Thankful Movies, No Turkeys for Personal T-Day Film Festival

Thanksgiving movies don’t get the credit they deserve. We get a ton of Christmas, Halloween and other holiday movies canonized as classics and added to the yearly viewing rotation. But Thanksgiving has always remained the day when people slowly food-coma themselves into oblivion in front of football or parades. 

Still, I think it’s time to spotlight a few pretty great Thanksgiving movies for those of us who prefer cinema to sports and celebrate the genius it takes to build a movie around a problematic holiday where the most excitement involved is usually how many deviled eggs one can eat before things go south. 

Planes, Trains and Automobiles—This is the obvious one for people of a certain generation. But I’ll always bring this 1987 film up when younger folks are around to keep the appreciation of John Candy alive for a thousand years to come. This classic follows an uptight ad exec (the wonderful Steve Martin) and a talkative but affable salesperson (Candy) as they go on a very circuitous journey from New York to Chicago (by way of Kansas and a few other states) to try to make it home for Thanksgiving. 

It remains endlessly quotable (“Our speedometer has melted, and as a result, it’s very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going”), genuinely heartwarming and a good reminder that the holiday isn’t about pilgrims as much as a celebration of the people we love and choose to share our lives with.  

Knives Out—While the film isn’t specifically set on Thanksgiving, Knives Out is still the perfect viewing antidote for those of us who have complicated relationships with our family. From writer/director Rian Johnson, Knives Out is a classic cinematic throwback to detectives like Marple, Poirot and Holmes. 

It’s all centered around a profoundly dysfunctional family played by a murderers’ row of great actors, including Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Christopher Plummer and Toni Collette. Watching these characters sit around a table and squabble over petty insecurities reminds me of too many Thanksgivings to count and, for good or ill, feels pretty nostalgic. 

Fantastic Mr. Fox—This also isn’t set on Thanksgiving necessarily. But with the autumn leaves filling almost every frame and the focus on community, food and families both fond and otherwise, it’s not only the perfect film for kids to watch on the holiday; grown-ups will find their eyes getting awfully moist as well. 

What on the surface seems like a simple story about securing food for the winter plays quite differently at a time when food security is in question. Big-hearted, warmly optimistic and filled to the brim with calls for goodness and charity, Fantastic Mr. Fox should be canonized as the Thanksgiving movie closest to the spirit of the holiday. 

You’ve Got Mail—While only briefly touching on Thanksgiving, You’ve Got Mail is still a perfect romance to watch with one’s person after dinner. With a chemistry that I’m not sure any actors have achieved since, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are so effortlessly charming and dreamy that it’s hard not to fall in love with them, too. Even if some of the story points feel a little sexist now, the film is still the equivalent of a rich dessert shared with a special someone.

Big Night—Not connected to Thanksgiving in any way other than in how it celebrates family and food, Big Night should still be played as an appetizer to the Thanksgiving meal. I’m not sure food has ever looked more delicious onscreen before or since. Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Minnie Driver, Ian Holm and Isabella Rossellini cook up something truly delicious here that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. 

There are so many other solid Thanksgiving canon choices. For the horror movie fanatic in one’s life, they could show Eli Roth’s turkey slasher, Thanksgiving.  And for the Boomer in one’s life, there’s The Big Chill. The little ones will always appreciate A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  If one is after a heartwarming dramedy, don’t forget about the Jodie Foster-directed Home for the Holidays. Or if they want to focus on the historical perspective, Terence Malick’s The New World is an underseen classic. 

Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It has one of the tensest Thanksgiving dinners committed to film. And Pieces of April reminds us to forgive and find gratitude in the small things.

Free Will Astrology: Nov. 26 – Dec. 2

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Japanese word mushin means “no mind.” In Zen Buddhism, it refers to the state of flow where thinking stops and being takes over. When you are moving along in the groove of mushin, your body knows what to do before your brain catches up. You’re so present, you disappear into the action itself. Athletes refer to it as “the zone.” It’s the place where effort becomes effortless, where you stop trying and simply love the doing. In the coming weeks, Aries, you can enjoy this state more than you have in a long time. Ride it with glee.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): For the foreseeable future, salmon are your spirit creatures. I’ll remind you about their life cycle. They are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean and live there for years. Then they return, moving against river currents, up waterfalls, past bears and eagles. Eventually, they arrive at the exact stream where they were born. How do they do it? They navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field and their sense of smell, remembering chemical signatures from years ago. I think your own calling is as vivid as theirs, dear Taurus. And in the coming weeks, you will be extra attuned to that primal signal. Trust the ancient pull back toward your soul’s home.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): What if procrastination isn’t always a problem? On some occasions, maybe it’s a message from your deeper self. Delay could serve as a form of protection. Avoidance might be a sign of your deep wisdom at work. Consider these possibilities, Gemini. What if your resistance to the “should” is actually your soul’s immune system rejecting a foreign agenda? It might be trying to tell you secrets about what you truly want versus what you think you should want.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’m only slightly joking when I recommend that you practice the art of sacred bitching in the coming days. You are hereby authorized to complain and criticize with creative zeal. But the goal is not to push hard in a quest to solve problems perfectly. Instead, simply give yourself the luxury of processing and metabolizing the complications. Your venting and whining won’t be pathological, but a legitimate way to achieve emotional release. Sometimes, like now, you need acknowledgement more than solutions. Allowing feelings is more crucial than fixing things. The best course of action is saying “this is hard” until it’s slightly less hard.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Chinese concept of yuanfen means that some connections are fated. Certain people were always meant to cross your path. Not soulmates necessarily, but soul-evokers: those who bring transformations that were inscribed on your destiny before you knew they were coming. When you meet a new person and feel instant recognition, that’s yuanfen. When a relationship changes your life, that’s yuanfen. When timing aligns impossibly but wonderfully, that’s yuanfen. According to my analysis, you Leos are due for such phenomena in the coming weeks—at least two, maybe more. Some opportunities appear because you pursue them. Others were always going to arrive simply because you opened your mind and heart.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Let’s talk about a forest’s roots. Mostly hidden from sight, they are the source of all visible life. They are always communicating with each other, sharing nourishment and information. When extra help is needed, they call on fungi networks to support them, distributing their outreach even further. Your own lineage works similarly, Virgo. It’s nutrient-rich and endlessly intertwined with others, some of whom came long before you. You are the flowering tip of an unseen intelligence. Every act of grounding—breathing deeply, resting your feet, returning to gratitude—is your body’s way of remembering its subterranean ancestry. Please keep these meditations at the forefront of your awareness in the coming weeks. I believe you will thrive to the degree that you draw from your extensive roots.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are currently in a phase when it’s highly possible to become both smarter and wiser. You have a sixth sense for knowing exactly how to enhance both your intellectual and emotional intelligence. With this happy news in mind, I will remind you that your brain is constantly growing and changing. Every experience carves new neural pathways. Every repeated thought strengthens certain connections and weakens others. You’re not stuck with the brain you have, but are continuously building the brain that’s evolving. The architecture of your consciousness is always under construction. Take full advantage of this resilience and plasticity.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to stand near what you want to become. I advise you to surround yourself with the energy you want to embody. Position yourself in the organic ecosystem of your aspirations without grasping or forcing. Your secret power is not imitation but osmosis. Not ambition but proximity. The transformations you desire will happen sideways, through exposure and absorption. You won’t become by trying to become; you will become by staying close to what calls you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Some seeds can remain dormant for centuries, waiting for the right conditions to germinate. The oldest successfully germinated seed was a 2,000-year-old date palm seed. I suspect you will experience psychospiritual and metaphorical versions of this marvel in the coming weeks. Certain aspects of you have long been dormant but are about to sprout. Some of your potentials have been waiting for conditions that you haven’t encountered until recently. Is there anything you can do to encourage these wondrous developments? Be alert for subtle magic that needs just a little nudge.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Orb weaver spiders make seven different types of silk, each engineered for different purposes: sticky silk for catching prey, strong silk for the web’s frame, stretchy silk for wrapping food and soft silk for egg sacs. In other words, they don’t generate a stream of generic resources and decide later what to do with them. Each type of silk is produced by distinct silk glands and spinnerets, and each is carefully tailored for a particular use. I advise you to be like the orb weavers in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Specificity will be your superpower.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Benevolent gossip is the practice of speaking about people not to diminish them but to fondly wonder about them and try to understand them. What if gossip could be generous? What if talking about someone in their absence could be an act of compassionate curiosity rather than judgment? What if you spoke about everyone as if they might overhear you—not from fear but from respect? Your words about others could be spells that shape how they exist in the collective imagination. Here’s another beautiful fact about benevolent gossip: It can win you appreciation and attention that will enhance your ability to attract the kind of help and support you need.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Every 21,000 years, the Sahara Desert transforms into a lush green savanna. It’s due to precession, which is a wobble in the Earth’s axis. The African seasonal monsoon becomes much stronger, bringing increased rainfall to the entire area. The last time this occurred was from about 11,000 to 5,000 years ago. During this era, the Sahara supported lakes, rivers, grasslands, and diverse animal and human populations. I’m predicting a comparable shift for you in the coming months, Pisces. The onset of luxuriant growth is already underway. And right now is an excellent time to encourage and expedite the onset of flourishing abundance. Formulate the plans and leap into action.

Home Ranch, Where Winegrower Turns Winemaker

Justin Warnelius-Miller grew up at Garden Creek Ranch in the Alexander Valley, learning viticulture from his father, a cabernet sauvignon pioneer, who planted the first vines in 1969. 

At 19, Warnelius-Miller left UC Davis to lead the family vineyard, implementing sustainable and regenerative farming practices. His meticulous farming has maintained this special hillside estate as a premier fruit source. In 2001, he and his wife, Karin, began producing their own wine under the Garden Creek name and redesigned the estate’s old cattle barn as a winery.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Justin Warnelius-Miller: I was born and raised on our property in Alexander Valley. My dad planted our first vineyard of cabernet sauvignon in 1969, and we’ve been winegrowers ever since. I was born into being a vintner. Over the last three decades, (my wife) Karin, and I have taken our winegrowing to another level, as the next generation should. 

Employing precision winegrowing, we farm and harvest our fruit based on soil profiles and 11 compositions, microclimate variations, varietal selections and individual clones, which we have come to understand intimately after six decades… After 56 years of winegrowing on our estate, we continue to wake up each day on our land and care for it with our very own hands. We love it.

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

A Haut Brion 2008 Grand Cru from Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France. I drank this during an anniversary celebration with my wife, and wow—it was insanely memorable. It made us stop in our tracks. It lingered and expressed many levels of emotions—a very inspiring, noble wine.

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

We enjoy local Sonoma County wines and international wines, plus we think it is important to keep our palates fresh by tasting a wide array of varieties—be it a chenin blanc from the south of France or aligoté from Burgundy. It’s important not to be tied to your own house palate. There are so many amazing wines and varieties in the world, and I’m always excited to broaden my understanding of wines, vineyards and places.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

My wife and I love the Geyserville Gun Club Bar and Lounge, a local’s favorite with classic cocktails and live music. The bar is perfect for when we want a simple night out. Dino Bigica, the owner, does a great job, and we like to support our local digs.

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

I have started to enjoy PILS by Parliament Brewing in Rohnert Park. It’s fantastic and refreshing after a long day in the vineyards or winery.

Garden Creek Vineyard, 2335 Geysers Rd., Geyserville 707.433.8345. gardencreekvineyards.com.

Friendsgiving: A Love letter to Chosen Family

Over the past decade, “Friendsgiving” has gone from a quirky portmanteau to a cultural ritual. Originally a Thanksgiving‑themed feast eaten with friends, it began as an alternative for young adults who couldn’t or didn’t want to go home for the holiday.

Early gatherings were informal potlucks, with each friend bringing a dish and testing new recipes. The term’s first online appearance was in 2007; yet the idea of a turkey dinner with one’s chosen family goes back to the counterculture meals that inspired Alice’s Restaurant.

Now I’m in my mid-40s, straddling the line between Gen X anarchism and Millennial zeal, and I’ve watched this grassroots tradition evolve from a scrappy potluck to a fully-curated event. Today, Friendsgiving is celebrated in urban lofts and suburban cul‑de‑sacs alike; people still share dishes, but the menus include gluten‑free stuffing, vegan roasts, craft cocktails and the infamous Tofurkey. Friendsgiving has matured alongside us, becoming a second celebration rather than a substitute for family. The dinner is popular in LGBTQ+ circles and for anyone who values community over familial obligation.

What makes Friendsgiving feel so vital is the freedom to shape a holiday around our actual, lived lives. In my 20s, I hosted my first Friendsgiving on thrifted chairs and a table found on the sidewalk. Two decades later, my living room is bigger, the playlist is on Spotify and the cookware costs more than my first car, but the spirit is the same. We pass dishes, share grievances and gratitude, and create space for people whose families are far away or way too fraught.

This tradition resonates because it recognizes that family isn’t just who one is born into. Friendsgiving offers an inclusive pause: a place where a woman in her 40s can toast to friends old and new, celebrate resilience and embrace the idea that sometimes the bonds that last are the ones we make ourselves.

Roe Warden is a Bay Area creative professional who makes a mean pie crust.

Todd Snider Rules: A Remembrance

Singer, songwriter, storyteller and alright guy Todd Snider passed away on Friday, November 14.

The cause of death was, at the moment, complications from pneumonia but in typical Snider fashion, there’s much more to the story that we don’t need to go into right now.

Like so many of us in these parts, Snider once attended the Santa Rosa Junior College before deciding that it wasn’t for him and, unlike most of us, he lit out for brighter pastures, seeking to emulate the career path of his idol, Jerry Jeff Walker. He more than succeeded and his career was still going strong when he shuffled off this mortal coil. Key word, shuffled.  

For me, Todd Snider was “my guy.” If you’re more than a casual music fan, you most certainly have “your guy” or “your girl” or “your band,” probably more than one which negates that singular sounding designation but, you get it.

I discovered Todd Snider at exactly the right point in my life. In 1994, I was around 23 and considered myself a member of the local punk rock scene but at that point, Green Day had went mega with their breakout album Dookie and my favorite band Jawbreaker ”sold out” to a major label and promptly broke up. I was looking for a new connection, something to hang my hat on and along came Todd Snider.

I had seen a large cardboard standee of Todd Snider’s debut album, Songs for the Daily Planet at the beloved Last Record Store as well as at the late, great Backdoor Disc and Tape but my punk rock cynicism dismissed him as a pretty-boy wannabe.

However, at that same time, in a flurry of confluence, I caught Snider and his ripping band The Nervous Wrecks on Austin City Limits and was blown away. The songs were catchy, smart and also rocked. Todd was amicable, boyish, charming and wrote great songs. I waited for the episode to re-air so I could record it on the VCR and later wore out that tape.

Also at that same time legendary KRSH DJ Bill Bowker and his late, great partner Doug Smith booked Todd Snider and the Nervous Wrecks at the late, great Inn of the Beginning and that show still stands as one of the greatest I have ever witnessed. I was hooked and honestly lost count of how many times I saw him solo, with his band, with another band and probably in some other band too as he always played our area when he was on tour and he toured non-stop.

I saw him play good, bad, and everywhere in between but what I loved most was, getting friends and anyone who would listen to me in and around Sonoma County to come with me to see him live. His songs are funny, poignant, insightful and cutting and his onstage storytelling will forever be unparalleled in my book. 

Snider has several songs foreshadowing death but this isn’t particularly prescient, we’re all foreshadowing death every day. But him dying at 59 years old is just wrong and as another of Snider’s idols, John Prine, once noted, it’s a crooked piece of time that we live in.

While I’m still pretty torn up over the loss in general, I’m clinging to the bright spots which are memories of great times as well as the fact that the music will live forever.

Todd Snider rules.

‘Ride the Cyclone: The Musical’ at SRJC

A Wild ‘Ride’

A metaphysical Gen Z Breakfast Club musical would be a fairly accurate yet wholly inaccurate description of the joyful, weird, chaotic, and heartwarming trip that is Ride the Cyclone: The Musical, now playing in the Burbank Theater at Santa Rosa Junior College through Nov. 23.

The town of Uranium’s high school choir is composed of five (or is it six?) students who decide to ride the Cyclone rollercoaster at a local carnival together. A terrible accident befalls them, and they end up in an odd purgatory ruled over by a self-aware fortune-telling automaton, Karnak (Aliya Webb), who offers one of them the chance to return to life. Thus starts a song and dance competition like no other. 

All the usual teen tropes are here: the overachiever, Ocean (Scarlett Sanders), the gay one, Noel (Chase Thompson), the angry one, Mischa  (Jaden “Moose” Frank), the quiet one, Ricky (Addison Brown), and the mousy girl, Constance (Maya Tuchband).  However, those tropes are reexamined in a Zennial reimagining of what lies beneath them. As far as the plot is concerned, yes, it’s easy to guess where it’s going, but there’s no way to predict the wild ride along the way.

There’s also that sixth student (Reilly Trainor). Trainor is an amazing performer with a beautiful voice, a great stage presence, and a polished level of characterization. 

Sanders, Thompson, Frank, Brown, Trainor, and Tuchband are a tight ensemble. The energy between them is palpable, infusing every scene with a sense of vitality. 

Brown and Frank especially display levels of vulnerability that would make Tennessee Williams proud. Their ability to somehow fully portray their tropes yet never lose that vulnerability helps keep all the other characters grounded. 

Scenic design (Austin Mueck) is extraordinary, with broken pieces of the coaster breaking the proscenium. Costumes (Reynalda Cruz) are a fever dream of creative chaos. And musical direction by Nate Riebli is, as always, top-notch. 

Were there flaws? Of course, it’s live theater. At one point, Brown’s mic started malfunctioning, and the spotlight operator had a hard time keeping the ever-moving cast lit. Also, as a stage manager, I almost had a heart attack when the swinging started. The team responsible for the rigging and safety of that scene deserves kudos. 

Sometimes, lightning strikes and the right show finds the right cast and the right team. Director Sarah Wintermeyer has somehow bottled that lightning and turned it into one wild ride.

‘Ride the Cyclone: The Musical’ runs Weds–Sun through November 23 in Santa Rosa Junior College’s Burbank Auditorium, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Weds-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $15–$25. 707.527.4307. theatrearts.santarosa.edu

Welcome to Our Holiday Gift Guide

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The holidays are upon us, which means it’s time for that annual North Bay ritual: pretending we shop early, then panic-buying hither and yon like festive fugitives. 

Fortunately, our counties are brimming with makers, artists, boutiques and culinary wizards who can turn even a last-minute scramble into something that looks curated and intentional—your little secret.

This year’s Pacific Sun–Bohemian Holiday Gift Guide rounds up the best locally made, locally sold gifts the region has to offer. Think handcrafted jewelry straight out of Petaluma studios, heirloom-quality décor from Mill Valley, chocolate worth a sonnet, Sonoma-forged dog treats and enough olive oil to transform an ordinary kitchen into a Tuscan daydream.

Whether you’re shopping for the aesthete, the foodie, the fashion-forward or the special person who has everything, we’ve done the sleuthing. All you have to do is take the credit.

Happy gifting.

Gifts for Fashionistas

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Fashionistas don’t dress—they curate ensembles. Their closets are archives, their outfits are their stories, and their selfies are practically an editorial spread. Fortunately, local boutiques deliver runway energy without the runway attitude. From sculptural silhouettes to ethical basics and indie-designer gems, these finds are meant to thrill the one friend who somehow looks incredible even while “just running errands.”

Runway-Ready Staples

The Store, Mill Valley

The Store is where Mill Valley keeps its effortlessly stylish reputation polished. Every item feels intentional: soft knits that never lose their shape, structured pieces that add instant authority and accessories that whisper—never shout—their chic credentials. 

This is gifting for someone who knows exactly who they are and dresses accordingly. Think sweaters that become signature pieces, denim that reads like tailoring, and scarves that double as personality traits. If your fashionista is the kind who “just throws something on” and still looks editorial, a gift from here slots seamlessly into their ongoing personal brand narrative.

118 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. thestoremillvalley.com

Curated Looks

Margaux, Larkspur

Margaux is a boutique that feels like stepping into the dream closet of someone with tremendous taste and zero clutter. Each rack is tightly edited—no filler, no trend-chasing impulse buys; just elevated staples and seasonal pieces designed to outlive the moment. The silhouettes flatter, the fabrics feel good in the hand, and the palette leans toward the quietly confident. This is where you shop for the friend who never panics before an event because they always have “the perfect thing.” A gift from Margaux says you understand their style language—and speak it fluently.

500 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur — margauxlarkspur.com

Ethically Sourced Essentials

Ethical Clothing, Petaluma

Ethical Clothing in downtown Petaluma is the antidote to disposable fashion—full of pieces chosen for longevity, wearability and comfort without sacrificing aesthetics. Their sweaters are famously soft, their dresses surprisingly versatile, and their accessories stylish without drifting into costume territory. Everything feels like a “new favorite,” the kind of item that justifies its hanger space. 

If your giftee loves looking good but hates contributing to textile landfill, this boutique turns principles into fashion-forward practice. Ideal for the person whose style is understated but unmistakably intentional.

109 Kentucky St., Petaluma. ethicalclothing-petaluma.com

Gifts for Influencers

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Influencers don’t need more stuff—they need better backgrounds. And props. And lighting. And notebooks. And mugs. Fortunately, the North Bay is a treasure trove of photogenic objects that elevate any feed. Whether your giftee is building a brand, shooting cozy morning Reels or simply documenting their immaculate life, these gifts will upgrade their content faster than you can say “link in bio.”

Photo-Ready Journals

Copperfield’s Books, throughout the North Bay

A good-looking notebook is the influencer’s equivalent of a lucky talisman—perfect for flat lays, creative planning or that inevitable “new chapter” post. Copperfield’s carries an outstanding selection of journals, sketchbooks and stationery that will delight the aesthetically inclined. Pair one with a pen that writes smoothly, and you’ve gifted both content and inspiration.

copperfieldsbooks.com

Boho‑Chic Props 

Boho Bungalow, Petaluma & Occidental

For a (ahem) bohemian‑inspired feed, head to Boho Bungalow in downtown Petaluma. This full‑service interior‑design and lifestyle boutique offers home décor and gift items ranging from jewelry and coffee mugs to plants, crystals, kitchen supplies and housewares. The shop also provides in‑home styling and interior‑design services. Influencers can pick up funky planters, woven baskets and glam crystals to create an instant boho backdrop, or choose a beautiful mug for those “morning routine” shots. The natural textures and earthy colors give content a warm, grounded aesthetic that feels effortlessly curated. 

thebohobungalow.com

Marin Makers

Wild Fennel, Novato

Located on Grant Avenue in Novato, Wild Fennel is a thoughtfully curated boutique that celebrates local makers. The shop features items for the home, garden and kitchen, all with a commitment to slow, responsible craftsmanship. A sampling: hand‑thrown ceramics, sculptural planters and beeswax candles that smell as good as they look. It’s a perfect place to pick up artisanal props that add texture and authenticity to any photo or video. The brick‑and‑mortar shop is open Tuesday through Sunday.

818 Grant Ave, Novato. shopwildfennel.com

Gifts for Heavy Petters

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Scientific data has yet to show when exactly our pets became such a weirdly integral part of our lives. Obviously, the day to day tending to their needs and enjoyment of their company has always been part of the gig. It feels like over the last 20 years, pets have become entrenched familial units, often proving more demanding than a spouse or child. But alas, we love them, and they deserve the best.

Oh, heaven for dogs

Petaluma’s Dairy Dell has you covered for pet pampering. Billed as “A Doggie Dude Ranch & Training Center,” the large farmstead sits in the scenic countryside just outside of Petaluma on Old Adobe Road. What’s impressive about Dairy Dell is they have a little something for all types of dogs. 

Is your dog a social butterfly that loves running with the pack? Cool, they’re an ideal candidate for the “Bunk House.” Keep in mind, if you merely think your pooch is the life of the party but they’re actually a little stinker, they may be moved over to “Miss Kitty’s Private Suites,” which is also a choice you can make before drop off.

However, perhaps the coolest option at Dairy Dell is their “Little Houses on the Dairy,” private luxury suites for dogs that were put together by Tuff Shed sales and design consultant Jayson Blakley at the Rohnert Park Tuff Shed location. 

Described as “peaceful and lovely, and especially good for dogs that may get a bit stressed in a noisier kennel environment,” the amenities include a place away from the louder kennel, in an 8×12 private room with heating and air conditioning, an attached observation deck/shaded porch, 24/7 background music and a relaxing play yard with canine grass and neighbors next door. 

Blakley worked with Dairy Dell to bring this idea to life. He said the challenges included “making it attractive and appealing to the eye, but also functional for staff, and accessibility for staff to care for their doggie guests with multiple entry points.” Blakley added that the challenge was also that they needed to be “comfortable with plenty of room for sleeping and a level of comfort for multiple dogs staying together.” 

More at dairydell.com.

You’ve got to be kitten me right now

Do you have a cat that takes it personally if you dare go out of town? Perhaps the thought of leaving your feline friend home alone makes you less likely to go anywhere? Fear no more, as Kitty Charm School has you covered. 

Located in Mill Valley and established in 2006, Kitty Charm School is more than just a hotel for cats; it’s also a clean, spacious and thoughtful place to leave your cat for a day of relaxation and fun or a little private vacay while you’re out in the world. At KCS, each cat’s needs, be they medical, environmental or social, are taken into account. They also offer cat sitters for those who would prefer their cat stay home while they’re away. Plus, come on, Kitty Charm School is just a fantastic name. 
More at kittycharmschool.com.

Thankful Movies, No Turkeys for Personal T-Day Film Festival

It’s time to spotlight a few pretty great Thanksgiving films for those of us who prefer cinema to sports.
Thanksgiving movies don’t get the credit they deserve. We get a ton of Christmas, Halloween and other holiday movies canonized as classics and added to the yearly viewing rotation. But Thanksgiving has always remained the day when people slowly food-coma themselves into oblivion in front of football or parades.  Still, I think it’s time to spotlight a few pretty great...

Free Will Astrology: Nov. 26 – Dec. 2

Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Japanese word mushin means “no mind.” In Zen Buddhism, it refers to the state of flow where thinking stops and being takes over. When you are moving along in the groove of mushin, your body knows what to do before your brain catches up. You’re so present, you disappear into the action itself. Athletes...

Home Ranch, Where Winegrower Turns Winemaker

Winegrower turns winemaker
Justin Warnelius-Miller grew up at Garden Creek Ranch in the Alexander Valley, learning viticulture from his father, a cabernet sauvignon pioneer, who planted the first vines in 1969.  At 19, Warnelius-Miller left UC Davis to lead the family vineyard, implementing sustainable and regenerative farming practices. His meticulous farming has maintained this special hillside estate as a premier fruit source. In...

Friendsgiving: A Love letter to Chosen Family

Originally a Thanksgiving‑themed feast eaten with friends, “Friendsgiving” has gone from a quirky portmanteau to a cultural ritual.
Over the past decade, “Friendsgiving” has gone from a quirky portmanteau to a cultural ritual. Originally a Thanksgiving‑themed feast eaten with friends, it began as an alternative for young adults who couldn’t or didn’t want to go home for the holiday. Early gatherings were informal potlucks, with each friend bringing a dish and testing new recipes. The term’s first online...

Todd Snider Rules: A Remembrance

Singer, songwriter, storyteller and alright guy Todd Snider passed away on Friday, November 14. The cause of death was, at the moment, complications from pneumonia but in typical Snider fashion, there’s much more to the story that we don’t need to go into right now. Like so many of us in these parts, Snider once attended the Santa Rosa...

‘Ride the Cyclone: The Musical’ at SRJC

A Wild 'Ride' A metaphysical Gen Z Breakfast Club musical would be a fairly accurate yet wholly inaccurate description of the joyful, weird, chaotic, and heartwarming trip that is Ride the Cyclone: The Musical, now playing in the Burbank Theater at Santa Rosa Junior College through Nov. 23. The town of Uranium’s high school choir is composed of five (or is...

Welcome to Our Holiday Gift Guide

The holidays are upon us, which means it’s time for that annual North Bay ritual: pretending we shop early, then panic-buying.
The holidays are upon us, which means it’s time for that annual North Bay ritual: pretending we shop early, then panic-buying hither and yon like festive fugitives.  Fortunately, our counties are brimming with makers, artists, boutiques and culinary wizards who can turn even a last-minute scramble into something that looks curated and intentional—your little secret.This year’s Pacific Sun–Bohemian Holiday Gift...

Gifts for Fashionistas

Fashionistas don’t dress—they curate ensembles.
Fashionistas don’t dress—they curate ensembles. Their closets are archives, their outfits are their stories, and their selfies are practically an editorial spread. Fortunately, local boutiques deliver runway energy without the runway attitude. From sculptural silhouettes to ethical basics and indie-designer gems, these finds are meant to thrill the one friend who somehow looks incredible even while “just running errands.” Runway-Ready...

Gifts for Influencers

the North Bay is a treasure trove of photogenic objects to elevate your favorite influencer.
Influencers don’t need more stuff—they need better backgrounds. And props. And lighting. And notebooks. And mugs. Fortunately, the North Bay is a treasure trove of photogenic objects that elevate any feed. Whether your giftee is building a brand, shooting cozy morning Reels or simply documenting their immaculate life, these gifts will upgrade their content faster than you can say...

Gifts for Heavy Petters

Heavy Petters
Scientific data has yet to show when exactly our pets became such a weirdly integral part of our lives. Obviously, the day to day tending to their needs and enjoyment of their company has always been part of the gig. It feels like over the last 20 years, pets have become entrenched familial units, often proving more demanding than...
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