Sebastopol
pianoSonoma
Despite our brand-conscious quibbles about portmanteaus and camel case wordmarks, we remain fans of pianoSonoma, which entreats music fans to experience, first-hand, the talents of their artists-in-residence program. There, “Classical virtuosity meets contemporary improvisation meets ground-breaking innovation in this eclectic and energizing program featuring classical, jazz, and original compositions,” according to their PR. We’re inclined to believe it thanks to its line up of emerging stars. Mezzo-soprano Kara Dugan, violinist Charles Yang, and pianists Peter Dugan, Jessica Shinn and Michael Shinn will showcase their talents at 7pm, Tuesday, May 16, at the Community Church of Sebastopol, 1000 Gravenstein Hwy. North. The performance is free.
Sausalito
Marin Open Studios Gala Fundraiser
Art can open one’s mind, but it’s especially potent when it’s straight from the source—an open studio. This is a phenomenon Marin Open Studios knows well after 30 years of offering a self-guided tour of local artists’ studios. This year kicks off with a gala fundraiser from 6 to 7pm, Saturday, April 29, at the Sausalito Center for the Arts, 750 Bridgeway. During Open Studios weekends, art lovers are invited to visit artists in their studios to meet the artists personally, enjoy a portfolio of artworks and purchase work directly from the artists. The Open Studios Tour takes place from 11am to 6pm, Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7, as well as Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14. Tickets for the Gala Fundraiser are $30. Visit MarinOpenStudios.org for more information.
Napa
Historical Society Turns 75
If one is looking for an alternative to blowing in the wind, the answer, my friend, is “Shouting Down the Wind: Napa’s Pioneering Women,” which explores women’s stories, primarily from the 1830s to today, and the contributions they have made to the Napa Valley. The exhibit is part of the Napa County Historical Society’s 75th Anniversary celebration that opens to the public at 10am, Friday, May 12 at the historic Goodman Library, located at 1219 First St. in downtown Napa. “Shouting Down the Wind” depicts an array of experiences through the lenses of education, health, sciences, arts and leisure, business and politics, as well as touching on the experiences of pre colonial Wappo and Patwin women and the rancho women of the 1830s and 1840s. The exhibit is free. There will be live music and refreshments. For more information, including the specifics of a members-only preview, visit napahistory.org.
Santa Rosa
First Responders Event
First Responders Resiliency, Inc., a science-based approach to the physiological, neurological, psychological and emotional effects of trauma and stress on first responders and their families, hosts its first Responder Resiliency Gala fundraiser from 5:30 to 8:30pm, Saturday, April 29 at Balletto Vineyards, 5700 Occidental Rd., Santa Rosa. The event includes an auction led by Aaron Johnson, live music by Max Vogel and a family-style dinner by celebrity chef Domenica Catelli. The organization’s goal is to eventually raise the $15 million needed to build a first-of-its-kind First Responder Resiliency Center on 17.75 acres recently purchased in Cotati. The future center will not only offer training but will also provide real-time access to wellness and support services. To purchase tickets to the fundraiser, visit resiliency1st.org/gala.
