Health Resources

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You know the routine. You feel like hell. Go the doctor. Hand over the insurance card. Head for the examination room. Get all of five minutes to state your case because the less time spent on your problems, the more money in the doctor’s pocket–at Kaiser Permanente the doctors actually have to punch a clock to show that they haven’t spent too much time on your examination. You’re sent packing, feeling unsatisfied, burned even by this cavalier attitude that has made health care the kind of service you used to get at a five-and-dime store. But not everyone in the health care is a slacker. The good folks at the Petaluma Health Care District have created the Redwood Health Library (314 Western St., Petaluma; 778-9114), a neat, efficiently organized library that is a medical researcher’s dream–and it’s open three days a week to the public. Designed for regular people who want as much information as possible about any particular malady or health issue, this unique resource library was established four years ago. The library contains books, medical texts, health newsletters, medical journals, clipping files, audio/video cassettes, computerized national health databases, and a CD-ROM database. Oh, yeah, a helpful staff will dote over your every need. Now that’s health care! Here are some other local resources that will help you take your health into your own hands:

Sonoma County

Adult Children of Alcoholics Anonymous Elim Lutheran Church, Baker and Stanley streets, Petaluma; and First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Ave., Santa Rosa. 544-2130.

Alzheimer’s Association Oakmont Gardens, Retirement Community Center, 301 White Oak Drive, Santa Rosa. 573-1210.

Alzheimer’s Support Burbank Heights Senior Housing Community Center, 777 Bodega Hwy., Sebastopol. 823-9004.

Basic Buddhism and Psycho-spiritual Healing Clinic 823-8700.

Better Breathers. 527-5864.

Diabetes Society 2777 Cleveland Ave., Suite 103, Santa Rosa. 578-0887.

Dual Recovery (self-help anonymous group for people facing mental or emotional illness combined with chemical or alcohol addiction), 420 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati. 795-4336.

Lovin’ Life, Livin’ Love (helping people going through the cancer experience), 110 Lynch Creek Way, Petaluma. 775-4771.

Lupus Support Group Sutter Women’s Health Resource Center, 625 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. 538-1489.

Macular Degeneration Support Group Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Drive, Suite A, Rohnert Park. 585-7502.

Mended Hearts (heart health),. Kaiser Hospital, Building LL, Conference Rooms H-1 and H-2, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa. 537-0630.

Moderate Drinking (ongoing workshop on reducing alcohol consumption and preventing alcohol abuse), Saturdays in Santa Rosa and Petaluma. 539-5465.

Parkinson’s Support, YMCA, 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa. 546-8439.

Quit Smoking (support and tools to quit smoking for good, sponsored by the American Lung Association of the Redwood Empire), 527-5864.

Red Cross (emergency first-aid and adult CPR certification courses, as well as child-care and pet first-aid courses). 465 Tesconi Circle #11, Santa Rosa. 577-7611.

Redwood Health Library 314 Western Ave., Petaluma. 778-9114.

Relationships and HIV 579-5822.

Sexual-Assault Support Group 545-7270; 24-hour hotline, 545-7273.

Share and Care (support for caregivers of patients with dementia), Catholic Charities, 2323 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. 565-4938.

Sweet Peas (women-only diabetes group), Diabetes Society, 2777 Cleveland Ave., Suite 101, Santa Rosa. 578-0887.

Tayu Meditation Center 829-9579.

Transitions (men’s discussions on identity and role changes associated with aging). Chanate Hall, 3333 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa. 565-4938.

Ventures (support group for senior women dealing with depression), Chanate Hall, 3333 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa. 565-4938.

Widows and Widowers (peer counseling groups for newly bereaved seniors), 751 Lombardi Court, Santa Rosa. 545-4551.

Women in Transition (support group covers various life changes for seniors). 565-4938.

Yoga Studio 155A Kentucky St., Petaluma. 765-1367.

Zen Buddhism Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, 6367 Sonoma Mt. Road, Santa Rosa. 545-8105.

Napa County

Age-Related Self-Help 224-1558.

Alopecia Areata Support 256-0577.

Arthritis Exercise Group 967-5715.

Arthritis Support 1299 Pine St., Napa. 963-1912.

Candida-Related Illnesses Support 1299 Pine St., Napa. 963-1912.

Chronic Pain Management Support 1524 Jefferson St., Napa. 253-2799.

Epilepsy Support 1000 Trancas St., Napa, 800/632-3532.

Free Health Assessments 253-9000.

Hepatitis C Support 1299 Pine St., Napa. 963-1912.

HIV Network 257-5955.

Kick-Butt Cancer Support 226-1667.

Napa Valley AIDS Project 258-AIDS.

Spinal Cord Injury Support 800/528-7704.

United Ostomy Association 226-3436.

From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

Family Services and Programs

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They say kids don’t come with an owner’s manual. Fortunately, the California Parenting Institute (3650 Standish Ave., Santa Rosa; 585-6108) is here to help. This welcome community resource offers everything from support programs for first-time parents (including special help for dads) to parent education consultations for help with dealing with anger, self-esteem, and other issues. Included are affordable classes on disciplining your toddlers; parenting your teen; helping parents of special-needs children; and coping as a single parent. In addition to countywide classes, CPI operates a family resource center in southwest Santa Rosa. No, they won’t hand you an operating manual as the nurse wheels you out of the hospital doors, but don’t let that stop you from obtaining the specialized skills you need to thrive as a parent. Here are a handful of other helpful family services and programs:

Sonoma County

Association for Children for Enforcement of Support (assists parents not receiving entitled support). 546-2380.

Associates for Youth Development 7345 Burton Ave., Rohnert Park. 793-9030, ext. 2.

CHAD (information and support group for adults and children with attention deficit disorder), Veterans Bldg., 1351 Maple St, Santa Rosa. 765-4863.

Children with Cancer St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 16290 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. 258-3585.

Early Works Learning Tools 141 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 765-1993.

Fab Kids (activities for children with life-threatening illnesses), Burke’s Canoe Trips, Mirabel and River roads, Forestville. 887-2222.

Grieving for Parents 735 Broadway, Sonoma. 935-7504.

Jungle Vibes 163 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 762-6583.

Kid Street Learning Center 54 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 525-9223.

Kindergym (call for times and locations). 585-6108.

La Leche League Women’s Health Resource Center­Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa, 625 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. 525-8188.

MOPS (mothers of preschoolers), Petaluma Valley Baptist Church, 580 Sonoma Mtn. Pkwy., Petaluma. 763-2277.

Mothers’ Club Finley Community Center, Cypress Room, 2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. 525-5902.

Parenting Teens in the New Millennium 2403 Professional Drive, Santa Rosa. 544-3295.

Parents Without Partners (call for information). 523-8491.

Partners for Adoption 4527 Montgomery Drive, Suite A, Santa Rosa. 539-9068.

Petaluma School District (offers free monthly parenting classes). 778-4813.

Polly Klaas Foundation 800/587-4357.

Positive Images (call for location and details). 579-4947.

Sonoma County Legal Aid Family Law Workshops Old Courthouse Square, Suite 100, Santa Rosa. 542-1290.

Teen Clinic 51 Lombardi Court, Santa Rosa. 544-7526.

WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program 431-0831 or 565-6690.

Women’s Health and Birth Center 583 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa. 539-1544.

Napa County

Community Resources for Children 253-0376.

Healthy Moms and Babies 252-6541.

La Leche League 252-8242.

Padres Efectivos (effective parents), 1299 Pine St., Napa. 693-1912.

WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program 253-4853.

From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

Roland Alphonso

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Roland Alphonso

Sax appeal: Roland Alphonso.

Hot Shot

New CD showcases ska legend

By Greg Cahill

Roland Something Special: Ska Hot Shots Heart Beat

IT AIN’T SUMMER without ska. And this soulful 20-track collection goes down real smooth, showcasing one of the most influential–and underrated–musicians ever to swing and sway on the island of Jamaica. Saxophonist Roland Alphonso was a founding member of the Skatalites, the legendary Studio One band that helped define the upbeat dance music that served as a precursor to rock steady and reggae. Alphonso, who died two years ago after suffering a stroke onstage in Los Angeles, was a trained musician who earned the nickname The Chief Musician and tutored the then up-and-coming Bob Marley and the Wailers (Alphonso taught them how to structure songs and count beats), among other reggae greats. Born in Havana of a Cuban father and a Jamaican father, Alphonso landed on the mean streets of Kingston at age 5. Five years later, he started playing drums and eventually switched to saxophone. In the ’50s, he joined the Blu-Flame Orchestra, which also featured future Skatalites Tommy McCook and Don Drummond. By 1960, Alphonso and his bandmates were well-versed in big-band jazz and American R&B and well on their way to exporting the distinctive brand of contagious Jamaican R&B known as ska. This CD spans eight formative years, from the 1960 single “Four Corners,” originally credited to Roland Alphonso & the Alley Cats, to the 1968 rock steady hit “Jah Shakey.” The session list reads like a veritable Who’s Who of Ska and Reggae: vocalist Rita Marley (wife of Bob Marley), producer Clement Dodd, vocalist Lee Perry (who went on to become one of the island’s most important dub producers), pioneering ska guitarist Ernest Ranglin, and many more. A soulful groove.

Christy McWilson The Lucky One Hightone

“SECURE IN MY ROLE of ‘band member,’ one-fifth of the roots-rock band the Picketts for the past 10 years, I always thought I’d step out in front of a firing squad before I’d step out on my own as a solo artist,” singer/songwriter Christy McWilson writes in her press bio. Luckily, producer Dave Alvin saw it differently. The Picketts were a cult fave among early Americana fans–steeped in Stone-influenced honky-tonk and a dusty Bakersfield-style country. The band wowed fans with incendiary covers of the Clash and Yoko Ono. On this stunning release McWilson delivers plenty of bad-girl growl on a handful of well-crafted originals and a hauntingly beautiful cover of Brian Wilson’s beautiful “‘Til I Die.” And she gets help from an impressive pack of friends, including Alvin, Peter Buck and Mike Mills of R.E.M., Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s, Greg Leisz of Grant Lee Buffalo, and singer Syd Straw. One of the most impressive debuts this year–promise aplenty.

Spin du Jour

Louis Armstrong & his All-Stars Satch Plays Fats: A Tribute to the Immortal Fats Waller Columbia/Legacy

HAVING SCREWED UP the first digital remastering of this classic, the folks at Legacy got it right on this low-priced 24-bit Centennial Edition (actually Armstrong’s 100th birthday anniversary is next year), even tossing in 11 bonus tracks. Trumpet master and scat-singing innovator Armstrong was already an established star when he cut this 1955 gem, hot on the heels of his acclaimed Louis Armstrong Plays W. C. Handy. Velma Middleton provides vocals on three tracks–not distinctive, but the perfect foil for the gregarious Armstrong. Billy Kyle delivers the goods on Waller’s stride-style piano parts. Trombonist Trummy Young (what a knock-out!), clarinetist Barney Bigard, bassist Arvell Shaw, and drum-mer Barrett Deems round out this super lineup. Their swinging New Orleans stomp on the lead track, “Honeysuckle Rose,” is worth the price of admission alone. A must-have recording for any serious jazz lover.

From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

John Doe

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L.A. punker John Doe returns with an introspective look at life

By Greg Cahill

JOHN DOE doesn’t mince words. Ask the seminal L.A. punker–one of the most influential figures in American alternative music–why he’s quit writing gritty urban rock for the trailblazing L.A. punk band X after nearly 20 years, and the iconoclastic singer/ songwriter cuts right to the bone. “I guess that I’m just not into punk rock or at least what people’s expectations of that would be,” he says dryly, during a phone interview from his Southern California home. “What people would want to hear from a new X record would be like old X records, and I don’t like that kind of stuff anymore.”

After a two-year hiatus from the recording scene, Doe is back with a strong new solo disc, an upcoming tour that brings him this week to the Old Vic in Santa Rosa, and a decidedly mature outlook on life, love, and why he doesn’t play country music anymore.

Married and raising three daughters in a home decorated with modern art, Beanie Babies, and religious icons, Doe, 46, balks at calling himself domesticated, though the sound of clattering dishes, children’s laughter, and caged songbirds punctuate the phone call. “I think that when you get older you’re able to live in the moment a little bit more successfully, so you’re not always thinking about what you should be doing; you can just enjoy what you’re doing at the time,” he says philosophically, adding that he stayed home for the past couple of years to raise the kids while his wife, Gigi, finished college.

“You know, when you’re older, you don’t put as much pressure on yourself to be someplace else, although there are times when your career steals some precious time away from it. But you have to make those decisions.”

Returning to the road for the first extended tour in several years, Doe plans to find out what role touring holds at this stage in his life.

The new CD, Freedom Is . . . (SpinArt), is his best work since 1990’s solo debut Meet John Doe (Geffen), with its punk-driven C&W-tinged fatalism. It’s also his first full-length solo album in five years. Co-produced by Doe and Dave Way (Macy Gray, Christina Aguilera), the disc features an all-star cast of players, including ex-wife and X singer Exene Cervenka (who collaborates on one song), guitarist Mike Ward of the Wallflowers, and guitarist Smokey Hormel and drummer Joey Waronker of the Beck band.

The material is alternately snarling and subdued, a far more introspective feel overall than past solo efforts. “Since I don’t live in the city anymore, and haven’t for several years, the subject matter [of my songs] has become more internal–more about romance and relationships and what it takes to hold those all together,” Doe explains. “It’s less cinematic, but just as poetic.

“You know, songs about love, longing, and death–not a whole lotta sex, but I guess that’s implied.”

CONSPICUOUSLY absent is Doe’s past flirtation with country music–though there is one wryly titled track, “Ultimately Yrs. (Pretty Western, I’m Sorry).” While Doe slips easily into the resurgent singer/songwriter idiom, he doesn’t relate to the current alt-country craze that X helped spawn in 1983 with their rootsy More Fun in the New World and the 1985 punked-up country spinoff project the Knitters, featuring guitarist Dave Alvin of the Blasters.

It’s a side of Doe from which he’s been steadily retreated in recent years. “X definitely influenced some people, but I think my new stuff has much more in common with the Beatles or the Replacements than Buck Owens or George Jones,” he says. “I just grew really tired of country music. I mean, new country is just pop music. There’s not much difference between Shania Twain and Whitney Houston–just the rhythm section is different. Old country I could only listen to for so long. I got what I could get out of it and moved on.

“Besides, it’s not really me–it’s really just a facade. I didn’t grow up in the South. I think you have to be true to yourself.”

He now views the trendy Americana movement as “an honest response to what was coming out of the Seattle grunge scene,” and still admires Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, the Old 97s, and a handful of other alt-country bands. “But for the most part, it was just something new to write about–the press is always looking for a new angle,” he adds. “There’s nothing wrong with that. It happens. But I don’t align myself with that.”

DOE IS most passionate when talking about his film career. He portrays the sheriff on the WB network paranormal-teen series Roswell and is a veteran of 20 films, including Oliver Stone’s Salvador, the Jerry Lee Lewis bio-pic Great Balls of Fire, Road House, and Georgia.

His three daughters–ages 8, 9, and 12–acted in Doe’s most recent film, director Alison Anders’ 1999 Sugar Town, having appeared in their father’s first film, Border Radio.

“That was about two lifetimes ago,” says Doe.

“Acting is a priority, unless I’m releasing a record, like now, in which case it becomes secondary,” he continues. “But I can act longer than I can rock ‘n’ roll. There are so many records that come out every year that eventually you’re replaced. So film is just another creative outlet and one that I find more personally satisfying.

“With records, it’s more a part of your life–there’s much more of a personal investment. I suppose that if the film was your own project, then you might not feel that way, but I haven’t gotten to that point yet.”

He recently completed another film role, in director Todd Stevens’ still unreleased indie film Gypsy 83, that allowed him to combine all the aspects of his life–family man, musician, and actor. “I play the dad–the musician dad,” he adds with a laugh. “It’s about a girl who plays my daughter and wants to be Stevie Nicks, and she wants to be out of Sandusky, Ohio. Go figure!

“I did watch some Stevie Nicks videos to prepare for the role. God, was she high! Scary.”

Despite his ongoing film career, music clearly still holds a special place in Doe’s creative makeup. “It’s how I deal with all my confusion about life,” he says. “I think that you have to get to a point at which things are falling apart before you can invest enough in a song to make it worth listening to.”

And he hopes fans will find it worth listening to.

“I had this realization from people who would approach me on the street and say, ‘Oh, my God, your music with X meant so much to me.’ We’d sort of talk for a while and then I’d say, ‘You know, I have this new record.’ And they’d say, ‘Oh . . . yeah . . . I’ll have to check that out.’ Total lip service. It kind of amazes me that they would think, ‘That was then, and there isn’t anything he could do now that would even come close to that.’

“I just wish that people would give it a chance. You know: Wow, this guy was good before, maybe he’s speaking to me as an adult now, in a different way and with more experience and a different slant. One of the down sides of rock music is that you tend to move on. But you should check back in once in a while to see where those people that you liked before have gone.”

The John Doe Thing performs an acoustic set Saturday, July 22, at 10 p.m. Joneh Metrange and Gabe Meline open the show. The Old Vic, 731 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. $10. 571-7555.

From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

Vegetarian Restaurants

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“Another weirdo.” The waitperson’s unspoken thought in the face of a vegetarian or vegan request was typical not too many years ago. No longer. But even though the raised-eyebrow reaction is not predictable anymore, it’s still often a bloody challenge to find restaurants with generous menus for vegetarians and vegans (we’ll call them VVs here). Die-hard carnivores, who regard VVs as gastronomically disabled, exhibit disdain, puzzlement, pity, resigned tolerance, or all of the above. Because Americans tend to be more carnivorous than many other nationalities, VVs find the most friendly menus in ethnic (especially Asian) restaurants. Chinese food can be a bonanza, particularly for vegans, who, in addition to shunning flesh foods, also avoid dairy products and eggs; rarely, if ever, does a Chinese eatery use dairy foods (as the Chinese say, “Cheese smells like dirty feet”). Italian restaurants, with their pastas and pizzas, are another good bet. Still, vigilant VVs are ever on the lookout for such seemingly innocuous dishes as Asian soup that has a nonveg base; Chinese noodle and rice dishes that may have been simmered in meat broth, or the noodles laced with oyster sauce; Indian sauces and breads made with dairy products like ghee (clarified butter); Italian spaghetti sauces containing meat, and risotto traditionally sautéed in butter before simmering; Mexican dishes cooked in lard. Some restaurants (mercifully unidentified here) believe they’ve done their bit by offering a tasteless, overcooked mess called a “vegetable plate.” Fortunately, if for some reason VVs are stuck in a fast-food joint, they can usually order a baked potato or two and a salad. Any sensible VV will steer clear of such eateries as Cattlemans, Hungry Hogg Barbecue, Hamburger Heaven, and the ubiquitous Lyons (whose menu is a VV’s nightmare). Raw-food VVs may really be up against it, but for the rest, here’s a far from exhaustive list of choices:

Sonoma County

Acre Cafe and Lounge 420 Center St., Healdsburg. 432-1302.

Aram’s Cafe 131 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 765-9775.

Blue Heron Hwy. 116 and Moscow Road, Duncans Mills. 865-9135.

Breaker’s Cafe 1400 Hwy. 1 at Pelican Plaza, Bodega Bay. 875-2513.

California Thai Restaurant 522 Seventh St., Santa Rosa. 546-6142.

Costeaux French Bakery and Cafe 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg (433-1913); 104 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa (539-3357).

East West Bakery Cafe 128 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 829-2822.

East West Cafe and Restaurant 2323 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. 546-6142.

El Patio Mexican Restaurant 425 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa. 578.4757.

Fresh Choice Restaurant 5080 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park (585-1007); 1018 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa (525-0912.

Gary Chu’s Gourmet Chinese Cuisine 611 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 526-5840.

Higher Grounds Cyber Cafe 1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 525-8125.

Inn of the Beginning 8201 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati. 664-1100.

Marbles Cafe 1770 Piner Road, Santa Rosa. 576-8003.

Slice of Life 6970 McKinley St., Sebastopol. 829-6627.

Sonoma Taco Shop Gateway Shopping Center, Petaluma (778-7921); 913 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park (585-2944); 100 Brookwood St. (Creekside Center), Santa Rosa (525-8585).

Stella’s Cafe 4550 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. 823-6637.

Viva Mexico 6536 Front St., Forestville (887-8388); 842 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol (823-555); 7234 Healdsburg Ave., Sebastopol (824-8482).

Yao-Kiku Japanese Restaurant 2700 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa. 578-8180.

Napa County

Brix Restaurant 7377 St. Helena Hwy. (Hwy. 29), Napa. 944-2749.

French Laundry 6640 Washington St., Yountville. 944-2380.

PJ’s Cafe 1001 Second St., Napa. 224-0607.

From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

Hardware/Software Gurus

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Hardware/Software Gurus

Byte This

The techno horror stories are out there. Believe them or not. There’s the unfortunate fellow who broke the “cup holder” off his computer (he’d been using the load drawer of the CD-ROM drive as a coffee-mug holder and snapped it off the drive). The poor woman who couldn’t get her “compootah” to run even as she pressed down hard on the “foot pedal” (which turned out to be the mouse). The irate couple who called tech support to complain that their keyboard no longer worked (after they’d cleaned it by filling up their tub with soap and water and soaking the keyboard for a day, then removing all the keys and washing them individually). And the bemused guy who called the techies to say he couldn’t get his PC to fax anything. After 40 minutes of painstaking troubleshooting, the technician discovered that the man was trying to fax a piece of paper by holding it in front of the monitor screen and hitting the “send” key. Hmmm. But even fairly computer-literate folk like you and me can get themselves into such cyber chaos (even if we actually do read the manual) that seemingly the only remedy for an all-buggered-up system is to deliver a swift kick to the hard drive when it instructs you to “reboot.” A saner option is to take the whole freakin’ gizmo to the nearest computer hospital and pray they can resuscitate the little devil. Here are some of the local hardware/software gurus waiting to repair your maniacal machine:

Sonoma County

ADN 2000 Computer Center 5690 Old Redwood Hwy., Windsor. 838-0101.

All Computer Solutions Inc. 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 765-1316.

Alpha Electronics 2750 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 542-8363.

Business PC Troubleshooting Office 131 Stony Point Circle, Santa Rosa. 865-9328.

Computer Maintenance Service 141 Foundry Wharf, Petaluma. 778-6299.

Domaine Systems Group 1350 Industrial Ave., Petaluma. 769-1799.

Executron Computers 1831 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa. 525-3715.

Holbrook Technologies P.O. Box 68, Rio Nido. 869-9061.

MacNetworks 456 10th St., Santa Rosa. 522-1400.

Pro-tech Computers 9074 Brooks Road, Windsor. 838-0390.

Sonoma Computer Store 500 W. Napa St., Sonoma. 938-0275.

Napa County

Advanced Data Systems 1735 Action Ave., Napa. 257-8600.

Computer Connections 2538 Jefferson St., Napa. 224-9115.

Computer Service Center 589 Coombsville Road, Napa. 224-5542.

From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

Coffee Resources

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Coffee Resources

Rush Hour

Nothing can kick-start a heavy-lidded, fuzzy-brained morning like a steaming hot cup of joe. And nothing can perk up an equally heavy-lidded, fuzzy-brained late night, hunched over an iMac and a stack of books, like a steaming hot cup (er, make that a pot) of joe. Pair it with a sugary or chocolatey tidbit and the world looks all right. Yup, centuries of java junkies have cherished their special times–mornings, noons, or late, late nights–with the deeply fragranced potent brew and its wide-awake wallop. Of course, coffee connoisseurs know that the ultimate caffeine elixir is usually whatever’s the freshest. That means beans toasted to perfection and aged for just 24 hours for the heating process to release and develop the flavors, then ground up mere minutes before the boiling water hits. The resulting flavor should be dark and rich as sin but not thin, burned, or bitter. And never, ever stale. A whole lotta coffee-bean roasting goes on locally, with many of the most popular coffeehouses pulling double duty as roasteries. Leon Sange, co-owner of the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co. in St. Helena, says the best beans are arabica (rather than the more commercially used robusta) from various geographic locations, such as Indonesia, South America, and Central America. “We blend varieties to get medium-bodied to full-bodied flavor,” he explains. The beans are toasted in a drum roaster that heats the air, which in turn heats the beans. The process takes 14 minutes to roast the beans, which go from a greenish hue to brown-black, and five minutes to cool them. “The advantage to roasting on the premises is you always get good and fresh coffee,” says Sange. “Freshness is the key.” According to Sange, roasted beans are at their optimum a day after heating, then start to deteriorate quickly and have a life span of just seven to 10 days. Here are a few local selections for your daily grind:

Sonoma County

A’Roma Roasters 95 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 576-7765.

Barking Dog Roasters 17999 Sonoma Hwy., Boyes Hot Springs. 939-1905.

Daily Grind Coffee Co. 1940 Piner Road, Santa Rosa. 545-5282.

Deaf Dog Coffee 1120 Industrial Ave., Petaluma. 762-7848.

Flying Goat Coffee 324 Center St., Healdsburg (433-9081); 10 Fourth St., Santa Rosa (575-1202).

Gold Coast Coffee Co. 23515 Steelhead Blvd. (off Hwy. 116), Duncans Mills. 865-1441.

Gorilla’s Coffee & Espresso 1451 Southwest Blvd., Rohnert Park. 793-9990.

Jeanine’s Coffee & Tea Co. 464 First St., Sonoma. 996-7573.

Petaluma Coffee & Tea Co. 189 H St., Petaluma. 763-2727.

Sonoma Valley Coffee Roasters 464 First St. E., Sonoma. 996-7573.

Taylor Maid Farms Organic Coffees & Teas 6793 McKinley Ave., Sebastopol. 824-9110.

Wolf Coffee Co. 336 Coddington Center (524-8039); 614 Fourth St. (524-8036); 1810 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 546-9653.

Napa County

Break Time Coffee Service/ PauPaiz Fine Coffees 978 Kaiser Road, Napa. 224-7434.

Calistoga Roastery 1631 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. 942-5757.

Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co. 1400 Oak Ave., St. Helena. 963-4491.

From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

Screeing Schedule

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Rock Ross

THE MONTE RIO filmmaker offers an evening of beautiful, non-narrative black-and-white shorts. The five-minute film created by participants in the Camera-less Film workshop will also be screened. Friday, July 28.

Women Animators

THIS SCREENING draws together work by three female animators from around the United States. First up will be Karen Aqua’s fluid and impressionistic work, which draws on all sorts of iconographic traditions (including Native American and Egyptian) to offer such startling images as ancient petroglyphs writhing in agony under a radioactive rain. Also on offer: the quirky, personal, and introspective work of Oregon filmmaker Johanna Priestly, whose films have screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The evening will also feature three films from Emily Hubley. Unlike other Film Cafe events, this evening will not feature an appearance by any of the featured filmmakers. Friday, Aug. 25.

William Z. Richard

MANY OF THIS San Francisco resident’s works are art films in the strictest sense–meditations on form and mood and movement rather than plot or character. Perhaps the most compelling of his films slated to screen at SMOVA is “Permit File,” a disturbing conglomeration of images taken from documents that support public identity, including newspapers, films, passports, and criminal records. Friday, Oct. 6.

The Film Cafe opens at 8 p.m. on all three nights, and films roll at sunset. Catered food and drink is available for purchase. The screenings take place in the courtyard of the Luther Burbank Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. Tickets are $12 for one evening and $30 for a season pass. For details, call 527-0297.

From the July 20-26, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

James Carter

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James Carter

Both sides now: James Carter

Photograph by Lorenzo Aguis

Carter’s Craft

Jazz saxophonist James Carter releases a pair of new discs

James Carter Chasin’ the Gypsy (Atlantic Jazz) Layin’ in the Cut (Atlantic Jazz)

JAZZ SAXOPHONIST James Carter’s 1996 release Conversin’ with the Elders (Atlantic Jazz)–with Lester Bowie, Buddy Tate, Harry “Sweets” Edison, and other guests–earned kudos for its intelligent treatment of straight-ahead classics. It paid homage to Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Lester Young, and other greats without succumbing to the shameless imitation that is so rife among young jazz lions. The newly released Chasin’ the Gypsy takes a similar approach. Employing sparse arrangements, Carter draws inspiration from the Romany Gypsies and Parisian cafe jazz while lending an affectionate nod to the late, great guitarist Django Reinhardt through such Django chestnuts as “Nuages” (best known as “The Honeymooners Theme”) and “Oriental Shuffle.” Romero Lubambo provides the tasteful Djangoesque licks while violinist Regina Carter fills the Stephane Grappelli role; Carter dishes up the soulful vision and adds some drop-dead bass sax solos. The second release in this double whammy is Layin’ in the Cut, an electrified set that builds its foundation on Ornette Coleman’s groundbreaking ’70s-era Prime Time fusion ensemble. Guitarist Marc Ribot is featured. While not as deep as Coleman’s outfit, this combo may help dispel Carter’s reputation as a lightweight held by his harshest critics. And, frankly, he’s on to something. Together, these discs reaffirm the brilliance of one of the genre’s most promising rising stars. Greg Cahill

Queens of the Stone Age Restricted (Interscope)

WELCOME TO the New Age of Arena Rock: rap-metal fusions may dominate today’s hard rock, but a subtler strain of big-riff, hippie-punk, retro bad boys like Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu, Buck Cherry, and Nebula are picking up where AC/DC, Pink Floyd, and Guns N’ Roses left off. On their second disc, Restricted, Southern California’s Queens of the Stone Age (led by former founding members of Kyuss) bring this new wave of “stoner rock” into the mainstream. The opening drug-paean blast “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” sounds like the Ramones covering Led Zeppelin, while the rest of the keyboard-heavy disc sounds like a glam version of classic Black Sabbath. Hold those lighters high! Karl Byrn

Anti-Pop Consortium Tragic Epilogue (75 Ark Records)

A NAME LIKE Anti-Pop Consortium might lead one to think of either goofy New Wave revolutionaries or overly serious techno wunderkinds. Here, it’s a quintessentially avant-garde hip-hop group. In the mode of classic “alt-rap” acts like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, this East Coast MC trio busts odd rhyme schemes against sparse, angular, jazzy-electro beats. Rappers Beans, Priest, and Earl Blaze are unusually smart but no more speedily verbose than mainstream acts (some cuts here borrow their abstract darkness from the Wu-Tang Clan style). Their strength is in being artfully, quizzically abstract; lyrically, they thankfully avoid the alt-rap trap of preaching against hardcore rappers. Different–very different. K.B.

Spin du Jour

The Mermen The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show (Mesa/Blue Moon)

NEO-SURF GIANTS the Mermen used to ride heady sonic waves with a heavy mix of twangy surf and psychedelic Hendrixesque guitars. These days, the band is plying calmer waters with peaceful melodic instrumentals that evoke the sparkle of the shimmering shoreline (although tracks like “Miki’s Lust Behive” show that the band can still stir up a storm). California dreaming at its finest–the perfect soundtrack for cruising the coast this summer. G.C.

From the June 13-19, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

Pt. Reyes Station Dining

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Pt. Reyes Station Dining

Gourmet to go: Liz Vella of Tomales Bay Foods/Cowgirl Creamery in Pt. Reyes Station displays some of the local flavors.

West Marin Meanderings

Plenty to savor at Pt. Reyes Station

By Paula Harris

FORGET THE CALL of the wild. It’s the call of the ocean that lures me. Sometimes a day trip to the nearby windswept sandy beaches of west Marin for a piercing tangy whiff of salt water and a sudden cool lash of sea spray across sun-toasted skin is enough of a vacation to get you through another summer work week.

One immensely scenic route to get from Sonoma County to Marin County is to go to Petaluma and take the D Street extension road. You’ll pass stately Victorian mansions with their little turrets and immaculate lawns as you head out of town. It looks like (and has indeed been) a movie backdrop for nostalgic Americana on the silver screen.

But suddenly the Peggy Sue Got Married street scene gives way to snaking country roads, grandly plunging hills–as dry and golden as sand dunes–and a patchwork of craggy dark rocks and olive groves.

Before you hit your beach destination, stop at the tiny whistlestop town of Pt. Reyes Station (population 725). Once a drowsy little place with plenty of Old West charm after the bustling railroad closed in 1933, the tiny coastal town has transformed itself during the past couple of years into quite a foodie enclave.

In fact, there are so many food options to explore here, you might not even make it to the ocean.

Begin a lazy morning in Pt. Reyes Station with an eye-popping cup of espresso brewed with house-roasted beans at Cafe Reyes, 11101 State Route 1 (415/663-9493). Wake up leisurely to the swaying melodies of Latin American vocals on the sound system in the large open dining room, with its rough-hewn floor and a corrugated tin roof softened by large canvas umbrellas, sacks of java beans, and golden straw beachcomber hats. Or slump in the sun on the picturesque outdoor patio next to the gurgling fountain. Return later for a dozen local oysters (oysters are the thing in Pt. Reyes Station) sautéed in garlic and lemon butter ($14) or just plain raw (although of the half-dozen oysters we sampled, only one was truly stellar). Or try the mole roja enchiladas, a choice of grilled chicken, baby shrimp, or garden vegetable ($8.95); or the exotic-sounding kim ti kai burrito–chicken breast marinated in coconut milk and curry with jasmine rice ($6.95).

Then mosey on down the street, sidestepping an elderly couple strolling hand in hand and a couple of free-roamin’ dogs, to Bovine Bakery, 11316 Hwy. 1 (415/663-9420). This is a popular community meeting place where locals gather by the outside benches to dish the day’s dirt. Pick a hulking blueberry buttermilk scone ($2) or a flaky pain au chocolat ($1.85) from the glass display case and savor a little sugar intake as you try not to eavesdrop.

If you’re still planning to head to the beach, stop at Palace Market, 1200 Hwy. 1 (415/663-1016) and pick up some picnic fare (or even some live fishing bait.) Wander over to the deli and buy beach goodies: salmon frittata ($2.50 a slice), a crisp baguette, huge garlic-stuffed olives ($6.99 a pound), individual lime tarts ($2.50 each), and a chilled bottle of chardonnay or sauvignon blanc, or a sparkler from the large refrigerated selection.

If it’s a summer Saturday, swing by the Farmers’ Market in the middle of the main street between 9 a.m. and noon to score some crisp-from-the-garden produce. Or try Toby’s Feed Barn, 11250 Hwy. 1 (415 663-1223) next door. Pass by the hay, feed, and country gifts to snag a one-pound bag of almonds ($3.79), roasted pistachios ($4.99), or dried peaches ($4.49) to fuel a power walk along the sand. A variety of specialty chips, jams, jellies, sauces and oils, local organic Straus Creamery milk, local fertile free-range eggs ($3.99 a dozen), breads, and organic fruits and veggies are also available. You can even pick up a picnic basket at Toby’s.

CASUAL DINING spots include Point Reyes Whale of a Deli, 997 Mesa Road (415/663-8464), for takeout specialty sandwiches like Mama’s meatball ($5) and pizzas by the pie or the slice, and Taqueria La Quinta, Highway 1 at Third St. (415 663-8868), a no-frills taqueria, for inexpensive Mexican fare, fruit smoothies, and aguas frescas.

The Station House Cafe, 11180 Hwy. 1 (415/663-1515) is a good spot for lunch (this venerable institution also serves a great breakfast and innovative dinners that have drawn raves from Gourmet magazine). In sultry weather, eschew the classy but plain dining room in favor of the beautiful garden and red brick patio–popular for wedding parties. If you’re fortunate, one of the resident hummingbirds will hover just inches from your ear as you read the menu. Huge colorful blooms, birdsong, and a fountain conspire to give a restful feeling while wooden fencing and lattice work conceal you from the rest of the world.

Johnson’s oysters, from nearby Tomales Bay, steamed in the shell ($7.50 for six, $13.50 for a dozen) bring a mouth-to-mouth breath of the sea. Black bean and turkey chili with corn bread ($6.25 a bowl) is a good standby (and even more welcome after a bracing trek to the Pt. Reyes lighthouse in windy weather). But forget the minestrone soup of the day ($2.70 a cup), which is too watery. Nonmeat eaters will love the vegetarian shepherd’s pie ($6.50), a heaping dome of golden-topped mashed potatoes encasing squashes, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Follow with the “famous” bread pudding ($4.95) or homemade butterscotch pudding ($3.95) or the luscious lemon pot de crème ($3.95) for dessert.

Or do as we did and head over to the Pine Cone Diner, 60 Fourth St. (415/663-1536) for a slice of house-made fruit cobbler ($3.95) and a mug of coffee at the worn old counter. The place is small and funky, with red vinyl stools and plastic booths, but it’s no greasy spoon. The motif is cozy-kitsch (little gingham curtains, linoleum on floor, and mismatched plates on the aqua-painted wall), but the food is definitely in the gourmet leagues; for example, scrumptious fruit cobbler brimming with slices of apple and mango.

Martini time: Jasmina Henley bartends at the Station House Cafe, renowned for its innovative gourmet offerings and also boasting live music on weekend nights.

BREAKFAST at the Pine Cone includes pan-fried trout fresh from Idaho with two eggs ($8.50), and honey-baked ham and cheese omelet ($8.25). Lunch features sandwiches, burgers, soups, and salads. But the dinner offerings make you want to stick around till 5 p.m., when they start serving true delights like cherry wood­smoked pork loin with lavender gastrique–lavender-infused sherry, vinegar, and honey ($15.95); and tried-and-true roasted garlic chicken with garlic mashers, pan gravy, and green beans ($13.50).

After all the eating, maybe a little walk is in order. How about to the Point Reyes Oyster Co., 11101 Hwy. 1 (415/663-8373), where you can buy some locally harvested Tomales Bay shellfish at bargain prices or pick some new gourmet cookware?

Or spend an hour or two at Tomales Bay Foods, 80 Fourth St. (415 663-9335) a renovated old hay barn that houses fresh, local, organic, and artisan foods and wines Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Select from many deli delectables, including a rockfish salad with summer squash, wax beans, and tomatoes ($10) and a Niman Ranch pork loin sandwich with barbecue sauce and pickles ($5.75).

Within Tomales Bay Foods is the Cowgirl Creamery, where they turn out batches of handmade organic cheeses like crème fraîche, quark, and fromage blanc. You can watch the cheese makers in action through the glass.

Before you go, grab a half-pint tub of pudding-rich Cowgirl Creamery ice cream ($2.75), with choices like mixed berry, chocolate chip, cappuccino, and (anything but boring) vanilla, made with pasteurized organic milk, cream, eggs, sugar, salt, and all-natural ingredients.

Slip in a plastic spoon and prepare to swoon–the beach can wait.

From the June 13-19, 2000 issue of the Sonoma County Independent.

© Metro Publishing Inc.

Health Resources

You know the routine. You feel like hell. Go the doctor. Hand over the insurance card. Head for the examination room. Get all of five minutes to state your case because the less time spent on your problems, the more money in the doctor's pocket--at Kaiser Permanente the doctors actually have to punch a clock to show that...
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Family Services and Programs

They say kids don't come with an owner's manual. Fortunately, the California Parenting Institute (3650 Standish Ave., Santa Rosa; 585-6108) is here to help. This welcome community resource offers everything from support programs for first-time parents (including special help for dads) to parent education consultations for help with dealing with anger, self-esteem, and other issues. Included are affordable classes...
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Roland Alphonso

Sax appeal: Roland Alphonso. Hot Shot New CD showcases ska legend By Greg Cahill Roland Something Special: Ska Hot Shots Heart Beat IT AIN'T SUMMER without ska. And this soulful 20-track collection goes down real smooth, showcasing one of the most influential--and underrated--musicians...
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John Doe

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Vegetarian Restaurants

"Another weirdo." The waitperson's unspoken thought in the face of a vegetarian or vegan request was typical not too many years ago. No longer. But even though the raised-eyebrow reaction is not predictable anymore, it's still often a bloody challenge to find restaurants with generous menus for vegetarians and vegans (we'll call them VVs here). Die-hard carnivores, who regard...
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Hardware/Software Gurus

Byte This The techno horror stories are out there. Believe them or not. There's the unfortunate fellow who broke the "cup holder" off his computer (he'd been using the load drawer of the CD-ROM drive as a coffee-mug holder and snapped it off the drive). The poor woman who couldn't get her "compootah" to run...
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Coffee Resources

Rush Hour Nothing can kick-start a heavy-lidded, fuzzy-brained morning like a steaming hot cup of joe. And nothing can perk up an equally heavy-lidded, fuzzy-brained late night, hunched over an iMac and a stack of books, like a steaming hot cup (er, make that a pot) of joe. Pair it with a sugary or chocolatey...
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Screeing Schedule

Rock Ross THE MONTE RIO filmmaker offers an evening of beautiful, non-narrative black-and-white shorts. The five-minute film created by participants in the Camera-less Film workshop will also be screened. Friday, July 28. Women Animators THIS SCREENING draws together work by three female animators from around the United States. First up will be...
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James Carter

Both sides now: James Carter Photograph by Lorenzo Aguis Carter's Craft Jazz saxophonist James Carter releases a pair of new discs James Carter Chasin' the Gypsy (Atlantic Jazz) Layin' in the Cut (Atlantic Jazz) JAZZ SAXOPHONIST James Carter's 1996 release Conversin' with the Elders (Atlantic Jazz)--with Lester...
Read more

Pt. Reyes Station Dining

Gourmet to go: Liz Vella of Tomales Bay Foods/Cowgirl Creamery in Pt. Reyes Station displays some of the local flavors. West Marin Meanderings Plenty to savor at Pt. Reyes Station By Paula Harris FORGET THE CALL of the wild. It's the call of the ocean that lures me....
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