Free Will Astrology: Week of Sept. 17

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Free Will Astrology: Week of Sept. 17

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Hindu goddess Durga rides a tiger and carries weapons in her 10 hands, including a sword, axe and thunderbolt. Yet she wears a pleasant smile. Her mandate to aid the triumph of good over evil is not fueled by hate but by luminous clarity and loving ferocity. I suggest you adopt her attitude, Aries. Can you imagine yourself as a storm of joy and benevolence? Will you work to bring more justice and fairness into the situations you engage with? I imagine you speaking complex and rugged truths with warmth and charm. I see you summoning a generous flair as you help people climb up out of their sadness and suffering. If all goes well, you will magnetize others to participate in shared visions of delight and dignity.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Born under the sign of Taurus, Maya Deren first expressed her extravagant creative urges as a writer, poet, photographer, clothes designer and dancer. But then she made a radical change, embarking on a new path as an experimental filmmaker. She said she had finally found a glove that fits.” Her movies were highly influential among the avant-garde in the 1940s and 1950s. I bring Deren to your attention, Taurus, because I suspect that in the coming months you, too, will find a glove that fits. And it all starts soon.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In medieval times, alchemists believed mercury was a sacred substance and divine intermediary. They knew that it’s the only metal that’s liquid at room temperature. This quality along with its silvery sheen (why it’s called “quicksilver”), made it seem like a bridge between solid and liquid, earth and water, heaven and earth, life and death. I nominate mercury as your power object, Gemini. You’re extra well-suited to navigate liminal zones and transitional states. You may be the only person in your circle who can navigate paradox and speak in riddles and still make sense. It’s not just cleverness. It’s wisdom wrapped in whimsy. So please offer your in-between insights freely. PS: You have another superpower, too: You can activate dormant understandings in both other people’s hearts and your own.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the western Pacific Ocean, there’s a species of octopus that builds its lair from coconut shells. The creature gathers together husks, dragging them across the seafloor, and fits them together. According to scientists, this use of tools by an invertebrate is unique. Let’s make the coconut octopus your power creature for now, Cancerian. You will have extra power to forge a new sanctuary or renovate an existing one, either metaphorically or literally. You will be wise to draw on what’s nearby and readily available, maybe even using unusual or unexpected building materials.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I invite you to contemplate the meaning of the phrase “invisible architecture.” My dream told me it will be a theme for you in the coming weeks. What does it mean? What does it entail? Here are my thoughts: Structures are taking shape within you that may not yet be visible from the outside. Bridges are forming between once-disconnected parts of your psyche and life. You may not need to do much except consent to the slow emergence of these new semi-amazing expressions of integrity. Be patient and take notes. Intuitions arriving soon may be blueprints for future greatness. Here’s the kicker: You’re not just building for yourself. You’re working on behalf of your soul-kin, too.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A supple clarity is crystallizing within you. Congratulations! It’s not a brittle or rigid certainty, but a knack for limber discernment. I predict you will have an extra potent gift for knowing what truly matters, even amidst chaos or complication. As this superpower reaches full ripeness, you can aid the process by clearing out clutter and refining your foundational values. Make these words your magic spells: quintessence, core, crux, gist, lifeblood, root. PS: Be alert for divine messages in seemingly mundane circumstances.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The ancient Mesopotamian goddess Inanna was called “the Queen of Heaven.” Her domains were politics, divine law, love and fertility. She was a powerhouse. One chapter of her mythic story tells of her descent into the underworld. She was stripped of everything—clothes, titles, weapons—before she could be reborn. Why did she do it? Scholars say she was on a quest for greater knowledge and an expansion of her authority. And she was successful! I propose we make her your guide and companion in the coming weeks, Libra. You are at the tail-end of your own descent. The stripping is almost complete. Soon you will feel the first tremors of return—not loud, not triumphant, but sure. I have faith that your adventures will make you stronger and wiser, as Inanna’s did for her.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In ancient Rome, the dye called Tyrian purple was used exclusively for garments worn by royalty and top officials. It had a humble origin: murex snails. Their glands yielded a pale liquid that darkened into an aristocratic violet only after sun, air and time worked upon it. I’m predicting you will be the beneficiary of comparable alchemical transformations in the coming weeks. A modest curiosity could lead to a major breakthrough. A passing fancy might ripen into a rich blessing. Seemingly nondescript encounters may evolve into precious connections.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Bees can see ultraviolet patterns in flowers that are invisible to humans. These “nectar guides” direct bees to the flower’s nectar and pollen, functioning like landing strips. Let’s apply these fun facts as metaphors for your life, Sagittarius. I suspect that life is offering you subtle yet radiant cues leading you to sources you will be glad to connect with. To be fully alert for them, you may need to shift and expand the ways you use your five senses. The universe is, in a sense, flirting with you, sending you clues through dream-logic and nonrational phenomena. Follow the shimmering glimmers.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): At the height of her powers, Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut declared, “I have restored what had been ruined. I have raised up what had dissolved.” You now have a similar gift at your disposal, Capricorn. If you harness it, you will gain an enhanced capacity to unify what has been scattered, to reforge what was broken and to resurrect neglected dreams. To fulfill this potential, you must believe in your own sovereignty—not as a form of domination, but of devotion. Start with your own world. Make beauty where there was noise. Evoke dignity where there was confusion. 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the high Himalayas, there’s a flower called Saussurea obvallata—the Brahma Kamal. It blooms only at night and for a short time, releasing a scent that legend says can heal grief. This will be your flower of power for the coming weeks, Aquarius. It signifies that a rare and time-sensitive gift will be available, and that you must be alert to gather it in. My advice: Don’t schedule every waking hour. Leave space for mystery to arrive unannounced. You could receive a visitation, an inspiration or a fleeting insight that can change everything. It may assuage and even heal sadness, confusion, aimlessness or demoralization.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The human heart beats 100,000 times per day, 35 million times per year and 2.5 billion times in an average lifetime. It’s the most reliable “machine” ever created, working continuously and mostly without special maintenance for decades. Although you Pisceans aren’t renowned for your stability and steadiness, I predict that in the coming weeks you will be as staunch, constant and secure as a human heart. What do you plan to do with this grace period? What marvels can you accomplish?

Homework: I dare you to plan a wild and smart adventure. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

One Singular Sensation: Classic ‘A Chorus Line’ at 6th Street

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One Singular Sensation: Classic ‘A Chorus Line’ at 6th Street

It’s been 50 years since Michael Bennett’s A Chorus Line took Broadway by storm. The musical tale of the hopes, dreams and aspirations of those who seek a life in the theater won nine Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize and held the record for longest running Broadway musical for 14 years.

While simplistic in plot, it’s a difficult show to mount, as it requires a large cast of “triple threats,” performers who can act and sing and dance. Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse has taken on the challenge with a production running through Sept. 28.

Set conveniently enough in a theater, the show opens with Marvin Hamlisch/Edward Kleban’s “I Hope I Get It” as a large group of dancers audition for slots in a new musical’s chorus line. Director Zach (Tajai Jaxon Britten) thins the crowd down to 17 and then begins the interview process. He asks each dancer personal questions, sometimes eliciting joyous responses like Mike’s (Diego Rodriguez) “I Can Do That,” and other times more melancholy responses like “At the Ballet” from Sheila (Sasha Holton), Bebe (HarriettePearl Fugitt) and Maggie (Lillian Sigrist).

The interviews continue, and we get to know more about each performer from Mark’s (Jayce Kaldunski) sexual awakening to Greg’s (Ben Stevens) realization that he’s gay to Val’s (Anna Voperian) decision that cosmetic surgery is one way to get what she wants out of life (“Dance: 10, Looks: 3”). 

Then there’s Cassie (Lila Howell), a dancer who made it out of the chorus line but finds herself looking for work and a way back in, and Paul (Jonathen Blue), the most reluctant to share his painful, personal story. His monologue is the heart of the show.

Zach cuts the group down to eight, and the show ends with everyone festooned in gold and singing and dancing the signature number, “One.”

First-time director Lorenzo Alviso, whether by necessity or design, has cast a fairly non-traditional group of performers with a variety of experiences, ages, genders and body types. While the goal of a chorus line is uniformity, it’s an interesting approach that often works. 

The execution of Hannah Woolfenden’s choreography is better than one might expect given that many, but not all, of the cast lack formal dance training. Ginger Beavers leads an excellent seven-piece band that never over-powered the performers. 

Good group vocals and some solid performances make A Chorus Line a solid season-opener for 6th Street.

‘A Chorus Line’ runs through Sept. 28 in the GK Hardt Theatre at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. 6th Street, Santa Rosa. Thurs–Sat, 7:30pm; Sat & Sun, 2pm. $32–$56. 707.523.4185. 6thstreeetplayhouse.com.

Poetry in Motion: Petaluma Poetry Walk Celebrates 28 Years

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Poetry in Motion: Petaluma Poetry Walk Celebrates 28 Years

On a September Sunday, downtown Petaluma transforms into something more than its already picturesque self. 

Side streets, bookshops, cafes and even the venerable Hotel Petaluma ballroom become stages for 26 poets, who will lend their voices and verse to a nearly 30 year tradition.

This year, the Petaluma Poetry Walk celebrates its 28th year, a tradition that began in 1996 when the late poet Geri Digiorno brought together poets and listeners for a literary experiment that stuck. Nearly three decades later, the event remains free, expansive and steeped in the cultural character that earned Petaluma the tongue-in-cheek honor of being named one of the “Vibiest Towns in America” by Apartment Therapy.

The walk’s new director is author and editor Kary Hess, a regular Bohemian contributor (and married to its editor), who has stepped into leadership of the event following longtime director Bill Vartnaw, who likewise continued in the footsteps of founder Geri Digiorno. Hess is not just inheriting a festival—she’s carrying forward a local legacy.

“The first poetry walk I attended was in the 1990s when Geri Digiorno was producing it,” Hess recalls. “I heard so many great poets perform, including women like Diane di Prima at the Apple Box Café and Terry Ehret, who later became the Sonoma County poet laureate and still participates in the poetry walk today. 

“Men still dominated the literary scene then, and the experience of hearing women poets perform their creative work helped me think that maybe I could do something with poetry too. I’m so honored to be continuing that tradition of bringing together a diversity of poets’ voices, and hopefully it will inspire many others in the same way,” Hess continues.

Building the Lineup

Part of the walk’s enduring charm is its balance of literary heavyweights and emerging voices, all presented in an accessible format. This year’s roster includes Pulitzer Prize finalist Dorianne Laux (who also read at the very first walk in 1996), her partner and fellow poet Joseph Millar, Berkeley Poetry Festival Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tureeda Mikell, current Sonoma County poet laureate Dave Seter, and youth laureates Anaya Ertz and Lisa Zheng—just to name a few.

For Hess, the mix is both organic and deliberate. “Luckily the Bay Area and beyond is full of talent. Some of the poets themselves reached out, like (ironically) the Unsolicited Press Poets; others were people I knew who were already performing together, like the Sixteen Rivers Poets and the Found Poets. The walk’s former director, Bill Vartnaw, was instrumental in bringing in the more established poets, as he has been working with them for a long time,” she explains.

Unlike many literary festivals that take place in a single venue, the poetry walk is defined by its reach. Audiences drift between the Hotel Petaluma ballroom, Keller Street CoWork, the Phoenix Theater, The Big Easy, Copperfield’s Books, Usher Gallery, the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum and Aqus Café. Each space takes on the energy of the poets it hosts, while the city itself becomes the connective thread.

“Traditional venues are one and done and might last a few hours,” Hess explains. “While the Petaluma Poetry Walk goes from 11am-8pm, each individual event is only about 45 minutes long. There are eight events to choose from in eight different venues within walking distance of each other. This walkable downtown setting allows attendees to choose their poets and their venues and even start the day with brunch or take a break for lunch right downtown if desired.

“People can attend one event, three events or even all of them. Being able to get up, talk, stretch and walk to the next venue every hour keeps it energetic, and there is such a multiplicity of poetry to enjoy,” she adds.

That mix of intimacy and variety has long been the poetry walk’s hallmark—an event where a Pulitzer finalist might follow a teenager reading their first published work, all within the space of a few blocks

This year marks not only a continuation but also an expansion. Under Hess’ direction, the poetry walk will extend its life beyond its one-day format through new publishing and digital projects.

“The poetry walk is a yearly, free event so it’s accessible to all and also ephemeral,” Hess says. “The new Petaluma Poetry Walk magazine serves as an anthology and keepsake of the event, and an introduction to the work of all the participating poets—and buying one is a way for people to support the event financially. If you missed any of the poets, or want to know more about them, you can read a poem from everyone who read at this year’s event in the magazine.”

She also sees the Substack newsletter as a way to keep the community engaged in between walks. “The poetry walk newsletter keeps subscribers in-the-know about the yearly event and highlights the various performers. Since it’s on Substack, the newsletter is free, and there is also a paid option so people have a really simple way of supporting the poetry walk if they choose,” she notes.

These initiatives recognize that while poetry is fleeting, the need for connection is constant. A magazine and newsletter can extend that sense of belonging throughout the year.

The Poetry Vibe

When asked how the walk connects to Petaluma’s cultural reputation as one of the “Vibiest Towns in America,” Hess doesn’t hesitate. “I mean, a yearly poetry festival that has been around almost 30 years is totally vibey,” she says with a laugh. 

“The event has hosted poets laureate alongside up-and-coming voices. Last year the California, San Francisco and Key West poets laureate all read. This year, Pulitzer Prize finalist Dorianne Laux will be headlining along with poet Joseph Millar. It’s a cultural niche festival that has become a destination event over the past three decades. It also ends up being somewhat of a reunion of poets who all get to come together in one place, once a year,” she adds.

Hess’ role comes with both weight and opportunity. Digiorno’s founding vision, Vartnaw’s decades of stewardship and the countless poets who have graced the walk’s stages have made it a fixture in Northern California’s cultural calendar. Now, with Hess at the helm, the event is poised to continue thriving—rooted in its past, but open to the future.

Petaluma Poetry Walk, 11am–8pm, Sunday, Sept. 21. Downtown Petaluma venues include Hotel Petaluma, Phoenix Theater, Copperfield’s Books, Aqus Café and more. Free admission.

For the full schedule, visit petalumapoetrywalk.org. To subscribe to the new newsletter or support the festival, see petalumapoetrywalk.substack.com.

Ratatouille Season, the Debate Begins

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Ratatouille Season, the Debate Begins

It’s finally ratatouille season. The French dish of stewy vegetables (as well as its namesake animated film) is a favorite of mine, so much that every year, I try to find someone to argue with me about it. 

I often try arguing at Petaluma’s Jupiter Foods with Dan Bleakney-Formby, since he is a greengrocer and vegetable nerd. Plus, the outdoor half of his shop, that dreamy micro-farmers’ market where Jupiter proves its motto, “We know your farmer,” is usually where I realize the season has begun.

When large eggplants, bright peppers, crowding basil, fat onions and odd-shaped tomatoes flood the markets and people are almost bored of zucchini, the season is here. California gardeners know these plants suddenly overproduce in early mid-August—one has to do something, or they’ll rot, causing all that hard work or the money they gave Bleakney-Formby to go down the drain. Too many tomatoes. Too many zucchini. Almost too many bell peppers. Basil threatening to break one’s heart and collapse into black slime.

“It’s finally ratatouille season,” I say to Bleakney-Formby. 

“Is it?” he replies, almost as if he has things other than ratatouille on his mind. Not me; only ratatouille-related questions occur: Should I get basil, even though I already have pesto? Do I have garlic? Is it sacrilegious to use Jimmy Nardello peppers in any stew? Could Roma tomatoes be delicious enough, if they’re from Yagi Sisters Farm? (Yes, no, sort of, yes.)

“You know what you could do, too,” Bleakney-Formby says. Oh, here it comes. “You could make a tian. It’s the same ingredients as ratatouille, but it’s like a casserole, with stacked vegetables, like in the Pixar movie.”

No, Dan Bleakney-Formby, I could not. Want to argue about why? But he’s busy, already off thinking about something other than ratatouille.

A crucial question in food is, obviously, “What is food?” Related: “Who is food for; who makes it; when, how and where?” Tian’s answers would be: Food is a professionalized endeavor, for adult strangers, made by paid people, quickly, in an organized kitchen. As for “Why?” the tian says: To impress, as much as to nourish. Ratatouille disagrees: Food is sustenance and culture, for family, especially children, made by a grownup, usually a mom, in a home kitchen. 

Why? To nourish, only.

In the film, scenes of actual ratatouille show the strong magic of impressive as well as homey versions: A cook begins to prepare the dish, choosing a sprig of thyme and a traditional recipe card showing a picture of stew. She’s stopped by Remy, the chefly rat. Instead, Remy indicates a course of action which in real life was developed by chefly chef Thomas Keller. This is the tian, also known by its even fancier name, Confit Byaldi. 

When restaurant critic Anton Ego eats this food, plated in the now-famous configuration of meticulously sliced and size-matched vertical and horizontal stacks of vegetables, he’s emotionally transported. He’s “taken” to his childhood home, where his mother soothingly plonks down a bowl of rough-chopped, long-simmered ratatouille.

Dan Bleakney-Formby, I still want to argue—but we might both be right.

Jupiter Foods is located at 100 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. Visit jupiterpetaluma.com.

Strings Attached, Renegade Orchestra at Sebastiani Theatre

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Strings Attached, Renegade Orchestra at Sebastiani Theatre

If one thinks the idea of organizing and rehearsing a 10-person rock and roll orchestra sounds daunting, they clearly don’t know nearly enough about hard-working local musicians Jason Eckl and Rebecca Roudman. 

Not only do they, respectively, conduct, perform and organize shows for the Renegade Orchestra, but the married couple also works together in several local bands that are in constant rotation throughout the West Coast. They will get a respite of sorts as Renegade Orchestra plays close to home on Sept. 20 at Sonoma’s venerable Sebastiani Theater. 

“My job is the ‘herding of cats’ aspect of Renegade Orchestra, as well as Dirty Cello, the San Francisco Yiddish Combo, the Death and Taxes Swing Band and anything else that comes up,” says Roudman when asked how she and Eckl manage to keep things moving with so much happening musically. 

And not only does Roudman serve as the show organizer and cellist in the aforementioned bands; she’s also vocalist and titular cellist in Dirty Cello. Eckl performs in all of these bands as well as conducting the Renegade Orchestra, all while overseeing the somewhat newly formed rock band program at Cal State East Bay. Whew.

Said program might be one of the school’s best-kept secrets. “Professor” Eckl explains its unique mission: “This is a new program that seeks to prepare students to be employed as rock musicians when they graduate. It’s a pretty unique program; imagine learning the ins and outs of how to be a rock star.”

When asked how they find time and energy to keep the music playing, Eckl says, “I would like to say that I plan months in advance and budget my time wisely, but in reality, the creation of the music tends to happen in a frantic, caffeine-fueled spurt.” 

Roudman elaborates while also highlighting Eckl’s point, saying, “I don’t necessarily balance these groups, but instead try to say yes to everything, and then rely on the professionalism of all of the other musicians to remember when the show is and show up prepared.”

If one has not heard Renegade Orchestra before, Eckl enlightens thusly: “It’s always fun to describe what a Renegade Orchestra concert is like to people who haven’t been to one before. Basically, if you think about everything that makes a standard orchestra concert a little stuffy, we do the opposite. It’s loud, it’s lively, and cheering is encouraged. We want people moving and grooving. And in addition to the strings, there’s a great rhythm section.” He also makes sure to note, “We’re not big fans of singalongs however.”

Typically the orchestra’s setlist often includes songs such as Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze,” Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” and the Creedence Clearwater Revival’s classic “Proud Mary,” just to name a few. A real highlight is their rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” as well as local and worldwide faves Metallica with a cool cover of “Enter Sandman.” Yet for the Sebastiani show, they’re mixing things up once again. This time, they’re featuring a playlist of all San Francisco artists.

According to Eckl and Roudman, the “songs are all wild, symphonic rock takes on classic works by musicians that are connected to San Francisco or the Bay Area. There’s standard classics you would expect like Jefferson Airplane, but also some more out there tunes like ‘Holiday in Cambodia’ by the Dead Kennedys.” They’ll even do “Spirit in the Sky” by Sonoma County resident Norman Greenbaum, who, in case one is wondering, is still locally based and invited to the show.

Many of these songs were chosen by the Renegade Orchestra’s fans. 

Says Eckl, “When I choose songs to arrange for Renegade Orchestra, it’s quite a laborious process. First, I go through the never-ending list of songs that have been requested by people who came to our shows. These requests range from amazing ideas to thoughtful ideas to downright bizarre ideas. I use the fan requests as a starting point. 

“After that, I have to look at what will sound good with an orchestra—a catchy melody, powerful rhythm parts and something that will come out as an artistic statement, not as elevator music. With this particular album, I searched far and wide for songs that fit all those criteria, plus were connected to the greater Bay Area. We even sent out an email to everyone on the mailing list asking for help on this one,” he continues.

If the name Jason Eckl sounds familiar, one may have heard some of his music via the soundtrack of Bohemian editor Daedalus Howell’s film, Werewolf Serenade. Of the experience, Eckl says, “The movie has a cellist in it, so I wrote some new music for the cello scenes. I’ve written music for a lot of independent films that never saw the light of day, so it was exciting to see Werewolf Serenade on the big screen.” When it came to choose a cellist for the soundtrack, Roudman was the obvious choice.

Another natural question regarding the group is whether or not it’s the same musicians each time or a rotating cast based on who’s available. 

Roudman says the orchestra lineup “starts off with a faint hope that we’ll have all the same people all the time. But the reality is good musicians are busy, and the group is full of good musicians. This means we end up having a mostly steady group with lots of fun guests coming in and out. Each player is chosen for being not only great at their instruments, but also fun people.” 

For those scoring at home, Eckl clarifies, saying the Sebastiani lineup will be Michael Lu, Magali Sanscartier, Christine Meals, Wakeford Gong, Alice Chen Carver, Jill Hirsh, Peter Walsh, Evan Ceremony, Diego Soto and of course Roudman.

The Sebastiani show will be the first time the new album will be made available. Eckl nervously says, “They’ll probably arrive in the mail 24 hours before the show, we hope.” He adds, “After that, they’ll be available at our live shows for about a year, before we bow to the inevitable pressure of putting them up on Spotify. Also at our shows, in addition to physical CDs, we’ll be selling flash drives with the new album on them.”

Closing out our interview, Eckl says, “We’re going to be very brave at our Sebastiani concert and at our other Bay Area concerts, and invite all of the famous bands that inspired the songs.” Will these foggy headed stars of yesteryear make it to the show? One will have to show up to find out.

More information about Renegade Orchestra can be found at renegadeorchestra.com. Tickets for the Sebastiani Theater show are available now at sebastianitheatre.org.

Union? Yes. ‘Pins and Needles’ Opens Mercury Theatre Season

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Union? Yes. ‘Pins and Needles’ Opens Mercury Theatre Season

If an obscure satirical musical review written nearly 100 years ago hits one right in the gut because of its social relevance, they might just be living in today’s America.

History, they say, has a tendency to repeat itself, and it is the duty of artists to illuminate this with works that speak to the times. Mercury Theatre opens their debut season with just such a work.

Pins and Needles, stage directed by Eileen Morris, with gorgeous musical direction from Jared Emerson-Johnson, runs through Sept. 14 at the site of the former Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma.

Crafted in the 1930s by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union by working class folks who wanted to implement social change at a time of rising tumult in both America and abroad, Pins and Needles offers sharply clever musical sketch commentary on the plight of the common person. It grapples with myriad social upheaval in the forms of fascism, inequality and impending war. 

The subject matter is enough to make one squirm, as it feels so familiar. I simultaneously laughed and shuddered at how apt the lyrics were, especially in such numbers as “Call It Unamerican” and “Three Little Angels of Peace.”

Morris has a very plucky, eager cast at work, with standout performances from Lisa Flato (doing an inspired Mussolini parody), Juliana Eiras (stage presence for days) and Megan Watt (a wonderful character actress). Other newcomers and Sonoma County vets round out the very diverse ensemble with harmonious voices.

The only problem is that most of the time they were often unheard. The live band was playing at an appropriate volume, so perhaps the acoustics of the old Cinnabar Theater just aren’t complimentary without mics. 

Similarly, some numbers seemed low energy and almost hesitant in nature. The show begins rather abruptly, but ends with a heartening call to action in the form of the ILGWU anthem. The audience seemed visibly moved.

Apart from that, the choreography by Megan Watt was a lively throwback to old time dances and was always servicing the action onstage. Costumes by Donnie Frank were both evocative and practical. Lighting design by Ella Weiss adds atmosphere to numbers like “Mene Mene Tekel” and the memorable “Sunday in the Park.”

If one needs something to spark their patriotism, Pins and Needles might be just the remedy.

Mercury Theater presents ‘Pins and Needles’ through Sept. 14 at 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. Fri & Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $20–$35. 707.658.9019. mercurytheater.org.

Culture Crush, Sept. 10

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Culture Crush, Sept. 10

Point Reyes Station

Fab Four

From Sept. 20 to Oct. 26, Gallery Route One presents four exhibitions that respond to today’s world through diverse voices and materials. Sherrie Lovler’s Distant Voices offers elegant calligraphic paintings as messages of change and hope; Renée Owen’s Adrift: A Landscape of Loss uses fiber and book art to reflect on human displacement and fragile connections with nature; Fedra Yazdi’s The Weight of What Was explores belonging through paintings inspired by Persian and Suzani textiles; and Will Thoms’ 21 9x9s presents small, playful experiments in color and texture. Opening reception with artist talks: 3–5 pm, Saturday, Sept. 20. Gallery Route One, 11101 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station. Open Thurs–Mon, 11 am–5 pm. More at galleryrouteone.org.

Sebastopol

Climate Confab

Two Acre Wood Cohousing throws open its doors Sept. 27 for an afternoon of tours and a community potluck focused on sustainability and climate solutions. Visitors can explore solar systems, EV charging setups, heat pump water heaters, induction stoves and thriving gardens while learning about zero-waste practices. The 14-home community recently hit a climate-positive milestone, producing 25% more energy than it uses. Tours at 1, 2:30 and 4pm by RSVP (TA********@***ic.net or ma****@***ic.net). Happy Hour Potluck at 5:30pm—bring finger foods and one’s own plate and utensils. Free. Two Acre Wood Cohousing, Robinson Road, Sebastopol (park at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Rd., and follow signs).

San Geronimo

Day of Peace

The San Geronimo Valley Community Center hosts the 11th annual International Day of Peace Festival Sept. 16–21, weaving together art, music and community practices for peace. Highlights include a new mural and Peace Box Art Show created by Lagunitas School students, teachers and families; gallery exhibitions featuring San Quentin’s Prison Arts Project alongside Teamworks Art Mentoring Program; workshops in sound healing, meditation and nonviolent communication; and film screenings on personal peace journeys. The week closes with a Peace Concert headlined by Bay Area music legend Barry “the Fish” Melton. Sept. 16–21 at San Geronimo Valley Community Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Details at sgvcc.org.

Sonoma Valley

Plein Air Fest

Art meets advocacy as the Sonoma Plein Air Festival continues through Sept. 13, bringing 29 master painters to capture Sonoma’s landscapes while raising funds for art education. Since 2002, the festival has invested more than $2.4 million in local classrooms and nonprofits, ensuring kids have the supplies and support to create. Highlights include the outdoor Art Show & Sale on the Plaza (Sept. 13, 10am–4pm) with live music, demos and free kids’ activities. Forty percent of art sales go directly to grants for K–12 art programs and supplies. Now through Sept. 13 at various Sonoma Valley locations. Full schedule at sonomapleinair.org.

Cannabis Lounge: Brandon Levine of Mercy Wellness

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Cannabis Lounge: Brandon Levine of Mercy Wellness

Even sitting at his “ease” in the house he built (Mercy Wellness), Brandon Levine is taut and nervy. His brain is a policy brain, restless, seeking, spinning and flashing. He is a leader, and he is a human vector, held in self-restraint.

Whether his journey through the ever shifting cannabis industry made him, or whether his inborn character suited him, Brandon Levine is a rare survivor. And he thrives, even amid the current industry conditions of mis-regulation, over-taxation, piratical rents, glutted supply, dropping prices, corporate-buyouts and fierce do-or-die competition. 

This spring, surrounded by friends and work family, Levine celebrated the 15th anniversary of Mercy Wellness (whose branding evokes its medical-era founding). The occasion was marked to celebrate all they had achieved over a long journey—and to point to the future, for the event was held in Mercy Wellness Lounge, Sonoma County’s first ever cannabis “consumption lounge.”

That, friends, is the event I celebrate, for the idea of a “consumption lounge” is both new and old. My memory stretches back. Before the efficiency-geared high style dispensary, before the bullet-proof glass dispensary, there was the home-y homely cannabis club of the medical era. I remember clubs, mostly in San Francisco, that were true community smoke-out hangouts—anti-bars where bouncers were nice and the bartenders goofy. They were chill because the cultural tone is set by weed, not liquor. Inasmuch the struggling industry needs this, the North Bay needs this, a new set of venues and low-pressure hangouts. 

As I entered, I passed a calendar of events and a small cabaret stage, then joined Levine in a cushy booth. Aromasoma played handpan.

Cincinnatus Hibbard: Congratulations, Brandon. Tell us about the new space. It’s big and open.

Brandon Levine: It’s a little under 3,500 square feet inside and like 6,000 square feet outside—about a third of which is unfinished—that will be a private party area. There are 160 lineal feet of windows, and it all opens to the outside. You can sit at “the bar” and be inside or outside. I’m building a second, much bigger stage on the outside, out of redwood. We have a scullery kitchen here we’re working on. We’re going to be building a wood fired BBQ and pizza ovens.

On the patio, fenced in by young redwoods and aspen, I see a hitch for a food truck around picnic tables. At our table, there are two menus, one for non-infused munchie snacks, and one for bud—flower, “flower flights,” pre-rolls, edibles, infused beverages, etc. At the bar, your “bud tenders” advise us on safe consumption advice?

Yes. And you can order from the dispensary at the bar and have it delivered to you. We have free papers and fresh glass for you to use and all kinds of devices. For a small fee, you can have unlimited day use of cartas, puffcos, gravity bongs and volcanos. Another thing we are hyper focused on is entertainment and experience. If you look at our calendar, you see a wide range of options—comedy nights, DJs, live bands, magic, a puff ’n’ paint, Bingo—surprisingly, Bingo was a big hit. There’re prizes.

How were you able to open the first consumption lounge in Sonoma County?

First, California State had to approve consumption lounges, but then your local jurisdiction—in our case, the city of Cotati has to pass a local ordinance approving it. They also need a guinea pig business.

Learn more. Follow the link, mercywellness.com, for a full event calendar. And if one can’t make it to the dispensary or lounge, Mercy Wellness delivers to large parts of Sonoma and Marin.

Support Local Arts, Save a Nation

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Support Local Arts, Save a Nation

There’s a reason authoritarian types go after the arts first. Fragile, underfunded, subjective as hell—it’s easier to remove the arts rather than reckon with culture.

Sure, we won’t miss the silenced songs, shuttered theaters or unshelved books that we never liked anyway. But we’ll also never know the ones we were denied—the voices throttled before they reached us, or the ones we forsook while yoked to an algorithm that insists resistance is futile and bingeing sophomoric TV is self-care. That’s not culture; that’s hospice.

What we’re really watching is culture atrophy in real time. Perspectives narrow, appetites for resistance wither and before long even dissent goes out of print.

Which is why producing and supporting new, original local art isn’t a pastime—it’s a civic necessity. Freedom of expression is a 236-year-old covenant, radical in its insistence on the new, conservative in its insistence that free speech, press and assembly remain intact. And that’s all one needs to put on a show.

Art keeps the contract current. Stop making new art and one surrenders the very premise of freedom.

I’ve entered the “best defense is a good offense” period of my creative life. And in culture, that means making more art, not less—even if it offends. Especially if it offends authoritarians. Local art is harder to censor because it’s everywhere and nowhere: the mural on the café wall, the band at the bar, the poem at the open mic. It’s guerrilla defense—decentralized, abundant, unpredictable and impossible to silence. Whac-A-Mole meets Moleskine.

With libraries under siege, curricula gutted and funding stripped, it’s on us to buy the ticket, go to the show, toss a few bucks in the guitar case—or make something. Capture an imagination, free a heart. Every act of original creation is a line held against cultural amnesia and political erasure.

In this moment of suppression, local art is both shield and sword.

Sharpen up. The nation depends on it.

Daedalus Howell is editor of this paper, a filmmaker and host of ‘The Drive’ on 95.5 FM.

Sparkling Darling: Arnaud Weyrich of Roederer Estate

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Sparkling Darling: Arnaud Weyrich of Roederer Estate

Following his 1993 graduation from Montpellier’s esteemed Ecole Supérieure d’Oenologie with a master of science in viticulture and enology, Arnaud Weyrich launched his professional journey as an intern at the lovely Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley. 

During this internship, he applied his solid foundation in viticulture and enology principles, marking the beginning of an enduring partnership with Maison Louis Roederer that had him crossing back and forth over the Atlantic five times in one decade.

After completing his internship, Weyrich returned to France to join his then fiancée, now wife Floriane, accepting a position with a major retail corporation where he managed quality control for all beverages produced under the company’s private label brands.

Driven by his passion for the wine industry and preference for smaller company environments, Weyrich enthusiastically rejoined Roederer Estate in 2000 as assistant winemaker. However, when the opportunity arose for him to serve as chief technical officer responsible for development at Champagne Louis Roederer in Reims, he left the U.S. once again for more than a year.

In 2002, Weyrich relocated his family back to Roederer Estate, where he has since managed comprehensive winery operations from vineyard to daily business affairs, currently holding the position of winemaker and vice president of production.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Arnaud Weyrich: I was born in Alsace, France, and wine was part of life there. My parents always had good wine on their table. Growing up, I knew I wanted to do a job that involved the outdoors. Farming, growing grapes and making wine seemed to cover that option.

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

There wasn’t one specific moment. I do remember one wine very vividly. It was Champagne Philipponnat, Clos des Goisses. I was on a date with my wife, Floriane, at a very good restaurant, 2-star Michelin. Maybe it wasn’t the perfect bottle, but it was the perfect person, the perfect time, the perfect place. The wine felt extraordinary.

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

When I imbibe at home, my drink of choice is either Champagne or Roederer Estate Sparkling wine. Either one goes perfectly with food and friends.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

We don’t really go out for drinks. We like to invite friends and family over for drinks at home to enjoy the peacefulness of the vineyards where we live.

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

Roederer Estate 2019 L’Ermitage Brut.

Roederer Estate, 4501 Highway 128, Philo, 707.895.2288. roedererestate.com.

Free Will Astrology: Week of Sept. 17

Free Will Astrology: Week of Sept. 17
Free Will Astrology: Week of Sept. 17 offers pearls of wisdom and inspiration from surprising places. Also, horoscopes.
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One Singular Sensation: Classic ‘A Chorus Line’ at 6th Street

It’s been 50 years since Michael Bennett’s A Chorus Line took Broadway by storm. The musical tale of the hopes, dreams and aspirations of those who seek a life in the theater won nine Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize and held the record for longest running Broadway musical for 14 years. While simplistic in plot, it’s a difficult show...
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Poetry in Motion: Petaluma Poetry Walk Celebrates 28 Years

Petaluma Poetry Walk brings together poets and listeners.
On a September Sunday, downtown Petaluma transforms into something more than its already picturesque self.  Side streets, bookshops, cafes and even the venerable Hotel Petaluma ballroom become stages for 26 poets, who will lend their voices and verse to a nearly 30 year tradition. This year, the Petaluma Poetry Walk celebrates its 28th year, a tradition that began in 1996 when...
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Ratatouille Season, the Debate Begins

The ingredients for ratatouille season, the French dish of stewy vegetables, are in season now.
It’s finally ratatouille season. The French dish of stewy vegetables (as well as its namesake animated film) is a favorite of mine, so much that every year, I try to find someone to argue with me about it.  I often try arguing at Petaluma’s Jupiter Foods with Dan Bleakney-Formby, since he is a greengrocer and vegetable nerd. Plus, the outdoor...
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Strings Attached, Renegade Orchestra at Sebastiani Theatre

Renegade Orchestra will perform at the Sebastiani Theatre in Petaluma on Sept. 20.
If one thinks the idea of organizing and rehearsing a 10-person rock and roll orchestra sounds daunting, they clearly don’t know nearly enough about hard-working local musicians Jason Eckl and Rebecca Roudman.  Not only do they, respectively, conduct, perform and organize shows for the Renegade Orchestra, but the married couple also works together in several local bands that are in...
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Union? Yes. ‘Pins and Needles’ Opens Mercury Theatre Season

Mercury Theatre opens their debut season with 'Pins and Needles.'
If an obscure satirical musical review written nearly 100 years ago hits one right in the gut because of its social relevance, they might just be living in today’s America. History, they say, has a tendency to repeat itself, and it is the duty of artists to illuminate this with works that speak to the times. Mercury Theatre opens their...
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Culture Crush, Sept. 10

North Bay arts and cultural events
Point Reyes Station Fab Four From Sept. 20 to Oct. 26, Gallery Route One presents four exhibitions that respond to today’s world through diverse voices and materials. Sherrie Lovler’s Distant Voices offers elegant calligraphic paintings as messages of change and hope; Renée Owen’s Adrift: A Landscape of Loss uses fiber and book art to reflect on human displacement and fragile connections...
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Cannabis Lounge: Brandon Levine of Mercy Wellness

Brandon Levine, founder and owner pf Mercy Wellness, a cannabis company
Even sitting at his “ease” in the house he built (Mercy Wellness), Brandon Levine is taut and nervy. His brain is a policy brain, restless, seeking, spinning and flashing. He is a leader, and he is a human vector, held in self-restraint. Whether his journey through the ever shifting cannabis industry made him, or whether his inborn character suited him,...
Read more

Support Local Arts, Save a Nation

Open Mic writers express their perspectives on a variety of topics.
There’s a reason authoritarian types go after the arts first. Fragile, underfunded, subjective as hell—it’s easier to remove the arts rather than reckon with culture. Sure, we won’t miss the silenced songs, shuttered theaters or unshelved books that we never liked anyway. But we’ll also never know the ones we were denied—the voices throttled before they reached us, or the...
Read more

Sparkling Darling: Arnaud Weyrich of Roederer Estate

Winemaker Arnaud Weyrich manages the Roederer Estate, a winery in Philo, California.Roederer Estate, a winery in Philo
Following his 1993 graduation from Montpellier’s esteemed Ecole Supérieure d’Oenologie with a master of science in viticulture and enology, Arnaud Weyrich launched his professional journey as an intern at the lovely Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley.  During this internship, he applied his solid foundation in viticulture and enology principles, marking the beginning of an enduring partnership with Maison Louis Roederer...
Read more
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