Best Canna-Coiffure

Deep Roots Hydroponics, Sonoma County

Deep Roots Hydroponics knows a thing or two about cultivating cannabis (readers voted them Best Hydroponic Supply Store for Sonoma County, after all), but they’ve also mastered the art of cultivating curiosity. Case in point: the woman with the chlorophyll-chic hairdo, beaming her Mona Lisa-meets-Sonoma Coma smile from their billboards and social media profiles (@deeprootshydro).

Her verdant tresses, a high-style hybrid of Sideshow Bob and Tina Turner circa What’s Love Got to Do with It?, have become an icon in their own right—a leafy patron saint of thriving plants and good vibes. She’s not just a mascot; she’s a mood, a lifestyle and a challenge to every home grower out there. When she says “Green,” you say, “How high?” Emphasis on high. Because let’s be real; if your cannabis crop is even half as lush as her locks, you’re winning the cultivation game.

Best Place for Stoners to Get Violently High & LARP ‘Fear and Loathing’

Pretty much any Wine Country-themed festival

We were somewhere around Napa, on the edge of the vineyard, when the weed began to take hold. I remember saying something like, “I feel so f*cking high; maybe we should call an Uber.”

And suddenly there was a terrible vibe all around us, and the streets were full of what looked like straight-laced tourists and wine moms, all swooping and screeching and diving around us—oh God, I think they know I’m stoned.

No, they can’t read my mind (which is going about a hundred miles a minute thanks to that pre-roll I just smoked—should have known better with a strain named Beelzebub’s Zumba). Suddenly, a voice was screaming, “Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn stoners doing in Wine Country?”

We ran into the alleyway behind a boujee wine tasting venue, and then it was quiet again. I hit my bong and puff-puff-passed it to my buddy, aiming to smoke away the anxiety of being too high. No point avoiding those winos, I thought. We’ll see them soon enough.

Then it was almost noon, and we still had more of Napa to tour. It would be a tough tour. Very soon, I knew, we would both be completely blitzed off those edibles I forgot we took—there was no going back, and no time to sober up. We would just have to ride this high out.

Press registration for the fabulous Festival Napa Valley was already underway, and we had to get there by four to meet our plug. A questionable at best cannabis company had “taken care” of the reservations, along with giving us this huge bag of Beezlebub’s Zumba. . . and I was, after all, a professional stoner/journalist, so I had an obligation to cover the story, for good or ill.

Best Place for Wine-Tasting Newbies to Experience Haunting Imposter Syndrome

 

Napa Valley

Napa Valley has as many wine tasting venues as I have toes (more than 400, to be exact). The untrained wine-tasting palate may find themself visiting all of them, only to think, “Yup, that tastes like wine.”

But no one in the Napa wine industry will allow for that sort of nonsense. And inexperienced tasters must, by unofficial mandate, play along…or else. Not to alarm anyone, but the last person who failed to validate a local vino’s unique and unmistakably superior caliber went missing from an unnamed, fault-less and completely unsuspicious Napa winery more than a decade ago.

On the bright side, that same innocent nigh-on seraphic winery put out an incredible cabernet sauvignon vintage that very same year; the batch is unmatched among its peers and boasts an incredible body with a rounded mouthfeel and the perfect—I mean perfect—amount of tannins. I counted; they’re all there.

Anyways, this cab’s rich flavor is reminiscent of in-season stonefruit, and each sip bursts across the front of your palate like the first bite of a sun-warmed plum plucked straight from your favorite memories of childhood, back when you were still happy and papa hadn’t left yet.

The vintage then melds seamlessly into its middle notes, the most notable of which tastes unmistakably of 97% cocoa, indistinguishable from that found in Bruges, Belgium. This heavenly vino then finishes with a most delectable lingering aftertaste of farm-to-table leather…yummy (please don’t hurt me).

So, newbies and beer-drinkers, please just nod enthusiastically when the server mentions notes of black currants and Szechuan pepper and gasp in abject awe at the bubbling pattern if they point it out to you. Seriously, if you value your life, just allow the Napa wine industry to gaslight you until you can taste what they’re talking about too…at least you think you can. Reality is subjective, right? Until then, just enjoy the imposter syndrome and sticker shock.

Note: If I don’t publish again after this, please tell my family I love them.

Best Way to Connect the Hand Bone to the Beer Bone

Boney Fingers, Moonlight Brewing Co.

Some beers have a story, and some have a whole mood. Boney Fingers, Moonlight Brewing Co.’s black lager, delivers both in a dark, roasty pour that tastes like black coffee and late-night mischief. A cult favorite every autumn, it pairs perfectly with Halloween and existential musings about the daily grind. The label, like the beer, is bold, eerie and just a little mischievous—because when you “work your fingers to the bone, whaddya get?” Apparently, a damn fine beer.

Best Place to Glow Big or Go Home

Benedetta, Petaluma

Let’s face it; we all just want flawless skin without a chemistry degree. Is that really too much to ask? For those of us who want dewy, radiant skin, without the toxic relationship, the perfect solution awaits at the Petaluma-based Benedetta Sanctuary.

You’ll find clean skincare that goes beyond the surface. Since Benedetta launched in 1996, it’s pioneered truly clean skincare—before it became a marketing buzzword. Forget the synthetic potions; these products are 100% botanical, organic and biodynamic, formulated to work with the skin’s natural rhythms.

“A lot of it is based on ancient practices; moreover, it’s about what we can procure now,” says Benedetta founder Julia Faller in North Bay magazine. Long before it became a trend, Faller was challenging industry norms, formulating skincare with 100% botanical, organic and biodynamic ingredients—free from petrochemicals and synthetics.

Looking back, she recalls, “In the late ’70s, ’80s, people referred to ‘natural skincare’ as anything that didn’t have a mineral oil in it, but it was loaded with chemicals. Fast forward another 30-35 years, and it’s really about the lack of petrochemicals and the preponderance of botanical ingredients. That’s great.”

And because skincare is self-care, Benedetta is just that, a calm in the storm of the daily news cycles. Inside Benedetta’s Petaluma storefront sanctuary, you can take a moment, shop for luminous crystals, clean skincare and self-care products, then immerse yourself in tranquility with a nourishing and hydrating facial using their signature, plant-based formulas. The aestheticians and shop sales associates engage with clients in a way that’s rare in today’s digital-first marketplace.

Graceful, attentive and effortlessly elegant, Benedetta’s customer service feels like a deep exhale. “Having a brick-and-mortar store allows us to actually talk to people and see what their needs are,” Faller says.

Benedetta stands as a testament to what’s possible today for skincare, naturally. Their products don’t just promise results; they deliver them with a scientific precision—without the Ph.D. in chemistry. You glow, girl.

Best Place to Pretend You Came for the Art (But Stay for the Wine)

North Bay Wine Country

If you thought Wine Country was just about wine, think again—the arts scene here is as rich and complex as a Napa cabernet. And in Sonoma and Napa, art isn’t just something to admire from a distance—it’s something to experience up close.

But where do you start? If you like your art with a side of rebellion, head to the Sonoma County Museum’s current exhibit, “Unruly,” a retrospective of the legendary (and now defunct) San Francisco Art Institute. It’s a crash course in the wild, untamed spirit of West Coast art. Feeling more like an adventure? The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in Napa is part museum, part surreal dreamscape, packed with playful, provocative work by regional artists. Pro tip: Plan your visit between tastings, because nothing pairs with art like a little pre-tour chardonnay.

The next morning, when your wine-fueled inspiration has you convinced you’re the next Picasso, hit up Color Theory Canvas & Paint or RileyStreet Art Supply. Whether you need the perfect shade of cerulean or just an excuse to buy more fancy pens and Moleskine notebooks, they’ve got you covered. More into words than watercolors? Napa Bookmine and Copperfield’s Books will send you home with something that makes you look smart at brunch.

And when the sun sets, the stages light up. Barrel Proof Lounge in Santa Rosa delivers comedy strong enough to rival your last pour, while Blue Note Napa serves up live jazz that may or may not make you cry into your pinot.

From Bottlerock’s beats to True West’s indie films, there’s an art to celebrating life in Wine Country—and this scene has truly mastered it.

Best Way to Eat Your Way Through a Real-Life Thiebaud Painting

Stellina Pronto, Petaluma

Artist Wayne Thiebaud made a career out of painting pastries so luscious you could almost taste them—now, Stellina Pronto makes the real thing. This Petaluma gem is known for its house-made pastries, like pistachio chocolate croissants and Boston cream puffs, alongside Linea espresso and a seasonal, farm-to-table ethos. Co-owners Christian Caiazzo and Katrina Fried have built a true community hub, where top-tier pastry chefs turn local ingredients into edible masterpieces. With their long-awaited wood-fired pizza now in the mix, Stellina isn’t just serving food—it’s plating up art. And in this case, you can eat the paintings.

It’s Not a Musical: ‘Awake and Sing!’ at Roustabout

The name Clifford Odets probably means little to the modern theatergoer, but there was a time he was considered a titan of American theater. 

Odets fit somewhere in between Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller. His “working class dramas” of the 1930s (like Waiting for Lefty) were extremely popular with audiences and influential with up and coming playwrights.

Awake and Sing! by Odets debuted on Broadway in 1935 and is considered a classic of American drama. The time-jumping plot, stylized dialogue, “leftist” themes and focus on the plight of a Jewish-American family made it somewhat of an odd duck amongst the usual Broadway fare of the day. Santa Rosa’s Roustabout Theater’s Professional Ensemble has a production running at the Luther Burbank Center through March 30.

It’s the tale of the trials and tribulations of a lower-middle class American family during the Depression. The Berger family consists of Bessie (Tamar Cohn), the intimidating matriarch of the family; her self-confessed failure of a husband, Myron (Jeff Coté); their unmarried daughter, Hennie (Ella Park); and their chomping-to-get-out-of-the-house son, Ralph (Logan Witthaus). Bessie’s father, Jacob (Jeff Savage), an avowed socialist, also lives with them.

Not losing the roof over their heads is the main force driving Bessie to interfere with Ralph’s relationship with a girl with no means and pressure Hennie into a loveless marriage with an immigrant (Jared N. Wright) with “good business sense.” She also takes in a boarder, Moe Axelrod (Bohn Connor), who’s a World War I vet that pines over Hennie. 

The pressure builds in the cramped apartment as Ralph and Hennie seek to escape their circumstances. Grandpa Jacob may advertently (or inadvertently) provide the means to do so. 

What was once considered revolutionary theater may seem a bit stale and hackneyed today, but it’s important for the building blocks of American theater to continue to be performed. One can sense the influence of Odets’ play on such classics as Long Day’s Journey into Night and Death of a Salesman

Strong performances are the hallmark of Roustabout productions. Overall, the cast of North Bay regulars delivers, though there were some projection and dialect issues. Particularly powerful was the work done by Tamar Cohn and Logan Witthaus. Both embodied the battle between realism and idealism well. 

Awake and Sing!, though showing every one of its 90 years of age, reminds us that our current societal/political battles are not new. Just unresolved.

‘Awake and Sing!’ runs through March 30 in the Carsten Cabaret at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. Fri–Sat, 7:30pm; Sat & Sun, 2pm. $28–$34 plus fees. 707.546.3600. roustabout-theater.org.

Where Is Home for Musician Eki Shola?

I met with musician and physician Eki Shola on a rainy day. As we sat down, she remarked on the depressed weather. She said it reminded her, with a wistful feeling, of her own native London. I hung on her voice. 

Shola speaks pleasantly, with a placeless accent. It restates in every phrase her life’s journey—from posh London’s Jamaican community to California. Her vocal stylings contain the entire African diaspora in America, from jazz singing and soul, to R&B to spoken word. We had gotten together in the rain to talk about her latest album, Kaeru. The themes around which we strolled were music, healing and finding “home.”

Cincinnatus Hibbard: Eki, the album is so singular. You mix your electronic jazz with traditional Japanese artists and instrumentation. Tell me, what was the spark of inspiration? 

Eki Shola: The spark was learning the verb “kaeru” in Japanese class. It means “to return home.” And I immediately said, “That’s going to be the name of the next album I do.” 

Why do you connect so strongly with Japan of all places? 

Each time I return, there is a sense of stillness and peace … and connectivity… As an African-American woman, I can feel more comfortable there than here. Because there is no pretense, no code-switching. You’re not needing to watch your back—you’re just you. And so I realize I feel more at home within myself there. The theme of home resonates through this album. 

On your first post-pandemic trip to Japan, you were invited to record there for the first time…

Yes. I had some unfinished material that needed … something—so I was interested in the offer… But what cinched it for me is that the studio used to be an old radiology room. So I had to do it. 

I love getting those signs. I understand the producer got you in touch with traditional Japanese musicians. The album seems like you are making a home for yourself there sonically, mixing your bass and electric keys with the traditional shamisen and drums of Japan. I understand that you had been meditating deeply on the theme of home … having lost both your house and your medical clinic in the 2017 Tubbs fire… 

Yes … I kept asking myself, what is home? What on earth is home? I was speaking to a friend the other day and asked her if she was “at home.” And she said she doesn’t have a home—in the sense of a house. She house sits; she travels. For her, home is wherever she goes. It’s not out there; home is within her… I like that; I want that. I’m still figuring it out…

One of the tracks on the album, “Forrest,” came out of a meditation within a fire survivors’ support group. Eki, it is common to think of music as healing. As a musician and a doctor, what do you make of that?

Beyond the obvious, there is listening and connection. When a patient comes into your office seeking healing, they don’t know you—you’re a stranger. Within a short period of time, maybe 15 minutes, you have to establish a trust. You have to listen without judgement and be open enough that a person opens up to you about intimate things so you can make a health plan together. 

A short set, where people don’t know you, is much the same thing. I never have a fixed set list. I listen to what the audience needs. 

Learn more. Hear Shola’s album, ‘Kaeru,’ at ekishola.com

Free Will Astrology, March 19-24

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. From standing still, they can be running at 70 miles per hour three seconds later. But they can’t sustain that intensity. After a 20-second burst, they need to relax and recover. This approach serves them well, enabling them to prey on the small creatures they like to eat. I encourage you to be like a metaphorical cheetah in the coming weeks, Aries. Capitalize on the power of focused, energetic spurts. Aim for bursts of dedicated effort, followed by purposeful rest. You don’t need to pursue a relentless pace to succeed. Recognize when it’s right to push hard and when it’s time to recharge.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Inside a kaleidoscope, the colored shards of glass are in an ever-shifting chaotic jumble. But internal mirrors present pleasing symmetrical designs to the person gazing into the kaleidoscope. I see a similar phenomenon going on in your life. Some deep intelligence within you (your higher self?) is creating intriguing patterns out of an apparent mess of fragments. I foresee this continuing for several weeks. So don’t be quick to jump to conclusions about your complicated life. A hidden order is there, and you can see its beauty if you’re patient and poised.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Spiders spin their webs with meticulous care, crafting structures that are delicate, strong and useful. Their silk is five times more robust than steel of the same diameter. It’s waterproof, can stretch 140% of its length without splitting and maintains its sturdiness at temperatures as low as -40 degrees. With that in mind, Gemini, I bid you to work on fortifying and expanding your own web in the coming weeks—by which I mean your network of connections and support. It’s an excellent time to deepen and refine your relationships with the resources and influences that help hold your world together.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Chichén Itzá was a large pre-Columbian city from around 600 to 1200 CE. It was built by Mayan people in what’s now Mexico. At the city center was a pyramid, The Temple of Kukulcán. During the equinoxes, and only on the equinoxes, sunlight fell on its steps in such a way as to suggest a snake descending the stairs. The mathematical, architectural and astronomical knowledge necessary to create this entertaining illusion was phenomenal. In that spirit, I am pleased to tell you that you are now capable of creating potent effects through careful planning. Your strategic thinking will be enhanced, especially in projects that require long-term vision. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for initiatives that coordinate multiple elements to generate fun and useful outcomes.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Fireflies produce very efficient light. Nearly all the energy expended in their internal chemical reactions is turned directly into their intense glow. By contrast, light bulbs are highly inefficient. In accordance with astrological omens, Leo, I urge you to be like a firefly in the coming weeks, not a light bulb. You will have dynamic power to convert your inner beauty into outer beauty. Be audacious. Be uninhibited. Shower the world with full doses of your radiant gifts.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Brazil nut trees grow in the Amazon—but if only they are in the vicinity of orchid bees, their sole pollinators. And orchid bees thrive in no other place except where there are lots of blooming orchids. So the Brazil nut tree has very specific requirements for its growth and well-being. You Virgos aren’t quite so picky about the influences that keep you fertile and flourishing—though sometimes I do worry about it. The good news is that in the coming months, you will be casting a wider net in quest of inspiration and support. I suspect you will gather most, maybe all, of the inspiration and support you need.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1858, businessperson James Miller Williams was digging a new water well on his land in Ontario, hoping to compensate for a local drought. He noticed oil was seeping out of the hole he had scooped. Soon, he became the first person in North America to develop a commercial oil well. I suspect that you, too, may soon stumble upon valuable fuels or resources, Libra—and they may be different from what you imagined you were looking for. Be alert and open-minded for unexpected discoveries.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I’ve been through the U.S. education system, and I can testify that our textbooks don’t give the French enough of the credit they deserve for helping our fledgling nation gain independence from Great Britain. The 18th-century American Revolution would not have succeeded without extensive aid from France. So I’m a little late, but I am hereby showering France with praise and gratitude for its intervention. Now I encourage you, too, to compensate for your past lack of full appreciation for people and influences that have been essential to you becoming yourself. It’s a different kind of atonement: not apologizing for sins, but offering symbolic and even literal rewards to underestimated helpers and supporters.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): As I survey the astrological aspects, I am tempted to encourage you to be extra expansive about love. I am curious to see the scintillating intimacy you might cultivate. So, in the hope you’re as intrigued by the experimental possibilities as I am, I invite you to memorize the following words by author Maya Angelou and express them to a person with whom you want to play deeper and wilder: “You are my living poem, my symphony of the untold, my golden horizon stretched beyond what the eye can see. You rise in me like courage, fierce and unyielding, yet soft as a lullaby sung to a weary soul. You are my promise kept, my hope reborn, the infinite melody in the heart of silence. I hold you in the marrow of my joy, where you are home.”

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Four facts about a mountain goat as it navigates along steep and rocky terrain: 1. It’s strong and vigorous; 2. it’s determined and unflappable; 3. it’s precise and disciplined; 4. it calls on enormous stamina and resilience. According to my astrological analysis, you Capricorns will have maximum access to all these capacities during the coming weeks. You can use them to either ascend to seemingly impossible heights or descend to fantastically interesting depths. Trust in your power to persevere. Love the interesting journey as much as the satisfaction of reaching the goal of the journey.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Swiss Army knife is a compact assemblage of tools. These may include a nail file, scissors, magnifying glass, screwdriver, pliers, blade, can opener and many others. Is there a better symbol for adaptability and preparedness? I urge you to make it your metaphorical power object during the coming weeks, Aquarius. Explore new frontiers of flexibility, please. Be ready to shift perspective and approach quickly and smoothly. Be as agile and multifaceted as you dare.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on the planet. If, Goddess forbid, lumber harvesters cut down one of these beauties, it can be used to build more than 20 houses. And yet each mature tree begins as a seed the size of a coat button. Its monumental growth is steady and slow, relying on robust roots and a symbiotic relationship with a fungus that enables it to absorb water from fog. I propose we make the redwood your power symbol for now, Pisces. Inspired by its process, I hope you implement the magic of persistent, incremental growth. Treasure the fact that a fertile possibility has the potential, with patience and nurturing, to ripen into a long-term asset. Trust that small efforts, fueled by collaboration, will lead to gratifying achievements.

Best Canna-Coiffure

Deep Roots Hydroponics, Sonoma County Deep Roots Hydroponics knows a thing or two about cultivating cannabis (readers voted them Best Hydroponic Supply Store for Sonoma County, after all), but they’ve also mastered the art of cultivating curiosity. Case in point: the woman with the chlorophyll-chic hairdo, beaming her Mona Lisa-meets-Sonoma Coma smile from their billboards and social media profiles (@deeprootshydro). Her...

Best Place for Stoners to Get Violently High & LARP ‘Fear and Loathing’

Pretty much any Wine Country-themed festival We were somewhere around Napa, on the edge of the vineyard, when the weed began to take hold. I remember saying something like, “I feel so f*cking high; maybe we should call an Uber.” And suddenly there was a terrible vibe all around us, and the streets were full of what looked like straight-laced tourists...

Best Place for Wine-Tasting Newbies to Experience Haunting Imposter Syndrome

  Napa Valley Napa Valley has as many wine tasting venues as I have toes (more than 400, to be exact). The untrained wine-tasting palate may find themself visiting all of them, only to think, “Yup, that tastes like wine.” But no one in the Napa wine industry will allow for that sort of nonsense. And inexperienced tasters must, by unofficial mandate,...

Best Way to Connect the Hand Bone to the Beer Bone

Boney Fingers, Moonlight Brewing Co. Some beers have a story, and some have a whole mood. Boney Fingers, Moonlight Brewing Co.’s black lager, delivers both in a dark, roasty pour that tastes like black coffee and late-night mischief. A cult favorite every autumn, it pairs perfectly with Halloween and existential musings about the daily grind. The label, like the beer,...

Best Place to Glow Big or Go Home

Benedetta, Petaluma Let’s face it; we all just want flawless skin without a chemistry degree. Is that really too much to ask? For those of us who want dewy, radiant skin, without the toxic relationship, the perfect solution awaits at the Petaluma-based Benedetta Sanctuary. You’ll find clean skincare that goes beyond the surface. Since Benedetta launched in 1996, it’s pioneered truly...

Best Place to Pretend You Came for the Art (But Stay for the Wine)

North Bay Wine Country If you thought Wine Country was just about wine, think again—the arts scene here is as rich and complex as a Napa cabernet. And in Sonoma and Napa, art isn’t just something to admire from a distance—it’s something to experience up close. But where do you start? If you like your art with a side of rebellion,...

Best Way to Eat Your Way Through a Real-Life Thiebaud Painting

Stellina Pronto, Petaluma Artist Wayne Thiebaud made a career out of painting pastries so luscious you could almost taste them—now, Stellina Pronto makes the real thing. This Petaluma gem is known for its house-made pastries, like pistachio chocolate croissants and Boston cream puffs, alongside Linea espresso and a seasonal, farm-to-table ethos. Co-owners Christian Caiazzo and Katrina Fried have built a...

It’s Not a Musical: ‘Awake and Sing!’ at Roustabout

The name Clifford Odets probably means little to the modern theatergoer, but there was a time he was considered a titan of American theater.  Odets fit somewhere in between Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller. His “working class dramas” of the 1930s (like Waiting for Lefty) were extremely popular with audiences and influential with up and coming playwrights. Awake and Sing! by Odets...

Where Is Home for Musician Eki Shola?

I met with musician and physician Eki Shola on a rainy day. As we sat down, she remarked on the depressed weather. She said it reminded her, with a wistful feeling, of her own native London. I hung on her voice.  Shola speaks pleasantly, with a placeless accent. It restates in every phrase her life’s journey—from posh London’s Jamaican community...

Free Will Astrology, March 19-24

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. From standing still, they can be running at 70 miles per hour three seconds later. But they can’t sustain that intensity. After a 20-second burst, they need to relax and recover. This approach serves them well, enabling them to prey on the small creatures they like to eat. I...
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