m taken seriously.”

Blue takes exception to Hunt’s willingness to become less feminine to get ahead. “We should be cautioned against thinking that people saying others are sexy is wrong. Celebrations of sexuality should be encouraged. If we don’t, it gives people who threaten others online more power to do so. I don’t see any reason to be less feminine. The more we desexualize ourselves in order to obtain power, the more we allow our sexuality to be used against us. So I’m going to own it.”

Whatever the good intentions of O’Reilly’s proposal, Blue adds, “There’s no add-water instant solution until our wider media culture, including mainstream media, changes its attitudes toward women. We can lead a change to the wider culture, but there’s no magic button.”


News Briefs

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April 25-May 1, 2007

Reclaiming May Day

Forget dancers weaving around maypoles or communist parades of weaponry. After a highly successful May Day last year, immigrants and their supporters both in the North Bay and nationwide hope this May 1 will once again raise awareness of immigrants’ fears and concerns, underscore how much they contribute to this nation’s economy, rally support for a living wage and rational laws, and energize the creation of much-needed changes. “May Day, or May 1st, is celebrated internationally as the day of the worker,” explains Evelina Molina of the Committee for Immigrant Rights of Sonoma County. “Immigration is inseparable from issues relating to the working class. Immigration is also a human rights issue, which unites us with the global family on May Day.”

Supporters will gather at 11am Tuesday, May 1, in the Roseland district of Santa Rosa (665 Sebastopol Road). At noon, they’ll make close to a two-mile march through downtown, ending in Juilliard Park for a family unity day with multicultural music, speakers and seminars. Organizers are also calling for a one-day economic boycott. “No shopping, no work, no economic activity,” Molina notes. “Shop and pack your lunch before the date because there won’t be any purchases that day.” Last year, an estimated 15,000 people gathered in Santa Rosa. “They came from as far away as Ukiah,” Molina says. “They came from Sonoma, St. Helena, Calistoga.” But recent immigration raids in Marin County have sparked strong fears, and there’s no way to tell if it will prompt people to stay home this year or show up to express their outrage. “It’s hard to gauge the pulse,” Molina says.

Marin County is holding a May Day vigil from 6am to 8am in San Rafael’s Canal district and a 6pm community forum at Pickleweed Community Park, and many Marin residents are expected to attend the May Day marches in Santa Rosa or San Francisco. Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in San Rafael and Novato were chilling, says Tom Wilson, executive director of the Canal Community Alliance. “There’s definitely community fear, so we don’t know what the turnout will be. We want to bring awareness out, but we’re trying to be responsive to the community, because they’ve been hit hard.”

Wherever the venue, organizers of May Day activities stress that these events are open to anyone who supports immigrant workers.

“This is a social movement,” Molina stresses. “It’s not just about May 1. It’s about May 2 and beyond. We realize that immigration and discrimination is not going to end with the march. It’s a time to get together on what we agree on and what we oppose as a community.”


Smog Lifter

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April 25-May 1, 2007

Whatever reason Bill Callahan may have for ditching Smog, the moniker he’d performed under for nearly two decades, it was a good move–just as wise as jettisoning the parenthesis he’d attached after briefly billing himself as (Smog) in the late ’90s. (New music groups, take note: Avoid punctuation in band names at all costs.)

Woke on a Whaleheart, Callahan’s 13th album and his first under his given name, is a cozy affair with an old-timey feel. That its creator is now plain old Bill Callahan seems fitting. Callahan established himself with home recordings that he spun like cocoons in a flat, deep voice that told enigmatic tales of woe. After a string of moves from city to city, he’s currently residing in Austin, Texas, slowly allowing rays of hope to penetrate his songs’ often troubled landscapes.

Redemption runs through Woke on a Whaleheart like a golden thread. On the album’s gorgeous opening track, “From the Rivers to the Ocean,” Callahan repeatedly calls, “Have faith in wordless knowledge,” assuring us to dive neck-deep in the muck. It’s never quite clear just what we need to be forgiven for other than being human. “The wagon rolls like an old millstone / Driving bad deeds six feet deep,” he sings on “The Wheel,” before adding his desire to make his home “inside a turning wheel bound for good.” It’s godless gospel.

The shamelessly pretty arrangements of Neil Michael Hagerty (formerly of Royal Trux) flesh out Callahan’s meandering rivers of lyrics with tinkling piano and soothing violins, imparting a glossy studio sheen to songs whose sing-and-repeat structure is rooted equally in the Original Carter Family, Pete Seeger and the Rolling Stones. The result is like the seat of an old wooden chair whose smoothness comes from sheer decades of use and the refusal of what is timeworn to become weary.

Callahan’s vocal delivery and dark sensibility dispel any danger of all this hopefulness coming off as cloying. His voice sounds like a mistake and is as heavy as a cast-iron skillet. When Callahan sang backing vocals on girlfriend Joanna Newsom’s highly curlicued 2006 album Ys, the effect of his leaden pipes amidst the swooning strings was perfectly disarming, serving a well-needed jolt to the lushness of the musical proceedings. Newsom does not return the favor with a guest appearance on Woke on a Whaleheart, though Deani Pugh-Flemmings’ well-placed gospel backing vocals carry a churchy tinge.

Nine songs long, Woke on a Whaleheart is perhaps too short, but it’s lavishly short, not punk-rock short, leaving the listener yearning for more. The best solution is to simply play it twice in a row.


Ahhh . . .

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Ahhh . . .

Resident Tourist Guide:
Staying at Home to Play in Sonoma, Marin and Napa | 2007 Farmer’s Markets | Calistoga, San Anselmo, Petaluma | Wineries in Sonoma and Napa | Beaches in Sonoma and Napa | Day Spas in Sonoma, Marin and Napa

Compiled by Gretchen Giles

We tread with trepidation into the slippery waters of the day spa round-up. Will we miss some establishments that are more than worthy of mention? You bet. Will we get some of it slightly wrong, perhaps saluting a milk bath that is really milk thistle soak and not in fact an immersion in dairy products? Uh huh.

In fact, we’re sorry in advance.

Caveat clearly written, we push on into the extremely foreign (to us) world of being naked with strangers, getting rubbed by strangers and just having strangers generally tend to one’s own sweet body. As weird as we are (and, yes, we know it), rumor has it that most folks like this stuff.

With that mystery in mind, we herewith offer a service-oriented take on places where you might actually enjoy the day-spa experience.

Amadeus Spa at the Napa Valley Marriott Locals may use the sauna and pool for the day if a treatment has been reserved, which is not a bad way to kill eight hours. Amadeus offers spa lunches, a “Gentlemen’s Paradise” package for the guys and a girlfriend’s group treatment. Romance packages, too. 3425 Solano Ave., Napa. 707.254.3330.

Avance Day Spa One of the few spas we’ve found to have a full slate of services for men, Avance also tackles the gnarly question of waxing for men–“sports” waxing included, shudder–and even offers a facial for the back. For the better half, Mother’s Day specials abound and massages range from sports to pregnancy to a stone treatment combined with facial. 585 Coombsville Road, Napa. 707.226.6822.

Calistoga Massage & Day Spa A perennial “Best Of”of the North Bay readers choice winner, this establishment mixes light dermatological treatment with mani- and pedicures as well as wraps and massages. 1219 Washington St., Calistoga. 707.942.6193.

Calistoga Oasis Spa We’re intrigued by those spas that not only offer mud, massage and wraps but also invoke ritual. The Oasis Spa is one of those, now organizing New Moon rituals, the next to be held on May 16, that help give structure to resolutions and life decisions within the spa environment. Oasis also offers unique massage treatments, including reiki, deep tissue, Trager, reflexology, lomi lomi and champi. 1300 Washington St., Calistoga. 707.942.2122.

Calistoga Spa Hot Springs A family-oriented destination where all of you can take the waters together. Also massage and outdoor mineral baths. 1006 Washington St., Calistoga. 866.822.5772.

Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort One of the older spas, established in 1952 to help seekers take the waters, Dr. Wilkinson’s has stayed up with the times, offering full skin-care treatments as well as hot spring baths, mud baths and rubdowns. New to them is the “Lavender Muscle Melt,” which we are assured does not actually atrophy the strong stuff away. 1507 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. 707.942.4102.

EuroSpa & Inn Offering a discount to those patrons who show up in hybrid and biodiesel cars, EuroSpa stresses the use of local ingredients and European service. 1202 Pine St., Calistoga. 707.942.6829.

Golden Haven Hot Springs & Spa Mud, mud and more mud as well as European body wraps, facials, foot reflexology and plenty of massage packages. 1713 Lake St., Calistoga. 707.942.6793.

Health Spa Napa Valley Private, hotel-positive services available to the general public. Locals wishing to use all the fitness room, eucalyptus steam rooms, pools and other amenities are charged $25 Monday-Thursday; $40, Friday-Sunday. Reserved treatments include Swedish, stone, open-air and stress-reducing massages, wraps and scrubs. There’s also a seven-hour wellness day that includes a walk, bike ride, yoga and three treatments for a minimum of four people. 1030 Main St., St. Helena. 707.967.8800.

Indian Springs Resort & Spa Hand-sifted ancient volcanic ash from the resort’s own hillside mixed with mineral water springing up onsite is the miracle mixture for this resort’s healing powers. Featuring an Olympic-sized pool filled with thermal water directly from their own grounds that spurts up from four natural geysers. A Buddha pond filled with the geyser’s run-off and a full slate of massage therapies, including for pregnancy, acupressure and craniosacral, are among the offerings. 1712 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. 707.942.4913.

Lavender Hill Spa Geared for couples, Lavender Hill is a popular destination for honeymooners, lovers and re-igniters. Also featuring girlfriend retreats and mother/daughter specials, Lavender Hill encourages togetherness through double tub rooms and offers a unique milk-based Thai bath that uses white kelp and citrus essences. 1015 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga. 707.942.4495.

Lincoln Avenue Spa Mud is the name of the game at Lincoln Avenue, which offers body mud treatments ranging from herbal mineral (12 Ayurvedic herbs) to sea (kelp) to wine (green tea, wine grapes, grape seed oil) to mint (yup). Facials, scrubs, herbal baths, aromatherapy and massages round out the slate. 1339 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. 707.942.5296.

Mount View Hotel & Spa Full-service spa featuring all the ordinary rub-down techniques one’s come to expect as well as reiki, grapeseed and seaweed wraps and the “Dr. Hauschka Rhythmical Body Treatment,” which promises to improve digestion and goose the lymph. We dare ya. 1457 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. 707.942.5789.

Villagio Inn & Spa Welcoming to locals, the spa opens at 7:30am and has co-ed sauna and steam rooms, an outdoor pool and a variety of body services, including several-course “vignette” treatments intended to solace body and soul through a full slate of water, scrubs, wraps or massages. Beauty, foot and hand and waxing treatments also available. 6481 Washington St., Yountville. 707.944.8877.

Asante Day Spa Holistic health and all-natural beauty products are the focus here, with massage and beauty services being just among the offerings. Of note is the full-family massage package, for anyone from pregnant mothers to newborns to teens to oldersters. They do, in fact, also offer a massage package for pets. 1003 Third St., San Rafael. 415.460.6506.

Barefoot & Pregnant Catering to the unique needs of mothers-to-be and postpartum moms, Barefoot terms itself a “maternity spa,” but offers more than just specialized rubdowns, aiming to connect parents and supply such unique items as a belly mask and, of course, plenty of clothing. A rapidly expanding franchise, they have just completed a deal with the Casa Madrona Hotel, moving from their former Larkspur location. 801 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.354.8308.

Eden Day Spa Harking back somewhat to the old spas of yore (think Elizabeth Arden and those infamous red doors), Eden is girl-friendly, with Venus being evoked in modern bath-house style. Massage and body work are a mainstay but beauty treatments are emphasized. 541 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo. 415.464.9111.

Evo Spa In addition to the bodywork expected at a day spa, Evo is among those day spas that offer guided ritual practices of all kinds. This full-service day spa also has noninvasive facelifts, full-body bronzing, acupuncture, biofeedback and Chinese medicine. 216 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley. 415.383.3223.

Juvenis As with Eden Day Spa, Juvenis is as much about outer beauty as it is massage and body treatments. Cellulite treatment, termed “endermologie,” is their most popular treatment, which claims to increase metabolism by a whopping 300 percent and is said to find some dropping two dress sizes simply through the treatment. Sign us directly up! 2829 Bridgeway, Ste. 202, Sausalito. 415.332.5551.

Safronya Based on traditional Ayurvedic methodologies, this spa concentrates on the purifying faculties of saffron in both metaphor and practice. Spa seekers are encouraged to try everything from the full “queen” packages to simply coming in to take a solitary bath, which may not seem like much unless you’re a new parent or otherwise consumed with the well-being of others. In such an instance, the words “solitary bath” have an almost holy tang. Unlike some day spas, Safronya will also feed you over the course of a day. As with Evo and a few other spas, ritual is emphasized. Safronya, 523 D St., San Rafael. 415.259.0433.

Serenity Day Spa Therapeutic massage from a variety of disciplines is key at Serenity, as is craniosacral balancing, as well as wraps, polishes, waxing and other beauty services. 2725 Northgate Drive, San Rafael. 415.499.9041.

Shibui Gardens What used to be a wild, late-night hot-tub scene in Marin’s peacock-feather-and-cocaine heyday has naturally enough grown up. Still open late in the evening, Shibui indeed still features open-air hot-water soaks that are complimentary after a long massage. 19 Tilapias Ave., San Anselmo. 415.457.0283.

Spa de Novato This establishment will even pick up, drop off and take out to lunch those clients who anticipate being too blessed-out to ambulate, cook or drive. Featuring a full slate of massage and bathes, Spa de Novato also gives haircuts and has a full mani-pedi service. 1305 Grant Ave., Novato. 415.897.4511.

Stellar Spa Specializing in beauty and skin treatments as well a massages and all manner of yummy-sounding applications (Riesling and Chardonnay facial; coconut and lime sugar scrubs), Stellar offers lunch with the purchase of any package. Also, Stellar is among the few day spas to focus exclusively on the fellas, offering a “men’s” package specially targeted to masculine day spa needs. 26 Tilapias Drive, Corte Madera. 415.924.7300.

Tea Garden Springs OK, here’s a new one. In an effort to spread a love of opera, Tea Garden Springs offers a new “Bell Canto Opera Massage” of an hour to an hour-and-a-half in duration, during which favorite arias are part of the treatment; current San Francisco Opera ticket holders get 10 percent off. Billing itself as a “Zen spa,” Tea Garden is inspired by the Chinese tradition of feng shui and offers a full slate of massage styles from around the world. Seeking to supply sustenance in many ways, the spa also has weekly guided meditation as well as personal counseling services. The spa additionally makes community commitment a priority, contributing over $4,000 in services to worthy organizations last year alone. Very cool. 38 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. 415. 389.7123.

Akoia We have it on good authority that an Akoia client reported feeling as if he had taken a “magic carpet ride” during a recent massage at Akoia, and we’re all for honest serotonin bursts here at the Boho. Treatments include massage styles of all kinds (carpet evidently included) as well as a uniqe Thai poultice application that delivers heat directly to specified areas. Seasonal specials currently include the prudent use of chocolate and a two-hour package for men. Scrubs, facials and waxings, too. 452-B Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.1270.

Alles A European-style day spa, Alles offers Swedish massage as well as reflexology but borrows from the East for such as its Tropical Javanese body scrub, which utilizes rice hulls and nutmeg to revitalize the dermis. Facial treatments are unique to the Old Country, and Alles also has a men’s facial. Waxing, mani-pedi and other beauty treatments available. 380 Windsor River Road, Windsor. 707.838.3223.

Fairmont Sonoma-Mission Inn Spa Pumping their water up from 11,000 feet below the surface, the Sonoma-Mission Inn accesses the very waters that made Boyes Hot Springs, well, so darned hot in the first place. Featuring pools of varying temperatures, this spa is lavishly welcoming to locals. Day use fee is $89 but is waived or reduced depending on whether a local reserves a treatment; using the facility Monday-Thursday equals another discount, and North Bay residents are welcome to take the 7am hikes or 8am bicycle rides that the hotel offers. Bike trips are $30 and include the bike and helmet, water and transport to and from the ride. Truly a hidden gem in our midst, this facility has massages of all types, personalized yoga and pilates, floatation beds and a variety of wellness services that even extend to tarot. All classes are on a drop-in basis. 100 Boyes Boulevard, Sonoma. 707.938.9000.

Garden Spa at MacArthur Place Therapies are limited to “single-note” essential oils such as rose or lavender or even Chardonnay, allowing the visitor to fully experience the aromatherapy properties of the scent chosen. Of note at the Garden Spa is the “Adam” treatment for men only. Couples’ treatments, face peel and unique vegetable wraps (including carrot, pumpkin and greens) round out the slate. At MacArthur Place, 29 E. MacArthur St., Sonoma. 707.938.2929.

Kenwood Inn & Spa The only Caudalie Vinotherapie spa in the country, Kenwood focuses on the healing properties of the grape as discerned by scientists in Bordeaux. Clients are soaked in or wrapped up with Merlot, honey and/or crushed grape seeds before then being massaged with Chardonnay extracts or hot stones. Couples’ packages and a special men’s-only treatment also available. The local’s cost is $35 extra for those not staying at the Inn. 10400 Sonoma Hwy. (Highway 12), Kenwood. 707.833.1293.

Mermaids Spa & Seaweed Bath Shop Tucked into a small building fortunately adjacent to Michelin Guide-winner K&L Bistro, Mermaids specializes in soaking, offering hour-long baths whose price includes a blanket wrap and foot massage. Facials, wraps and massages, too. 115 S. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.823.3535.

New Dawn Day Spa Specializes in massage, body wraps, scrubs and even an hour-long scalp treatment. They also offer a three-day package with three days of facials and massages, polishes and scrubs. 6741 Sebastopol Ave., Ste. 160, in the Gravenstein Station. 707.823.8441.

Osmosis Now all green from top to bottom, Osmosis offers the only cedar enzyme baths in the country. Massage in open-air pavilions, facials and their famous gardens round out some of the spa’s offerings. Of interest to locals is their three-week enzyme cleansing treatment designed to flush the system gently of accumulated toxins over several spa visits and includes personalized lifestyle and nutritional coaching with a supervising physician. Free morning meditation each Thursday at 8am just began for the season. 209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone. 707.823.8231.

A Simple Touch This spa will close its doors to all but you and your party, allowing for catering and wine in a spa environment with a full slate of massage therapies, facials, scrubs, reflexology, spray tans, hot rocks and wraps. 239 Center St., Healdsburg. 707.433.6856.

Sonoma Spa On the Plaza in Sonoma, this spa warms clients up in the sauna before using mud and massage to warm them on the inside. Look for their Internet specials, which can save almost 50 percent on services, currently aimed at girlfriends and couples. 457 First St. W., Sonoma. 707.939.8770.

The Spa at Hotel Healdsburg This high-end spa just off Healdsburg Plaza specializes in body and face pampering as well as couples’ therapy using products that could probably just as well be served next door at the hotel’s in-house restaurant, the Dry Creek Kitchen. Look for cucumber, mint, Champagne, rose petals and sugar to figure largely. The stylish, modern feel of the house adds to the experience. 327 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.4747.


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The Byrne Report

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April 25-May 1, 2007

In the aftermath of murderous news from Blacksburg, Va., the possibility of banning handguns has once again become a topic of heated public discussion. After all, 23-year-old Virginia Tech student Cho Seung-hui purchased his weapons of mass destruction as easily as buying packs of chewing gum. But given the clout of the National Rifle Association, rational cries for increasing domestic control of arms proliferation will continue to go unheard by federal and state legislators as they pocket campaign contributions from the gun-and-bullet crowd.

Drawing exactly the wrong lesson from Blacksburg, writer David Kopel of the Wall Street Journal proclaimed that if Virginia Tech had allowed its 26,000 students to carry concealed handguns on campus, 32 people would be alive today. Just think: millions of style-crazed teenagers carrying loaded handguns into the classroom. Goodbye, Mr. Chips. In the real world, the burning question for nonviolently-inclined residents of the North Bay is, what can we do at the local level to stop death by gun? It is axiomatic that when guns are not legally available, homicides and suicides decrease dramatically.

Gun-huggers are fond of hiding behind what they claim is their constitutional right to bear arms. For a century, the United States Supreme Court has shot down argument after argument based on that mythology. According to all reputable legal scholars, the Second Amendment protects only the right of a “well-organized militia” to bear arms; it does not extend to individuals. This from the website of the Legal Community Against Violence: “Former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger once characterized the NRA’s interpretation of the Second Amendment as ‘one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud, on the American public by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime.'”

Gun lovers are wimps and losers. Do they really think that in some scarily near future when President Jeb Bush orders United States Northern Command troops into Sonoma County to arrest libertarian secessionists they will effectively wage armed struggle against legions of soldiers supported by fighter jets and cruise missiles and tear gas? Not likely! Most of the “Do Not Tread on Me” Second Amendment freaks will be hiding under their chicken coops pissing on their pistols or trying to join the storm troopers. The others will be hunted like rabbits.

Last year, the Superior Court, responding to an NRA lawsuit, struck down a San Francisco law that banned firearms, period. Because state law regulates guns, said the court, localities cannot ban them; only the State Legislature or a statewide ballot initiative can regulate firearms. In truth, California has some of the best gun-control laws in the country, but we still have far to go to wipe out the sanctification of guns by the news-entertainment culture and the legal system.

The NRA chants about protecting our homes, but for every homeowner who pops a burglar, dozens of teenagers shoot themselves with their parents’ bedside weapon. I would take away those guns. And I would take away the guns wielded by police, too. There is no good reason why trained law enforcers cannot do their job with nonlethal weapons, including chemical and rubber projectiles and stun machines.

The Legal Community Against Violence points out that many of California’s gun-control laws started out as local ordinances that “trickled up” to the state legislature. In an interview last week, one of the national group’s San Francisco-based attorneys, Sam Hoover, said that Sonoma County already prohibits the possession of firearms and ammunition on all county-owned property, and prohibits firearm dealers from operating in residential areas. But the county can pass laws to prohibit gun dealers from operating near schools, parks and other “sensitive” areas, and require dealers to obtain liability insurance (and thereby be held accountable for misdealing). Local governments are free to prohibit minors from entering a dealer’s store and to mandate dealer inventory inspections.

Without falling afoul of state or federal laws, North Bay counties and cities can limit handgun sales to one per person every six months. The voters or the governing bodies of these jurisdictions can require ammunition sellers to be licensed and to maintain ammunition purchaser records. They can require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. They can prohibit the possession of large capacity ammunition magazines and 50-caliber cartridges. They can require firearms to be stored safely in the home.

And in light of the “spate” of law-enforcement slayings in the North Bay during recent weeks, the public has another important gun-control option: conditioning the funding of law-enforcement agencies upon the prohibition of peace officers carrying lethal weapons and requiring them to carry only nonlethal weapons. Attorney Hoover says that California law will support such a decision if it is made by ballot initiative or by a local government body.

Let’s do it.

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Out and About

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Resident Tourist Guide:
Staying at Home to Play in Sonoma, Marin and Napa | 2007 Farmer’s Markets | Calistoga, San Anselmo, Petaluma | Wineries in Sonoma and Napa | Beaches in Sonoma and Napa | Day Spas in Sonoma, Marin and Napa

By Camille F. Queen

Guests are resolutely not necessary when it comes to taking a weekday afternoon off or splurging a whole Saturday on the homely pleasures of, well, home. Here are three of our favorite towns to just wander through, looking idly in shop windows, curiously picking up curios, diving into bookstores, gaping at galleries or just making one long, epic lunch last.

Calistoga: Park at the far west end of Lincoln Avenue and make that street a lifeline. First stop? Just over the bridge, as one falls thankfully into the covered outdoor patio of the Calistoga Inn (1250 Lincoln Ave.; 707.942.4101) where a restorative (nay, medicinal) hand-crafted beer from the Napa Valley Brewing Co. awaits. Those who like a little breakfast before their likker can head directly to the Cafe Sarafornia (1413 Lincoln Ave.; 707.942.0555) where such delicacies as Budapest Coffee Cake ($3) and a blintz/crepe combo ($9.95) await. Breakfast is served all day. Thus fortified, idle down the street for a browse at the Copperfield’s Books (1330 Lincoln Ave.; 707.942.1616) and make a keenly desirous stop at Sole Provider (1409 Lincoln Ave.; 707.942.9999), where deeply expensive loveliness takes the form of clothes, shoes and gorgeous oddities. We’re not much on rubdowns and nudity with strangers, so prefer to end our ramble at the Wappo Bar & Bistro (1226 Washington St., a half block north off Lincoln; 707.942.4712) where the grapevines cover the patio in the summer and eclectic flea market flatware and dishware enliven the table. The spring menu serves a bevy of palates, with Thai influences marrying Indian spicings, Brazilian preps and even such south-of-the-border influences as rellenos.

San Anselmo: Head to the south end of San Anselmo Avenue and begin your tour with a sumptuous stop at Comforts (335 San Anselmo Ave.; 415.454.9840), where the Chinese Chicken Salad is more than a meal; it’s truly a religion. Sean Penn and his wife Robin Wright Penn are regular customers, but who cares? The food is the true star here. Amiably fed, amble north to Shadows (429 San Anselmo Ave.; 415.459.0574), the perfect place to pretend that your (second) husband is a rock star. This wedding dress shop has plenty of beautiful clothes suitable for attracting a mate in the first place, plus an adorable swathe of flower girl dresses. Now fully in dreamland, continue up the avenue to two groovy consignment shops, Sax (629 San Anselmo Ave.; 415.456.6755) and the Wardrobe Exchange (621 San Anselmo Ave.; 415.459.7317), where other people’s cast-offs make good grubbing indeed. Finish the afternoon on the patio at AVA (636 San Anselmo Ave.; 415.453.3407) with a chévre and mushroom flatbread and an excellent glass of local wine.

Petaluma: Where to eat? That’s a real dilemma now as Butter and Egg City has exploded with excellent restaurants. That said, we still like the informal chaos of the Water Street Bistro (100 Petaluma Blvd. N.; 707.763.9563), where one orders at the counter, goes out to an outdoor table and trusts that the smart, beautiful women in the kitchen will eventually fit the food to the face. It generally works. Consignment is also a rage in Petaluma, with the two most reliable stores being the haute design deals at Vicki’s Secret (108 Petaluma Blvd. N.; 707.765.2807) and the land-of-the-cool finds at Zoe (108 Kentucky St.; 707.775.3239), where both women’s and children’s items change at a dizzyingly fast pace. The Heebe Jeebe General Store (46 Kentucky St.; 707.773.3222) and its sister store across the hall, Boomerang, satisfy the human need for quirk, art and nostalgic candy. End the day with the reliable American pleasures of McNear’s (23 Petaluma Blvd. N.; 707.765.2121), which has a front patio perfect for people watching as well as plenty of brews on tap and lawd knows, TV sports inside.



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Quick dining snapshots by Bohemian staffers.


Winery news and reviews.


Food-related comings and goings, openings and closings, and other essays for those who love the kitchen and what it produces.


Recipes for food that you can actually make.

Wine Tasting

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Sometimes it’s hard not to notice that today’s world, much like yesterday’s, is plagued with war, natural disaster, environmental degradation and myriad other misfortunes. Does it not seem frivolous to gallivant about this picturesque land of industrial vineyards, sipping wine from long-stemmed glasses? Seeking balance and the wider view, we visit Lynmar Winery this week.

Tucked away off a rural lane in Sebastopol, Lynmar is quietly working toward integrating environmental stewardship locally, and is linked to good works internationally. Owner Lynn Fritz has more than just good intentions to work with, previously heading a global logistics company until it sold to UPS in 2000. Although he purchased the Quail Hill Vineyard in the early 1980s, he has in recent years replanted, assembled a star winemaking team and built caves, a gravity flow winery and a hospitality center. A canoe trip inspired a partnership with the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation to help protect the watershed, which borders his property. In his spare time, Fritz founded an organization that provides supply-chain solutions for worldwide humanitarian relief efforts.

Even as herons soar above trees at the water’s edge, Lynmar is bustling with activity. The resident chef picks herbs from an organic cornucopia created by the master gardener, who breaks ground on a market garden that will supply local restaurants. Tethered goats mow down weeds, and chickens control pests and produce eggs. In the swank but comfortable hospitality center, backdropped by rolling vineyards, Lynmar hosts events for charitable and environmental groups, such as the conservationist Landpaths organization. If the tractors don’t run on biodiesel, I’m seriously disillusioned.

The wines themselves are not bad for, you know, a star winemaking team. Lynmar charges $10 for tasting, and $10 for optional food pairing, but it’s a leisurely format. Visitors may sit and take their time with the generous pours, a separate glass for each pour. Crisp acidity, honey-lemon, toffee and toasty oak characterizes the 2005 Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($30). The 2004 Quail Hill Estate Chardonnay ($40) tastes of butterscotch and is distinctly but not overly oaked.

The 2006 Russian River Valley Vin Gris ($24), all bubble gum and sugarplums, is a balanced, easy drinking rosé. Restraint shows as well in the 2004 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($36), but the just-released 2005 may actually be softer. It’s clean and fresh-scented like jicama and plum, with a hint of smoke. Want a big wine to finish? Ask for the vibrant purple, smoky 2004 Russian River Valley Syrah ($36): a leather jacket fresh off the rack, pockets stuffed with big black cherries and grapes.

Lynmar Winery, 3909 Frei Road, Sebastopol. Tasting fee, $10; food and wine pairing, $20. Open Friday-Monday, 11am to 4pm; Tuesday-Thursday by appointment. 707.829.3374.



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Letters to the Editor

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April 25-May 1, 2007

Another view

I am thrilled that this week the United States Supreme Court upheld the partial-birth abortion ban. It sickens me to think that sucking out a child’s brains at birth was ever considered an option. I’m only 26, and the future state of society is looking black–with even my own State Assembly member Patty Berg trying to legalize something like physician-assisted suicide. I am profoundly thankful that finally somewhere human life is being valued.

Noelle Magnell, Occidental

Palm reading

As a longtime employee of Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastopol, I wish to reassure the residents of west Sonoma County that Palm Drive Hospital is open every day around the clock, and we continue to give excellent care to our patients. We are not lacking in staff or supplies. As a longtime medical/surgical nurse, I see no difference in the quality of patient care that would be attributable to our current financial difficulties.

I know many of you are concerned about the possibility of Palm Drive closing, but I assure you that is not the intention of anyone involved with the hospital. In my 17 years here, there have been many changes and a few crises. Because of the dedication and support of the staff, physicians, volunteers and residents of west Sonoma County, we have stayed open, and we will remain open. The best way to keep Palm Drive open is to use it.

Nancy Kesselring, R.N., Graton

The other michael

(First Bite, April 18) was enjoyable. At first, I thought I’d written it. I’d just been to Rafters for the first time, had a pint of amber and the chicken pesto pizza–exactly the same as writer Michael Shapiro. And my name is Michael! But I’d like to correct a flawed statement in the other Michael’s conclusion. There’s an equally excellent Marin spot where you can “have a big plate and a pint in a comfortable room for under $20.” Check out Iron Springs Pub and Brewery in Fairfax. It never disappoints.

Michael F. MccAuley, Woodacre

Different dictionary?

termed the recent police actions “homicides” (The Byrne Report, “Killed Again,” April 18). Given that these incidents are under investigation and the facts are unknown, this wording is misleading, inflammatory and libelous. Unfortunately, this is what we’ve come to expect from Peter’s “journalism.” Perhaps a refresher course in ethics would assist him in this unfamiliar area.

Andrew Haynes, Petaluma

Homicide, n.: The killing of one human being by another human being.

Thou Shalt Not Steal

I was upset to read say that there is little morally wrong with stealing from the Tax Board or PG&E (“Not What It Seems,” April 4). I know the statement is meant to be taken lightly, but unfortunately far too many people are looking for just this type of justification for stealing. I’d like to take a moment to follow through on this scenario. PG&E does not sit by when profits fall, they raise rates. So guess what happens when others don’t pay their bills?

The big companies don’t suffer, they pass it down to those of us who do pay our bills. So just remember: When you think you are being some noble rebel, you are only stealing from your neighbors.

Kathleen Ward, Sebastopol

Dept. of Corrections

In in the recent Spring Lit issue (April 11), we made quite a bit of hay with the faktz surrounding the Word Temple poetry series recently picked up by KRCB 91.1-FM and, yes indeed, still playing live and in-person at Copperfield’s Books. While we asserted that the series had previously been monthly, organizer Katherine Hastings politely reminds that it’s a twice-monthly affair. While we asserted that all poetic lisps from the Temple series were now for your ears only, Hastings kindly directs us to our own calendar, which–for small example–has Jack and Adelle Foley reading for the slate with Jacqueline Kudler this Friday, April 27, at Copperfield’s in Montgomery Village. It does appear, however, that we spelled the words “word” and “temple” correctly, and for that we are quietly grateful. Many apologies in iambic and otherwise.

The Ed., too restless for poetry, too sleepy for prose


Letters to the Editor

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April 18-24, 2007

What’s ‘Ouch’ in Italian?

I just finished reading in San Francisco (News of the Food, “Italian’s Take SF,” April 11.) The article, besides being insulting to Italians, showed a complete lack of knowledge of Italian wine and culture. The man must have been inebriated on high-alcohol Zinfandel or some 15.5 percent Cabernet before he “tasted” wine at the event. Though I was not present at the Italian Wines 2007 event, I cannot believe that he “tasted” only one offering that he found acceptable.

Is Mr. Bland a real person? What experience does he have “tasting” Italian wines, or any wine for that matter? Toward the end of his anti-Italian diatribe, he describes the one wine he liked as “like a Zinfandel of softened pepper notes over a foamy sweetness of blueberry pudding.” This gives the only telling glimpse as to Mr. Bland’s “tastes.” It seems he does have a fondness for high-alcohol, overripe, fruit bombs.

I am an Italian American who has been a professional chef in Sonoma County for over 22 years. Besides cooking for Sonoma County wineries for over 10 years, I cooked in Italy for two and a half years and was the chef and owner of Santi Restaurant in Geyserville for five years. Most of the Sonoma winemakers who dine at Santi order Italian wines. I guess that they feel that they can learn something from a country with a few hundred years of winemaking history. I submit that Mr. Bland still has a lot to learn about wine. Opening his mind will do wonders for his learning process.

Franco Dunn, Healdsburg

What’s ‘Ouch’ in Hip-Hop?

Gabe Meline’s article (Critic’s Choice, April 4) exemplifies the need for the media to sever the connection between rap music and hip-hop. The editor’s ignorance of the genre demonstrates the Bohemian‘s need for informed and competent researchers. In essence, the underground hip-hop community deserves an apology for the inaccurate classification of Zion I and Grouch as hyphy. Both artists promote social consciousness through intelligent and poetic lyrics. They have worked to bring intelligence to the corporate and media-corrupted genre disguised as “hip-hop.” Their music is the antithesis of hyphy, or what some would label the “Bay Area Minstrel Show.” In actuality, hyphy endangers a movement that artists like Zion 1, Grouch, the Roots, Nas, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Aceyalone, Living Legends and others are fighting for their lives to protect and resuscitate.

Allison Frenzel, Santa Rosa

What’s ‘Ouch’ in Opera?

I disagree with David Templeton’s review of the opera Cavalleria Rusticana which was performed at the Cinnabar Theater (Critic’s Choice, “Hit and Miss,” March 14). He seems to consider the opera a waste of time and devoid of memorable music. How wrong can he be, or does he not know any better?! The chorus melodies have been dancing in my memory since I saw the performance. Also, I remember being at a double bill performance of Cavalleria and Pagliacci at the San Francisco Opera when Placido Domingo sang the title roles in both operas. The performances were outstanding.

How can anyone forget the beautiful intermezzo from Cavalleria? Of course, Mr. Templeton does not have to like all operas, but his criticisms should be valid.

Willard D. Bristol, Santa Rosa

What’s ‘Ouch’ in Social Commentary?

Peter Byrne’s views and mine generally coincide, but (The Byrne Report, “Marketing War,” April 11) jostled me some. He claims that we the people “have been psychologically conditioned to accept unpardonable acts of violence as moral imperatives.” He is implying, as I see it, that we are made of vastly impressionable emotional and intellectual plastic, and so are easily molded by a fiendishly clever media and governmental and war propaganda programs, which is why violence and war are endemic.

World history, however, suggests that the first resort of humans everywhere when confronted by social problems is the assertion of power (“I’ll teach you to talk back to me,” “Kill the infidel,” etc.). In other words, especially adroit propaganda isn’t needed. We bring a readiness to accept and employ violent acts along with us when we look at, listen to or read anything.

I wish Byrne was right, actually. Solving world violence problems by changing media programming would be so much easier than the long, daunting task of changing human nature. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the latter is possible, but the first step in any successful modification strategy is identifying causation.

The “enemy” is still us.

Don McQueen, Constant Reader, Santa Rosa


Morsels

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April 18-24, 2007

To move past standard Earth Day fare, try the exotic “world street food” menu paired with local wines at the first-ever Green Valley Earth Day on Sunday, April 22. It’s a dual celebration, because effective April 23, Green Valley of the Russian River Valley becomes an official wine appellation, one of the smallest in Sonoma County. Eight Green Valley wineries–De Loach Vineyards, Dutton Estate, Dutton-Goldfield, Emeritus, Hartford Court, Iron Horse, Marimar Estate and Orogeny–are hosting this wing-ding in both high and green style. “It’s the Tiffany of Earth Day celebrations,” laughs spokeswoman Dawnelise Regnery. Rather than Tiffany blue, this event is done up in environmental green, with a detailed eye for treading softly on the earth.

The food by Iron Horse chef Christopher Greenwald will be homegrown or come from within a 25-mile radius. Power will be supplied by a portable solar energy unit. Choices for transportation to the event include walking up the oak tree- and vineyard-lined property, riding in a horse-drawn wagon or being a passenger on a biodiesel van. Utensils will be biodegradable. Everything used to prepare and stage the event will be either recycled or composted. The prize in a paperless raffle will be $4,000 worth of energy from PG&E.

Net proceeds benefit Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, National Geographic Society, Rainforest Action Network and the Leakey Foundation. Each will have informational booths at the event, and National Geographic is bringing in a team from Washington, D.C., including TV host Boyd Matson. Other honored guests include State Parks commissioner Caryl Hart, San Francisco Chronicle environmental writer Glen Martin and eco-entrepreneur John Scharffenberger, founder of Scharffen Berger Chocolates (samples served at the celebration). Eat, drink and be green, saving the world one glass at a time on Sunday, April 22, at Iron Horse Vineyards. 9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol. 1pm to 4pm. $50-$250. 707.887.1507. . . .

Putting the emphasis on those who make local vintages possible, Benziger Family Winery will donate 100 percent of its April 22 tasting room profits to Vineyard Workers Services, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for local farmworkers. “Their reverence for nature and connection with the vines continue to inspire me,” Mike Benziger says of his vineyard team. 1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. 707.490.2739.

Quick dining snapshots by Bohemian staffers.

Winery news and reviews.

Food-related comings and goings, openings and closings, and other essays for those who love the kitchen and what it produces.

Recipes for food that you can actually make.

You’ve Got (Hate) Mail

It's a shocker: A-list blogger Kathy Sierra found herself...
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News Briefs

April 25-May 1, 2007 Reclaiming May Day Forget dancers weaving around maypoles or communist parades of weaponry. After a highly successful May Day last year, immigrants and their supporters both in the North Bay and nationwide hope this May 1 will once again raise awareness of immigrants' fears and concerns, underscore how much they contribute to this nation's economy, rally...
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Smog Lifter

April 25-May 1, 2007 Whatever reason Bill Callahan may have for ditching Smog, the moniker he'd performed under for nearly two decades, it was a good move--just as wise as jettisoning the parenthesis he'd attached after briefly billing himself as (Smog) in the late '90s. (New music groups, take note: Avoid punctuation in band names at all costs.)Woke on a...
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Ahhh . . .

Resident Tourist Guide: Staying at Home to Play in Sonoma, Marin and Napa | 2007 Farmer's Markets | Calistoga, San Anselmo, Petaluma | Wineries in Sonoma and...
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The Byrne Report

April 25-May 1, 2007In the aftermath of murderous news from Blacksburg, Va., the possibility of banning handguns has once again become a topic of heated public discussion. After all, 23-year-old Virginia Tech student Cho Seung-hui purchased his weapons of mass destruction as easily as buying packs of chewing gum. But given the clout of the National Rifle Association, rational...
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Out and About

Resident Tourist Guide: Staying at Home to Play in Sonoma, Marin and Napa | 2007 Farmer's Markets | Calistoga, San Anselmo, Petaluma | Wineries in Sonoma and Napa |...
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Wine Tasting

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Letters to the Editor

April 25-May 1, 2007Another viewI am thrilled that this week the United States Supreme Court upheld the partial-birth abortion ban. It sickens me to think that sucking out a child's brains at birth was ever considered an option. I'm only 26, and the future state of society is looking black--with even my own State Assembly member Patty Berg trying...
Read more

Letters to the Editor

April 18-24, 2007What's 'Ouch' in Italian?I just finished reading in San Francisco (News of the Food, "Italian's Take SF," April 11.) The article, besides being insulting to Italians, showed a complete lack of knowledge of Italian wine and culture. The man must have been inebriated on high-alcohol Zinfandel or some 15.5 percent Cabernet before he "tasted" wine at...
Read more

Morsels

April 18-24, 2007 To move past standard Earth Day fare, try the exotic "world street food" menu paired with local wines at the first-ever Green Valley Earth Day on Sunday, April 22. It's a dual celebration, because effective April 23, Green Valley of the Russian River Valley becomes an official wine appellation, one of the smallest in Sonoma County. Eight...
Read more
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