Yountville
‘Jeff Bridges: Pictures’ & ‘Inside Heaven’s Gate’
For over 30 years, actor-musician (and “The Dude” of The Big Lebowski fame!) Jeff Bridges has captured his moviemaking experiences using a specialized Widelux F8 panoramic camera. The results provide a fascinating and intimate look behind the scenes in a new show, Jeff Bridges: Pictures, now on exhibit at the Napa Valley Museum. Complementing the Oscar-winner’s work in the museum’s History and Spotlight Gallery is Susan Bridges’ exhibit, Inside Heaven’s Gate, a collection of photos that brings the 19th century back to life by way of the 1980 western film (and storied studio debacle) Heaven’s Gate. The museum is open 11am to 4pm, Wednesdays through Sundays, and is located at 55 Presidents Circle in Yountville. 707-944-0500. For more information, visit napavalleymuseum.org.
Marin County
Tech Abuse Training
The Marin Center for Domestic Peace offers a special hands-on training with Adam Dodge, an internationally recognized digital safety expert and founder of End Tech-Enabled Abuse. The online training, entitled, “How To Help Dating And Domestic Violence Survivors Be Safer In The Digital Age,” is open to the public and will cover the role of technology in victims’ lives, how to respond and prevent online harm, and why certain groups are at higher risk, among other topics. Those interested are invited to attend and become part of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who have taken ownership of the issue of domestic violence and participate in finding system-wide solutions for Marin County. The training occurs from 1-4 pm, Wednesday, Dec. 14. The meeting will be held via zoom and requires registration at bit.ly/tech-abuse. For more information, email Jackie Palacios, learning systems manager, Center for Domestic Peace, or visit centerfordomesticpeace.org.
San Rafael
‘Stories from the Field’
The Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) is offering “Stories from the Field”—a live webinar presentation with three of the small family farmers who serve on AIM’s board of directors—on Monday, Dec. 19. Featured speakers include Cameron Crisman, Petit Teton Farm (Boonville); Nick Petkov, Sun Blaze Ranch (Winters); and Priscilla Lucero, Lucero Organic Farms (Galt). The event will be moderated by Andy Naja-Riese. Speakers will share their stories of farming during extraordinary challenges like limited water, climate change and increasing business costs. AIM’s CEO will then moderate a discussion about the path forward through certified farmers’ markets, policy changes and individual actions. ‘Stories from the Field’ runs from 3-4pm, Monday, Dec. 19. To register, visit bit.ly/aim-stories.
Sonoma County
Winter Reading Challenge
It’s easy to snuggle on the couch, remote in hand, scrolling through the endless holiday offerings of Netflix—too easy. This is why the Sonoma County Library is encouraging readers, one and all, to engage their imaginations (and perhaps even their library cards) and rise to the 2023 Winter Reading Challenge. From now through Jan. 14, participants are encouraged to “read something that sparks your curiosity for at least 20 minutes a day,” says the library’s recent communiqué. Those who keep reading and meet the challenge will earn a limited edition bookmark—not to mention the satisfaction that comes with having fed their brains more than empty calories of streamed content this season. Sign up at sonomalibrary.beanstack.org or in the Beanstack app available for Apple and Android devices.
