Linda Perry Rocks, a Butterfly Tree and The Submarine Show

0

San Rafael
Linda Perry Rocks Fair

With the recent release of the documentary Linda Perry: Let It Die Here in Bay Area theaters and an upcoming tour with the Indigo Girls, singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and reality TV star Perry is enjoying deepening interest in her estimable oeuvre. The former lead singer of 4 Non Blondes—who has worked as a producer and songwriter for artists including Christina Aguilera, P!nk, Alicia Keys, Adele and Dolly Parton—will lend her talents and presence to Stars, Stripes & Stories—the four‑day Marin County Fair this coming Fourth of July weekend. Perry will perform a Pride Day-themed concert at 7:30pm, Friday, July 3, which is aptly timed for this cultural moment, as pretty much everyone is screaming at top of their lungs, “What’s going on?” Other Marin County Fair concerts feature The Family Stone, Steel Pulse, Pete Floyd, Mustache Harbor, Super Diamond, Fleetwood Macramé and Lupita Infante. The Marin County Fair is open daily from 11am to 11pm, July 1-5, at 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. For concert times, tickets and more information, visit marinfair.org.

Glen Ellen
The Butterfly Tree

Some botanical spectacles announce themselves with fanfare. Others quietly bloom once every few years. Sonoma Botanical Garden is preparing for a rare mass flowering of Emmenopterys henryi, an exceptionally uncommon Chinese tree prized for its fragrant clusters of creamy white blossoms and distinctive wing-like sepals that flutter like butterflies in the breeze. Considered near-threatened in the wild and the sole member of its genus, the species is a living relic of ancient forests that once spanned the Northern Hemisphere. The garden’s towering specimen—grown from seed collected during a 1996 expedition to China—is expected to flower for roughly three weeks, offering visitors a fleeting opportunity to experience one of the world’s most celebrated ornamental trees in full bloom. Nature, as always, keeps its own schedule. Expected to begin this week and continue for approximately three weeks, weather permitting, at Sonoma Botanical Garden, 12841 Hwy. 12, Glen Ellen. More information at sonomabg.org.

Monte Rio & Penngrove
Double Dose of Dirty Cello

Why settle for just one Fourth of July concert when one can catch two? Dirty Cello celebrates Independence Day with performances at opposite ends of Sonoma County, beginning with a lunchtime set at Wonderland Pizzeria in Monte Rio before heading south for an evening show at the Penngrove Pub. Fronted by virtuoso cellist Rebecca Roudman, Dirty Cello has built an international following by swapping the traditional lead guitar for an electrifying cello, blending rock, blues, bluegrass and Americana into high-energy performances that are equal parts concert and hoedown. Whether one is easing into the holiday or ending it on a high note, the band offers two chances to celebrate with one of the North Bay’s most distinctive live acts. 12:30–2:30pm and 7–10pm, Saturday, July 4, at Wonderland Pizzeria, 20391 Hwy. 116, Monte Rio (free), and Penngrove Pub, 10005 Main St. ($12). More information at dirtycello.com.

Larkspur
The Submarine Show

Two performers. No props. No dialogue. Somehow, an entire undersea adventure emerges. The Submarine Show is an award-winning feat of physical comedy from Bay Area clowns Slater Penney and Jaron Hollander, whose imaginative production transforms bodies, voices and movement into a cast of explorers, sea creatures and improbable characters. When two submariners crash to the ocean floor, the result is a nonstop journey through slapstick, mime, clowning and theatrical invention that has entertained audiences worldwide since its 2009 debut. Hollander, a former Cirque du Soleil performer, and Penney bring decades of circus, puppetry and physical theater experience to a family-friendly show at Lark Theater that proves imagination remains the greatest special effect. 4pm, Saturday, July 11, at Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. Tickets and more information at larktheater.net.

Happy 250, America: A Nation Fails to Show Up to its Own Party

Unless one counts the “Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250” fracas on the White House lawn as the pinnacle of civic celebration, one might conclude that the federal government has phoned in the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration.

This is giving real every-other-weekend bad-dad-forgot-your-birthday energy. This is some gas-station bouquet, silver-anniversary-level crap. This is “I thought your mom was handling the cake” finger-pointing. This is showing up to the party late with a half-inflated Mylar balloon that says “Congrats Grad” because it was the only one left at CVS. This is the republic’s milestone birthday being celebrated with a sad sheet cake, a spork and the whiff of propane. This is a nation founded on a rocket’s red glare waving a dead glowstick from the junk drawer.

I mean, you had two and half centuries to plan this. We did a Bicentennial dry run 50 years ago and went all out. In 1989, the French had their Bastille Day bicentennial and even made little edible guillotines, and that still was in better taste than a green reflecting pool. ’70s America had Watergate, Vietnam and the energy crisis, and they still got the damn colors right.

The best it can seem to muster is a bipartisan fundraising initiative called “Giving 4th,” which is, according to its website, “a movement to establish July 4 as a new national day of charitable giving” for organizations that the government used to fund. There is something uniquely dispiriting about commemorating 250 years of self-government by passing the tricorn hat.

And look, I am not asking for a national bacchanal of tasteful excess. I don’t need laser eagles. I don’t need the cast of Hamilton rapping the Federalist Papers whilst riding a drone swarm (though that, admittedly, would be cool). But give us something. A little pageantry. A little coherence. Maybe even a little responsible governance. Is the Smashing Pumpkins playing an America’s Block Party gig in Los Angeles the best we can do? Seriously, this is real—tickets are still available for just $17.76.

Because at 250, America is no longer young, scrappy and hungry—it’s old enough to know better—and do better.

Daedalus Howell is editor of this paper, the writer-director of the feature film ‘Werewolf Serenade,’ author of the novel ‘Quantum Deadline’ and host of ‘The Drive,’ weekdays on 95.5 FM.

Harvest Time, From Garden to Kitchen with Thomas Mendel 

Hamel Estate sits on a hillside above Sonoma Valley, where winemaker John Hamel has spent years developing certified biodynamic and organic vineyards through dry farming. 

The winery’s culinary program, under executive chef Thomas Mendel, has become a meaningful part of the Hamel experience. 

Mendel came to cooking early, learning at the side of his Italian-American grandmother in her kitchen. He went on to train formally at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and later completed the CIA’s wine program in St. Helena. Prior to joining Hamel in 2023, he served as sous chef at Hazel Hill, the signature restaurant at Montage Healdsburg, part of the team that opened the property.

The new Chef’s Experience tasting features four small courses paired with Hamel wines, highlighting the culinary garden that Mendel planted last year. Farmed biodynamically, it produced its first harvest in early December and ultimately produced more than 100 pounds of beets, potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant and other vegetables. The garden currently holds strawberries, tatsoi, herbs and edible flowers, with summer squash, corn, cucumbers and eggplant.

Worth noting as well is the winery itself, a contemporary space with floor-to-ceiling windows that open the building to its hillside setting and the valley views beyond. A small herd of Scottish Highland cattle graze the vineyards and contribute to the estate’s biodynamic farming cycle.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Thomas Mendel: I found a love for cooking at home, and I always remember being in the kitchen with my Nonna at a young age. I started out cooking part time during high school at a local seafood restaurant. That then translated to a career when my dad suggested I look into culinary school. I applied to the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park; got my degree; and moved out to California, where my professional career really started.

What is your favorite thing to cook (or eat) and why?

I can never turn down freshly made pasta. It’s one of the most versatile mediums, works in all seasons, and can be almost therapeutic when making it.

What ingredients do you use or eat the most?

I love tomatoes, mushrooms, ramps and all types of citrus, to name a few. While I don’t typically cook with it too much, one of my vices is dark chocolate.

What are some of your go-to places to go out for a sit-down meal? What about take out?

I love Bear at Stanley Ranch, Charlie’s in St. Helena, Amami Sushi in Napa and Ciccio’s in Yountville. We don’t do much take out, but we like a burger or salad from Gott’s or pizza from Croccante.

Last meal on Earth?

Costco hot dog plus Diet Coke, any sandwich from Deli Board in SF, Agnolotti del Plin from Cotogna, soft serve from Angler and a glass of Green Chartreuse VEP.

Hamel Family Wines,15401 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma. 707.996.5800. hamelfamilywines.com.

Infinite Heart: The Art of Samantha Dawn Kuhlman

I don’t know why, but some types of people are common (and dominate the social ecology). Others are rare. Some I wish were common. I think of my friend Sam, otherwise known as the artist Samantha Dawn Kuhlman. 

Although she sometimes presents as a super goof in social spaces, Kuhlman has a stubborn independence of mind. One that resists all imposition of hierarchies on things. One time, I heard someone gush that she was the coolest, to which she replied, “But everybody’s the coolest.” (Not true.)

For that reason, I think she would (kindly) hate this introduction. And perhaps the premise of all broadcast media—which to some extent has always been about putting exceptional individuals on platforms (pedestals) so they can perpetuate new social types among us (influence).

Let me describe Kuhlman. She is from the Buckeye State. She is a trained actor. She is obsessed with purple (purple everything). She gives strangers long loving hugs. She is an original thinker, and replies thoughtfully and “essayistically.” She involves others in childlike play. She is learning to be a pilot. And she came to our (audio-only) interview dressed as a snail (with the gentle admonition that we can all slow down).

Cincinnatus Hibbard: Samantha Dawn Kuhlman, introduce yourself.

Samantha Dawn Kuhlman: Shout out to my parents for creating me and giving me this name. I’d consider myself a curious heart in motion, multidisciplinary artist and creative guide for play, presence and expression.

What are your principal media at this time?

Good thing you mentioned ‘at this time’; otherwise, we could go on forever. Creation of all sorts, especially performance and visual arts. Lately, I’ve been deep diving into meditation. It’s been special to learn perspectives that feel familiar, as if I have practiced them my whole life.

Tell us about infinity, one of the main themes in your work and philosophy.

At times, I’ve felt lost because the things I’m most sure about are infinite: learning, growing, creating, adventuring… Eventually, I realized one of my favorite feelings is being lost, but at peace within that lostness. Infinity reminds me there is always more to explore.

Tell us about play.

So important to remember. There is no wrong way to play. It’s a pathway to presence, creativity and connection.

Tell us about dance.

I took dance classes as a child and somehow by high school I was too cool to be seen moving in my body around other humans. Later, I found flow arts (meditative dance with LED or fire props), rediscovered my love for dance, and to this day, movement is my favorite form of medicine. It isn’t about what it looks like—it’s about how it feels.

Tell us about love. As I discern it, another of the themes that you bring forth in life and art.

Pretty sure this is the answer to everything when it comes down to it. If there’s one thing I have, it’s an infinite amount of love. I believe it’s within us all, even when it’s difficult to see.

Tell us about keeping an open heart.

Sometimes, I get my feelings hurt easily. I try to see this as an opportunity for growth. In difficult moments, somehow remembering the hurt only exists because I have love, and that love doesn’t go away no matter what, feels better than closing my heart.

Learn more: Kuhlman invites creative exploration and connection through art, movement, performances, guided meditations and hoop dance workshops. A forever student, she translates and shares what she learns, offering spaces designed for people to feel grounded enough to explore and open enough to grow. Explore samanthadawn.art or @artvibrations on Instagram.

Your Letters, July 1

Rent Vent

California’s housing crisis has become a convenient excuse for lawmakers to place increasing burdens on small property owners while avoiding a more difficult conversation: What responsibility does the government bear for creating the problem in the first place? 

For decades, California failed to build enough housing to meet demand. Restrictive zoning, lengthy permitting processes, environmental review requirements, impact fees and local opposition all contributed to a chronic shortage of homes. The result was predictable: rising prices, rising rents and a growing affordability crisis. 

Yet, instead of addressing the root causes, policymakers increasingly look to private property owners to absorb the consequences. Today, a homeowner who rents a single house must navigate a maze of regulations, disclosures, rent caps, notice requirements, relocation rules and tenant-protection laws. A technical mistake can result in significant legal exposure, even when there was no bad faith and no actual harm.

What our government should not do is continue shifting public responsibilities onto small property owners while treating them as the cause of the crisis. Most small landlords are not corporations. They are retirees, families and individuals who own one or two properties. Many spent decades saving to purchase those properties. They are not housing speculators. They are often ordinary people providing housing that would not otherwise exist. 

California cannot regulate its way out of a housing shortage. It cannot punish its way to affordability. And it cannot continue relying on small property owners to solve a problem that the government itself helped create. The housing crisis belongs to all of us. The responsibility for fixing it should as well.

Kate Hudson
Marin County

Farenheit Thee Well

The meteorologist who created the Heat Index has died.

He was 87 years old, but he felt 94.

Craig J. Corsini
San Rafael 

Letters are sometimes edited for length and clarity.

Free Will Astrology, July 1

0

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Archaeologists studying ancient wells have discovered that some weren’t finished in a single effort. Communities might dig to the current water table, use the well for years, then probe further down when water levels dropped or needs increased. This is a useful metaphor for you, Aries. As of yet, you don’t have the ability or tools to reach the deepest layers you aspire to reach. My counsel is to go as far as you can now and gather what you find there. Later, when you’re ready, you will build on what has come before.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The doom‑and‑gloom wing of astrology is exhausting. The superstition that Mercury retrograde causes scrambled messages and dire mix‑ups is dull and misguided. The planet’s apparent backward motion, which is happening right now, shows up about three times every year like clockwork. It’s perfectly normal. In my view, Mercury retrograde isn’t threatening unless you obsess on the idea that it is, in which case, yes, your payment might go astray, and a friend may misunderstand you. But if cultivating relaxed clarity is more fun and productive for you than coping with fearful tension, treat the time between now and July 23 as a rich opportunity to refine, deepen and upgrade how you communicate.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You Gemini readers have decreed that I must halt all musings about maddening, riddle-drenched ambiguity. You’ve delivered the message to me that you’re tired of wrestling with enigmas wrapped in paradoxes. Straightforward, plainspoken factualness is what you want. Well, OK. (Please remember that I don’t make this stuff up; I simply channel cosmic omens.) Maybe I’ll start obeying your orders next time. But first, I will advise you: 1. Unexpected gifts are coming from people and situations in transition. 2. Tough but friendly interventions will nudge you toward healthy course corrections. 3. Mysterious assistance is on its way.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): There are phases when the cosmic energies and I urge you to put others first—even tend to their pain before you tend to your own. But this isn’t one of those times. Right now, sacrificing yourself for the sake of others would obstruct the flow of righteous grace into your life. So then what is the most soul‑honoring path available? Here’s what I think: Summon your inventive brilliance and use it to imagine generous ways to care for yourself. Shower yourself with gifts, treats and blessings that delight you. Take the loving care you so deftly pour into other people and lavish it wholeheartedly on yourself.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Most fields of human endeavor work like this: A few people are truly brilliant, a handful are actively harmful and the majority fall somewhere between “not great” and “pretty good.” That’s true whether you’re talking about engineers, doctors, poets or astrologers. So it’s inadvisable to assume a physician is wise about your well-being just because they’ve logged 15 years on the job, or to trust your life direction to the first astrologer whose promotion catches your eye. In the coming weeks, dear Leo, discernment like this matters even more than usual. Let your natural hopefulness be balanced by sharp, thoughtful judgment. Don’t just challenge obvious authority. Put every so-called fact, spin, assumption and official line under your own clear-eyed review.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Architects designing spaces for collective use try to balance two human needs: to see expansively and also have safe places to retreat. Too much exposure creates anxiety; too much enclosure brings claustrophobia. The ideal is to provide both shelter and spaciousness. Let’s use this theme as a metaphor for your life during the coming months. You’ll be wise to create an equilibrium between engagement and privacy, between vastness and protection. Make it easy for yourself to observe the larger scene and also withdraw when needed.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Self-proclaimed “skeptics” love to sneer at astrologers, as if pondering what lies ahead were a violation of scientific purity. And yet economists, sports analysts, trend watchers and political commentators churn out shaky predictions every day. Honestly, those professionals of probability often create more confusion than those of us who read the heavens. Take weather forecasters, for instance: From Europe to Japan, their models routinely miss sudden floods and twisters and trigger more than a few false alarms. But do the debunkers brand them as charlatans? Of course not. Forgive the outburst, but I’m building to a key foresight: Every forecast, projection or vision that crosses your path over the next month will miss the mark—except for this one. So free yourself of their meddling.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Ethnobotanists describe how certain Indigenous traditions work with “teacher plants.” These are flora that offer not only physical benefits but spiritual instruction. They include psychoactive substances, but also ordinary plants approached with extraordinary attention. In the spirit of reinventing your education, Scorpio, I invite you to expand your understanding of who and what your teachers are. What ordinary elements of your daily life might offer wisdom if you engage them with deep respect? What situations at the edges of your awareness could bring lessons that enrich your perspectives? Now is an excellent time to seek new apprenticeships.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Western science and Western religions may disagree about how the universe began, but both place its birth in the distant past. Tantra and other spiritual paths, by contrast, propose that the universe is born afresh in every instant through the sacred, erotic interplay of God and Goddess. When humans approach love-making as an experimental sacrament, these traditions suggest, we can tune in to the union of those primordial forces and, in a sense, take part in the continual creation of existence. So, are you ready for a bit of world-making erotic play? The current astrological indicators say yes, you are.​

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A common obstacle to healthy intimacy is the belief that a beloved ally should automatically know what you need, without you saying a word. I used to suffer from this delusion myself and worked hard to dissolve it. I no longer unconsciously assume that my companions are so attuned to me that they can always intuit my desires. But I know this bad idea feels romantic to many people, even though it can sabotage even the most promising bond. In the weeks ahead, Capricorn, I invite you to starve this fantasy. Your intimate world is ripe for a fresh infusion of lucid, straightforward honesty.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your next few weeks will be sponsored by CoffeeBeer, the paradoxical elixir that both pumps up your energy and decompresses your defenses. You will be an exemplary role model for this innovative product because you will epitomize what occurs when a sensitive soul gets excited and mellows out at the same time. I also expect you will soon be exploring intriguing opportunities that become available to you because of your supercharged calm. Fortunately, you don’t need to drink actual coffee and beer together to make this happen. The cosmic forces will be conspiring to help you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Finish this sentence, Pisces: “The one thing that really keeps me from being myself is _______.” Is it someone’s opinion, an old story about who you are, a fear of loss, a habit of over-pleasing, a secret shame or a belief that you’re “too much” or “not enough”? Whatever first pops into your mind is probably closest to the truth. Here’s your next step: Loosen the grip of this stressor by even just 20%. I bet your real self will feel relaxed enough to bloom more fully.

Homework: We’re halfway through 2026. How are your big projects progressing? https://tinyurl.com/zzz333xxx333

Sally Fourth, Celebrate Independence Day SoCo Style

There’s no sense trying to sugarcoat it—each day it becomes a little more challenging to be proud of America. 

While creating a running checklist of issues plaguing Our Great Nation would not only be a total bummer, it would probably have 50 new entries by the time this paper goes to press. 

Rather than spending the day slathered in jingoism and light beer, let’s try to find some fun things to do in and around Sonoma County that aren’t the standard BBQ and fireworks as America celebrates 250 years of existence. It’s been a good run.

Dawn Ranch in Guerneville, which is located at 16467 CA-116 and is California’s oldest resort, has quite a day planned on Saturday, July 4. Guests are of course invited to book a stay for the weekend. On the Fourth, they can partake in guided forest bathing sessions which are designed to foster mindfulness and connection among the towering redwoods. There’s also a yoga and sound bath session, with scent-making classes and art workshops further enhancing the sense of discovery.

“Glamping” at Dawn Ranch runs through October and offers a delightfully chill way to experience the property’s natural setting while keeping the comforts of a luxury visit. Glamping tents are outfitted with luxury finishes and personal firepits for marshmallow roasting and campfire sing-alongs with Fender guitars.

Also over in Guerneville, R3 Hotel (16390 4th St.) is keeping the Pride alive into July with an all-day queer celebration starting with the Guncle Sam Pool Party from noon to 6pm, July 4. This is a 21+ party with Los Angeles DJ Ryan Kenney, San Francisco drag icon Tila Pia, go-go dancers and poolside lounging. Following that, at 7:30pm, it’s fireWERK!, a subversive, adults-only LGBTQ+ burlesque show. 

This might be a good place to mention that fireworks are illegal for folks to buy or use in every Sonoma County city except Cloverdale, which seems to be really into freedom of choice over fire safety. Yet, each city in Sonoma County has also stepped up their Independence Day community events with several parades, higher altitude fireworks shows and even some laser and drone shows. Please insert obligatory note that pets really, really don’t like fireworks here, and please be safe. 

If this is getting a little too cranky for what has basically become a party weekend, one may hold their beer and head over to the Sonoma County Event Center at the Fairgrounds for a storied event that is back after a several year hiatus.

Yes, the “World Championship Pillow Fights” are back. And while no longer being held in Kenwood, the event is being done in conjunction with the Kenwood Fireman’s Association. If anyone is curious how World Champion level pillow fighting goes down, then they should buckle up.

Two competitors scootch out onto a long, metal pipe which is across a pit of mud. This same mud is often used to soak the contestants’ pillows in order for more clobbering capabilities. When the referee gives the signal, the two fighters engage, and the winner is the last person still sitting on the aforementioned pipe. The contest is tournament style, and the winner will be crowned World Champ. Boy, will their parents be proud.

OK, so, maybe pillow fighting over a mud pit is a little extreme for some. For the more chill at heart, Team Sugarloaf and Sonoma Ecology Center are teaming up for a nighttime Fourth of July hike to the summit of Bald Mountain (2605 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood), one of Sonoma Valley’s tallest peaks. 

Once they crest the peak, hikers will have a huge, panoramic vantage point where 16 different fireworks displays will be lighting up the Bay Area. The hike is moderately difficult at 6.5-miles roundtrip and more than 1,500 feet of elevation gain. Anyone who makes the journey will be greeted with a mountaintop reception featuring hearty snacks, sweets, refreshing lemonade and water. Also present will be folks from the Robert Ferguson Observatory, who will be waiting at the summit with a telescope, offering a special opportunity for stargazing.

For our friends in the next valley over, a comprehensive listing of Napa area events can be found at visitnapavalley.com.

FUN SIZE Blasted Art Gallery on Tour

In Sonoma County art circles, going small may be the next big thing. Or at least it is for Bill Shelley and Chris Beards, the artists behind Blasted Art Gallery, who have resurrected their former Santa Rosa gallery in a new form: a portable, miniature exhibition space measuring just 16 inches high, 33 inches wide and 21 inches deep.

Its name, naturally, is FUN SIZE Blasted Art Gallery. Its first exhibition is called SCREAM. Actually, every artwork in it is called SCREAM. Twelve artists, one title, one tiny gallery and, according to the organizers, one collective response to “the avalanche of global, national, local and personal issues that confront us every day.”

That is a lot to fit into a box. Then again, that may be the point.

Blasted Art Gallery originally operated from 2017 to 2019 in Santa Rosa’s SOFA Arts District, where it presented exhibitions featuring Sonoma County artists before shifting online in 2020. With FUN SIZE, Shelley and Beards have not so much reopened the gallery as shrunk, reimagined and mobilized it. The result is less dollhouse novelty than conceptual art delivery system—a gallery that can travel in a car, appear in different cities and still contain a complete exhibition.

Shelley says scale itself was one of the sparks.

“One motivation was anytime you change the scale of a piece of art, it can change the whole meaning of it,” he notes.

The idea was not simply to ask artists to make small work. It was to ask them to think in miniature. The exhibition works at a 1-to-12 scale, with pieces under seven inches tall, creating a proportional world in which a five- or six-inch figure would stand in for a full-size gallerygoer. That framework forced participating artists to reckon with space, material and impact differently than they might on a normal gallery wall.

“We wanted to play with, with the idea of scale and also, present that challenge to local artists who may normally work at a medium to large size,” Shelley says, “to see what would happen if they worked very small.”

That answer, judging by the premise, is that the work gets louder. SCREAM is about compression: shrinking the object while enlarging the feeling. In a moment when morally horrifying news arrives hourly, the title is increasingly apt. Edvard Munch would agree.

The show’s official statement calls the gallery “a portable vessel for this chorus of 12 artists’ voices,” and that chorus includes Arminée Chahbazian, Art Moura, Bill Shelley, Britta Kathmeyer, Carlos Perez, Chris Beards, Jennifer Mygatt Tatum, Kathleen Youngquist, Keviette Minor, Kristen Throop, Nick Mancillas and Nicole Mathers.

“We wanted to have a diversity of voices coming together for this community scream,” Shelley points out.

The show will make three Sonoma County stops, covering north, central and south county. The grand opening is 5-7pm, Thursday, July 2, Rena Charles Gallery, 439 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. It continues 5-8pm, Friday, July 3, Santa Rosa Arts Center, SOFA Arts District, 312 South A St., and 4-6pm, Saturday, July 11, Studio LZ Gallery, 429 1st St., Suite 130, Petaluma.

Artworks will be available for purchase, with prices ranging from $150 into the thousands. After that, FUN SIZE may keep traveling. Shelley and Beards are open to additional venues, perhaps proving that the smallest gallery in Sonoma County may have the longest legs.

In the end, the work may be miniature, but the emotional scale is full-size.

More information at instagram.com/blastedartgallery.

From kitchens to consoles: The world of food-themed gaming

0

This article was contributed by ISF Media.

As seen in local news stories and on social media from the area, there are some fantastic food businesses to support in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Alongside delicious local wine to sip, food-loving locals have the top local treats to enjoy. However, when they’ve finished eating pizza in the North Bay and tried some of Northern California’s premier wines, many locals settle down for a food-themed gaming session. 

On prominent gaming platforms like mobile and console, there are standout food-themed games that continue to draw food fans. They’re fairly diverse, too. For example, some products are accurate cooking sims, others include a restaurant management element, and we’ve also seen the emergence of food-themed casino games. Essentially, for food-mad gamers, there are some enticing products to consider playing today. Below, we highlight just some of them. 

Venba is one of the finest options on PlayStation 

Consoles like the PlayStation 5 are remarkably powerful machines. As such, gamers have unbeatable graphics to explore and highly detailed games. In the food category, Venba is a title food-obsessed PS5 gamers are tucking into right now. In this one, players take on the role of an Indian mother who has uprooted her family to Canada in the 1980s. With traditional meals to get right and their favorite dishes bringing people together, this Indian-food-inspired release is a particularly interesting product to sample. 

Good Pizza, Great Pizza has been around for years 

For locals who know good pizza when they see it, Good Pizza, Great Pizza is a game worth downloading. This mobile hit tasks gamers with running their very own pizzeria, with orders to nail and customers to keep happy. Along the way, pizza shop owners have upgrades to make to their stores, new toppings to add to their menus, and more. Overall, if you’re a fan of pizza, then this pizza-themed favorite is worth looking at. 

Delectable delights like Sweet Bonanza are top casino products 

Alongside exploring offerings available to play on consoles and download on mobile devices, many gamers in this area also explore casino titles. Delectable delights like Sweet Bonanza are top casino products, with gamers being able to explore Pragmatic Play’s candy-themed masterpiece on a variety of reputable casino sites. The options don’t end there, though, with resources like Casino.com helping casino gamers find the best games from casinos that have been tested by the experts. For foodies who enjoy casino gaming, these titles are sure to pique their interest. 

Overcooked! 2 is popular on the Switch 

Whether you have access to a Switch or a Switch 2, Overcooked! 2 is one of the finest food-themed games on the platform. With players working together in unison to smash their way through a variety of recipes in a range of wild kitchens, this chaotic but extremely entertaining cooking-themed option is worth snapping up. 

Cooking Simulator VR is truly immersive

virtual reality headset

Virtual reality gaming is here to stay, and it’s getting even bigger and better. In the food genre, titles like Cooking Simulator VR are almost impossible to ignore for food fans. Coming with both a career and sandbox mode, players have to open a restaurant, master a range of dishes, earn money, and more. A title with fresh ingredients at your disposal and a diverse collection of stunning dishes to recreate for your discerning diners, Cooking Simulator VR is an exceptional virtual reality gaming experience to sample. 

Other leading food-themed games include Candy Crush Saga, Hungry Hearts Diner, Sara’s Cooking Party, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly, Overcooked!: All You Can Eat, Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe, and Toca Kitchen 2. 

The editorial staff of the Bohemian was not involved in the creation of this content. The content is for general information and does not constitute the financial, medical or professional advice of this publication. Readers should consult qualified professionals regarding their individual circumstances. The Bohemian disclaims any liability for loss or damage resulting from reliance on this content.

Krushing It: ‘Backyard Concerts’ are Back

Sonoma County’s KRSH radio has always been one to give back to the community. Be it through giving voice to local charity and non-profit groups on-air; showing up at community events including art receptions, fundraisers and of course, music events; or putting on concerts for listeners and the Bay Area at large.

Their annual “Backyard Concert” series, which takes place in the radio station’s literal backyard (3565 Standish Ave., Santa Rosa), kicks off Thursday, June 25 and continues throughout the summer in the backyard and beyond. 

Mindi Levine, KRSH program director and host of the Mindi in the Morning show, has been putting together the lineup for the “Backyard Concert” series shows for the past two years. In looking at this year’s acts, she may very well have outdone herself with a vibrant mix of the best of local and Bay Area bands as well as national touring acts. All shows are free and all ages, with doors at 5:30pm and music at 6pm.

Levine takes great pride in creating these shows and says she seeks to “mirror the eclectic KRSH programming in terms of the sound and the types of bands that I book. This means striving for a balance of established acts, up and comers as well as a diversity of genres.”

Speaking to this, she notes, “In terms of ‘Sonoma grown’ artists, we feature bands that have a nice local following; sometimes they are headliners, and sometimes they’re more ‘up and coming.’”

When asked to expound on this, she says, “Some artists start out as openers and grow into headliners the following year, as is the case with Ellie James, who was an opener in 2024, and now she’s headlining and kicking off opening night.”

Indeed, the June 25 show will see Ellie James & the Electric Dream headlining with Onye and the Messengers slated to open. James’ music has an edgy quality that proves a nice addition to her more pop sensibilities while Onye and the Messengers’ afro-beat and global grooves assure ample time for warm-up dancing.

On Friday, July 10, the Backyard Concert series takes a field trip over to Santa Rosa’s Courthouse Square, where one of longtime county superstar Eric Lindell’s many band iterations, the aptly named Westside Summer League, will headline with fellow local mainstay Sebastian St. James Band opening the night.

Thursday, July 23, things are back at the KRSH backyard with arguably the biggest “get” of the KRSH backyard concert series, Teddy Thompson, who will be making his only Bay Area appearance at this show. Fellow touring act John Hollier & the Reverie kick this special night off with their folk-rock stylings.

Even though he retired from daily radio duties back in 2021, DJ and event producer Bill Bowker still gets on the mic Sunday for his Blues with Bowker show as well as Wednesday nights with Krush Americana. Forever unable to stop the music, Bowker presents the David Luning Band on Thursday, Aug. 6 with another “see them so you can say you saw them when” touring artist, Max Gomez.

Staying with the theme of KRSH specialty shows writ large, Thursday, Aug. 20, Big Dave’s Rockabilly Roadhouse presents Deke Dickerson & the Whippersnappers with Jinx Jones kicking things off. 

Like every great summer, at some point, the sun and fun must end. And this happens with a bang as the party moves back downtown to Courthouse Square with the annual Sonoma County Super Jam featuring The Pulsators. This event always has special surprise guests. At press time, confirmed musicians include Volker Strifler, John Courage, Willy Jordan, Audio Angel, Andre de Channes, Michael & Amy Berry, Anna Jae, Joe Campbell and more.

Levine recommends showing up before 5:30 doors for the ones in the actual backyard, as space is limited. Each week features a different food truck, beer via Moonlight Brewing and wine; all are cash only.

For more information, visit KRSH.com.

Linda Perry Rocks, a Butterfly Tree and The Submarine Show

Crush features North Bay art and cultural events, including Linda Perry rocking the Marin County Fair with a Pride Day-themed concert on July 3.
San RafaelLinda Perry Rocks Fair With the recent release of the documentary Linda Perry: Let It Die Here in Bay Area theaters and an upcoming tour with the Indigo Girls, singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and reality TV star Perry is enjoying deepening interest in her estimable oeuvre. The former lead singer of 4 Non Blondes—who has worked as a...

Happy 250, America: A Nation Fails to Show Up to its Own Party

A microphone on a small stand.
Unless one counts the “Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250” fracas on the White House lawn as the pinnacle of civic celebration, one might conclude that the federal government has phoned in the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration. This is giving real every-other-weekend bad-dad-forgot-your-birthday energy. This is some gas-station bouquet, silver-anniversary-level crap. This is “I thought your mom was handling the cake” finger-pointing....

Harvest Time, From Garden to Kitchen with Thomas Mendel 

Chef Thomas Mendel harvests ingredients from a biodynamic garden for the four-course tasting experience at Hamel Family Wines.
Hamel Estate sits on a hillside above Sonoma Valley, where winemaker John Hamel has spent years developing certified biodynamic and organic vineyards through dry farming.  The winery’s culinary program, under executive chef Thomas Mendel, has become a meaningful part of the Hamel experience.  Mendel came to cooking early, learning at the side of his Italian-American grandmother in her kitchen. He went...

Infinite Heart: The Art of Samantha Dawn Kuhlman

Artist Kuhlman invites creative exploration and connection through art, movement, performances, guided meditations and hoop dance workshops.
I don’t know why, but some types of people are common (and dominate the social ecology). Others are rare. Some I wish were common. I think of my friend Sam, otherwise known as the artist Samantha Dawn Kuhlman.  Although she sometimes presents as a super goof in social spaces, Kuhlman has a stubborn independence of mind. One that resists all...

Your Letters, July 1

Rent Vent California’s housing crisis has become a convenient excuse for lawmakers to place increasing burdens on small property owners while avoiding a more difficult conversation: What responsibility does the government bear for creating the problem in the first place?  For decades, California failed to build enough housing to meet demand. Restrictive zoning, lengthy permitting processes, environmental review requirements, impact fees...

Free Will Astrology, July 1

Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Archaeologists studying ancient wells have discovered that some weren’t finished in a single effort. Communities might dig to the current water table, use the well for years, then probe further down when water levels dropped or needs increased. This is a useful metaphor for you, Aries. As of yet, you don’t have the ability or...

Sally Fourth, Celebrate Independence Day SoCo Style

Dawn Ranch in Guerneville, located at 16467 CA-116 and California’s oldest resort, has quite a day planned on Saturday, July 4.
There’s no sense trying to sugarcoat it—each day it becomes a little more challenging to be proud of America.  While creating a running checklist of issues plaguing Our Great Nation would not only be a total bummer, it would probably have 50 new entries by the time this paper goes to press.  Rather than spending the day slathered in jingoism and...

FUN SIZE Blasted Art Gallery on Tour

Tiny Gallery, Big SCREAM.
In Sonoma County art circles, going small may be the next big thing. Or at least it is for Bill Shelley and Chris Beards, the artists behind Blasted Art Gallery, who have resurrected their former Santa Rosa gallery in a new form: a portable, miniature exhibition space measuring just 16 inches high, 33 inches wide and 21 inches deep. Its...

From kitchens to consoles: The world of food-themed gaming

The world of food-themed gaming
This article was contributed by ISF Media. As seen in local news stories and on social media from the area, there are some fantastic food businesses to support in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Alongside delicious local wine to sip, food-loving locals have the top local treats to enjoy. However, when they’ve finished eating pizza in the North Bay and tried...

Krushing It: ‘Backyard Concerts’ are Back

KRSH launches its free 'Backyard Concert' series on June 25, showcasing a vibrant mix of local bands and national touring acts.
Sonoma County’s KRSH radio has always been one to give back to the community. Be it through giving voice to local charity and non-profit groups on-air; showing up at community events including art receptions, fundraisers and of course, music events; or putting on concerts for listeners and the Bay Area at large. Their annual “Backyard Concert” series, which takes place...
12,121FansLike
4,980FollowersFollow
6,928FollowersFollow