Gifts for Jewelry Lovers

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Katja Designs, alive with spirit 

In her Healdsburg shop, Katja Designs, master goldsmith Katja Whitedeer crafts original jewelry inspired by spiritual connection and storytelling. 

Renowned for her organic, handmade creations, Whitedeer’s work reflects the essence of her materials—precious metals like gold, silver and platinum, as well as stones shaped by time and nature. She describes her process as a collaboration with the metals and gems, creating pieces that embody both the spirit of the materials and the wearer’s unique personality.

“I let my mood and the gold and gems decide what we are creating together, and it’s always very exciting,” she explains.

Katja is celebrated as the first jeweler in the U.S. to create a platinum and high-karat gold ring shank. This meticulous and revolutionary process earned her a loyal following, including celebrity clients like Diane Keaton and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yet, it’s her connection to materials and the joy of crafting meaningful pieces that fuel her passion.

Whitedeer welcomes visitors to her gallery, Katja Designs, to explore the many layers of her art and craft. At the heart of her work is a personal connection—each piece she creates carries her love and passion, becoming a meaningful part of her clients’ lives.

“I believe precious metals and stones have a spirit, a soul and a unique personality,” she says. “I don’t manufacture jewelry; I create one-of-a-kind, organic works of art that enhance the spirit and individuality of those who wear them.”

For Whitedeer, jewelry is a conversation with story, nature and spirit. Her pieces invite wearers to go beyond ornamentation, engaging with their jewelry like a cherished companion—one that holds memory, intention and timeless elegance.

Katja Designs, 122 North St., Healdsburg. instagram.com/bykatjadesign

Robindra Unsworth

Shop for jewelry, clothing and accessories online or at two Wine Country locations in Calistoga and Petaluma.

robindira.com

Wovekind

Specializing in engagement rings, Sebastopol’s Wovekind is body-neutral, queer-friendly and mother-centric. By appointment only. 

wovekind.com

Gifts for the Pet Lover

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Visit Fideux for a Holiday Win

Healdsburg-based Fideaux (pronounced like “wineaux”) is a leader in the boutique pet space and fully embraces the fact that cats and dogs are some of the most pampered “people” in Wine Country. 

Fideaux isn’t your typical pet shop—it’s a curated haven for discerning pet lovers and their four-legged companions. Focusing on locally made products from small businesses, Fideaux offers an array of unique, high-quality items you won’t find anywhere else.

From plush and stylish dog beds to handcrafted leather collars and colorful, durable toys, Fideaux stocks everything your furry friend could dream of. Their signature mix-and-match scoops of healthy biscuits are a fan favorite, adding a personal touch to your pet’s snacking routine. Seasonal décor and an ever-evolving selection mean every visit feels like a treasure hunt, with surprises waiting at every corner.

Looking for a holiday treat? The Fideaux Gift Box ($25) is a perfect pick for dog lovers. Featured at the luxe Montage resort, it’s a charming bundle of joy containing a wine bottle squeaky toy, a bag of treats, a roll of poop bags and wipes for those post-adventure cleanups.

Whether you’re after a chic trucker hat, cozy fleece prints for your pup or just a little something special, Fideaux has you covered. 

Fideux, 43 North St., Healdsburg fideaux.net

Wine Country Animal Lovers

A small, grassroots, volunteer-run rescue group with adoptable animals in foster homes throughout Napa and Sonoma counties.

winecountryanimallovers.org

Rivertown Feed & Pet Country Store

Pet supply shop carrying food and items for a variety of animals, plus homeopathic remedies.

200 1st St., Petaluma. rivertownfeed.com

Gifts for Stoners

Santa Rosa’s Flora Terra serves the ‘cannaseur’

Sonoma County is no longer just the land of pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon—it’s also gaining recognition for its “buzz-worthy” cannabis—to borrow from the marketing parlance of local cannabis enterprise Flora Terra’s website. 

With three locations in Santa Rosa, Flora Terra is an upscale dispensary and cultivation hub boasting a 10,000-square-foot indoor grow space outfitted with cutting-edge technology. From seed to sale, they take pride in cultivating premium cannabis with proprietary methods, offering visitors top-shelf products in a sleek, modern setting.

Framing their approach is a natural comparison—cannabis and wine share more in common than meets the eye. Both are deeply rooted in agriculture, celebrated for their complex flavors and aromatics, and influenced by the terroir in which they grow. Sonoma’s microclimates, light rainfall and sun-soaked summers create the perfect conditions for cultivating both vines and cannabis plants. And while regulations currently keep cannabis and wine apart at public events, pairing the two is quickly becoming a new Wine Country tradition for many.

For a stocking stuffer, consider Flora Terra’s array of $6 pre-rolls, including—for the Star Wars aficionado—the “Death Star,” which appears purple with a “nose of candy, citrus and gas” with which to “giggle yourself onto another planet.” Or consider the classy-sounding Tuscan Gelato—cannabis flower is packed with trichomes, which are tiny resin glands brimming with cannabinoids and terpenes.

Whether you’re a cannabis connoisseur or simply curious, Flora Terra is your gateway to experiencing Wine Country in a whole new way. Pair responsibly; savor deeply.

Flora Terra. Locations throughout Santa Rosa. floraterraca.com

Jane Dispensary

The Bohemian’s Best of the North Bay 2024 winner.

Locations in Cotati and Santa Rosa. janedispensary.com

Napa Cannabis Collective

Women-led. Delivery and in-store purchases are available.

860 Kaiser Rd., Suite D, Napa napacannabiscollective.com

Face to Face with Executive Director Sara Brewer

Last week, the administration and staff of erstwhile AIDS charity Face to Face gathered donors and all their nearest and dearest at Santa Rosa’s Vintners Resort to present a new brand identity and mission tagline. The new logo consists of two linked letters “f” contraposed within an open square, and the new line declares that “our community is our mission.”

Like most transformative rites, this breakfast ceremony simply made official a change that has already taken place. Face to Face has pursued the incurable syndrome over the years through its vectors of infection into a holistic medical approach that might include housing assistance along with PrEP. Change is in the DNA of this nonprofit, which began as a “death with dignity” AIDs Hospice in the 1980s. Today, the executive director is Sara Brewer.

CH: Sara, what motivates this rebranding?

SB: With the goal of keeping people engaged in their HIV medical care, we have expanded services—and people don’t know that. We are and will always be the HIV organization, but we do so much more. This rebrand is about fundraising, but more importantly, it is about people accessing our full range of services. 

CH: Could you list your services for us?

SB: HIV and STI testing, condoms, access to PrEP and PEP, support groups for people living with HIV, housing assistance, financial assistance, sterile injection and sterile smoking supplies, fentanyl test strips, safe drug testing, Narcan opioid overdose prevention, drug harm reduction classes. 

We have our main location on 2nd Street in Santa Rosa, a 24/7 vending machine for these supplies, syringe-safe drop-off locations in high-traffic areas and a mobile van that currently visits 18 sites around the county.  We can connect you to treatment; we can connect you to prevention; we can connect you to community.

CH: Those services put you at the forefront of the opioid crisis—something people might not realize. Sara, could you tell us about your staff?

SB: We are an eclectic, diverse group. We don’t have a shared identity, but we are all brought together by compassion and a passion for supporting each other and community and honoring and dignifying people for whom they are. And there is a certain “bootstrappiness” that comes with that mission.

How to get involved. This is the perfect time, as Face to Face works among the houseless, immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities that will be even more vulnerable in the next four years. Follow this url, linktr.ee/facetofacelinks, to learn about their services or donate.

Sound & Scene: Seen any good shows lately?

This is Josh Windmiller, coming to you with all things sonic, tuneful, groovy, euphonious or otherwise music-related. Whether it’s loud or soft, I’m listening.

You might not know me, but I’ve been bouncing around the scene for 17 years. I gig and record with my band (The Crux) and with other artists like Audio Angel. I co-founded The Lost Church Santa Rosa theater as well as the Railroad Square Music Festival, and have programmed lineups for events like Petaluma’s Rivertown Revival. I’ve also tried my hand as a booking agent and band manager. 

Through this pinball game of a career, the one thing I’ve always wanted to do was to write about music. So when the Bohemian offered me a semi-regular column, I agreed, and now my Music Industry Bingo Card is almost full.

For this article, I’ve been asked to present a “State of the Music Scene.” I have some thoughts and about 400 words left to get them out, so hop in…

The first thing we should pat ourselves on the back about is the mutual support our musicians have for one another. I see artists going to each other’s shows, sharing their peers’ work online and building a real network. I hear this from folks who come through on tour all the time—we have something very special.

That being said, a close-knit community like ours can get overly isolated. Art cannot stand still, and we must keep constructively challenging one another, creating more opportunities for professional development and taking our craft beyond the county line to keep our collective muse in motion. This is more than just the responsibility of the artists—everyone can pitch in to help with booking, promotion, providing local grants and more. I know there are many folks who love music but don’t perform—consider this an invitation to help support a growing scene.

I also want to recognize the growing diversity of music here. It’s been a long road from the Americana-dominated North Bay of previous decades, but I’m seeing a notable uptick in the variety of styles that can be found on local stages. The performers in the spotlight are becoming more representative of our community as well, with Black performers, queer performers and other marginalized artists playing big gigs and getting featured in some of our larger festivals and outdoor concerts. 

While one could say we’re catching up with the 21st century in terms of diversity, we don’t often see a variation of styles and identities in the same show. It’s one thing to have inclusivity for inclusivity’s sake, but it’s another level to make a combination of styles and backgrounds into a creative act itself. I truly believe that cross-genre and cross-identity collaboration is how the North Bay is going to create its own unique “sound,” and I am very excited to hear that happen. Or maybe I just want to see some punk rock and banda in the same night without having to drive across town…

As a member of the arts community with a clear degree of influence, I know it’s important for me to take stock frequently and grow wherever I can. I’ll continue to do this throughout the column, where I’ll be going to shows, writing album reviews, conducting interviews, inviting guest writers and discovering new parts of the North Bay scene along with you. There is a lot going on that I don’t have a clue about, so please reach out if you have any hot tips.

Make music.

Sneakers of Glass, Not Grandma’s ‘Cinderella’

Audiences headed for a performance of the Raven Players’ production of Cinderella who are expecting anything along the lines of a Disney musical are in for a bit of a surprise. 

This particular production, running at the Raven Performing Arts Theater in Healdsburg through Dec. 1, is done in the style of a British pantomime, or “panto.”

What exactly does that mean? Well, it means you’re going to get a classic fairy tale (like Cinderella) all gussied up with slapstick (and often risqué) humor, cross-dressing performers, topical humor, local references, audience interaction, and a couple of popular yet completely anachronistic songs and dance numbers.

The basics of the story remain. Cinderella (Skylar Saltz) is living under the thumb of her evil stepmother, the Baroness Hardup (Anthony Martin), and her two malicious stepsisters, Ammonia (Len Improta) and Amnesia (Declan Hackett).

Word soon comes that the prince (Bohn Connor) is throwing a ball with the hopes of finding a bride. The Baroness plots to have one of her two daughters be the prince’s betrothed and does her best to keep Cinderella under wraps. But with the help of her loyal butler, Buttons (Nicholas Augusta), her Fairy Godmother (Emily Stryker), and an inept fairy intern named Sparkles (Lily Gibson), you just know that the prince and Cinderella will live happily ever after.

The humor is often groan-inducing or bawdy, the costumes are incredibly gaudy, and the whole thing comes off like something you’d see at your local Elks Lodge, but it is what it is. The audience is encouraged to boo and hiss at the villains, cheer for the hero and heroine, assist the inept fairy intern with her magic and sing along with the musical moments. And they did.

Those moments ranged from a fairly well-mounted and choreographed number featuring Prince’s “1999” and Beyoncé’s “Single Lady” to a version of “I’ll Be There for You” that would put an end to any friendship.

Director Robert Zelenka has a cast of old pros and a lot of young folks in the show, and they all understood the assignment. They certainly succeeded with the five year old sitting in front of me, who was so invested in the show and in her desire to warn the cast of the ghosts she saw running around behind them that I think her parents had to hold her back from charging the stage and rescuing them.

This Cinderella may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for that little girl it was an ocean of refreshment.‘Cinderella’ runs through Dec. 1 at the Raven Performing Arts Theater, 115 North St., Healdsburg. Thu–Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $10–$25. 707.433.6335. raventheater.org.

Free Will Astrology: Week of Nov. 20

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Award-winning Aries filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born and raised in the United States. But he has said, “I don’t make movies for America. I make movies for planet Earth.” I applaud his expansive perspective and recommend you cultivate your own version of it in the coming weeks. You will generate good fortune for yourself as you enlarge your audience, your range of influences and your sphere of activity. It will be an excellent time to transcend previous notions of who you are and what your life’s assignments are. The frontiers are calling you to open your mind wider than ever as you leap to the next higher octave of your destiny.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Earth knows no desolation. She smells regeneration in the moist breath of decay.” Author George Meredith said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. Why? Because you’re entering a phase when you will have maximum power to ensure that decay leads to regeneration. My advice: Instead of trying to repress your awareness of what’s decomposing, tune into it energetically. The sooner you embrace the challenging but interesting work to be done, the faster and more effective the redemption will be. Here’s your battle cry: Turn rot into splendor!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Mercury will be your slippery but sticky companion in the coming weeks, Gemini. Whether or not you believe he is a literal god who abides in the spiritual realm, I trust you will acknowledge that he is a vivid archetype. He symbolizes forces that facilitate communication and promote connection. Since he is constantly traveling and conversing, he also represents boundary-crossing and thresholds. I encourage you to summon his assistance whenever you want to lubricate links and foster combinations. He can help you unify disparate influences and strengthen your network of allies.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Utility poles and telephones poles may seem to be indestructible towers, but they have a limited life span. A prime factor in their gradual demise is woodpeckers. The birds drill holes that over time weaken the wood. Their handiwork allows moisture to seep in, causing rot, and creates access points for small animals to burrow in and cause further disintegration. I bring this to your attention because I want to encourage you to launch a woodpecker-like campaign against any seemingly impregnable structures that oppress and restrict you. It might take a while to undermine their power to interfere with your life, but now is an excellent time to begin.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): As an American, I’m jealous of how many festivals the Japanese people celebrate. By some estimates, there are over 100,000 events every year—an average of 274 per day! They may feature music, theater, dancing, entertainment, karaoke, sumo matches, games, delicious food, colorful costumes, spiritual observances, and parades of floats and shrines. If you are a Japanese Leo, you’re in luck. The astrological indicators suggest that in the coming months, you should take extra advantage of your culture’s revels, parties and social merriment. If you’re not in Japan, do your best to fulfill your cosmic mandate to frolic and carouse. Start as soon as possible!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Flintstones was an animated TV comedy show broadcast in the U.S. from 1960 to 1966. It was colossally silly and wildly popular. It portrayed cavemen and cavewomen living suburban lives in the Stone Age with dinosaurs as pets and cars made of wood and rocks. The chirpy theme song for the show was stolen from a piano sonata written by the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to steadily carry out the opposite of that conversion. Transform what’s daft or preposterous into what’s elegant and meaningful. Change superficial approaches into righteous devotions. Move away from trifling diversions and toward passionate magnificence.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Even if you’re not a professional writer, I invite you to compose three lyrical messages in the coming days. One will be a psalm of appreciation for a person who enchants your imagination and inspires you to be your best self. Another will be a hymn of praise that you address to yourself—a gorgeous, expansive boast or an outpouring of gratitude for the marvel and mystery of you. The third salutation will be an address to a higher power, whether that’s God, Goddess, Nature, your Guardian Angel, Higher Self or Life itself. If you can find it in your brave, wild heart to sing or chant these exaltations, you will place yourself in close alignment with cosmic rhythms. (PS: In general, now is a fantastic time to identify what you love and express your feelings for what you love.)

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Greek term pharmakon has a complicated set of meanings: scapegoat, poison, remedy and recipe. According to my astrological analysis, all of these could soon be operative in your life. One surprise is that a metaphoric “poison” you are exposed to may ultimately serve as a remedy. Another curiosity is that a scapegoat may reveal a potent recipe for redemptive transformation. A further possibility: You will discover a new recipe for a very fine remedy. I’m not certain exactly how the whole story will unfold, but I’m betting the net effect will be a lot of healing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Museum of Broken Relationships is in Zagreb, Croatia. It collects castaway objects left behind after intimate relationships have collapsed. Among its treasures are love letters, wedding rings, jars of bitter tears, stuffed animals, feather-filled quilts and matching sweaters. Inspired by this sad spectacle, I invite you to create a very different shrine in your home: One that’s dedicated to wonderful memories from times of successful togetherness. Making this ritual gesture of hope and positivity will prepare you well for the potential relationship growth available for you in the coming months.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s the Soul Retrieval phase of your long-term cycle, Capricorn. Have there been people, either alive or dead, who wounded or pirated parts of your treasured essence? Have you experienced painful events that weakened your connection to your inner riches? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to undertake meditations in which you carry out repair and restoration. You will summon curative agents whenever you reclaim lost and missing fragments of your soul. Be aggressive in seeking helpers who can synergize your own efforts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Wistaria Vine in Sierra Madre, California, is the world’s biggest blooming plant. Spread over an acre, it weighs 250 tons and teems with over 1.5 million blossoms. I propose we regard it as your inspirational symbol for the coming months. Why? I expect you will be more abundantly creative and generative than maybe ever before. Your vitality will overflow. Your vigor will be delightfully lavish and profound. Homework: Start planning how you will wield and manage all that lushness.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean playwright and songwriter Robert Lopez is the only person to have won all four of the following awards more than once: Oscars, Tonys, Emmys and Grammys. He was also the youngest person to have won all four. I propose we make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks and months. According to my astrological analysis, you are primed to ascend to new levels of accomplishment in your chosen field—and to be acknowledged for your success. Think big! Then think even bigger.

Homework: I invite you and dare you to revise your definitions of success. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Culture Crush, Week of 4/17

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Santa Rosa

Zine Scene

The Northwest Santa Rosa Library is set to host the dynamic and ever-expanding Santa Rosa Zine Fest (SRZF24) on Saturday, April 20. This year marks the festival’s fourth anniversary, a testament to the burgeoning interest in zine culture. Co-presented by the Sonoma County Library and the Santa Rosa Zine Collective, the festival will feature over 60 exhibitors from Sonoma County and beyond. This free outdoor event showcases do-it-yourself publications and the creative minds behind them. Attendees can have interactive experiences with workshops conducted by notable artists like Rayona Lovely Wilson, Amanda Ayala and Gladys Ochoa, who will host a session in Spanish. Print.Organize.Protest will be on-site offering free screen-printing. Participants are encouraged to bring items for personalization. The festival, which has tripled in size, will provide a map detailing exhibitor locations and language capabilities, enhancing accessibility with ASL interpreters for the deaf community.  Free DIY zine kits will be available, ensuring participants can start their zine-making journey. For more details and registration, visit sonomalibrary.org/zinefest2024.

Sonoma

Garagiste Fest

Returning for its sixth year, Garagiste Festival: Northern Exposure on Saturday, April 27 promises a unique gathering of over 40 micro-production wineries from Northern California. The event invites attendees to savor over 100 wines from over 20 grape varieties sourced from regions as diverse as Sonoma, Napa and the Sierra Foothills to lesser-known locales like Suisun Valley and El Dorado County. Taking place at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall, the festival is within strolling distance of the picturesque downtown plaza, making it an easily accessible destination for wine lovers. The festival kicks off with a Rare and Reserve Early Access, offering exclusive tastings of library and reserve selections. The Grand Tasting follows, featuring a bounty of wines paired with complimentary cheese, charcuterie, local artisanal treats and a souvenir crystal wine glass for each guest. Tickets are limited and traditionally sell out in advance, underscoring the festival’s allure among wine aficionados and casual enthusiasts alike. To secure a spot and experience the small-lot winemaking scene that captivates connoisseurs nationwide, visit the festival’s official website for tickets and more information: garagistefestival.com.

Napa

Spin to Win

The festivities abound at Folklore Napa for Record Store Day on Saturday, April 20—an international tribute to independent record stores. Doors open early at 9am and close late at 11pm, offering an extended opportunity to explore an array of exclusive and limited-edition music releases. Not just a shopping experience, Folklore turns Record Store Day into a full celebration with cocktails, food and great company available all day. The happenings begin on Friday, April 19, with new album releases from iconic artists Pearl Jam and Taylor Swift. Then, the main event on Saturday features special giveaways, discounted pricing on select box sets and releases, and a chance to acquire rare music treasures. And finally, the celebration continues into Sunday, April 21, with an evening DJ set by Rook’s Nest, spinning records from 6 to 9pm. Folklore is not just a record store but a vibrant local gathering spot located in a charming 1910 building in downtown Napa, close to cultural landmarks like the Uptown Theatre and Napa Opera House, and a short stroll from the Riverwalk. Folklore is the perfect destination this Record Store Day to sip, shop and revel in the community spirit of music enthusiasts. Folklore Napa, 1226 Third St., Napa. 707.812.5506. folklore-napa.com.

Larkspur

Sondheim
for a Lark

“I love the theater as much as music, and the whole idea of getting across to an audience and making them laugh, making them cry—just making them feel—is paramount to me,” said the legendary Stephen Sondheim, whose work is revisited at Larkspur’s The Lark Theater in the Tony Award-winning revue, Side by Side by Sondheim. Celebrating the legacy of one of the most influential figures in musical theater, this show presents some of Sondheim’s most memorable songs. The revue showcases classics such as “Send in the Clowns,” “Side by Side” and “I’m Still Here,” performed by a cast including Ashley Rae Little, Ken Brill, Maureen McVerry, Simon Barrad and Emma Roos. Side by Side by Sondheim runs from May 2 through May 25, starting with a special opening night and reception on Thursday, May 2 at 7:30. Additional performances are scheduled for Sundays and Saturdays, culminating in a final show on Saturday, May 25. Tickets are priced at $50, available for purchase via the Lark’s website, larktheater.net.

Anne Lamott, Steve Zahn and More

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San Rafael

Sanctuaries

Bestselling author Anne Lamott and Grammy-nominated musician Jai Uttal come together for “Sanctuaries: An Evening with Anne Lamott and Jai Uttal” at the Marin Showcase Theater. This unique event, 7-9 pm, Sunday, Nov. 17, blends sacred songs, heartfelt stories and spiritual reflections, as Lamott reads from her 2024 bestseller, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, and Uttal leads chants of devotion. Uttal and Lamott have been friends since they met in 2001 at a local 12-step meeting. “Annie and I have been trying to figure out a way to work together for ages, and we were super happy when this Marin event came together,” says Uttal. “We look forward to sharing our art and the community we hold dear.” Tickets start at $50, with premium seating available. Marin Showcase Theater, 20 Ave of the Flags, San Rafael. Tickets at bit.ly/sanctuaries-marin.

Sonoma County

Walk to School

On Thursday, Nov. 14, Sonoma County schools will join a national celebration honoring Ruby Bridges, who, at six years old in 1960, became a civil rights icon by integrating her New Orleans elementary school. Promoted locally by Safe Routes to School/Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day invites students, parents, teachers and community leaders to walk together, celebrating her legacy and promoting unity in the movement to end racism. Events will be held across Sonoma County communities, including Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Petaluma and Santa Rosa (start times vary by school). For more information, visit bikesonoma.org. 

Sausalito 

Winter Market

This holiday season is the time to gather with over 25 top-tier local makers under one festive roof, with artisans like Heath Ceramics, Sausalito Arts Club and Botnia Skincare showcasing their finest creations. Hosted at the Sausalito Center for the Arts, this annual Winter Market invites attendees to shop thoughtfully for home goods, skincare, jewelry and more—perfect for last-minute holiday treasures. Cute Coffee and Lucky Penny Bread treats can be enjoyed, as well as activities like kid-friendly crafting and complimentary skin consultations. Opens 10am, Sunday, Dec. 14, Sausalito Center for the Arts, 750 Bridgeway. Free admission, open to all.

Healdsburg

Actor Steve Zahn Honored

The future of film can be celebrated with the True West Film Center second annual Hollywood of Tomorrow fundraiser, honoring actor Steve Zahn (The White Lotus, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Planet of the Apes and Happy, Texas), student filmmaker India Mitchell and community artist Jennifer “Jendala” Utsch. Beginning at 5:30pm, Saturday, Nov. 16 and hosted at Studio Barndiva (237 Center St., Healdsburg), the event supports True West’s mission to bring media arts education to Sonoma County students. The evening will feature awards, including the Impact Award for Zahn, and a showcase of Mitchell’s work. Proceeds benefit the development of arts programs and the forthcoming James Redford Campus. The weekend festivities continue Sunday, Nov. 17, with a community screening of Diary of a Wimpy Kid followed by “A Conversation with Steve Zahn.” For tickets, times and additional locations, visit truewestfilmcenter.org.

Election Blues: Be Here for Each Other

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At about 4:30pm on Election Day, I heard muffled screams coming from nearby my house and realized my 80-something neighbor had fallen on the street. 

The first one to respond was my neighbor on the other side, a youngish man who lifted up the fallen woman and helped me walk her into her house. It finally took five neighbors, and my girlfriend from down the road, to cleanse her wound, call the advice nurse at Kaiser, drive her to the ER, stay with her through the ordeal, and bring my neighbor and myself back home.

And by the time we got home, we knew things were going against Vice President Kamala Harris. Then the news streaming on my computer told us Donald Trump had won. 

“How could this happen?” my girlfriend asked. The only thing that made sense to me is that Trump is a renegade of sorts, and those who voted for him are would-be rebels looking for a cause. 

First thing when I awoke the day after, I texted my daughter, “It’s hard to watch everything we have fought for go down the drain.”

You all know what I mean—racial equality, gender equality, a woman’s right to choose, the right to love and even marry someone regardless of race or gender, a nuclear-free future, a healthy planet, affordable housing, universal healthcare, a living wage—the list goes on and on.

“Sexism and racism,” my dear friend Mary Moore said when I called her. That was her explanation.

“Yes,” I thought, we live in a country born in ethnic cleansing and genocide.

The concept of a country being “great” sounds like something kids might say on a grade school playground. Countries are not great or anything else. They are geographic locations. What might be great are the people in a country, or a city, or a neighborhood. 

Which brings me back to my neighbors who responded to one of us in distress, without a second thought. This is what we still have left, our ability to be here for each other, through the bad and the good.

Lois Pearlman is a contributor to the ‘North Bay Bohemian’ and other area publications.

Gifts for Jewelry Lovers

Katja Designs, alive with spirit  In her Healdsburg shop, Katja Designs, master goldsmith Katja Whitedeer crafts original jewelry inspired by spiritual connection and storytelling.  Renowned for her organic, handmade creations, Whitedeer’s work reflects the essence of her materials—precious metals like gold, silver and platinum, as well as stones shaped by time and nature. She describes her process as a collaboration with...

Gifts for the Pet Lover

Visit Fideux for a Holiday Win Healdsburg-based Fideaux (pronounced like “wineaux”) is a leader in the boutique pet space and fully embraces the fact that cats and dogs are some of the most pampered “people” in Wine Country.  Fideaux isn’t your typical pet shop—it’s a curated haven for discerning pet lovers and their four-legged companions. Focusing on locally made products from...

Gifts for Stoners

Santa Rosa’s Flora Terra serves the ‘cannaseur’ Sonoma County is no longer just the land of pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon—it’s also gaining recognition for its “buzz-worthy” cannabis—to borrow from the marketing parlance of local cannabis enterprise Flora Terra’s website.  With three locations in Santa Rosa, Flora Terra is an upscale dispensary and cultivation hub boasting a 10,000-square-foot indoor grow space...

Face to Face with Executive Director Sara Brewer

Last week, the administration and staff of erstwhile AIDS charity Face to Face gathered donors and all their nearest and dearest at Santa Rosa’s Vintners Resort to present a new brand identity and mission tagline. The new logo consists of two linked letters “f” contraposed within an open square, and the new line declares that “our community is our...

Sound & Scene: Seen any good shows lately?

This is Josh Windmiller, coming to you with all things sonic, tuneful, groovy, euphonious or otherwise music-related. Whether it’s loud or soft, I’m listening. You might not know me, but I’ve been bouncing around the scene for 17 years. I gig and record with my band (The Crux) and with other artists like Audio Angel. I co-founded The Lost Church...

Sneakers of Glass, Not Grandma’s ‘Cinderella’

Audiences headed for a performance of the Raven Players’ production of Cinderella who are expecting anything along the lines of a Disney musical are in for a bit of a surprise.  This particular production, running at the Raven Performing Arts Theater in Healdsburg through Dec. 1, is done in the style of a British pantomime, or “panto.” What exactly does that...

Free Will Astrology: Week of Nov. 20

Free Will Astrology: Week of Nov. 20
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Award-winning Aries filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born and raised in the United States. But he has said, “I don’t make movies for America. I make movies for planet Earth.” I applaud his expansive perspective and recommend you cultivate your own version of it in the coming weeks. You will generate good fortune for yourself as...

Culture Crush, Week of 4/17

Santa Rosa Zine Scene The Northwest Santa Rosa Library is set to host the dynamic and ever-expanding Santa Rosa Zine Fest (SRZF24) on Saturday, April 20. This year marks the festival’s fourth anniversary, a testament to the burgeoning interest in zine culture. Co-presented by the Sonoma County Library and the Santa Rosa Zine Collective, the festival will feature over 60 exhibitors...

Anne Lamott, Steve Zahn and More

San Rafael Sanctuaries Bestselling author Anne Lamott and Grammy-nominated musician Jai Uttal come together for “Sanctuaries: An Evening with Anne Lamott and Jai Uttal” at the Marin Showcase Theater. This unique event, 7-9 pm, Sunday, Nov. 17, blends sacred songs, heartfelt stories and spiritual reflections, as Lamott reads from her 2024 bestseller, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, and Uttal leads chants of...

Election Blues: Be Here for Each Other

At about 4:30pm on Election Day, I heard muffled screams coming from nearby my house and realized my 80-something neighbor had fallen on the street.  The first one to respond was my neighbor on the other side, a youngish man who lifted up the fallen woman and helped me walk her into her house. It finally took five neighbors, and...
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