Hero & Zero

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Hero & Zero

Hero
Scores of students collected a stock of socks, 2,500 pairs to be exact, and donated them to homeless people in Marin. It started with Community Heroes, a Marin school-based program mentoring young philanthropists and social activists on how to make a difference in their communities. The kids in the group learned that socks are the number one requested item by unhoused men and women. They swung into action, performing skits for their student bodies and making and waving signs at school drop-offs to raise awareness of the issue. In October, they launched SOCKtober, the rocking sock collection drive. This month, children from three participating San Rafael elementary schools, Vallecito, Dixie and Sun Valley, delivered the socks to Downtown Streets Team in San Rafael. It was the largest sock donation ever received by the San Rafael nonprofit that works to end homelessness. Kudos to the kids.
Zero
In the wee hours of the morning, a San Rafael police officer found an unregistered Mac 11 automatic pistol and a loaded high capacity magazine in the car of a convicted felon on probation. To add insult to injury, the car was parked next to a preschool on Bayview Street. Not only does that gun look mighty scary, it’s a banned weapon according to California law. The patrolman arrested Tyler Revels, 21, of San Rafael, on an outstanding warrant and six additional charges related to the pistol and ammo, including possession of an assault weapon. The silver lining here is that the San Rafael police took a dangerous gun off the streets. We need gun legislation to help rid us of the 393 million firearms owned by civilians in this country. OK, keep the hunting rifles if you must, but the rest of them need to go.
Got a Hero or a Zero? Please send submissions to ni***************@***oo.com. Toss roses, hurl stones with more Heroes and Zeroes at pacificsun.com.

Hero & Zero

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0
Hero & Zero

Hero

Scores of students collected a stock of socks, 2,500 pairs to be exact, and donated them to homeless people in Marin. It started with Community Heroes, a Marin school-based program mentoring young philanthropists and social activists on how to make a difference in their communities. The kids in the group learned that socks are the number one requested item by unhoused men and women. They swung into action, performing skits for their student bodies and making and waving signs at school drop-offs to raise awareness of the issue. In October, they launched SOCKtober, the rocking sock collection drive. This month, children from three participating San Rafael elementary schools, Vallecito, Dixie and Sun Valley, delivered the socks to Downtown Streets Team in San Rafael. It was the largest sock donation ever received by the San Rafael nonprofit that works to end homelessness. Kudos to the kids.

Zero

In the wee hours of the morning, a San Rafael police officer found an unregistered Mac 11 automatic pistol and a loaded high capacity magazine in the car of a convicted felon on probation. To add insult to injury, the car was parked next to a preschool on Bayview Street. Not only does that gun look mighty scary, it’s a banned weapon according to California law. The patrolman arrested Tyler Revels, 21, of San Rafael, on an outstanding warrant and six additional charges related to the pistol and ammo, including possession of an assault weapon. The silver lining here is that the San Rafael police took a dangerous gun off the streets. We need gun legislation to help rid us of the 393 million firearms owned by civilians in this country. OK, keep the hunting rifles if you must, but the rest of them need to go.

Got a Hero or a Zero? Please send submissions to ni***************@***oo.com. Toss roses, hurl stones with more Heroes and Zeroes at pacificsun.com.

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ sequel has some laughs, but a shortage of big ideas

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‘Wreck-It Ralph’ sequel has some laughs, but a shortage of big ideas

Despite the promisingly wide scope of the world wide web, the animated Ralph Breaks the Internet doesn’t get to be about what it’s about until the second half. The highly witty original was about appreciating the groove you’re in; the sequel, for the first half, seems stuck in it.

In this follow up to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph, the 8-bit ape-like video game crusher Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) is now BFFs with Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), but she’s restless, bored with driving around the same sugar-coated racetrack in a candy car. Ralph’s attempt to bring novelty into her game accidentally breaks the machine. As a result, the game will be carted off from the arcade to the scrapyard.

As denizens of an out-of-order machine, Vanellope and her other girl drivers are homeless, or rather “gameless.” But the management has just added a wifi portal to the internet. Naturally, the pair sneak inside.

This cartoon version of the world of William Gibson is a lot cleaner than the real thing. It’s a blue-white giant mall, stuffed to the gills with product placement for websites. Discovering a rare part for Vanellope’s Sugar Rush game on eBay, Ralph oafishly outbids himself and ends up owing $20,000. He hunts this small fortune with the help of pop-up hustlers trying to grab internet visitors with clickbait (“These Child Stars Went to Prison”) before learning that the secret to success is making viral videos.

The cartoon wakes up when Vanellope wanders into a Grand Theft Auto landscape called Slaughter Race. She gets a bit of a crush on the dangerous leather-clad Shank (Gal Gadot), and loves the slummy, smoggy neo-L.A. they race their cars through. Simultaneously, Ralph is coached for a YouTube-like Buzzztube run by an executive (Taraji P. Henson) and starts performing in unfunny but popular videos that he can monetize through “likes.”

By the time things catalyze in this villain-free movie, Ralph has a reckoning. A great big man and a squeaky-voiced little girl look strange buddy-buddying it in the immemorial Disney way, but suddenly Ralph is revealed as an anxious parent worrying about an offspring going to the dangerous city and hanging out with sketchy people. This is a real hook, and easier to latch onto than simple adventures in a too-clean, too-safe internet, where promises are to be believed and personalities are easily monetized.

‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ is playing in wide release in the North Bay.

Horoscope

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ARIES (March 21–April 19) In his autobiography On the Move, neurologist Oliver Sacks praised his friend Jerry’s curiosity and knowledge. “Jerry has one of the most spacious, thoughtful minds I have ever encountered, with a vast base of knowledge of every sort,” wrote Sacks, “but it is a base under continual questioning and scrutiny.” So willing was Jerry to question and re-evaluate his own assumptions that Sacks said he had “seen his friend suddenly stop in mid-sentence and say, ‘I no longer believe what I was about to say.’” That’s the gold standard to which I hope you will aspire in the coming weeks, Aries. As bright and articulate as you’ll be, you will have an even higher calling to expand your mind through continual questioning.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20) In recent years, a few pioneers have gotten microchips implanted under their skin. These technological marvels enable them to open doors and turn on lights with merely a wave of their hands, or receive up-to-the-minute readings on what’s transpiring inside their bodies. Now an additional frontier has arisen: people using do-it-yourself kits to experiment on their own DNA. For example, some have tweaked their genes so their bodies create more muscle than is natural. I would love for you to change yourself around in the coming weeks, Taurus, but not in these particular ways. I’d rather see you do subtle psychological and spiritual work. The astrological omens suggest it’s a favorable time for focused self-transformation.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Are you smart enough to take advantage of the fact that your best relationships would benefit from bursts of innovative energy in the coming weeks? Are you brave enough to banish the ghost that still haunts your romantic life? Do you have the moxie to explore frontiers with collaborators who play fair and know how to have fun? Will you summon the curiosity and initiative to learn new strategies about how to enhance your approach to intimacy? I’ll answer those questions in your behalf: yes, yes, yes and yes.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Would you agree with me that there are both boring, tiresome problems and fun, interesting problems? If so, read on. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you’re at a fork in your path where you could either get further involved with a boring, tiresome problem or else a fun, interesting one. (I think you’ll have to engage with one or the other.) Of course, I’m rooting for you to proactively wrangle with the fun, interesting one. Here’s timely inspiration from Cancerian author John W. Gardner: “We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”

LEO (July 23–August 22) The Jharia Coalfield in eastern India is a 110-square-mile reserve of underground coal. In some places, it’s on fire, and has been burning for over a hundred years. This isn’t a good thing. It’s wasteful and causes pollution. But now I’ll ask you to put aside that scenario and imagine a more benevolent kind of steadily burning fire: a splendor in your soul that never stops radiating warmth and light; that draws from an inexhaustible source of fuel; that is a constant source of strength and courage and power. I’m happy to tell you that the coming months will be a favorable time to establish and nurture this eternal flame.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22) Marilyn Monroe, Georgia O’Keeffe and President Franklin Roosevelt were direct descendants of the pilgrims who sailed from England to the New World on the famous Mayflower ship in 1620. I, on the other hand, am a direct descendant of a 19th-century Slovakian coal miner who toiled in the underground darkness. What about you, Virgo? Now would be a rich and provocative time to reconnect with your roots; to remember where your people originated; to explore the heritage that served as the matrix from which you sprouted.

LIBRA (September 23–October 22) According to researchers who study animal behavior at two Italian universities, chickens can do arithmetic. The birds don’t even need to be trained; the skill seems to be innate. (Read details here: tinyurl.com/ChickensDoMath.) I’m wondering whether chickens born under the sign of Libra might even be able to do algebra in the coming weeks. According to my assessment of the astrological omens, the mental acuity of many Libran creatures will be at a peak. How will you use your enhanced intelligence?

SCORPIO (October 23–November 21) In March 2005, far more people than usual won big money in a regional Powerball lottery in the United States. The average for each draw is four winners, but on this special occasion, 110 players were awarded at least $100,000 and as much as $500,000. The reason for the anomaly seemed to have been an oracle that appeared in a number of widely distributed fortune cookies. It provided five of the six winning numbers. Inspired by this crazy stroke of good fortune, and in accordance with the favorable financial omens now coming to bear on you, I hereby offer you six numbers to use as your lucky charms. Will they help you win a game of chance? I can’t be sure. At the very least, they will titillate and massage the part of your psyche that is magnetic to wealth. Here they are: 37, 16, 58, 62, 82 and 91.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21) “You have two ways to live your life,” writes spiritual teacher Joseph Vitale, “from memory or inspiration.” In other words, you can take your cues about how to live your life from what happened in the past, or else you can make your decisions based on what you’re excited to do and become in the future. According to my analysis, the next 10 months will be an excellent time for you to fully embrace the latter approach. And it all starts now.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19) You’ve always got more help available than you imagine, and that’s especially true these days. Both people you know and people you don’t know may come to your assistance and offer extra support—especially if you meet two conditions: first, you sincerely believe you deserve their assistance and support; and second, you clearly ask for their assistance and support. Now here’s more good news about the help that’s available. Whether or not you believe in spiritual beings, they, too, are primed to offer blessings and resources. If you don’t believe in their existence, I invite you to pretend you do and see what happens. If you do believe in them, formulate clear requests for what you’d like them to offer you.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18) In one of his poems, Arthur Rimbaud extolled the exquisite evenings when the mist soaked his face as he strolled, and he sipped that heavenly dew till he was drunk. Was he speaking literally or metaphorically? Probably both, if I know Rimbaud. Anyway, Aquarius, I’d love for you to engage in similar exploits. What are some natural adventures that might intoxicate you? What simple pleasures may alter your consciousness, nudging you free of its habits? Meditate with sweet abandon on how to free yourself through the power of play and the imagination.

PISCES (February 19–March 20) It’s illegal to hunt animals in Kenya. But members of the Dorobo tribe circumvent the law to provide food for their families. As three or more Dorobo men wander out on the savanna, they wait for hungry lions to kill a wildebeest or other creature. Then they stride toward the feasting beasts in a calm show of force until the predators run away in confusion. The brave scavengers swoop in and swiftly remove a portion of the wildebeest, then coolly walk away, leaving plenty for the lions when they return to their meal. I bring this scene to your attention, Pisces, because I suspect that in the coming weeks you will have similar levels of courage and poise as you go after what you want.

Art Escapes

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Art Escapes

Marin art lovers have plenty of reasons to celebrate this holiday season, as the region offers several chances to view and collect serious works directly from the local artists who create them.

This year, two of Marin’s most popular open-studio events observe significant anniversaries, as the Point Reyes Open Studios tour turns 20 and the ICB Winter Open Studios event turns 50.

The two occasions offer different ways to approach the open-studio model. In West Marin, the Point Reyes Open Studios leads visitors on a rural, self-guided Thanksgiving Day weekend getaway to secluded art studios along the backroads between Bolinas and Tomales Bay, Nov. 23–25.

West Marin sculptors, photographers, painters, printmakers and woodworkers show off their spaces for the 20th annual tour, allowing visitors a chance to explore the area’s charm and picturesque locales.

Brochures and maps can be found at venues like Point Reyes Books, the Station House Cafe, Palace Market and Ink Paper Plate, as well as online.

On the opposite end of the open-studio spectrum, the ICB Winter Open Studios event boasts over a hundred artists in a single location, the historic Industrial Center Building near Sausalito’s waterfront. Once a massive structure built to construct liberty ships during WWII, the space today is a veritable treasure trove of art that is both one of the original and largest artist collectives in the country.

“Fifty years ago, a guy by the name of Tim Rose came up with the idea of open studios,” says John Kunzweiler, artist and president of the ICB Artists’ Association. “Rose was your classic Sausalito beatnik artist, and he wanted to raise money for a trip to France, so he thought, somehow, the best thing to do was to open a building and have an art show with several other artists. That was the genesis of our open studios.”

The ICB Artists’ Association honors the late Rose and the hundreds of working artists that currently occupy the Industrial Center Building for the 50th anniversary of the ICB Winter Open Studios, Nov. 30–Dec. 2.

“It’s a big operation,” says Kunzweiler. “When you have that many artists, you get into an amazing range of artistic styles. That broadens the experience of the different artists. It’s really a creative hub.”

As well as being a destination for art lovers, Kunzweiler notes that ICB always has a waiting list of artists looking to get in.

“People want to be there because it’s very collegial and, with such an amazing number of active artists, there’s something happening there everyday.”

The weekend-long ICB Winter Open Studios will display a gallery of Rose’s mobile sculptures as well as holiday-themed works in addition to the individual studios. Friday includes an artist party, available with registration.

“With our program in hand, you can go directly to the artists and the art that you want to see,” says Kunzweiler, “or you can walk the halls, look in doorways, talk to artists and get a feel of what they do and why they do it.”

Point Reyes Open Studios runs Friday, Nov. 23, to Sunday, Nov. 25, at various locations in West Marin. 11am to 5pm daily. Free. pointreyesart.com.

ICB Winter Open Studios happens Friday, Nov. 30, to Sunday, Dec. 2, 480 Gate Five Road, Sausalito. 11am to 6pm daily. Free. icb-artists.com.

Advice Goddess

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Q: I lost over 100 pounds. I’m really proud of my myself and my new body, so I post pix on Instagram. Disturbingly, I’ve got a few haters—all women!—who come at me saying I’m narcissistic, slutty, a showoff, etc. I thought women are supposed to support one another. How should I respond? Should I post fewer selfies?—So Much for Sisterhood

A: Nothing lasts forever—except middle school, which never ever ends. You’ll be 85, and some biddy will be all, “Look at that slut with the pink walker.”

There actually seem to be sex differences in the content of social media meanness, according to research by psychology doctoral student Joy Wyckoff and her colleagues. In keeping with previous studies, they found that women online get comments knocking their physical appearance more often than men, whereas men more often get comments “derogating their status” and skills.

These differences in who gets bashed for what—appearance in women versus status and skills in men—are right in line with the differences I often cite in male and female mating priorities. These evolved out of the differing potential costs from having sex. Because women can get pregnant and stuck with kids to feed, mate-seeking women are drawn to high-status men—“men with the ability . . . to provide resources,” as the researchers put it.

They note that men, on the other hand, are “unconstrained” by any sort of “minimum obligatory parental investment” (that is, beyond the initial teaspoonful of sperm). This allows men to prioritize hotitude in prospective female partners—which is to say, men’s eyes make a beeline for boobs and butts, and never mind whether they’re attached to the barista or the senior VP.

As for the ugliness you’ve been experiencing on social media, it’s best understood as female-on-female psychological warfare. Block the Cruellas. Nobody has a right to your attention or a seat on your social media platform. On a positive note, now that you’ve been schooled in the covert ways some compete, you should be quicker to identify and fend off female underhandedness, on Instagram and beyond.

Q: I’m a 28-year-old guy in grad school. I love my girlfriend, but I don’t want to have sex with her anymore. I’m hitting the books and writing papers day and night. She still wants to party—go out and smoke pot and drink a lot—which I used to enjoy but now find empty and stupid. I keep feeling seriously annoyed with her choices, and I’m increasingly attracted to other women. Is this the end, or should we try to make it work?—College Boy

A: When you’re slaving away in grad school, it can be hard to feel connected to somebody whose idea of higher education is Googling how to grow pot in your closet. Your eye-rolling at your girlfriend’s choices is not exactly the stuff a peppy libido and a happy future together are made of. In fact, the mounting lack of respect you have for her is the starter emotion for contempt—an ugly emotion that plays out as sneering disgust. Relationship researcher John Gottman finds that contempt leaching into a marriage is the single best predictor that a couple will split up.

Conversely, for a relationship to have staying power, you need to have the hots for your partner, not just as a sextivities provider but as a human being. This involves having deep admiration for what they think and value, which shapes who they are and how they go about life.

Did you start out in a place like that with your girlfriend? If so, you two should have a chat about where you are now and whether you can get back there. The answer may not be immediately apparent, so you might set a defined period of time to give this a look, with a deadline to make a decision. Ultimately, there has to be enough that connects you to overcome the stuff that divides you, or the only thing that will ever be throbbing in your relationship is that big vein in your neck.

Paradise Glossed

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Paradise Glossed

It’s been two weeks since the Camp fire broke out in Butte County, and the North Bay air is still filled with smoke from the catastrophic blaze that destroyed the town of Paradise.

Or was that the town of . . . Pleasure? President Trump couldn’t seem to get that fact straight when he showed up in California last week to implore residents to break out the rakes, just like they do in Finland, to stop forest fires in their tracks. Smokey the Landscaper, anyone?

The presidential visit last week is worth noting for its awkwardness. There was Trump, sandwiched between a bewildered-looking Gov. Jerry Brown, and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, as the reality-show president bloviated about the fake news of climate change and blamed a lack of raking for the cataclysmic fires that have taken dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of homes.

Trump’s antics aside, serious people are now asking serious questions about how this latest round of devastation will play out for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company; press reports about the investor-owned utility have contemplated whether the Paradise fire will bankrupt the company, whose stocks have tumbled since the flames broke out on Nov. 8.

The official line from PG&E is that the cause of the fire is under investigation. “The cause of the fire has not been determined,” says PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras, “so it is uncertain if we could be liable for any of the damages.”

The utility filed a letter with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Nov. 11 indicating that, were it found liable for the Camp fire, it could lead to bankruptcy. That letter prompted news reports on the national wires speculating about whether this was the fire that would finally break the utility, and a follow-up round of stories seemed to assure investors, if not consumers, that bankruptcy was not afoot. (The company declared bankruptcy around the time of the great California brownouts of 2000–01.)

As the Camp fire raged, California legislators, including State Sen. Jerry Hill, speculated that this year’s round of devastation could lead to the utility being broken up. But there’s another question for the utility, its regulators in the state and lawmakers as they re-engage on California’s “new abnormal” of climate-change-driven weather events that scorch the state on a routine basis:

Should PG&E continue to make the decision about whether to keep the power on when wind conditions pose a significant threat of blowing tree limbs into live power lines? Should that decision be off-loaded to state officials? Will the question be taken up by lawmakers when they reconvene in Sacramento to figure out a fire-free path forward?

It’s an open question that’s got a “third rail” political quality about it, insofar as decisions about de-energizing power lines are currently PG&E’s alone to make (it’s a private corporation and not a state-run utility).

The de-energizing issue was brought into harsh relief on Nov. 8, when PG&E elected to not shut down the power in Butte County and other Northern California counties (including parts of Napa and Sonoma counties) after announcing that it was planning to do so.

In a statement on Nov. 8, PG&E senior vice president of electric operations Patrick Hogan wrote to the company’s customers to thank them for their understanding “and for their actions in preparation of a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff [PSPS]. We know how much our customers rely on electric service, and we will only consider temporarily turning off power in the interest of safety and as a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of wildfire.”

The Camp fire broke out on Nov. 8.

As the cause of the fire is investigated, PG&E defends its decision to keep the power on. “Regarding the Public Safety Power Shutoff situation,” says Contreras, “beyond a Red Flag warning, there are a number of other factors PG&E considers when deciding to initiate a Public Safety Power Shutoff [PSPS]. These include strong winds, very low humidity levels, critically dry vegetation and on-the-ground observations by our crews.” According to PG&E, “the forecasted conditions didn’t meet the criteria” to initiate a shutdown in Butte County.

In fairness to utilities such as PG&E, they’re in a kind of “damned if they do, damned if they don’t” bind when it comes to decisions about shutting down the power.

The utility was blasted by Lake County leaders and businesses in October when it pro-actively shut down the power to some 70,000 residents under high-wind Red Flag conditions. No fire broke out, but one liability question for PG&E is whether shutting down the power is in itself an acknowledgement of potential wrongdoing on its part.

In other words, why shut down the power if the utility’s vegetation-clearance work, as claimed, is up to snuff?

The current de-energizing protocols are part of the deeply controversial Senate Bill 901 from this year’s session, which aimed to compel PG&E to address the “new abnormal” while not driving the utility out of business in the process by foisting all liability for wildfires onto it (and despite failures on PG&E’s part to adequately remove vegetation from around power lines).

The utility was found liable for several of the fires that broke out in California in late 2017, including the catastrophic Tubbs fire that destroyed Coffey Park in Santa Rosa. Among PG&E’s high-powered friends in Sacramento is the lobbying organization Platinum Advisors, which was founded by Darius Anderson, a Sonoma County power broker who is also the founder of the nonprofit Rebuild Northbay. The Anderson-led nonprofit includes a PG&E employee on its board. The utility has been actively engaged in highly visible, subcontracted vegetation-removal work in the North Bay over the past few weeks.

As currently regulated, PG&E’s actions around de-energizing power lines are only reviewed in the aftermath of a decision to shut the power down.

The state of California has no role in making the de-energizing decision, says Terrie Prosper, director of the news and outreach office at the California Public Utilities Commission (whose past leadership has been charged with acting as a rubber-stamp agency for PG&E’s interests).

Senate Bill 901 requires utilities such as PG&E to submit wildfire mitigation plans, Prosper notes; those plans are under review by the CPUC, as of Oct. 25.

Under the current regulatory structure, the CPUC’s role is to investigate utilities’ decisions to de-energize power lines that distribute electricity to consumers; critically, the CPUC has no regulatory role in investigating a utility’s decision to not de-energize power lines. The CPUC’s role is not so much advisory as it is investigatory when it comes to de-energizing decisions.

The utility is required to file a report within 10 days of the de-energizing event, says Prosper, “explaining their decision to shut off power, the notice that was given to customers and community representatives, the number and types of customers affected, the steps they took to restore power, and any other mitigation provided by the utility,” Prosper says. “The CPUC may assess de-energization events that occur, and may take enforcement actions if a utility’s actions were unreasonable.”

The shutoff protocol is “an additional precautionary safety measure implemented following [2017’s] wildfires and is used under specific extreme weather conditions to further reduce the risk of wildfires,” says PG&E’s Contreras, “and is not deployed as a response to an active fire.”

The de-energizing issue is complicated by the nature of the power lines being considered for de-energizing, and the intersection of oversight of those lines, Contreras explains.

High-voltage transmission lines are not part of the PSPS program and are regulated by the feds through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and operated by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).

Transmission lines operate at higher voltage than distribution lines, and outages impact a much larger number of customers, Contreras says via email. The CAISO does allow utilities to de-energize high-voltage transmission lines (those that operate at 115 kV or above)—for example, at the request of Cal Fire—but only through coordination with the utility.

“In light of the potential public safety issues resulting from de-energizing higher-voltage transmission lines, including the potential to impact millions of people and create larger system stability issues for the grid,” Contreras writes, “PG&E has not extended the PSPS program to transmission lines that operate at 115 kV or above.”

The question remains: Will lawmakers de-energize PG&E’s power to shut off the juice when the Red Flags start flying again next year?

Holiday Arts 2018

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Holiday Arts 2018

Ready or not, nearly two months of holiday fun and cheer are coming your way. To help navigate the season and keep your spirits bright, we present our select guide to holiday fun leading up to Christmas.

Events

Marin Turkey Trot  Work up an appetite with one-mile, 5k and 10k runs. Proceeds benefit San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
Packet pickup, Nov. 19 and 21; race, Nov. 22. Indian Valley College,
1800 Ignacio Blvd., Novato.
$25–$55. marinturkeytrot.com.

San Rafael Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland  Thirty-ninth annual event in the heart of Marin features a grand parade and tree-lighting ceremony, with snow sledding, kids activities, a holiday market and more. Festive window displays light up the scene while live music and holiday entertainment packs in families from around the Bay Area. Nov. 23–24. Fourth and B streets, San Rafael. Friday, noon to 8pm; parade begins at 5:30pm; Saturday, 9am to noon. 800.310.6563.

Point Reyes Open Studios  Spend part of Thanksgiving weekend with artists in their studios throughout West Marin during the 20th annual free, self-guided tour. Includes displays and demonstrations. Nov. 23–25, 11am to 5pm. pointreyesart.com.

Bolinas Museum Turkey Trot  Ninth annual family-friendly walk is a popular post-Thanksgiving tradition in West Marin. Prizes, treats and Bloody Marys are waiting at the finish line. Nov. 24. 48 Wharf Road, Bolinas. 8am. $10–$25; kids nine and under are free. 415.868.0330.

ICB’s Winter Open Studios  More than a hundred painters, sculptors, fabric artists, jewelers, photographers and other artists under one roof all open their doors for this 50th annual event to let you discover new and unique works of art where they are created. Nov. 30–Dec. 2. Industrial Center Building, 480 Gate Five Road, Sausalito. 11am–6pm. Free admission. icb-artists.com.

Breakfast with Santa at Sausalito Yacht Club  Annual family event features breakfast prepared by elves and a visit from Santa. Dec. 1. Sausalito Yacht Club, 100 Humboldt Ave., Sausalito. 8:30am and 10am. $15–$18; kids under two eat free. RSVP required. 415.289.4152.

Sausalito Gingerbread House Competition & Tour  Twelfth annual citywide event features more than 30 businesses and merchants participating in creating festive and delicious gingerbread houses. Most are on display within walking distance of each other, meaning this is a family-friendly diversion from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. Dec. 1–31. Downtown Sausalito. Maps are available at participating merchants or at sausalitogingerbread.com.

Osher Marin Festival of Lights  Marin’s biggest Hanukkah party includes festive foods, glow-in-the-dark dancing, live music, an artisan crafts marketplace and kids activities like Lego dreidel building, bouncy house hopping and cookie decorating. All are welcome. Dec. 2. Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 11:30am–2pm. Free admission. 415.444.8000.

Sausalito Woman’s Club Holiday Open House  Santa makes an appearance for this community event. Toys for Tots and Giving Tree donations are appreciated. Dec. 2. Sausalito Women’s Club, 120 Central Ave., Sausalito. 3pm. 415.332.2700.

Mill Valley Winterfest  Annual celebration includes snow-sledding, a visit from Santa, live entertainment, refreshments, children’s activities and a tree-lighting ceremony. Dec. 2. Downtown Plaza, 85 Throckmorton Ave.,
Mill Valley. 11am to 5pm. enjoymillvalley.com.

Dickens’ Family Victorian Holiday Party  Hosted by characters from Charles Dickens’ works, this annual party boasts parlor games, dancing, crafts and light refreshments. Dec. 7. Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408 Mission Ave., San Rafael. 6:30pm. $9–$12. falkirkculturalcenter.org.

Sensitive Santa  Holiday event for children with special needs features an online sign-up to eliminate the stress of waiting in a line, a sensory-friendly playground and activities, therapy dogs from Marin Humane Society and a professional photographer. Dec. 8. All Children’s Academics, 1665 Grand Ave., San Rafael. Free; $20 donation includes raffle ticket. 415.258.9572.

Makor Marin’s Chanukah Art & Light  The community organization dedicated to offering outdoor experiences that incorporate a Jewish curriculum hosts an expressive and exploratory day of art and learning at the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts. First, take part in an art project in the center’s studio. Then, head into the sculpture garden for a hike that incorporates storytelling and sing-alongs that celebrate the Festival of Lights. Dec. 8. 616 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 3–5pm. Free. RSVP requested. 860.987.3110.

Sausalito Winterfest  Thirty-first annual event includes Saturday’s Lighted Boat Parade on the water with dozens of brightly decorated vessels and fireworks. Then, Sunday’s Jingle Bell 5k features a runner’s brunch and children’s fun run. Dec. 8–9. Sausalito Waterfront. Saturday, 6pm; Sunday, 8:30am. winterfestsausalito.com.

Shopping

Marin Center’s Pop-Up Holiday Boutique  Shop for locally produced original arts and crafts including jewelry, woodworks and fashion accessories. Nov. 29–Dec. 7, Marin Center Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 11am to 7pm. Free. marincounty.org.

Dance Palace Artisan Craft & Holiday Market  This 48th annual event offers art and fine crafts from favorite local artisans and boasts an expanded holiday market with live entertainment, kids craft stations and gourmet food. Nov. 30–Dec. 2. Dance Palace, 503 B St., Point Reyes Station. Friday, 4–9pm; Saturday, 10am–5pm; Sunday, 10am–4pm. Free admission. dancepalace.org.

Mill Valley Holiday Craft Fair  Fourteenth annual fair features over 55 artists selling handmade arts and crafts, including jewelry, glasswork, fiber arts, ceramics and more. Dec. 1. Mill Valley Community Center,
180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. 10am to 5pm. Free. millvalleyrecreation.org.

Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society Holiday Art & Craft Sale  Local artists bring a wide range of gifts and holiday items to browse in a farm-cottage setting. There will be jewelry, glass works, knitted items, vintage books and baked goods, with door prizes and hot cider. Dec. 1, Landmarks Art & Garden Center, 841 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon. 10am to 4pm. Free. 415.435.1853.

Muir Beach Holiday Arts Fair  Head to the coast for some holiday shopping that boasts unique and handmade fine art, crafts, jewelry, gourmet treats, holiday knickknacks and more. Dec. 1–2. Muir Beach Community Center, 19 Seacape Drive, Muir Beach. Saturday, 10am–5pm; Sunday, 10am–4pm. Free admission. muirbeachartsfair.com.

Marin Indoor Antique Market Christmas Show  Over 70 booths of antiques and collectibles features vintage and estate jewelry, furniture, Native American and Asian art and more. Dec. 8–9, Marin Center Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Saturday, 10am to 6pm; Sunday, 10–5pm. $8. 415.473.6800.

Spirited Marin Holiday Marketplace  Festive shopping village features Marin-based sellers and raises money for local nonprofits, with a special Airstream photography exhibit, seasonal drinks, music and more. Dec. 8–9. Marin Country Mart, 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur. Saturday, 10am to 8:30pm; Sunday, 10am to 5pm. spiritedmarin.org.

Performance

Marin Center  Just Dance Academy Winter Performance commences Nov. 18. 2pm. $22–$27. Vocalist Evan Tyrone Martin stars in “An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas” Nov. 27–28. $60. Stapleton Ballet performs The Nutcracker. Dec. 1–2. 1pm and 5pm. $26–$38. Performing Arts Academy of Marin’s Holiday Spectacular gets festive Dec. 1–2. Saturday, 7pm; Sunday, 2pm. $22. Mayflower Chorus presents “Sounds of the Season” Dec. 7–8. Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2:30pm and 7:30pm. $8–$22. Marin Ballet’s Nutcracker returns Dec. 8–9. 1pm and 5pm. $25–$45; Candy Cane Party following each 1pm performance is $10. “Sister’s Christmas Catechism” offers holiday mystery Dec. 14–15. $60. Marin Dance Theatre’s “Sophie and the Enchanted Toyshop” makes for a sweet treat Dec. 15. 1pm and 5:30pm. $32–$40. Singers Marin offers annual performance of “’Tis the Season . . . Sing Joy!” Dec. 16. 4pm. $25–$40. Windham Hill’s Winter Solstice marks the season Dec. 21. 8pm. $25–$65. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415.473.6800.

Sweetwater Music Hall  Start the holidays with a post-Thanksgiving bash featuring rock band Jerry’s Middle Finger, Nov. 25. 5pm. $12–$15. “A Rat Pack Christmas” pays tribute to Frank Sinatra’s birthday, Dec. 12. 8pm. $25–$30. The Christmas Jug Band make their way back to town for two spirited shows, Dec. 17 and 20. 7pm, 8pm. $19–$27. Jerry Joseph & the Jackmormons invite guests like Steve Kimock to play two nights of holiday magic Dec. 21–22. 9pm. $25–$40. 415.388.3850.

Throckmorton Theatre  Michelle Schmitt’s 10th Annual Holiday Concert benefits the community on Nov. 29. 8pm. $25–$100. Deborah Winters and the Peter Welker All Star Band jazz up the holidays Dec. 7. 8pm. $25–$35. Narada Michael Walden Foundation’s Annual Holiday Jam returns Dec. 15. 8pm. $100–$175. 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 415.383.9600.

Holidays in Harmony  Novato Music Association Chorus comes together in song for this annual winter concert. Nov. 30–Dec. 2 and Dec. 8. St. Vincent’s Chapel, 1 St. Vincent Drive, San Rafael. Times vary. $5–$20. novatomusicassociationchorus.org.

Inspector Gadje Hanukkah Celebration  San Francisco–based Balkan Brass Band leads a holiday extravaganza that marks the Jewish Festival of Lights with plenty of dancing, cocktails, food and fun. Dec. 1. Osher Marin JCC’s Hoytt Theater, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 7pm, Balkan dance lessons; 7:30pm party. $10–$35. 415.444.8000.

Marin Symphony’s Holiday Concerts  Spend the most wonderful time of the year with the acclaimed symphony orchestra, who present several concerts throughout the season. First, the chamber chorus shines in the Holiday Choral Concerts by Candlelight, Dec. 1–2, at the Church of Saint Raphael, 1104 Fifth Ave., San Rafael. Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 4pm. $20–$32. Next, the symphony presents its annual Holiday Pops concert, led by musical director Alasdair Neale and featuring beloved classics and contemporary musical treats on Dec. 11, at the Marin Center’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 7pm. $20–$25 and up. 415.479.8100.

Kitka: Wintersongs  The Oakland-based women’s vocal ensemble channels Eastern European melodies with traditional vocal styling. Kitka perform a program of critically acclaimed, winter-inspired music ranging from Slavic folk carols to Eastern Orthodox choral works, Yiddish, Sephardic and Hebrew songs for Hanukkah. Dec. 9, the Kanbar Center for the Performing Arts, Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 5pm. $10–$35. 415.444.8000.

First Presbyterian San Anselmo Chancel Choir  Daniel Canosa conducts a performance of three versions of the “O magnum mysterium,” by Javier Busto, Morten Lauridsen and Ola Gjeilo with orchestra. Dec. 9. First Presbyterian Church, 72 Kensington Road, San Anselmo. 10am. Free. 415.456.3713.

Very Merry Singalong on Tomales Bay  West Marin nonprofit Sound Orchard leads a special selection of familiar carols, interfaith holiday music and non-secular songs for the season. Dec. 13. St. Columba’s Sanctuary, 12835 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Inverness. 7pm. $10-$20. soundorchard.org.

Stapleton Theatre Company  The theater arts division of the Stapleton School of the Performing Arts presents A Christmas Carol: The Broadway Musical, an adaptation of the Charles Dickens tale. Dec. 13–16. The Playhouse, 27 Kensington Road, San Anselmo. Thursday–Friday, 7:30pm; Saturday–Sunday, 2pm. $16–$22. stapletonschool.org.

Marin Oratorio  Boyd Jarrell directs the College of Marin choir’s performance of world-beloved works by Franz Schubert. Dec. 15–16, James Dunn Theatre, College of Marin, 835 College Ave., Kentfield. Friday, 7:30pm; Saturday, 3pm. $15–$20. 415. 457.8811. Y

This Week in the Pacific Sun: Holiday Arts!

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This Week in the Pacific Sun: Holiday Arts!

Greetings! This week in the Pacific Sun we’ve gone “whole holiday” with our annual Winter Arts Guide, courtesy of Arts Editor Charlie Swanson. Check it out for all the great Christmas and Hanukkah events taking place during this most wonderful time of the year. We’re also presenting the first cut of our Holiday Gift Guide with a writeup on what may be the season’s first must-have gift that’s not an iPhone: A big new book of Led Zeppelin photos! Stay tuned for more Gift Guide action in an upcoming mid-December issue. In the meantime, this week Tanya Henry takes a spin through the menu at Flores in Corte Madera and declares it delicious, in Dining. Richard von Busack sings the praises of the latest Coen brothers movie, in Film. In Stage, Harry Duke writes about Pac Sun contributor David Templeton’s hilarious myth-of-Santa play, which is being put on for the first time in years. We’ve also got some newsy online-only content on deck through the week, so keep checking the Pac Sun website as you make your way through these weird and smoky days in Marin County—and don’t forget to pre-order those Dungeness crabs for Thanksgiving while you’re at it (we’ve got a little writeup on the opening of crab season, too.) —Tom Gogola, News and Features Editor

Advice Goddess

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Advice Goddess

Q: I’m a 28-year-old guy with an amazing girlfriend. She gets upset and sometimes cries, and I never know how to soothe her. I’m afraid to say the wrong thing, so I don’t say anything at all. Of course, she then gets more upset, thinking I don’t care. But I do care, and I want her to know.—Tongue-Tied

A: When things get emotionally fraught in a relationship, it’s tempting to wish for a simpler existence—like being a dog so all that’s expected of you is to not pee on the rug, and to sit still while the girlfriend dresses you up as a bee. In fact, if you’re like a lot of men, a female partner’s tears are liquid kryptonite, causing you to pretty much lose consciousness while appearing to be totally awake and ambulatory. Women may not entirely get this—or the extent of it—because of some sex differences in emotion processing.

Generally speaking, putting it in collegiate terms, the female mind majors in psychology; the male mind majors in physics—though individual male and female minds vary, of course. Research by psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen finds that women tend to be the “empathizers” of the species, driven (from childhood on) to identify others’ “emotions and thoughts, and to respond to these with an appropriate emotion.” Men, on the other hand, tend to be “systematizers”—driven to understand the inner workings of the blender.

The good news is, there’s a secret—even for the most emotionally inarticulate man—for comforting an upset woman: you don’t have to be Shakespeare; just don’t go all shutupspeare. For example, last week, when I was bummed about something—to the point of tears—I was on the phone with my boyfriend, and he said the sweetest thing: “I’m bad at this” (meaning knowing what to say) “but I want to help you feel better.” This made me feel loved—and better. Also, it was kind of sexy.

As an emergency measure—if even the words about not having the right words fail you—you can communicate your desire to comfort her with a hug, hair stroking and other loving gestures. Again, just be sure to make some kind of effort to soothe her, lest she add feeling emotionally abandoned by her boyfriend to her boo-hoo list.

Q: My husband’s parents asked to be in the delivery room while I’m giving birth, and he said yes—without asking me. Now he doesn’t want to tell them otherwise, which is weird because he isn’t usually lacking in assertiveness. I get along fine with my in-laws, but I don’t want them in there with me.—Horrified Mom-to-Be

A: There are those men who understand what it’s like to give birth—those who’ve passed a kidney stone the size of a decorative lawn boulder out a slim fleshy tube normally meant for urine.

You are not doing a one-woman show in the delivery room; you are the lead character in a medical procedure, one that can involve pooping while pushing, horror movie-esque blood spatter and impressive strings of screamed profanity (interspersed with tender maternal utterances like “GET THIS DEMON SPAWN OUT OF ME!”).

Sociologist Erving Goffman pointed out that we all engage in constant “impression management,” editing our behavior to control how others see us. (Choosing how much of our selves to make public is a big part of this.) Goffman explains that losing control—not being able to present our desired image—is deeply disturbing to us, leading to feelings of shame and compensatory strategies to clean up the damage. (Never looking your father-in-law in the eye again sound good to you?)

You say your husband generally isn’t lacking in assertiveness. Chances are, in the wake of his saying yes instead of “Gotta check with my wife,” he would feel bad about going back on it. (Maybe part of his impression management is coming off as a man of his word.) But back on his word he must go, because it’s your choice whether you make your private parts public parts. Not surprisingly, you feel you put your best foot forward with your feet in shoes under the dinner table—not in stirrups while the in-laws go sightseeing with the iPhone up the, um, Grand Canyon: “Look, Ralph . . . there’s a little fist coming out! Quick! Get a shot for our Instagram!”

Hero & Zero

Hero Scores of students collected a stock of socks, 2,500 pairs to be exact, and donated them to homeless people in Marin. It started with Community Heroes, a Marin school-based program mentoring young philanthropists and social activists on how to make a difference in their communities. The kids in the group learned that socks are the number one requested item...
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Hero & Zero

Hero Scores of students collected a stock of socks, 2,500 pairs to be exact, and donated them to homeless people in Marin. It started with Community Heroes, a Marin school-based program mentoring young philanthropists and social activists on how to make a difference in their communities. The kids in the group learned that socks are the number one requested item...
Read more

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ sequel has some laughs, but a shortage of big ideas

Despite the promisingly wide scope of the world wide web, the animated Ralph Breaks the Internet doesn’t get to be about what it’s about until the second half. The highly witty original was about appreciating the groove you’re in; the sequel, for the first half, seems stuck in it. In this follow up to 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph, the 8-bit ape-like...
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Horoscope

ARIES (March 21–April 19) In his autobiography On the Move, neurologist Oliver Sacks praised his friend Jerry’s curiosity and knowledge. “Jerry has one of the most spacious, thoughtful minds I have ever encountered, with a vast base of knowledge of every sort,” wrote Sacks, “but it is a base under continual questioning and scrutiny.” So willing was Jerry to...
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Art Escapes

Marin art lovers have plenty of reasons to celebrate this holiday season, as the region offers several chances to view and collect serious works directly from the local artists who create them. This year, two of Marin’s most popular open-studio events observe significant anniversaries, as the Point Reyes Open Studios tour turns 20 and the ICB Winter Open Studios event...
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Advice Goddess

Q: I lost over 100 pounds. I’m really proud of my myself and my new body, so I post pix on Instagram. Disturbingly, I’ve got a few haters—all women!—who come at me saying I’m narcissistic, slutty, a showoff, etc. I thought women are supposed to support one another. How should I respond? Should I post fewer selfies?—So Much for...
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Paradise Glossed

It’s been two weeks since the Camp fire broke out in Butte County, and the North Bay air is still filled with smoke from the catastrophic blaze that destroyed the town of Paradise. Or was that the town of . . . Pleasure? President Trump couldn’t seem to get that fact straight when he showed up in California last week...
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Holiday Arts 2018

Ready or not, nearly two months of holiday fun and cheer are coming your way. To help navigate the season and keep your spirits bright, we present our select guide to holiday fun leading up to Christmas. Events Marin Turkey Trot  Work up an appetite with one-mile, 5k and 10k runs. Proceeds benefit San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Packet pickup, Nov. 19 and...
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This Week in the Pacific Sun: Holiday Arts!

Greetings! This week in the Pacific Sun we've gone "whole holiday" with our annual Winter Arts Guide, courtesy of Arts Editor Charlie Swanson. Check it out for all the great Christmas and Hanukkah events taking place during this most wonderful time of the year. We're also presenting the first cut of our Holiday Gift Guide with a writeup on...
Read more

Advice Goddess

advice goddess
Q: I’m a 28-year-old guy with an amazing girlfriend. She gets upset and sometimes cries, and I never know how to soothe her. I’m afraid to say the wrong thing, so I don’t say anything at all. Of course, she then gets more upset, thinking I don’t care. But I do care, and I want her to know.—Tongue-Tied A: When...
Read more
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