It is a pleasure to say that having three grandchildren in one’s mid 70s is glorious in all ways.
I see two of my granddaughters daily during the week, and my grandson with some frequency. All live within a radius of mileage that is acceptable to a man who despises automobiles, driving, spending any money at all on auto repair and maintenance, and who believes the automobile is one of modern society’s great diseases.
I dispatch my duties as a grandparent with proper sobriety, though it is possible my priorities in this role could be perceived as counterintuitive. Not every interaction with the kids is met with approval by my son and daughter-in-law, but they do know that my intentions are sound, even when my methods may appear to be at odds with convention and good taste.
As a grandfather of granddaughters, I feel it is my duty to instill in them a certain distance, a wall of protection, if you will, regarding the male species of humans. This does not make me a feminist per se—it makes me a realist. When I tell my granddaughters outright that men are dogs, I speak from personal experience. I know men, and I know what they do.
In addition, as a former public school teacher and coach, I believe part of my role includes language skills and development and some sound instruction in the uses of vernacular. This entails specific training in the use of what some might call foul language. I don’t see it as foul language; I see it as language, a tool for everyday use.
I learned to curse from my mother, the alcoholic, Beatnik, jazz and poetry loving deep whole earth organism. For a man of my own bent comportment who believes in neither angels nor heaven, she was an angel from heaven. It was an enormous pleasure to get her Tareyton and Korbel soaked cough-laugh in high gear, a sign I was easing the tremendous suffering she endured in serving as my father’s tortured partner.
The grandgirls also know my family history, which is no Pollyanna picnic in the park. They know who drank, who was a jerk, who shot which parent in the ass with a BB gun and so forth. There are not many secrets. This is in stark contrast to my own upbringing, in which I was almost 10 years old before I knew who sent those Christmas gifts from the City with the scraggly writing and my misspelled name. This was not a family of high function and even temperament; let me be clear.
And so, I am simply doing my job to the best of my ability as adjunct professor of life, to ensure these kids are going to be able to take care of themselves when I am gone.
Craig Corsini is a writer and grandfather in Marin.
Joy Finn is the kind of wine professional who remembers why people fall in love with wine in the first place.
With more than 15 years of experience across some of the state’s most storied brands (including Kosta Browne, La Crema, Magito Family Wines and Vintage Wine Estates), she has built her career on the belief that great hospitality and honest storytelling are what create deeper connections and experiences.
As director of customer experiences at Mascarin Family Wines, Finn leads marketing, sales, hospitality and wine club operations, bringing heart and intention to a brand she genuinely loves. She doesn’t think of these as separate departments so much as different ways of asking the same question: How do we make people feel welcome, seen and excited to come back?
Through her consultancy, Purple Poppy Consulting & Creative Services, Finn brings that same energy to wine brands finding their footing, helping them tell their stories more honestly, build direct-to-consumer programs that actually connect and create experiences that linger long after the glass is empty. It’s meaningful work rooted in a simple conviction: that when a brand shows up authentically, people notice, and they remember.
A Sonoma State graduate deeply rooted in Sonoma County, Finn has love for this region and a nuanced understanding of its evolving wine landscape. She brings that regional expertise, alongside a clear perspective on consumer behavior and brand strategy, to every project, panel and pour, with curiosity, warmth and a genuine belief that the best wine brands are the ones that lead with community first.
Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?
Joy Finn: I worked my way up from the tasting room (at Mascarin Family Wines). I fell in love with wine and hospitality, and after working in the industry in Northern California and in New Zealand, I decided to pursue a career in wine marketing, hospitality and operations.
Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.
Yes, Ink Grade Sauvignon Blanc. I realized that it’s not the varietal; it’s the winemaker and the viticulture that makes the wine.
What is your favorite thing to drink at home?
Sancerre.
Where do you like to go out for a drink?
A friend’s home.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?
I would drink kombucha or tea. Mascarin Family Wines,1010 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg, 707.433.1010, mascarin-wines.com.
Wine Country and Marin are once again going full rainbow this year, with parades, drag shows, film screenings, art walks and community festivals rolling out from June through September.
While Sonoma County continues to field the region’s largest Pride celebrations, Marin is steadily expanding its own slate of civic and arts-oriented events. Napa, likewise, offers a veritable plethora of community gatherings and Pride-themed weekends in Wine Country.
What follows is a county-by-county, curated rundown of publicly announced Pride events from May 2026 onward.
Sonoma County
Sonoma County Pride, Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa hosts the North Bay’s marquee Pride weekend from June 5–7, centered around Old Courthouse Square and downtown. This year’s theme is “Pride & True: Advance, Advocate, Act Up.” Events include a Friday transgender rights rally, the annual parade, festival, performances, vendors and afterparties. The main parade steps off at 11am, Saturday, June 6. The festival runs 11am–5pm in downtown Santa Rosa. Free. sonomacountypride.org
Sonoma County Dyke March & Lez-a-Palooza, Santa Rosa
“The dykes will have their day,” promises the organizing committee behind Sonoma County’s first-ever Dyke March, arriving in downtown Santa Rosa Sunday, June 21. The march gathers at 10am at Santa Rosa City Hall before stepping off at 11am toward Old Courthouse Square, where Lez-a-Palooza takes over with music, games, face painting, hula hooping, community booths and what organizers describe as a “carnival-like” atmosphere. The short route is fully sidewalk-based and wheelchair accessible. Free. 10am–2pm, Sunday, June 21, Old Courthouse Square, 600 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. socodykemarch.org
Sonoma Valley Pride, Sonoma
Sonoma continues growing its increasingly lively three-day Pride celebration June 12–14 under the theme “We Rise With Pride.” Festivities include the “Rise With Pride” concert and drag show at Sebastiani Theatre, community gatherings, live music and a Pride festival in Sonoma Plaza. Organizers include Out In The Vineyard and Wake UP Sonoma. sonomavalleypride.com
Gay Wine Weekend, Sonoma Valley
Fifteen years in, Gay Wine Weekend has evolved from niche getaway to full-fledged Wine Country institution. Returning July 17–19 to Sonoma Valley, the three-day LGBTQ+ celebration combines estate vineyard parties, winemaker dinners, drag brunches, wine excursions, after-parties and the signature Twilight T-Dance. Produced by Out In The Vineyard, the event benefits Face to Face, the longtime Sonoma County nonprofit that grew from the AIDS crisis into a broader community health and support network. outinthevineyard.com
Russian River Pride, Guerneville
Guerneville once again closes out the North Bay Pride season with its beloved river-town celebration Sept. 19–20. The parade and festival take over Main Street in Guerneville beginning at noon Saturday, followed by an intergenerational brunch Sunday. Expect a heavy dose of queer campground energy, dance music and beloved Russian River eccentricity. russianriverpride.org
Marin County
PRIDE Mill Valley
Mill Valley hosts its third annual PRIDE Mill Valley kickoff celebration 2–6pm, Saturday, June 6 at the Downtown Plaza, 87 Throckmorton Ave. The all-ages event includes music, community booths and family-friendly festivities designed to launch Pride Month in southern Marin. Free. cityofmillvalley.gov/2084/PRIDE-Mill-Valley
Downtown San Rafael Pride Art Walk
San Rafael celebrates Pride all month long in June with its third annual Pride Art Walk Puzzle. Participating storefronts throughout downtown feature Pride-themed window displays and hidden-word clues inspired by LGBTQ civil rights icon Harvey Milk. Runs throughout June. Free. downtownsanrafael.org/pride-art-walk
Read With Pride Festival, San Rafael
The Marin County Civic Center Farmers Market hosts the family-friendly Read With Pride Festival 10am–1pm, Sunday, June 22. Presented with the Marin County Free Library and the Agricultural Institute of Marin, the event features Drag Storytime, crafts, face painting, DJ Destro, a scavenger hunt, community booths and a Pride parade through the market. Free. Marin County Civic Center Farmers Market, 3501 Civic Center Dr., San Rafael. srpubliclibrary.org/event/read-with-pride-festival-2025
CAFILM Pride, San Rafael
The California Film Institute returns with the fourth edition of CAFILM Pride, a curated LGBTQ+ cinema series running June 12–14 at the Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 4th St., San Rafael. The program features international and independent queer films, filmmaker conversations and community gatherings centered around contemporary LGBTQ storytelling. This year’s lineup includes Fire Within, Gugu’s World and The Dads. Tickets range from $11–$16 depending on membership status. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/pride-2026
Napa County
Napa Valley Pride
Napa Valley Pride returns this June under the theme “Love Out Loud” and featuring a comprehensive list of dozens of Pride-related events throughout the valley. Organized since 2003 by a coalition of volunteers, local businesses and LGBTQ+ nonprofits, the annual series of events celebrates queer community, visibility and belonging throughout Napa Valley. While Pride Month serves as the centerpiece, organizers increasingly program events year-round, extending the festivities beyond June and into the broader cultural life of Wine Country. Events benefit LGBTQ+ organizations and are open to all. napapride.com. Highlights below.
Tea Dance, Napa
Napa Pride officially kicks off with a Tea Dance featuring DJ Rotten Robbie 1–6pm, Sunday, June 7 at the Andaz Mercantile Terrace in downtown Napa. Expect cocktails, dancing and a crowd that understands Pride Month should begin with disco-era enthusiasm and questionable hydration choices. No cover. Andaz Mercantile, 1450 First St., Napa. instagram.com/andaznapa
Pride Pet Parade & Block Pawty, Napa
Downtown Napa goes full Westminster Dog Show during the Pride Pet Parade & Block Pawty 10am–1pm, Saturday, June 13 at Deuces Market Plaza. The festivities include a pet parade through downtown, costume contests, food, drinks and appearances by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Festive attire encouraged for both humans and their bewildered animals. Deuces Market Plaza, 1300 First St., Napa Mall Suite 222, Napa. deucesmarket.com
Dancing Queens Dance & Drag, Napa
Blue Note Napa hosts one of Napa Pride’s signature late-night spectacles with Dancing Queens Dance & Drag 6–10pm, June 15. DJ Rotten Robbie spins between performances as drag artists deliver lip-sync theatrics, dance numbers and enough sequins to briefly alter local weather conditions. The 16+ event benefits LGBTQ Connection Napa. bit.ly/dancing-queens
The celebrity chef I worked for was leaving. “See you tomorrow,” he said.
At that point, he had four restaurants, one cookbook and so many television appearances that I had lost count.
His workdays usually consisted of walking in the front door of the restaurant, down the bar in between the bar area tables, through the kitchen and out the back door. His office was across the parking lot, and in it, a team of five people were busy coordinating his appearances.
“Is [insert celebrity chef’s name here] working today?” customers would frequently ask.
“He just left,” we were instructed to say. Which was far more often wildly inaccurate rather than being merely incorrect.
What made our executive/celebrity chef’s comment odd was that the next day was Mother’s Day, and in the four years that I had worked for him, he never once worked Mother’s Day.
“You’re working tomorrow?” I said, my voice containing more surprise than probably prudent when addressing my boss.
“Yep,” he said. “I will be in around noon.”
There is nothing like knowing your boss will be there, in the figurative trenches, right next to you when facing the busiest day of the year.
Mother’s Day is always on Sunday. When Anna Jarvis originally advocated for a day to honor mothers, she meant a pious religious holiday to honor one’s own mother and not mothers in general. She even went to great lengths to make sure Mother’s Day is singular, not Mothers’ Day, plural. Whatever her original plan, it hasn’t really turned out that way, exactly.
On the next day in question, we all labored under the pretense that our fearless leader would be in shortly. We had opened at 11am after arriving at 10am. My co-worker, who only worked Sundays, wasn’t exactly pleased about one of those days being a holiday. Something he voiced almost immediately upon arriving.
“What is that you’re making?” asked a young woman in her May Mother’s Day pastel finery.
My co-worker stopped what he was doing (making a pitcher of blended Ramos Fizzes), set down the blender cup, put both hands on the bar and looked the young woman directly in her beaming face.
“They’re called pains in the ass,” he said.
Not exactly incorrect, but wildly inappropriate, nonetheless.
And while Ramos Fizzes, replete with raw egg, cream, gin and the obscure orange flower water, do include ingredients that are either messy, contaminant friendly or obscure, ours were especially problematic, being blended on top of all that. And if one has never held a sticky electric blender with 4-6 Ramos Fizzes in it, they don’t really know what they’re missing.
At any rate, my co-worker didn’t last another hour. It was decided that sending a young woman back to her family in tears wasn’t really in the best interest of the restaurant, much less the family, or even Mother’s Day in general. But that meant that I had to work the rest of a two-person holiday shift by myself. The only consolation was that my boss would be there too. Soon.
He dutifully arrived on time, at noon, with his family of eight, for their noontime brunch reservation.
Leaving me with these thoughts:
• That was the last Mother’s Day, and the last brunch, for two of their bartenders.
• Michael Mina will no longer be at Bungalow Kitchen in Tiburon as of June 1. I never personally saw him there, but his name was definitely on the menu.
• The celebrity chef I worked for also eventually moved on. Ironically, his name remains on that company’s menus to this day.
• “We can’t all be stars because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as I go by,” once quipped Marilyn Monroe.
• Anna Jarvis never married nor did she have children of her own. She passed away in a sanitorium, alone and destitute, in 1948. Legend holds that a portion of her final medical bills were paid for by florists.
Jeff Burkhart hosts ‘The Barfly Podcast.’ More at jeffburkhart.net.
Adinoff, along with her partner, Nancy Kelly, is organizing Sonoma County’s first ever Dyke March for June 21 in Santa Rosa. “We’re doing a march. It’s a little more political. It’s about visibility,” she noted.
Not that they have anything against parades. In fact, they will be participating in the Santa Rosa Pride Parade June 6. And the Sonoma County Pride committee is a major donor to the Dyke March.
The two women, and their 15-member organizing committee, just believe it is crucial to shine a spotlight on their sapphic sisters at this moment, whether those sisters identify as lesbian, bisexual, non-binary, transgender or whatever.
And, yes, it’s all those “new” words people use to identify themselves that Kelly and Adinoff said is what separates younger queers from older queers, and that’s the gap they hope to bridge with the Dyke March.
“How do we create intergenerational community when nobody agrees on the words we use?” Adinoff questioned. And then she answered her own question. “It is by drawing on our history to lift up other lesbians, and then counting on the younger generation to spread the word. It’s not about being perfect. It’s just about being respectful,” she said.
But this is not just a philosophical notion. In the early months of organizing the march, Kelly and Adinoff met with groups of younger LGBTQ people and learned that what would draw them to something called a “dyke march” was inclusivity. Some of these young people are now part of the all-volunteer dyke march committee.
Inclusivity and visibility in a threatening time is the central theme of the march. The invitational postcard says, in both English and Spanish, “We organize in a moment of immense and escalating backlash—against trans lives, queer rights, reproductive freedom, marriage equality, racial justice, our immigrant communities and democracy itself.”
While this desire to include might be a phenomenon of the current time, dyke marches are not new. The first one, organized by the Lesbian Avengers in 1993, was, according to a 2025 story in The Advocate, a “response to how male-dominated LGBTQ+ spaces had become. It started as a raucous show of solidarity, joy and anger, and in the decades since, it has continued to be a way for Dyke-identifying folks to build community and fight back against an unjust system.”
This first ever Sonoma County Dyke March continues that sense of having fun while fighting back—it just incorporates a much bigger umbrella.
Frances Fuchs, a longtime Sonoma County LGBTQ activist, said this is what drew her to join the committee as its number one tech and graphics volunteer.
“In particular, I found it welcoming to be out as a bisexual woman, in a way that allows for that larger community,” she said in a telephone interview.
Adinoff, who lives in Petaluma, and Durham, North Carolina resident Kelly, have been bridging their own geographical gap for the past five years, conducting a bicoastal relationship since they met at the Provincetown Women’s Weekend in 2021.
“It was like at first sight,” Adinoff joked. “I laughed so much when I was around her. She still makes me laugh.”
While they are both experienced organizers—Kelly as an events planner and Adinoff as a sales rep and lesbian activist—this is their first big undertaking together.
Gathering begins at 10am, the march at 11am, and the Lez-a-Palooza will run until 2pm. They said they are expecting about 500 to 700 participants, who will march from the parking lot at Santa Rosa City Hall to the Lez-a-Palooza event in Court House Square.
The two women emphasize that the march will be short and wheelchair and walker accessible, since it will be entirely on the sidewalk. And the “carnival-like” fair in the Square will be completely interactive, with games, face painting, hula hooping and more, all offered at booths run by LGBTQ-friendly businesses and organizations. There is no admission charge.
Psychotherapist Virginia Satir once said individuals should not allow other people’s limited perceptions to define them.
Rick Springfield has definitely embraced that mantra throughout a career dating back roughly six decades since he first plugged in a guitar.
His cultural imprint can be found on the singles charts, the soap opera landscape and in other roles that have found him popping up on prime-time television, Broadway and on the silver screen. He brings his well-honed hits to Napa’s Uptown Theatre this Saturday, May 30, supported by Los Angeles–based duo Sun And The Saint.
Springfield began reaching a wide audience in 1981 as both a guitar-slinging pop star and a soap opera heartthrob. That was the year his fifth studio album, the multi-platinum Working Class Dog, hit the racks at the same time General Hospital became a must-see soap opera.
The former yielded a handful of hits (“Jessie’s Girl,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Love is Alright Tonight”) along with a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. The latter found Springfield playing fictional playboy Dr. Noah Drake, a role that calcified a teen idol image he neither wanted nor sought.
“It’s been a double-edged sword,” he said of his dual success in music and acting. “When I first started out, everyone thought I was this daytime one-dimensional guy who someone handed a song to and happened to stay in tune for three minutes in the studio. And then ‘Jessie’s Girl’ was right there, and it’s a natural thing to think the two go together. They don’t and never have. They wanted me to sing on my original appearances of ‘General Hospital,’ and I knew it was going to be a problem with me being on the show because it was becoming so successful. I was just doing it for the money.
“It just happened that summer; it became THE show around the same time ‘Jessie’s Girl’ went to number one. They’ll probably be forever entwined even though they aren’t from where they were born and everything. They are two very disparate children joined in fame I guess,” he explained with a laugh.
Springfield’s career dates back to the early 1970s. Following a brief stint in Australian pop group Zoot, he landed a record deal that yielded the minor hit “Speak to the Sky.” A move to the United States to pursue more musical opportunities in mid-1972 found him trying to find his footing and survive. Acting proved to be a lifeline for him during a very trying time.
“I was between record deals and getting pretty hungry and low on money,” he said. “I met a woman, and (she) said to come to this acting class if I wasn’t doing anything. I started taking acting classes, and that really saved my life. I was by myself at the time, kind of all alone in America, and it really brought life back to me. I started working as an actor and was one of the last contract players signed by Universal.
“The Six Million Dollar Man was my first role, and I ended up doing Rockford Files, Battlestar Galactica and tens of nameless shows most people don’t even remember. It was good practice, and it helped me a lot. It actually paid the light bill,” he added.
Over his career, Springfield has refused to rest on his laurels. He’s still recording new material, with his last studio record being 2023’s double-CD Automatic. (“Twenty songs of dark to happy stuff—a chronicle of what I’ve been going through and thinking about,” he said.)
In 2024, he released Big Hits: Rick Springfield’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2. Composed of material starting with 1999’s Karma up through the aforementioned Automatic, this double-CD anthology reflects the rather wide stylistic net Springfield casts whenever he hits the studio.
“There are a lot of those songs that are fan favorites and a lot of songs that I think are the best ones from the past 20 years,” Springfield noted. “(It includes) some unreleased stuff like one I did with Sammy Hagar called ‘Party at the Beach Bar.’ There is also a song with the Foo Fighters called ‘The Man That Never Was,’ a new single called ‘Lose Myself’ and ‘Jessie’s Girl’ because we threw it on there as a re-recording. It sounds like the original, only bigger and stronger.”
Rick Springfield performs at 8pm, Saturday, May 30, at the Uptown Theatre, 1350 3rd St., Napa. Tickets and info at uptowntheatrenapa.com.
If you’re a fan of South Park and Team America: World Police, then the stage show Avenue Q should be right up your alley.
It’s an adult send-up of Sesame Street, the children’s television classic where humans and puppets co-exist and life’s problems are acknowledged and solved with humor and song. Santa Rosa’s Left Edge Theatre has a production running at The California through June 7.
Recent college graduate Princeton (Marc Assad) arrives on Avenue Q looking for an apartment and a purpose in life. He rents a room from building manager Gary Coleman (Shanay Howell and, yes, THAT Gary Coleman). He’s welcomed into the neighborhood by wannabe stand-up comedian Brian (Dana Hunt); his wife, Christmas Eve (Elinor Keyes); roommates Rod (Eden James), a closeted Republican investment banker, and Nicky (Dmitri Dene), an amiable slacker; and the sweet Kate Monster (Bethany Cox).
Princeton and Kate hit it off until Lucy the Slut (Cox again) enters the scene and Princeton follows the advice of the Bad Idea Bears (Dene and Katalina Motley).
Various personal crises rear their heads and are addressed through songs by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, like “It Sucks to Be Me,” “If You Were Gay,” “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” “The Internet Is for Porn” and “You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You’re Makin’ Love),” the latter performed after a particular energetic bout of puppet sex.
Director Serena Elize Flores’s cast gets quite a workout running around the multi-level set (by Collin Seeber) as primary or secondary puppeteers. I doubt any of them are experienced in the art form (and it shows), but that just adds to the show’s charm.
Charm is also exuded by the superb vocal and character work of Bethany Cox, who does double duty as Kate and Lucy. I was also quite taken with the work of Dmitri Dene as the genial Nicky and gregarious, porn-obsessed Trekkie Monster. Eden James shines as the conflicted Rod. Their “My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada” was a highlight.
Timing is everything in comedy, and scene transitions were a problem at the opening night performance. Too many moments of darkness and silence interrupted the show’s flow. Hopefully, they’ll be tightened and/or covered better over the run.
Transitions aside, you should have a good time hanging out and laughing with the residents of Avenue Q.
Left Edge Theatre’s ‘Avenue Q’ runs through June 7 at The California Theatre, 528 7th St., Santa Rosa. Wed–Sat, 7:30pm; Sat & Sun, 1pm. $20–$45. 707.664.7529.leftedgetheatre.com.
Issued May 15, the seemingly final newsletter from Go Local leadership was stark and bloodless. The writer was apparently in shock. I am in shock. I am reeling—Go Local, the organization marching at the head of the North Bay local first economic movement, may shortly cease to exist. It will leave a cratering gap.
As early as May 31, their website and phones will go down. Member services (consisting of marketing services to local businesses and networking lunches) and printing operations (the familiar pocket guides, the flagship Made Local magazine and the iconic Go Local member business badges) will all cease effective immediately.
In a sweat, I arranged a call with Merith Weisman, volunteer chair of the board, who graciously fitted me in during her breakfast eggs. “Do not see this as the end of Go Local,” Weisman told me. “See it as a transition.” Weisman, I will note, is also executive director, a role for which Go Local has been unable to pay her for some time.
Weisman was proud of her accomplishments of her year and a half as director. Costs were cut, teams and membership were diversified, and new revenue streams with Happening (a local event listing) and Trellis (an “Amazon for local businesses”) were opened (both of those ventures will continue independently).
But like the independent businesses it supported, Go Local had always operated on thin margins—one disaster away from bankruptcy. That disaster was the Trump presidency, which only serves the shareholding class (of wealthy Americans). As the economy began to turn down for average Americans this winter (stocks continue to go up and up), Go Local membership dues (“a luxury” for struggling businesses) began to lapse, and an extended crisis began.
Perversely, Go Local’s financial status erodes as its need becomes greater. It’s needed now. While unable to go into specifics, Weisman was able to refer to various offers and bids to continue Go Local part or whole and provide some continuity. Weisman also said a government option is being considered—as when Sonoma County created Creative Sonoma within Economic Development to replace a bankrupt Cultural Arts Council. Time will tell—this is a developing story.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: It’s your mic, Merith. What do you want to say to the people?
Merith Weisman: Go Local is not the local first movement. I want people to know that the local first movement in Sonoma County has never been stronger. The movement is meaningful to people across the spectrum, regardless of their politics—I can’t think of any other issue in which we have such agreement. It’s been so rewarding and humbling to experience people’s dedication to local-first.
And I want to say that there is no lack of commitment among Go Local member businesses—they gave to us until there was simply nothing more to give… We are now seeing the impacts of a global system, every single day, in every thing we encounter, and that is hurting every individual except the most affluent among us—who benefit from it. But the local first movement only gets stronger when times are rough.
What is the legacy of Go Local’s 16 year campaign?
Sonoma County is beautiful, and Go Local has vested itself in and raised that beauty. We did that together, and we did that consciously, as a decision—to choose local. We renew that commitment every day. And that’s not going to go away. If Go Local disappears, something even better will replace it.
Learn more: The best bet for staying current on this evolving story may be their Instagram @golocalsoco.
When it comes to creative and fun community unifying events, Petaluma’s Griffo Distillery is really building up a head of steam. And speaking of hot water, Griffo invites you to their Crawfish Boil Fundraiser for Una Vida, a local nonprofit that helps feed and clothe community members in need. The event is from 3 to 6 pm, Saturday, May 23, at the distillery, 1320 Scott St., Petaluma.
The event is the brainchild of Griffo’s Tasting Room Manager and “Facilitator of Fun” Kat Prescott who is herself a southern gal and fan of the delicacy. ”While I’m from Memphis originally, my first boil was in Columbia, Missouri hosted by a bunch of pals,” says Prescott. “All it took was one mud bug-and maybe some moonshine- and I was hooked” she laughs adding “and inspired.”
The notion of a good old-fashioned crawdad boil happened at a recent “Sunday Session” get together at Griffo where a local band plays and a food truck sells their grub. On this particular day, the food truck was Cajun Po’Boys and Prescott’s hankering for some crawfish led to a conversation with owner/chef John Gasquet. Prescotts says Gasquet “mentioned hosting a boil at Henhouse Brewing that happened about a month [prior] and I thought it would be a great way to raise some money for Una Vida.”
Petaluma based Una Vida is a non-profit that’s mission is “to build community, share resources, and lovingly serve others.” This is accomplished by gathering food, clothing and houseware donations as well as reducing food waste by redistributing fresh donations from local grocery stores and farms.
Prescott immediately ran with the idea and reached out to Una Vida Founder and Executive Director Lynne Gordon Moquete who says the two met during the COVID lockdown when Prescott reached out offering to volunteer. Speaking of Prescott, Moquete effuses “she has been an angel in including Una Vida in any possible fundraiser, she’s a treasure.”
At this point, one may be wondering what a crawfish boil is all about. Essentially, these are community minded picnic type events that are popular in the south, particularly in southern areas where crawfish are plentiful. Whoever is on boil duty puts together a “seed bag” which is a combination of spices (dill, coriander and mustard seed, cayenne, etc) that get boiled in the water, almost like a zesty tea-bag, along with a combination of vegetables (typically corn on the cob, potatoes, mushrooms, carrots…frankly, whatever is on hand and sounds good!) along with andouille sausage and of course, crawfish.
When the boil is ready it’s then brought over to a large table that’s covered with paper (hopefully) and unceremoniously dumped. Attendees then either pick the delicious vittles up by hand or spoon their shares onto a plate if they’re fancy.
Gasquet proudly notes that he does his crawfish boil the old-school way whereas “restaurants tend to do a blander salt water boil and add seasoning outside. When the water itself is seasoned, the taste goes all the way through.” He also says, “we are going to be able to boil about 25 lbs at a time, but we will keep them steaming hot until the first hundred pounds or so is dumped.
The event also features entertainment from The Pulsators, a perfect match due to their longstanding Sonoma County New Orleans flavored music. There will also be an intriguing sounding “blind live painting” with local artists Jonny Hirschmugl and George Utrilla who will be seated across from one another where with a canvas separating them and every 20 minutes, the two switch seats and continue painting on the other artists canvas.
Tickets to the event are $65 and you must RSVP so the proper amount of crawdads can be ordered.
This article was contributed by the Green Music Center
The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University announces its Summer at the Green 2026 season, a vibrant lineup of concerts and special events spanning July through September in Weill Hall + Lawn. The season opens with the beloved 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular featuring the Santa Rosa Symphony and Transcendence Theatre Company, and continues with an eclectic mix of artists including Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors (July 17); Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge (July 18); Andy Grammer with Walk off the Earth (July 26); and NPR’s hit live show Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! (July 30).
Country star Jake Owen (August 2), genre-blending favorites Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with St. Paul & The Broken Bones (August 16) and blues legends TajMo (Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’) (September 5) add to the summer’s dynamic offerings, alongside a special appearance by Boz Scaggs (September 18).
In addition to concerts, the Green Music Center will host Movies at the Green on the Weill Lawn with free tickets available for kids 12 and under ($6 for adults).
To purchase tickets to Summer at the Green 2026 visit GMC.Sonoma.edu or call 707.664.4246. Donors and subscribers will receive emails with direct links at the time their pre-sale starts.
Summer at the Green 2026 Weill Hall + Lawn
4th of July Fireworks Spectacular Santa Rosa Symphony Transcendence Theatre Company Troy Quinn, conductor Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate the 4th of July with an incredible evening of music and fireworks!
Enjoy a family-friendly performance featuring Sonoma County favorites Transcendence Theatre Company and the Santa Rosa Symphony, bringing a vibrant mix of Broadway hits and patriotic classics to the stage. The night concludes with a spectacular fireworks display under the night sky.
Supported in part by Exchange Bank, ProSource Wholesale: A Carston Family Store and Sally Tomatoes
Multi-platinum rock legends Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms have joined forces for an electrifying co-headlining summer tour. The bands behind signature hits like “Run-Around” and “Hey Jealousy” come to Weill Hall for a high energy performance July 17.
Blues Traveler — who last year celebrated 30 years since the single release of their Grammy® Award-winning breakthrough hit “Run-Around,” a milestone highlighted in a Rolling Stone interview with frontman John Popper — will join Gin Blossoms, whose quadruple-platinum album New Miserable Experience helped define ‘90s alternative radio, for this highly-anticipated run. In addition, the tour features legendary alternative rock band Spin Doctors, commemorating this year the 35th anniversary of their multi-platinum debut Pocket Full of Kryptonite, home to the chart-topping, Grammy®-nominated hit “Two Princes.”
Supported in part by Sonoma State University Alumni Association, Balletto Vineyards, Clover Sonoma, Sally Tomatoes, SOMO Village and Willow Creek Wealth Management.
Grammy Award winning icons, Melissa Etheridge and Wynonna Judd are bringing their co-headlining Raised On Radio Tour to Weill Hall + Lawn! These two musical trailblazers are teaming up for an unforgettable tour, bringing fans their chart-topping hits and signature sounds that made them two of the most celebrated artists of all time.
Supported in part by Freeman Vineyard & Winery, ProSource Wholesale: A Carston Family Store, SOMO Village.
Andy Grammer The Big Stupid Heart Tour with Walk off the Earth Sunday, July 26 at 7 p.m.
Multi-platinum artist Andy Grammer continues to energize, empower and bring together audiences around the world with his uplifting and honest pop anthems. His observations and affirmations pick people back up when they need it, affirm their potential and encourage them to keep going. His catalog consists of numerous hits, including the 5X platinum single “Honey, I’m Good” and the 2X platinum singles “Keep Your Head Up,” “Fresh Eyes,” and “Don’t Give Up On Me.”
Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! is National Public Radio’s Peabody Award-winning comedy news quiz show. Host Peter Sagal leads a rotating panel of comedians, writers, listener contestants and celebrity guests through a rollicking review of the week’s news.
Every week, Wait, Wait…. Don’t Tell Me! records in front of a live audience, then carefully edits out all the raunchy, inappropriate, shocking and hilarious stuff so we can broadcast something that doesn’t get NPR in trouble… well, more trouble. The only way you can find out what our panelists and guests really think about the news is to come see for yourself. And please—don’t tell NPR. Also, we’re all much more attractive than we sound.
Supported in part by Cartograph Wines.
Jake Owen with special guests Thelma & James Sunday, August 2 at 7 p.m.
Jake Owen is a country music mainstay with a career boasting a collection of gold and platinum records, 10 No.1 singles and more than 2.5 Billion U.S. on-demand streams. The chart-topping superstar and ACM award winner is signatured by his laid-back style and hit recordings such as “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Beachin’,” “Anywhere With You,” “Alone With You” and “The One That Got Away.”
Supported in part by Willow Creek Wealth Management.
Two of the most electrifying live acts in music today are joining forces this summer. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and St. Paul & The Broken Bones have announced a special 2026 co-headlining run of summer dates, bringing their powerhouse performances to the West Coast this August. This concert will see these two celebrated bands share the stage for a string of unforgettable nights, supported by special guest Tré Burt.
Supported in part by Oliver’s Markets, Balletto Vineyards and Willow Creek Wealth Management.
TajMo Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Room On the Porch Tour 2026 Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m.
TajMo—the historic collaboration between two generations of American music masters, Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’—will bring their Room On The Porch Tour back on the road in 2026 with more than 15 live shows across the United States.
Boz Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. An early bandmate of Steve Miller in The Ardells and the Steve Miller Band, he began his solo career in 1969, though he lacked a major hit until his 1976 album Silk Degrees peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, and produced the hit singles “Lido Shuffle” and “Lowdown”. Scaggs produced two more platinum-certified albums in Down Two Then Left and Middle Man, the latter of which produced two top-40 singles “Breakdown Dead Ahead” and “Jojo”.
Movies at the Green Weill Lawn
Presented by: Bank of America Supported in part by Sonoma State University Student Involvement Lawn tickets only $6 per person | 12 and under free
Zootopia & Zootopia 2—Sat, July 11 at 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie—Sat, August 1 at 5 p.m. Goat—Sat, August 8 at 5 p.m. Hannah Montana: The Movie—Sat, August 29 at 5 p.m. Additional Movie To Be Announced Soon!
View a complete listing of the Green Music Center’s upcoming events at GMC.Sonoma.edu.
Weill Hall + Lawn
Green Music Center | Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
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This article was contributed by the Green Music Center
The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University announces its Summer at the Green 2026 season, a vibrant lineup of concerts and special events spanning July through September in Weill Hall + Lawn. The season opens with the beloved 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular featuring the Santa Rosa Symphony and Transcendence...
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