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.

Culture Crush, March 18

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Sausalito

Woman’s Club Funds Scholars

The Sausalito Woman’s Club Scholarship Recognition Fund (SWCSRF) hosts Starlight Lounge on Saturday, April 5. This is a fundraising evening dedicated to supporting Marin City students in their pursuit of higher education. Established in 1956, the SWCSRF has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 local scholars attending colleges, graduate schools, vocational programs and arts institutions. The event features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music, a silent auction and a raffle, all in a lively setting at the historic Sausalito Woman’s Club. Proceeds directly benefit students from the Sausalito Marin City School District.
6-9 pm, Saturday, April 5, at Sausalito Woman’s Club, 120 Central Ave. Tickets $85, including food, music and an open bar. More details at swcsrf.org.

Healdsburg

‘Branching Out’ at Upstairs Art

Sonoma County artist Carolyn Wilson presents Branching Out, a multi-media collection celebrating the strength and beauty of trees. Inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s words, “Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky,” Wilson’s textured collages layer rice and tissue paper to create intricate surfaces that evoke movement and depth. Works like “Dreaming of Bluebell Woods” and “Barefooted” highlight the organic forms and essential presence of trees in the natural world. A reception with Wilson takes place 4-7pm, Saturday, April 4, at the Upstairs Art Gallery in Healdsburg, offering an opportunity to meet the artist and learn about her inspirations. She will also be hosting in the gallery on April 4 and 17 from 11am to 6pm.
Exhibit runs March 31-April 27 at Upstairs Art Gallery, 306 Center St., Healdsburg. Open daily, 11am-6pm. More at upstairsartgallery.net.

Mill Valley

Frisson Nonet Does ‘Bolero’

The Chamber Music Marin 2024-2025 Chamber Music Concert Series continues with Frisson Nonet, performing Sunday, March 30, at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church. Known for its orchestral range without percussion, the nine-member ensemble blends a string quartet with bass and a woodwind quintet. The program features Walter August’s Octet in B-flat, George Gershwin’s Three Preludes for Clarinet and Strings, Bohuslav Martinu’s Nonet for Strings and Winds and a unique nonet arrangement of Maurice Ravel’s Bolero.
5pm, Sunday, March 30, at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, 410 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley. Tickets $48; free for youth 18 and under. More at chambermusicmarin.org.

Petaluma

‘Meet Me at Dawn’

Mercury Theater performs Meet Me at Dawn, Zinnie Harris’ play inspired by the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. Premiering at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2017, the drama follows two women who wash ashore after a boating accident, only to find themselves in a mysterious and unfamiliar world. Mixing humor, grief and love, the play explores loss and the struggle to hold onto what can’t be saved. Directed by Michael Fontaine, the production stars SF Bay Area Theater Critics Association award-winners Ilana Niernberger and Amanda Vitiello.
7:30pm, Thursdays-Saturdays; 2pm, Sundays, April 4-19, at Mercury Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. Tickets $20-$35. More at mercurytheater.org.

Your Letters, March 19

Last but Not Least

It’s bad enough that Trump is taking the presidency along the path of personal dictatorship. It’s worse that a torrent of newspapers, tech corporations, judges, military brass, universities, priests and pastors are converting to his anti-republican gospel. 

Even those leading the opposition have become weak-kneed and self-protective rather than community-minded and patriotic. Is there an idealist, a scholar, a citizen of common sense or uncommon valor, a religious law-fearing or secular law-fearing person of conscience left in America today? The reason for the evaporation of conscience is the cancer of acquisitiveness, the desire for riches, stature, power to come quickly by force.

Newspapers practice censorship, corporations push monopoly, professionals hide behind gated walls, celebrities flip-flop like politicians, politicians become demons of unrighteousness, the handsome and stunningly beautiful become cankered and ugly, the smiling exude only frowns born of confusion and lethargy. 

Good has left the high ground to make way for a rising flood of evil and foolish pride. America has quit sanity, health, education, law, Constitution, family, citizenship and country, all to fulfill the vision of “America First,” which is just another name for people’s government last.

Kimball Shinkoskey
Sonoma County

Equal Blights

History buffs will recall that Josef Stalin, one of Trump’s role models, was a man of vision who championed equal rights. He believed that, since women should never be allowed to vote, men shouldn’t either.

Craig J. Corsini
San Rafael

Locally Grown, 4th-Generation Winemaker Sam Bilbro

Sam Bilbro, Sonoma County native and fourth-generation California winemaker, founded Idlewild Wines in 2012, dedicated to making wine from California-grown grapes native to the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. 

He now oversees all operations and winemaking as Overshine Wine Company’s managing partner. This is a new brand that was announced this past summer, bringing together several concepts under one umbrella, with operations in Healdsburg. It started when founder David Drummond, a Sonoma County wine grower and former tech executive, acquired Armida Winery and Idlewild Wines. 

A new third label, Comunità, showcases Italian varieties grown at Drummond’s Las Cimas Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. This new partnership cements a long-standing relationship with Drummond that started with the re-imagining of Las Cimas Vineyard, which is now home to more than 40 grape varieties, including several plantings that are the first outside of Italy. 

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Sam Bilbro: I was raised in a winemaking family and immersed in vineyards and cellars from a young age. 

AT: Did you ever have an “aha” moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.

SB: Growing up in the wine industry, I always enjoyed wine but never really felt a personal connection until the day I tasted Nebbiolo for the first time. It was a tasting with a sales rep when I was working at a restaurant at the age of 21, and it was an instant feeling of all of my childhood memories—walking in vineyards, having a big garden, making homemade sausage—all suddenly making sense. I suppose it was a taste that gave a new lens to all those memories and showed me how to connect with them.

AT: What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

SB: Coffee and the occasional gin & tonic. I find wine is so much more enjoyable with friends and a meal, and I tend to save it for those occasions. 

AT: Where do you like to go out for a drink?

SB: The Geyserville Gun Club is my favorite bar and definite go-to…great food and drinks in a quirky and casual atmosphere.

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

SB: A few things would be tough to live without: coffee, gin & tonic (so refreshing on an island), and likely a delicious and crisp white wine like Vermentino comes to the top of the list. Wine is so connected to place and circumstance…so it is what would taste best on a desert island under the sun…but not what is my absolute favorite varietal.

Hidden Costs of Mass Deportations

President Trump has made it clear that he’s dead set on attacking our immigrant friends, families and neighbors—and that the only people he’ll protect are his loyalists and billionaires.

Since day one, Trump has launched a blatantly hateful agenda against immigrants. He’s issued executive orders that would unlawfully shut down asylum at the U.S. southern border, use the military to separate families and make it easier to detain and deport migrants—including detaining them at the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison.

Meanwhile, anti-immigrant lawmakers in Congress gave Trump a helping hand by passing a law punishing undocumented people, including minors, with deportation for minor offenses—even if they’re not convicted.

These attacks come at an enormous cost to the entire country. The American Immigration Council estimates that mass deportations will cost $88 billion per year over the course of a decade.

My colleagues and I calculated that this $88 billion could instead erase medical debt for 40 million Americans. Even just a fraction of it—$11 billion—could provide free lunch to all schoolchildren in the United States.

Nor are these the only costs. Undocumented people contributed $96.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022—just one tax year, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. That’s nearly $100 billion in lost revenue a year that everyone else would end up having to cover.

My fellow immigrants and I are also standing our ground. We’re stating the facts: Immigration is good for our country, our economy and our culture—something 68% of Americans agree with. And we’re here to stay.

Immigrants are essential to this country. Not only do we contribute as students and professionals, business owners and essential workers—we’re also human beings trying to live good and successful lives like anyone else. We’re a part of the American story.

Alliyah Lusuegro is the outreach coordinator for the National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Sonoma Int’l Film Fest Serves Up Movies & More

‘Culinary Cinema’ on the menu

The 2025 Sonoma International Film Festival kicks off Wednesday, March 19 and runs through Sunday, March 23 in and around the lovely hamlet of Sonoma, CA.

It’s hard to believe that the counties longest standing film festival has been around since 1997 and this year promises more of the things you’ve grown to love about the fest while injecting some modernity into the whole affair.

SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence can’t wait to yell “action!” on this year’s festival saying “this year we have 55 features and 38 short films from 21 countries and more than 65 filmmakers coming to the festival along with press and industry.” As if that wasn’t enough to see you get your fill, the fests lauded culinary events will definitely satiate your exploratory palate. 

Simmering under the title “Culinary Cinema” Spence notes that the program will highlight “immersive dining experiences that celebrate legendary chefs to mouthwatering films that explore global cuisine.” Ooo-la-la!

Indeed, this year’s lineup is a must for food lovers and cinephiles alike where attendees might savor an intimate Marcella Hazan-inspired Italian dinner, witness the artistry of Michelin-starred Japanese cuisine, and indulge in a collection of films that highlight the passion, drama, and joy of the culinary world. Special Events include Marcella´s Italian Dinner and a Culinary Masterclass on Japanese Cuisine and Culture by Japanese Chef Yoshinori Ishii.

But of course, the main dish at SIFF is (or at least should be) the films themselves. When asked what one might keep an eye out for, Spence said “so many fantastic films I love! We have the North American Premiere of the Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear Winner Dreams which is part of the trilogy of films “Love, Sex, Dreams.” All three are playing at the festival. We also have the Sundance Audience Award Winner DJ Ahmet, the Spanish Film The Party’s Over and our opening night film I absolutely love, Sweet Störy.”

Not only is Sweet Störy the fests Opening Night film, it also marks the World Premiere or the locally based doc. According to press notes, the film is “a real-life fairy tale” detailing the story of Meg Ray, owner of the beloved Bay Area patisserie Miette, who embarks on a five-year odyssey to help save a magical café on the remote Swedish island of Rödlöga. Don’t you just love it when a film can fit the overall vibe on a fest?

Spence notes other highlights including “the crazy and insane” The Surfer an Australian film starring Nicolas Cage and the 20th Anniversary screening of Gregg Araki´s Mysterious Skin starring Brad Corbet (Director of The Brutalist) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

In addition to those last two films Spence noted, this writer is also looking forward to the following:

Joshua Zeman’s documentary Checkpoint Zoo. This compelling documentary captures the harrowing early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, focusing on the plight of Kharkiv’s cherished Feldman Ecopark Zoo. As Russian forces advanced and Ukrainian defenders held their ground, the zoo became an unintended battleground. With over 5,000 animals confined to their enclosures, the escalating conflict left them vulnerable, starving, dehydrated, and in grave danger as the front line drew nearer. The film vividly portrays the struggle to save these innocent lives amidst the chaos of war.

Elizabeth Lo’s wild, “the-future-is-now” sounding Mistress Dispeller. In China, a burgeoning industry has risen to address the delicate issue of infidelity, offering services aimed at preserving marriages. Wang Zhenxi, a professional “mistress dispeller,” is at the forefront of this unique field. Hired to safeguard marital bonds and dismantle extramarital affairs by any means necessary, Wang navigates the complex emotional terrain of love, betrayal, and reconciliation. 

Also intriguing and the type of film one can say they saw before it was released worldwide is Daniel Minahan’s On Swift Horses which stars several much buzzed about performers including Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter and Daisy Edgar-Jones in a period piece (circa 1953) love quadrangle that also leans way into racetrack betting. Sounds like a little something for everyone.

Other quick picks include Space Cowboy which is a fun looking escapade through the life and times of a professional skydiving cinematographer who highlights some of his more outlandish shoots, the Naomi Watts and Bill Murray (and a Great Dane) starring The Friend as well as Waves which in and of itself sounds interesting but perhaps more intriguing is that it’s Czechoslovakia’s highest grossing film of 2024. What are those zany Czech’s into these days anyway? 

One of the aforementioned new wrinkles for the fest will be a live taping of the always entertaining podcast, “The Film That Blew My Mind” in which hosts John Cooper (who is also the new True West Film Center Artistic Director! Congrats, Coop!) and Tabitha Jackson who welcome guests to talk about, you guessed it, a film that blew their mind. Their guest during the live recording at 11 am, Friday, March 21, will be none other than indie film producing legend, Christine Vachon who will talk about the 1948 film, The Boy with the Green Hair.

If you’re having trouble figuring out what to see with so much to choose from, Spence has come to the rescue noting “we’ve organized our films differently this year in our Film Finder Guide where you can choose films based on your mood.” He simplifies, explaining, “our “mood match” feature pairs you up with films that might fit your mood.” For example, on the fests website under the film guide, a pulldown menu features choices for your mood such as To Laugh, To Go on a Journey, To Debate, Be Creative, To Love or be Loved, To Be Thrilled, To be Inspired. “There is something to match any mood you might be in,” states Spence. Very cool and also, very clever.

As always, the Sonoma International Film festival highlights a cinematic icon and this year’s attendee is international star, Joan Chen. Says Spence, “Joan Chen is a trailblazing actress whose talent and versatility have left an indelible mark on film and television. From The Last Emperor to Twin Peaks and her recent acclaimed performance in Dìdi, she continues to captivate audiences.” 

Chen will be feted on Sunday, March 23 and following her tribute, the festival will present the West Coast premiere of The Wedding Banquet, Andrew Ahn’s reimagining of Ang Lee’s beloved classic. With a cast that includes Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, and Kelly Marie Tran, it’s a perfect ending to the festival.

A complete listing of films, locations and how to secure tickets can be found at sonomafilmfest.org.

Pics of the Week: Tattoos & Blues

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Sonoma County photographer Tenay took these pics at the big “Tattoos & Blues” event at the Flamingo in Santa Rosa earlier this month — a yearly tattoo convention and classic car show that is way too cool for me, if I’m honest. The PD reported that “about 55 shops and some solo artists” joined “2,500 attendees during the three-day event at the Flamingo Resort & Spa.” What a scene…

Note from Simone: These pics originally appeared in the weekly email newsletter I write for the Bohemian, called Wine Country Today. Subscribe here!

More Local Headlines: Casino Lawsuit, Reservoir Magic, Charity Beer

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  • The Graton Indians and three other local tribes have sued the federal government in an attempt to reverse the approval of the Koi Nation tribe’s proposed Shiloh Resort & Casino in Windsor — and local elected officials in Sonoma County and Windsor are considering doing the same. (Sources: Press Democrat & Press Democrat & Press Democrat & Casino.org & Nextdoor)
  • The famous spillway in Napa County’s Lake Berryessa reservoir, known as the “Glory Hole” by locals and fans, is reportedly still in effect after the crazy-wet winter we’ve had. It only forms when the lake is full enough — so without a total deluge of unexpected rain, it’ll likely fade within the next few weeks. Peep it while it’s hot! (Sources: Lake Berryessa News via Facebook)
  • Russian River Brewing Company, whose wildly anticipated annual Pliny the Younger release is coming up next week, just debuted another delicious-looking beer for a cause. This one is a West Coast Pilsner called “We Love LA” — and half the price of your pint goes to Los Angeles fire victims. You can order it online or try it at both the brewery’s locations in Santa Rosa and Windsor (plus other pubs that serve their beers, like the Elephant in the Room in Healdsburg). Brewery owners write on Facebook: “The style West Coast Pils has roots in Los Angeles with our friend Bob Kunz from Highland Park Brewing. It seemed fitting to brew a fund raiser beer for LA with a beer style that started in LA.” (Source: Russian River Brewing Company via Facebook)
Note from Simone: These briefs originally appeared in the weekly email newsletter I write for the Bohemian, called Wine Country Today. Subscribe here!

Mitote Food Park Is Moving

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After months of uncertainty about its lease, the folks behind Santa Rosa’s popular Mitote Food Park — “the very first Mexican Food Park in Northern California,” according to their website, and a total melting pot of a community hangout — say their last day open at 665 Sebastopol Rd. in the Roseland neighborhood will be next Saturday, March 22. They plan to reopen a few blocks east at 100 Sebastopol Rd. sometime in the future, but they don’t know exactly when yet. From their Facebook announcement, posted yesterday afternoon: 

Come enjoy your favorite food trucks, as well as our delicious cocktails this coming week, as Saturday, March 22nd will be our last day of operation at 665 Sebastopol Road. We have been so grateful to our loyal customers and supporters. We do not have a new date yet to reopen down the street at 100 Sebastopol Road, so please help support our trucks by ordering from them for your parties or catering needs until we can give them a permanent home again. Keep following us, as well as our loncheras for news on where to find them in the interim, as well as information on our reopening.

As far as I can tell from Google Maps, the 100 Sebastopol Rd. property is just a big, bleak industrial lot right now — one that you can bet is about to get a whole lot colorful, when Mitote moves in. The Press Democrat has been following the food park’s ongoing lease issues this year; below is some history from a PD story that ran last month.

In 2019, Sonoma County awarded [Mitote Food Park owner and operator Octavio Diaz] a temporary lease for the site, which was already slated to be developed into Tierra de Rosas, a mixed-use commercial and residential village that includes affordable housing, a public plaza and mercado.

Diaz opened Mitote in 2022 and it soon attracted visitors from Santa Rosa and beyond with its cuisine from different parts of Mexico, including Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacan, Yucatán and Mexico City, as well as cultural events, music and drinks.

Note from Simone: This piece originally appeared in the weekly email newsletter I write for the Bohemian, called Wine Country Today. Subscribe here!

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...

Culture Crush, March 18

Sausalito Woman’s Club Funds Scholars The Sausalito Woman’s Club Scholarship Recognition Fund (SWCSRF) hosts Starlight Lounge on Saturday, April 5. This is a fundraising evening dedicated to supporting Marin City students in their pursuit of higher education. Established in 1956, the SWCSRF has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 local scholars attending colleges, graduate schools, vocational...

Your Letters, March 19

Last but Not Least It’s bad enough that Trump is taking the presidency along the path of personal dictatorship. It’s worse that a torrent of newspapers, tech corporations, judges, military brass, universities, priests and pastors are converting to his anti-republican gospel.  Even those leading the opposition have become weak-kneed and self-protective rather than community-minded and patriotic. Is there an idealist, a...

Locally Grown, 4th-Generation Winemaker Sam Bilbro

Sam Bilbro, Sonoma County native and fourth-generation California winemaker, founded Idlewild Wines in 2012, dedicated to making wine from California-grown grapes native to the Piedmont region of Northern Italy.  He now oversees all operations and winemaking as Overshine Wine Company’s managing partner. This is a new brand that was announced this past summer, bringing together several concepts under one umbrella,...

Hidden Costs of Mass Deportations

President Trump has made it clear that he’s dead set on attacking our immigrant friends, families and neighbors—and that the only people he’ll protect are his loyalists and billionaires. Since day one, Trump has launched a blatantly hateful agenda against immigrants. He’s issued executive orders that would unlawfully shut down asylum at the U.S. southern border, use the military to...

Sonoma Int’l Film Fest Serves Up Movies & More

'Culinary Cinema' on the menu The 2025 Sonoma International Film Festival kicks off Wednesday, March 19 and runs through Sunday, March 23 in and around the lovely hamlet of Sonoma, CA. It’s hard to believe that the counties longest standing film festival has been around since 1997 and this year promises more of the things you’ve grown to love about...

Pics of the Week: Tattoos & Blues

Sonoma County photographer Tenay took these pics at the big “Tattoos & Blues” event at the Flamingo in Santa Rosa earlier this month — a yearly tattoo convention and classic car show that is way too cool for me, if I’m honest. The PD reported that “about 55 shops and some solo artists” joined “2,500 attendees during the three-day event at...

More Local Headlines: Casino Lawsuit, Reservoir Magic, Charity Beer

The Graton Indians and three other local tribes have sued the federal government in an attempt to reverse the approval of the Koi Nation tribe’s proposed Shiloh Resort & Casino in Windsor — and local elected officials in Sonoma County and Windsor are considering doing the same. (Sources: Press Democrat & Press Democrat & Press Democrat & Casino.org & Nextdoor)The famous spillway in Napa County’s Lake Berryessa reservoir, known as the “Glory...

Mitote Food Park Is Moving

After months of uncertainty about its lease, the folks behind Santa Rosa’s popular Mitote Food Park — “the very first Mexican Food Park in Northern California,” according to their website, and a total melting pot of a community hangout — say their last day open at 665 Sebastopol Rd. in the Roseland neighborhood will be next Saturday, March 22. They plan...
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