The Yoni Oracle, Anistara Ma Ka

It is the dark time of year, and it was just the time of the high holidays. Here I evoke “pagan” Solstice, Christian Christmas and secular New Year’s Day. 

Whether observed as a high ritual or as a habit of long standing, each of this close-packed run of dates derives meaning from this time of year, and the turning of the great solar cycle. Variously, each date marks the same meaning—the (re)birth of light and life in the world.

By custom, it is time to ask ourselves, “What does this new year—this new life—bring?”

To answer that, some will “look inside ourselves” and take inventory. Others may consult the great mathematical models of experts to plot trends. Others, still, will consult the tarot spreads. And, to my knowledge, at least one divine will is literally looking inside herself for guidance; Anistara Ma Ka, reader of vulvas, is “the yoni oracle.”

Now reader, before you titter, please consider the words we use for our year-end rites—“birth,” “rebirth” and ritual “passage”—each evoke the birthing canal, and with it archetypes of “the mother.” And that it is everywhere our tradition to regard the fertile earth as a “she” and a “her.” So, among the many and great prognostic and oracular systems, it seems fitting to bow down to this one—as the year and the wintering earth are born new.

Cincinnatus Hibbard: Anistara, tell me about your school and lineage.

Anistara Ma Ka: I learned to be a pussy oracle through the Portal Priestess Mystery School established by Sierra Sullivan.

I understand you are principally in service to women…

I believe that when women are in their full power, they can do great things for this world. Our linear, hierarchical, male-dominating society is breaking down. If divine feminine energy can then arise, then we can come into a more accepting, understanding, compassionate, loving and peaceful age.

I understand your Sacred Portal Puja aims to reconnect women to the power and wisdom of their yonis—in part by shedding shame of their ‘private parts.’

When we don’t embrace and love ourselves completely—including our shamed shadow side—we don’t feel whole and complete, and we have to look outside of ourselves to validate ourselves or feel accepted. When women are disconnected to their yonis, they often fall into abusive relationships with men, or have unsafe sex with a lot of people, or get pregnant too young … I would love to see this work come to young women too, when they are just starting to moon [menstruate]. They could enter womanhood with so much self-worth and power…

To briskly describe the process that results in that reconnection, your Sacred Portal Puja weekend includes lots of trust-building, venting, patriarchal deprogramming, journaling, self-examination with mirrors, a yoni naming ceremony, a collective honoring and praising of each participant’s yonis, as well as the oracular reading of the vulva. And it all takes place within the safe container of sacred sisterhood. The next puja at your private retreat center is March 21-22. But tell us about your next event, Jan. 11—which will be online.

It’s called, “New Year, New You.” Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 11, our identity is more pliable. This workshop is about creating your vision for the new year from your new personality rather than your old identity—which will have you falling right back into old patterns. 2025 is the year of the snake. It’s time to shed your old skin.

Learn more: A quick glance menu of Anistara Ma Ka’s many offerings can be seen at linktr.ee/anistara1111.

Ingredients That Shine: Chef Juliana Thorpe Showcases Local Bounty

At The Lodge at Dawn Ranch, co-executive chef Juliana Thorpe channels her global culinary expertise into a menu that celebrates authenticity and regional abundance. 

Her culinary philosophy centers on simplicity and natural ingredients—an approach shaped by her formative years in Matutu, Brazil, where she grew up immersed in the rhythms of nature and agriculture. Surrounded by the South American countryside, Thorpe developed an intimate understanding of food through her family’s vegetarian traditions and garden-to-table lifestyle, forging a connection to ingredients that continues to define her cooking today.

Thorpe’s professional journey spans some of the world’s most distinguished kitchens. She trained under Roberta Sudbrack in Brazil and worked alongside Rafa Costa e Silva at Lasai before expanding her repertoire at Spain’s acclaimed Mugaritz. Her path eventually led here to Northern California, where she refined her craft at the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley. This experience crystallized her culinary vision: cooking that honors the natural wealth of a region.

Since joining The Lodge in 2023, along with husband and co-chef Ignacio Zuzulich during its relaunch, Thorpe has woven together her Brazilian heritage with the seasonal offerings of Sonoma County. Now entering a new chapter, the refreshed dining experience at The Lodge showcases two distinctive tasting menus, a shorter seven creation format or a more extensive 12-course journey, alongside a seasonal a la carte selection. Depending on the season, guests might encounter oysters with watermelon agua fresca, dadinho de tapioca, gnudi with green pesto and chili oil, spot prawns pasta or Brazilian coconut cake.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Juliana Thorpe: I was living in France doing voluntary work that included cooking, and it was what made me the most happy.

Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.

I just love to try new and different stuff.

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

Good wine or really cold beer. I am from Brazil; I can’t help it.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

Maison, Healdsburg. They definitely know what they are doing, and you always learn something new while having amazing wine.

If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?

Sparkling apple juice.

The Lodge at Dawn Ranch, 16467 CA-116, Guerneville, 707.869.0656. dawnranch.com/dine.

Musical Restoration Journey, Luddite to AI Artist and More

Mill Valley

Art of Healing

Music takes on a deeper purpose at The Art of Healing, a benefit concert dedicated to supporting the recovery of Oshalla Marcus, executive director of the Marin City Art & Culture Center, following a life-threatening stroke. Conceived as a restorative musical journey, the evening, at the Throckmorton Theatre, centers on sound as a force for resilience, connection and renewal. The lineup includes Steven Halpern, a globally recognized pioneer of modern sound healing, alongside James Henry and the Hands on Fire Band. Cabaret performer and musical storyteller Craig Jessup adds narrative panache, while Piwai and the Bassmint Quartet weave mbira, bass and rhythm into music grounded in healing traditions. 7–9pm, Sunday, Jan. 18, Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. Tickets $50–$100. throckmortontheatre.org.

Corte Madera

Artists & AI

What is the role of the artist when the machine picks up a pen—or composes a symphony? Emmy Award-winning composer and producer Lucas Cantor Santiago comes to Corte Madera’s Book Passage to explore that question in conversation with astrophysicist and author Adam Becker. The event centers on Santiago’s new book, Unfinished: The Role of the Artist in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, a clear-eyed and surprisingly optimistic meditation on creativity in an era of accelerating technology. Once a self-described luddite, Santiago’s perspective shifted after an unlikely commission: collaborating with artificial intelligence to complete Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, a project that drew international attention and forced a rethinking of authorship, tradition and innovation. Drawing on deep experience in both the arts and tech worlds, the discussion traces the long arc from bone flutes to algorithms, asking not only what is lost when machines enter the creative process—but what might be gained.

4pm, Sunday, Jan. 18, Book Passage Corte Madera, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd. bookpassage.com.

Sonoma

Bowl of Terriers

Life Is Just a Bowl of Terriers offers a retrospective look at one of Northern California’s most idiosyncratic voices. A key figure in the Bay Area’s Funk Art movement of the late ’60s and ’70s, Maija Peeples-Bright built a singular visual universe crowded with animals—her beloved “beasties”—stacked, multiplied and set loose in surreal, often absurd scenarios. Painted in thick, audacious impasto, her canvases brim with energy, texture and a mischievous sense of excess, filling every inch with creaturely invention. This exhibition, at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA), traces her evolution from the Funk years to the present, revealing a practice that has always reveled in imagination and humor. 5–7pm, Saturday, Jan. 24, opening reception at SVMA. Free for SVMA members; $10 for non-members. Pre-registration required; registration closes 5pm, Jan. 22. svma.org.

Healdsburg

Joni Revisited

The Joni Mitchell Situation brings Mitchell’s songbook into intimate focus at Furthermore Wine and Music Lounge, tracing her ballads, art songs and jazz-inflected turns with equal care and wit. Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Kate Foley-Beining leads the evening, moving easily between piano, guitar and dulcimer while drawing out the emotional elasticity of Mitchell’s writing. She’s joined by a seasoned Sonoma County rhythm section—Tom Shader on bass, Kevin Dillon on drums and Christian Foley-Beining on guitar—capable of shifting from lyrical restraint to improvisational swing. The setlist spans eras and moods, touching on everything from “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” to “The Fiddle and the Drum,” and reflects Mitchell’s enduring refusal to stay in one genre for long. 5:30–8:30pm, Friday, Jan. 30; Saturday, Feb. 28; and Thursday, March 19, Furthermore Wine and Music Lounge, 328A Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. furthermorewines.com/events.

Free Will Astrology, Jan. 7-13

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): The mystics drone on endlessly about letting go. But I’m here now to praise the art of holding on fiercely, tenderly, with full commitment. Some treasures deserve your passionate grip. Some people warrant your loyal devotion. Especially in the coming months, dear Aries, I invite you to devote yourself to your exciting dreams with ardent intensity. No surrender. Relentless perseverance. Uncompromising faith in the beauty and truth you love. What looks like stubbornness to outsiders will actually be fidelity to a vision others can’t yet see.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): As far back as the 19th century, daredevil college students in the UK have reveled in the practice of “night climbing.” They clamber up chapels, spires, towers and bridges under cover of darkness. Why? Mainly for adventure, mischief and altered perspectives. In the coming months, Taurus, you may be ready for your own symbolic version of night climbing. If that sounds fun, seek out vantage points you’ve never accessed. Experiment with possibilities you’ve dismissed as off-limits or outside your range. Be safe, of course, but also be joyfully exploratory. I bet the view from the frontiers will change you in inspiring ways.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In the coming months, I’m confident you will see and understand subtleties that most people miss. You’ll be a maestro at tuning in to nuanced subtexts in conversations and hidden openings in stale situations. Everyone else may assume that familiar situations will never change, but you will have the power to tease out creative possibilities. You might even decode seemingly contradictory truths with such aplomb that you surprise yourself. Use this superpower with as much kindness as you can, Gemini. Some discoveries may tempt you toward clever mischief, but I hope that instead you will choose inspired guidance. Your expanded spectrum, if spiced with compassion, can consistently reveal your next leap.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The honeyguide bird of Africa has a lucrative arrangement with humans. It calls out to honey-hunters, leading them through brush to wild beehives built into trees. The people harvest the honey, and the bird eats the leftover wax and larvae. This cooperation is passed down over generations and benefits both species. Let’s use this as a metaphor for your future in 2026. You will have extra power to notice where mutual benefit is possible, even with unexpected allies. They may be able to guide you toward resources you couldn’t find alone, and you will have value to give in return. Keep an ear out for signals that say, “Come with me, and we’ll both gain.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris took years to build. Work began in 1163 and continued till 1345. Generations of architects, masons and artisans contributed to the project, and those who began it didn’t live to see it completed. Yet they labored with devotion, trusting that the holy beauty they facilitated would endure beyond their lifetimes. I hope you’re inspired by this story, Leo. It’s an apt metaphor for you. In the coming months, you could and should lay stones for creations you may not see fully accomplished for months or even years. I encourage you to redefine and refine what faith means to you, and summon it in abundance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Ready to decommission your inner censor? Interested in dropping the mask, relaxing your guard and rewilding your gorgeous but slightly inhibited self? That’s what I recommend. Here are ways to fully enjoy the liberating grace period of the coming months: 1. Don’t deny yourself pleasures that would be healthy to indulge. 2. Shed taboos that were smart safeguards once upon a time but are no longer. 3. Re-evaluate why you treat certain fun activities as questionable. 4. Be brightly compassionate toward aspects of yourself you regard as wounded or inferior. 5. Be receptive to rebellious urges.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1839, French artist Louis Daguerre perfected the daguerreotype, an early type of photography. The images were so detailed that you could count the threads in a subject’s clothing. The only downside: They required minutes of perfect stillness to capture. A slight twitch or squirm could blur the picture. People held their breath and resisted the urge to fidget, hoping to preserve the magic moment. In this spirit, Libra, let’s make the “long exposure” your power metaphor during the coming months. The most useful truths will reveal themselves best if you give them time to develop. In conversations, resist filling every silence. In projects, don’t rush the pace. Have patient fun lingering on the threshold as the mysteries coalesce and clarify.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1907, Scorpio artist Pablo Picasso painted Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. It was a work so radically different from his earlier art and from the era’s norms that even his friends were stunned. Some called it ugly; others, incomprehensible. Yet the painting became a foundation of Cubism and reshaped modern art. Dear Scorpio, I suspect you may be on the verge of your own “Les Demoiselles” phase in 2026: unveiling novel approaches and innovative changes so original that they rattle comfortable assumptions. Don’t be discouraged if the initial responses don’t bring you appreciation. The root-shaking breakthroughs you’re consorting with may take others a while to recognize and welcome.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You Sagittarians are often drawn to teaching. You have a predilection and a passion for sharing what you have learned from your adventures and explorations. Many of you also possess a related gift: helping people make the journey to where enlightening lessons can best occur. You have a knack for opening their minds and clearing the way so they can awaken to new ways of seeing and imagining the world. I hope you will provide both of these blessings in abundance during the coming months. Your ability to inspire and educate will be at a peak.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming months are ripe for sacred audacity: boldness with a conscience and courage guided by kindness. Imagine you’re a Benevolent Initiator, whose superpower is to kindle beginnings without causing disruption and unease. Practice brilliant, incremental nudges and tweaks rather than grand interventions. If you’re hesitating to say what needs to be said, deliver a modest version now and a stronger one later. Make gradual momentum your ally. Homework: Identify a future scene you want to generate and take three elegantly simple steps toward it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Safety isn’t the opposite of adventure. It’s the infrastructure that lets adventure be expansive. Keep that in mind in the coming months, Aquarius.  You will be wise to cultivate cozy bravery. You should relax deeply and nurture your strength. Build the support system for your future boldness. Then, in the second half of 2026, you will be well-prepared to launch a phase of experimental fun and exploratory learning. For best results, surround yourself with love and care. Decide who best supports you, and make it attractive for them to support you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): High in the Andes Mountains, farmers have for centuries made chuño, a freeze-dried potato that can last for years. They leave the potatoes outside overnight to let the freezing temperatures draw out the water. In the daytime, the strong sunlight and dry mountain air evaporate residual moisture. By this process, a perishable food becomes a long-lasting staple. I propose we make the chuño your symbol of power, Pisces. The coming months will be an ideal time to build reserves. I hope you will turn what you have grown and developed into resources that will nourish you well into the future.

Your Letters, 1/7/2026

Rome Burns

To add to Craig Corsini’s observation (‘Party Foul,’ Dec. 31): Finally, someone who gets it.

I am neither a liberal nor a conservative and toe no party line. I don’t know much and kind of like it that way, but what I do know is this: Both parties are filled with bad people who are ruining everything. 

To my point: Nothing will come from the Epstein files. Sadly, it’s nothing but a diversion by those in power so they can continue to rape, pillage and plunder the planet.

Remember, you only know what they want you to know. This isn’t America slipping into a Nazi Germany; this is the fall of Rome. And it’s just beginning.

I am a citizen of planet Earth who has had it up to here and is sick to his stomach.

David Dale
Sonoma

X Factor 

Elon Musk’s disastrous changes at X, such as rolling back content moderation policies and creator payouts, have turned it into a platform where the right mainly argues with the extreme right. 

Now, even right-wingers are perturbed by how popular bigotry and conspiracy theories are becoming on X, as feuds and controversies erupt there and shake the GOP.

Now this I do not understand. The GOP/MAGA/“not so” right wing wanted this. Now they are saying there are too many nattering nabobs of negativism?

Gary Sciford
Santa Rosa

Occupy Caracas, Regime Change in Venezuela

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The U.S. has overthrown the Maduro regime in Venezuela; captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro; and occupied the country. 

Continuing a long history of U.S. interventions in Latin America, Donald Trump has vowed to “run the country until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.” 

The U.S. policy of regime change had been telegraphed for months, as Trump ramped up attacks on supposed Venezuelan drug boats, imposed an oil blockade and ordered a CIA drone strike on a Venezuelan dock alleged to be used for loading drugs. 

Now those clear violations of international and U.S. law and false allegations about Venezuela’s role in the fentanyl trade are ending with an occupation and U.S. control of Venezuela’s oil-based economy.

The U.S. action is consistent with “America First,” said Trump, citing the need for oil and energy: 

“The U.S. will be in charge of Venezuela’s oil industry. We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure and start making money for the country.” 

So, in a word, it’s imperialism—and a clear sign that for Trump, dominance in Latin America is his top foreign policy objective. 

We now await word about whom Trump will select to be America’s puppet in Caracas—with Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth as their overlords.

The U.S. intervention comes despite a call by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for UN action to prevent the crisis, and despite polls showing around 75% of Americans oppose an invasion of Venezuela. 

Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Cuba and Brazil were among the Latin American countries that have condemned the U.S. invasion of Venezuela. France’s foreign ministry also did so. President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil said the U.S. attacks “crossed an unacceptable line,” set a “dangerous precedent” and evoked “the worst moments of interference” in Latin America. 

Russia also criticized the U.S., but Moscow must be pleased that the U.S. has emulated Russia in attacking a sovereign nation.

Mel Gurtov is professor emeritus of political science at Portland State University.

North Bay Pet Photo Contest

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We’re looking for North Bay Pet Stars. Is your pet picture perfect? Showcase your pet love! Submit your favorite pet images and we’ll publish the winners in our Feb 11, 2026 issue. Photo submissions & voting due Feb 4, 2026.

Sponsorship Packages available to brand your business with our pet photo contest and strengthen community spirit and relations. Contact Lisa Santos, Advertising Director by email or 707.353.1139

Bollywood Blues, The California hosts Aki Kumar

Bay Area based blues musician Aki Kumar is bringing his innovative “Bollywood Blues” style of music to The California in Santa Rosa twice in the next few months.

First, he’ll be the guest artist at Donny Mederos’ Monday Night Pro Jam on Monday, Jan. 5, which will serve to whet one’s whistle for his birthday bash happening on Saturday, March 14.

Born in Mumbai, India, Kumar (full name, Akarsha Kumar) was introduced to a multitude of musical styles at an early age, including rock and roll, Indian classical music, modern pop and Bollywood film scores. These early flavors continued to marinate in Kumar as he immigrated to America in the late ’90s with a more serious line of work in mind, computer science.

Landing in Oklahoma City in 1998, Kumar had an affinity for computers that soon drew him to Silicon Valley, where he attended San Jose State. The move proved fortuitous, as his love and passion for a wide spectrum of music naturally attracted him to the Bay Area blues scene, where he quickly became a fixture.

Speaking by email, Kumar says, “The Bay Area is where I got my musical start, [and] although it is the epicenter of hi-tech innovation, it also hosts exceptional musicians and a lively but somewhat underground blues scene.”

Hardcore blues fans can be a bit inflexible (although, that may be changing), so it was the underground blues scene where a unique artist like Kumar could flourish and hone his sound while still working a grind in the tech industry. This was until a common tale of the blues befell him, as he was laid off from his tech job in the early 2000s.

Yet, rather than return to a fickle line of work, one he had perhaps grown less fond of, Kumar leaned more into his music and joined a popular blues outfit, Tip of the Top, led by Bay Area-based blues guitarist Little Jonny Lawton, known for his work with Little Jonny and The Giants. Around the same time, Kumar hit on inspiration for his brand of music while humming along to a song from the traditional Hindi songbook, and he noted the similarities to a Jimmy Reed song. 

He then decided to go all in on music. And so, under the tutelage of Grammy nominated blues harmonica player David Barrett—who has been a featured artist in Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowouts alongside James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson and Mark Hummel—Kumar honed his blues harp skills as well as his vocal and frontman chops. This gave local blues maven Bill Bowker cause to say, “I’ve always enjoyed Aki’s playing coupled with his sense of humor,” adding that the combo “makes for fun-filled time.”

Kumar continues to perform all over the area and beyond, as well as teaching harmonica, hosting shows and recording. It’s well worth noting that his 2021 album, Diruba, which was released in partnership with Sony music, has garnered well more than a million downloads in India alone.

Although an artist who has earned fans worldwide and the respect of his peers might perhaps be better served living in a more music rich environment than San Jose, Kumar makes an interesting point, noting that perhaps the more progressive and accepting people of the Bay Area are a great core group of listeners. He says, “It certainly doesn’t hurt that the audience here is very diverse and accepting of such cultural innovations as ‘Bollywood Blues.’”

Locally speaking, Kumar says, “I’ve lived in the Bay Area for well over two decades, but it is only in the past five years that I feel like I have broken into the North Bay, and especially Sonoma County.” It’s been a warm welcome, as he notes that “audiences in Sonoma have been ‘hip’ to the blues for a long, long time, culturally and generationally. They seem to love the fresh spin I offer on it.”

When asked what fans can expect at the Pro Jam, he adds, “I always enjoy performing with Donny Mederos’ band and make it a point to never send them material ahead of time, which keeps things interesting for us on stage.”

For more information, check out akikumar.com.

Wine Country’s Top Torn Tix: Our Critics Look Back at the Year in Theater

It’s that time of year when critics look back and attempt to encapsulate an entire year’s worth of productions into one easily read list of the “best of” the year. Why? Because it gives us something to do during the slow period between the close of the holiday shows and the onslaught of productions in the New Year.

We’re kidding. Mostly.

The end of the year is a time for reflection by many, and critics are no different. We take pleasure in remembering and reporting on the good work we’ve seen produced locally. It’s our way of saying thanks to the community for the work they do and for continuing to invite and welcome us into their theatrical homes.  

Here, in alphabetical order, are the Top Torn Tickets for the best and/or most interesting theater produced in Sonoma and Napa counties in 2025, as determined by Beulah Vega (BV), Caitlin Strom-Martin (CSM) and Harry Duke (HD):

As You Like ItNapa Valley College – A joyous celebration of diversity and a giant thumb in the eye to those who have a problem with that. HD

BootycandyLeft Edge Theatre – A hilarious and transgressive ensemble piece. LET still reigns as the North Bay theater company that actively produces confrontational and gutsy shows. CSM

The Bridges of Madison County – Raven Players – Usually, I would run away from a musical romance like a Hallmark heroine from her big-city fiancé, but I liked this production. The two leads rose above the trite script and the lackluster songs and delivered outstanding performances. BV

Featherbaby – Spreckels Theatre Company – Maybe the greatest talking bird play ever written. HD

Gary, A Sequel to Titus Andronicus Left Edge Theatre – An absolutely outrageous theatrical piece. Ballsy in every sense of the word. HD

The Importance of Being Earnest6th Street Playhouse – Proof that no gimmicks are necessary to get audiences to appreciate this hilarious Oscar Wilde classic. HD

Meet Me at DawnMercury Theater – Raw and grounded performances and a haunting sound design made this one of the most emotionally moving shows of the year. CSM

A very impressive opening entry into full productions by the newest North Bay theater company. HD

Othello – Jacobethan Theatre Workshop – Towering performances and simple outdoor staging combined for Shakespeare as it’s meant to be done and done well. HD

The Pirates of Penzance – 6th Street Playhouse – Charming performances, colorful stagecraft and a top-notch orchestra brought the Gilbert & Sullivan classic energetically to life. HD

The Resistible Rise of Arturo UiMercury Theater – An astounding, unforgettable lead performance anchored this Bertolt Brecht cautionary tale. CSM

Revenge of the Rebobs! – Lucky Penny – In another life, I’m a horror writer, and there is nothing I love more than campy cryptid horror (most of my work falls into that category), so I was thrilled to see the elusive Rebobs take the stage. More horror plays (with or without the camp), please. BV

Ride the CycloneSRJC Theatre Arts – An absolute showcase for the young artists involved in all aspects of this production and the facility local taxpayers funded. HD

A polished, professional-level production and hands down my favorite show of the year. If the cast is any indication, the kids are alright, giving me hope for the future of theater. BV

The North Bay is an incredibly supportive community for the performing arts. Thanks also to the audiences for continuing to show up.

‘Words and Letters,’ Shifting Cloudscapes and More

Santa Rosa

The Written Image

The relationship between language and visual art has shifted from ancient hieroglyphics to the bold commercialism of Pop Art, yet the interplay remains a vital frontier for modern creators. And the Santa Rosa Arts Center explores this intersection in its Small Works exhibition, “Words and Letters,” featuring a diverse range of disciplines, including sculpture, ceramics and photography. By examining how text is wedded to the canvas, the show highlights how artists continue to push the boundaries of communication. Running concurrently with the annual Members Show, the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the region’s creative output.

A reception will commence at 5pm, Friday, Jan. 2, at the Santa Rosa Arts Center, 312 South A St., santarosaartscenter.org.

Healdsburg

Atmospheric Perspectives

Geologist and environmental scientist Gen Zorich brings a technical rigor to the ephemeral in her latest collection of oil paintings, “In the Clouds.” The works examine the shifting cloudscapes of Sonoma County, treating these atmospheric forms as both aesthetic subjects and indicators of a changing climate. Zorich’s debut as a featured artist at the Upstairs Art Gallery is paired with Ron Sumner’s “Yosemite” in the Stairway Small Works Showcase. While Zorich focuses on the transformative power of the sky, Sumner’s watercolors ground the exhibition in the rugged permanence of the Sierra Nevada, capturing the kinetic energy of landmarks like Vernal Falls.

A reception will be held from 3:30–5:30pm, Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Upstairs Art Gallery, 306 Center St., Healdsburg. upstairsartgallery.net.

Novato

Borderless Ballads

The unlikely intersection of the Venezuelan plains and the Appalachian mountains find common ground in the musical duo of Larry & Joe. Larry Bellorín, a legend of Llanera music forced into exile from Venezuela, and Joe Troop, a Grammy-nominated bluegrass artist, have forged a “Latingrass” fusion that defies easy categorization. Their performances are as much about storytelling as they are about technical mastery, blending polyrhythmic Venezuelan traditions with high-lonesome bluegrass roots. In their matinee performance at HopMonk Tavern in Novato, the two offer an intimate look at how social movements and musical inheritances can coalesce into a vibrant, bilingual celebration of resilience.

4pm, Saturday, Jan. 3, HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato, $20–$30. hopmonk.com.

Bolinas

Elemental Intuition

The Bolinas Museum opens its 2026 season by grounding the ethereal in the physical through two concurrent exhibitions. In “Pure Passage,” Oakland-based artist Soleé Darrell utilizes a unique process of applying powdered and liquid dyes to silk velvet, a technique born from dream work and spiritual channeling that results in high-dimension, saturated abstractions. Meanwhile, the group show, “Of Earth: Telluric Mediums,” examines the planet as a literal source of creation. Featuring works in clay, adobe and soil by artists including JB Blunk and Joanna Keane Lopez, the exhibition invites sensory connection to the ground beneath us. Together, the shows bridge the gap between intuitive inner worlds and the raw materiality of the landscape.

An opening reception runs from 2–4pm, Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Bolinas Museum, 48 Wharf Rd. bolinasmuseum.org.

The Yoni Oracle, Anistara Ma Ka

yoni oracle, Anistara Ma Ka
It is the dark time of year, and it was just the time of the high holidays. Here I evoke “pagan” Solstice, Christian Christmas and secular New Year’s Day.  Whether observed as a high ritual or as a habit of long standing, each of this close-packed run of dates derives meaning from this time of year, and the turning of...

Ingredients That Shine: Chef Juliana Thorpe Showcases Local Bounty

Chef Juliana Thorpe channels her global culinary expertise into a menu that celebrates regional abundance
At The Lodge at Dawn Ranch, co-executive chef Juliana Thorpe channels her global culinary expertise into a menu that celebrates authenticity and regional abundance.  Her culinary philosophy centers on simplicity and natural ingredients—an approach shaped by her formative years in Matutu, Brazil, where she grew up immersed in the rhythms of nature and agriculture. Surrounded by the South American countryside,...

Musical Restoration Journey, Luddite to AI Artist and More

Crush features upcoming art and cultural events in the North Bay.
Mill Valley Art of Healing Music takes on a deeper purpose at The Art of Healing, a benefit concert dedicated to supporting the recovery of Oshalla Marcus, executive director of the Marin City Art & Culture Center, following a life-threatening stroke. Conceived as a restorative musical journey, the evening, at the Throckmorton Theatre, centers on sound as a force for resilience,...

Free Will Astrology, Jan. 7-13

Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The mystics drone on endlessly about letting go. But I’m here now to praise the art of holding on fiercely, tenderly, with full commitment. Some treasures deserve your passionate grip. Some people warrant your loyal devotion. Especially in the coming months, dear Aries, I invite you to devote yourself to your exciting dreams with ardent...

Your Letters, 1/7/2026

Rome Burns To add to Craig Corsini’s observation (‘Party Foul,’ Dec. 31): Finally, someone who gets it. I am neither a liberal nor a conservative and toe no party line. I don’t know much and kind of like it that way, but what I do know is this: Both parties are filled with bad people who are ruining everything.  To my point:...

Occupy Caracas, Regime Change in Venezuela

Maduro regime change
The U.S. has overthrown the Maduro regime in Venezuela; captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro; and occupied the country.  Continuing a long history of U.S. interventions in Latin America, Donald Trump has vowed to “run the country until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”  The U.S. policy of regime change had been telegraphed for months, as...

North Bay Pet Photo Contest

north bay pet photo contest
We’re looking for North Bay Pet Stars. Is your pet picture perfect? Showcase your pet love! Submit your favorite pet images and we’ll publish the winners in our Feb 11, 2026 issue. Photo submissions & voting due Feb 4, 2026. Sponsorship Packages available to brand your business with our pet photo contest and strengthen community spirit and relations. Contact Lisa Santos, Advertising Director by...

Bollywood Blues, The California hosts Aki Kumar

Bay Area based blues musician Aki Kumar is bringing his innovative “Bollywood Blues” style of music to The California in Santa Rosa twice in the next few months.
Bay Area based blues musician Aki Kumar is bringing his innovative “Bollywood Blues” style of music to The California in Santa Rosa twice in the next few months. First, he’ll be the guest artist at Donny Mederos’ Monday Night Pro Jam on Monday, Jan. 5, which will serve to whet one’s whistle for his birthday bash happening on Saturday, March...

Wine Country’s Top Torn Tix: Our Critics Look Back at the Year in Theater

The Bohemian's critics look back at the year in theater
It’s that time of year when critics look back and attempt to encapsulate an entire year’s worth of productions into one easily read list of the “best of” the year. Why? Because it gives us something to do during the slow period between the close of the holiday shows and the onslaught of productions in the New Year. We’re kidding....

‘Words and Letters,’ Shifting Cloudscapes and More

Words and Letters,’ Shifting Cloudscapes and an Ethereal Exhibit
Santa Rosa The Written Image The relationship between language and visual art has shifted from ancient hieroglyphics to the bold commercialism of Pop Art, yet the interplay remains a vital frontier for modern creators. And the Santa Rosa Arts Center explores this intersection in its Small Works exhibition, “Words and Letters,” featuring a diverse range of disciplines, including sculpture, ceramics and...
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