Page 534 – Bohemian | Sonoma & Napa Counties

May 27: Dream On in Santa Rosa

Noted

Charlie Swanson

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May 24, 2017

True pioneers in their homeland, Kabul Dreams are called Afghanistan’s first rock band. Certainly, amid the country’s ongoing conflicts, the trio sounded unlike anything else in the region when they formed in 2008. After releasing an acclaimed debut album, Plastic Words, in 2013, the band relocated to Oakland, where they continue to evolve their sound today. This weekend, Kabul Dreams headline an eclectic concert that also includes Santa Rosa alternative band Osito and singer-songwriter Jimmy Cramer. Local artists will also display new work in a gallery on Saturday, May 27, at Arlene Francis Center, 99 Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 8pm. $10. 707.528.3009.

Hot Summer Guide

Features

Charlie Swanson

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May 24, 2017

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Has it finally stopped raining? Really? That must mean that summer is near and it wouldn’t be summer without our Hot Summer Guide, your official program to all the music, festivals, art shows and fun that summer in the North Bay has to offer.

May

Season of Wine & Lavender What began as a daylong celebration is now a three-month season—May through July 15—of tastings, food pairings and tours of lavender-filled fields. Special events include plein air painting sessions and photography safaris, with winemaker seminars elevating the palate at Matanzas Creek Winery. 6097 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. matanzascreek.com.

Funky Fridays The weekly summer series brings popular North Bay bands like the Bruthas (May 26), Hour of Tower (June 23) and Frobeck (Aug. 4) to the gorgeous lawn in front of the historic Hood Mansion while raising money for Sonoma Valley parks every Friday through Sept. 1. 1450 N. Pythian Road, Santa Rosa. Doors at 5:30pm. $10; kids under 18, free. funkyfridays.info.

BottleRock Napa Valley The biggest concert festival to hit Napa has been sold-out for months, so hopefully you already got your tickets to see headliners Maroon 5, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Foo Fighters, and eat the best of Napa Valley food and wine. May 26–28 at the Napa Valley Expo Center. 575 Third St., Napa. bottlerocknapavalley.com.

Oysterpalooza Celebrate the bivalve by eating everything oyster, with a heavy bent on the cuisine of New Orleans. There are also plenty of drinks and live music by the Sam Chase & the Untraditional, Dirty Cello and others. May 28 at Rocker Oysterfeller’s. 14415 Hwy. 1, Valley Ford. Noon. $10–$20 (does not include food). 707.876.1983.

JaM Cellars Ballroom The historic ballroom that sits above Blue Note Jazz Club in downtown Napa is now known as the JaM Cellars Ballroom, at the Margrit Mondavi Theatre, to be exact, but we’re more excited about the lineup than the title. After a slew of BottleRock after-parties featuring performers like Bob Moses and House of Pain, the ballroom hosts performers that range from Jazz Getaway founder Brian Culbertson (June 10) and laidback songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter (June 16), to events like the community dance event Salsa con Vino (June 17) and a benefit for the Schoolbox Project with the Brothers Comatose and others (July 7). 1030 Main St., Napa. Full lineup at bluenotenapa.com and jamcellarsballroom.com.

June

Concerts at Montgomery Village Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Village Shopping Center offers several music lineups throughout the season. Look for rocking weekend afternoon and Thursday-evening shows with bands and performers like Pride & Joy, Pete Escovedo’s Latin Jazz Ensemble and others. June 1 through October. 707.545.3844. Full lineup at mvshops.com.

Sonoma County Pride Celebration What’s not to love about 30 years of Russian River pride? This year’s festivities start on June 2, with a concert featuring Billy Gilman and Steve Grand at the Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park. On June 3, a Solidarity Rally and National LGTBQI March at Guerneville Lodge features speakers, music and food, and a film festival screens at Rio Theater in Monte Rio. A festival full of entertainment, exhibitors and more follows the annual unity march and parade on June 4. Downtown Guerneville. sonomacountypride.org.

Healdsburg Jazz Festival Sound the trumpets and walk that bass right on up to Healdsburg for the 19th annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival. There are over a dozen concerts scheduled, and this year features the Heath Brothers, Bobby Hutcherson Tribute Band, Henry Butler, Joe Lovano Quartet and the Kenny Garrett Quintet among many others. Concerts take place June 2–11 at various locations in and around Healdsburg. Prices vary. 707.433.4633. healdsburgjazzfestival.org.

Uptown Theatre’s Summer Lineup Downtown Napa’s art deco concert venue welcomes an array of performers to its landmark stage. Veteran Bay Area rockers Y&T perform on June 2. Gifted guitarists Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ team up for Taj Mo on June 15. Celebrity-biting comedian Kathy Griffin takes the mic on June 17. Songwriters Aimee Mann (July 13) and Judy Collins (July 21) dazzle, and Robert Cray brings the band on July 23. 1350 Third St., Napa. 707.259.0123. See full lineup at uptowntheatrenapa.com.

Curtain Call Theatre The company takes on the hilarious play-within-a-play Noises Off June 2–24, including a fundraising Champagne buffet gala closing night, and later in the summer, the company dreams up an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Salome Sept 1–23 at the Russian River Hall, 20347 Hwy. 116, Monte Rio. $15–$20; $50 gala. 707.524.8739.

Art at the Source More than 160 artists in dozens of studios throughout western Sonoma County open their space to the public for an interactive art experience over two weekends, June 3–4 and June 10–11. Maps can be found at artatthesource.org or at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, the home of the event’s preview exhibit, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Free. 707.829.4797.

Napa Live: Inside & Out Last year’s debut music crawl through Napa was so popular it’s back for three days this summer. Thirty locations inside and out once again offer music by more than 40 live bands and performers, with local venues, shops, plazas, patios, restaurants and more hosting Serf & James, Full Chizel, Craig Corona, Lo Watters, the Deadlies and many others throughout downtown Napa on June 4, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1. Noon to 6pm. Free admission. 707.257.0322.

Goose & Gander Music Series Napa Valley’s wine country public house is the perfect setting to see locals play on the lush patio. The summer series opens with Lonesome Locomotive on June 4 and continues each Sunday afternoon through Sept. 24. 1245 Spring St., St. Helena. 1pm. goosegander.com.

Live at Lagunitas Everyone’s favorite Sonoma County brewery has lots of music on tap this summer in its Petaluma amphitheaterette. High-energy rock band Low Cut Connie open the series on June 6. Soulful hip-hop group Tank & the Bangas perform June 27. Indie rockers Whitney play on July 25. Songwriter James McMurtry croons Aug. 7. Free tickets are limited and go on sale three weeks before each show on the bands’ websites, so set your calendars accordingly. 1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. For the full lineup, visit lagunitas.com/live.

Napa Valley Jazz Getaway Musician and producer Brian Culbertson’s sixth annual event features an incredible lineup of jazz and R&B artists, including guitarist Marcus Miller, funky frontwoman Candy Dulfer, legendary group the Whispers and more. Wine receptions, dinner concerts and after-parties mix up the fun, June 7–11, at various locations throughout Napa Valley. jazzgetaway.com.

KRUSH Backyard Concerts The summer series reflects the radio’s laidback, community-oriented vibe with a selection of North Bay stars of Americana and beyond. On June 8, a pre-party for the forthcoming Railroad Square Music Fest features the Crux crooning along with help from the Easy Leaves and Ashley Allred. Other performers this summer include Keller Williams (June 29), Sang Matiz (July 27) and Kingsborough (Aug. 10). 3565 Standish Ave., Santa Rosa. Doors at5:30pm. Free admission. Get the full schedule at krsh.com.

Huichica Music Festival Sonoma’s top two days of music, food and wine features a lineup that includes veteran stars like Robyn Hitchcock, the Mother Hips’ Greg Loiacono and Galaxie 500’s Dean Wareham, and indie stars like Allah Las, Beachwood Sparks, Cave Singers and Two Sheds. Amazing culinary options like Zuzu and Ippuku, and plenty of beer and wine round out the weekend. June 9–10 at Gundlach Bundschu Winery. 2000 Denmark St., Sonoma. $40–$95; kids 12 and under, free. 707.938.5277.

Sonoma Arts Live Community-produced musicals and plays take center stage at this series of performances. Playwright Steven Dietz’s thoughtful comedy Becky’s New Car stars Melissa Claire as a mid-life woman considering big changes, June 9–25. Then the 1920s world of vaudeville comes alive when the classic musical Gypsy runs July 14–30. The Rotary Stage in Andrews Hall at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. sonomaartslive.org.

Beerfest: The Good One Personally, I think all beerfests are good, but this one gets the title for its combination of good brews and a good cause. Whether you prefer hoppy IPAs, sour beers or even ciders, you’ll find old favorites and new loves at this massive tasting event featuring nearly 50 pouring stops and awesome food vendors. The day also benefits local nonproft Face to Face, whose mission is ending HIV in Sonoma County and supporting the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS. June 10. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 1pm. $50–$60. beerfestthegoodone.com.

Peggy Sue’s All-American Cruise Hundreds of classic, stock and custom All-American Cars roar into Santa Rosa for the annual cruise, and will be on display with live music and awards at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds throughout the day. Then those classic cars roam downtown Santa Rosa in the evening to show off for families and car lovers. June 10. cruiseforpeggysue.com.

Stumptown Daze Parade Join the friends of Stumptown Brewery and the Russian River Chamber of Commerce for a time-honored tradition that celebrates the opening of the summer season on the river. June 10, downtown Guerneville. 11am. russianriver.com.

Creativity Jam Napa’s nonprofit arts group Nimbus hosts this seventh annual day of art and entertainment for kids and the kid in us all. Local artists are on hand to lead a variety of projects, and performers like renowned puppet troupe Magical Moonshine Theatre dazzle audiences of any age on June 11 at di Rosa art galleries and grounds, 5200 Sonoma Hwy., Napa. 11am to 3pm. $5–$10; kids under three, free. dirosaart.org.

Railroad Square Music Festival North Bay Hootenanny hosts this third annual day of local music and community in the heart of Santa Rosa. David Luning Band, John Courage, La Gente, Lungs and Limbs, Black Sheep Brass Band and many others take several stages, with a shop party of local vendors, food, beer and wine, art and fun for all. June 11 at Railroad Square, Fourth and Wilson streets, Santa Rosa. Noon. Free admission. railroadsquaremusicfestival.com.

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts The performing arts center brings some of the biggest events and names in music and comedy to the stage this summer. Popular mom bloggers #IMOMSOHARD share their hilarious outlook on life on June 14. Mexico’s pop sensations Reik perform on June 23. Comedians Brian Regan (July 14) and Jim Jefferies (July 15) split a weekend of standup. NPR host Ira Glass engages the audience on Aug. 26, and classic rockers Kansas (Sept. 8) and Steve Winwood (Sept. 11) keep the music alive. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3600.

Third Thursday Festivals at the Barlow Sebastopol’s artisan center of merchants and restaurants is adding live music to its repertoire for select dates throughout the summer. Adult beverages and kids’ activities keep everyone happy, and popular bands and a silent disco get the groove going. The Highway Poets bring the rock on June 15, and the series features new acts each third Thursday of the month through October. 6770 McKinley St., Sebastopol. 4pm. thebarlow.net.

Calistoga Concerts in the Park Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, picnic dinners and friends and family to enjoy these weekly concerts in a gorgeous natural setting. Each week’s show offers something different, from rock and rollers Kingsborough on June 15, jazz band Swing 7 on July 6, outlaw country jammers Poor Man’s Whiskey on Aug 17 and others. Concerts in the park take place every Thursday, June 15–Aug. 17, Pioneer Park, 1308 Cedar St., Calistoga. 6:30pm. Free admission. visitcalistoga.com.

SRJC Summer Rep Classic musicals like West Side Story and Chicago anchor this season’s theatrical offerings from the Santa Rosa Junior College. June 16–Aug. 5. 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. summerrep.com.

Country Summer The biggest country music event in the North Bay also features Western-themed attractions, country-inspired culinary delights and an array of libations. Headliners this year include Darius Rucker, Thomas Rhett, Justin Moore and many more. June 16–18, at Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. $79 and up. 707.543.0100. countrysummer.com.

Broadway Under the Stars Presented each year by Transcendence Theatre Company, some of the brightest stars in Hollywood and on Broadway come to perform in the Sonoma County night air. On the schedule this year is Another Openin’ Another Show, which opens the season with a tribute to some of the most powerful songs and shows ever written (June 16–July 2). Fantastical Family Night (July 14–15), Fascinating Rhythm (Aug. 4–20) and the Gala Celebration (Sept. 8–10) feature an invigorating blend of movement and song, and also transcend theater in the outdoor winery ruins at Jack London State Park. 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. Pre-show picnics at 5pm; concerts begin at 7:30pm. 877.424.1414.

Cotati Jazz Festival Share in an afternoon of music, food, beer and dancing in the town’s 37th annual festival. This event encompasses several venues in downtown Cotati with main acts slated for La Plaza Park, Downtown Cotati. June 17. Noon. Free admission. cotatijazz.com.

Mystic Theatre Summer Concert Lineup The downtown Petaluma venue has a packed schedule this summer with an eclectic array of acts ranging from electronic dance pioneers the Crystal Method (June 20), songwriter Trevor Hall (July 21) and legendary funk group George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic (Aug. 4). Oh yeah, actor Corey Feldman is playing too (seriously!) on June 17, at the Mystic Theatre, 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707.765.2121.

Sonoma-Marin Fair This year’s music lineup features Tower of Power (June 21), Jana Kramer (June 22), Loverboy (June 23) and John Michael Montgomery (June 24). Don’t forget the classics too: the world’s ugliest dog contest, destruction derby, carnival rides, fair food and livestock. The fair runs June 21–25, at Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma. sonoma-marinfair.org.

July

Mondavi Winery Summer Concerts After nearly five decades, this popular concert series shows no sign of slowing down, kicking off this year with a fireworks-worthy show by indie-pop pianist Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and songwriter Allen Stone on July 1. Blues vocalist Patti LaBelle (July 8), soul band the Revivalists (July 15), socially conscious songwriter Michael Franti & Spearhead (July 22) and Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals (July 29) also appear. Tickets are already selling fast, so don’t wait. Robert Mondavi Winery. 7801 St. Helena Hwy., Oakville. Dinner available. $70–$225. 888.766.6328. robertmondaviwinery.com.

Green Music Center Summer 2017 Sonoma State University’s superb Weill Hall hosts a season of concert events that spill out on the lawn and span classical, jazz, country, Latin and spoken-word. The season kicks off with a Fourth of July concert featuring Grammy-winning vocalist Kathy Mattea and the Santa Rosa Symphony, followed by fireworks. The GMC Bluegrass Festival returns on July 9 with Del & Dawg, Mark O’Connor & the O’Connor Family Band and Sierra Hull. Other highlights include Gloria Estefan (Jul 15), Diana Krall (Aug 4), Dr. John & the Nite Trippers (Aug. 13) and Common (Sept. 16). 1801 East Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 866.955.6040.

Napa County Fair & Fireworks Farm fun, rides, clowns and food—this fair’s got it all, in one svelte day of blistering excitement. Culminating in a fireworks spectacular in the evening, the fun starts with a parade at noon through downtown Calistoga. July 4 at the Napa County Fair. 1435 North Oak St., Calistoga. napacountyfair.org.

Flynn Creek Circus The boundary-pushing ensemble of performers flies, tumbles and juggles its way into the North Bay with stops at several towns throughout the month. This year’s show, “Inter-Active,” mixes up the circus magic with improvised comedy that’s led by audience suggestions, meaning no two shows will be the same. See the circus in Santa Rosa July 7–9, Sausalito July 13–16, Calistoga July 20–23 and Windsor July 27–30. Get details about locations and times at flynncreekcircus.com.

Wine Country Big Q Seventh annual barbecue competition features grill masters from around the area competing in big beef and bold bean challenges. World-class wines, award-winning brews, craft cider and spirits pair with the meats, and live music makes for a party atmosphere on July 8, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma. 1pm. $20–$75. winecountrybigq.com.

Sonoma County Yoga Festival With over 30 classes and workshops scheduled, this new community event puts the spotlight on yoga with local studios, food, music, art and more coming together for an exploration of mind and body. July 8–9, 1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park. $30–$90.

Rodney Strong Concert Series The wine-tastic annual live music series in the sunny grasslands behind the vineyard features adult contemporary favorites and music legends. This year’s lineup includes Chris Isaak (July 8), Kenny Loggins (July 23), Chris Botti (Aug 27) and Kool & the Gang (Sept. 9). Rodney Strong Vineyards, 11455 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg. 5pm. $89–$129. 800.514.3849.

Petaluma Art & Garden Festival Presented by the Petaluma Downtown Association, the fest brings local eats, beer and wine and plenty of music to town for a 16th year. The vendor booths offer unique and charming items for the home and garden, plus animal mobiles and fun fairy clothing for the wee ones. The event also includes the annual chalk art competition. July 9. Kentucky and Fourth streets, Petaluma. 11am. petalumadowntown.com.

SOMO Concerts Rohnert Park’s grand outdoor venue, the SOMO Village Event Center, once again packs a powerhouse lineup of performers for its seasonal series. California Roots presents reggae-infused hip-hop groups Dirty Heads and SOJA on July 11. The good vibes continue with Reggae Sunsplash, featuring Third World, Sol Horizon and others on July 29. Then things turn blue when harmonica master and North Bay–based Blues Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Musselwhite headlines the Sonoma County Blues Festival on Aug. 19. 1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park. somoconcerts.com.

Shakespeare in the Cannery Santa Rosa’s outdoor theater experience, set in the brick ruins of a former canning warehouse, returns for an experimental season of works. First, David Lear directs In the Mood, a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, July 13–Aug 5. Then Jared Sakren directs Fairy Worlds, a new take on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Aug. 10–Sept. 2. 3 W. Third St., Santa Rosa. Gates at 5pm; shows at 7pm. shakespeareinthecannery.com.

Sonoma County Comedy Fest Local grape-stomping and funny-bone-smashing company Crushers of Comedy host a three-day standup extravaganza with a diverse lineup of comedians, including Desi Comedy Fest co-founder Samson Koletkar, West Coast alternative comedian Priyanka Wali and veteran standup and television writer Ronn Vigh. A slew of craft beers, winetasting, live music and more come together July 13–15 at the Crushers of Comedy’s own brand-new lounge, the Laugh Cellar, 5755 Mountain Hawk Way, Santa Rosa. crushersofcomedy.com.

Festival Napa Valley Formerly called the Festival del Sole, this annual event offers more than 60 events over 10 days, ranging from concerts and dance performances to vintner-led luncheons and free community events. Opening night’s gala features Danielle de Niese and Paulo Szot. Other performers include Joshua Bell, Gloria Estefan and Bill Murray’s new touring project. Special events like the fundraising Arts for All Gala and Taste of Napa also highlight the festival, July 14–23, at various venues in the Napa Valley. festivalnapavalley.org.

Rivertown Revival The Friends of the Petaluma River once again present the “Greatest Slough on Earth,” with live music, boat races, local food and drinks, crafty vendors and family fun. As in past years, this summer event also boasts local color and is one of the most eco-friendly fests in the North Bay, happening on July 22 at the McNear Peninsula at D and Copeland streets, Petaluma. rivertownrevival.com.

August

Reggae on the River Presented by the Mateel Community Center, the 33rd annual incarnation of this laid-back, family-friendly festival features Slightly Stoopid, Sly & Robbie with Marcia Griffiths, Walshy Fire with Kabaka Pyramid, J Boog and many others. Aug. 3–6 at French’s Camp. 657 Hwy. 101, Garberville. Camping is included in the price of your event ticket. reggaeontheriver.com.

Sonoma County Fair This year, it’s a celebration of “Holidaze at the Fair” with the largest themed flower show in the country, and horse racing, rodeo, destruction derby, carnival rides, local art and agriculture. Separate admission is required for some events. Fair runs Aug. 3–13. Horse racing happens Aug. 3–6, 10–13, and 18–20. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. 11am to 9pm; closed Mondays. $6–$12; children under six are free. Sonomacountyfair.com.

Russian River Valley Experience & Somm Challenge Experience the flavors of five convenient Russian River neighborhoods, where six or more wineries will gather to share wine, food and more. There’s also a special sommelier dinner where top somms pair with five top chefs, and you judge the culinary results. Aug. 4–6, throughout Russian River Valley. rrvw.org.

Music in the Vineyards Now in its 23rd season, this nationally acclaimed chamber-music festival brings together renowned musicians from around the world to perform at the most picturesque locations in the Napa Valley. This year, the Escher, Pacifica and Chiara String quartets and the Horszowski Trio perform as the festival’s ensembles-in-residence and special guest performers joining in on the music, Aug. 4–27, at a dozen winery venues in the Napa Valley. $55 and up. musicinthevineyards.org.

Petaluma Music Festival The 10th annual festival benefiting music programs in Petaluma schools features its biggest and best lineup yet. Headlining are North Bay favorites the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, with Scott Law & Ross James’ Cosmic Twang, T Sisters, Royal Jelly Jive and many others. Aug. 5 at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma. Noon. $50. petalumamusicfestival.org.

Gravenstein Apple Fair Billed as the “sweetest little fair in Sonoma County,” the 44th annual event, presented by Sonoma County Farm Trails, praises local pollinators and celebrates the local Gravenstein apple in all its delicious glory, with several food vendors, live music and local arts and crafts. Look for the artisan tasting lounge, the farm life arena, kids’ activities and games and contests throughout. Aug. 12–13 at Ragle Ranch Park, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol. 10am to 6pm. gravensteinapplefair.com.

Cotati Accordion Festival Accordion veteran Marjorie Konrad is saluted as the honorary director and an international cavalcade of stars takes the stage at this 27th annual squeezebox party. International stars like Finland’s Tiia Karttunen and Serbia’s Ljubinka Kulisic perform, as well as local favorites like Oddjob Ensemble and the Mad Maggies. Aug. 19–20 in La Plaza Park. Old Redwood Highway, Cotati. 9:30am–8pm. cotatifest.com.

Blues, Brews & BBQ Mixing together live music, microbrews and enough barbecue to fill a pickup truck, this summertime party is not to be missed. There’s a rib-eating contest, kids’ area and, of course, blues artists all along the streets. Aug. 26 at First and Main streets, Napa. Noon–6pm. Free admission, beer tasting tickets available for purchase. donapa.com.

Bodega Seafood Art & Wine Festival Dozens of culinary companies come together to offer delicious seafood specialties at the 23rd annual event. Aside from the art and the eats, there are four stages of entertainment. The Main Stage features blues, jazz, swing, bluegrass and more from the likes of David Luning, Lost Dog Found, Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings and LoCura. Other entertainers ranging from jugglers, magicians and other non-musical acts join in on the fun, and local art, food, wine and beer overflows Aug. 26–27 at Watts Ranch, 16855 Bodega Hwy. Saturday, 10am–6pm; Sunday, 10am–5pm. bodegaseafoodfestival.com.

Cochon 555’s Heritage Fire Dozens of grills light their fire to roast and cook responsibly raised meats ranging from pig to rabbit and duck. Over 50 chefs and butchers offer up the succulent creations, paired with wine from several small wineries and artisan cheeses and other bites. The outdoor banquet commences on Aug. 27 at Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main St., St. Helena. 4pm. $125 and up. cochon555.com.

September

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend’s Taste of Sonoma Labor Day weekend belongs to wine at this signature event from the Sonoma County Vintners group. This year’s offerings find a new home in Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center, as Taste of Sonoma gathers over 200 wineries and 60 local chefs Sept. 2–3. As you taste thousands of wines and pair them with delicious concoctions, seminars and demonstrations that cover a wide range of wine topics tickle the intellect and tips gleaned from chefs stir the imagination. You can also upgrade the experience with and optional VIP package. In addition to Taste of Sonoma, wine tours, talks, lunches and other events dot the county Sept. 1–3. sonomawinecountryweekend.com.

Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival The summer’s biggest party on the river celebrates 41 years with legendary artists and bands, sizzling food vendors, an indulgent wine garden and more. And if the music gets too hot, just take a dip in the water, sit in the shade of a beach umbrella or rent a canoe or kayak to paddle down the river. Sept. 9–10 at Johnson’s Beach, 16215 First St., Guerneville. russianriverfestivals.com.

Music Festival for Brain Health The most successful mental-health event in the country, in terms of raising both money and awareness, returns for a 23rd year of science symposiums and chart-topping songwriters. There’s also a winetasting reception featuring several top North Bay wineries and VIP dinner and a special guest chef. Sept 16, at Staglin Family Vineyard, 1570 Bella Oaks Lane, Rutherford. music-festival.org.

Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival One of the oldest and biggest parties in the Sonoma Valley is back for its 120th year with live music, amazing food, spectacular wines and family activities like the traditional grape stomp, a light-up parade and more. With a focus on local culture and community, this vintage fest is organized by local volunteers and benefits several Sonoma County nonprofits and projects. Sept. 22–24 at Sonoma Plaza, First St. E., Sonoma. valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.com.

New Roads

Music

Charlie Swanson

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May 24, 2017

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Anything can be done once, even a music festival. A second year is certainly a success, but the third time’s the charm. That’s one way that Railroad Square Music Festival director Josh Windmiller looks at the fest’s third go June 11 in Santa Rosa.

“When we started the festival, we knew there was a ticking time bomb,” Windmiller says. “If we didn’t get the flow moving fast enough, there would an inherent drag.”

Windmiller is happy to proclaim that this festival has passed that threshold, and in its third year, he sees the Railroad Square Music Festival moving with ever-increasing momentum.”There are a lot of people in the community that are excited about it and want to make it possible,” he says. “And that’s the only way that this is going to happen, if it is close to the hearts of the community.”

Aided by an outpouring of volunteer help, private donations and business and city sponsorships, this year’s festival will once again present a diverse swath of the North Bay’s best music and art.

“This is a one-day example of what the North Bay is and can be in the heart of Sonoma County,” Windmiller says.

This year’s headliner is Forestville’s rising Americana star David Luning and his band. Santa Rosa songwriter John Courage returns for his third appearance. Making their debut at the festival, Bay Area world-music ensemble La Gente blend high energy and grooving melodies.

Other acts include punk-folk fellows the Timothy O’Neil Band, indie-pop outfit Lungs and Limbs, and the street-wise Black Sheep Brass Band.

The festival had been set at Santa Rosa’s Welcome Center and Depot Park on Wilson street. Yet with the SMART train’s immient arrival (next month?), the event is expanding to take over Fourth and Fifth streets between Wilson and Davis, moving the stages away from the tracks. Windmiller notes that the SMART train was an initial inspiration for setting the festival in the square. “I don’t know of any other festival that you can take the train directly to,” he says.

Windmiller’s enthusiasm and unwavering energy propels the attitude of the entire festival, which for the past two years has been one of the most vibrant days of local music in Sonoma County.

The event also offers arts activities for kids and local artisan crafters. Lagunitas beer, Virginia Dare wines and North Bay food purveyors fuel the festival’s sunny disposition, as do the multi-tasking volunteers who assist the vendors, art team, stage crew and more.

Railroad Square Music Festival happens on Sunday, June 11, Fourth and Wilson streets, Santa Rosa. Noon to 7pm. Free admission. For info and to volunteer, visit railroadsquaremusicfestival.com.

Playing It Cruel

Theater

David Templeton

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May 24, 2017

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People are scumbags.

They are shallow, selfish, racist, sexist, homophobic and casually cruel. But when such attributes are represented on stage—ever-so-slightly exaggerated—such scumbags can appear as hilarious. A pair of prime representatives is now running at two of the North Bay’s most adventurous small theater companies.

Irish playwright Mark O’Rowe’s From Both Hips (Main Stage West, through June 4) is a cleverly structured farce in which a monumentally self-absorbed man named Paul (Christ Ginesi, marvelous) comes home after having been accidentally shot in the hip by Willy, a contrite, guilt-wracked policeman (Sam Coughlin, also excellent).

Paul has issues beyond just recuperating from his injury. His timid, fearful wife Adele (Nora Roberts, heartbreaking) is about to discover he’s been sleeping with their lonely upstairs neighbor (Ilana Niernberger, strikingly vulnerable) and Adele’s scandal-hungry best friend (Lydia Revelos) is on hand to keep things hopping.

Paul’s only respite appears to be making threatening phone calls to the man who shot him.

When Willy unexpectedly arrives, with his worried wife (Alanna Weatherby) in his wake, the overlapping tensions threaten to boil over. Then Willy proposes an unconventional way to balance the ledgers, a plot-turn that is as funny as it is unnerving. Some fine direction by John Craven, emphasizing the three-dimensional fallibility of the characters, keeps the emotions real and potent.

★★★★

What Neil LaBute’s The Money Shot (Left Edge Theater, through June 4), lacks in dimensionality and plot structure it gains in its sharp-witted barrage of laugh-out-loud lines that serves as a scathing indictment of Hollywood banality and self-regard, Steve (Dodds Delzell, perfect) is an aging movie star with a young trophy wife (a first-rate Heather Gordon) whom he bullies into self-starvation while bonding over a similar sense of prejudiced entitlement. They’ve gathered at the home of documentary editor Bev (also Sandra Ish) and her girlfriend Karen (Laurie Gaughuin), also a fading star, with whom Steve is about to shoot a love scene the following morning, the details of which they’ve gathered to discuss.

LaBute’s writing is basically just a series of I-can’t-believe-they-just-said-that zingers and one-liners, increasingly proving the point that Hollywood might seem glamorous on screen, but under the skin, can often be just plain ugly.

★★★★

‘From Both Hips’ runs Thursday–Sunday through June 4 at Main Stage West, 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Thursday-Saturday at 8:00pm. 5pm matinees on Sunday. $15-$30. 707.823.0177. ‘The Money Shot’ runs Friday–Sunday, through June 4 at Left Edge Theater. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. Friday-Saturday at 8pm. 2pm matinees on Sunday. $15-$27. 707.546.3600.

Quiet Genius

Movies

Richard von Busack

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May 24, 2017

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The title of A Quiet Passion is kind of lethal. “Quiet” is a risky word in the movie biz. The film’s pace is very deliberate—the first impression is of a game that’s gone into extra innings. When it’s over, it’s clear that eminent director Terence Davies, a master of moody, immersive cinema, needed time to contrast the body and soul of his subject.

Davies (Distant Voices, Still Lives) focuses on Emily Dickinson (Sex and the City‘s Cynthia Nixon) as a lady of solitude and physical sufferings—”the Queen of Calvary,” as she called herself, tortured to an early grave at 55 by Bright’s disease. She was the middle daughter of a family of three in Amherst, Mass.

This anchoress saint of poetry only published a few poems in her lifetime, and hand-stitched her verse into little chapbooks. The apparent lightness of the lines disguise their tensile strength; her telegraphic bursts of words, connected by dashes, are as light as a feather and as dense as a $6 loaf of bread. Dickinson capitalizes nouns and ideas like a German, but she didn’t address herself to Great Themes, at least not in the 19th-century understanding of what great themes were.

What was seen of her poetry was dismissed, as by one editor, as “Childish, like nursery rhymes.” When a few admirers turn up, later in life, she treats them with arrogance. She’s particularly disapproving of a newspaper editor who repunctuated her verse for “clarity.”

Dickinson’s struggle against lifelong underestimation had its light side; she wasn’t always a hermit, and Davies shows her among friends and in her family circle as a sharp woman eager to defend herself. Sometimes wrenchingly sad, A Quiet Passion is Davies’ funniest film. The director of moving, solemn stories of the working class life seems freed by the idea of an unmarried woman who does as she pleases.

‘A Quiet Passion’ opens May 26 at Summerfield Cinemas, 551 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa. 707.522.0719.

Letters to the editor May 24, 2017

Letters to the Editor

Bohemian.com

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May 24, 2017

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We Won’t Rest

I am struggling to accept the magnitude of arrogance, ignorance and utter callousness on the part of the writer of the letter “Let It Rest” (May 10) regarding the tragic shooting death of 13-year-old Andy Lopez by Sheriff’s Deputy Erick Gelhaus in 2013.

First, the writer appears not to understand that the boy was carrying a plastic toy gun, not the real thing. Furthermore, he is obviously unaware that Mr. Gelhaus has already testified that he actually wasn’t sure if the gun was pointed at him. According to 9th Circuit Judge Milan Smith, who recently heard the latest Gelhaus defense plea to kill the Lopez family wrongful death lawsuit, “There is no license for police to kill teenagers within three seconds when even that officer says that the gun was not pointing at him or even coming up to point at him, and others say the same thing.”

Sonoma County has already spent or committed some $2.35 million to outside attorney fees to prevent Gelhaus from facing trial, but it’s looking as though the 9th Circuit is leaning toward just that.

The county is talking about taking this case to the Supreme Court, but concerned residents here are calling for an immediate settlement with the family to help bring closure to them, as well as to save the county many millions more if the case isn’t settled soon.

I suggest that instead of blaming the victim—and his parents, to boot—that this gentlemen consider the real problem we have here: a sheriff who supports a toxic culture of “kill first, ask questions later” on the perceived basis that we the people are the enemy out there, not citizens whom law enforcement is supposed to serve and protect.

For this very reason, and myriad others—not the least of which is Sheriff Freitas’ continuing cooperation with the Trump-Sessions plan for ICE to deport 3 million Mexicans this year alone—this sheriff is facing a recall campaign right now. It deserves to succeed.

—Kathleen Finigan

Santa Rosa

We as a community cannot let this issue rest. Not sure if it’s made the news yet, but in the appeal courts it looks like the scale is tipping toward justice for Andy Lopez. The letter in defense of Sgt. Gelhaus relies on a skewed perspective of culpability and propaganda. You are demanding that a child should be held accountable for playing with a toy gun, while the adult, a trained professional—as you so aptly pointed out—should be coddled due to his job, which he voluntarily chose.

We will not rest until there is something done about the constant use of excessive force by our county sheriff deputies. Andy’s death is an example of why we cannot rest. If we rest, we risk the life of another child. Too many people are placated by a blanket of wineries and breweries. It’s time for Sonoma County to sober up and realize Andy Lopez’s death was not just one incident, and that we, as a county, have a serious problem in our sheriff’s department. You have no authority over who or how people grieve. Check your history books, some of the biggest changes have come from collective grief. Andy did not die in vain.

—peace and justice center of sonoma couny

Santa Rosa

Write to us at le*****@******an.com.

A Man Died Here

News

Thomas Broderick

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May 24, 2017

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People start thinking about their legacy when they reach a certain age, and for most of us, ours will be the memories belonging to those who outlive us.

Honored people or those with means will put their names on libraries or skyscrapers. Some people, great artists, will have their work cherished until the end of human history. For one Santa Rosa resident who died last month, his legacy is the security keypad on a Starbucks bathroom door.

One day in late April I spent my writing workday at the Coddingtown Mall Starbucks. As I packed up to leave, I was thinking about buying a Pliny at Whole Foods, but a visit to the bathroom came first. In the Coddingtown Mall Starbucks there are two restrooms side by side. A woman was walking ahead of me, and as she went for the left restroom, I went for the right. The door was locked. As I waited, I saw the woman poke her head inside the other bathroom door.

“Are you alright?” she asked. Given her tone I assumed she was talking to a little boy or girl, checking on her child.

“I don’t feel so good.” It was a man’s voice. He sounded haggard and sick.

“Is it the drugs? Are you having a seizure?” She looked at me and said in a calm voice, “I’m sorry, but an ambulance is coming soon.”

I apologized and went to find another restroom in the mall. On my way to the parking lot a few minutes later, I passed by the Starbucks. An ambulance and fire truck had arrived, and a gurney was pushed up to the door of the restroom. I didn’t hang around.

More than a week later I was thinking about what I had seen. I figured I’d never find out what happened to the man. What did he take? Did he make it? A quick Google search: “Coroner: String of deaths in Santa Rosa may be linked to toxic heroin”(see sidebar).

The man died on that bathroom floor. I had heard what were likely his last words.

Cannabis has become the darling drug of Santa Rosa, but pills, powders, and needles are still very popular for those who live on the streets, in the parking lots behind the malls, and in the neighborhoods we don’t go to, or even talk about.

It took me a few days before I could return to the Coddingtown Mall Starbucks. By then the employees had pushed the condiments counter in front of the bathrooms. Little handwritten signs reported that Sorry, bathrooms closed. Please use bathrooms in the mall.

I asked the barista why.

She looked at me with tired eyes, and shrugged. “A guy died in there. They’re still figuring out what to do with it.”

A week later the bathrooms were open again, but with the electronic keypads installed over the handles.

There are more keypads at coffee shops these days, or cafes where an employee has to unlock the door. At one of these places, I watched the same employee unlock the door for customers about 20 times in five minutes. I asked him why his store hadn’t installed electronic keypads.

“The code will get passed around in less than a day,” he huffed, as if what he was saying was the real problem. But you can’t hang around in some coffee shops for more than an hour before someone needing a fix will come in asking for the key or code. “You have to buy something first,” the barista will say in a kind voice, using the coded language only the two of them understand.

What’s the solution? Should coffee shops store the heroin antidote Naloxone behind the counter? Should every barista, cashier and customer service representative in Santa Rosa learn life-saving measures if someone overdoses at their store?

I don’t pretend to have answers to those questions. But if during your next trip to a coffee shop you discover that the staff has installed security locks, take the extra moment to reflect on why the locks are there. Think of the people whose only legacy is a lock on a door in a community gathering space and ask whether we as a city did enough to help them.

Opioid Deaths on the Rise

Sonoma County’s heroin and opioid problem hit the headlines in late April when five people died over 10 days. Meanwhile, an aggressive county drug court aims to stem a growing tide of death and misery that attends heroin addiction, a relatively new phenomenon in a county more identified with easy-going cannabis than the harsh realities of heroin.

“We have more clients than ever before,” says Mike Perry, Chief Deputy Public Defender for Sonoma County, whose drug court program currently enrolls more than 100 citizens to beat their habit and stay out of jail.

The trajectory of drug charges at the county level has shifted in recent years from methamphetamine to opiates and heroin, Perry notes. Until about three-and-a-half years ago, he says, kids were chopping up Oxycontin and Hydrocodone tablets and snorting them, but the pills have been altered so users can’t do that anymore.

At the same time, Perry says, a heroin crisis that was mostly an East Coast problem manifested in the Golden State. The potency of street-grade heroin went way up, he says, from an average purity range of between nine and 12 percent pure—to between 32 and 35 percent pure. The additional emergence of fentanyl on the streets, a quick-acting opioid, has further spiked the danger level.

Opioid addiction is a national crisis and the problem has arrived in Sonoma County, where “there are more people in drug court than ever before,” Perry says. “And we are also seeing more opiate clients in drug court than we ever have in our 21 years.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in early 2016 that the number of overdose deaths per 100,000 population in Sonoma County went from 2 per 100,000 in 2002, to more than 20 per 100,000 in 2014.

Most participants in the county’s drug-court program are in intensive outpatient environments and subject to random drug-testing protocols as a condition of their program.

Seventy to 75 percent of participants complete the program, Perry adds, and he’d love to provide figures for recidivism rates among participants, there’s no budget for that sort of breakdown in the county.

Sgt. Spencer Crum at the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office sent along toxicology information from the coroner’s office about the five recent deaths: Two tested positive for heroin and cocaine; one is a confirmed heroin death; one was a cocaine overdose but the victim also tested positive
for opiates, and the last fatality tested positive for methamphetamine and opiates. The man who died in the Starbucks bathroom was one of those five victims. —Tom Gogola

Side Show

Swirl

James Knight

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May 24, 2017

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If you know your top-shelf California Chardonnay, you may know the name Ramey. But if you want to know what a California Kerner tastes like, you’ll have to get to know the name Sidebar.

Sidebar Cellars is a “second wine” project from David Ramey. Based in Healdsburg, Ramey is a career winemaker with 40 harvests to his credit, having helped to establish names such as Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus and Rudd before earning the good reputation of his eponymous label. He’s best known for his Chardonnay, which has been called a “hybrid” style—meaning it’s made similarly to classic, oak-aged California Chardonnay, but reminds tasters of the brightness of white Burgundy, and Cabernet Sauvignon. A little Syrah on the side is about as crazy as the conservatively packaged Ramey Wine Cellars label gets.

“Sometimes I joke that winemakers just want to have fun!” Ramey says. “To make a rosé, to make a Kerner from Lodi, a Zin-based red field blend from 125-year-old vines—all that stuff is totally cool,” he explains, “but should have a different ‘umbrella’ than Ramey.”

In other words, the variety and price point offered by Sidebar, founded with the 2014 vintage, would dilute the image of the parent winery, which isn’t the sort of place where you walk up to the bar and choose your favorite flavor. You order a bottle of Ramey for a special restaurant meal, while you bring Sidebar to the barbecue—as a bonus, wine-knowledgeable folks will note that you can forage a $25 wine with pedigree. See how it works?

Sourced from a rare planting of this German Riesling hybrid, the 2016 Mokelumne River Kerner ($25) hints at its parentage with a whiff of jasmine and pineapple. The lemon drop finish is not sweet, and, wow, it’s tart. Also dry, the 2016 Russian River Valley Rosé ($21) comes from a flagging vineyard that used to go to cult Syrah, but now ripens grapes just enough for fine, crisp rosé.

Everything you want from a barbecue-ready Zinfandel, Sidebar’s 2015 Russian River Valley Red Field Blend ($27) hits the spot with spicy, tangy red fruit smoothed out with milk chocolate undertones. Lean and zesty, layering thyme over citrus notes, the 2015 Ritchie Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($34) sits on the fence between an herbal and tropical style. Ramey has purchased Chardonnay from grower Kent Ritchie for years—with Sidebar, he couldn’t pass up a little Sauvignon Blanc: “Why not?”

Find Sidebar’s rosé at Baci Café & Wine Bar, SHED, Madrona Manor and Big John’s Market in Healdsburg, Cloverdale’s Savvy on First, Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa, and at the winery, 25 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707.433.0870.

Salt—Not So Bad

Dining

Ari LeVaux

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May 24, 2017

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It’s one thing to know salt makes food taste better. It’s another to understand that every single bite of food, from oatmeal to steak, is a culinary opportunity to be optimized with the right amount of salt. There isn’t really any other food or flavor enhancer about which you could say that.

Which isn’t to say that salt must always be added, because some food contains its own. But in the absence of salt, food would be relatively bland. Salt doesn’t as much change or add flavor as make food taste more like itself. A tomato tastes more vivid. Corn is not only sweeter but more complex. Meat tastes not only richer but juicier.

When all you can taste is salt, on the other hand, something is wrong. Too much salt can obscure the flavor of the food. In the case of ingredients that are, in one way or another, inadequate, salt can help pick up the slack.

Restaurant and processed foods are usually salted to the hilt, but all too often, home-cooked meals end up undersalted. This is not just a rookie move. Experienced cooks are guilty of this. I’ve been scolded for it myself, in fact, more times than I should admit in public.

As with most primary flavors, like acid, umami, sour or bitter, I’m usually looking to layer my salts in various forms, using the likes of capers, cheese, anchovies, soy or fish sauce, to name a few. These add a wealth of flavors in addition to that salty sodium.

I’m fortunate enough not to have high blood pressure, so my thoughts on salt are all about flavor, taste and culinary success. For those with healthy blood pressure, evidence is mounting that there is no correlation between sodium intake and cardiovascular disease or stroke. This case has been pretty solid since about 2011, and support for it keeps growing. Nonetheless, organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are still pushing for lower salt intake across the entire population.

Meanwhile, some recent studies have presented compelling evidence that other fundamental assumptions about salt are wrong as well. A team of cosmonauts was kept in isolation to simulate long-distance space travel, and their sodium intakes were monitored, as were their urine and blood sodium levels, as reported by the New York Times. To the researchers’ surprise, eating more salt made the cosmonauts less thirsty. They also ate more food under a high-salt diet, assuming that more was available. And if more food wasn’t available they complained, and lost weight.

It was expected that more dietary salt would compel the cosmonauts to drink more water, in order to dilute the extra salt and stabilize their salt levels. But instead the crew drank less water and without the extra water, their blood sodium levels remained steady.

The researchers, based in the U.S., Germany and Russia, eventually realized that the cosmonauts were diluting the extra sodium by producing their own water by burning fat. The process is identical to what a camel does in the absence of drinking water; its hump is full of fat, which breaks down to water when the animal is dehydrated. The cosmonaut study was followed up by a mouse study that found mice on a high salt diet had to eat 25 percent more to maintain their weight.

While this study didn’t investigate whether we eat too much salt, the evidence does continue to grow that people without high blood pressure don’t need to watch their salt intake, and can season as they wish.

Debriefer May 24, 2017

News

Bohemian.com

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May 24, 2017

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Libel Update

Back on Jan. 25, the Bohemian reported on a libel suit unfolding against the Press Democrat for its campaign coverage in 2016 that focused on contributions made to Santa Rosa city council races by the son-in-law of a big local developer, William Gallaher.

A Jan. 24 report in the Press Democrat scooped our story on the lawsuit. The suit was filed in Dec. 2016. The PD story concluded with comments from an expert who predicted the case would go nowhere. “I’d say this lawsuit stands a good chance of being thrown out,” David Snyder of the First Amendment Coalition told the Press Democrat.

Fourth months later and despite Snyder’s prediction, the case has not yet been thrown out and is instead making its way through Sonoma Superior Court. According to court calendars, parties in the suit met on May 17 before Hon. Peter Ottenweller—including Sonoma State University Professor David McCuan (who was quoted in at least one article at issue in the suit) Sonoma Media Investments, the Press-Democrat and reporter Kevin McCallum, all named in the libel suit from Gallaher and his son-in-law Scott Flater. The calendar also lists two upcoming hearings related to the suit, SVC-259927: all parties are set to appear on June 2 at 3pm and again on July 13 before Ottenweller at 9:30am in Courtroom 17. We’d call the
PD for comment, but don’t want to get scooped again.
—Tom Gogola