Greek to Me, Charles Bililies of Souvla

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Greek to Me, Charles Bililies of Souvla

If one has never been to Souvla, the fast-fine Greek restaurant with six locations scattered about the Bay Area, they should run to one right now. 

And one should definitely order the Greek fries, if nothing else. Lucky for those of us across the bridge, the most recent location opened at the Marin Country Mart in Larkspur, being the first Souvla to launch outside of San Francisco city proper. 

Founder and CEO, Charles Bililies, moved to California in 2006 and started Souvla more as a passion project to honor his Greek-American heritage. The idea speedily evolved into the highly regarded brand that it is today. Bililies has become an authority on the intersection of food and tech and the innovation behind the casual-meets-high quality combo he has created at Souvla, often speaking on panels and in the press about all of it. He spends his down time at home in Sonoma County. 

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Charles Bililies: I’ve been on a long and windy road with restaurants and hospitality for more than half my life now. From delis, to line cooking in chain restaurants, hotels to 3-Michelin Star restaurants, from the fry station to dining rooms and the back office, to owning and operating Souvla for the last 11 years.

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

I proposed to my wife over a 16-year-old bottle of Assyrtiko from Hatzidakis while perched on our balcony in Oia, on the caldera of Santorini, while the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea. The wine was unlike anything I’d had previously, and the moment was simply perfect.

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

It should come as no surprise we drink a fair amount of Assyrtiko, the mineral-driven, crisp white wine native to Santorini but now grown throughout Greece. We planted a small vineyard of Assyrtiko in our Sonoma backyard. To our knowledge, it’s the only planting of the varietal in all of Sonoma County. We’ll let you know how it is in about three-four years.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

We’re big fans of Buc’s in Sonoma. Either a negroni or a bottle of Malvasia with some wings or a slice.

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

Sigalas Assyrtiko from Santorini. No doubt.

Souvla at Marin Country Mart, 1805 Larkspur Landing Cir., Suite 14, Larkspur, 415.660.9500. souvla.com/location/marin-country-mart.

Your Letters, May 28

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Tradition

When you think about it, Donald Trump fits right in. 

The practice of widespread public lying as standard U.S. government practice goes back at least to the Civil War, accelerated around the Spanish-American War, rekindled in the HUAC-Joe McCarthy period, ramped up to an art form in Vietnam, coalesced with Watergate, reared up with Ronald Reagan and Iran-Contra, made history in Iraq, and fed the “stolen” election in 2020 and the pandemic. 

American institutions and their leaders lie. This is the great lesson we can all count on. Trump is simply carrying the torch. It’s the perfect job for him.

Craig J. Corsini
San Rafael

F/Elon

Thank you, Miriam Ginden, for speaking out about billionaire robber baron Elon Musk (“Open Mic: The Tesla Chainsaw Massacre,” by Miriam Ginden, May 13, 2025), in league with the other oligarchs. The more we know, and act on that knowledge, the greater our chances to defeat them. Power to the people.

Christina White
Sonoma County

Open Mic: Historic Moment. How Will We Respond Today?

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Open Mic: Historic Moment. How Will We Respond Today?

A person escapes slave labor, torture, rape and murder, and illegally crosses a border to a land where such crimes are outlawed, to a land where people have the right to work for wages and are protected by the law. 

Anyone in this “free land” who harbors or aides such an escapee is subject to federal prosecution, fines and imprisonment. This was the United States in 1850 when Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law, legislation requiring that all escaped slaves be returned to the slave-owner and that officials and citizens in free states must cooperate.

Americans in 1850 had to decide where they stood, with the newly passed federal law or with their conscience. The risk was great, for both the runaway slaves and those Americans who might help them.

Today, the Republican Party, the very party which grew from the outrage over the wickedness of the Fugitive Slave Act, now seeks to criminalize every aspect of helping a person who has fled a life of torture, violence and suffering. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 has been updated and amended for the fleeing refugees of 2025. 

We are only four months into Donald Trump’s Second Term of Cruelty. Where will we be a year from now? Two years from now? How draconian will the laws be then? 

So often, we wish to be part of a moment of great historical importance, a moment when we have to take a risk to save another, to take a stand when others wouldn’t. We feel certain we would know the right thing to do. If only such a moment would come our way.

Today, that moment comes not in whether to provide shelter and safety to a refugee fleeing violence in their home country, a person illegally in the United States.

How will we respond this time? In this century? In this historic moment?

That question is as potent, and as dangerous, today as it was then. For us, and for the victims in the breach.

Brad Wolf is a former prosecutor and co-coordinates the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal.

Playing Chicken, Reporting from the Field

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Playing Chicken, Reporting from the Field

As Bob Dylan might’ve observed about Petaluma this past weekend, “The sun’s not yellow; it’s chicken,” when a poultry-hued sunbeam shone brightly on the quaint burg (once heralded as the “egg basket of the world”). For this, we can thank a potent admixture of arts, advertising and activism.

Friday saw the premiere of Mercury Theater’s The Resurrection of Freddy Chickan, a wild retrospective of nine unforgettable works by performance legend Fred Curchack. Featuring music, puppets, shadow-play, movement and mind-bending visuals—a fever dream of a show that showcases Curchack’s limitless imagination and virtuosic performance chops—the must-see show continues this weekend and is a fundraiser for Mercury Theater (more at mercurytheater.org).

Somehow, in the midst of celebrating Curchack’s onstage victory, we neglected to acknowledge that it was also International Drinking with Chickens Day. This came courtesy of the promotional genius of author Kate E. Richards, who’s pushing her book, Drinking with CHICKENS: Free-range Cocktails for the Happiest Hour, across the bar. Incidentally, Cuchack is Polish for “chicken,” so close enough. Saturday, however, a parade of protestors entreated Petaluma City Council, to “Help The Chickens” (their campaign name and call-to-action) at a local poultry plant (more at helpthechickens.com).

In other matters, studies suggest playing Mozart’s music to plants has a positive effect on their growth. At Petaluma’s Lagunitas Brewing Company, they’re playing music to beer.

Albeit, their approach is different, and the outcome sought has little to do with the brewing process, but the effect on the vibe has proved fundamental to the Lagunitas experience. Such was the case this past Memorial Day, when the local institution hosted “‘Live at Lagunitas’ Kicks Off with BottleRock Hangover Show.” 

The band in question, the three-piece was The Los Angeles League of Musicians—more popularly known in their abbreviated form as La LOM. The genre-blurring instrumental trio channeled the full spectrum of Los Angeles’ musical DNA into the brewery’s tank room (and later on the main stage).

The experience was part of a Live at Lagunitas’ VIP package, which included a “pre-show hang” in the brewery’s legendary loft (think: a private club meets one’s favorite uncle’s garage with national touring acts signing swag), an intimate set with the band (in the aforementioned tank room, in this case) and reserved space for the main show (meaning one gets to plant their butt on the lawn before the masses plant theirs).

We found playwright and Argus-Courier community editor David Templeton in the lounge and spent the next several hours swaying to the music but perhaps swaying more from the beer. Five out of five (IPAs). Would do it again.

Tragedy + Time: Aaron Foster Humorously Explores Mental Health

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Tragedy + Time: Aaron Foster Humorously Explores Mental Health

It’s said that comedy is tragedy plus time. In Aaron Foster’s case, it’s also depression, anxiety, grief, two restaurants, a defunct sports nutrition brand and a stint as an HGTV host—all seasoned with gallows humor and served under the banner Mostly Jokes.

The show, which lands at Sebastopol’s Main Street Theater on June 5, is a one-man dive into the deep end of mental health with nothing but a mic as a flotation device. Foster, who returned to stand-up after a 15-year hiatus, has crafted an autobiographical act that confronts—with harrowing hilarity—his family trauma, career detours and the garden-variety existential dread that festers behind curated Instagram smiles.

“The first time I told a joke about my brother committing suicide, it did not go well, to say the least,” he told me. “But, one person (one) found me after the show and said their brother had done the same thing and that it was the funniest joke they’d ever heard. That was enough reason to stick with it.”

Dark? Yep. But ultimately cathartic (for both the performer and the audience) and, above all, funny. 

“I don’t think there is such a thing as ‘too dark,’ but there is definitely such a thing as ‘not funny,’ and that’s the ultimate measuring stick,” Foster said. “When you’re starting out and audiences don’t know you, it’s not always ideal to open with five (or 15) minutes about clinical depression, so you’d better figure out a way to make that stuff really funny and relatable.”

Foster does. And he’s earned his black belt in emotional jujitsu, flipping pain into punchlines with finesse honed over years—years of therapy.

“My life is pretty fantastic on paper. Unfortunately, in my head, it’s a whole different thing,” he said, candid about his ongoing bouts with imposter syndrome and a tendency to catastrophize. “An hour on stage in front of 100 strangers is more comfortable to me than 10 minutes at a cocktail party.”

Comedy is where chaos and control share a safe-word. And Foster’s set is a masterclass in owning the narrative. From strained family dynamics (a bipolar father, a schizophrenic brother, among other issues) to the psychic wounds of the career complexifier known as Hollywood.

“Turning a breakdown into material might be easier than turning it into a breakthrough, unfortunately. Unless turning a breakdown into material is the breakthrough?” he noted. 

It might be. At least it’s honest. And in a culture over-attuned to performative vulnerability on TikTok and Instagram, the real deal is damn near revolutionary. That said, Foster is not deluded about the odds. Hollywood loves a comeback story—but it’s hard to get it to notice.

“Sure, it’s late in the game, but it ain’t over ’til you’re dead and buried, so you might as well keep swinging,” he said. “It’s probably as long a shot as doing it the other way, maybe longer, but at least it’s mine.”

‘Mostly Jokes’ plays at 8pm, Thursday, June 5, Main Street Theater, 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Tickets at mostlyjokes.com.

Culture Crush, 5/28

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Culture Crush, 5/28

San Rafael

‘Wall of Voices’ Set at Rafael

CAFILM Education and Youth in Arts present Wall of Voices, a short documentary spotlighting the creation of a vibrant mural at Laurel Dell Elementary School in San Rafael. Directed by youth filmmaker Mia Huang, the film captures a year-long journey of community, identity and creative collaboration through the eyes of young artists. The free film screening on Thursday, May 29 includes a post-film conversation with Huang and instructor Luca Capponi, moderated by CAFILM Education’s Diana Sánchez Maciel. Produced with support from the Community Media Center of Marin, the project celebrates youth voices and the power of art to foster connection. 7pm, Thursday, May 29, at Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael. Admission is free; tickets required. More at rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/wall-of-voices.

Mill Valley

Pardon the Interruption…

We’re interrupting our usual broadcasting to inform all at home that the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley is set to host the legendary band, Pardon the Interruption. In this rather meta press announcement, all of the North Bay is officially invited to come on out to the Sweetwater for a concert that’s all about blending the genres of new wave, prog-pop and rock into some entirely unique and infectiously good listening. Pardon the Interruption will play alongside ska aficionados, Jethro Jeremiah Band. To move and groove along to soulful ska and genre-blending beats, one may come out to the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley. Doors open for the concert at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm on June 5. Tickets cost $30. To learn more, visit sweetwatermusichall.org.

Santa Rosa

All That Glitters Isn’t Peanuts

The North Bay is going to go nuts over a new mobile map … Peanuts, that is. That’s right; the famed Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, is being celebrated through increased visibility and accessibility; i.e., his nearly 100 local Peanuts-themed statues have just gotten a tech upgrade so they may be found and appreciated that much easier by visitors and locals alike. Now, those who come out to Santa Rosa can take a guided virtual tour of the city via a Peanuts on Parade digital map. This atypical treasure map leads its followers to all the most iconic Peanuts-themed statues, allowing people a chance to admire the city’s claim to fame face-to-fictional-metal-face. And who knows … maybe they’ll let admirerers pet Snoopy’s nose (for luck, like a Buddha’s belly). To access the Peanuts on Parade statue map online, visit VisitSantaRosa.com/Peanuts.

Sonoma

Sunsets at The Lodge

This is the vibe for summer of 2025: a monthly poolside concert in Sonoma with tacos, cocktails and a sunset view to match the immaculate mood. As luck would have it, The Lodge at Sonoma has all that and a bag of chips (I assume they have chips, at least, since they’ve got everything else I want). Regardless, I digress—this summer concert series is free to attend and includes onsite food and drink tickets for purchase. Plus, each month there’s a fun new activity alongside all the other fun activities. July 10, for instance, has live cigar rolling with Fumar Cigars. Sunsets at The Lodge takes place from 5 to 7pm on the second Thursday of each month, beginning on June 12. The Lodge is located at 1325 Broadway at Leveroni and Napa roads in Sonoma. To learn more, visit thelodgeatsonoma.com.

Free Will Astrology: 5/28-6/3

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Free Will Astrology: 5/28-6/3

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The strongest, most enduring parts of China’s Great Wall were the 5,500 miles built during the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644. One secret to their success was sticky rice, an essential ingredient in the mortar. The resulting structures have been remarkably water resistant. They hold their shape well, resist weed growth and get stronger as time passes. I hope you will find metaphorical equivalents to sticky rice as you work on your foundations in the coming months, Aries. Proceed as if you are constructing basic supports that will last you for years.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The world’s most expensive spice is saffron. To gather one gram of it, workers must harvest 150 flowers by hand. Doesn’t that process resemble what you have been doing? I am awed by the stamina and delicacy you have been summoning to generate your small but potent treasure. What you’re producing may not be loud and showy, but its value will be concentrated and robust. Trust that those who appreciate quality will recognize the painstaking effort behind your creation. Like saffron’s distinctive essence that transforms ordinary dishes into extraordinary ones, your patient dedication is creating what can’t be rushed or replicated.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author Jean-Paul Sartre was offered the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964. But he rejected it. Why? He said that if he accepted it, he would be turned into an institution and authority figure, which would hinder his ability to critique politics and society. He was deeply committed to the belief that a writer has an obligation to be independent and accountable only to their conscience and audience, not to external accolades or validations. I think you are in a Sartre-like phase right now, dear Gemini. You have a sacred duty to be faithful to your highest calling, your deepest values and your authentic identity. Every other consideration should be secondary.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are now highly attuned to subtle energies, subliminal signals and hidden agendas. No one in your sphere is even half as sensitive as you are to the intriguing mysteries that are unfolding beneath the visible surface. This may be a bit unsettling, but it’s a key asset. Your ability to sense what others are missing gives you a unique advantage. So trust your intuitive navigation system, Cancerian, even if the way forward isn’t obvious. Your ability to sense underlying currents will enable you to avoid obstacles and discern opportunities that even your allies might overlook.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Underground fungal networks are essential for the health of ecosystems. They connect plant roots and facilitate transfers of nutrients, water and communication signals between various species. They enhance the fertility of the soil, helping plants thrive. In accordance with astrological indicators, I invite you to celebrate your equivalent of the underground fungal network. What is the web of relationships that enables you to thrive? Not just the obvious bonds, but the subtle ones, too: the barista who has memorized your order, the neighbor who waters your plants when you’re away, the online ally who responds to your posts. Now is an excellent time to map and nurture these vital interconnections.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warns about “the danger of a single story.” She tells us that authentic identity requires us to reject oversimplified narratives. As a Nigerian woman living in the U.S., she found that both Western and African audiences sought to reduce her to convenient categories. She has not only resisted that pressure, but also outwitted and outflanked it. Her diversity is intriguing. She mixes an appreciation for pop culture with serious cultural criticism. She addresses both academic and mainstream audiences. I offer her up as your role model, Virgo. In the coming weeks, may she inspire you to energetically express all your uncategorizable selves.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Where have you not yet traveled but would like to? What frontiers would your imagination love for you to visit, but you have refrained? Now is the time to consider dropping inhibitions, outmoded habits and irrelevant rules that have prevented you from wandering farther and wider. You have full permission from life, karma and your future self to take smart risks that will lead you out of your comfort zone. What exotic sanctuary do you wish you had the courage to explore? What adventurous pilgrimage might activate aspects of your potential that are still half-dormant?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Astrologers say that Scorpio is ruled by three creatures that correspond to three ascending levels of spiritual maturity. The regular Scorpio person is ruled by the scorpion. Scorpios who are well underway with their spiritual work are ruled by the eagle. The Scorpio who has consistently succeeded at the hard and rewarding work of metaphorical death and resurrection is ruled by the phoenix—the mythical bird that is reborn from the ashes of its own immolation. With this as our context, I am letting you know that no matter how evolved you are, the coming weeks will bring you rich opportunities to come more into your own as a brilliant phoenix.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Seas off the coast of Singapore are heavily polluted. Some of the coral reefs there are showing resilience, though. They have developed symbiotic relationships with certain algae and bacteria that were formerly hostile. Their robustness lies in their adaptability and their power to forge unlikely alliances. That’s a good teaching for you right now. The strength you need isn’t about maintaining fixed positions or rigid boundaries, but about being flexible. So I hope you will be alert and ready to connect with unfamiliar resources and unexpected help. A willingness to adjust and compromise will be a superpower.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sometimes, disruptions are helpful prods that nudge us to pay closer attention. An apparent malfunction might be trying to tell us some truth that our existing frameworks can’t accommodate. I suspect this phenomenon might be occurring in your world. An area of your life that seems to be misfiring may in fact be highlighting a blind spot in your comprehension. Rather than fretting and purging the glitches, I will ask you to first consider what helpful information is being exposed. Suspend your judgment long enough to learn from apparent errors.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): This isn’t the first time I’ve said that your ideas are ahead of their time. Now I’m telling you again, and adding that your intuitions, feelings and approaches are ahead of their time, too. As usual, your precociousness carries both potential benefits and problems. If people are flexible and smart enough to be open to your innovations, you will be rewarded. If others are rigid and oblivious, you may have to struggle to get the right things done. Here’s my advice: Focus on the joy of carrying out your innovations rather than getting caught up in fighting resistance.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Sunlight can’t penetrate deeper than 3,280 feet into the ocean’s depths. Even at 650 feet down, a murky twilight zone prevails. But nearly 75% of deep-sea creatures can create their own light, thanks to a biochemical phenomenon called bioluminescence. Jellyfish, starfish and crustaceans are a few animals that glow. I propose we make them your symbols of power in the coming weeks, Pisces. I hope they incite you to be your own source of illumination as you summon all the resilience you need. If shadowy challenges arise, resolve to emit your steady brilliance. Inspire yourself and others with your subtle yet potent clarity.

Live at Lagunitas: Season Opener Hits Right Note

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Live at Lagunitas: Season Opener Hits Right Note

It’s not often a Monday feels like a Friday night, but such was the magic conjured when LA LOM lit up the Lagunitas Amphitheater on May 26. The Los Angeles League of Musicians—fresh from their BottleRock set—delivered a high-energy, genre-spanning performance that turned the sold-out Petaluma venue into a sun-dappled dancefloor beneath the redwoods.

The crowd, shoulder to shoulder in the bowl, swayed in time to LA LOM’s groove-heavy blend of global sounds, a testament to the brewery’s knack for curating vibes as well as brews.

“We kicked off the season with a packed house, a killer set from La Lom… and all the good vibes that make Live at Lagunitas what it is,” said Lagunitas CMO Hannah Dray. “This series is our love letter to the community that raised us.”

It’s a love letter with a charitable footnote. This year’s VIP(A) experience—think backstage hangs with a philanthropic twist—raised nearly $3,000 for Family Dog Rescue, a local nonprofit that specializes in saving the underdogs (sometimes literally). From the blind and elderly to the broken-limbed and just plain overlooked, these pups receive veterinary care, shelter, and a second chance thanks to programs like this. As the rescue’s team put it, “Your support saves lives.”

Next up in the Lagunitas lineup: UK retro-soul outfit The Heavy Heavy on June 2, with proceeds benefiting the Pink Boots Society, a group championing women and non-binary folks in brewing. Live at Lagunitas continues through the summer with more free shows to come.

Sonoma Developer Arrested in $28M Ponzi Scheme

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Sonoma Developer Arrested in $28M Ponzi Scheme

Federal agents arrested Sonoma real estate developer Kenneth W. Mattson, 63, on Thursday following a sweeping indictment alleging a long-running Ponzi scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors—many of them retirees—out of tens of millions of dollars.

Mattson, former president of the now-defunct LeFever Mattson firm, is charged with seven counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors say he used fake real estate partnerships to lure investors, then diverted their funds to pay personal expenses and keep earlier investors placated with payouts not backed by property profits but by newer victims’ cash.

“This indictment alleges that Kenneth Mattson defrauded hundreds of victims, many of whom entrusted him with retirement savings they could not afford to lose,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, who called the case “a classic Ponzi scheme.”

Federal investigators allege Mattson raised at least $28 million between 2019 and 2024 alone from “off-books” investors—individuals promised shares in properties like the Divi Divi Tree and Heacock Park apartment complexes but never recorded as official partners. In one instance, he concealed an $8 million sale of an apartment complex while continuing to solicit new investors for it.

Authorities also charge that Mattson deleted thousands of files after learning of an SEC probe, despite being ordered to preserve them.

Mattson is scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge in San Francisco on May 23. If convicted, he faces decades in federal prison.

Victims are urged to contact the FBI at LF**********@*bi.gov or visit forms.fbi.gov/victims/lfminvestors.

Summertime and the Living is Easy

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Summertime and the Living is Easy

It is easy to be negative or even snarky about having fun these days, given the current political and world climate that has somehow managed to ooze down onto all of us here in chill, progressive Northern California. 

And it almost feels challenging to have fun with so much sadness and idiocy around every corner. Alas, what else do we have? Plus, we’re incredibly lucky to live in a vibrant and, perhaps more importantly, temperate area where summertime allows for some outdoor fun.

It would be nearly impossible to name all the events happening in and around Sonoma County this summer, but here are a few to get one started on enjoying the next few months. After all … it may be the last. See, there we go again.

Sonoma Botanical Garden’s Sunday Funday series returns this summer, kicking off Sunday, June 22 and then picking back up Sunday, July 13 and finally, Sunday, Aug. 10. Packed with fun for all ages, this year’s events will also celebrate the stunning new exhibit, Winged Wonders, featuring larger-than-life bamboo birds hidden throughout the garden.

As if that weren’t enough, one can enjoy live bird presentations by The Bird Rescue Center of Sonoma County, guided family birding walks, face painting and crafts with Art Escape’s Art Van Gogh, Family yoga with Sonoma Yoga, lawn games and more festival favorites. Free with admission (members enjoy free entry).

Santa Rosa’s Summer on the Square is back again. And if one hasn’t checked out how this event rolls (and rocks), it’s time they did. Santa Rosa Metro Chamber’s popular series of free, family-friendly events hits Courthouse Square all summer long, filling downtown with live music, outdoor movies and vibrant cultural celebrations.

The fun begins Friday, June 20 with a Country Summer Preview Concert—featuring local stars Dustin Saylor and Nicole Marden. This event is presented in partnership with Country Summer Music Festival. Then, Friday, July 18 brings a special treat as KRSH 95.9 puts on their first Backyard Concert on the Road. This event will feature venerable locals The Sorentinos and upstarts Pardon the Interruption.

Throughout the summer, every Monday and select Fridays through June and July, families can enjoy a lively mix of live concerts showcasing homegrown talent, community movie nights under the stars and family-friendly festivities for all ages. All in the heart of Santa Rosa.

Speaking of KRSH, the beloved radio station’s backyard concert series has a solid lineup set for their free Thursday night shows, as this new season brings an electrifying mix of rising talent and beloved favorites to the outdoor backyard series. Kicking things off is local up-and-comer Bella Rayne and Friends playing the music of JGB and Grateful Dead with local teen sensations Gas Money setting the stage. 

The excitement continues with San Francisco legends Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, preceded by the crowd-pleasing sounds of Marshall House Project to get the crowd warmed up. This carefully curated lineup promises unforgettable performances under the stars, blending fresh energy with timeless appeal. There’s also food and drink available at every show. 

Other KRSH backyard shows include Wreckless Strangers, Rockabilly Roadhouse with Big Dave presents: Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys plus Jinx Jones & The KingTones and a Sonoma County Super Jam featuring the Pulsators and All-Star Special Guests: Volker Strifler, Spike Sikes, Sebastian St. James, Andre DeChannes, Ellie James, Danny Sorentino, Anna Jae, Kevin Mulligan, hosted by Johnny Campbell.

Even in more certain times, few things lift the spirit like gathering with good company and savoring the endless bounty our area provides. And that’s exactly what Sebastopol’s 52nd Annual Gravenstein Apple Fair delivers—a joyful celebration of community, flavor and tradition. One may want to mark those calendars for Aug. 9–10, when the fair returns at the perfect moment: peak Gravenstein apple season. Set in the picturesque Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol, this beloved event brings together farm-fresh flavors and local food, live music to lift spirits and good vibes for all ages.

OK, so maybe all this outdoor, daytime fun sounds cool. But some like the nighttime events a little more. Fair enough. Sonoma County’s nonprofit film hub, True West Film Center, has revealed the lineup for its 2025 Movies Under the Stars outdoor film series. Running June 6 through Oct. 25, the six-event series will bring free, family-friendly screenings under the open sky at venues in Cloverdale and Healdsburg. 

This year, True West has really done a good job mixing in family fare with films that appeal to an older crowd. Disney/Pixar’s Elemental screens on June 6 in the Healdsburg Plaza. And that crazy Bruce the Shark celebrates the Big 5-0 this year with a screening of Jaws on July 13 at the Cloverdale Airport, where no bodies of water are around to add to the thrills. All films begin at dusk, and tickets are not required. Audiences are welcome on a first come, first served basis.

One of the neatest pop-up events in Petaluma has become a local jazz tradition. Live and free every Sunday from 1 to 3:30pm, the Chuck Sher Quartet brings together world-class musicians from the Bay Area, New York City and beyond for unforgettable performances in Putnam Plaza Park (next to the Speakeasy). Since its debut in 2020, this weekly gathering has become a must-experience event for jazz lovers and casual listeners alike. One may pull up a seat, soak in the vibrant downtown atmosphere and enjoy some of the finest jazz performances around—no cover, just pure musical magic.

Another, more long-standing musical event is the vibrant Cotati Accordion Festival. For 33 years, this fest has brought together accordion lovers of all ages and cultures for two unforgettable days of music and merriment. This year’s event takes place Aug. 16 and 17 at La Plaza Park in Cotati. Typically featuring around 30 accordion acts—from world-class soloists to zany bands—there’s also all kinds of vendors, unique crafts, delicious eats and general accordion conviviality.

Right down the road from downtown Cotati, one can check out the annual Green Music Center Summer Series. The lineup recently dropped and, per usual, there’s a little something for everyone. Located inside and outside of Sonoma State’s gorgeous Weill Hall, a few highlights include “Weird Al” Yankovic, Pink Martini, Tower of Power, Rhiannon Giddens, a 4th of July fireworks show featuring the Santa Rosa Symphony accompanied by Transcendence Theatre Company and a whole bunch more.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Windsor’s popular and fun summer staple, Summer Nights on the Green, which is back for its 23rd edition starting May 29 and running through Aug. 28. The Thursday night event ties in with the Windsor Farmers’ Market, along with food vendors, farm fresh produce and family lawn games. There’s also a solid music lineup featuring Fleetwood Macrame, Pop Rocks, Pride and Joy, David Martin’s House Party and many more.

Sure, we’re leaning into a lot of live music here. But maybe one is looking for a way to enjoy nature. Would surrounding oneself in the lovely smell of lavender also be a motivator? Then one may choose to immerse themself in the sights, scents and serenity of the lavender fields at Santa Rosa’s Lavender Bloom Fest at Bees ’n’ Blooms Farm starting May 24 and running through July 13 from 10am-4pm. 

At the fest, they may stroll through the fragrant Lavender Labyrinth, explore the vibrant Flower and Butterfly Gardens and visit the intriguingly named Poultry Palace. And they may bring a picnic to enjoy amid the blooming fields, then browse their Farm Stand for fresh lavender bundles, handmade bath and body products, local honey, essential oils and other farm-fresh treasures. Admission is $15 per person, with children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult.

As if roaming fields of lavender weren’t uplifting enough, how about the chance to experience the magic of Transcendence Theatre Company’s Broadway Under the Stars? If one hasn’t done so, then why wait? This is a truly world-class event that begins with a Wine Country picnic featuring gourmet fare and local wines. As twilight falls, the excitement builds toward a spectacular performance by world-class talent from Broadway, Hollywood and beyond, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Sonoma’s Field of Dreams, just steps from Sonoma Plaza.

This season, acts include Broadway’s Best Night Ever, which features song and dance from the greatest hits of musical theater, showcasing music from dozens of Broadway shows, with talent from Broadway brought to Sonoma. There will also be a performance of Beautiful—The Carole King Musical, featuring Sarah Bockel, who played King on Broadway and across North America and then, later, Ladies of Broadway, which is billed as “a celebration of dreams, stories, and the magic of live theater. Featuring beloved Broadway performers, inspired by the legends of musical theater.”

Again, these are but a few picks we have for summer fun. And one can be sure the Bohemian will be bringing even more event ideas throughout the summer.

Greek to Me, Charles Bililies of Souvla

If one has never been to Souvla, the fast-fine Greek restaurant with six locations scattered about the Bay Area, they should run to one right now.  And one should definitely order the Greek fries, if nothing else. Lucky for those of us across the bridge, the most recent location opened at the Marin Country Mart in Larkspur, being the first...
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Your Letters, May 28

Tradition When you think about it, Donald Trump fits right in.  The practice of widespread public lying as standard U.S. government practice goes back at least to the Civil War, accelerated around the Spanish-American War, rekindled in the HUAC-Joe McCarthy period, ramped up to an art form in Vietnam, coalesced with Watergate, reared up with Ronald Reagan and Iran-Contra, made history...
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Open Mic: Historic Moment. How Will We Respond Today?

A person escapes slave labor, torture, rape and murder, and illegally crosses a border to a land where such crimes are outlawed, to a land where people have the right to work for wages and are protected by the law.  Anyone in this “free land” who harbors or aides such an escapee is subject to federal prosecution, fines and imprisonment....
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Playing Chicken, Reporting from the Field

As Bob Dylan might’ve observed about Petaluma this past weekend, “The sun’s not yellow; it’s chicken,” when a poultry-hued sunbeam shone brightly on the quaint burg (once heralded as the “egg basket of the world”). For this, we can thank a potent admixture of arts, advertising and activism. Friday saw the premiere of Mercury Theater’s The Resurrection of Freddy Chickan,...
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Tragedy + Time: Aaron Foster Humorously Explores Mental Health

It’s said that comedy is tragedy plus time. In Aaron Foster’s case, it’s also depression, anxiety, grief, two restaurants, a defunct sports nutrition brand and a stint as an HGTV host—all seasoned with gallows humor and served under the banner Mostly Jokes. The show, which lands at Sebastopol’s Main Street Theater on June 5, is a one-man dive into the...
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Culture Crush, 5/28

San Rafael ‘Wall of Voices’ Set at Rafael CAFILM Education and Youth in Arts present Wall of Voices, a short documentary spotlighting the creation of a vibrant mural at Laurel Dell Elementary School in San Rafael. Directed by youth filmmaker Mia Huang, the film captures a year-long journey of community, identity and creative collaboration through the eyes of young artists. The...
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Free Will Astrology: 5/28-6/3

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The strongest, most enduring parts of China’s Great Wall were the 5,500 miles built during the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644. One secret to their success was sticky rice, an essential ingredient in the mortar. The resulting structures have been remarkably water resistant. They hold their shape well, resist weed growth and get stronger as time passes....
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Live at Lagunitas: Season Opener Hits Right Note

It’s not often a Monday feels like a Friday night, but such was the magic conjured when LA LOM lit up the Lagunitas Amphitheater on May 26. The Los Angeles League of Musicians—fresh from their BottleRock set—delivered a high-energy, genre-spanning performance that turned the sold-out Petaluma venue into a sun-dappled dancefloor beneath the redwoods. The crowd, shoulder to shoulder in...
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Sonoma Developer Arrested in $28M Ponzi Scheme

Federal agents arrested Sonoma real estate developer Kenneth W. Mattson, 63, on Thursday following a sweeping indictment alleging a long-running Ponzi scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors—many of them retirees—out of tens of millions of dollars. Mattson, former president of the now-defunct LeFever Mattson firm, is charged with seven counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors...
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Summertime and the Living is Easy

It is easy to be negative or even snarky about having fun these days, given the current political and world climate that has somehow managed to ooze down onto all of us here in chill, progressive Northern California.  And it almost feels challenging to have fun with so much sadness and idiocy around every corner. Alas, what else do we...
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