It began with a question, posed to a total stranger sitting beside me at a movie theater. “Whose voice would you rather hear coming from an animated Japanese princess, Minami Takayama, or Kirsten Dunst?”
“The other one, the, uh … the Japanese one,” said a 30-something fellow with impressive tattoos inked onto his arms. “I mean, I grew up with Kirsten Dunst as the voice of ‘Kiki,’” he added. “I’ve seen all of the Ghibli movies a million times, and now I don’t need them to be dubbed anymore. A couple of years ago, I started watching them with subtitles, and, I realized I kind of like hearing the language the way it was meant to be. It’s better somehow. I guess we all get older sometime, right?”
As proof of his lifelong enthusiasm for all things Studio Ghibli, my accidental conversationalist hiked up his sleeve to show me a tattoo of Kiki astride a broom.
“I’ve got Howl’s Castle on my back,” he said.
And with that, the movie began.
Last June, at select theaters across the country, Fathom Events launched an unusual series of film screenings at mainstream theaters. Fathom is the company that presents special theatrical events in movie theaters, from boxing matches and Shakespeare plays to live performances of the Metropolitan Opera. The company has been treating audiences to a monthly Studio Ghibli Festival, showing a different film by animation master Hayao Miyazaki on the third Sunday and Monday of every month. On Sunday, August 27 and Monday, Aug. 28, the Fairfax 6 in Fairfax will screen the classic 1986 film Castle in the Sky, which launched Miyazaki and led to the founding of Studio Ghibli—giving us My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and … as evidenced by the ink on a certain fan … Howl’s Moving Castle, which, it turns out, will close out the series in November.
What’s notable about the Ghibli Fest is Fathom’s choice to screen each film twice—once in its dubbed version, usually featuring famous American actors, and once with subtitles, allowing the original Japanese voice artists to be heard. After my spontaneous conversation with Tattoo Guy, I put out the question to as many Studio Ghibli fans as I could reach: “Which do you prefer, the dubbed versions, or the subtitled versions?”
To North Bay actor Matt Witthaus, the use of A-list actors, introduced when Disney began re-releasing the Ghibli films in the ’90s, was a highly practical decision.
“American audiences will almost always eschew subtitled films over those with English language overdubs,” he said. “The Miyazaki films, to my knowledge, were some of the first to do it.”
“Animation is an art. It’s easier to enjoy the artistry if it’s dubbed,” said Juliet Pokorny, formerly of Pixar, having served as art department manager, editorial manager and other roles on Cars, The Incredibles and Toy Story 3.
Drummer Quinten Cohen, meanwhile, strongly prefers watching foreign-made films in their original language.
“Unless they’re really badly dubbed, and the dubbing is part of the entertainment, like with the Godzillamovies,” he noted. “Often times, when I’m comparing them, I notice that if there’s a difference in performance quality, it almost always seems like the original Japanese actors did a better job. I haven’t watched the dubbed version lately, but I watched My Neighbor Totoro last week, and every time I see it, when the girl voicing Mei starts crying after she and her sister get into a fight, it hits me really hard.”
Totoro, by the way, is Cohen’s all-time favorite Ghibli film.
“I’m even planning,” he added, “for my first tattoo to be Totoro-related.”
“If I had a dollar for every adult I hear say, ‘I haven’t had shave ice in years—since I was a kid … ,’ says Adela Jacobson, who launched her mobile franchise Kona Ice truck (number 793) with her husband Corey last August.
Jacobson and her family moved to Novato from Palm Beach, Florida to enroll their daughter in Novato’s Marin School of the Arts music program. With her husband commuting to San Francisco for work, Jacobson wanted to do something closer to home.
Similar to an ice cream truck, the Kona Ice version plays tropical tunes and offers multiple flavors. However, this is a more interactive experience, as customers get to help themselves to any of the 10 tastes of the trucks’ proprietary Flavorwave dispensing system. An additional 20 flavors are also available, but are not set up to self-serve. The number-one seller is Blue Raspberry, but equally popular is the Tiger’s Blood—a strawberry coconut concoction.
Unlike the iconic ice cream trucks, Jacobson doesn’t drive a route. She quickly learned that with so many scheduled activities for school-aged kids, few were ever home to enjoy a cup of fruit-flavored shaved ice after school, or even on the weekends. Instead she focuses on school events, private parties and corporate functions. She also works with youth sports groups, the city of Novato and others.
“My number-one area of focus is schools. We love fundraising and we give a percentage of our profits back to the schools,” says Jacobson, who, in just one year in business has already contributed more than $11,000 to schools in her district, has adopted a recyclable cup incentive and has added solar panels to her truck.
When her husband asked her if she really wanted to be that shave ice lady, Jacobson replied, “I want to be THE shave ice lady.”
Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won’t come this evening but surely tomorrow.—Samuel Beckett, ‘Waiting for Godot’
In July of 2008 I was standing on a train platform in Tokyo when a Japanese acquaintance asked me, “What are train stations like in America?”
I thought long and hard before answering. “They’re like this, but we call them airports.”
The humor was lost on my companion. However, the conversation did reveal a striking difference between America and the rest of the world. American passenger trains, for the most part, have gone the way of the dinosaur. I’m not qualified to say if that’s a good or bad thing. It’s just that today, most Americans simply don’t know what to make of passenger trains that aren’t meant for sightseeing tours.
But in the fall of 2008, Sonoma County voters bucked the trend and approved SMART, the then-proposed passenger rail service that would connect Cloverdale to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal in Marin County. Rail commuters would bypass the Novato-Petaluma traffic woes on Highway 101, zooming past at a comfortable 80 miles per hour. It would be glorious.
Nine Years Later
“I’m not paying $23 to take a train!”
The appalled man was dressed to the nines in turn-of-the-century attire, one of a dozen historical re-enactors standing on the downtown Santa Rosa SMART station platform. His mind simulating life in 1900, it’s no wonder that he thought $23 was too much for a roundtrip train ride. Except today, it’s free.
Besides this group of men and women seemingly unstuck in time, the train platform was half-full when I arrived just after 8am on July 22, one of SMART’s free-preview days. There were couples, families and a few curious solo travelers. Friendly SMART ambassadors were answering questions and handing out Clipper cards. The question of the day, “When does real service start?” was met with shrugs and stories of pending (delayed) government approval.
One of the SMART ambassadors reported that the train would be standing-room only. That was fine with me. I was out to discover what people thought about Sonoma and Marin counties’ long-awaited transportation revolution.
The moment arrived. More than half of the crowd took pictures of the approaching train. “New train smell” escaped as the doors opened. I stood near the closed doors and braced myself. Thankfully, the train started without a jolt. We were underway, heading south to San Rafael.
I talked to Dave Bettin, the conductor in my car. Mr. Bettin has worked for SMART since 2011, and uses his law enforcement expertise to help train other SMART conductors on how to deal with everything from disorderly passengers to medical emergencies. In the same car, I met Jennifer and her young daughter, Grace. The two were out for a pancake breakfast in Petaluma before taking the return train home. Jennifer told me that she wasn’t going to use SMART to commute, just on special occasions.
“So what do you think?” I asked Grace. It was her first time riding a train. After some light prompting from her mother, Grace answered. “It’s fun.”
I changed cars and checked out the snack bar. Even at 9am, beer and wine were on tap along with a light selection of snacks.
After an hour of standing, my legs were beginning to ache as the train approached the San Rafael station. I was looking forward to sitting down at a table, but no one exited. Yep, that Saturday-morning crowd of 200 people stole my idea: Take SMART back and forth without getting off. In San Rafael, the number of passengers nearly doubled, and I was squished against a door.
My compatriots included a married couple from San Rafael. “You could throw popcorn at people’s balconies they’re so close,” the husband said, taking a picture of apartments that seemed just beyond arm’s reach.
“This thing is destined to fail,” an older man reported. His very specific doomsday prediction: An earthquake will wreck the track in Petaluma and the powers that be will shut SMART down for good.
On the trip back I had a great view out the window. In some places, it’s breathtaking. There isn’t a single building, road, car or any sign of civilization. It’s like the train is traveling through the past. I imagined SMART television commercials based around the scenery. Picture this: A tired businessman gets on the train in San Rafael. He buys a glass of wine at the snack bar before settling in to look out the window, where the sun is setting over golden pastures. Get on that advertising campaign, SMART.
Past Rohnert Park, homes and businesses filled up the view, along with large cannabis farms on the west side of Roseland. “You’d never see that in St. Louis,” one of the conductors said, chuckling as he pointed out the window.
My two-hour journey ended where it began. I, along with 50 or so other passengers, got off at the downtown Santa Rosa station at Railroad Square.
Walking back to my car, I planned part two of my research: How would the free ride compare to taking SMART on the first day of paid service, scheduled at the time for Aug. 2?
One Month Later
It’s Aug. 23 and we’re still waiting. The SMART opening turned out to be an even rarer event than the solar eclipse this week.
But if SMART is to be believed, the trains are set to roll for real on Aug. 25, helping commuters get from point A to point B in an environmentally friendly style, complete with coffee and snacks and killer views of cannabis fields. We will see.
When I lived in Japan and was asked about commuter train stations in America, I was an intern at the Central Japan Railway Company. JR Central, among other things, is the majority shareholder of Nippon Sharyo, the company that built SMART’s trains. On a tour of the Nippon Sharyo factory floor just outside Nagoya, I saw firsthand the care that goes into building some of the safest and most technologically advanced trains in the world.
At the time I thought how great it would be if these trains existed in America. And now that the feds have signed off on SMART’s positive train control system which shuts train service down to prevent emergencies like derailments, here they are, right in our backyard and ready to roll. I’m glad the day is coming soon.
But until then, if anyone should ask me about SMART’s first day of service, I will continue to cite Beckett: “Surely tomorrow.”
It’s that time again—the season for jack-o-lanterns, feasts, gatherings and a bounty of entertainment throughout the North Bay. From Labor Day to Thanksgiving, there are huge music festivals, live theater productions, extravagant wine country weekends, festive art fairs and so much more happening in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties. You can’t do it all, but our annual Fall Arts Guide lays it all out.
EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
Sausalito Art Festival
Sausalito has long been hailed as an artist’s paradise, so hosting this excellent arts fest is a no-brainer. This year marks the 65th festival, and features fine art from hundreds of acclaimed artists. The weekend also includes an opening “Moroccan Nights” gala, a weekend of top-name musical entertainment from the likes of classic rockers Foghat, War, Pablo Cruise and the Tubes, gourmet food and beverages and more must-see attractions. Sept. 2-4. Marinship Park, Sausalito. Saturday–Sunday, 10am–7pm; Monday, 10am–5pm. $25-$30 and up; children under 12, free. sausalitoartfestival.org.
Sonoma County Cajun Zydeco & Delta Rhythm Festival
This popular New Orleans-inspired festival boasts a full weekend of nationally known and critically acclaimed bands split into two days of entertainment. Day one embraces the spirited rhythms of zydeco, with acts like CZ & the Bon Vivants and the Blues Box Bayou Band. Day two goes rockabilly, with groups such as San Francisco trio the RevTones and Los Angeles outfit Kim Lenz & the Jaguars. Art, wine and beer, Cajun cuisine and more are also on hand. Sept. 2-3, Ives Park, 400 Willow St., Sebastopol. 11:30am–7pm. $25–$50; kids under 12, free. winecountrycajun.com.
15th Annual Fairfax Car Show
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ross Valley, this show features more than 100 cars of all types, show & shine, awards, dash plaques, goody bags, T-shirts, a raffle and DJ. Sept. 10. 10am to 5pm. Free for spectators. Downtown Fairfax. marindirect.com/carshow.
Sound Summit
Sound Summit, an annual celebration and benefit for Mt. Tam presented by Roots & Branches Conservancy, boasts Phil Lesh & Friends, featuring Bob Weir, Jim James, of My Morning Jacket and more. The show sold out quickly, because it’s sure to be epic. Sept. 9. Mountain Theater, Mount Tamalpais State Park. 11am to 7pm. soundsummit.net.
Bolinas Museum Benefit Art Auction
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, this festive fundraising event features a social cocktail hour at the museum with a live auction of art donated by Bay Area artists, followed by a locally sourced selection of food, wine and live entertainment at the Peace Barn. Sept. 9. Auction at museum, 11am to 1pm, Peace Barn events start at 4pm. Bolinas Museum, 48 Wharf Rd, Bolinas. Peace Barn, 70 Olema Rd, Bolinas. $100 to $150. bolinasmuseum.org.
Art in the Park
Petaluma Arts Association presents the 60th annual community art event, that lets the public meet and view the works of several local artists. Paintings, sculptures, jewelry and more will fill Walnut Park, and a lineup of live music, food vendors and more will abound. Sept. 9-10, Petaluma Blvd S and D street, Petaluma. 10am to 5pm. Free. petalumaarts.org.
Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival
A rich tradition of blues and jazz more than 40 years strong, this weekend under the sun features headliners like songstress Stephanie Mills, East Bay legend Tower of Power, blues guitar veterans Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band and others performing on the Russian River. A wine garden, international food court and kayaking and canoeing also await. Sept. 9-10. Johnson’s Beach, 16241 First St., Guerneville. 10am–6pm. $55 and up. russianriverfestivals.com.
Trek Winery Harvest Festival and Antique Car Show
Celebrating five years in Novato, Trek Winery will feature a grape crush competition, antique car show, food, wine and live music. Sep. 10. Noon to 7pm. Trek Winery, 1026 Machin Ave, Novato. trekwine.com.
Petaluma River Craft Beer Festival
This event is all about the beer. A short list of the breweries participating includes Henhouse, Lagunitas, 101 North, Fieldwork, Headlands, Heretic, Plow, Fogbelt and Bear Republic. There’s also food tastings, live music and more, Sept. 16, Water Street, Petaluma (21 and over only). 1–5pm. $40; $20 for designated drivers. petalumarivercraftbeerfest.org.
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
The sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography and more of some 150 different artists will be on display under the redwoods at the foot of Mount Tamalpais. This 61st annual festival also includes live music by the Ross Howe Ensemble, the Nathan Bickart Trio and others, with a children’s grove of activities making this a family-friendly festival. All profits go to local schools and charities. Sept. 16-17. Old Mill Park, 320 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 10am–5pm. $5–$10; kids under 12, free. mvfaf.org.
Open Studios Napa Valley
Art studios from all stretches of Napa Valley are open for this 30th annual event, taking place over the last two weekends in September. Self-guided tours feature dozens of diverse artists working in different mediums. The event is juried, and unlike other open studio
Brian Copeland partners with the Marin Center to present the “Best of SF Solo Series,” featuring five critically acclaimed solo shows. Photo courtesy of Courtesy of the Marin Center.
tours in the North Bay, the artists run the entire affair. Many of the artists also show their work at Jessel Gallery, 1019 St, Napa. The tours run Sept. 16-17 and 23-24. 10am to 5pm. Maps and info at artnv.org.
Italian Film Festival
This long-running event is your best chance to savor the Italian experience, featuring critically acclaimed Italian films, both comedy and drama, shown over eight days with special guests and more. Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 23-Nov. 4. Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 5:30pm. $16–$120 (series ticket). 415.473.6800.
Tiburon Taps Beer Festival
Sample more than 70 craft brews and munch on treats from local restaurants while listening to live ’80s music by Neon Velvet. Sept. 23. 1-4pm. $45, designated driver/$20. Shoreline Park, 311 Paradise Dr, Tiburon. tiburontaps.org.
Santa Rosa Toy Con
Nerd-tastic convention offers three buildings of comics, toys, games and collectibles from more than 200 vendors. Special guests include original Star Trek actors Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig, and actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Andrew Bryniarski. There’s also the annual cosplay competition, Lego exhibition and more in store. Sept. 23. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Early-bird opening at 9am. $25; regular opening, 10am. $15. santarosatoycon.com.
Earle Fest
Annual benefit concert event for the Earle Baum Center of the Blind brings together two stages of music, food vendors, art and more. Los Angeles rockers Los Lobos headlines the day-long pop-up event, with support from The California Honeydrops, Tift Merritt, Nina Gerber, Timothy O’Neil, Dirty Cello, Charley Peach and others. Sept. 23. SOMO Village Events Center, 1100 Valley House Dr, Rohnert Park. 3pm. $55. somoconcerts.com.
Whistlestock
In its fourth year, the annual benefit concert has a reputation as a not-to-be missed event. The 2017 line-up includes legendary performers Jesse Colin Young and Pure Prairie League, with food trucks, beverages and groovy vibes. Sept. 24. Marin Center Fairgrounds Island. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 12:30pm. $69 and up. tickets.marincenter.org.
Stepping Out to Celebrate Life
Breast-cancer fundraiser gala returns for its 22nd year with the theme “Passage to India.” Cocktails and a silent auction will kick off the night, followed by a fashion show featuring men and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The Fundamentals provide the music for dancing, and a live auction will raise money to support underserved breast-cancer patients. Sept. 23. Marin Center Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 5:30pm. $275. tocelebratelife.org.
New Century Chamber Orchestra
The orchestra kicks off its 2017-18 season with a debut appearance by British violinist Daniel Hope, leading the orchestra in a program of works by Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn and performing as soloist for a world premiere co-commissioned violin concerto by Alan Fletcher on Sept 24. Then, award-winning violinist and rising star Benjamin Beilman joins New Century on Nov. 12. Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 3pm. 415.392.4400.
Floating Homes Tour
The Sausalito water-bound community invites visitors into their “Homefront on the Waterfront,” to see some of the world’s most unique and beautiful boat homes for this annual tour that also includes exhibits by local artists, authors and maritime-oriented nonprofits, food and refreshments and live music throughout the day. Sept. 30. Kappas Marina, Sausalito. 11am–4pm. $50-$55. 415.332.1916.
OCTOBER
Woofstock
Bring your friends, family and pets to this fun event that benefits Marin Humane; features live music, food from Extreme Pizza, beer, wine and booths with local merchants. October 1. Noon to 5pm. $40. Marin Humane, 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato. marinhumane.org.
Mill Valley Film Festival
Presented by the California Film Institute, this 40th annual event is always full of stars, and features the best of independent and world cinema screening at several venues in Marin. Films already scheduled include the California premiere of director Todd Haynes’ latest film, Wonderstruck, screening as part of a festival tribute to the independent filmmaker. Several musical offerings are also in the works, complementing the thoughtful on-screen program with concerts each night at Sweetwater Music Hall. Oct. 5-15. mvff.com.
ArtQuest
The long-running program at Santa Rosa High School nurtures talented youngsters from Sonoma County in seven different artistic disciplines and offers an above-and-beyond experience for students. Each fall, the students of ArtQuest present a showcase of their studies and work, including music, live theater, digital arts, dance and more. Oct. 5. SRHS Auditorium, 1235 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa. friendsofartquest.com.
Mill Valley Chamber Music Society
The society begins its 2017-18 chamber concert series with a performance by internationally renowned classical artists the Miró Quartet. Oct. 8. Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, 410 Sycamore Ave, Mill Valley. 800.838.3006.
The Best of San Francisco Solo Series
For the first time ever in Marin County, Brian Copeland presents the Bay Area’s most critically acclaimed, award-winning and beloved solo shows for an exclusive run, starting with Marga Gomez’s one-woman-show, “Latin Standards,” on Oct. 8. Marin Center Showcase Theater, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Tickets available as a series only. 415.473.6800.
Marin Alfresco
Fourth annual culinary festival starts with cocktails and appetizers, with wine tastings, savory foods from local restaurants and live music from Pride & Joy in a fabulous indoor/outdoor setting. Proceeds from the event provide scholarships to the many programs offered by the Osher Marin JCC. Oct. 14. 200 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael. 6:30pm. $100 and up. marinjcc.org/alfresco.
Biketoberfest Brewfest and Bike Expo
This free event in Fairfax, the birthplace of the mountain bike, celebrates bikes with plenty of food, music and brews, exhibitors and several group rides to choose from. Oct. 14. 11am to 5pm. $40/35-beer sampling. Fair Anselm Plaza, 765 Center Blvd, Fairfax. biketoberfestmarin.com.
National Bioneers Conference
Learn about groundbreaking ideas and discuss building a blueprint for sustainable systems. Notable speakers include Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of award-winning news program Democracy Now!, and John Wick, co-owner of the Nicasio Native Grass Ranch and the co-founder of the Marin Carbon Project. Oct. 20-22. Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. conference.bioneers.org.
Journey
Marin’s Center for Domestic Peace celebrates its 40th anniversary of serving the community with a party that looks back on the center’s journey through the decades. Food, music, dancing and other fun marks the occasion, and several special guests and community members will share their stories of how the center transformed their lives for the better. Oct. 21. Terrapin Crossroads, 100 Yacht Club Dr, San Rafael. 6pm. centerfordomesticpeace.org.
Dominican University Leadership Lecture Series
Presented in partnership with Book Passage, this stimulating series includes first daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush, CNN commentator Van Jones, New York Times bestselling novelist Amy Tan and journalist Dan Rather, anchor for the CBS Evening News. Oct. 22 through Dec. 6. Angelico Hall, Dominican University, 50 Acacia Ave, San Rafael. bookpassage.com/dominican.
Marin Symphony
The orchestra marks a new season of Masterworks concert performances with a program titled “Romance,” featuring renowned violinist Jennifer Koh performing Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” Samuel Barber’s violin concerto and Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony. Oct. 29 & 31. Marin Center’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Sunday, 3pm; Tuesday, 7:30pm. $40 and up; kids, $15 and up. 415.473.6800.
NOVEMBER
Russian Grand Ballet
One of the world’s most accomplished ballet companies presents one of the world’s most famous works, “Swan Lake,” for their debut in Marin. Nov. 2. Marin Center Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 7:30pm. $25 and up. 415.473.6800.
Mill Valley Philharmonic
Popular community orchestra presents a fall concert, “There is a Season,” featuring selections from Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 1, Joachim Raff’s Symphony No. 10 and other pieces that have seasonal themes. Nov. 15 & 18-19. Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, 410 Sycamore Ave, Mill Valley. 415.383.0930.
Line of Descent
Warren Miller Entertainment releases its annual winter sports film with this fall’s globetrotting adventure. This 68th edition of the touring film series is an inspiring celebration of wintertime passion with the world’s best skiers and snowboarders casting shadows on the world’s biggest mountains. Nov. 18. Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415.473.6800.
ART & EXHIBITIONS
Charles M. Schulz Museum
The largest selection of artwork from the popular comic strip Peanuts can be found here, along with lots of events and classes. Bookshelf Author Series featuring Jay Asher on Sept. 2, Santa Rosa Toy Con on Sept. 23. 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.
O’Hanlon Center for the Arts
This community-focused nonprofit center features art exhibits, classes, salons, performances, meditation and more. Tom and Cayen Robertson’s “etudes & impromptus” is showing through Sept. 21. Opening reception and conversation with the artists on Sept. 5. O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. ohanloncenter.org.
Petaluma Arts Center (PAC)
“Members Exhibition,” highlights the works of more than 100 of PAC’s talented artist members. Reception, Nov. 11 at 5pm. 230 Lakeville St, Petaluma. 707.762.5600.
MarinMOCA
“Emerging Artists of Northern California,” annual juried exhibition features rising regional talent and is focused in part on installation artists. Reception, Sept. 2. Open Studios, Nov. 4-5. 500 Palm Dr, Novato. 415.506.0137.
Marin Society of Artists
“The Golden State,” artists from throughout California give their impression of the state. Reception, Sept. 23 at 5pm. 1515 Third St, San Rafael. 415.454.9561.
Gallery Route One
“The Box Show”features one-of-a-kind, “out of the box” creations. Closing reception and box auction on Sept. 24 at 2pm. “Worlds Within” artist Linda MacDonald explores the
The Sausalito Art Festival, now in its 65th year, boasts art by hundreds of artists, live music, gourmet food and more. Photo by Amy Hart.
natural wonders of California’s diverse terrain in the main gallery, with Steven Hurwitz’s “Conversations with the Night” showing in the annex. Reception, Sept. 30 at 3pm. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347.
ArtWorks Downtown
This year’s annual fundraising event, “Twisted Circus,” will feature live music, performance art, games, hors d’oeuvres and wine. Sept. 16. 7pm. $55 to $125. “Migration” exhibit looks to explore the concept of migration as seen through several artist’s eyes in this juried show. Reception, Oct. 13 at 5pm. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119.
Studio Gallery
This new gallery, a partnership between the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa and the Wine Country Arts Council, will feature a variety of mostly juried shows that is open to all mediums. The current exhibit, “Laughing Matters,” runs through Sept. 24 and includes paintings, sculptures, original comics, poetry and more. 52 West 6th St., Santa Rosa. winecountryartscouncil.com.
CLUBS & VENUES
McNear’s Mystic Theatre
Petaluma’s historic venue celebrates 25 years of hosting live music, after decades as a movie house, this fall with a lineup of headlining performers from across the musical spectrum. Jamaican-American singer, songwriter and DJ Shaggy performs on Sept. 10. Venezuelan jazz and funk band Los Amigos Invisibles plays on Sept. 24. New Orleans folk and soul sister band Rising Appalachia appears for an intimate show on Oct. 8. Pioneering rock ’n’ roll outfit Y&T hits the stage on Nov. 17-18. 23 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma. 707.775.6048.
Green Music Center
Sonoma State University’s world-class music center, centered by the stunning Weill Hall, hosts another season of top-tier artists from around the world. Jazz guitarist George Benson and saxophonist Kenny G team up for a “Breezin’ & Breathless” tour on Sept. 8. The Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet joins soul queen Irma Thomas on Sept. 30. Masterful storyteller Garrison Keillor passes through the North Bay on Oct. 13. Argentinian export Tango Buenos Aires waltzes into town on Nov. 12. 1801 E Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park. 866.955.6040.
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
Longstanding arts center welcomes an array of veteran entertainers from the world of music and more this fall. Spanish language pop icons the Gypsy Kings and classic rock band Kansas appear back-to-back, Sept. 7 and Sept. 8. Powerhouse trumpeter Byron Stripling joins the Santa Rosa Symphony for a tribute to Louis Armstrong in the annual Symphony Pops series on Oct. 22. Australian soft rock duo Air Supply flys in on Nov. 11. The Daily Show host and stand-up comedian Trevor Noah returns to the North Bay on Nov. 22. 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa. 707.546.3600.
Blue Note Napa
The intimate jazz club offers close-up and personal performances by an array of talented musicians in blues, jazz, funk, soul and other genres. Mexican-born pianist Christian Tumalán of Pacific Mambo Orchestra gets his groove on with Montuno Swing salsa band on Sept. 2. Bassist, composer and producer Kyle Eastwood (son of Clint) appears on Sept. 15. Jazz star David Sanborn sits in for a three-night celebration of Blue Note’s one-year anniversary on Oct. 19-21. Actor Dennis Quaid shows off his musical side with his band the Sharks on Nov. 7. 1030 Main St, Napa. 707.880.2300.
Uptown Theatre
Napa’s art deco landmark welcomes several acclaimed performers from music and comedy to the region through the fall. British rocker and co-founder of psychedelic band Traffic Dave Mason brings his “Alone Together Again” tour to town on Sept. 17. An eclectic array of songwriters, John Prine, Randy Newman and Shawn Colvin hit the stage over three nights, Oct. 5, 6 and 7. Comedian and television game show host extraordinaire Howie Mandel performs stand-up on Oct. 21. Born performer Louis Prima Jr. follows in his father’s footsteps on Oct. 28. 1350 Third St, Napa. 707.259.0123.
Sweetwater Music Hall
Mill Valley’s historic venue continues its musical traditions with headlining performers and indie darlings all season. Vocalist and trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick stuns on Sept. 3. New Orleans creole-folk performer Leyla McCalla performs on Sept. 26. Rising folk star Sarah Jarosz takes the stage in conjunction with the Mill Valley Film Festival on Oct. 9. Baseball star and coach-turned-songwriter Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe returns to the venue on Oct. 19. Acclaimed jazz stars Rebirth Brass Band plays two shows on Nov. 17. 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley, 415.388.3850.
Terrapin Crossroads
Founded by and often featuring Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, the first-rate venue features multitalented performers and nightly shows that jam out with positive vibes. Modern bluegrass band the Infamous Stringdusters welcomes Lesh to sit in with them on Sept. 1. Long-running Grateful Dead tribute act Cubensis plays selections from the Dead and Jerry Garcia Band in a special “30 Years Upon My Head Tour” on Oct. 5. 100 Yacht Club Dr, San Rafael. 415.524.2773.
Fenix
Popular supper club and music venue packs in an eclectic schedule of renowned musicians from near and far. Ramana Vieira and her ensemble perform the romantic folk music of her native Portugal on Sept. 3. Bay Area legends Maestro Curtis & SOL Funkestra party down on Oct. 1. Accomplished players 1st Avenue Revue brings the Minneapolis sound to the North Bay with a Prince tribute show on Nov. 11. 919 Fourth St, San Rafael, 415.813.5600.
THEATER
Marin Shakespeare Company
Patrick Russell stars in an outdoor production of Love’s Labour’s Lost, Shakespeare’s masterpiece of wordplay following the follies of Ferdinand, King of Navarre and his three chums as they pledge to forsake women in pursuit of their studies. Sept. 1-24. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, 890 Belle Ave, San Rafael. 415.499.4488.
Marin Onstage
The independent production company has made its home at the Belrose Theatre, in downtown San Rafael. The company’s 2017 Celebrate Theatre Gala will take place at the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael on Sep. 22, and its next mainstage production will be Pinky, a comedy about love and friendship by playwright, author and Pacific Sun contributor David Templeton, on Oct. 27-28 at 8pm, Nov. 8 at 8pm, Nov. 9 at 2pm and 8pm, Nov. 15 at 8pm and Nov. 16 at 2pm and 8pm. Belrose Theatre, 1415 Fifth Ave, San Rafael. 415.290.1433.
Marin Theatre Company
Marin Theatre Company produces provocative and passionate works from the best playwrights of the 20th century and today. And they don’t get much more provocative than the season opener, Thomas & Sally, making its world premiere. The play explores founding father Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, the enslaved woman who mothered six of his children, Sept. 28-Oct. 22. 397 Miller Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.5200.
Ross Valley Players
Operating in Marin continually since 1930, the players once again present a season packed with classic works and world premieres. First up, the masterful musical Cabaret brings a Berlin-based Kit Kat Club to the North Bay with a live orchestra Sept. 21-Oct. 15. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.456.9555.
Novato Theater Company
The community theater group, whose local roots date back to 1919, opens their 2017-18 season with Neil Simon’s classic comedy, Rumors, Sept. 7-24. Next, the rowdy musical classic Chicago goes off with a bang Oct. 19-Nov. 12. 5420 Nave Dr, Novato. 855.682.8491.
Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts
The new performance season opens soon, and includes It Can’t Happen Here, Oct. 6-15 in the Newman Auditorium and The Little Mermaid, Nov. 17 through Dec. 3 at Maria Carrillo High School Theatre, 6975 Montecito Blvd, Santa Rosa. SRJC, 1501 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa. santarosa.edu.
Adonis handsomeness and lizard-like strangeness, mixed in one cool, sleepy-eyed vessel, Robert Mitchum had his centennial last week. Beginning on Sunday, August 13, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center remembers this essential actor in a half-dozen movies from 1947-73. The closing film is director David Lean’s Ryan’s Daughter (1970). Mitchum plays an Irish school teacher whose wife (Sarah Miles) favors a battle-scarred English soldier (Christopher Jones).
Mitchum was indelible playing a brace of psychopaths. One is the hellish good old boy Max Cady in Cape Fear (1962), a brutally effective right-wing thriller. He’s even more frightening in the southern Gothic Night of the Hunter (1955). A mesmerizing Judas preacher (Mitchum) of the Depression is on the trail of a pair of orphans who may know where some stolen money is hidden. There is absolutely no movie like it.
River of No Return (1954), not bad, is a CinemaScope Otto Preminger Western with Marilyn Monroe as a lady of easy morals traveling with an Idaho sod-buster trying to reconnect with his son. But the Aug. 13 opener Out of the Past (1946) in 35mm is a masterpiece: A compass-spinning, epigrammatical noir with Mitchum in search of a strayed lady (Jane Greer), while his old associate, the man who seeks her (Kirk Douglas) waits in the wings. Douglas threatens, “I’ll kill you. And I’ll promise you one thing: It won’t be quick. I’ll break you first. You won’t be able to answer a phone or open a door without thinking, ‘This is it.’”
Whether death ever really caught up with a figure as cool as Robert Mitchum is an open question.
Celebrating the Centennial of Robert Mitchum; Aug. 13 to Sept. 3; Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael; 415/454-1222; rafaelfilm.cafilm.org.
“We call ourselves the musketeers,” says Sebastian Saint James, guitarist and lead singer for The Highway Poets, about he and his bandmates. “It’s all for one and one for all.” Their friendship—and their music—has grown over the years, although originally they came from very different genres—folk and blues, funk, jam band and even heavy metal. But after hanging out together for a while, they found common musical ground.
“We decided to create a band together for fun and see if we could find a way to blend all these weird influences together and make something real, and unique and original,” Saint James says. “And I think over the course of the past nine years, we almost got that figured out.” That must be true, because the band has lots of upcoming gigs, including one at the Marin Art & Garden Center on Thursday, August 10.
“I worked really, really hard to figure out what it is I have to offer,” Saint James, 32, says, admitting to “some really dark, hard times in life.” He turned to music, hoping to build a bond with his father, with whom he had a tumultuous relationship.
The band’s original songs range in style from acoustic folk and bluegrass to electric rock. “We have tried to develop a sound that can work at a coffee shop or work at a festival,” Saint James says, “but if you catch us playing at a festival, we’re going to throw a party, and we’re going to get funky and we’re going to get rock ’n’ roll.”
A successful Kickstarter campaign last year financed the band’s latest recording, set to debut at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma on September 16.
“We’re just trying to find the best version of ourselves,” Saint James says. “What we need to do is to get heard and liked by as many people as possible—by just being ourselves.”
The Highway Poets, Thursday, Aug. 10, Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross; 5-7pm; 415/455-5260; magc.org.
Combine one of Ken Ludwig’s guaranteed laugh-a-minute scripts, a cast that is gifted in the art of low comedy and a director who believes that there is no such thing as being overly broad when it comes to squeezing every last drop of humor out of the material and then adding a few more of his own invention—and what do you have?
Answer: A noisy, exciting evening of theater that will probably send you away smiling. What I’m describing here is Marin Shakespeare Company’s super-lively production of Ludwig’s dramatized version of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel, The Three Musketeers, on view through August 27 on the group’s Forest Meadows Amphitheatre stage.
Older readers of this column may remember the novel from their school days, when there was no Harry Potter fantasy or Stephen King thriller to occupy vacation time. Firstpublished in serialized form from March-July, 1844, it’s a highly romanticized tale of how dedication to honor, chivalry and heroism created a special bond among several members of King Louis XIII of France’s personal guards, expressed in their famous motto, “All for one and one for all.” Ludwig’s updated 2006 version proclaims the same message—many times!—but with a cheeky irreverence that befits today’s discomfort with self-proclaimed heroes. It’s also a perfect platform for director Robert Currier’s style of physical comedy and his interjections of barely disguised satirical references to contemporary politics. Top it off with the contagious fun that everyone on stage seems to be having, and you have a formula that’s hard to beat.
It’s 1625 and all of France is in turmoil caused by the power struggle between wacky but benevolent King Louis (Richard Pallaziol) and the scheming Cardinal Richelieu (Rod Gnapp). Against their elderly father’s (Pallaziol again) advice, the ingenuous young D’Artagnan (Jonah Robinson), accompanied by his sister Sabine (Anne Norland, dressed as a man in a nod to feminist aspirations) travel to Paris determined to help defend the monarch and his queen, Anne of Austria (Anna Joham). There they meet a trio of fellow Gascons, Athos (Patrick Russell), Porthos (Jackson Currier) and Aramis (Dean Linnard). Unaware that they are Louis’ musketeers, D’Artagnan challenges each to a duel—on the same day, no less! His “adversaries” are amused by the chutzpah of this callow upstart, but before things get serious, they are attacked by a band of Richelieu’s men, and his bravery in battle convinces them that the lad has potential.
In classical melodramatic style, Good and Evil face off against each other. Amid the general corruption, intrigue, adultery and murder, the musketeers with the white feathers in their caps hold firm to their noble mission and, in the process, demonstrate the overwhelming value of collegial loyalty.
Marin Shakespeare Company’s large and capable cast features outstanding performances on both sides of the moral dividing line. The forces of darkness are led by Rod Gnapp’s Richelieu, Nick Mandracchia as his henchman Rochefort, and Elena Wright as the scheming Countess de Winter (aka Milady). Besides the musketeers, key defenders of Truth and Justice include Luisa Frasconi’s Constance and Anne Norland’s lively Sabine.
Frankly, however, Ludwig’s/Currier’s The Three Musketeers is not about plot or performances. It’s about fighting. Every few minutes, most of the show’s male characters are drawing their rapiers and having at it, back and forth across the wide stage, up and down steps. The wonder is that for all of the whirlwind of thrusts andparries, no one suffers injuries—a testimonial to the skill of fight director Richard Pallaziol (yes, the same Richard Pallaziol who appears as an actor in the play). I can only marvel at the hours of rehearsal that this level of coordination must have required.
Make no mistake, Musketeers is not a great play. It’s a pleasant diversion with a positive message about the value of loyalty to one’s ideals—no more, no less. These days, that’s not a bad thing to have around.
NOW PLAYING: The Three Musketeers runs through August 27 at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, Dominican University, 890 Belle Ave., San Rafael; 415/499-4488; marinshakespeare.org.
Our annual NorBays Music Awards beefed up this year with a staggering 21 categories, including new spots for venues, festivals and more. The readers have spoken and the winners are:
Blues: The Dylan Black Project—Soulful band of veteran musicians gets the crowds moving with up-tempo rhythms and scorching solos; thedylanblackproject.com.
Country: Ammo Box—Southern rock and country outfit featuring members of Bay Area party band Notorious is new and already making noise in the scene; ammoboxband.com.
Americana: The Rhythm Rangers—Led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Russell, the Rhythm Rangers perform timeless and laid-back Americana musings that never fail to please; kevinrussellmusic.com.
Folk: Oddjob Ensemble —Accordionist Kalei Yamanoha leads this Vaudevillian string band and produces an eclectic array of traditional folk; oddjobensemble.com.
Rock: Charley Peach—Vocalist Kaylene Harry’s powerful pipes front this hard-hitting and recently revamped power rock outfit out of Santa Rosa; charleypeachband.com.
Hip-Hop: Above Average—Young and high-rising MC writes, raps and plays video games, matching his lightning quick hand-eye coordination with a silver tongue that’s steadily maturing; soundcloud.com/aboveraps.
R&B: The Soul Section—The eight-piece rhythm and blues revue band boasts a veteran core of players who draw from influences like Otis Redding and the Meters; thesoulsection.com.
Jazz: Cabbagehead—This improvisational sextet exudes spontaneous energy and advanced musicianship; cabbageheadmusic.com.
Indie: The Highway Poets—The North Bay’s longtime favorite DIY band has been hard at work on their new album, Chasing Youth; highwaypoetsmusic.com.
Reggae: Sol Horizon—North Bay purveyors of roots reggae and world music are favorites at local festivals and beyond; solhorizon.com.
Punk: One Armed Joey—There’s a melodic quality to One Armed Joey that calls to mind ’80s bands like NOFX in the best way; fun, fast, catchy and cool; onearmedjoey.bandcamp.com.
Metal: 2 Minutes to Midnight—This Iron Maiden tribute act has the chops it takes to rock like the British metal heads they emulate; facebook.com/pg/norcalmaiden707.
Electronica: Eki Shola—Solo pianist and performer Eki Shola is influenced by her world travels and shares a spiritually connected message; ekishola.com.
Acoustic: Nate Lopez—The instrumental solo guitarist makes the most of his eight-string guitar for dynamic melodies and inviting atmospheres; natelopez.com.
Singer/songwriter: Dave Hamilton—Hamilton has been perfecting an award-winning mix of folk and Americana for 40 years; davehamiltonfolkamericana.com.
DJ (Live): Joshua Bluegreen-Cripps—Musician, event producer and DJ, Joshua Bluegreen-Cripps does it all; and does it with a passion for local projects; partyevententertainment.com.
DJ (Radio): Bill Bowker—Longtime North Bay Krush radio host is a champion of the arts, co-organizing the Sonoma County Blues Festival on August 19; Krsh.com.
Open Mic: Tuesday Open Mic at Brew—The weekly gathering of musicians, poets, comedians and others that join in the open mic at Brew is quickly gaining momentum; brewcoffeeandbeer.com.
Venue or Club: HopMonk Tavern—With three North Bay locations, the HopMonk Tavern’s family of venues can’t be beat for outdoor entertainment; Hopmonk.com.
Promoter: Josh Windmiller—The founder of North Bay Hootenanny produces events that showcase local music; northbayhootenanny.com.
Music Festival: Railroad Square Music Festival—Not even a downpour of hail (in June!) could dampen the spirits of this popular summer event in Santa Rosa’s famed Railroad Square; railroadsquaremusicfestival.com.
We can just cut straight to the point, because there isn’t much time. Nobody is even trying to sell them anymore at market. We are surrounded. They are swelling as we speak, and creeping steadily closer like zombies on steroids.
If you don’t typically lock your door, now would be a good time to start. Behind the usual pleasantries, your neighbors are probing you for weakness, trying to decide who among you or your spouse would be most likely to break, and accept a bag-load. Gangs of farmhands will soon be roaming the streets, leaving zucchinis on porches and in unlocked vehicles. There are zucchinis growing in your compost pile, maybe. One way or another, you have or will have zucchinis on your hands. And that’s why I’m here.
If not for the ideas, then for the encouragement. Any amount of zucchini can be handled, and probably with less effort than you fear. If you can adopt a can’t-stop-won’t-stop approach, like the legs of a running back, you will eat a lot of zucchini, and you will like it. And it will be cheaper than what you would have made if you didn’t have zucchini.
There is your pep talk; the ideas are out there. Oh, are they ever.
As the comedian Joe Rogan has observed, “If you can imagine it, you can find it on the internet.” He was addressing a topic other than what to do with zucchinis, but nonetheless, anyone with access to a web browser can search for “zucchini ________.” Fill in the blank with whatever you have on hand, or whatever you can imagine.
And if you draw a blank, reverse the question and try to name a food, any food, that cannot be made with zucchini. You can’t.
Bread, soup, salad, pasta (as in, shredded into noodles) or steak (fried, grilled, broiled or breaded). Parmesan, ratatouille, and other Italian ways, as well as Thai style (in curry), Vietnamese style (with cold noodles), Chinese style (with oyster sauce and whatnot), Russian style (fried) or Ari style (chocolate zucchini mayo cake).
In fact, since it is my style, why not start with that Chocolate Zucchini Mayo Cake? It is so simple.
Step 1: Prepare chocolate mayo cake batter*
Step 2: Add grated zucchini to the batter before baking it, and mix it in
Step 3: Proceed
*I got my chocolate mayo cake recipe from the jar of Hellmann’s mayo that we always had in the fridge growing up (this was one of several recipes that rotated through the labels on such jars). But the essence of mayo cake is that you substitute mayo for the eggs and oil in virtually any cake, including from a mix.
The shreds of zucchini melt into the batter, where they act as the secret glue behind the moist glitter. They don’t interfere with the baking process, and they add moisture, fiber and density to the finished product, even while hiding in the background. Consider peeling the larger individuals, as squash skins will toughen as they age.
Like many sweet of tooth, I have a salty side as well. And the zucchini department is no exception. In summer, my quick and tasty go-to recipe is one that works with the honker monsters of summer, with no need to peel them. It works equally well in a pan, under the broiler or on the grill. It turns my kids into ravenous monsters, which is a great thing if it’s veggies they are ravaging.
Slice a large zucchini thickly, up to an inch, and lay the slices on a tray. If there is room, add thick slices of onion as well. Sprinkle zucchini lightly with salt on both sides, and then pour on some olive oil (about 1/4 cup for a decent sized one), white balsamic vinegar (1 tablespoon), red balsamic (1 teaspoon) and soy sauce (1 tablespoon) and many hard shakes of garlic powder.
Turn over the zucchini slices as a way of mixing the marinade and coating the slices, and then let them sit for a moment while you heat up your grill/pan/broiler. Don’t mess with the onions. Just leave them alone on the tray while you flip around the zucchini, and transfer them gingerly to the heat when it’s ready.
Lay the zucchini and onions on the heat, and cook them until soft. In a pan they need no extra oil. On the grill, where they can be placed among the hamburgers, beware of flare-ups.
These lusty, juicy steaks are light and fun to consume, and consume and consume, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch a family get full on zucchini. Those slices go well atop a burger as well, or in place of a burger on a bun.
At the other end of the size spectrum, if you are so lucky to acquire some, are the baby zucchini, those finger-sized individuals that are small enough that they still have beautiful, edible flowers attached. They would do fine in the above marinade, as would any size of summer squash, but because they are so delicate they’d be more effectively enjoyed by a slow, gentle frying in butter, intact with the flowers on. Turn when brown, and add minced garlic before the final minutes of cooking. Or, if you want to batter coat and deep fry them, I most definitely won’t stop you.
So now you have some ideas for what to do with squash at the extreme ranges of size. For all the zucchini in between, consult the internet.
It began with a question, posed to a total stranger sitting beside me at a movie theater. “Whose voice would you rather hear coming from an animated Japanese princess, Minami Takayama, or Kirsten Dunst?”
“The other one, the, uh … the Japanese one,” said a 30-something fellow with impressive tattoos inked onto his arms. “I mean, I grew up with...
“If I had a dollar for every adult I hear say, ‘I haven’t had shave ice in years—since I was a kid … ,’ says Adela Jacobson, who launched her mobile franchise Kona Ice truck (number 793) with her husband Corey last August.
Jacobson and her family moved to Novato from Palm Beach, Florida to enroll their daughter in Novato’s...
Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won’t come this evening but surely tomorrow.—Samuel Beckett, ‘Waiting for Godot’
In July of 2008 I was standing on a train platform in Tokyo when a Japanese acquaintance asked me, “What are train stations like in America?”
I thought long and hard before answering. “They’re like this, but we call them airports.”
The humor...
It’s that time again—the season for jack-o-lanterns, feasts, gatherings and a bounty of entertainment throughout the North Bay. From Labor Day to Thanksgiving, there are huge music festivals, live theater productions, extravagant wine country weekends, festive art fairs and so much more happening in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties. You can’t do it all, but our annual Fall Arts...
This week in the Pacific Sun, our cover story, 'Truck Stop,' profiles The Bodega, the North Bay's hot new food truck that features locally sourced food. On top of that, we've got news on the sale of Bolinas' Star Route Farms, a story on how to navigate squash season, an announcement of our NorBay award-winners, a review of Marin...
By Richard von Busack
Adonis handsomeness and lizard-like strangeness, mixed in one cool, sleepy-eyed vessel, Robert Mitchum had his centennial last week. Beginning on Sunday, August 13, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center remembers this essential actor in a half-dozen movies from 1947-73. The closing film is director David Lean’s Ryan’s Daughter (1970). Mitchum plays an Irish school teacher...
By Lily O’Brien
“We call ourselves the musketeers,” says Sebastian Saint James, guitarist and lead singer for The Highway Poets, about he and his bandmates. “It’s all for one and one for all.” Their friendship—and their music—has grown over the years, although originally they came from very different genres—folk and blues, funk, jam band and even heavy metal. But after...
By Charles Brousse
Combine one of Ken Ludwig’s guaranteed laugh-a-minute scripts, a cast that is gifted in the art of low comedy and a director who believes that there is no such thing as being overly broad when it comes to squeezing every last drop of humor out of the material and then adding a few more of his own...
By Charlie Swanson
Our annual NorBays Music Awards beefed up this year with a staggering 21 categories, including new spots for venues, festivals and more. The readers have spoken and the winners are:
Blues: The Dylan Black Project—Soulful band of veteran musicians gets the crowds moving with up-tempo rhythms and scorching solos; thedylanblackproject.com.
Country: Ammo Box—Southern rock and country outfit featuring members...
By Ari LeVaux
We can just cut straight to the point, because there isn’t much time. Nobody is even trying to sell them anymore at market. We are surrounded. They are swelling as we speak, and creeping steadily closer like zombies on steroids.
If you don’t typically lock your door, now would be a good time to start. Behind the usual...
