Summer concerts and movies at the Green Music Center

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Summer concerts and movies at the Green Music Center

Published in cooperation between Green Music Center and the North Bay Bohemian

The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University is thrilled to present its new lineup of summer entertainment for 2025, with experiences for music lovers, families and everyone in between. From the exhilarating 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular to the enchanting sounds of Pink Martini featuring China Forbes (Aug 21), this season’s events offer a perfect blend of timeless classics and modern favorites. 

Kicking off the season with a bang, the 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular features the Santa Rosa Symphony and the Transcendence Theatre Company, culminating in the largest fireworks display in Sonoma County. Grammy-winning Rhiannon Giddens returns to her roots in her much-anticipated Old-Time Revue, joined by fellow Carolina Chocolate Drops collaborator Justin Robinson (July 18). Funk and soul legends Tower of Power continue their five-decade legacy (Aug 8), followed by the beloved “little orchestra,” Pink Martini, as it celebrates its 30th anniversary tour (Aug 21). Adding a comedic twist, “Weird Al” Yankovic’s Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour promises rollicking parodies, iconic hits and never-before-performed fan favorites (Aug 27). Finally, rounding out the season are family-friendly Movies at the Green, featuring beloved titles and offering fun for all ages.

To purchase tickets to Summer at the Green 2025 visit gmc.sonoma.edu or call 707.664.4246. 

Summer at the Green 2025
Weill Hall + Lawn

4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
Santa Rosa Symphony
Troy Quinn, conductor
Transcendence Theatre Company
Friday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $46-$76

The biggest fireworks display in Sonoma County returns with a bang. Join us for a family-friendly celebration featuring Sonoma County’s own Transcendence Theatre Company and the Santa Rosa Symphony in an evening of show tunes and patriotic classics, followed by a spectacular post-concert fireworks show. Bring the whole family—lawn tickets for kids 12 and under are half price! Families, make sure to arrive early and check out our Kids Zone from 4:30 p.m. –7 p.m., complete with carnival games and bounce houses, plus food, music and more.!      

Indoor and outdoor seating options are available. Indoor guests will be given time to relocate outside prior to the start of the fireworks display.

Supported in part by Crumbl Cookies, Exchange Bank and ProSource Wholesale

Rhiannon Giddens and the Old-Time Revue
with special guest Hannah Myree
Friday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $42-$112

Rhiannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue is Giddens’ much anticipated return to her North Carolina roots and the old time music tradition that launched her career. 2x Grammy, MacArthur “Genius” and Pulitzer Prize-winner Giddens has pulled together a remarkable band that represents an incredible array of talent and American musical traditions as a way to celebrate her new album What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, a fiddle-and-banjo record made with her old Carolina Chocolate Drop collaborator Justin Robinson. Joining Giddens and Robinson on stage will be celebrated multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell, longtime bassist Jason Sypher, guitarist Amelia Powell and bones player and rapper Demeanor.

Supported in part by Balletto Vineyards

Tower of Power
Friday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $41-$111

For 57 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music. “We were a soul band called The Motowns,” recalls Emilio Castillo. “Rocco was the bass player, I was there, and my brother was the drummer. I met ‘Doc’ Kupka back in 1968 and gave him an audition. He came in the band, and we eventually changed our name to the Tower of Power.” The reason for the band name change was that they had a specific goal in mind. The band has long since surpassed Castillo’s modest aspirations, traveling the world, enjoying hit singles on their own and backing legendary artists. In the process they’ve defined an “Oakland soul” sound as instantly recognizable as those from Castillo’s hometown, Detroit, as well as inspirations like Memphis and Philadelphia. 

The future of Tower of Power is set out to be vigorous and dynamic and will prove to be just that for fans around the world starved for the band’s groove just the way Tower of Power likes it.

Supported in part by Poppy Ban, and Sally Tomatoes

Pink Martini featuring China Forbes
30th Anniversary Tour
Thursday, Aug. 21, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $46-$121

Featuring a dozen musicians, with songs in 25 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages on six continents. After making its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998, the band has gone on to play with more than 50 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London. Pink Martini has released 11 studio albums on its own independent label Heinz Records (named after pianist ThomasLauderdale’s dog), selling over 3 million albums worldwide. 

Supported in part by Clover Sonoma, Oliver’s Markets, ProSource Wholesale, Redwood Credit Union, Sonoma-Cutrer and Willow Creek Wealth Management

“Weird Al” Yankovic:
Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour
with special guest Puddles Pity Party
Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $46-$121

Weird Al brings his legendary full-production multimedia comedy rock show back to the concert stage with the Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour, playing his iconic hits as well as some never-performed-live-before fan favorites. Al’s long-time band is joined by four additional players to create a super-sized concert experience.

“Weird Al” Yankovic is the biggest-selling comedy recording artist in history. A 5-time Grammy Award winner, he is best known for his parodies of the biggest musical artists over the last 4 decades. His many hits include “Amish Paradise,” “Eat It,” “Like a Surgeon,” “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Word Crimes,” and the platinum-selling “White & Nerdy.” His last album, Mandatory Fun, is the only comedy album in history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. Weird Al’s live shows have entertained audiences across the globe for generations. In 2022, Yankovic produced and co-wrote the Emmy-winning biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, starring Daniel Radcliffe in the title role.

Supported in part by Sally Tomatoes and the Sonoma State University Alumni Association

Movies at the Green
Supported in part by The Press Democrat and Sonoma State University Involvement.
Lawn tickets only $6 per person, 12 and under free.

Shrek – Saturday, July 12, at 5 p.m.
Moana & Moana 2 – Saturday, July 26, at 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – Saturday, Aug. 23, at 5 p.m.
Wicked – Saturday, Sept. 13, at 5 p.m.
A Minecraft Movie – Saturday, Sept. 20, at 5 p.m.

CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE 

WEILL HALL
Sit inside for the most intimate concert-going experience. The back wall will be open for the summer.

TERRACED TABLE SEATING
Sit outside at a table for four and enjoy the views. Ideal for enjoying the music while dining with friends.

WEILL LAWN
Soak in the sounds of summer on the Weill Lawn. With views of the stage amplified by a large video screen, the lawn offers the feel of a summer festival. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair.

About the Green Music Center

The Green Music Center is the performing arts center at Sonoma State University, a regionally serving public university committed to educational access and excellence. As a cornerstone of Sonoma State University’s commitment to the arts, the Green Music Center is a place to witness artistic inspiration through year-round programming, serving as home to the Sonoma State University Department of Music, the Santa Rosa Symphony and Sonoma Bach.

The mission of the Green Music Center is to present the most compelling artists of our time, to investigate ideas and to provide access to diverse artistic experiences that educate, connect and inspire Sonoma State University and neighboring North Bay communities.

Built to bring together artists, students, families, music-lovers and more, the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University is a gathering place for the diverse communities in Sonoma County to explore and enjoy the things that move and inspire. The center includes the 1,400-seat Weill Hall, with a rear wall that opens to lawn seating for a unique summertime experience, and the intimate 240-seat Schroeder Hall. 

About the Green Music Center

Nestled in the foothills of Northern California’s esteemed Wine Country, the Green Music Center (GMC) at Sonoma State University is a focal point for arts in the region. It is comprised of the spectacular 1,400-seat Weill Hall, an acoustically exceptional venue with a modular rear wall that opens to terraced lawn seating, providing picturesque views of the surrounding countryside, and the 240-seat Schroeder Hall, a cathedral-like recital hall designed specifically to accentuate instruments, organ and voice in a small, intimate setting. The Green Music Center presents year-round programming of top classical, contemporary, jazz and world music artists and is home to the Santa Rosa Symphony. 

green music center logo

View a complete listing of the Green Music Center’s upcoming events at gmc.sonoma.edu.
Weill Hall | Schroeder Hall
Green Music Center | Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Drink Among Giants, Redwood Empire Whiskey

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Drink Among Giants, Redwood Empire Whiskey

While Elliott Sneen has worked in the wine and spirits industry for many years, he seems to enjoy beer quite a bit. 

Who could blame him for craving a nice, refreshing pilsner after a long day tasting barrel-aged bourbon at Redwood Empire? It feels like our local favorite whiskey brand has been around forever, but it actually only launched in 2019, under the Purple Brands umbrella, founded by Derek Benham in 2001. 

When Benham decided to break ground on the new distillery in 2014, he chose the tiny pocket town of Graton, recognizing the ideal humidity and climate in the area for steady whiskey aging. It could be said that way more people know where Graton is because of Redwood Empire. 

Sneen is behind the branding and awareness efforts for the company. And it’s pretty clear he does a good job, with all the acclaim the brand has received. Keep those ears open for news on the grand opening of the new Redwood Empire location on Mare Island, with tastings, tours and more in the works.

Amber Turpin: What is your job?

Elliott Sneen: Senior brand manager at Redwood Empire Whiskey.

How did you get into this work?

After attending Sonoma State University, I fell into the wine industry right away back in 2012. From there, I never left. I’m currently working at Purple Brands, focused on spirits more so than wine—with the majority of my day-to-day focused on Redwood Empire Whiskey.

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

I had the luxury of living in Germany when I was 19 for a full year. Spoiled rotten with some of the best lagers and rieslings on the planet. Enjoying this early “legal” year of drinking helped me understand how food and alcohol can complement one another so well.

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

Out of sheer laziness, I typically go for a neat pour of spirits. Typically whiskey.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

I get a kick out of the original Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa. You have a full range of hyperlocal die-hards combined with tourists from all over the world.

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

Russian River’s STS Pils would be a good steady pour. A beer might fill me up also, assuming food might be lacking out on the island. Plus I’d be able to daydream of getting back home with that beer’s reference to our local airport.Redwood Empire Whiskey, 617 Second St., Suite C, Petaluma. 707.824.5338. redwoodempirewhiskey.com

Culture Crush, 5/14

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Culture Crush, 5/14

Mill Valley

Band, Interrupted

Blending New Wave nostalgia with prog-pop punch, Pardon The Interruption (PTI) returns to Sweetwater Music Hall for a high-energy set guaranteed to get Mill Valley moving. Led by guitarist and vocalist David Noble—whose credits range from Wreckless Strangers to Nina Hagen—PTI draws from funk, ska, jam and vintage rock to deliver a sound that’s both retro-chic and totally its own. The band features a killer lineup of NorCal session talent including bassist Rob Fordyce, drummer Rob Hooper and sax maven Jamison Smeltz. Opening the night is soulful ska powerhouse the Jethro Jeremiah Band, whose frontman has shared stages with Ray Charles, Ziggy Marley and Michael Franti. It’s a rare double bill that pairs groove with grit and will keep one dancing until the lights come up. 

Thursday, 8pm, June 5, Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley. Tickets $30. sweetwatermusichall.com

Sonoma

Burning Questions

Two of Northern California’s most compelling literary voices converge at Artefact Design & Salvage for a timely discussion on fire, landscape, and the emotional aftershocks of climate change. Sonoma County author Manjula Martin celebrates the paperback release of The Last Fire Season: A Personal and Pyronatural History, a vivid memoir of the 2020 Walbridge Fire and its ecological and psychological aftermath. Joining her is Lauren Markham, author of Immemorial and The Far Away Brothers, whose work explores loss, borders, and belonging in an era of environmental upheaval. The evening includes short readings, a conversation, audience Q&A, wine, and the chance to browse Artefact’s eclectic home design showroom.

Friday, 6pm, May 16, Artefact Design & Salvage, 20490 Broadway, Sonoma. Tickets $20. lastfireseasonsonoma.eventbrite.com

Sonoma

AfriCali Flavors Come to Sonoma

Culinary producer, food writer, and Jikoni founder Kiano Moju visits the Sonoma Valley Library to celebrate the release of her debut cookbook AfriCali—a vibrant fusion of African flavors and California food culture. Moju, whose heritage is Kenyan and Nigerian, rose to prominence as a creative force at BuzzFeed’s Tasty before founding her own culinary studio and launching the Jikoni Recipe Archive, which documents African and diasporic food traditions. Her demo and talk will highlight how to build bold flavors using everyday grocery staples, while drawing connections between global foodways and local kitchens.

Saturday, 2pm, May 17, Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W Napa St., Sonoma. Free, registration encouraged. events.sonomalibrary.org/kiano-moju

Novato

Grave Matters

The Novato Historical Guild resumes its popular Pioneer Park Cemetery tours this month, with longtime docent Sharon Azevedo guiding visitors through the town’s early burial ground. The 90-minute walking tour begins at 9 am and explores local lore, pioneer history, and notable names etched into the headstones. Upcoming tour dates include May 17, June 21, July 26, August 16, and September 20. A $10 on-site donation is appreciated. Advance registration is requested at novatohistory.org (click “events,” then “calendar”). 

Tours are sponsored by the Novato Historical Guild and the Novato History Museum, located at 815 DeLong Ave. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 12 to 4pm.

Transience and Oneness, Sessei Meg Levie of Green Gulch Zen Center

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Transience and Oneness, Sessei Meg Levie of Green Gulch Zen Center

The road that took me to the Green Dragon Temple was as convoluted and as linear as the pilgrim’s path.

It wound down into a long but narrow property, fenced with mature eucalyptus trees. After a few more uncertain forks I ended up, eventually and inevitably, at the edge of a campus of some 20-odd buildings suited to farming, hosting and Zen monasticism.

Some of the buildings in that redwood stand were traditional Japanese. Some were Western. The most charming of them were a blended mix of the two, including the zendo or meditation hall, where the Buddha of infinite wisdom sits under rustic barn timbers in endless twilit repose.

I had arrived at the famous Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Marin. It is the third of the three locations of the San Francisco Zen Center to be established. First was the San Francisco Zen Center’s City Center, founded by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi himself (author of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind) amid the endless urban bustle. Then came Tassajara, which mounted its famous bread ovens in the remote pinnacles of the Ventana wilderness.

Last came Green Gulch, the happy medium, which descends from the Green Dragon Temple to the sea in a graceful series of terraces broken by stands of cypress. There, sunburnt organic farmers chant for the relief of all beings as they cultivate their green valley.

In many respects, Green Gulch remains unchanged from the time of its establishment and early heyday in the mid-’70s. Then again, it is poised for a transformation: The gradual generational turnover of its senior leadership and monastics became precipitous with the recent opening of Enso Village—the Zen-inspired retirement village in Healdsburg. There are now numerous opportunities for internal advancement and the recruitment of young blood. 

It was to participate in this Renaissance reawakening of Green Gulch that Sessei Meg Levie returned to take up the position of “head of practice.”

As we sat together in the restless shade of a stand of bamboo, Sessei openly pondered the new potential of the center to serve the wider community and the world with a quiet excitement. I found her to be a fine embodiment of her own peaceful doctrine. Sessei is a Dharma name meaning “embracing life.”

Cincinnatus Hibbard: What message or answer does Zen Buddhism have for us in these times of change and turmoil?

Sessei Meg Levie: There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, and there is a lot of suffering. Zen offers a path of settling down and opening up to a bigger view—of whom we really are beyond our limited, individual stories, and to the deep interconnectedness of life. Understanding that no one really is “other” naturally leads to greater empathy and kindness, and less fear.

When you realize also that everything in life changes and there’s nothing permanent to hold on to, including ourselves, it creates the possibility of being fully in this moment, right now, in all its beauty and aliveness, even in the midst of difficulty.

I appreciate that you develop this awareness in zazen sitting meditation. But again, your center emphasizes hard farm work. How do you access it in your working life?

Work practice has a long tradition in Zen. It’s about bringing awareness to what you are doing in each moment and remembering your intention. If what you care about is serving others and cultivating clarity in your own mind and heart, then whatever you are doing becomes Zen practice.

Learn more at linktr.ee/GreenGulchZen.

Your Letters, May 14

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Un-Happys

With regard to the Happys, I suggest a more fitting band name: the Vandals. Their so-called “marketing efforts” are amateurish and unprofessional, if not pathetic. They post their inept, graffiti-like signs on public, private, county, and state property. This is not only a nuisance, but clearly illegal. Please don’t encourage them.

Howard Kurtz
San Rafael

Ode to Evil Elon

With joy we are delirious

’Cause life for Elon turned serious

Between a rock and a Tesla he’ s stuck

With his Edsel, a Cybertruck

Let’s all hope it is soon gone

Along with Musk, DOGE and King Don

Bob Canning
Petaluma

Cover Lover

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoy the work of your cover designer Gustavo Belman. He consistently does such interesting work—some should be framed and put in a gallery. His covers remind me of the graphics-heavy rock posters of yore.

Micah D. Mercer
North Bay

We appreciate your letters to the editor—send them to le*****@******an.com and le*****@********un.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.

Saving Science, SoCo Scientists Sound the Funding Alarm

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Saving Science, SoCo Scientists Sound the Funding Alarm

We were just kids in Sonoma County when we first felt the urgency—from summers filled with thickened smoke and anxious harvests during record-breaking heat. As scientists, we’re trying to do something about it, but the funding that makes our work possible is being destroyed. 

Scientists are the reason we have defeated deadly diseases, landed on the moon and led global innovation. With devastating budget cuts to crucial funding sources like the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), we are abandoning science and we are abandoning our future. From agricultural advancements that secure our food supply to groundbreaking medical discoveries, federal funding is critical to our long-term wellbeing.

Proposed cuts to the federal agencies that fund scientific research threaten to compromise America’s longstanding role as a research powerhouse This identity is rooted in its robust research enterprise, especially in states like California. As the fourth largest economy in the world, California’s success is powered in large part by its investment in science and technology, which fuels economic growth, contributes to national security, attracts global talent and trains the next generation of researchers. 

NIH funding contributed almost $14 billion and NSF funding over $1 billion to California’s economy. Additionally, for every dollar spent on research, more than double that is returned to the economy. Slashing funding for agencies, like NSF, that make up just over 1% of the federal budget won’t reduce the deficit or lower everyday costs, but will undermine past investments and stall vital research.

The new administration intends to cut NSF’s budget by two thirds and has already cut nearly half of its federal employees, terminated over 1,000 funded grants, and most recently instructed staff to halt payments on existing awards and pause new ones altogether. NSF is not alone in this fight. 

Agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy are also under fire for supporting climate science, clean energy, and so-called “woke” research in the social and behavioral sciences. 

Most Americans unknowingly rely on federal science funding in their daily lives. A recent poll found 90% of people use weather forecasts, job market reports, food safety warnings and other information rooted in federal science funding, but only 10% are concerned with the cuts. NSF funds cybersecurity, K-12 education, veteran resources, developed the American Sign Language, built the foundation of Artificial Intelligence, facilitated groundbreaking medical treatments and so much more. When funding is cut, everyday people who rely on this federally funded information will be without. Professors cancel research programs. Community partnerships dissolve. The work stops. The next climate solution, the next medical breakthrough, might never be found.

The fight over federal science funding isn’t solely about politics. It’s about whether people like us—from rural towns, families of color and public schools—will ever get the chance to dream big. Federal support for science built the opportunities that changed our lives. Now, those lifelines are being destroyed.

We both came from humble beginnings growing up in Sonoma County public schools. One of us began at Santa Rosa Junior College as a first-generation student, supported by a Pell Grant. A fascination with fungi, and their role as nature-based solutions to climate change, led to a doctorate funded by NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship, and next an NSF-supported postdoctoral fellowship. This public investment makes it possible today for her to teach climate resilience to students and to help them see themselves as part of the climate solution.

Despite this impressive trajectory, the fear that the fellowship, a source of income, will be the next one cancelled, not because the science isn’t sound but because the scientist in question is from an underrepresented identity in STEM which is being attacked. The other began at CSU Monterey Bay, drawn to the ocean with little idea of the pathways available to her. It was  NSF-funded undergraduate research experiences and programs like Environmental Biology for Pacific Islanders that lit the way forward for her to pursue a career in conservation. Federally funded programs offered us a future in research, but with current funding cuts, it’s become difficult for emerging scientists like us to continue down the path we’ve invested so much in. What made the difference in both of our successes wasn’t luck, but public investment: Scholarship, mentorship and research funds all made possible by federal support. 

Our stories show what’s possible when science is funded and accessible. That support is vital now more than ever, as communities like ours, mostly Latinx and working class, live with the daily realities of climate change. In Sonoma County, droughts, wildfires and extreme heat aren’t distant threats–they’re reshaping our air, water, economy and health. And yet, places like ours are too often left out of conversations about climate solutions. Even within California, media coverage favors wealthier regions while devastating fires like the 2017 Tubbs Fire are forgotten.

Science should be accessible to everyone, but proposed cuts to research funding threaten to shut out entire communities. This is not just about lost discoveries. It is about lost jobs, stalled education and missed breakthroughs in health, climate and technology. NSF prepares the next generation by bringing STEM into early learning and training teachers to engage students in every corner of the country. It equips K–12 schools, community colleges and workforce programs to meet the needs of industries desperate for skilled workers. When we limit who gets to participate in science, we lose the perspectives that drive real innovation. Kids from rural towns, working class families and communities of color bring essential lived knowledge to the table. Without support, their voices and their solutions risk being left out entirely.

It’s clear that federally funded science programs work. While we may not have had many examples for careers in science when we grew up in Geyserville, today we hope to serve as role models for young people with dreams just like ours. Science should be a visible, viable path forward. The programs that fuel curiosity and power American innovation urgently need support. Let’s not allow politics to erase these options for the next generation of scientists and changemakers. Instead invest in our communities and our futures. We urge you, as readers and fellow people from Sonoma County, to use your power and speak for those without voices; reach out to our representatives at any level of government and advocate for the access to knowledge. Science is rooted in our local areas, driven by human wonder, and with your help it has the power to change the world.

Murals Take Flight, ‘Slough Birds’ arrives at Lynch Creek Trail 

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Murals Take Flight, ‘Slough Birds’ arrives at Lynch Creek Trail 

A new flock has arrived in Petaluma, and while it doesn’t fly, it does catch the eye. 

Artist Jonny Hirschmugl has completed three new murals along the Lynch Creek Trail, each commissioned by the City of Petaluma, and the result is a vivid, expressive infusion of nature into one of the town’s most trafficked greenways.

With a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Wednesday, May 14 at 5:30pm, the public is invited to see Slough Birds up close—and maybe chat with the artist himself. “Half my job was chatting with any and most passersby,” Hirschmugl says. “I learned a lot from them, while not getting a whole lot done.”

Hirschmugl, a longtime Petaluma artist known for his unfiltered, physical approach to painting, brought his signature “drip” style to the trail project, adapting it to the outdoors in a way that blends spontaneity with specificity. “I try to keep it as loose and expressive as nature can be,” he says. “Although there is structure in everything, it’s hard to predict which way a branch will grow on a tree, or the line of paint I’m putting to a surface.”

Familiar elements in his work—birds, blossoms—take on new meaning in context. “Even though I tend to add blossoms on my murals, regardless of location, there actually is an old, 20-foot-tall, pink-blossomed magnolia tree right between the walls,” he says. “So, connection.”

That theme of connection carries through every response. “A lot of the people that use this trail live nearby,” Hirschmugl says. “And I’d like them to feel the imagery belongs here.”

Some of those images include corvids, a heron he named Kinokonik and a bird dubbed Ron. “The ol’ raven appears a lot here. Though crows or corvids can be included in describing the birds. A couple of waterfowls, too. A great blue heron named Kinokonik posed for a portrait. And one of the birds named Ron would sing me rhythmic incantations, to keep me tuned to my environment,” he says.

For an artist whose journey once included unsanctioned street art, working with the city now brings a touch of full-circle symmetry. “Um … you’ll have to speak to my lawyer on that. He’s on vacation right now,” Hirschmugl says. “But I’ll paint on anything, just as long as I can get away with it … I’ll also say, it’s nice to play in the sanctioned areas as I get older. I don’t have to constantly be looking over my shoulder. And as for the kids today, I hope they can see some connection with the possibilities of mark-making by a rehabilitated man.”

It’s a characteristically wry but sincere reflection—much like his guiding phrase, “Stay Calm,” which remains a constant presence in works that can be seen throughout Petaluma. “Stay Calm is always on my mind. It’s a part of everything I do,” he says. 

“Nature can be both peaceful and hostile,” Hirschmugl notes. “One wall had bundles of 3-foot-tall stinging nettle brushed up against it. And the wall near the slough’s embankment had a sloshy clay ground, almost consistent enough to throw on a potter’s wheel. And if you put your full weight down, you’d risk your boots becoming an entombed part of the landscape.”

Still, Hirschmugl wants the work to speak for itself, up close, in the open air. “The stories our own eyes tell us are uniquely individual,” he says. “We share the similarities, but the deep stuff is different for everyone.”

The City of Petaluma hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Jonny Hirschmugl’s new murals at 5:30pm, Wednesday, May 14, along Lynch Creek Trail. jonnyhirschmugl.com

Luma Love, Four Reasons to be Obsessed with Petaluma 

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Luma Love, Four Reasons to be Obsessed with Petaluma 

There are many reasons to be obsessed with Petaluma—rolling hills, a haunted downtown, all the chickens—but my favorites are the ways it makes life better. Which explains why half of this list is edible. 

Brutally Addictive Chocolate Croissants 

Whenever I tell someone I live in Petaluma, the first thing out of my mouth usually involves croissants. That says a lot more about me than it does about Petaluma, but here we are. And we do have some good ones. 

Most notably, from Della Fattoria. Does everyone already know this? Probably. They’re possibly the best chocolate croissants I’ve ever eaten and certainly the only croissants I’ve ever attempted to save for myself by performing experimental mind control on the people in line ahead of me when there’s only one chocolate croissant left. I’ve also heard expressions of dismay behind me when I’ve been the lucky soul to snag the last chocolate croissant on a Saturday morning. 143 Petaluma Blvd. N., dellafattoria.com.

Stellina Pronto also makes a lovely chocolate croissant, only it’s called a nutella cornetto and it’s an altogether different experience. It’s bigger, more dessert-y—one can almost get away with calling the chocolate croissant from Della’s a reasonable breakfast—and decorated with toasted hazelnuts. It was exactly what I needed on the Wednesday after Election Day when Della was closed and my existential dread required soothing. 23 Kentucky St., stellinapronto.com. 

Side note about Stellina patrons: As I made my way out of the bakery on that fateful Wednesday morning, my massive nutella cornetto balanced in two hands, a man held the door for me and called me “ma’am.” On this particular day, when a woman had not gained entry to the White House and a man many women would refuse to be in the same room with did, there was something especially touching about being treated well. THAT’S RIGHT; RESPECT ME. And my powdered-sugar-dusted breakfast treat.

All the Refills One Could Ever Want 

Ever open up an Amazon package and lift out lotion and laundry detergent, only to picture an image of Jeff Bezos’ smug face as he stands atop landfill piled with all the empty plastic bottles we’ve all personally tossed in? Or is that just me? I’m not trying to eco-shame anyone, because 1) rude and 2) whenever someone tries to shame me, I have to physically restrain my inner child from running off to do the exact opposite of whatever they just told me to do. Being able to easily refill all the stuff I use regularly is just something I’ve wanted for years, and I’m happy to have such a lovely option right downtown. 

For those whose brain does something similar, may I suggest the Refill Mercantile? Customers can bring in their own reusable bottles, scrounge from the communal free offerings or purchase something nice to use over and over. They can fill them up with everything their household needs, from face wash to dish soap. The husband-and-wife team who owns it takes pains to find the healthiest versions available, often locally sourced.

When I dithered over shampoo because a combination of well water and my particular hair texture makes finding the right one basically impossible, they let me take home a week’s worth to try for free. I extended that free week to a month because I listened when Jonathan Van Ness said one should only wash their hair every other day, and then I took it way too far because, well, let’s just blame Covid. 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., refillmercantile.com.

Soothing the Crazy

We’re walking around in a trauma echo chamber these days, especially if we listen to the news or participate in social media. Those who succumb to road rage or find themselves in a fugue state scrolling a phone on the couch for hours at a time may find their nervous systems are in disarray.

For a long time I had no idea what chiropractors do—and, honestly, I’m still not entirely sure—but I do know that they can chill out one’s adrenals and fix that wonky hip. Acorn Chiropractic Club will probably do something else. But for anyone with a nervous system that needs help, it’s a good place to go. 141 Second St., acornchiropractic.com/petaluma-ca.

For those of us who spend a fair amount of time at the doctor, only to walk away after getting no help whatsoever—I was once told to wait until the symptoms got worse and then go back for medication—Chinese medicine might be the answer.

Petaluma Community Acupuncture is another communal space where one can receive acupuncture and herbs tailored to their own particular needs, and the sliding scale makes it really doable. Chinese medicine has helped me with so many of the things doctors shrug their shoulders over before shuffling me out of the office. Go in, tell the acupuncturist about all those weird symptoms, get some needles tapped in and take a nice rest.  21 Kentucky St., petalumacommunityacupuncture.com.

Drinking Tasty Things by the River 

We have a river, so why not go drink things by it? Just don’t fall in. Medieval map makers would definitely label the bottom of that river with a toothy dragon and a casual “Here Be Monsters.”

My favorite place to eat in Petaluma right now is Luma. The staff always takes good care of us, even when we have to eat on the velvet couches because we strolled in without a reservation an hour before the Petaluma Lighted Boat Parade. Pro tip: Strolling in an hour before the Petaluma Boat Parade is a good way to skip the gnarly parade traffic, have a cheeseburger and a cocktail, and then just walk out the back door to the river as the boats begin their watery cavalcade of light and motion. 50 East Washington St., lumaeatery.com.

My favorite mocha in town can be found at Grand Central. The baristas there use high-quality chocolate, and they’ll sweeten to one’s taste. One may get a nice coffee and sit in the sun on a wooden lounge chair or in a hammock by the river. Customers with kids are in luck because the establishment is wildly kid friendly. Those without kids might want to bring noise-canceling headphones on the days when the place turns into an impromptu kindergarten. 226 Weller St., grandcentralpetaluma.com.

Of course, Petaluma’s best place to enjoy a vast array of fine wines in a river-adjacent piazza is La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge. Located in the heart of Theatre Square, the spot is the perfect place to while away a day—and perhaps the evening, too—sipping and soothing away this anxious era. 151 Petaluma Blvd. S., ldvwine.com.

Amber Adrian is a writer and healer who blogs at amberadrian.com.

Performer George Webber Launches New ‘Guided History’ Tour

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Performer George Webber Launches New ‘Guided History’ Tour

Sonoma’s “Professional Multiple Personality Artiste” is at it again. Since 2001, historian and actor George Webber has portrayed General Vallejo, Count Haraszthy, Mark Twain, Professor Vine, and many others in walking tours, appearances, and lectures. 

Beginning May 23, Webber is adding three more historic characters to his repertoire: Reverend Thaddeus Minor Leavenworth, Captain Henry Earnest Boyes, and Rudy Lichtenberg—the three people most responsible for creating the oasis of relaxation and hot water known today as the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa. 

Capt. Boyes is the most well-known; it was in 1898 that the English Naval Captain—turned hot water impresario—petitioned the Northwest Pacific railroad to add a stop at his Agua Rica Hot Springs Resort. In 1901 they did so, and called it “Boyes Hot Springs,” thus keeping the Captain in the public eye ever since.

“I am truly thrilled with this new project,” says Webber. “The beautiful and historic Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is a marvelous stage set; bringing the Reverend, the Captain, and the Pitcher to life on the grounds where they walked will be a hoot.”

Creating valid and historically accurate living history requires extensive research, and to pull off this ambitious endeavor Webber has brought in a fellow actor-historian, C.W. Bayer. 

For the last two years they have been a two-man performance team called the History Buskers, and have brought their original theatrical piece, “The Condensed History of Wine,” to the Sonoma Plaza, and local wineries.

Combing the historical record, these two history sleuths have uncovered little-known facts that make for an exciting and comprehensive tour. In the one-hour Agua Rica Tour, visitors will be led around the grounds of the beautiful resort by Webber or Bayer—will explain its history—and at times change hats to portray the three main characters.

The Agua Rica Tour runs 10 to 11 am, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting May 24. Attendees are invited to meet at the 38 Degrees North Lounge off the lobby of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, 100 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma. Tours are $25 per adult, children free and welcomed. Reservations required via AguaRicaTour.com. The public is invited to attend the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 11 am on Friday, May 23.

Open Mic: The Tesla Chainsaw Massacre, Ditch the Car for a Cause

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Open Mic: The Tesla Chainsaw Massacre, Ditch the Car for a Cause

Are Tesla owners complicit in Musk’s DOGE “chainsaw” massacre of hundreds of critical government programs?

The firing thousands of federal workers by claiming their jobs are wasteful (with no such evidence), trying to break Social Security, calling it a fraudulent Ponzi scheme, and threatening to de-fund health care for millions of low-income people —just for starters? 

When they bought a Tesla, they were only trying to be green. Yet now, adding to Musk’s coffers by driving his car presents a moral dilemma.

The historical, psychological and political answers for why Musk decimated our federal infrastructures and installed himself as leader of a ruling class technocracy are complex and mindboggling—picture a face with spinning eyes and hanging tongue. 

But one answer is not that hard to grasp: Trump promised an $854 TRILLION dollar tax cut for the 1% uber rich donors (like Musk) and other multi-billion-dollar corporations if they would support him in his bid for president. 

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Citizens United case for striking down corporate campaign spending limits, Musk was unrestricted in his ability to donate one BILLION dollars to Trump super PACs and become an un-elected co-president. 

To get their hands on the trillions needed to pay for the tax cuts due to the uber rich, they claimed they were “saving”  money for the American people by gutting the innards of the federal government. And they plan to increase and make those tax cuts for the uber rich permanent, so they will continue to rob, lie and create blinding chaos to keep themselves in power.

The boycott of Musk’s Tesla, including company shares, charging stations, components for repairs etc. is having a big effect—the last I heard, Tesla had lost a whopping 71% of its profits as of April 2025.

Dis-owning your Tesla sends a financial message to Musk demanding he stop his depraved attempt to destabilize our democracy and leave us vulnerable to the oppression of kings, technocrats and dictators. Americans on your family tree for generations to come will be proud you did.

Miriam Ginden, a long-time resident of Sonoma County, is seeing something and saying something.

Summer concerts and movies at the Green Music Center

summer concerts and movies at the green music center, summer events at the green music center
Published in cooperation between Green Music Center and the North Bay Bohemian The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University is thrilled to present its new lineup of summer entertainment for 2025, with experiences for music lovers, families and everyone in between. From the exhilarating 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular to the enchanting sounds of Pink Martini featuring China Forbes...
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Drink Among Giants, Redwood Empire Whiskey

While Elliott Sneen has worked in the wine and spirits industry for many years, he seems to enjoy beer quite a bit.  Who could blame him for craving a nice, refreshing pilsner after a long day tasting barrel-aged bourbon at Redwood Empire? It feels like our local favorite whiskey brand has been around forever, but it actually only launched in...
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Culture Crush, 5/14

Mill Valley Band, Interrupted Blending New Wave nostalgia with prog-pop punch, Pardon The Interruption (PTI) returns to Sweetwater Music Hall for a high-energy set guaranteed to get Mill Valley moving. Led by guitarist and vocalist David Noble—whose credits range from Wreckless Strangers to Nina Hagen—PTI draws from funk, ska, jam and vintage rock to deliver a sound that’s both retro-chic and...
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Transience and Oneness, Sessei Meg Levie of Green Gulch Zen Center

The road that took me to the Green Dragon Temple was as convoluted and as linear as the pilgrim’s path. It wound down into a long but narrow property, fenced with mature eucalyptus trees. After a few more uncertain forks I ended up, eventually and inevitably, at the edge of a campus of some 20-odd buildings suited to farming, hosting...
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Your Letters, May 14

Un-Happys With regard to the Happys, I suggest a more fitting band name: the Vandals. Their so-called “marketing efforts” are amateurish and unprofessional, if not pathetic. They post their inept, graffiti-like signs on public, private, county, and state property. This is not only a nuisance, but clearly illegal. Please don’t encourage them. Howard Kurtz San Rafael Ode to Evil Elon With joy we...
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Saving Science, SoCo Scientists Sound the Funding Alarm

We were just kids in Sonoma County when we first felt the urgency—from summers filled with thickened smoke and anxious harvests during record-breaking heat. As scientists, we’re trying to do something about it, but the funding that makes our work possible is being destroyed.  Scientists are the reason we have defeated deadly diseases, landed on the moon and led global...
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Murals Take Flight, ‘Slough Birds’ arrives at Lynch Creek Trail 

A new flock has arrived in Petaluma, and while it doesn’t fly, it does catch the eye.  Artist Jonny Hirschmugl has completed three new murals along the Lynch Creek Trail, each commissioned by the City of Petaluma, and the result is a vivid, expressive infusion of nature into one of the town’s most trafficked greenways. With a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for...
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Luma Love, Four Reasons to be Obsessed with Petaluma 

There are many reasons to be obsessed with Petaluma—rolling hills, a haunted downtown, all the chickens—but my favorites are the ways it makes life better. Which explains why half of this list is edible.  Brutally Addictive Chocolate Croissants  Whenever I tell someone I live in Petaluma, the first thing out of my mouth usually involves croissants. That says a lot more...
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Performer George Webber Launches New ‘Guided History’ Tour

Sonoma’s “Professional Multiple Personality Artiste” is at it again. Since 2001, historian and actor George Webber has portrayed General Vallejo, Count Haraszthy, Mark Twain, Professor Vine, and many others in walking tours, appearances, and lectures.  Beginning May 23, Webber is adding three more historic characters to his repertoire: Reverend Thaddeus Minor Leavenworth, Captain Henry Earnest Boyes, and Rudy Lichtenberg—the three...
Read more

Open Mic: The Tesla Chainsaw Massacre, Ditch the Car for a Cause

Are Tesla owners complicit in Musk’s DOGE “chainsaw” massacre of hundreds of critical government programs? The firing thousands of federal workers by claiming their jobs are wasteful (with no such evidence), trying to break Social Security, calling it a fraudulent Ponzi scheme, and threatening to de-fund health care for millions of low-income people —just for starters?  When they bought a Tesla,...
Read more
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