Good morning, my aesthetic-lovelies! How was everyone’s weekend? Thoughts on the Will Smith Oscar interaction? Never a quiet moment anymore, is there?
I’m back from my stint on the East Coast, and though I miss Brooklyn already, I’m thrilled to report that I have moved into a new apartment in Oakland! The fashion outlets are endless here, and I cannot wait to hunt for new fits. Just walking down the street is enough to start the creative gears turning.
To that end, this week’s Look is exceptionally city-inspired, as I spent a good portion of my trip in the city shopping. But, don’t fear, I neither broke the bank nor compromised my style—I thrifted.
We went to Beacon, Buffalo Exchange, L Train — I found Filas, Dickies and Everlane for reasonable prices and I’m thrilled to say I left with two entirely new outfits for under $40. Good with me.
The thing about thrifting I so love, aside from the clear financial benefit, is the guilt-free feeling when purchasing clothing for the sake of fashion. As an aesthetically-oriented person who feels clothing is an artform, and the ultimate mode of personal expression, it’s challenging to buy from big stores, knowing how much waste comes from fast fashion trends. Thrifting is a way to both dress playfully and feel ethically in tune. Thanks for getting me back on track New York.
Now that I’m back in the Bay, I want to keep the thrift energy alive! Here’s a comprehensive list for my Marin and Sonoma County readers. Get into it!
Sonoma County
Salvation Army
Brookwood, Santa Rosa
So many finds! Dresses and bags are especially good here.
Goodwill
4th St, Santa Rosa
Once bought a denim vest here for $4; wore it for almost a decade.
Welfare League Thrift Shop
Railroad Square, Santa Rosa
Amazing vintage selection and the sweetest staff.
Goodwill
Highway 12, Sebastopol
Great finds and right next to The Barlow! Thrift + dinner.
Marin County
Bloom Marin
4th St, San Rafael
Amazingly curated and body positive. Bloom is blooming!
Salvation Army
4th St, San Rafael
Amazing selection of brand name pieces in great condition.
Alphabet Soup Thrift Stores
Western Ave., Petaluma
Great jewelry and accessory selection. A must visit!
Thrift for the planet and the budget. As Macklemore once said, “This is f**cking awesome.”
Looking phenomenal, everyone.
Love,
Jane
Jane Vick is an artist and writer currently based in Oakland, California. She splits her time between Europe, New York and New Mexico. View her work and contact her at janevick.com.
Welcome to Almost, Maine. You won’t find it on a map, as its citizens were never organized enough to get it declared an official town. The almost-town has a mill, a bar, a snowmobiling club and a couple of dozen residents whose main activity is falling in (or out) of love.
That’s the premise behind John Cariani’s Almost, Maine. It’s a series of short two-handers on the subject of love that run from the whimsical to the bittersweet. Rohnert Park’s Spreckels Performing Arts Center has a production directed by Anderson Templeton running now through April 10.
Each member of an ensemble cast of six (John Browning, Skylar Evans, Serena Elize Flores, Molly Larsen-Shine, Allie Nordby, Brandon Wilson) takes on multiple roles as we meet the various denizens of the frigid burg.
Pete (Evans) and Ginnette (Nordby) attempt to redefine what closeness means to a relationship. Glory (Flores) is camped out on the property of East (Wilson) with the hopes of witnessing the Northern Lights and perhaps mending her broken heart, which she carries in a paper sack. Randy (Browning) and Chad (Wilson) are surprised to find themselves literally falling for each other. Hope (Nordby) arrives at the house of an old beau seeking to rekindle the relationship, but finds a stranger (Evans) living there now. Dave (Wilson) has gifted Rhonda (Larsen-Shine) with a piece of artwork with a hidden meaning. Will she see it?
Cariani doesn’t avoid the painful part of love, but doesn’t lean heavily into it. The play’s best gag comes at the conclusion of the darkest vignette.
Templeton’s cast members have good chemistry and are given ample opportunities to display their versatility. Wilson in particular demonstrates why he is one of the area’s best comedic character actors.
Andrew Patton’s set design (a snow bank, a bench, two door frames) is beautiful in its simplicity. Chris Schloemp’s projections bring the Northern Lights to the North Bay.
Almost, Maine is the theatrical equivalent of comfort food. It’s nothing fancy, but you’ll feel better after a good helping.
‘Almost, Maine’ runs through April 10 at Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. Thursday–Saturday, 7:30 pm; Sunday, 2 pm; $12–$26. 707.588.3400. Proof of vaccination is not required to attend. Masking is optional. Spreckelsonline.com
The North Bay Sinfonietta takes the stage April 8 at the Santa Rosa Junior College’s Newman Auditorium. This chamber orchestra, which was founded by conductor Cynthia Weichel in 2014, features over 30 amateur, professional and student musicians from Sonoma County. At the upcoming concert, the orchestra’s string section will play pieces including Edward Elgar’s 1909 Elegy, Op. 59, described as wonderful in its unheroic devotional expression of grief; John Rutter’s 1973 Suite for String Orchestra, with each of the four movements named after popular English folk songs; and Giacomo Puccini’s I Crisantemi, written in a single night on Feb. 6, 1890 and dedicated to the memory of Prince Amadeo di Savoia, Duca d’Aosta and the King of Spain. The Sinfonietta plays Friday, April 8, in the Newman Auditorium on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 7:30pm. Suggested donation $10. Classicalsonoma.org/calendar.
Petaluma
Jazz Trio
This Friday, April 1, the Joel Kruzic Trio will bring its brand of smooth and jammable jazz to The Big Easy, the underground nightclub and restaurant in Petaluma’s historic American Alley. The venue offers an inclusive and eclectic vibe, where all are welcome to enjoy music five nights a week, and a full restaurant menu for the dancing-induced hunger. Joel Kruzic is a Sonoma County local who grew up in a musical household. He began playing the guitar at the age of eight, by 14 had started playing the upright bass, and later decided to pursue music as a career, attending the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. After five years in New York, he relocated to the Bay Area with his inimitable sound. Kruzic’s prodigious, East Coast-influenced tones come through in his technique and rhythm. Friday, April 1, at The Big Easy, 128 American Alley, Petaluma. 7pm. Free. Bigeasypetaluma.com
Calistoga
Napa Valley Beauty
Sofie Contemporary Arts Gallery in Calistoga is pleased to announce the opening of ThePersistence of Beauty, the gallery’s first show of 2022. Curated by gallery director Jan Sofie, the show features a diverse representation of Bay Area artists and is inspired by the sustaining power of grace and simple beauty throughout tumultuous and unpredictable times. Through myriad different mediums and styles, each artist represents resilience and joy through the courageous channel of art. Artists include Will Ashford, Don Bishop, Beka Brayer, Monica Bryant, Arminee Chahbazian, Terry Holleman, Anne Pentland, Todd Pickering, Susan Proehl, Inez Storer, Susan Stover and Jonah Ward. The Persistence of Beauty is on view now through June 12. Sofie Contemporary Arts Gallery, 1407 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. Open Wednesday through Sunday, from noon to 6pm. Gallery.sofiegallery.com
Novato
MOCA Meltdown
In his latest show, Marin-based artist Bill Russell uses icebergs as a metaphor for global warming’s unfolding effects. Running at Marin MOCA from April 2 through June 5, Russel’s Ice Show is based on his research into climate science and a recent trip to Iceland. The artist intends, through his depiction of melting icebergs in relationship to cultural icons like Noah’s Ark and the Titanic, to create an accessible and informative show on one of the most pressing issues facing humanity. On April 22, Marin MOCA will host a conversation between Russell and art therapist Ariella Cook-Shonkoff, MFT, ATR on the role of art in understanding the climate crisis and the therapeutic benefits of art-making when dealing with climate anxiety. Marin MOCA, 500 Palm Drive, Novato. General admission is free to the public. Marinmoca.org.
There was a time when, for the price of a nickel, diners could participate in a uniquely American food phenom.
The Automat anticipated both the worlds of fast food and “self-serve,” became a social institution, then vanished into obscurity.
Founded by entrepreneurs Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart in the late 1880s, their restaurant concept was novel in more ways than one. Patrons at Horn & Hardart literally inserted nickels into slots and small windows opened, revealing their selection. But more significantly, the chain enabled an egalitarianism that defied the mores of its time. When many restaurateurs were racist, sexist and xenophobic, Horn and Hardart’s venture fed millions of New Yorkers and Philadelphians of all backgrounds, eventually in 100 different locations and for more than a century—one nickel at a time.
Filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz admirably captures this forgotten cultural moment in her whimsical and edifying documentary, The Automat, which serves up an extra helping of talking heads whose lives were touched by this nutritious nickelodeon. Throughout, anecdotes and analyses come in tasty, bite-sized portions from such luminaries as filmmaker Mel Brooks, Starbucks founder Howard Schultz and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Hurwitz’s deep dive into the history of the Automat was inspired, in part, by a Ph.D. dissertation she read while in college. Entitled “Trapped Behind the Automat: Technological Systems and the American Restaurant, 1902-1991,” the work was written by Dr. Alec Shuldiner, who now lives in Fairfax and is co-producer of the film and one of its key interviewees.
“The Automat may have served via a machine, but the experience of dining in one was very social,” Shuldiner said in a recent email.
Given our contemporary era’s advances in AI and automation (not to mention a pandemic-born wariness of other people handling our food), it seems the Automat is primed to return (the last one shuttered in the early ‘90s). Shuldiner disagrees.
“Recent attempts to use the Automat technology to vend food… hardly even offer dining space and are focused on limiting all forms of human interaction,” said Shuldiner. “This reduces the Automat to really just another vending machine.”
He points out that elements of the Automat live on in chains like Starbucks, “where social mixing is common.” This reminds that “social mixing” is also key to the theatrical movie-going experience, which, for now, is the only way to see The Automat, and one of the best ways you could spend your nickels in the Bay Area.
‘The Automat’ plays at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, San Rafael; Summerfield Cinemas, Santa Rosa; Landmark’s Albany Twin, Albany; Vogue Theatre, San Francisco. Check theater listings for times and tickets.
Be careful what you wish for when wishing for local ownership of local media. The Press Democrat (PD) is a case in point. If the owners are part of the good old boy network and have committed fraud, violated the Glass-Steagall Act or engaged in shenanigans that the Bohemian’s Will Carruthers has covered, be prepared for some pretty nasty and biased reporting.
I keep thinking that they can’t go any lower, but they manage! Three recent examples:
First, the PD played up a Facebook post by Jerry Threet, former director of IOLERO, which questioned whether Eddie Engram, the status quo’s choice for sheriff, would really represent the Black community. After all, Engram doesn’t believe that the SCSO has exhibited any bias against people of color. Sheriff Essick was allowed to expound at length on the subject. Then the PD’s editorial staff got in on the act and actually likened Threet’s speech to that of Trump’s. The local NAACP wrote a rebuttal in defense of Threet. The PD refused to print it. People wrote letters defending Threet. Refused again. And now Engram has been allowed to level the charge in his own editorial.
Second, the community advisory council of IOLERO voted to censure Sheriff Essick for using government social media to support a candidate, the aforementioned Engram. The PD has refused to report on it.
Third, carrying water for the “business community” it serves, the PD has had multiple long articles about Dr. Sundari Mase and her DUI’s. The executive editor, Rick Green, has even gone so far as to defend, both in the paper and on radio, putting three reporters on the issue and blowing it all out of proportion. It is no secret that said “business community” would like to see an end to Mase, who dared to put human lives over money. I’m sure that it was with a heavy heart that Mase caved to pressure from the board of supervisors to loosen the rules that resulted in a surge and more deaths.
It should be noted that Mase told her supervisor, Barbie Robinson, and the county’s legal department about the DUI and no one chose to make an issue of it, but the rich guys want blood and the county usually does what the rich guys want.
Thank heavens for the Bohemian and its investigative reporters. The Press Democrat should be ashamed, but we live in The Age of Shamelessness.
Rather than let the Covid-19 pandemic slow them down in 2020, the three founders of Sebastopol’s popular fine dining restaurant Gravenstein Grill pivoted dramatically.
Pandemic-related shut-downs forced them to put their farm-to-table restaurant on hold. So the three partners — Brandon Parkhurst, Owen Barrett, and executive chef Bob Simontacchi — introduced two fast-casual pop-up concepts: Pleasant Hills Pies and Sonoma Burger.
The first featured artisanal pizzas, and the latter put quality burgers and hot dogs front and center. Sonoma Burger proved so popular that it became a permanent brick-and-mortar dine-in and carry-out eatery in September 2021, in the space formerly occupied by Giovanni’s Deli in Sebastopol. The 2,000-square-foot eatery has counter seating for 10 people, table seating for 20 and outdoor seating for 16.
The founders haven’t looked back ever since, and now are planning additional family-friendly Sonoma Burger outlets throughout the county.
“We knew that Gravenstein Grill’s brand of fine dining cuisine didn’t translate very well to everyday takeout,” Brandon said, reflecting on the inception of the Sonoma Burger. “But we didn’t want to lay off all our staff, and we wanted to keep cooking.”
They chose a business model that would allow take-out and delivery of food that Brandon characterized as “something we love to eat every day” — comfort food that was minimally processed.
They wanted to offer approachable, everyday food that traveled well, in contrast to the aesthetic of the precisely plated and upscale offerings at Gravenstein Grill. They created a simple menu of smash burgers and griddle dogs, sourced, cooked and delivered with the same level of attention to detail and culinary technique that are the hallmarks of the five-year-old Gravenstein Grill, a special occasion and date-night favorite.
Of course, the real selling point of this venture is how the food tastes, which is where chef Simontacchi’s 25-plus years’ of experience came into play. Sonoma Burger cooks weighted burgers and dogs (“smashed”) on griddles rather than grills. This produces a flavorful crust on the meat for extra and enhanced umami flavor, Brandon explained. Sonoma Burgers sandwiches are smaller than the restaurant “pub style” burgers they serve at Gravenstein Grill — “something you could have for lunch,” Brandon said, pointing out an entry-level Classic Smash Burger is in the $6 range.
The other trappings include the Willie Bird turkey burger, a crispy chicken sandwich, and a house-smoked tempeh burger with vegan barbecue sauce. The sides are equally impressive, with French fries, fried pickles, crispy onion rings as well as a wealth of other pickled goods and house-made sauces, which customers can now buy as standalones, not to mention amazing add-ons like pimento cheese and pickle relish. Check out the rotating selection of seasonally influenced shakes and the locally selected wines from Hook & Ladder Vineyards & Winery, plus brews from the likes of HenHouse Brewing Company and others.
Gravenstein Grill has developed a connection with local farmers and ranchers and makes everything in-house, from pastas and breads to sauces. Likewise, Sonoma Burger follows the same from-scratch cooking philosophy, which includes its buns — their own take on fluffy Parker House rolls. Sonoma Burger procures meat from Jamie Mickelson’s Sonoma Mountain Beef Co., obtains produce from Andy’s Produce Market, uses Strauss Family Creamery for its soft-serve ice cream and gets dry goods locally from Cotati Food Service. There is no mass-sourced procurement here, Brandon said.
The tagline for Sonoma Burgers is “A Mindful Burger.” Brandon explained that the restaurant puts mindfulness into every aspect of the business, right down to the compostable carry-out containers. The restaurateurs give back to the community, too, sponsoring sports leagues; contributing to charities; hiring locals (including high schoolers); and donating to Food for Thought, the nonprofit food bank in Forestville. In fact, because of a direct partnership in which they give the profits of all Willie Bird Turkey Burgers sold at Sonoma Burger directly to Food for Thought, they were able to expand programs like Full Belly, which provides food and nutrition support to pregnant women (and their families) at risk of malnutrition.
Brandon, who lives in Sebastopol, and his fellow founders, who are Petaluma residents, are proud of the bounty of Sonoma County and their connections to area purveyors. In fact, that’s why they decided to put “Sonoma” in the name of their burger venture. “We are really proud to be here in Sonoma County,” he said. “The products all come from Sonoma County, and we treat them with care. We like to showcase the amazing produce, meat and dairy we have available to us by creating a product that everyone from top to bottom is proud of. We’d like Sonoma County to be as proud of having us here as we are to be a part of the amazing community.”
While Sonoma Burger was voted best carry out in Sonoma County, it’s also got a loyal local dine-in crowd. Some diners are popping in on the way home from little league games while others have claimed a corner for a little hanging out.
“We feel like we’re friends with everyone in the neighborhood,” Brandon said.
Look for the expansion of Sonoma Burger to a handful of other Sonoma County outposts, such as Windsor, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Kenwood or Sonoma beginning later this year.
Good morning, my aesthetic-lovelies! How was everyone’s weekend? Thoughts on the Will Smith Oscar interaction? Never a quiet moment anymore, is there?
I’m back from my stint on the East Coast, and though I miss Brooklyn already, I’m thrilled to report that I have moved into a new apartment in Oakland! The fashion outlets are endless here, and I cannot...
Welcome to Almost, Maine. You won’t find it on a map, as its citizens were never organized enough to get it declared an official town. The almost-town has a mill, a bar, a snowmobiling club and a couple of dozen residents whose main activity is falling in (or out) of love.
That’s the premise behind John Cariani’s Almost, Maine. It’s...
Santa Rosa
Sinfonietta Strings
The North Bay Sinfonietta takes the stage April 8 at the Santa Rosa Junior College’s Newman Auditorium. This chamber orchestra, which was founded by conductor Cynthia Weichel in 2014, features over 30 amateur, professional and student musicians from Sonoma County. At the upcoming concert, the orchestra’s string section will play pieces including Edward Elgar’s 1909 Elegy, Op....
There was a time when, for the price of a nickel, diners could participate in a uniquely American food phenom.
The Automat anticipated both the worlds of fast food and "self-serve," became a social institution, then vanished into obscurity.
Founded by entrepreneurs Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart in the late 1880s, their restaurant concept was novel in more ways than one....
Be careful what you wish for when wishing for local ownership of local media. The Press Democrat (PD) is a case in point. If the owners are part of the good old boy network and have committed fraud, violated the Glass-Steagall Act or engaged in shenanigans that the Bohemian’s Will Carruthers has covered, be prepared for some pretty nasty...
Rather than let the Covid-19 pandemic slow them down in 2020, the three founders of Sebastopol’s popular fine dining restaurant Gravenstein Grill pivoted dramatically.
Pandemic-related shut-downs forced them to put their farm-to-table restaurant on hold. So the three partners — Brandon Parkhurst, Owen Barrett, and executive chef Bob Simontacchi — introduced two fast-casual pop-up concepts: Pleasant Hills Pies and Sonoma...
Best Art Gallery
Napa
Sofie Contemporary Arts
Sonoma
Sebastopol Center for Arts
Best Band
Napa
Mama Said
Sonoma
Sol Horizon
Best Cover Band
Napa
Wonderbread 5
Sonoma
Petty Theft
Best Indy Filmmaker
Napa
1700 FILM /Caleb Sutter
Sonoma
Sean Pettis
Best Maker Event
Napa
Calistoga Christmas Faire
Sonoma
Head West Marketplace
Best Media Personality
Napa
Bob St. Laurent, 99.3 FM The Vine
Sonoma
Bill Bowker, KRSH 95.9 FM
Best Movie Theater
Napa
Cameo Cinema
Sonoma
Rialto Cinemas
Best Museum
Napa
Sharpsteen Museum
Sonoma
Charles M. Schulz Museum
Best Outdoor Art Event
Napa
Open Studios Napa Valley
Sonoma
Sonoma County Art Trails
Best Outdoor Music...
Best Bike Route/Trails
Napa
Napa Valley Vine Trail
Sonoma
Trione-Annadel State Park
Best Bike Shop
Napa
Calistoga Bike Shop
Sonoma
Trek Bicycle Santa Rosa
Best Gym
Napa
Calistoga Fit
Sonoma
Parkpoint Health Club
Best Health Club
Napa
HealthQuest Fitness Center
Sonoma
Montecito Heights Health Club
Best Hiking Trails
Napa
Moore Creek Park
Sonoma
Trione-Annadel State Park
Best Horseback Riding
Napa
Napa Valley Trail Rides
Sonoma
Ride Off Ranch
Best Outdoor Adventure Tour
Napa
Calistoga Bike & Wine Tour - Getaway Adventures
Sonoma
Sonoma Zipline Adventures
Best Park
Napa
Pioneer Park
Sonoma
Howarth Park
Best Personal Trainer
Napa
Donovan Almond - Calistoga...
Best Animal Adoption Center
Napa
Wine Country Animal Lovers
Sonoma
Humane Society Sonoma County
Best Animal Hospital
Napa
Calistoga Pet Clinic
Sonoma
Animal Hospital of Sebastopol
Best Animal Rescue Group
Napa
Wine Country Animal Lovers
Sonoma
Dogwood Animal Rescue
Best Baby Gift Store
Sonoma
Bon Ton Baby
Best Birthday Party Place
Sonoma
Epicenter Sports and Entertainment
Best Children's Clothing Store
Napa
Cupcake
Sonoma
Cupcake
Best Children's Consignment Store
Napa
Lolo's Consignment
Sonoma
Sweet Pea Children's Boutique
Best Children's Educational Center
Napa
West Park Elementary
Sonoma
Sonoma County Library
Best Children's Indoor Sports Center
Sonoma
Epicenter Sports and...
Best Boudoir/Modern Lingerie
Sonoma
Milk & Honey
Best Boutique Hotel
Napa
North Block Hotel
Sonoma
Hotel Healdsburg
Best Couples Counseling
Sonoma
Marilyn Steffonetti, LMFT, NE
Best Erotica Store
Sonoma
Spice Sensuality Boutique
Best Flower Farm
Napa
Little Moon Farm
Sonoma
Happy Dahlia Farm
Best Place for Singles to Meet
Napa
Oxbow River Stage
Sonoma
The Matheson | Roof 106
Best Romantic Dinner
Napa
Angèle Restaurant & Bar
Sonoma
Catelli's
Best Sex Therapist
Sonoma
Lucas Plumb, PhD
Best Staycation
Napa
Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa
Sonoma
Flamingo Resort
Best Wedding Caterer
Napa
Oak Avenue Catering
Sonoma
Preferred Sonoma Caterers
Best Wedding Event...
