Cluster’s Pluck

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Cluster’s Pluck

At a time when craft brewers are chasing the latest trends in new, trademarked hop varieties to juice up their juicy IPAs, some in the North Bay are digging up a relic
of a bygone day for their brews—literally, they are digging up the roots of decades-old hop plants that have gone feral near the banks of the Russian River.

Cluster is an old American hop variety that was widely grown in California both before and after Prohibition, and all but vanished from Northern California in the 1950s. Today, Cluster has about as much cachet as Michelob Light. But the bad rap is undeserved, says Windsor hop grower Mike Giovannoni, who found a few hardy survivors growing alongside wild grapevines in the corner of a vineyard he farms.

“Back then,” Giovannoni says of the glory days of bland American beer, “hops were used more for bittering than aroma and flavor, like they are today. Brewing styles have changed, but I feel that Cluster has a bad reputation based on old brewing styles and descriptions based on those old beers.”

One cool thing about Cluster, according to Mike Stevenson, who grows Cluster sourced from the
Mt. Shasta area at his Warm Spring Wind Hop Farm, is that it’s got great genetics: having survived untended for 60 to 100 years, it may now be this region’s most robust hop variety. “The flavors and aromas are speaking to the adaptability of the plant in those different areas,” says Stevenson, who likes the tropical fruit, piña colada, passion fruit aromatics that his Shasta hops exhibit. “Totally different from the California Cluster that Paul has in his yard from Russian River.”

That’s brewer Paul Hawley, who’s releasing a trio of freshly brewed beers, including a farmhouse saison-style brew wet-hopped with Cluster, at Fogbelt Brewing’s third annual Wet Hop Festival. Adding to the spiciness of the saison, says Hawley, “the heritage California Cluster shows aromas and flavors of honeydew melon, papaya and mango.”

Hop season doesn’t get any fresher than at the Windsor Historical Society museum’s eighth annual Hop Harvest & Heritage Day, where president Steve Lehmann invites budding hop heads to pick their own from the 15 prickly plants he grows on the museum grounds from roots collected from three Russian River Valley ranches. Spectators, including folks who remember the hop harvests of days gone by, are welcome.

“Some old timers come by to ridicule my hop-picking technique,” says Lehmann, “in the nicest way.”

Fogbelt Brewing Company,
1305 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa. Wet Hop Festival, Sunday, Sept. 2, noon–8pm. 707.978.3400. Windsor Historical Society, 9225 Foxwood Drive, Windsor. Hop picking starts at noon, Saturday, Sept. 8. Lunch and beer, $15. 707.838.4563.

Respect in Peace

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Respect in Peace

‘There’s something really magic about the fact that the King and the Queen left the building on the same day,” says author and veteran radio personality Meredith Ochs. She’s talking about Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, both of whom died on Aug. 16 (though 41 years apart).

Ochs is the author of the upcoming Rock-and-Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female Rockers (Sterling), which profiles and/or interviews everyone from Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes.

Those fierce women are the bookends in Ochs’ labor of love, which she says was inspired, in part, by the scores of interviews and commentary pieces she’s done over the years for Sirius and National Public Radio. Tharpe is first on the list because, as Ochs says of the guitarist-singer from the 1930s–’40s, “You can make the argument that she invented rock. She sure did set the template for rock moves!”

Ochs’ book is arranged chronologically, she says, and after Thorpe, she covers Big Mama Thornton, Wanda Jackson and then Aretha. The criteria for inclusion: they had to have some kind of impact or influence on rock and roll.

Aretha? “Her influence is almost incalculable,” Ochs says. “She influenced everyone from Janis Joplin to Amy Winehouse” and beyond—Annie Lennox, Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt and countless others have all sipped from the slippers of the Queen of Soul. “Even someone like Christina Aguilera—she’s not in the book and she’s not a rock and roll woman—but you can put Aretha’s influence through to pop, rock, R&B and the blues.”

Ochs lives in Hoboken and has been interviewing musicians and celebrities for decades; she recently left Sirius after a 12-year run at the online radio giant. She had tons of interviews in the can already and did some new ones that are exclusive to the book.

“It also seemed strange to me,” she says, “that a lot of stuff was happening in entertainment with women, the pay gap in Hollywood, and while there are more women musicians, there’s not a lot of women played on the radio.”

Since her death earlier this month at age 76, Aretha’s been getting a lot of airplay on North Bay radio stations. Ochs didn’t interview Franklin expressly for the book, but recounts meeting and talking to her at a cancer benefit for a New Jersey healthcare provider in 2012 (Franklin died of pancreatic cancer). “She never talked about the fact that she had cancer,” says Ochs. “She never talked about her illness, but she did a lot of charitable work.”

Ochs says she brought a friend to the benefit concert, whose mother had died from breast cancer. “It was a very small, private event,” she says, as she recalls her encounter with the Queen of Soul. “She talked about why she was there.”

The event was one she’ll never forget, says Ochs: “Being in her presence . . . it was just awesome,” she recalls. “There was, like, this golden glow about her.”

‘Rock-and-Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female Rockers,’ will be in bookstores Oct. 23. Pre-orders are now available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble online.

Local Gem

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Local Gem

There’s so much more to Mediterranean food than is usually expressed stateside.

The region offers everything from undiscovered Turkish delights to slowly trending Israeli dishes. Petaluma’s new restaurant Pearl is attempting to bring the lesser known stars of the cuisine to the table with a focus the on eastern Mediterranean—Turkey, Israel, Syria and beyond—with a sprinkle of Moroccan and French influences.

Behind the menu are Brian Leitner and Annette Yang, who previously owned Nettie’s Crab Shack in San Francisco and, most recently, Le Vieux in Portland, Ore. The two began experimenting with Mediterranean cuisine one country at a time; France one month, Morocco another. Leitner, a Chez Panisse alum, unites them all. The menu changes occasionally, according to seasonality and availability, and some ingredients stand out, not often seen on local menus around the Bay Area.

Take the stuffed sardine ($10), for example. Expert home cooks across the Mediterranean have been stuffing the tiny fish for centuries, but rare is the Bay Area chef willing to take on the meticulous task. At Pearl, the single fish arrives topped with cherry tomatoes and cilantro, hiding a herbaceous tabbouleh salad inside. The fish has a bright sea flavor and delicate texture, highlighted by the tabbouleh’s chunkiness. It’s a bold, fun appetizer that made me wish stuffed sardines would, one day, reach crudo-level popularity.

The charred okra (another seldom-seen ingredient) with preserved lemon ($10) is spot-on. Okra is a tricky little vegetable, and one extra minute in the heat can turn it to mush. Pearl’s is crunchy and fresh. The wood-roasted beets ($10) are the third appetizer we try. In this dish, too, the textures are remarkable, from the velvety-rich beet to the snappy beans and the light dressing.

Even in a restaurant fielding wild mix of influences and inspirations, some things are better left true to their origins. The shakshuka ($18), an Israeli staple, is one such dish. This vibrant, tomato-heavy stew is meant to simmer on the stove or in the oven until its raw eggs and sauce become one. In Pearl’s version, served with a side of pita ($2) and containing the addition of chickpeas and griddled halloumi cheese, the eggs are perched on top. Playful as the interpretation might be, it undermines the shakshuka’s messy, hearty appeal and denies
it the collision of flavors it’s famous for.

The dessert to right this wrong is the dreamy Moroccan rice pudding ($8). With a bite to its texture, the pudding is made from Madagascar pink rice and topped with rhubarb compote and almond flakes. It’s delicate and fragrant, refreshing and comforting. I’ve never seen this rice before, on a menu or at a supermarket. Leitner’s clearly showcasing another star ingredient. Is the pudding Mediterranean? Moroccan? Local? When something tastes this good, who cares.

Pearl, 500 First St., Petaluma. 707.559.5187.

Cream Dreams

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Cream Dreams

‘We’re not for sale,” says Albert Straus, as pints of soft, mushy coffee ice cream come down the conveyor belt at Petaluma’s Straus Family Creamery and are placed in a freezer at –20 degrees so they’ll harden almost instantly.

“When companies go public, they often care less about values and more about the return on the investment.”

The creamery’s founder dips a spoon into one of the containers, before it’s sealed, and tastes it. In comparison to national brands that are available from coast to coast, Straus ice cream is sold largely in the Bay Area, and, as a privately held company, is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

“These are volatile times in the milk industry,” Straus says. “On the one hand, there’s overproduction of milk globally, which has decreased income for dairy farmers. On the other hand, consumers are demanding higher milk-fat products, which has created a shortage of cream and milk fat.”

Dairy farmers from Holland to Ireland and California are facing uncertain futures. Marin once boasted hundreds of dairies that stretched from Marshall to Novato and Petaluma. Today, there are less than 25 in the county.

So what does Straus Family Creamery do? Make more ice cream, in more flavors than ever before, and hope to save rural communities in the process.

Straus ice cream—which comes in 11 different flavors—is made in small batches and with minimal processing. The first flavors introduced were chocolate, vanilla and raspberry. Now they include raspberry chocolate chip, Dutch chocolate, strawberry and lemon gingersnap. Straus soft serve, which has seen a 20 percent growth in sales in the past year, is available at a half-dozen outlets in Marin County, like Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur and Cibo in Sausalito.

The ingredients in Straus ice cream are milk, cream, sugar and eggs (as a stabilizer). No gums, thickeners, stabilizers, artificial ingredients or coloring agents are used. Straus cows graze on pesticide-free pastures in both Sonoma and Marin counties.

In Marin, dairy provides more revenue than any other single aspect of agriculture. In 2016, dairies brought in $43 million.
In Sonoma, the figure was
$147 million. Neither grapes nor cannabis are big money makers for Marin farmers, though they are in Sonoma County.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Straus Family Creamery ice cream. Next year is the 25th anniversary of the creamery itself, which Straus founded in 1994. Today, he’s the CEO, and face and voice, of the company. His father, who was a refugee from Hitler’s Germany, started Straus Family Dairy Farm in 1941. Albert Straus transformed the farm into the first certified organic, non-GMO dairy west of the Mississippi River.

“We’re about the triple bottom line,” Straus says. “If you’re not supporting working families and you’re not protecting the environment, you’re not a sustainable business no matter how financially successful you are.”

At a time when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is loosening labeling rules, Straus has stayed true to his original mission to keep GMOs out of the company’s ice cream, milk, yogurt and sour cream. More than a year ago, the food industry—hard on the heels of Trump’s anti-regulation agenda—sought to end Obama-era rules governing the disclosure of calories, sugar, fiber and serving size.

The pace of deregulation has accelerated, though all Straus ice cream containers continue to provide a list of nutritional facts, including calories, cholesterol, carbs, sugars and protein.

Transparency has helped Straus sell its ice cream. So has hot weather. The company sells 50 percent more ice cream in the summer than during the rest of the year. Straus wouldn’t reveal annual sales figures, but the North Bay Business Journal last year estimated the figure between
$30 million and $40 million.

By riding the consumer desire for organic, non-GMO food, Straus has found a niche in the crowded, competitive market dominated by giant corporations like Breyers that make ice cream with corn syrup, powdered milk and whey.

Straus has collaborative relationships with eight other family farms in the North Bay. All boast the red and white Straus sign, which features a happy cow with a large udder. By cooperating, they’re able to survive and thrive in the crazy milk market.

Straus is phasing out Holsteins in favor of Jerseys, because Jerseys produce milk with a higher fat content. In his 2018 book, Milk! A 10,000-Year Food Fracas, Mark Kurlansky explains that milk with a high percentage of fat has long been considered healthier than low-fat and skimmed milk.

The fat content of Jersey milk is 4.9 percent. The milk fat content of the Holstein, the most common U.S. dairy cow, is 3.7 percent fat, with a 3.2 percent protein level. Protein content for Jerseys is
3.8 percent.

Straus says that he came by his social conscience and his environmental awareness gradually. His mother, Ellen, along with Phyllis Faber, founded the Marin Agricultural Land Trust and later the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin that has inspired at least two generations of ecologically minded citizens.

In high school, Albert started s recycling club. At Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, he majored in dairy science, took a class on ice cream making and served on a dairy-judging team.

“I always had the intention of making ice cream,” he says. But other projects took precedence. Ice cream production started small. It took years to develop an organic strawberry ice cream that Straus liked well enough to put on the market. Indeed, not everything has gone smoothly.

“In 1995, a Japanese company wanted us to export our ice cream,” Straus says, “but that fell through.”

In the next two to three years, Straus plans to build a larger, more technologically advanced creamery closer to major markets—somewhere not yet determined along the 101 corridor.

Relocating will mean more commuting time for Straus, but it will help many of the 85 employees at the creamery who drive long distances to get to Petaluma.

Straus also dreams about revitalizing the kinds of rural communities that were once the lifeblood of the North Bay but which have slowly withered.

“For us,” Straus says, “money is secondary to the quality of life for our family, for the surrounding community and for our employees.”

Jonah Raskin is the author of ‘Field Days: A Year of Farming, Eating and Drinking Wine in California’ and an occasional contributor to the ‘Bohemian.’

Aug. 25: Get Well in Santa Rosa

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Aug. 25: Get Well in Santa Rosa

Local nonprofit organizations the Arlene Francis Center and Safe Harbor Project are all about fostering and promoting wellness in the community, and this weekend the groups team up for the annual Wellness & Music Festival. The daylong outdoor affair features upbeat and affirming live performances from songwriters like Christopher Alexander, LaRoy Wainwright, Tony Saunders, Dana Salzman, AhSa-Ti Nu, and neo-funk band None But the Righteous. Wellness vendors, food and zumba sessions are also on hand when the festival kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 Sixth St., Santa Rosa. noon to 6pm. Free admission. 707.528.3009.

Aug. 25: History Comes Alive in Sonoma

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Aug. 25: History Comes Alive in Sonoma

A new live theater experience is coming to the vineyards of Sonoma Valley’s Buena Vista Winery this weekend with the Progressive History Dinner, which features an original three-act play performed throughout the winery’s campus. Written by local playwright George Webber, An Uneasy Future is set in the winery circa 1852, and finds the famous Mexican bandit Joaquin Murrieta hiding out with General Vallejo and winery founder Count Agoston Haraszthy. Delicious food and wine pairs with each act in this movable feast, happening on Saturday, Aug. 25 at Buena Vista Winery, 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma. 6pm. $130. 800.926.1266.

Aug. 25: Hand It to Him in Sonoma

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Aug. 25: Hand It to Him in Sonoma

Widely acknowledged by his peers as one of the finest sleight-of-hand performers in the world, magician John Carney is best known for his numerous television appearances and his involvement in the exclusive Academy of Magical Arts at Hollywood’s Magic Castle. Recently, he developed a new one-man theatrical show, Carney Magic, that combines his illusions and humor with an original story. More than a typical magic show, this performance is recommended for ages eight and up, and promises to be a charming evening of wit and wonder on Saturday, Aug. 25, at Sebastiani Theatre, 476 First St. E., Sonoma. 7:30pm. $17–$25.

Aug. 26: Electric Tribute in Sebastopol

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Aug. 26: Electric Tribute in Sebastopol

One of the most controversial events in 20th century music history is when Bob Dylan went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. The folk figure’s decision to amp it up polarized fans and reverberated throughout the folk and pop music communities, and today those reverberations continue with all-star tribute outfit Ghosts of Electricity, who perform the music of Dylan with a fully electrified sound. Made up of local favorites Stu Allen, Mark Karan, Mookie Siegel, Robin Sylvester and Greg Anton, the band performs on Sunday, Aug 26, at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 7pm. $20–$25. 707.829.7300.

Fall Arts 2018

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Fall Arts 2018

Joan Baez, who graces our cover this week, is touring this year on what she’s calling the Fare Thee Well Tour, but we editorial scribes at the Bohemian sure hope the legendary folk musician and heroine of ’60s counterculture doesn’t retire just yet—well, at least not until she’s taken a righteous spin through our annual and epic fall arts preview produced by stalwart arts editor Charlie Swanson! Joan blows through the North Bay for a show at the Green Music Center in November—which reminds us to highlight our gratitude for autumn in the North Bay.

It’s an absolutely stunningly beautiful time of year (horrific wildfires notwithstanding), and to recall a lyric from Baez’s wonderful cover of the classic and haunting “Autumn Leaves”: “Only when the high winds blow,” she sings, “that I wish my hair was long / Sailing through the autumn leaves / Singing an ancient song.” So sing along with Joan, and sail your ancient souls through our annual preview of all the great culture offerings on deck this season.—Tom Gogola

EVENTS

September

Taste of Sonoma Sonoma Country Weekend’s annual tasting event has all the looks and flavors needed to celebrate the region throughout Labor Day weekend. Taste of Sonoma once again takes over the lawn at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center, with thousands of glasses of wine on hand and chefs from around the county preparing delectable bites. Live music, chef demos, seminars and more round out the premier event on Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Noon to 4pm. $180. sonomawinecountryweekend.com.

Fishstock There will be fun and food—and of course, fish—at Fishstock, the annual fundraiser for the Jenner Community Club. Enjoy chowder tasting, barbecued salmon, offerings from local wineries and breweries, live music by Dgiin and others, an ice cream parlor, a raffle and lots more in a Summer of Love–themed day by the sea. Sept. 2.
10398 Hwy. 1, Jenner. 11am–5pm. $5; kids free. visitjenner.com.

Broadway Under the Stars Gala Celebration Transcendence Theatre Company closes out its 2018 season of shows in the winery ruins at Jack London Park with their biggest party of the year, featuring an all-star cast of singers and dancers who will delight audiences of all ages with fresh takes on classic Broadway hits. Sept. 7–9. Jack London State Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. Pre-show picnic, 5pm; showtime, 7:30pm. transcendencetheatre.org.

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Rooted in ranching and farming traditions, this touring event intersects the cowboy life with music and entertainment. Performers include Gail Steiger, Stephanie Davis, Amy Auker and Rodney Nelson, all of whom embody the history and modern relevance of cowboy culture. Yee-haw! Sept. 8. Lincoln Theater,
100 California Drive, Yountville. 7pm. $20. lincolntheater.com.

National Heirloom Exposition Dubbed the “World’s Pure Food Fair,” this massive expo of food providers and enthusiasts brings together chef demonstrations, pure-food displays, live music, a giant-pumpkin contest, antique tractors and plenty of tasty tidbits, all to benefit school gardening programs. Sept. 11–13. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. $15–$30; kids free. theheirloomexpo.com.

Chautauqua Revue The revue is back and still finds ways to include new twists with musicians, dancers, storytellers, performers and clowns to keep audiences on their toes while honoring the traditions of the original Chautauqua events from a hundred years ago. This event always sells out, so act fast. Sept. 12–15. Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental. Wednesday–Saturday, 7:30pm; children’s matinee, Saturday, 2pm. Evenings, $25 and up; matinee, $10 and up. 707.874.1557.

Sonoma Film Institute The oldest film repertory in the North Bay hosts another season of screenings featuring classics of contemporary cinema. The Academy Award–nominated German film
In the Fade, screens on Sept. 14 and 16. Renowned documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman appears in person to screen his classic doc High School on Sept 28. Several experimental-animation films show in the “Music for the Eyes” program on Oct. 5 and 7, and other films on the fall schedule include 1953’s Tokyo Story, 1997’s Eve’s Bayou and the 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis. See you there. Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Fridays, 7pm; Sundays, 4pm. Free admission; $5 donations welcomed. sfi.sonoma.edu.

Petaluma River Craft Beer Festival As its namesake implies, this event is all about the beer—
the crafty stuff from our parts.
A short list of North Bay brewer participants includes HenHouse, Lagunitas, 101 North, Fieldwork, Headlands, Heretic, Plow, Fogbelt and Bear Republic. Quaff a pint, eat some food and listen to
the live music. Then go jump in the river—this event is guaranteed to be hot and full of hops. Sept. 15, Water Street, Petaluma (21 and over only). 1–5pm. $40;
$20 for designated drivers. petalumarivercraftbeerfest.org.

Art for Life 2018 Support the Face-to-Face/Sonoma County AIDS Network in their mission to end HIV in the North Bay, and get some fine art from hundreds of generous donors at this annual auction and party. Sept. 15. Sebastopol Center for the Arts,
282 S. High St., Sebastopol. 2–6pm. $50 and up. 707.544.1581.

Old Grove Festival It’s hard to find better acoustics in the heart of the Armstrong Woods than the 1930s-era, open-air Redwood Forest Theater, home of the annual Old Grove Festival. New Monsoon headlines the event, with the Kathy Kallick Band opening the night. Do you need still more music? Well, this year, San Francisco’s Noise Pop is bringing veteran indie rockers Built to Spill to the redwoods for a concert—with surprise guests also on tap. Bring flashlights, seat cushions and warm clothes. Sept. 15–16. Redwood Forest Theater, 17000 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville. 5pm. $35–$80. 707.869.9177.

Napa Valley Aloha Festival The Manaleo Hawaiian Cultural Foundation hosts this 11th annual event, which covers two days and includes live music and dance from the Hawaiian and Polynesian communities, Hawaiian food,
and arts and crafts. Added bonus: no flaming chunks of lava.
Sept. 15–16. Napa Valley Expo,
575 Third St., Napa. Saturday, 10am–6pm; Sunday, 10am–4pm. Free (bring a canned food for donation). nvalohafest.org.

Petaluma Poetry Walk The popular bipedal-powered literary event is back for its 23rd year. More than 20 regional poets and authors offer readings throughout downtown Petaluma, all within easy walking distance of each other. The day kicks off at Hotel Petaluma’s Ballroom and wraps up at Aqus Cafe. Sept. 16. 11am–8pm. Free. Check website for full list of venues and schedule. petalumapoetrywalk.org.

Fiesta de Independencia Celebrate Mexico’s independence and Latino Heritage Month with a daylong fiesta with all the campañas y silbatos: authentic food, music, games and activities for the entire family. Dance to live mariachi bands and swing at piñatas—and do not miss out on the salsa contest! Sept. 16. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts,
50 Mark Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 1pm–7pm. Free. 707.546.3600.

Santa Rosa Toy Con Nerd-tastic convention offers three buildings stuffed with comics, toys, games and collectibles from over 200 vendors. Special guests include original Star Trek: The Next Generation and Reading Rainbow star LeVar Burton, cult actor Lou Diamond Phillips, Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte, former Creature Features host John Stanley—and dozens of award-winning comic book writers and artists. There’s also the annual cosplay competition, the Lego exhibition and more in store. Sept. 22. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Early-bird opening at 9am. $25; regular opening, 10am. $15. santarosatoycon.com.

Open Studios Napa Valley Art studios from all stretches of the Napa Valley are open for this 31st annual event, taking place over the last two weekends in September. Self-guided tours feature encounters with dozens of diverse artists working in several media. The event is juried, and unlike other open studio tours in the North Bay, the artists run the entire affair. Many of the artists also show their work at Jessel Gallery, 1019 Atlas Peak Road, Napa. The tours run Sept. 22–23 and 29–30. 10am–5pm. Maps and info at artnv.org.

Sonoma County Philharmonic Community-based nonprofit organization revels in its 20th season of orchestral performances—and has a full season of fun and fanfare in store. First, conductor Norman Gamboa leads the symphony in the “Celebration!” program, with mezzo-soprano vocalist Sonia Gariaeff on Sept. 22–23. Next, special guest oboist Jesse Barrett joins the philharmonic for “A Hero’s Life” on Nov. 17–18. Santa Rosa High School Performing Arts Auditorium, 1235 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm. $10–$15; students, free. socophil.org.

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Sonoma Harvest Music Festival The music lovers at B.R. Cohn Winery in Sonoma Valley teamed up with the festival aficionados at BottleRock to conjure up this intimate weekend of live music, food, wine and communal vibes. Saturday’s lineup includes music by indie-folk sibs the Avett Brothers and upbeat ensemble Lake Street Dive, while Sunday’s lineup features sets by harmonizing indie-rockers the Head & the Heart and instrumental duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. Sept. 22–23. 15000 Sonoma Hwy., Glen Ellen. Tickets are sold-out; ticket exchange information is available at sonomaharvestmusicfestival.com.

Sonoma Bach Choir Led by musical director Robert Worth, the classical collective presents a season titled “Light Out of Darkness,” which sets out to celebrate music as a torch of inspiration in troubled times. And, boy, are we living in those. The opening recital, “Tokens of Peace,” features the Live Oak Baroque orchestra and countertenor Christopher Fritzsche on Sept. 23. For Thanksgiving, the Sonoma Bach Choir joins the orchestra for “I Fear Namore (No More) the Night,” which features several selections from the Bach man himself on Nov. 16–17. Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center,
1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 707.303.4604.

Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival One of the oldest and biggest parties in the Sonoma Valley is back for its 121st year. As ever, there’s lots of live music, amazing food, spectacular wines and family-friendly activities—including the opening-night gala, the traditional grape stomp, a light-up parade and more. The Vintage focuses on local culture and community, and is wholly organized by local volunteers to benefit several Sonoma County nonprofits and projects. Sept. 28–30 at Sonoma Plaza, First St. E., Sonoma. valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.com.

Hands Across the Valley Benefiting Napa Valley food programs, including the Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, the Table, the Salvation Army and more, the 26th annual event features tastings from many noted Napa chefs and winemakers, silent and live auctions, and dancing under the stars with Bay Area party band Neon Velvet. Sept. 29. Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main St.,
St. Helena. 4pm. $125 and up. handsacrossthevalley.com.

Harvest Celebration Kendall-Jackson’s second annual Harvest Celebration, formerly the Heirloom Tomato Festival, syncs fine food, good wine and great entertainment in support of the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County. Outdoor painting sessions, live music, educational seminars and more compliment the tasty array of culinary delights. Sept. 30. 5007 Fulton Road, Fulton. 11am–4pm. $150. 707.571.8100.

October

Sonoma County Harvest Fair Hit up the World Championship Grape Stomp competition, sip some wine in the Grand Tasting Pavilion, go local and peruse the Wine Country Marketplace or simply get down to some swingin’ music at this 44th annual event. Oct. 5–7, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Friday, 4–9pm; Saturday–Sunday, 11am–5pm. $5; kids 12 and under, free. Tasting Pavilion tickets, $60. harvestfair.org.

Santa Rosa Symphony The acclaimed symphony’s 91st season features new music director and conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong, who leads the orchestra in the classical program “Passion & Power,” with guest violinist Amaud Sussmann, on Oct. 6–8, followed by “Dancing Across Time,” with guest guitarist Sharon Isbin, on Nov. 3–5. The performances include a pre-concert talk with the conductor. Weill Hall at Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Times vary, $24 and up. srsymphony.org.

Sebastopol Craft Brew Bash The Rotary Club of Sebastopol invites all to sample the best beers, wine, food and music in the civic organization’s new fundraising extravaganza. Oct. 13. Holy Ghost Society, 7960 Mill Station Road, Sebastopol. 2pm–8pm. sebsunriserotary.org.

Sonoma County Art Trails This annual tradition offers a self-guided opportunity to enjoy the abundance of creative local talent, and to buy directly from artists while peeking into their workspaces—there are 170 participants this year. Oct. 13–14 and 20–21. 10am–5pm. Preview exhibit at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Tuesday–Friday, 10am–4pm; Saturday, 1–4pm. Free. sonomacountyarttrails.org.

A Food & Wine Weekend The Culinary Institute of America and Food & Wine Magazine team up for a powerhouse weekend of edible excellences. Immerse yourself in savory flavors, learn cooking and kitchen skills and enjoy a culinary spectacle. You won’t have your security credentials revoked at this CIA. Oct. 19–21, CIA at Copia,
500 First St,. Napa. 707.967.2500.

November

Wine & Food Affair Nearly a hundred local wineries from the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys open their doors for another delicious extravaganza featuring two of the best things in the world. Wine samples are met with a special food pairing to go with the pours. Hosted by Wine Road, the event always sells out, so nab tickets as early as Aug. 29, when they go on sale. The affair commences Nov. 3–4. Various locations in Sonoma County. 11am–4pm. $30–$80. wineroad.com.

Napa Valley Film Festival The North Bay’s top film-food-wine triumvirate of joy returns to Napa Valley with 120 films playing in four towns over the course of five days. Do the math: it’s awesome. Red-carpet screenings, sneak previews, industry panels, gala parties and appearances by A-list Hollywood types are only the beginning. The festival also boasts several culinary and winery events to satisfy any taste. Nov. 7–11. nvff.org.

Art & Exhibitions

Arts Guild of Sonoma “Art in an Age of Anxiety” is a juried group show that features artists who chronicle, illuminate and cope with the angsty moment we’re in. Reception: Sept. 1 at 5pm. 140 E. Napa St., Sonoma. 707.996.3115.

Napa Valley Museum Paintings by Melissa Chandon and Matt Rogers, as well as surfboard art by Tim Bessell, comprise the “California Dreamin'” exhibition that captures the spirit of the Golden State that took hold of the American imagination in the 1960s—thanks to the Beach Boys, the Summer of Love and Jerry Garcia’s beard. Reception: Sept. 1. 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville. 5pm. $20. 707.944.0500.

Healdsburg Center for the Arts “Figure study,” the human form, has been the subject of artistic expression since the cavemen days, and this juried exhibit displays several artists’ interpretations of the figure as a narrative tool in storytelling. Reception: Sept. 8. 130 Plaza St., Healdsburg. 5pm. 707.431.1970.

Riverfront Art Gallery The high-end gallery, run by artists Lance Kuehne and Jerrie Jerné Morago, marks its 11th year with a group show featuring 20 artists. They’ll be on hand hand for the show’s reception, as will a variety of Sonoma County wines and music from Kevin Loewen. Sept. 8.
132 Petaluma Blvd., N., Petaluma. 5pm. Free. 707.775.4278.

Agent Ink Gallery The contemporary screen-print
and poster-art gallery hosts a mouthful of an art show this fall:
“2 Troglodytes Swimming Upstream in a River of Breakdancing Flies.” Translated: the wildly colorful works of Ricky Watts and Chris Jehly. Reception: Sept. 15. 531 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 7pm. agentinkgallery.com.

Sebastopol Center for the Arts Sculpture Jam Sebastopol collaborates with the SCA to present a seven-month outdoor sculpture installation, “Art on the Lawn,” opening Sept. 23. The gallery also hosts the “Sonoma County Art Trails Preview Exhibit” beginning on Sept. 28. Curated collections of art and poetry, “Reverberations: A Visual Conversation,” opens Oct. 25. 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. 707.829.4797.

Museums of Sonoma County The Art Museum of Sonoma County hosts its annual Gala & After-Party, this year themed “Reimagine the Future,” on Sept. 29. The neighboring History Museum of Sonoma County hosts a Día de los Muertos exhibit, which opens with a family-focused day of activities, on Oct. 21. 425 Seventh St., Santa Rosa. 707.579.1500.

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art See and hear the stories behind 20 Sonoma art collectors, who share their art with SVMA as part of the gallery’s 20th anniversary. Also showing, “From Fire, Love Rises,” which features stories from artists effected by the October 2017 fires. Reception: Sept. 29. 551 Broadway, Sonoma. 6pm. $10. 707.939.7862.

Clubs & Venues

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Hard to pronounce and easy to love, Gun Bun winery makes the most of its outdoor space, redwood barn and wine cave to bring the best indie rock acts from today and yesterday. Bay Area singer-songwriter Nicki Bluhm, best known for leading the rock band the Gramblers, performs a solo show in support of her latest album, To Ride You Gotta Fall, on Sept. 1. Synth-pop mainstays Future Islands gets the beat going on Sept. 14. Guitar god—and founding member of the Smiths—Johnny Marr plays a solo show on Sept. 28. Indie-rock veteran Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band return to Gun Bun on Oct. 7. Eclectic indie stars Ty Segall and White Fence share the show on Oct. 11. Swedish pop sensation Lykke Li gets a groove going on Oct. 18. 200 Denmark St., Sonoma. 707.938.5277.

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Mystic Theatre & Music Hall Petaluma’s historic venue and former movie house offers a lineup of headlining performers from across the musical spectrum. Santa Rosa rock ‘n’ roll veteran John Courage leads his trio in a single-release show on Sept. 1. Iconic British psychedelic pop legends the Zombies perform
Sept. 8. L.A. folk-rockers Dawes hit the stage on Oct. 4. Former New York City subway “Brasshouse” buskers (and now nationally touring trio) Too Many Zooz roll in on Oct. 9. Pioneering classic-rock outfit Y&T return to the Mystic Nov. 17–18. 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.775.6048.

Green Music Center Sonoma State University’s world-class music center, centered by the stunning Weill Hall, hosts another season of top-tier artists from around the world. Lyle Lovett brings his Large Band to perform on Sept. 8. Americana act Bumper Jacksons headline the Banjos & Bourbon benefit for music programs at the center on Sept. 15. R&B powerhouse Tower of Power celebrate their 50th anniversary, with special guest the Average White Band in concert on Sept. 22. Afro-Mexican outfit Las Cafeteras moves to the rhythm on Sept. 28. South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Rohnert Park on Oct. 12. And last but definitely not least, folk icon Joan Baez appears as part of her Fare Thee Well Tour on Nov. 11. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 866.955.6040.

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts The Burbank welcomes an array of veteran talent from the world of music and more this fall. Music-producer extraordinaire
T Bone Burnett takes audiences on a tour of his work and collaborations with musicians across all genres, in a special storytelling program on Sept. 9. Nineties rockers Gin Blossoms and Big Head Todd & the Monsters share the bill on Sept. 13. Singer-songwriter Norah Jones croons to the crowd on Sept. 20. Roots and country star Alison Krauss appears Oct. 6. Dance and pop superstar Paula Abdul returns to the stage in a new tour that stops in the North Bay on Nov. 7. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3600.

Uptown Theatre Napa’s Art Deco landmark welcomes musicians and comedians from all parts to the region, through the fall. Genre-defying rockers the Mavericks perform Sept. 12. Late-night TV host Craig Ferguson appears as part of his Hobo Fabulous tour Sept. 16. Guitar virtuoso Robben Ford lays down the blues on Sept. 22. Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and ’60s pop icons Ronnie Spector & the Ronettes throw it back to the good old days on Oct. 9. Filmmaker Kevin Smith, recently recovered from a heart attack, and Ralph Garman appear for a live recording of their podcast Hollywood Babble-On, rescheduled form earlier this year, on Nov. 16. Todd Rundgren gets characteristically unpredictable in concert, Nov. 18. 1350 Third St., Napa. 707.259.0123.

Blue Note Napa The Napa emporium of fine music offers close-up and personal performances by an array of musicians from genres that include blues, jazz, funk and soul. Chart-topping vocalist Brian McKnight offers three nights of musical harmony Sept. 27–29. Acclaimed jazz experimenter Rachel Eckroth plays an album-release show on Oct. 18. Songwriter-producers Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony, who’ve worked with the likes of Celine Dion and Bruno Mars, step behind the mic for the first time as Louis York for a Halloween party Oct. 31. Comedy vet and actress Sandra Bernhard appears for two nights as part of her latest “Sandemonium” standup tour, Nov. 16–17. 1030 Main St., Napa. 707.880.2300.

Theater

Main Stage West The Sebastopol theater house kicks off its fall season with a world premiere of the raucous comedy Savage Wealth, in which two brothers run into all sorts of obstacles trying to sell their Tahoe home, Aug. 31–Sept. 16. Then, David Lear directs the warm and humane drama
The Night Alive, about two rundown individuals who try to make more of their lives together, Oct. 12–28. 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.823.0177.

Cinnabar Theater The revered Petaluma theater presents the infamous Kit Kat Klub in pre-WWII Germany, which serves as the backdrop to the blockbuster musical Cabaret, Aug. 31–
Sept. 16. Then, director Taylor Korobow returns to Cinnabar to helm the deeply emotional story of The Great God Plan, Oct. 12–28. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.763.8920.

Lucky Penny Productions Napa’s theater-production house opens its season with Stephen Sondheim’s contemporary-classic musical Into the Woods, Sept. 7–23. Then, Noël Coward’s beloved comedy Blithe Spirit is resurrected in the North Bay, Oct. 19–Nov. 4. 1758 Industrial Way, Napa. 707.266.6305.

Left Edge Theatre Continuing in the tradition of the longtime Santa Rosa company Actors’ Theatre, Left Edge presents a season of imaginative productions that push the envelope on a local level. British comedy hit The Naked Truth makes its U.S. premiere
Sept. 7–30. Multi-award-winning comedy Hand to God, featuring a hand puppet possessed by the Devil, runs Oct. 19–Nov. 11. Unhand me, Satan! 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3600.

Spreckels Theatre Company The semi-pro resident theater company has a knack for producing critically acclaimed straight plays and show-stopping musicals. A 15-year-old amateur sleuth is on the case in the international sensation The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, running Sept. 7–30. Then, the creepy, kooky and delightfully spooky Addams Family musical celebrates the Halloween season Oct. 12–28. 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. 707.588.3400.

6th Street Playhouse Housed in the heart of Railroad Square, the popular playhouse continues to engage the community with plays and musicals designed to delight and entertain. Classic Broadway musical Guys & Dolls rolls the dice and rocks the boat Sept. 14–Oct. 7. Everyone’s favorite orphan, Annie, sings about tomorrow, the sun
and how it’s coming out, Nov. 23–Dec. 16. 52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 707.523.4185.

Raven Players The players present a gamut of shows that range from hilarious to heartbreaking. The topical gun-violence study Church & State and the foreign-correspondent drama Time Stands Still alternate on every other show day between Sept. 20 and Oct. 7. They’re followed by the Irish drama Outside Mullingar, Oct. 25–
Nov. 4. 115 North St., Healdsburg. 707.433.6335.

SSU Theatre & Dance Sonoma State University’s dramatic arts department presents several, well, dramatic works this fall. Go figure. First, a poor soldier in a small German town suffers a breakdown and begins experiencing apocalyptic visions in the stark and fragmentary Woyzeck, running Oct. 4–13. Then, a collapse in the U.S. energy grid leads a band of post-apocalyptic survivors to share their memories of pop culture before the lights went out in Mr. Burns, running Oct. 31–
Nov. 4. Things take a decidedly upbeat turn for the university’s Fall Dance concert, which features student works in motion, Nov. 29–Dec .2. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 707.644.2474.

Sonoma Arts Live The theater company’s 2017–18 season is themed “A Toast to the Classics,” and it doesn’t get any more classic than the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! Directed by Michael Ross, the production features Bay Area theater stars Dani Innocenti Beem and Tim Setzer, recognized by local critics for their work in Sonoma Arts Live’s previous production of Gypsy. Say hello to the beloved musical Oct. 5–21.
276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. sonomaartslive.org.

SRJC Theatre Arts While the Santa Rosa Junior College’s Burbank Auditorium is undergoing renovations, the 2018–19 season is moving around a bit to various venues, but with no letdown in sight as far as quality goes. The charming and relatable comedy, How the García Girls Lost
Their Accents, runs Oct. 5–14 at SRJC’s Newman Auditorium,
1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Then, Shrek: The Musical warms the heart Nov. 16–Dec. 2, at
Maria Carrillo High School,
6975 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. theatrearts.santarosa.edu.

The Bong Show

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The Bong Show

It’s been a mixed legislative bag for supporters of Proposition 64 this year, as the California State Legislature is poised to close out its summer session.

Numerous pot-related bills were presented over the session this year, angling in various ways to enhance, trim or otherwise square up the various potholes and complexities that came along with the 2016 Adult Use of Marijuana Act and pre-existing medical-marijuana law.

As the smoke settles, there are a handful of cannabis-related bills that have passed out of committee and are now headed to the State Senate and Assembly for full votes. The final day for each house to pass a bill and send it to Gov. Jerry Brown is Aug. 31. And numerous bills are stalled in committee and won’t get a vote until next year—if at all.

For the California Growers Association (CGA), which represents the state’s smaller-scale cannabis cultivators and businesses in Sacramento, the session was a disappointment in that the lobbying group’s main legislative thrust, AB 2641—which proposed to open new opportunities for cannabis sales directly from producer to consumer—was undone by pressure from lobbyists representing the so-called forces of Big Bud. But the CGA did report some good news afoot in the land of the legislators.

Here are the bills still alive as of this week—and soon headed to a vote in the Senate and Assembly in anticipation of the signature from Gov. Jerry Brown.

Senate Bill 311 California legalized medical-cannabis use in 1996 with Proposition 215 and adult recreational use in 2016 with Proposition 64. Given the state’s penchant for regulation-met-with-freedom, cannabis production has remained heavily regulated at every level of production and distribution.

Heavy regulations have separated the industry into cultivation, production and distribution since the commodity was legalized for recreational sales. Senate Bill 311, which amends the state’s Business and Professions Code, seeks to relax regulations on distribution by making it easier for distributors to transport cannabis to other distributors and retailers. The bill was supported by the CGA, among other legal-weed lobbyists.

The bill redefines the steps cultivators and distributors must take before transporting their product, which include laboratory testing and quality assurance reviews by uninterested parties. It also expands the ability of the Bureau of Cannabis Control to review distributors’ tax payments and records, and to investigate when they fail to comply.

Under the bill, immature seeds and plants would be exempt from the transportation guidelines.

Status: Headed for a vote before the full Senate and Assembly on or before Aug. 31.

Senate Bill 1294 The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) was included as part of the law’s intent the “[reduction] of barriers to entry in the legal, regulated market,” according to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest. That’s been a thorny ride for legacy growers who were encouraged to come out of the proverbial shadows with their boutique strains of tasty, healthy buds—only to be met with no real incentive to do so, given, among other factors, that 80 percent of cannabis grown in California heads out of the state as black market product. And the AUMA failed to account for disproportionate law-enforcement impacts on California communities such as Oakland.

Senate Bill 1294 would enact the Cannabis Collaboration and Inclusion Act, which aims to include communities negatively affected by cannabis criminalization in the legal marketplace.

The bill acknowledges that communities with high levels of poverty, especially those of color, have been disproportionately affected by prohibition and over-incarceration, and similarly face difficulty entering the multi-billion dollar industry legally.

Cannabis cultivators, manufacturers and distributors face a costly and difficult-to-navigate multi-tiered application process that excludes many who would otherwise join. By establishing local equity programs that would waive local and state fees while providing technical, regulatory and capital assistance, SB 1294 would direct the Bureau of Cannabis Control to assist economically disadvantaged Californians as they enter the industry.

Status: Passed out of committee and headed to a full vote before the Senate and Assembly.

Senate Bill 829 Nobody’s kidding themselves that the tax regime that came along with Proposition 64 is, to say the least, pretty stiff. Under the legalization scheme enacted in 2016, the state, counties and cities currently tax the distribution of any cannabis product at 15 percent of the average market value. Senate Bill 829 sets out to establish a “compassion-care license,” which would exempt from state and local taxes any cannabis or cannabis products donated to patients with a physician’s recommendation for medical purposes.

All cannabis used for this purpose would be exempted from taxes for cultivation, storage and distribution established by the AUMA. The state would not reimburse municipalities for the lost tax revenues. But cities are free to create their own cannabis taxation schemes under the AUMA, to cover, for instance, the costs of additional law enforcement. The bill is supported by the likes of the CGA and other pro-pot folks with an eye toward tax equity.

Status: Headed to a vote before the Senate and Assembly.

Assembly Bill 1863 California’s cannabis industry would sidestep any interactions with the federal tax code should this bill pass. This bill sets out to amend California’s Revenue and Taxation Code, which, under existing law, conforms to the federal tax code and prohibits those in the cannabis industry from deducting business expenses from income on their state taxes. Assembly
Bill 1863 loosens those restrictions for cannabis businesses.

Status: Passed out of committee, and headed for a full vote before the Senate and Assembly.

Senate Bill 1409 Despite having the drug potency of a banana peel, hemp is a heavily regulated industry in itself. The seeds and fibers of the plant can be used for anything from dietary supplements to making paper, to creating a hair-piece for Sen. Mitch McConnell, who hates pot, Obama and liberals, but has embraced hemp production in his wet-brain home state of Kentucky.

Closer to home, SB 1409 would ease current California regulations on hemp production by removing the requirement that hemp be grown from seed cultivars on a list approved in 2013. It would also allow the use of clonal propagation to reproduce the plants.

The bill would also push the registration and renewal fees required by hemp producers to delegated county officials, who would use the fees to fund implementation of the regulations. The bill also declassifies the plant as either a fiber or oilseed product, and applications would not need to specify their product as either (or both).

Status: Passed out of committee, and headed for a full vote before the Senate and Assembly.

Numerous cannabis-related bills have been held in committee and will not be voted on this year. Here are three:

Senate Bill 930 would have created cannabis-limited charter banks and credit unions to provide banking and financial services for the industry. The upshot: it’s way too soon for this, especially when Wells Fargo just shut down the bank account of a medical-pot-supporting Democrat running for Congress in Florida who said she’d take money from the cannabis industry. Looks like there’s a ways to go on the banking-and-empathy front.

Assembly Bill 924 would have required cannabis producers on tribal land, which is protected by federal law, to enter an agreement with the governor and establish a tribal cannabis regulatory commission. The idea was similar to the drive behind SB 1294’s push to include minority communities in the cannabis boom.

Assembly Bill 2641 was the biggest and most disappointing defeat for the CGA, says executive director Hezekiah Allen. Under strict regulations, it would have allowed cannabis cultivators to apply for a temporary state license to sell cannabis to person 21 years and older at events—cannabis-related fairs, farmers markets and the like.

“Despite several rounds of amendments that removed opposition from the United Food and Commercial Workers,” says Allen, “the United Cannabis Business Association remained in opposition and successfully killed the bill. It kind of breaks my heart that for the next year at least the people who make the products won’t be able to sell directly to the people who love the product.” Allen vows that direct marketing will be a big priority for the CGA in coming years.

Cluster’s Pluck

At a time when craft brewers are chasing the latest trends in new, trademarked hop varieties to juice up their juicy IPAs, some in the North Bay are digging up a relic of a bygone day for their brews—literally, they are digging up the roots of decades-old hop plants that have gone feral near the banks of the Russian...
Read more

Respect in Peace

'There's something really magic about the fact that the King and the Queen left the building on the same day," says author and veteran radio personality Meredith Ochs. She's talking about Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, both of whom died on Aug. 16 (though 41 years apart). Ochs is the author of the upcoming Rock-and-Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female...
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Local Gem

There's so much more to Mediterranean food than is usually expressed stateside. The region offers everything from undiscovered Turkish delights to slowly trending Israeli dishes. Petaluma's new restaurant Pearl is attempting to bring the lesser known stars of the cuisine to the table with a focus the on eastern Mediterranean—Turkey, Israel, Syria and beyond—with a sprinkle of Moroccan and French...
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Cream Dreams

'We're not for sale," says Albert Straus, as pints of soft, mushy coffee ice cream come down the conveyor belt at Petaluma's Straus Family Creamery and are placed in a freezer at –20 degrees so they'll harden almost instantly. "When companies go public, they often care less about values and more about the return on the investment." The creamery's founder dips...
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Aug. 25: Get Well in Santa Rosa

Local nonprofit organizations the Arlene Francis Center and Safe Harbor Project are all about fostering and promoting wellness in the community, and this weekend the groups team up for the annual Wellness & Music Festival. The daylong outdoor affair features upbeat and affirming live performances from songwriters like Christopher Alexander, LaRoy Wainwright, Tony Saunders, Dana Salzman, AhSa-Ti Nu, and...
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Aug. 25: History Comes Alive in Sonoma

A new live theater experience is coming to the vineyards of Sonoma Valley’s Buena Vista Winery this weekend with the Progressive History Dinner, which features an original three-act play performed throughout the winery’s campus. Written by local playwright George Webber, An Uneasy Future is set in the winery circa 1852, and finds the famous Mexican bandit Joaquin Murrieta hiding...
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Aug. 25: Hand It to Him in Sonoma

Widely acknowledged by his peers as one of the finest sleight-of-hand performers in the world, magician John Carney is best known for his numerous television appearances and his involvement in the exclusive Academy of Magical Arts at Hollywood’s Magic Castle. Recently, he developed a new one-man theatrical show, Carney Magic, that combines his illusions and humor with an original...
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Aug. 26: Electric Tribute in Sebastopol

One of the most controversial events in 20th century music history is when Bob Dylan went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. The folk figure’s decision to amp it up polarized fans and reverberated throughout the folk and pop music communities, and today those reverberations continue with all-star tribute outfit Ghosts of Electricity, who perform the music...
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Fall Arts 2018

Joan Baez, who graces our cover this week, is touring this year on what she's calling the Fare Thee Well Tour, but we editorial scribes at the Bohemian sure hope the legendary folk musician and heroine of '60s counterculture doesn't retire just yet—well, at least not until she's taken a righteous spin through our annual and epic fall arts...
Read more

The Bong Show

It's been a mixed legislative bag for supporters of Proposition 64 this year, as the California State Legislature is poised to close out its summer session. Numerous pot-related bills were presented over the session this year, angling in various ways to enhance, trim or otherwise square up the various potholes and complexities that came along with the 2016 Adult Use...
Read more
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