To Dine & Dream in Marin

The Bungalow Kitchen & AC Hotel San Rafael

Spin a compass in Marin County and odds are one will find a world-class experience wherever it points. To leverage one’s geography and options, start in the middle of everything—the AC Hotel San Rafael.

Modern, sophisticated and boasting an expertly curated collection of original artwork, the hotel brings contemporary swagger and exceptional convenience to downtown San Rafael. The minimalist elegance of the guest rooms offers comfortable respite for travelers, revelers and on-the-go worker bees like me who appreciate a strong wifi signal and a thoughtfully stocked mini-fridge. The deluxe bedding is nice too. Ditto on-site amenities like a fitness center, parking and car charging.

Mornings at the AC Hotel San Rafael start with a culinary journey at the AC Kitchen, where European-inspired fare and coffee offer a delightful wake-up call (literal ones are also available). Likewise, evenings are best spent at either the AC Lounge on the ground floor or Above Fifth, its rooftop bar, which boasts craft cocktails and tapas and views of Mt. Tamalpais. Moreover, the hotel is within walking distance of numerous eateries. That said, if one is inclined to give the compass a spin, consider venturing southeast to The Bungalow Kitchen in Tiburon.

Opened in 2021 by culinary icon Michael Mina, rising star chef Daniela Vergara has recently taken the reins, bringing her global palate and fresh perspective to the restaurant. Vergara’s culinary journey reads like a foodie’s dream. After cutting her teeth in the MINA Fellowship program, she impressed diners with her interpretations of French, Hawaiian and Egyptian cuisines. Soon, she was leading the kitchen at Mina’s Estiatorio Ornos in San Francisco, a position she held until its closure in April 2024. Now, her mission is clear—elevate the menu with seasonal, California-inspired dishes that celebrate the bounty of Northern California.

“During my time with MINA Group, I had the opportunity to present my take on globally-inspired dishes—but this is the first time I get to showcase seasonal California cuisine,” says Vergara, one of the youngest executive chefs with MINA Group. “Its location on the waterfront and proximity to some of the most unique farmers and purveyors in Northern California make The Bungalow Kitchen a quintessential California dining experience. I am inspired by this space every day and look forward to continuing to get to know the community here.”

The new menu at The Bungalow Kitchen reads like a love letter to California’s culinary landscape mixed with Vergara’s myriad influences: Dive into the King Crab Pasta, elegantly tossed with arugula pesto and topped with crispy squash blossom on tonnarelli pasta. Sail away with the Salt-Baked Sea Bream, paired with shaved zucchini and drizzled with oregano and lemon vinaigrette.

Indulge in the Peking Duck Confit Bao Buns, bursting with hoisin BBQ sauce, jalapeño and cucumber. For a spicy twist, savor the Jalapeño Lobster Toast, adorned with ginger aïoli, togarashi and cilantro. Or delight in the Ahi Tuna Tartare, a tantalizing mix of garlic, Asian pear, pine nuts, mint and a kick of habanero-sesame oil.

With these two destinations, Marin serves up a perfect pairing—a sophisticated stay and an unforgettable dining experience. To dine and dream indeed.

The Bungalow Kitchen is located at 5 Main St., Tiburon. bungalowkitchen.com; the AC Hotel San Rafael is at 1201 5th Ave., San Rafael. bit.ly/ac-sr.

Broken Record

Trump’s lies, fraud and scandal

In 2016, Donald Trump ran as an outsider, as someone who could criticize the political record of his primary opponents (although he primarily used insults and lies rather than actual policy analysis).

Trump, of course, attacked Hillary Clinton during the general election. Again, he didn’t point toward her legislative actions as a senator, but rather, he recklessly extrapolated from the equally reckless Wikileaks digital dumps. He claimed hundreds of times that he loved Wikileaks, but later said he knew nothing about them. And he thanked Russia for helping Wikileaks!

But in 2024, he has a personal, political, and, historically, criminal record.

His radically irresponsible downplaying of Covid-19 led to hundreds of thousands of Americans dead by the end of 2020.

And he still brags about appointing Supreme Court “justices” who have now taken away women’s control of their reproductive rights over their own bodies.

He deregulated key environmental protections, making our air, food, water and soil more polluted, toxic and dangerous to Americans.

Trump took us out of that critical treaty and several other crucial treaties that safeguard against nuclear war. His actions have made it much more likely that Iran now has nukes, that Russia is actively preparing for nuclear war and that new classes of Euromissiles are being deployed that radically ratchet up chances of accidental nuclear war.

Virtually all U.S. presidents have told one or more lies. But the failure of Trump’s base and his political allies to challenge or even question his buck-naked lying is seen as demonstrating that he uses them, at least in part, as a loyalty test. So now, with a verified record, anyone can see and decide for themselves—is this a leader good for America?

It is essential to test all claims and to spend at least a bit of time seeking honest, truthful confirmation of those made by anyone. Then, we will make an informed choice when we vote.

Dr. Tom H. Hastings is coordinator of conflict resolution BA/BS degree programs and certificates at Portland State University.

Your Letters, June 5

Convicted

By now, we’ve all heard the news that Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying his company’s business records to keep information from voters that he knew would harm his 2016 presidential campaign.

This isn’t just about “hush money” payments. It’s about breaking the law to hide the truth from the American people 11 days before a presidential election.

Trump has a clear pattern of lying to the American people and trying to undermine our elections to cling to power. He still faces three additional indictments and 54 criminal charges, including federal charges for inciting an insurrection to overturn the 2020 election. Despite all of this, he’s still running for president.

Donald Trump is a convicted fraudster and criminal who still poses a massive threat to our fundamental freedoms. We can’t let him hold the highest office in our land in 2025. It’s up to all of us to hold him accountable and defeat him at the ballot box in November.

Will Boemer

San Rafael

Driven Mad

The worst drivers in the world live in America.

The worst drivers in America live in California.

The worst drivers in California live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The worst drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area live in the North Bay region.

To fully understand how our species has devolved, to view up close how mindless our citizens have become and to finally realize how a person such as our former president could find his way into a position of influence in a corrupt enterprise devoid of ideas and ideals, all one has to do is to spend 10 to 15 minutes a day on Highway 101 here in the North Bay region.

Craig J. Corsini

San Rafael

Music, Art and M*A*S*H

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Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur will be playing a special “Evening With” show on Saturday, June 15, at Dancing Crow Vineyards in Hopland. Muldaur, perhaps best known for her 1973 hit song, “Midnight at the Oasis,” has recorded albums in the folk, blues, early jazz, gospel, country and R&B traditions. Her latest album is 2020’s Let’s Get Happy Together, featuring Tuba Skinny. She first rose to fame as a member of the Even Dozen Jug Band, which included Bay Area luminary David “Dawg” Grisman, as part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s. The show, featuring Maria Muldaur & Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band, will start at 6pm, Saturday, June 15, at Dancing Crow Vineyards, 12141 Hewlett Sturtevant Rd., Hopland. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased via bit.ly/mm-dcw. For more information about the venue, visit dancingcrow.com.

Yountville

M*A*S*H Bash

Napa Valley Museum and the Tug McGraw Foundation invite the public to swing into summer at a M*A*S*H Bash at Rosie’s Bar, inside the Main Gallery exhibition “Warrior Dogs.” Party like it’s 4077 with a visit to Korea’s 4077th Mobile Surgical Hospital Unit, inspired by the hit TV series and film M*A*S*H. Live dance music will be performed by the Paper Moon trio, and Kamikaze cocktails will be made with Humboldt Distillery vodka. Wines by Rescue Dog Wines will be available. The event includes admission to “Warrior Dogs: Honoring the Service & Sacrifice of America’s Four-Legged Fighters.” A costume contest will be featured, inviting guests to come as their favorite M*A*S*H character. Prizes will be awarded for the best costume and the winner of the M*A*S*H trivia game. Tickets include music, cocktails and wine tastings. The bash will be held from 5 to 7:30pm, Saturday, June 15, at the Napa Valley Museum Yountville, 55 Presidents Cir. Tickets are $25 for museum members, active military, veterans and first responders, and $35 for general admission. Must be 21 to attend. Free parking is available. For more information, visit the Napa Valley Museum website at napavalleymuseum.org.

Santa Rosa

Art on South A

The Santa Rosa Arts Center gallery will be transformed into a spectrum of color with artwork created by local artists. Paintings, photographs and other visual art primarily dominated by one color will be arranged around the gallery to create a horizontal rainbow. Augmenting these will be other colorful rainbow pictures. The exhibition runs from June 7 to July 28. An artists’ reception will be held from 5 to 8pm, Friday, June 7, at the Santa Rosa Arts Center, 312 South A St. For more information, contact Simmon Factor at 707.293.6051 or the Santa Rosa Arts Center at 707.526.0135 or via email at in**@*****************er.org.

San Rafael

No Silly Matter

Social justice artist Evri Kwong will discuss his latest work, “King Cotton and Other Silly Matters,” at an art talk at the San Rafael City Hall Council Chambers this Thursday, June 6. Kwong was born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area. He attended the San Francisco Art Institute, receiving a BFA and MFA in drawing and painting. During graduate school, Kwong was awarded a full fellowship to study at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine. He has received grants from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the Lannan Foundation and the Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation. Currently, he is an adjunct professor of drawing and painting at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Kwong’s art talk runs from 6 to 7pm, Thursday, June 6, at the San Rafael City Hall Council Chambers, 1400 Fifth Ave.

For the Love of Country

Old Dominion headliners at Country Summer Music Fest

With nearly two dozen acts—including headliners Little Big Town, Jordan Davis, Walker Hayes, Brett Young and Jo Dee Messina—the Country Summer Music Festival in Santa Rosa (June 14-16) has assembled the crème de la crème of contemporary country. The cherry on top is Old Dominion.

And with several hits over the past decade, like “Break Up With Him,” “One Man Band” and “Memory Lane,” it seemed the good times (and tunes) would go on indefinitely. But like many bands, Old Dominion had their world turned upside down when the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, and touring shut down. The situation nearly sapped the life out of Old Dominion altogether.

“We found ourselves doing a lot of the stuff that it takes to be in a band that is not fun, without being able to do the stuff that was fun,” lead singer/guitarist Matthew Ramsey recalled in a recent phone interview. “It just became, every decision and every meeting, it’s tough to connect over Zoom and conference calls, and we just lost that connection.”

Today, the good times are back for Ramsey and his bandmates, guitarist/keyboardist Trevor Rosen, guitarist Brad Tursi, drummer Whit Sellers and bassist Geoff Sprung, as they have maintained a busy schedule of touring ever since the band got the green light to tour again. Ramsey said the good times are rolling—perhaps more than ever—for Old Dominion.

“It’s been better than I ever could have imagined, honestly,” Ramsey said. “It’s been really great and really fulfilling and just an amazing sight every night to walk out and see (the crowds).

“I feel like in a lot of ways we’ve sort of finally gotten our lives back a little bit, and we feel like when we walk out on stage, we set the intention that we want people to leave the show feeling better than when they came,” he said. “That’s what we want. We want people to feel lighter. We genuinely love what we do, and the best way to connect with people is to just be authentic on stage and have a great time doing what we love. That tends to rub off on people. Even my mom mentioned seeing some videos, going, ‘You guys seem like you’re really energetic out there.’”

Formed in 2007, Old Dominion included a trio of established country songwriters in Ramsey, Rosen and Tursi, whose credits included songs recorded by Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Kelsea Ballerini and the Band Perry. Initially, the band was meant to merely be a vehicle for performing their songs around Nashville.

The group members, however, discovered they could make money by playing shows outside of Nashville. More shows kept happening, and eventually, the thought of getting signed as a band and recording albums as Old Dominion came around.

Old Dominion showcased for a variety of Nashville record labels, only to be turned down one after another as many of the labels viewed them as songwriters and not as a band that would generate hits of their own and be a compelling live act. Finally, RCA Records signed Old Dominion in February 2015, but only after the band had independently released a self-titled EP that included a single, “Break Up with Him,” that gained some airplay on Sirius XM Radio.

It didn’t take long for Old Dominion to prove the early airplay was not a fluke. Shortly before the November 2015 release of the band’s RCA debut album, Meat and Candy, “Break Up with Him” completed its run as the album’s lead single to the top of “Billboard” magazine’s Country Airplay chart. Meat and Candy went on to produce two more hit tracks, the chart-topping “Song for Another Time” and “Snapback,” which reached No. 2.

The band’s next two albums added five more No. 1 singles to the catalog, and along the way, Old Dominion began what is now a six-year string of winning Vocal Group of the Year at the ACM and CMA Awards.

But there was a period during the pandemic when Old Dominion’s momentum stalled, and life became difficult for the five band members. Their rebound began in September 2020, when the band members arrived at Echo Mountain Recording studio in Asheville, North Carolina, created a bubble to be together safely and set out to rekindle the creative spark.

The musicians agreed to convene with no songs, start writing and see what happened. With no firm deadline to finish an album, the band members had time to explore various stylistic and sonic song ideas, and the entire experience was less pressurized.

To their delight, Old Dominion emerged from the Asheville session with a finished album, Time, Tequila & Therapy, whose songs mostly have an easy-going blend of pop and country and an upbeat lyrical personality that reflects the spirit of the session.

“I think it was probably a product of us being together in that little three-week bubble and enjoying what we were doing,” Ramsey said of the album. “It was so much fun, and it was honestly a dream that we’d always had, to be able to go into a studio with no songs, and what we wrote and recorded is what you get. That seemed to be something that had eluded us (before) just because of our schedule. So we had the time, and we were in a place of joy. I think that’s what you hear is a band just having a really good time together.”

The burst of creativity that began in Asheville has continued since, as the band rolled right into their next project. Four tunes were released in January on the EP, Memory Lane (Sampler), before getting folded into an 18-song album, Memory Lane, which was released last October.

“We have a really good problem of too many songs. And we have, thankfully, a lot of hits that fill the set. So of course, we want those in there,” Ramsey said of the set list. “And then we try to make space for new material, and we have a few spots in our set where we try to make it interchangeable with some of the old material too, because we want to honor our fans with that. We keep track of socials and peoples’ requests, and people bring signs, so we try to fit in what people want to hear in particular markets.”

The gates to the Country Summer Music Festival open at 3pm, Friday, June 14, and at noon on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, at the Sonoma County Event Center At The Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. For more information, including a complete lineup and tickets, visit countrysummer.com.

Free Will Astrology: Week of June 5-11

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): What potentials should you strive to ripen as the expansive planet Jupiter glides through your astrological House of Connection, Communication and Education in the coming months? I’ll offer my intuitions. On the downside, there may be risks of talking carelessly, forging superficial links and learning inessential lessons. On the plus side, you will generate good luck and abundant vitality if you use language artfully, seek out the finest teachings, and connect with quality people and institutions. In the most favorable prognosis I can imagine, you will become smarter and wiser. Your knack for avoiding boredom and finding fascination will be at a peak.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Since 1969, Taurus singer-songwriter Willie Nelson has played his favorite guitar in over 10,000 shows. His name for it is Trigger. Willie doesn’t hold onto it simply for nostalgic reasons. He says it has the greatest tone he has ever heard in a guitar. Though bruised and scratched, it gets a yearly check-up and repair. Nelson regards it as an extension of himself, like a part of his body. Is there anything like Trigger in your life, Taurus? Now is a good time to give it extra care and attention. The same is true for all your valuable belongings and accessories. Give them big doses of love. 

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Off the coast of West Africa is an imaginary place called Null Island. A weather buoy is permanently moored there. Geographers have nicknamed it “Soul Buoy.” It’s the one location on Earth where zero degrees latitude intersects with zero degrees longitude. Since it’s at sea level, its elevation is zero, too. I regard this spot as a fun metaphor for the current state of your destiny, Gemini. You are at a triple zero point, with your innocence almost fully restored. The horizons are wide, the potentials are expansive, and you are as open and free as it’s possible for you to be.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): When I worked as a janitor at India Joze restaurant in Santa Cruz, California, I did the best I could. But I was unskilled in the janitorial arts. I couldn’t fix broken machines and I lacked expertise about effective cleaning agents. Plus, I was lazy. Who could blame me? I wasn’t doing my life’s work. I had no love for my job. Is there an even remotely comparable situation in your life, Cancerian? Are you involved with tasks that neither thrill you nor provide you with useful education? The coming months will be an excellent time to wean yourself from these activities.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I foresee two possible approaches for you in the coming months. Either will probably work, so it’s up to you to decide which feels most fun and interesting. In the first option, you will pursue the rewards you treasure by creating your own rules as you outfox the system’s standard way of doing things. In the second alternative, you will aim for success by mostly playing within the rules of the system except for some ethical scheming and maneuvering that outflank the system’s rules. My advice is to choose one or the other, and not try to do both.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Please note that during the next 12 months, I may seem a bit pushy in my dealings with you. I will encourage you to redefine and enhance your ambitions. I will exhort you to dream bigger. There may come times when you wish I wouldn’t dare you to be so bold. I will understand, then, if you refrain from regularly reading my horoscopes. Maybe you are comfortable with your current type of success and don’t want my cheerleading. But if you would welcome an ally like me—an amiable motivator and sympathetic booster—I will be glad to help you strive for new heights of accomplishment.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Three months after Rachel Denning bore her fourth child, she and her husband sold everything they owned and embarked on a nomadic life. They have been roaming ever since, adding three more kids along the way. She says they have become addicted to “the personal transformation that travel extracts.” She loves how wandering free “causes you to be uncomfortable, to step out of the familiar and into the unknown. It compels you to see with new eyes and to consider things you had never been aware of. It removes preconceptions, biases, and small-mindedness.” If you were ever going to flirt with Rachel Denning’s approach, Libra, the next 12 months would be a favorable time. Could you approximate the same healing growth without globetrotting journeys? Probably. Homework: Ask your imagination to show you appealing ways to expand.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Among the Europeans who first settled in South America were Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity by Portuguese and Spanish persecutions. Centuries later, some families resolved to reclaim their Jewish heritage. They led a movement called la sangre llama—a Spanish phrase meaning “the blood is calling.” I invite you to be inspired by this retrieval, Scorpio. The coming months will be an excellent time to commune with aspects of your past that have been neglected or forgotten. Your ancestors may have messages for you. Go in search of missing information about your origins.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you simply let the natural flow take you where it will in the coming weeks, you would become a magnet for both degenerative and creative influences. Fortunately, you are reading this oracle, which will help ensure the natural flow won’t lead you toward degenerative influences. With this timely oracle, I am advising you to monitor and suppress any unconscious attractions you might have for bewildering risks and seemingly interesting possibilities that are actually dead ends. Don’t flirt with decadent glamour or fake beauty, dear Sagittarius! Instead, make yourself fully available for only the best resources that will uplift and inspire you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is campaigning to be U.S. President. But oops: He recently confessed that a parasitic worm once ate a portion of his brain, damaging his memory and cognitive skills. “The worm is dead now,” he assured us, as if that were a good reason to vote for him. Why am I bringing this up? Like most of us, you have secrets that if revealed might wreak at least a bit of mayhem. As tempting as it might be to share them with the world—perhaps in an effort to feel free of their burden—it’s best to keep them hidden for now. Kennedy’s brain worm is in that category. Don’t be like him in the coming weeks. Keep your reputation and public image strong. Show your best facets to the world.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The English and French word “amateur” comes from amatus, the past participle of the Latin word amare, which means “to love.” According to one definition, an amateur is “someone who pursues sports, studies, or other activities purely for pleasure instead of for financial gain or professional advancement.” In accordance with astrological omens, I encourage you to make this a featured theme in the coming months. On a regular basis, seek out experiences simply because they make you feel good. Engage in lots of playtime. At least part-time, specialize in fun and games.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Good news, Pisces: In the coming weeks, one of your flaws will mysteriously become less flawed. It will lose some of its power to undermine you. If you engage in focused meditation about it, you could rob it of even more of its obstructive force. More good news: You will have an enhanced capacity to distinguish between skillful pretending and earthy authenticity. No one can trick you or fool you. Can you handle even more good news? You will have a skillful knack for finding imperfect but effective solutions to problems that have no perfect solution.

Homework: What mediocre pleasure could you give up to better pursue a sublime pleasure? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Celebrating Pride

When we celebrate Pride, we honor the history and struggles of the LGBTQIA+ movement and foster a sense of belonging and solidarity among residents.

These events are more than just parades and parties (but be assured, they are also parades and parties); they affirm identity, resilience and the ongoing fight for equality.

In areas like our beloved Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties, where the picturesque landscapes quilted with vineyards and the accouterments of affluent lifestyles might overshadow the community’s diverse fabric, Pride events play a vital role in highlighting the presence and contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals. They provide a platform for visibility in areas that might otherwise be perceived as lacking in diversity. This visibility is essential, especially for young people struggling with their identity and looking for role models and a supportive community.

Pride and its myriad related events serve as crucial pillars of inclusivity, visibility and community for the LGBTQIA+ population, and they also serve as powerful reminders of the progress made and the work still to be done. They honor the legacy of activists who fought for rights that many take for granted today while shining a light on the issues that continue to affect the LGBTQIA+ community, such as discrimination, mental health challenges and the fight for comprehensive legal protections.

Moreover, these events promote inclusivity and understanding within the broader community. By engaging allies and fostering dialogue, Pride events help break down stereotypes and build bridges across different segments of society. Allies are not just spectators—they actively participate in the fight for equality. They are opportunities for allies to show their support and for everyone to learn more about the challenges and triumphs of their LGBTQIA+ neighbors.

In a time when hate crimes and discriminatory policies still threaten the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals, North Bay Pride events are acts of defiance and celebration. They are declarations of self-love and acceptance, echoing that love is love and everyone deserves to live their truth openly and without fear.

Ultimately, Pride is about community. It’s a vibrant, colorful and joyous celebration that reminds us that no one is alone in their journey and that together, we can create a society where everyone is celebrated for who they are. As we march, dance and celebrate, we reinforce the message that inclusivity and acceptance are the cornerstones of a vibrant and resilient community.

Michah D. Mercer lives and loves in the North Bay.

Your Letters, May 29

Commercial Break

Does anybody in pint-size America have the courage to stand up to big-belly corporate America? We first gave up on curbing corporate monopoly and straightening out corporate income taxes. We next rolled over and allowed corporations to buy up soulless public servants at election time.

With the goal of a two-class America now in sight, the latest coup of the new American aristocracy has been to take daytime TV by storm. Corporate sponsors have virtually forced daytime news and talk shows into “deal of the day” or “steal of the day” segments that eat well into program content time, just like the ever-expanding commercial break times do.

It used to be that oil, railroad, steel, telegraph, utilities and meatpacking were the hardest-working white-collar robbers in America, but today retail product companies and banks have taken over the railroading of folks into their consumer graves. We must have what we don’t need, and we must go deeply into debt to pay for it all.

Our TV celebs and commerce moguls just can’t get enough millions and billions to satisfy their personal needs for luxury. They must turn the middle class into the working poor to get the job done.

Kimball Shinkoskey

San Rafael

High Time for Pride

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Santa Rosa

SoCo Pride

It’s almost Sonoma County Pride time again! This year’s theme is “Heroes, Sheroes and Queeroes.” The 39th annual parade kicks off at 11am on Saturday, June 1, in downtown Santa Rosa. Over 50 festive floats will roll through city streets, followed by a giant Pride festival at Courthouse Square until 5pm. Festival headliners include Kiesza (of “Hideaway” fame), Rêve and Grant Knoche. The dance party will continue into the wee hours at the Flamingo Resort. For details, visit sonomacountypride.org.

San Rafael

LGBTQ+ on Screen

CAFILM announces the launch of Pride Month in the Bay Area with a weekend series at the Smith Rafael Film Center showcasing LGBTQ+ films. The weekend, from June 7 to 9, is curated by MVFF world cinema programmer João Federici. Program highlights include Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, the story behind the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt; Pride, the true story of LGBTQ+ activists supporting striking miners in 1984 Wales; Toll, a tale of a mother entangled in a criminal gang while trying to send her son to a gay conversion therapy program; Tomboy, an exploration of gender identity; and Queer Women’s Stories, a selection of short films celebrating the voices and experiences of queer women, in partnership with Frameline. In partnership with the National AIDS Memorial Grove, a 12×12 foot section of the iconic AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed in the Rafael lobby throughout the weekend. For dates, times, tickets and location, visit rafaelfilm.cafilm.org.

Sonoma County

Library Love

The Sonoma County Library celebrates Pride Month with queer book lists, LGBTQIA+ events at various branches and parade participation. The library will participate in the Sonoma County Pride Parade on Saturday, June 1, in downtown Santa Rosa, with librarians marching, an information booth and the BiblioBus stocked with LGBTQIA+-focused materials. Members of the Here + Queer project will also be available to chat with parade watchers. For more information and inspiration, visit sonomalibrary.org/pride.

Marin County

Call for Artists

Marin County artists are invited to submit their work to the exhibition, Are We There Yet?, a collaboration between Cedars and the San Anselmo Arts Commission. The exhibition is inspired by the notion of journeying and arriving at a destination. Think cars, trains, staycations, postcards, gas stations, monuments and landmarks. The art submission deadline

is June 7—sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, collage, mixed media and fiber art are accepted. The exhibition runs from July 12–Aug. 22. All submissions will be subject to selection by a jury of Cedars and San Anselmo Arts Commission staff, artists and curators. Art sales will share a 50% commission with Artist Within: A Cedars Gallery. For more information and an entry form, visit cedarslife.org/artsubmission2024.

Left Edge stages ‘Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons’

In a London in the not-too-distant future, the British government has imposed a strict limitation on the number of words any individual can speak in a 24-hour time period. That’s the basic premise of Sam Steiner’s Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons.

The “whys?” for the limitations are barely addressed (and the “hows?” never are) in what is basically a love story. Jenny Hollingworth directs the Left Edge Theatre production currently running through June 8 at The California Theatre in Santa Rosa.

The 90-minute show consists of a series of short scenes beginning with Oliver (Argo Thompson) and Bernadette (Rosie Frater) “meeting cute” at a pet cemetery and then traipses non-chronologically through their life together. Bernadette is a lawyer, while Oliver is a musician who eeks out a living writing commercial jingles. The relationship has its ups and downs, with Bernadette concerned about one of Oliver’s previous lovers while Oliver has issues with Bernadette pulling in more money than him.

Their relationship is further complicated by the passing of the Quietude Bill, or Hush Law, as it’s commonly known. How can any relationship survive when limiting verbal communication to 140 words a day?

While issues of privilege, free speech, oppression and authoritarianism lurk in the background, the importance of open communication to the success of any relationship is front and center. What we say and how we say it counts more than how much we say.

The California’s floor has been transformed into a small black box theater, with the audience at one end in “stadium” seating. And the set is sparse, consisting of one bench that also operates as a bed and a dinner table. The back wall is a series of shelves that subtly contain items representing forms of communication (a telephone, a radio, a typewriter, musical instruments, etc.).

Thompson and Frater are very strong in their roles, literally having to turn on a bell from one point in the relationship to another. (Each scene change is noted by the ringing of a bell, which too often gives the show a sense of being an improv exercise.) They both give very physical performances. The accents they use are generally solid and non-distracting, though Thompson’s seemed to wander on occasion.

Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons was a big hit at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It certainly maintains the feeling of a “fringe” show, which is a nice change of pace from our area’s usual theatrical fare.

Left Edge Theatre’s ‘Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons’ runs through June 8 at The California Theatre, 528 7th St., Santa Rosa. Thu.–Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 1pm. $20–$29. 707.664.7529. leftedgetheatre.com.

To Dine & Dream in Marin

The Bungalow Kitchen & AC Hotel San Rafael Spin a compass in Marin County and odds are one will find a world-class experience wherever it points. To leverage one’s geography and options, start in the middle of everything—the AC Hotel San Rafael. Modern, sophisticated and boasting an expertly curated collection of original artwork, the hotel brings contemporary swagger and exceptional convenience...

Broken Record

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Trump’s lies, fraud and scandal In 2016, Donald Trump ran as an outsider, as someone who could criticize the political record of his primary opponents (although he primarily used insults and lies rather than actual policy analysis). Trump, of course, attacked Hillary Clinton during the general election. Again, he didn’t point toward her legislative actions as a senator, but rather, he...

Your Letters, June 5

Convicted By now, we’ve all heard the news that Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying his company’s business records to keep information from voters that he knew would harm his 2016 presidential campaign. This isn’t just about “hush money” payments. It’s about breaking the law to hide the truth from the American people 11 days...

Music, Art and M*A*S*H

Maria Muldaur Maria Muldaur will be playing a special “Evening With” show on Saturday, June 15, at Dancing Crow Vineyards in Hopland. Muldaur, perhaps best known for her 1973 hit song, “Midnight at the Oasis,” has recorded albums in the folk, blues, early jazz, gospel, country and R&B traditions. Her latest album is 2020’s Let's Get Happy Together, featuring Tuba...

For the Love of Country

Old Dominion headliners at Country Summer Music Fest With nearly two dozen acts—including headliners Little Big Town, Jordan Davis, Walker Hayes, Brett Young and Jo Dee Messina—the Country Summer Music Festival in Santa Rosa (June 14-16) has assembled the crème de la crème of contemporary country. The cherry on top is Old Dominion. And with several hits over the past decade,...

Free Will Astrology: Week of June 5-11

Free Will Astrology: Week of June 5-11
ARIES (March 21-April 19): What potentials should you strive to ripen as the expansive planet Jupiter glides through your astrological House of Connection, Communication and Education in the coming months? I’ll offer my intuitions. On the downside, there may be risks of talking carelessly, forging superficial links and learning inessential lessons. On the plus side, you will generate good...

Celebrating Pride

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When we celebrate Pride, we honor the history and struggles of the LGBTQIA+ movement and foster a sense of belonging and solidarity among residents. These events are more than just parades and parties (but be assured, they are also parades and parties); they affirm identity, resilience and the ongoing fight for equality. In areas like our beloved Sonoma, Napa and Marin...

Your Letters, May 29

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Commercial Break Does anybody in pint-size America have the courage to stand up to big-belly corporate America? We first gave up on curbing corporate monopoly and straightening out corporate income taxes. We next rolled over and allowed corporations to buy up soulless public servants at election time. With the goal of a two-class America now in sight, the latest coup of...

High Time for Pride

Santa Rosa SoCo Pride It’s almost Sonoma County Pride time again! This year’s theme is “Heroes, Sheroes and Queeroes.” The 39th annual parade kicks off at 11am on Saturday, June 1, in downtown Santa Rosa. Over 50 festive floats will roll through city streets, followed by a giant Pride festival at Courthouse Square until 5pm. Festival headliners include Kiesza (of “Hideaway”...

Left Edge stages ‘Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons’

In a London in the not-too-distant future, the British government has imposed a strict limitation on the number of words any individual can speak in a 24-hour time period. That’s the basic premise of Sam Steiner’s Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons. The “whys?” for the limitations are barely addressed (and the “hows?” never are) in what is basically a love...
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