Rural Roots

-
0
Rural Roots

Before the art galleries and cafes, before the bookstores and the shops, Point Reyes Station was farmland, far as the eye could see. Even before the ranchers and settlers found their way to the peninsula, Native American tribes managed the land for thousands of years. Once the railroad reached the west coast, cattle and dairy farming came with it, and today the region is still a food producer.

This weekend, the town celebrates that tradition of agriculture with the annual Western Weekend. More than just a day on the farm, the long-running weekend features two-and-a-half days of community events, live music, and lots of food on Saturday and Sunday, Jun 1-2.

“I gauge my year by Western Weekend,” says West Marin resident and actor, comedian and musician Stephen Horvat. “It’s when everybody is coming out of hibernation and it’s a chance to see everybody you haven’t seen in awhile and get ready for summer.”

Western Weekend is centered around Toby’s Feed Barn and Gallery as well as several other venues along the main drag. Saturday’s fiesta opens with the 4H Fair, in which Marin, Sonoma, and Napa 4-H members exhibit their project work and participate in competitions. Then, ¡Cantemos Juntos! and the Point Reyes Children’s Choir perform together before a massive Mexican dinner and the traditional barn dance.

Once the sun goes down on Saturday night, the action heats up at the Old Western Saloon when Horvat and his band of West Marin outlaw country compadres The Haggards headline a raucous affair.

“The Haggards have the tradition of playing at the Old Western Saloon on Saturday night and it’s usually the craziest show of the year,” says Danny Vitali, who co-formed the band with Horvat, Dylan Squires and Gene Fisher.

First formed as a satirical country band, the Haggards were born in the saloon and they pack the venue each time they take the stage. For this weekend’s show, the group is also planning on recording the set for a live album.

“There’s a lot of audience participation, jokes and skits, and strange and irreverent Haggards-style rock ‘n’ roll,” says Vitali of the show.

Aside from the concert, Vitali and Horvat use Western Weekend to celebrate the locals and the diverse community that has formed in Point Reyes Station.

“I’ll never forget the first time I went and was wowed by the awesome mix of Point Reyes cultures getting together,” says Vitali. “There’s a lot of Western wear, there’s animals in the parade, there’s Straus ice cream getting handed out. It’s really fun.”

Sunday opens with a morning yoga session before the noon parade that starts at Toby’s Feed Barn. Locals can also enjoy Marin County Farm Bureau’s fundraising barbecue, chili cook-off and nonprofit exposition.

“There’s a sense of the Old West,” says Horvat of the weekend. “But, all different types of people can lay their claim to the town for a little while. It’s packed and lively and full of locals ready to have a good time.”

Western Weekend happens Saturday and Sunday, Jun 1-2, at Toby’s Feed Barn, 11250 Hwy 1, Pt Reyes Station. Sat, 1pm; Sun, noon. Free admission. 415.663.1223.
The Haggards play on Saturday, Jun 1, at Old Western Saloon, 11201 Hwy 1, Pt Reyes Station. 9pm. $10. 415.663.1661.

Advice Goddess

-
0
Advice Goddess

Q: My sister dates super hot guys, but she’s always telling me that looks aren’t what matter and I should go for a man who’s stable and reliable. Is she looking out for me? How come she doesn’t follow her own advice? It seems weirdly hypocritical.—Puzzled

A: Charmingly, the men your sister picks for herself look like they could work in strip clubs, while men she picks for you look like accountants who’ve invested in strip malls.

Welcome to “the Juliet effect,” as named by evolutionary scientists Robert Biegler and Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair. In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet’s mom—let’s call her Mrs. Capulet—was working her own agenda in giving her daughter advice on whom to marry. Mrs. Capulet was pushing her daughter to go for Count Paris, a boringly stable rich guy from a good family. Juliet, of course, only had eyes for Romeo, the off-limits hottie, whose family was basically the feuding Italian Hatfields to the Capulet’s McCoys.

It turns out that Shakespeare was something of an intuitive evolutionary psychologist. Parents do want the best for you—uh, that is, except when what’s best for you diverges with what’s best for them. The same goes for your siblings. These fun intra-family conflicts are called “parent-offspring competition” and “sibling competition” by evolutionary psychologists.

Biegler and Kennair researched the way these evolved conflicts play out over “transferable” versus “non-transferable” qualities in a woman’s partner. Transferable qualities are those that could directly benefit the children of a woman’s mother or sister—for example, a man’s ability to provide food, shelter, and/or “protection against predators or enemies.” (High status, too, would be transferable, because of the power and perks that come with.) Non-transferable qualities, on the other hand, are those—like hottie-hood—that suggest a man has good genes, which would directly benefit only his female partner’s own children.

Accordingly, Biegler and Kennair found that moms and sisters wanted hunks for themselves but would steer their daughter or sibling to the stable guy with resources. Granted, this probably isn’t a conscious move on their part. However, you should be conscious when seeking advice from your family members about a guy that there could be mildly nefarious ulterior motives at play.

Q: I was dating this guy, and it was super intense. He’s a big believer in soulmates, and he said he thought I was his. Of course, I was excited, and it all seemed really romantic, and then poof! He was gone. Ghosted me. What makes somebody think simply disappearing is an OK way to break up? —So Upset

A: Welcome to the dark side of the “We’re soulmates!” thing. It turns out that a person’s beliefs about the underpinnings of a successful relationship can affect how they end things—whether they tell you it’s over or just ghost you (wordlessly vanish from your life). There are “destiny beliefs,” which, in their strongest incarnation, involve believing in fate and soulmates—the notion that people in relationships “are either meant to be together or they’re not,” as social psychologist Gili Freedman and her colleagues put it. “Growth beliefs,” on the other hand, involve the notion that “relationships grow over time” and take work; you don’t just bump into your perfect partner in a train station and go off on the 6:07 to Happilyeverafter.

In line with this view of relationships as a gradual process of working out conflicts, the researchers found that romantic partners with stronger growth beliefs were 38.4 percent less likely to indicate that ghosting is OK. However, people with destiny beliefs, like your “Fate or bust!” ex, were 63.4 percent more likely to find it acceptable to take the disappearo way out.

In other words, don’t assume that anybody who believes in soulmates will disappear without explanation—going from an exuberant “Babe, you complete me!” to a silent “Boy, am I glad I didn’t give you my key!”

Copper Caper

-
0
Copper Caper

It’s click bait. I know it’s click bait. And yet, click on it I do. Wouldn’t you want to know what’s so “deadly” about organic wine?

I receive a daily email of “afternoon news briefs” from a wine industry services company that, in itself, is a reputable outfit. Some of the stories they aggregate from other websites, however, trend to the controversial, and thus, clickable in a hot moment of astonishment: “Organic Wine’s Deadly Carbon Footprint,” reads one. Say it ain’t so! “Organic Grape Growing Harms Vineyard Soil, Says A Consumer Advocacy Group,” screams another. Lately, it seems there’s been a spate of such stories, with eye-catching headlines, taking jabs at the organic wine sector—an outsized villain, for the relatively tiny market share it enjoys.

The case against organic usually goes like this: growers have no choice but to use a formulation containing a heavy metal, copper, on their vineyards to combat downy mildew. Too much copper is bad for the soil. Thus, non-organic growers who have the choice to use synthetic pesticides treat the environment with more friendly, loving kindness, and drive their tractors less, to boot, since these treatments have a more long-lasting effect.

Sounds reasonable when the case is made by a “pro-science, consumer advocacy group,” like the one a writer for Forbes online guilelessly quoted. Sounds a little suspect when that group has been widely revealed, in Mother Jones and elsewhere, to be a mouthpiece for big businesses like Monsanto, which has an interest in promoting non-organic agriculture.

Might also be a problem that much of the winemaking world doesn’t worry about the particular kind of mildew that’s at its baddest in Bordeaux, where copper was applied without modern farming technology 150 years ago, or that copper isn’t actually the only material approved to combat various fungal infections for organic farming. As for conventional growers, do they indeed eschew its use, or is this a classic straw man—or red herring (I always get those mixed up)?

At least 18,000 pounds of compounds containing copper, including copper hydroxide, and copper sulfate, were used on Sonoma County vineyards in 2014, for example, on more than 41,000 vineyard acres. Sonoma County has less than 2,000 acres of certified organic vines, hardly 3 percent of the county’s 62,000-plus vineyard acres.

Boom. Hear that pop? Was it an argument, or was it Korbel’s 2016 Organic California Champagne ($15.99)? Made with organic grapes, this riots with bubbles, and after a slight nod to butter cookie richness, delivers a mouthful of lean, puckery white grapefruit flavor. Fine by its own as a brunch sparkling wine, but it makes a solid case for mimosas, too.

The Power of Memory

-
0
The Power of Memory

The members of a James Dean fan club reunite 20 years after his death in Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, the latest Novato Theater Company production running through June 9.

It’s set in the Kressmont Five & Dime in the West Texas town of McCarthy, just a stone’s throw from where James Dean filmed Giant. Some of the locals hired as extras formed a club known as “The Disciples of James Dean” and, fulfilling a pact they made upon Dean’s death, regather to commemorate Dean and reconnect with each other.

The club is led by Mona (Angela Squire), who claims to have spent a night with Dean that resulted in a child. Sissy (Margot Biehle) was a good-time girl who went off and got married but is back while her husband works overseas. Stella (Karen Clancy) and Edna (Lindsay John) are odd “best friends,” seeing as how Stella delights in tormenting Edna.

A gathering of old friends means there are memories to be shared and secrets to be revealed. Many of those secrets are brought to light by a stranger who shows up at the Five & Dime. Joanne (Jayme Catalano) seems to know an awful lot about the goings-on in McCarthy, especially about store proprietor Juanita (Kristine Anne Lowry) and her late husband. She knows even more about Mona.

Why she is privy to this knowledge, and some of the other secrets revealed may have been more surprising when Ed Graczyk’s play premiered 40 years ago. Today’s audiences probably greet the revelations with a shrug more than a gaping jaw, and they’ll probably figure them out long before they’re disclosed. No matter. It’s the journey, not the final destination.

This all plays out over a nice set design by Mark Clark, alternating between the present and the past with younger representations of several of the adult characters, though the separation of past and present starts somewhat muddled.

Director Kim Bromley shows a strong hand with this memory play and has a nice ensemble at work here. Squire is solid as a woman holding on to a delusion long seen through by others. Biehle is big and brassy as Sissy and the source of much of the play’s humor, while Claire Fogarty plays the younger Sissy with just as much brass and sass.

By no measure a “great” play, Jimmy Dean is a good play and gets a more-than-respectable mounting here.

’Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean’ runs Friday–Sunday through June 9 at the Novato Theater Company, 5420 Nave Drive, Ste. C, Novato. Friday–Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm. $15- $27. 415.883.4498.

Hot Summer Guide

-
0
Hot Summer Guide

Has it finally stopped raining? Really? That must mean that summer is near and it wouldn’t be summer without our Hot Summer Guide, your official program to all the music, festivals, art shows and fun that summer in the North Bay has to offer.

May

BottleRock Napa Valley The biggest concert festival to hit Napa has been long sold-out, so hopefully you already got your tickets to see headliners Imagine Dragons, Mumford & Sons and Neil freakin’ Young while you savor the best Napa Valley food and wine. May 24–26 at the Napa Valley Expo Center. 575 Third St., Napa. bottlerocknapavalley.com.

The Mountain Play Marin’s magical outdoor theater experience is currently performing the musical smash Grease under a canopy of trees on Mount Tamalpais on Sundays through June 16 and is offering a special sing-along performance on Saturday, Jun 8. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, 801 Panoramic Hwy., Mill Valley. $20-$45. 415.383.1100.

Ross Valley Players The players wrap up their 88th season with two productions. “Moll Flanders,” a stirring drama adapted from Daniel Defoe’s 1722 novel, is playing through June 16. Then, “Crimes of the Heart” runs from July 12–Aug 11. Barn Theatre, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. General admission on weekends is $27 for adults, $15 for youths under 25. On Thursdays, it’s $22 general admission and $12 for youth. 415.456.9555.

Marin Country Mart Get the weekend started with Friday Night Jazz concerts at the mart, featuring performers like Lisa Lindsley and Mads Tolling. Then, go acoustic on Sunday afternoons when the weekly Folkish Festival books local artists like Jesse Kincaid and Blithedale Canyon. 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, Fridays, 6pm; Sundays, 12:30pm. Free. 415.461.5700.

Marin Greek Festival Spend the weekend steeped in traditional Greek cultural staples like cuisine, music, dance, and fellowship. Highlights include performances by the Hohlax Trio, on tour from Greece, who will be playing throughout the weekend, and multiple appearances by the award-winning Minoan Greek Dancers on Saturday and Sunday. May 24-26. Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church, 1110 Highland Dr., Novato. 11am to 10pm each day. Free admission Friday. $5 for adults and $4 for seniors. Children under 12 are free. nativityofchrist.org/festival.

Novato Theater Company The long-time Marin theater company’s current production finds several middle-aged James Dean fanatics coming together in the surreal drama Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, running through Jun 9. Then the theater offers a summer workshop for young people Jun 24 to Jul 3, culminating in a performance of The Wizard of Oz. In September, the company opens its next season with The Humans, directed by Pat Nims. 5420 Nave Dr., Novato. novatotheatercompany.org.

Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen’s Barbecue Forty-seventh annual festive firemen’s fundraiser is perfect the whole family with delicious food, activities for the kids and music from André Pessis & his Allstars and Soul Ska. May 26 at Santos Meadows, Frank Valley Rd., Muir Beach. Noon-5pm. Free attendance/$20 parking. Muirbeachfire.com.

Rancho Nicasio’s BBQ on the Lawn Whether it’s Memorial Day weekend, Father’s Day, the Fourth of July or Labor Day, Rancho Nicasio has you covered with top-tier musicians like the Blues Broads and Sons of the Soul Revivers, Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, the Zydeco Flames, ”Uncle” Willie K and Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio performing alongside some of the tastiest BBQ this side of the Mississippi River. Every Sunday starting May 26, 1 Old Rancheria Rd., Nicasio. Gates at 3pm, music at 4pm. $20-$40. 415.662.2219.

Friday Nights on Main Tiburon’s beloved block party tradition closes roads to traffic so that local restaurants can set up shop outside and visitors can stroll the streets enjoying live music by the likes of Neon Velvet and the Flaming O’s, wine tastings and more. Last Friday of the month, May 31 through Sept 27. Main St, Tiburon. 6pm to 9pm. Free. 415.435.5633.

Jazz & Blues by the Bay Sausalito’s summertime series is becoming the stuff of legends, with headlining acts like Maria Muldaur & Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band, the Dylan Black Project, Blues Defenders, Gator Nation and others performing on the waterfront with breath-taking views of the Bay. Fridays, May 31–Aug 23. Gabrielson Park, Sausalito. 6:30pm. Free admission. jazzandbluesbythebay.com.

Parachute Days West Marin community project, which takes the form of a multi-purpose venue built in a scenic open area, holds several concert events over the summer, including a Western Weekend kick-off show featuring Green Leaf Rustlers, the supergroup that comprises Chris Robinson, Barry Sless, Pete Sears, John Molo and Greg Loiacono on Friday, May 31. Other cool concerts include Cass McCombs playing with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Hand Habits and others on Jul 6 and rockers Allah-Las on Aug 3. Love Field, Point Reyes Station. parachutedays.com.

June

Western Weekend A community fiesta at Toby’s Feed Barn and a concert from outlaw country legends the Haggards at the Old Western Saloon kick off the 65th annual weekend on Saturday, Jun 1, before the agricultural celebration holds a parade and party featuring more music, food and other activities on Sunday, Jun 2, at several venues in Point Reyes Station. Saturday, 5pm fiesta, 9pm concert; Sunday, noon parade. 415.663.1223.

Altered Book Exhibit & Benefit The book becomes art at MarinMOCA’s 10th annual fundraiser, where 180 original book art objects, crafted by artists who combine compelling messages with creative technique, are auctioned off in a gala party on Saturday, Jun 1, at MarinMOCA, 500 Palm Dr., Novato. 5pm. 415.506.0137.

Novato Concerts on the Green Dynamic soul-rock band Sunny & the Black Pack kicks off this year’s concert series on Jun 1, which takes over downtown Novato’s Civic Green every first and third Saturday of June, July and August. High-powered acts like Barrio Manouche, Kingsborough and others are also on the schedule and Novato’s Hamilton Amphitheater hosts three “Hot Amphitheater Nights” with Element Brass Band on Jun 29, the Illeagles on Jul 27 and the Ha on Aug 31. 5pm. Free admission. novato.org.

Mill Valley Wine & Gourmet Food Tasting Thirty-eighth annual fundraiser is looking more exciting and delicious than ever and features wine from more than 65 premium wineries, fine craft beers from 15 breweries and food from nearly 30 food purveyors and 12 local restaurants and chefs. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits. Jun 2 at Depot Plaza. 85 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 1–4pm. $55 and up. Age 21 and over. 415.388.9700.

Cookout Concert Series Bay Area booker and promoter KC Turner hosts this sixth annual summer concert lineup featuring some of the top folk, roots and rock performers out there. The series opens with the mother-daughter collaboration between Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright on Sunday, Jun 2. Other confirmed artists include Blame Sally and Peter Mulvey on Jun 9, Bill Kirchen on Jun 30, Birds of Chicago on Jul 21 and John Doe and Robbie Fulks on Aug 25 among many others. The cookout concerts happen in the beer garden of HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato.5pm doors, $25 and up; kids 3 and under are free. kcturnerpresents.com.

Fairfax Festival & EcoFest Marin’s premier community party turns 42 this year, and offers something for everyone. The kick-off Family Film Night sets the weekend’s tone, mixing social responsibility and sustainability while having fun. Then, Saturday’s parade leads the crowds to three stages of live music, flea market vendors, wholesome food, kid’s area and more. On top of that, the EcoFest, part of the festival since 2004, showcases the best local environmental movements and figures working towards a cleaner tomorrow. June 8–9, 142 Bolinas Rd., Fairfax. fairfaxfestival.com.

Novato Festival of Art, Wine & Music Thirty-sixth annual music fest features art and crafts vendors, good things to eat and drink, a wine garden and live music on two stages. Musical acts include Danny Click & the Hell Yeahs on Saturday and the Marin All Stars on Sunday. There’s also a kid’s area with art projects, petting zoo, train rides and more. June 8–9 at Old Town Novato, Grant between Redwood Avenue and Seventh Street. 10am. Free admission. 415.472.1553.

The Dipsea Race The oldest trail race in America turns 109 years old this summer and participants once again face a grueling course that takes them from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach in a challenging and beautiful day of running on June 9. 8:30am dipsea.org.

Summer Sunday Concerts at Piccolo Pavilion Lawn chairs and blankets will dot Corte Madera Square, as the pavilion hosts music from popular North Bay acts like the Tim Hockenberry Trio, Trace Repeat, Soul Mechanix, Bubba’s Taxi and many others. Sundays, Jun 9–Aug 25. Old Corte Madera Square, Redwood Ave., Corte Madera. 5pm. Free. cortemaderacommunityfoundation.org.

Marin Theatre Company The ambitious and innovative company hosts a special summer show this year with the world premiere of Wink, a dark comedy about the thin line between savagery and civilization that is told from the point of view of a cat, Jun 13–Jul 7. In September, the company’s 2019/2020 season opens with Sovereignty, written by Mary Kathryn Nagle and directed by Jasson Minadakis. 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. 415.388.5200.

Creekside Fridays Fourteenth annual concert series offers a rustic, throwback vibe and local bands like Marble Party, Juke Joint, and Dead Again. Fridays, Jun 14–Aug 9. 60 Tennessee Valley Rd (park at Tam Valley Community Center, 203 Marin Drive), Mill Valley. 6:30pm. Free. tcsd.us.

Sweetwater Music Hall Dance the summer away with a lineup that hits the sweetest spots. The Garcia Project performs a classic Jerry concert on Jun 15, the New Mastersounds spend two nights in town on Jul 6-7 and the excellent all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella settles in for rocking two nights Jul 19-20. Denny Laine & the Moody Wings Band plays the hits on Aug 26 and many other concerts fill the summer schedule at 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley. 415.388.3850.

Belvedere Concerts in the Park The series celebrates its 22nd year of live music in the gazebo of the small community park with a Father’s Day concert featuring Super Diamond on Jun 16, swing stars Vintage Jukebox Orchestra on Jul 14, dance band Pop Fiction on Aug 11 and Beatles’ cover stars the Sun Kings on Sept 1. Bring a picnic and be ready to dance the day away at Belvedere Park, San Rafael Avenue and Community Road, Belvedere. 3:30pm. belvedereconcerts.org.

MarinScapes Don’t miss the 31stst annual fine art exhibit and sale that benefits Marin recovery agency Buckelew Programs. The Reimagined event includes an exhibit, “The Invented Landscape,” curated by the renowned Seager/Gray Gallery of Mill Valley, the much beloved gala dinner and live auction, and other artsy offerings Jun 20–23, at Escalle Winery, 771 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. buckelew.org.

Marin Pride Picnic Hosted by Marin’s non-profit LGBTQ community agency the Spahr Center, this annual gathering offers a free lunch, art projects, raffles and a bounce house for the kids. Jun 22 at Piper Park, 250 Doherty Dr., Larkspur. Noon to 3pm. Free admission. the spahrcenter.org.

Marinwood’s Music in the Park Live music, barbeque from Marinwood Market, a bar for the adults and fun for the whole family makes for a perfect summer evening. Shows start up on Jun 28 and continue on Jul 12, Aug 9 and Aug 23. Marinwood Park, 775 Miller Creek Rd., San Rafael. 6pm. Free admission. marinwood.org.

July

Marin County Fair The theme of this year’s summer mainstay is “Over the Moon,” with exhibits, baked goods and culinary contests from around the world, global photography, and classics like carnival rides, midway attractions, concerts from headliners like Dwight Yoakam, Steel Pulse, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Cheap Trick. And every night is fireworks night when the fair runs Jul 3–7 at the Marin County Fairgrounds, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 11am to 11pm every day. $13–$15; under four, free. marinfair.org.

Under the Oak at Northgate Four local and loved bands take to the grass on the west side of the San Rafael shopping center for the 10tenth annual concert series, with Pride & Joy kicking off the fun on Jul 12. Other bands include Caravanserai, the Sun Kings and Petty Theft performing every other Friday through Aug 16, 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael. Music starts at 6pm. shopatnorthgate.com.

Downtown San Rafael Hops & Vines Stroll Inaugural event features numerous new and established San Rafael breweries, bars and restaurants and also merchants and businesses offering wine and beer tastings inside their stores. Tickets include a tasting glass and a map, letting participants stroll at their leisure on Jul 13, Court Street Plaza, 1000 Fourth St., San Rafael. 2pm. $25-$30. sresproductions.com.

Summer Nights Outdoor Music Festival Osher Marin JCC’s most popular event series sets the music under the stars and boasts a diverse lineup of the hottest acts of today. The series opens with the Neo-soul group Midtown Social on Jul 13 and features Afro-Cuban star Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca on Jul 20, Marin rocker Danny Click & the Hell Yeahs on Jul 27 and Latin big band Pacific Mambo Orchestra on Aug 3. Families will love that kids 17 and under are free and a kid’s zone keeps the little ones happy, while pop-up restaurants and beer and wine fuel the fun. 200 N San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. Doors at 6pm, music at 7pm. $25-$32 and up. marinjcc.org.

Larkspur Wine Stroll Take it easy at this eighth annual stroll that boasts local vino paired with window shopping and socializing. July 20, Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. 5pm. $20, includes commemorative wine glass. 21 and over only. larkspurchamber.org/wine-stroll.

The Breastfest Beer Festival Benefit beer tasting party raises money to help low-income women with cancer. Sample the latest brews from Marin Brewing Company, Moylan and others while noshing on BBQ and listening to music from many local players. Cheers are in order on July 20, at the Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 1pm. $65. thebreastfest.org.

San Rafael Sunset Criterium Downtown San Rafael is transformed into a bike racetrack as pros, amateurs and kids take over the main downtown streets for a day of racing. No waiting for hours to see cyclists pass in seconds, this looping course brings the action back around right away while a DJ pumps the beats and your beer disappears faster than you thought it would. Watch several races, stroll the expo and hang out in the outdoor beer garden on July 27. Fourth and C streets, San Rafael. sanrafaelsunset.com.

Aug

Nostalgia Days Cruise & Car Show Downtown Novato closes down one day a year for this massive event that features seven blocks of classic cars on display and cruising the avenues, with classic rock ’n’ roll bands, lots of food and drink, and thousands of visitors on hand on Aug 2-3 along Grant Avenue between Redwood Blvd and 7th St., Novato. Friday night cruise begins at 6pm; Saturday car show is at 10am. Free admission. 415.599.6880.

Mill Valley Concerts on the Plaza Bring your lawn chairs and get in the summer groove at free concerts on Sundays, starting Aug 4, at Mill Valley’s Downtown Plaza, 2pm. Free. millvalleyrecreation.org.

San Rafael Art & Wine Festival Located on the 11-acre grounds of the historic 1888 Queen Anne Victorian Falkirk Cultural Center, the festival features live music, wine tasting from regional wineries, beer samples from local Brewers, a festive food truck selection, arts and crafts and more on Aug 10, 1408 Mission Ave., San Rafael. 11am. $25-$30. Sresproductions.com.

Sausalito Art Festival One of the most prestigious art events in the country returns to the Sausalito waterfront for a 67th year, attracting collectors, aficionados and enthusiasts alike. Fine art in every medium from some 260 artists pairs well with gourmet food, sumptuous wines, children’s entertainment and more. Aug 31 to Sept 2, Marinship Park, Sausalito. 415.332.3555.

Broadband Plays On

-
0
Broadband Plays On

Jared Huffman’s had it with the big telecoms when it comes to providing reliable rural broadband service to parts of his congressional district. He’s pushing a bill in congress that would give leeway to existing federal IT infrastructure in the North Bay to help solve a chronic problem with sketchy internet service in rural areas. Huffman’s bill appears to be targeted mostly at a woefully deficient Humboldt County, but it’s also applicable to Marin County.

Call it “rural broadband 2.0,” as Huffman’s push comes after a similar effort was stymied by a Republican-controlled congress that’s since given way to a Democratic majority.

His bill would give authority to agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the National Parks Service, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies to “de-stovepipe” their IT systems and start working together to ramp up the internet access by creating local partnerships within and amongst themselves.

Those agencies don’t do a lot of “talking” to one another through their IT systems, says Huffman, and his bill “gives them the authority to get out of their ‘silos’ and work with others. It’s something that would drive you nuts if you knew about it,” he says—that agencies such as the Veteran’s Administration, the BLM and others all have separate contracts with the big telecoms (ATT, Verizon), but don’t have the ability to share the access with other agencies or residents. His bill provides the authority to break down these silos, he says, and encourage internet providers to look for partners including other federal agencies.

“The big picture problem,” he says, “is that rural communities are not very lucrative for the big telecoms to serve. For years, we’ve been trying to get them to serve these areas. They don’t do it, and they don’t want to do it, and they also don’t want anyone else to do it—and that’s sort of the problem too. I’m done with begging and pleading with the telecoms to take it up when they haven’t.”

Huffman’s bill would encourage partnerships similar to the one between Santa Rosa–based Sonic and the regional SMART commuter rail system in Sonoma and Marin counties. He says the Sonic-SMART partnership is a “great example for West Marin” to emulate or take a lesson from, as he encourages similar partnerships between, for example, the U.S. Parks Service, the county, a federally qualified health agency, Sonic or an ISP like it, and local community groups. It passed out of committee with bipartisan support.

A similar bill was introduced last year but died thanks to the efforts of fellow California congressman Kevin McCarthy, says Huffman. The Republican McCarthy, he says, was on the side of the telecoms last year. “They were trying to drive down the lease rates for private agencies on public lands and wanted assurances that they’d have the opportunity to lower the lease payments [the telecoms] are making right now,” he says. “I didn’t think it was reasonable to do that, and the bill is silent on that. I’m hopeful that this time around we can get it done.”

Marin County has had some success in engaging with private-public partnerships to get rural broadband to parts of West Marin. Indeed, the county has an ad hoc Marin County Broadband Task Force to deal with what’s now a decades-long dilemma with securing reliable internet access in the hinterlands.

Nicasio, for example, recently installed fiber-optic cable in town and is now providing broadband service to some 80 households, businesses and other agencies, according to county documents. As of late 2018, according to county documents from the office of county IT director Liza Massey, a few are low-income residents getting the service at a discounted rate. The county reports that Inyo Networks created the Nicasio network in conjunction with the Nicasio Landowners Association; the service will eventually reach 150 customers who have ordered it.

To enhance its broadband capacity, the county hired IT consultant Peter Pratt, who noted in a city document recently that the new service helps the county achieve so-called “digital equity” through discounts given to lower-income residents. “Marin has become a broadband leader for rural California communities,” he says in a statement, “because of its determination to bring broadband to everybody, not just some.”

The Nicasio broadband push was made possible through state grants administered through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and the county reports that plans are afoot to “keep growing Marin’s broadband connections”—for example, in the tiny coastal town of Bolinas, which is currently serviced by AT&T and where the internet service can be rather pokey.

The broadband push is part of a larger state effort to ramp up rural high-speed internet access that took off in 2014, when some 4,000 locations in Marin “had inadequate broadband as defined by state law,” according to the county.

Marin County District 4 Supervisor Dennis Rodoni represents most of the rural parts of the county and says in a statement posted on the county website that Nicasio’s successful private-public rollout should bode well for Bolinas (and the rest of West Marin), which is currently engaged in its own “Bolinas Gigabit Network Project,” and has gotten its own $1.89 million grant from the CPUC to bring Bolinas up to speed, using Inyo Networks. Those grants have dried up.

The county estimates that once Bolinas gets its new state-of-the-art broadband fiber-optic access that it will exceed 800 fiber-to-the-home connections “in West Marin locations that previously did not have state-defined levels of broadband available.”

Once the Bolinas project is completed, those 4,000 underserved locations in Marin County will have dropped to around 700. “The state grants involved have taken time to win and move into construction,” says Rodoni in a statement posted on the county website, “but the impact to the lives of our rural communities are tremendous.”

“Any help we can get from the federal government and Congressman Huffman’s legislation is appreciated,” says Rodoni. “While Nicasio and Bolinas are on track for fiber optic/broadband through the CPUC programs, the rest of West Marin is in need of faster more reliable service and the CPUC grant funding opportunity has gone away.”

Oh, Sheep

Last month we reported on an unusual sighting (“Mall Cat,” May 1): a juvenile mountain lion had taken up residence in a planter outside of the Santa Rosa mall. This weekend we read a hair-raising account on Nextdoor about signs of a large mountain lion roaming around West Marin (possibly looking for a reliable internet connection?). Here’s a testimonial from a resident who posted about the encounter. “Last night our Anatolian Shepherd started barking furiously and pacing on our upper deck. When I went to check it out, I heard deep growling and intense guttural sounds coming from our back hill . . . Our sheep were huddled in a tight pack moving out of their sleep area like a school of fish. I found a fairly large paw print in that area this morning.” Run! Run for your life!

50’s Finished

It really did seem for a minute that after rejecting it last year, state leaders would take a serious look at Scott Weiner’s SB 50 housing bill this year—especially after he and fellow state senator Mike McGuire worked together in April to hash out a compromise bill that took some of the anti-localism sting from Weiner’s provocative housing push.

The San Francisco lawmaker’s bill would have compelled localities to build housing (some of it affordable, maybe) along transit-rich corridors—NIMBYs be darned, along with local zoning regulations. Weiner’s so-called “one-size fits all” approach to solving California’s housing crisis was met with ferocious pushback—and a compromise bill from him and McGuire that limited the proposed scope of SB 50 to larger cities (and excluding San Rafael and Novato from its reach in the process).

Well, late last week (on May 17) SB 50 died in the appropriations committee, much to the surprise of Sacramento watchers who were seemingly convinced that some version of Weiner’s bill would prevail this year, especially given the rare occurrence where the state’s construction industry and construction unions were on the same page in endorsing SB 50. —T.G.

Hot Sips

-
0
Hot Sips

By now it’s official: Sonoma Valley’s summer 2019 cocktail is the “Sonoma Spritz.” How official? The hot-pink refresher, a collaborative effort from Prohibition Spirits and Gloria Ferrer, is termed “official cocktail” in their press release. But I’m told that Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tim Zahner had a hand in it, so I track him down to verify.

“I am not a mixologist,” Zahner says, “even though I had facial hair before they did.”

Zahner doesn’t take credit, but says he got really excited when Prohibition Spirits co-founders Fred and Amy Groth said they wanted to create something for the Sonoma lifestyle similar to what they experienced during a trip to Italy—a low alcohol aperitif to mark the start of a relaxing evening. The official recipe calls for 2 ounces. Prohibition Spirits’ SPRITZ Apero Americano ($35), a bright pink digestif made with a base of their grape brandy, and infused with orange, cherry, and bittering herbs, and colored naturally with cochineal—an insect shell, so not vegan; 3 ounces Gloria Ferrer brut sparkling wine; 1 ounce club soda; orange slice for garnish.

Prohibition Spirits isn’t licensed to pour cocktails at their Cornerstone Sonoma tasting room, but Sonoma’s official cocktail can be ordered during “Spritz Week,” May 20–26, at the Swiss Hotel, Mary’s Pizza Shack, BV Whiskey Bar, Maya, Hopmonk, Palooza, Tips Roadside, The Girl & the Fig and more locations.

Pale by comparison: Made from Pinot Noir grapes, Kathleen Inman’s Endless Crush OGV Estate Rosé ($38) is a light, crunchy, strawberries-and-watermelon sipper in the Provençal camp, with accents of rosewater and just a touch of a vegetal edge that readies the palate for summer salad and goat cheese.

Roadworthy: both excellent picnic wines, Clif Family’s 2018 Rte Blanc Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($28) and 2016 Bici North Coast Red Blend ($42) inspire a more adventurous summer, with his-and-hers labels featuring co-founders Kit Crawford and Gary Erickson cycling up steep roads in Northern Italy. The Sauv Blanc is grapey and grassy, with notes of lemon verbena and juicy, tart melon; the red is a supple Grenache-Syrah blend. Get inspired, pour half the bottle in a canteen, and enjoy the other half at the end of the journey.

Outlook juicy: hazy IPA may not go the way of yesteryear’s craze for cloudy hefeweizen this summer, but Bear Republic’s bright, grapefruity Thru the Haze IPA would be fine with a slice of Meyer lemon. Less citrusy, more floral, Sonoma Springs’ Juicy in the Sky hazy double IPA is maltier, at 9 percent alcohol, but deceptively restrained in the brewery’s crisp, Teutonic style.

Economics of the Death Penalty

-
0

I’m a capital habeas attorney. I was very interested in your article (“Capital Intensive,” May 15, 2019) as I felt like I’d been hit by two trucks after the 2016 election (the other being Trump, of course). But we all really thought that Prop 62 would pass.

Now I am living and working under Prop 66—per Prop 66, one of my cases was transferred back to the superior court (in Sacramento County) and now I’m being paid to relitigate the same issues in the lower courts, and then work my way up again. In short, I will be paid twice for much of the same work, but with weird twists that will make it more expensive.

I’m also convinced that the opposition to eliminating the death penalty is really economically driven by the DAs. They don’t account for how much of their budget goes to capital cases from what I can see, but I am willing to bet they heavily rely on them to justify hefty budgets. So many of the death penalty cases come out a few counties—Riverside, Kern, San Bernardino, Sacramento—that don’t have all that much money to spare but do have conservative populations.

I’ve been doing criminal defense work for 40 years in Sonoma County (I started here in the DA’s office). Much of all of it is economically driven—I just think we should be upfront about what it really costs both in dollar and human terms, to make more intelligent decisions. I see signs of progress, but a long way to go. I really hope you don’t stop with that article but continue to explore this area.

Marylou Hillberg, Via Bohemian.com

You Missed It

Have any of your writers checked out Black Mountain Cycles (“Rocks and Rolling,” May 15, 2019)? Basically built a brand around gravel bikes, is in Marin County and has been for over 10 years. Uh, hello!

Amanda Jones Eichstaedt, Via Pacificsun.com

Hero & Zero

-
0

Zero

A Marin teen may be the most offensive person in the county. Her YouTube channel, with almost a million followers, contains a video where “Soph” questions why kids who shot up their high schools waited so long. In a video removed by YouTube, the 14-year-old allegedly threatened the website’s CEO with a Luger, which prompted Tiburon police to investigate. The department decided there was no criminal threat, as Soph has no access to guns. Another video shows her dressed in a hijab and claiming to be a devout Muslim while disparaging gays.

Central Marin police began an investigation after a complaint from Redwood High School, where Soph is a student. Principal David Sondheim sent a letter to parents and students:

“Regarding recent hate-based video and text posts attributed to one of our students, I want to assure all of our students and parents that we are aware of the situation and we are working with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of all students and staff. To those of you who have written or called, thank you for sharing your concerns with me.”

Hero

Two middle-aged men were at the 7-11 at Tam Junction last Thursday night getting supplies for the West Marin weekend. But there was a problem. A big problem. That pint of chocolate brownie Ben & Jerry’s would be melted by the time they got to where they were going. Oh no. The 7-11 clerk didn’t appear to speak much in the way of English, but who cares. One of the men asked him, “Hey, any chance we can, like, grab some ice and a cup for our ice cream?” The clerk wasn’t catching on. “So it doesn’t melt,” explained the man. A pantomime ensued, gestures at the ice machine, a Big Gulp cup, the ice cream in the cup. The clerk caught on and lit up. “Of course, of course, whatever you need!” The men wept with gratitude and offered the clerk their first-born children. He demurred with a wave. “No worries, my friends. Enjoy.”  It’s the small things, people, it really is.

 

Hero & Zero

-
0

Zero

A Marin teen may be the most offensive person in the county. Her YouTube channel, with almost a million followers, contains a video where “Soph” questions why kids who shot up their high schools waited so long. In a video removed by YouTube, the 14-year-old allegedly threatened the website’s CEO with a Luger, which prompted Tiburon police to investigate. The department decided there was no criminal threat, as Soph has no access to guns. Another video shows her dressed in a hijab and claiming to be a devout Muslim while disparaging gays.

Central Marin police began an investigation after a complaint from Redwood High School, where Soph is a student. Principal David Sondheim sent a letter to parents and students:

“Regarding recent hate-based video and text posts attributed to one of our students, I want to assure all of our students and parents that we are aware of the situation and we are working with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of all students and staff. To those of you who have written or called, thank you for sharing your concerns with me.”

Hero

Two middle-aged men were at the 7-11 at Tam Junction last Thursday night getting supplies for the West Marin weekend. But there was a problem. A big problem. That pint of chocolate brownie Ben & Jerry’s would be melted by the time they got to where they were going. Oh no. The 7-11 clerk didn’t appear to speak much in the way of English, but who cares. One of the men asked him, “Hey, any chance we can, like, grab some ice and a cup for our ice cream?” The clerk wasn’t catching on. “So it doesn’t melt,” explained the man. A pantomime ensued, gestures at the ice machine, a Big Gulp cup, the ice cream in the cup. The clerk caught on and lit up. “Of course, of course, whatever you need!” The men wept with gratitude and offered the clerk their first-born children. He demurred with a wave. “No worries, my friends. Enjoy.”  It’s the small things, people, it really is.

 

Rural Roots

Before the art galleries and cafes, before the bookstores and the shops, Point Reyes Station was farmland, far as the eye could see. Even before the ranchers and settlers found their way to the peninsula, Native American tribes managed the land for thousands of years. Once the railroad reached the west coast, cattle and dairy farming came with it,...
Read more

Advice Goddess

Q: My sister dates super hot guys, but she’s always telling me that looks aren’t what matter and I should go for a man who’s stable and reliable. Is she looking out for me? How come she doesn’t follow her own advice? It seems weirdly hypocritical.—Puzzled A: Charmingly, the men your sister picks for herself look like they could work...
Read more

Copper Caper

It’s click bait. I know it’s click bait. And yet, click on it I do. Wouldn’t you want to know what’s so “deadly” about organic wine? I receive a daily email of “afternoon news briefs” from a wine industry services company that, in itself, is a reputable outfit. Some of the stories they aggregate from other websites, however, trend to...
Read more

The Power of Memory

The members of a James Dean fan club reunite 20 years after his death in Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, the latest Novato Theater Company production running through June 9. It’s set in the Kressmont Five & Dime in the West Texas town of McCarthy, just a stone’s throw from where James Dean filmed...
Read more

Hot Summer Guide

Has it finally stopped raining? Really? That must mean that summer is near and it wouldn't be summer without our Hot Summer Guide, your official program to all the music, festivals, art shows and fun that summer in the North Bay has to offer. May BottleRock Napa Valley The biggest concert festival to hit Napa has been long sold-out, so hopefully...
Read more

Broadband Plays On

Jared Huffman’s had it with the big telecoms when it comes to providing reliable rural broadband service to parts of his congressional district. He’s pushing a bill in congress that would give leeway to existing federal IT infrastructure in the North Bay to help solve a chronic problem with sketchy internet service in rural areas. Huffman’s bill appears to...
Read more

Hot Sips

By now it’s official: Sonoma Valley’s summer 2019 cocktail is the “Sonoma Spritz.” How official? The hot-pink refresher, a collaborative effort from Prohibition Spirits and Gloria Ferrer, is termed “official cocktail” in their press release. But I’m told that Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tim Zahner had a hand in it, so I track him down to verify. “I...
Read more

Economics of the Death Penalty

I’m a capital habeas attorney. I was very interested in your article (“Capital Intensive,” May 15, 2019) as I felt like I’d been hit by two trucks after the 2016 election (the other being Trump, of course). But we all really thought that Prop 62 would pass. Now I am living and working under Prop 66—per Prop 66, one of...
Read more

Hero & Zero

Zero A Marin teen may be the most offensive person in the county. Her YouTube channel, with almost a million followers, contains a video where “Soph” questions why kids who shot up their high schools waited so long. In a video removed by YouTube, the 14-year-old allegedly threatened the website’s CEO with a Luger, which prompted Tiburon police to investigate....
Read more

Hero & Zero

Zero A Marin teen may be the most offensive person in the county. Her YouTube channel, with almost a million followers, contains a video where “Soph” questions why kids who shot up their high schools waited so long. In a video removed by YouTube, the 14-year-old allegedly threatened the website’s CEO with a Luger, which prompted Tiburon police to investigate....
Read more
1...325326327...599Page 326 of 599
3,002FansLike
3,850FollowersFollow
Pacific Sun cover
CURRENT ISSUE & ARCHIVES
Pacific Sun cover
Pacific Sun cover
CURRENT ISSUE & ARCHIVES
E-Newsletters Contact Us Submit a Letter Find a Paper Distribute Us Subscribe
win free stuff
Features Local News News Upfront
Arts Culture Food & Drink Movies Music Theater
Astrology Books Columns Editor's Note Heros & Zeros Letters Look Opinion Rolling Papers Spirit Trivia Cafe
Arts & Culture Beauty, Health & Wellness Cannabis Everyday Services Family Products & Services Food & Drink Home Improvement Recreation Romance Readers' Picks 2021 Writers' Picks 2021 Readers' Picks 2020 Writers' Picks 2020
All Upcoming Events Today's Events Submit an Event Promote Your Event

FOLLOW US

Copyright © Weeklys All rights reserved.

ADVERTISING
Advertise
Legal Notices
Obituaries
Writing An Obituary
Submit an Obituary

COMPANY INFO
Job Opportunities
Privacy Policy

Support Your Local Newspaper