Mill Valley
Chamber Music Marin
How does one commemorate 50 years of providing chamber music to Marin? With more chamber music, obviously. Such is the policy for Chamber Music Marin (formerly the Mill Valley Chamber Music Society), which is marking its half century (and apparent rebranding) with a season of specifically curated concerts courtesy of artistic director and classical music enthusiast Bill Horne. Kicking off the the year-long program is Trio Con Brio Copenhagen, a virtuosic, tripartite ensemble founded in Vienna in 1999 and featuring South Korean sisters—violinist Soo-Jin Hong and cellist Soo-Kyung Hong, who is married to Jens Elvekjaer, their pianist. They’re performing new work by (a living!) Danish composer, Per Nǿrgård. The music begins at 5pm Sunday, Feb. 12 at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, 410 Sycamore Ave, Mill Valley. Tickets start at $40. chambermusicmarin.org.
Yountville
Short Film Fest
Briefs or shorts? Forget briefs—what is this TIkTok? No! It’s the Yountville International Short Film Festival (YISFF), featuring over 100 world class short films paired with wine. And lest one think this is amateur hour on the festival circuit, be assured this is not their first rodeo—it’s number six. Expect pop-screenings and filmmaker Q&As at the Yountville Community Center’s Heritage Room and Bardessono Hotel & Spa. “We’re looking forward to the return of our VIP wine-tasting events and screenings. These events include Cuvée Cinema, Cabernet Cinema, Jessup Cellars Gourmet Popcorn & Wine Pairing Screening and Sunday’s Bubbles & Brunch Cinema,” said YISFF co-founder and co-producer Bill Hargreaves. “New for 2023 is our A Taste of Cinema screening, presented by Lloyd Cellars and Prescription Vineyards on Friday evening, with all the films having culinary themes. YISFF Opening Night is at 7pm on Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Heritage Room in downtown Yountville.” Passes start at $15 and work their way up. Visit yisff.com.
Napa
Walkabout With Wine
Mark Davidson, head of education for Wine Australia, is hosting an evening “walkabout tasting.” “Wine,” one knows, but “walkabout” has an array of meanings for Aussies—from a ritual rite of passage amongst the continent’s Indigenous population to other nuanced periods of “wandering bush life,” as Merriam-Webster describes it. Davidson’s presumably entails a wine glass and won’t venture too much further than the tasting room. According to Wine Australia’s PR, “There will be classic wines—as well as a few from the fringe that challenge your ideas about Australian wine.” You had me at “fringe.” The tasting (accompanied with music and the company of wine industry folk) runs from 6:30 to 8pm, Wednesday, Feb. 15 at Compline Wine Shop, 1300 First St., #319, Napa. The fee is $40, and participants must be 21 or over. Also, don’t Google “Monty Python Australian Table Wines Sketch.”
Sonoma County
Black History Month
February is Black History Month, which Sonoma County Library will recognize with events and highlighting books, movies, music and resources available through its branches. “We are excited to offer a variety of programs in celebration of Black History Month, when we formally honor the contributions of Black Americans to our society,” said Sonoma County Library interim director Erika Thibault. The Sonoma County Library Commission adopted a public statement on racism and social equity on Feb. 7, 2022 that confirms that the library stands with the Black Lives Matter movement and the community in calling for peaceful, yet powerful action to turn the tide of systemic racism and begin the transition to a just and sustainable society.
Those in need of a library card can get one for free at any branch. To create a library eCard online, visit at sonomalibrary.org/get-a-library-card. It’s better than a credit card since the only interest is one’s own.
— Daedalus Howell, editor
