Music: Rhythm and words

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Music: Rhythm and words

By Charlie Swanson

The Last Poets are rightly called the godfathers of hip-hop. Formed in Harlem in the late 1960s, the group was the first to join percussion with politically charged poetry, inspiring a generation to use their voices and words as tools of social justice.

This weekend, the Last Poets appear in a daylong event that includes a spoken-word workshop and performance at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma as a benefit for local radio station KWTF.

Founding member Abiodun Oyewole got into poetry when Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed.

“When Dr. King was killed, I really kind of lost my mind,” he says by phone. “I felt it was such an insult to black people.”

Oyewole’s friend and fellow poet David Nelson made mention of starting a group of poets to act as a unifying force of expression for African-Americans. “We all have the same foot on our necks, and we need to unify to get that foot off,” says Oyewole.

A month after King’s death, the Last Poets made their debut, on May 19, 1968 (Malcolm X’s birthday), at Marcus Garvey Park in East Harlem. They brought in a conga player and performed extensively around New York and the East Coast. When they released their self-titled debut album in 1970, it sold a million copies by word of mouth.

“It told me that we had the pulse of the people, that they appreciated what we had to say,” says Oyewole.

A decade later, the foundation laid by the Last Poets blossomed with the advent of hip-hop. “I’ve spoken with KRS-One, I’ve spoken with Kool Herc,” says Oyewole. “They tell me that back in the day the only thing they listened to was the Last Poets. We were definitely the prototype; they just took it to another place.”

For their appearance in Petaluma, the Last Poets will lead a “Collective Feeling” workshop, screen the documentary film, The Last Poets: Made In Amerikkka, host a youth poetry showcase and perform works of their own.

A new album due next year proves that the Last Poets’ legacy is still being written. “I just hope I can continue, because this is the greatest thing I think I can really achieve,” Oyewole says.

The Last Poets appear on Nov. 14 at the Phoenix Theater, 201 Washington St., Petaluma; Workshop, 1:30pm; film, 3:55pm; youth showcase, 6:30 pm; performance, 9pm. $10–$20. 707/762-3565.

Theater: Their world

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Theater: Their world

By Charles Brousse

For the first 80 minutes of its 90-minute running time, Marin Theatre Company’s (MTC) Bay Area premiere of Elizabeth Irwin’s My Mañana Comes provides a strikingly realistic portrait of what the workaday routine is like for four men who are struggling to survive in New York City on the lowest rung of the restaurant job ladder. Being dependent on minimum wages and a share of tips isn’t easy.

These men are fully grown adults. Two of them have families to support. Most of them seem capable of doing greater things. Yet, you and I call them “busboys” and we hardly notice when they come to clear the table, or refresh our glass of water.

This is their story, one the program tells us Irwin knows first-hand because of her extensive experience in the foodservice industry before turning to a career in theater. She says she wrote the play to draw attention to these nearly invisible people who, despite adversity, manage to find humor and camaraderie in everyday living. Above all, they never let go of their dreams. Instead, their attitude seems to be Yes, today may be bad. We may suffer indignity and threats to our income, but at least we have a job, and when mañana comes … !

Though the script sometimes verges on being static and repetitive (always a danger in slice-of-life naturalistic drama), Irwin’s skill at writing realistic dialogue and the detail with which she develops each character combine to draw us ever deeper into their world. In no small measure, it is also due to the fact that MTC director Kirsten Brandt has assembled a superb cast who seem born to their roles.

Peter, the group’s unofficial leader, is portrayed with enormous physical and emotional energy by Shaun Patrick Tubbs. He’s an African-American who is intimately familiar with the challenges of competing in a white-dominated society (including the restaurant owners), but is undaunted by them and remains determined to earn enough to move his wife and children out of the dangerous Harlem neighborhood where they currently reside.

Eric Avilés is Jorge. Serious and hardworking, for four years he has been quietly bussing dishes, slicing lemons, cleaning and doing the other chores demanded of back-of-the-house workers, all the while saving every penny he can so that he can eventually return to his family in Puebla, Mexico, where he plans to build a comfortable large casa.

Caleb Cabrera’s Whalid is a gangly, loose-jointed, third-generation Mexican-American kid who is still living with his parents in Brooklyn. Constrained by financial needs from enjoying the flamboyant life he yearns for, he has no particular loyalty to, or interest in, his restaurant job other than seeing it as a stepping stone to eventual personal freedom.

Finally, Carlos Jose Gonzales Morales is Pepe, naïve in the extreme, having arrived in this country from Juarez only a few months before he is entranced by the vision of prosperity that it offers. Now, he yearns to earn enough to bring his brother to New York to share the riches with him.

The busboys are what playwright Irwin calls a “band of brothers.” But for all their comradeship, there is one vital distinction: Peter and Whalid are native-born American citizens; Jorge and Pepe are illegal immigrants. When management decides to cut their shift pay and Peter advocates going on strike in response, that difference in status creates a chasm that no amount of moral handwringing can overcome.

That shift in focus from the plight of low-level workers to illegal immigration comes in the play’s last 10 minutes. I won’t reveal how it is resolved except to say that it likely will divide audiences as well.

NOW PLAYING: My Mañana Comes runs through November 22 at Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley; 415/388-5208; bo*******@**********re.org.

Talking Pictures: Risk-taker

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Talking Pictures: Risk-taker

By David Templeton

Whenever a big Hollywood comedian steps over the invisible laugh-line into the alternate world of dramatic movies, the news is received by the press and public much the same way that everyone greeted the news that Michael Jordan was switching from playing basketball to playing baseball. Such moves are viewed with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, but also with a touch of hope. I mean, what if Michael Jordan had turned out to be a great baseball player? He didn’t, unfortunately, but some do make the crossover successfully. Robin Williams did it, proving adept at comedy and tragedy, as did Emma Thompson, who became famous in England as a comic actress with her own hit comedy show. Recently, Amy Schumer pulled off the same thing in Trainwreck, a film in which she proved equally adept at comedy and drama.

Last month at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, comedian Sarah Silverman admitted that making the leap to drama in her harrowing new film I Smile Back, based on the novel by Amy Koppelman, was nothing short of terrifying.

“I only said yes at first because I didn’t really believe the movie would ever get made,” she admits with a laugh, addressing a rattled but awestruck audience after a Mill Valley Film Festival screening of the riveting and gorgeously crafted, but deeply unsettling film. It’s the story of Laney, a secretly depressed housewife and mother who is self-destructively addicted to drugs and sex, engaging in casual affairs while hiding everything from her clueless husband (Josh Charles) and kids, one of whom she fears might have some of her own tendency toward mental illness.

“People offer things all the time that never get made,” Silverman tells the assembled fans, explaining that in Hollywood, the official word for having agreed to do a movie is “attached.” “I ‘attached’ myself to this one,” she says, “and then forgot about it. A couple years later I got a text on my cell phone saying, ‘We got the money! We’re making the movie!’ I immediately texted back, ‘Yay!’—and then I just kind of slumped to the floor and curled up in a little terrified ball. I was thinking, ‘Oh my god! I can’t do this! How can I do this? I’ll be terrible! Everyone will know what a fraud I am!’

“And then I thought, ‘Hey, you know, this is probably exactly how Laney feels every minute of her life. Hmmmmm … maybe I can do this!’”

Though still nervous, she convinced herself that making the movie would be fun.

“I said to myself, ‘Yeah, it’s a drama, and it’ll be really heavy—but in between takes, I can tell jokes and mess around, right?’ I’m so glad, now, that I didn’t know then that I was completely mistaken.”

“I actually found,” she says, “that in between shooting takes, or waiting for the next set-up of a scene, I would be sitting there with all these feelings on my lap. I was like a toddler who didn’t know what to do with her feelings. I saw myself acting out in ways that I don’t usually do, going, ‘Hey! There’s no coffee! How the hell can there be no coffee! It doesn’t cost anything! It’s water run through coffee beans! It’s practically free! How can there be no coffee?’ And later I would have to go on a little ‘Apology Tour,’ telling everyone I was really sorry, as they all laughed at me.”

The point is, Silverman admits that she was totally unprepared for the overwhelming intensity of the feelings she needed to conjure up to play the character.

“And making it worse,” she says, “is that I couldn’t really show those feelings while we were shooting. I had to have them, but I then had to cover them up—because Laney doesn’t show her real feelings to anyone. So I had to play that level as well.

“It was an amazing experience, and I’m glad I did it, but I am so glad I didn’t know what I was getting into, because if I did, I would have totally tried to weasel out of making this movie.”

With the support of her more experienced cast members, Silverman found an additional safety net that allowed her to dig deep into those emotions, and to take risks that others might have run from.

“On the first day of shooting, it was raining,” she recalls. “So we shot inside that day; it was what they call ‘rain cover,’ which is any stuff you can shoot inside, instead of whatever you were going to shoot outdoors the day it happens to rain. So … my very first scene I shot was the sequence in which I have anal sex with Donnie.”

Donnie—a married acquaintance with whom Laney is having a loveless affair—is played by Thomas Sadoski (The Newsroom).

“It’s funny,” Silverman goes on. “I have a friend named David in New York City, and at the end of the first week I was talking with him and he said, ‘How’d it go?’ and I said, ‘It was OK!’ And he said, ‘And how did that anal sex thing go?’ and I said, in this happy, chipper voice, ‘Oh, you know! It was good!’

“I’d been so nervous about shooting that, and it was OK, because Tommy was such a professional. I understand now what actors mean when they call other actors ‘generous,’ because he was so generous. He and Josh were both so concerned about whatever I needed to feel safe. I’m so grateful for that. All of them, all of the forces around me, were the reason I was able to do this.”

The source of Laney’s sense of self-hatred is her abandonment by her father (Chris Sarandon) as a young girl. It’s a painful backstory that Silverman found useful, and to a degree, identified with.

“I think we’re all just trying to survive our childhoods,” she says, to strong but scattered applause from around the theater. “And we all develop different skills to get through that. It’s a common bond amongst comedians. We all became funny as a way to survive and deal with our fucked-up childhoods.

“They say that if you live in the past, it’s depression, and if you live in the future, it’s anxiety—and that’s why it’s better to live in the moment. This woman is always in the state of thinking, ‘What if I screw up? What if I ruin my kids? What if I abandon them the way my dad abandoned me?’ And there isn’t space for anything else in her life, and so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for her.”

As Silverman talks, it becomes increasingly obvious why so many comedians are good at playing drama. Deep down, they aren’t really laughing, and they know a lot about the way our minds and psyches work.

“People have this perception that self-deprecation and self-loathing are some kind of modesty and humility, but it’s not,” she says. “It’s not modesty. It’s self-obsession. Mother Teresa never went around complaining about her thighs. She had things to do!

“And I think that’s true with Laney. She’s self-obsessed. She’s so consumed by her past that she’s terrified of her future. The only thing she can control is her own destruction, and so that’s what she does.”

Food & Drink: Waste not

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Food & Drink: Waste not

By Ari Levaux

Ron Clark is no stranger to food waste. After more than 20 years working to supply fresh produce to California’s food banks, he knows every point on the route from farm to table—and every point where produce leaves the human food chain, to be ploughed under, composted, fed to animals or buried in a landfill.

Most of this food is healthy and delicious, but discarded for cosmetic reasons. Clark was filling 60 to 80 truckloads a week with food he recovered from farmers and packers, bringing 125 million pounds of produce to hungry food bank clients, by the time he left the food bank system. Today, he looks on in awe at a new wave of innovators looking to tackle the problem of food waste. Most of them are 20-somethings fresh out of college, he says.

An estimated 40 percent of all food grown never gets eaten by humans, and hunger isn’t the only consequence. Wasted food also represents wasted water and contributes to global warming, thanks to the methane produced when it rots in landfills.

But the movement to stop food waste is booming. In 2014, one of France’s largest food retailers, Intermarché, began selling “inglorious,” or cosmetically challenged, produce at a discount. Store traffic increased 24 percent. In mid-July, a Change.org petition called on Walmart and Whole Foods to follow Intermarché’s lead.

Most of the newer efforts to end food waste are just as mission-driven as a food bank, but are sustained by sales of recovered produce and products made from it, rather than grants and donations.

“It really is a millennial movement,” Clark says. “They aren’t interested in old organizations, which tend to be hierarchical and structured, like corporations. The energy in the new generation doesn’t mix with that culture. The millennials certainly care deeply about hunger, but are primarily concerned with saving the planet.”

An Oakland startup called Revive Foods began making jam out of recovered produce about a year ago. In its new model, recovered produce will be sorted and offered for sale to food businesses like caterers, juicers and restaurants.

Revive shares space with another startup called Imperfect Produce, which aims to create the first national brand of cosmetically challenged produce. “We will only feel successful if ‘surplus food’ is no longer a term, because we’ve reached that level of efficiency,” says Revive co-founder Zoe Wong. “Given how much is being wasted out there, I don’t think we will hit that point any time soon.”

Upfront: The road ahead

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Upfront: The road ahead

By Tom Gogola

The North Bay’s relatively cheap commercial real estate market—especially in relation to what’s available in San Francisco and Silicon Valley—has boosters talking boom.

But amid a generally cheery post-recession outlook across Marin and Sonoma counties, there are warning signs. Traffic is worsening on Highway 101, air quality is still great in Sonoma County but not every day, there’s scant affordable housing for working people in Marin and Sonoma counties, and there’s built-in pressure on two key North Bay resources: Water and open space.

The latter issue, open space, has emerged as a hot-button issue in busting-at-the-seams Petaluma, but Ben Stone, executive director of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board, says the county and city of Petaluma have enacted highly restrictive open space rules that will serve to honor the agricultural character of the area—and aren’t likely to go anywhere anytime soon.

“We’re kind of lucky to have these urban-rural boundaries to prevent development outside the agreed-upon urban-growth boundaries,” Stone says. “That space should be locked up.”

Petaluma officials confirm that the urban-rural growth boundaries are staying put.

Yet the jobs are coming and so are the people. The Association of Bay Area Governments issued a report a few years ago that predicted Marin County would see 18,400 new jobs between 2010 and 2040; over that same time, Sonoma County is expected to see 65,450 new jobs. The counties’ populations over that stretch are expected to rise by 33,000 in Marin County and 115,000 in Sonoma County. But there are dwindling options as to where to put everybody.

South of Petaluma, when it comes to development and jobs, “You can go up [Highway 101], or you can redevelop parcels that are dilapidated, says Dr. Robert Eyler, chief economist for the Marin Economic Forum. “You can have that construction, great, but people don’t like that either—it’s a classic First World pickle where there are lots of high-end incomes here, and the people don’t like the density.” (Sonoma County’s population hovers around a half-million; Marin’s is about half that.)

All of this is going on in the midst of a big housing crunch in Sonoma and Marin counties, as the just-released 2015 Sonoma Indicators report notes.

The report, issued by the Sonoma County Economic Development Board, found that residential development in the North Bay has not rebounded to pre-recession levels, as would-be buyers watched the median price for a Marin County house eclipse $1 million this year, and reach the $540,000 level in Sonoma County.

The report’s major takeaway is a rosy one: The county has a “high level of economic activity and a healthy business environment.”

But the report also notes that wages haven’t caught up with the recovery and that there are other unhealthy signs in the air. Residential rents have reached new levels of unaffordability, even as commercial lease rates in Marin and Sonoma counties are lower than in comparable counties such as Santa Clara. The Economic Development Board report found that office space in Santa Clara County is $2.26 per square foot; in Sonoma County, it’s $1.57. Sonoma’s average is 50 cents per square foot less than Marin County. Weekly wages in Sonoma County are below the state and national average at $913 and median home prices in the county are creeping near the all-time, pre-recession high of $619,000, set in 2005.

The median-home spike is also true in Marin County; neither Sonoma nor Marin counties has seen its construction industries rebound to pre-recession levels. According to an Association of Bay Area Governments report from late 2014, Marin County issued building permits for 1,000 new housing units in 2005, compared to just 302 in 2013. Sonoma County issued permits for about 3,000 new houses in 2005, compared with 1,000 in 2013.

In Marin County, there’s just not a whole lot of available space left, says Eyler—only about 2 percent of vacant land is developable, he says, and observes that developers have the choice to “eat up whatever available space is left along the Highway 101 corridor, or head north.”

“How far north is too far for commuters?” he asks, invoking the late-to-arrive Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system and its potential benefit to San Francisco commuters headed north. The answer to the hypothetical question may well be: Anywhere north of Petaluma.

“Certainly Petaluma is going through an amazing renaissance right now,” Eyler says. He ascribes the influx of new businesses and young people to Petaluma’s relative proximity to San Francisco, good planning by city leaders and by the fact that the word has gotten out.

“The word of mouth about Petaluma has spread very well,” he says.

Meanwhile, in Marin County, forecasters at the Marin Economic Forum released a report on October 29, which summed up the economic development conundrum for the Bay Area as a whole: “Available office space in San Francisco has now become smaller in volume and choice,” the report noted. “Office space remains plentiful in the region overall … The placement of both new commercial and residential units in Marin County has continued to be a controversial subject for the county elected officials and local residents and employers.”

The report highlighted drought, traffic and potential environmental impacts to the North Bay as the Bay Area may see its population grow from 7 million to 9 million within 25 years.

How will we accommodate growth, yet retain the open space and quality of life that the North Bay is known for?

Good question. Enter 2013’s “Plan Bay Area” report from the regional Association of Bay Area Governments. The plan advises North Bay leaders to focus development along the Highway 101 corridor in Marin County, and in the downtowns of cities strung along Highway 101 in Sonoma and Marin counties: San Rafael, Santa Rosa and Petaluma.

Whither Novato in all of this? “Novato is where you go when you want to stay in Marin but don’t want to pay the rents in Mill Valley and Sausalito,” Eyler says.

Chris Stewart, Novato’s city manager for economic development, says Petaluma and Novato both have a lot going for them these days. Novato, he says, has lots of built-in opportunity for future development, but unlike the roaring boom underway in Petaluma, “fully seizing [the opportunity] is the issue in Novato,” Stewart says.

The departure of a reported 650 jobs from the Fireman’s Fund building earlier this year didn’t help promote Novato as a go-to destination for corporations tired of the San Francisco rents, Stewart says. The mostly vacant building is essentially a white elephant. It’s unclear who might occupy the space deserted by Fireman’s Fund, but it’s not going to be Google, as rumors would have it. The property’s debt load ($300 million) and vast amounts of square footage, Stewart says, add up to rent that is comparable to what you’d pay in San Francisco.

The departure of Fireman’s Fund this year cost Marin County numerous jobs, as the insurance firm’s German owners, Allianz, said it would send the workers to an office space on North McDowell Boulevard in Petaluma beginning this month. Business boosters in that town exalted with news of 500 Allianz workers shopping in town.

Down the congested highway a few miles, Novato’s future is pegged to an emergent life-sciences industry that Google is already hooked into. And so it’s kind of ironic when a Novato-based life insurance company pulls up stakes for Petaluma and leaves a county where the economic driver is now geared toward living forever.

A partnership with Google helped set Marin County on a possible boom footing of its own. Back in April, the geroscientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging announced a partnership with Calico, a Google-created business devoted to life-extension research and development. Google wants to end death as we know it, quipped Time in 2013. The Marin Economic Forum’s Eyler notes that the irony is even richer when you consider Marin’s aging but generally sprightly demographic—the county is home to the oldest average population in the state.

Feature: 2015 Holiday Arts Guide

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Feature: 2015 Holiday Arts Guide

The weather outside is delightful and except for the drought, not at all frightful, but believe it or not the holiday season is upon us. And that means nearly two months of holiday fun and cheer are coming your way. To help you navigate the season and keep your spirits bright, we present our select guide to holiday fun inside and out from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Compiled by Charlie Swanson.

EVENTS

Lighting of Sonoma Plaza The Sonoma Plaza will light up with more than 100,000 bulbs, a performance from Transcendence Theatre Company, hot chocolate and cider and plenty of holiday cheer. Nov. 14, 453 1st St. E, Sonoma. 4pm to 8pm. Free. holidaysinsonoma.com.

Winterblast Eleventh annual holiday art party takes over SOFA, the Arts District in downtown Santa Rosa. Open studios showcase dozens of artists in their element (check out the striking tintype portraits at Jeremiah’s Photo Corner), while live music from Blackwater Gold and the Hubbub Club kick the holiday spirit into gear. Magic, belly dancing, food from The Spinster Sisters and others, drinks courtesy of Atlas Coffee Company and more are all on hand. Nov. 14, 312 South A St., Santa Rosa. 5pm to 8pm. Free entry. sofasantarosa.com.

Napa On Ice Napa’s outdoor skating rink, located on the grounds of the Napa Expo, is back for another year of holiday fun. Recreational ice-skating is open daily with lessons, parties, private ice time and special events offered. Nov. 20-Jan 10. $13 admission. napaonice.com. 707/227-7141.

Holidays in Carneros Nearly 20 wineries in the Carneros region of the Sonoma and Napa valleys will offer a variety of activities including food and wine pairings, live music, art and craft shows and special tastings. Nov. 21-22, various locations, 11am to 4pm. $50/$15 designated drivers. Contact the Carneros Winery Collective for info. 707/256-0693.

Napa Valley Wine Train Thanksgiving Thanksgiving on the Napa Valley Wine Train is a traditional gourmet feast with all the fixings in a non-traditional, but memorable setting. Nov. 26. Lunch 10:30am to 3pm, dinner 4pm to 8:30pm. $134-$209. winetrain.com/package/thanksgiving.

San Rafael Parade of Lights The 36th annual, family-friendly San Rafael Parade of Lights and Winter Wonderland returns to downtown San Rafael on Friday, November 27 for a night of arts and crafts, carnival rides, live entertainment, tree lighting and sledding on a hill (constructed on A Street between Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue) with more than 40 tons of snow. Noon to 8pm. Sresproductions.com.

Yountville 27th Annual Festival of Lights Skip the shopping malls and join the people of Yountville for a food and wine festival in the holiday spirit. Santa, his elves and local celebrities will all be on hand to transform the town into a magical winter wonderland with thousands of sparkling lights, live entertainment and carriage rides. Nov. 27, 2pm to 6pm. Free. Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington St., Yountville. ($15-$25 for tasting bracelets). 707/944-0904.

Healdsburg Downtown Holiday Party The chic stores downtown light up their windows with holiday lights and cheer. Live entertainment, caroling, carriage rides, pictures with Santa and merriment galore are all part of this annual small town holiday tradition. Nov. 27, Healdsburg Plaza, 4pm to 8pm. Free. 707/433.6935.

Heart of Sonoma Valley 32nd Annual Holiday Open House Toast the holiday season on a tour of more than 20 wineries including Benziger Family Winery, Imagery Estate Winery and Paradise Ridge. Includes access to wineries and winemakers, holiday gifts and souvenir wine glass. Nov. 27 and 28, 11am to 4pm each day. $45 per person, Designated Driver $10.  heartofsonomavalley.com. 866/794-9463.

Santa’s Riverboat Arrival Santa and Mrs. Claus give the season its start when they arrive by tugboat into the Petaluma River Turning Basin and disembark to hand out candy and take holiday photos with kids while live entertainment entertains the crowd. Nov. 28, River Plaza Shopping Center, 72 E. Washington St., Petaluma. 11am to 2pm. Free. 707/762-9348.

Napa’s 53rd Annual Christmas Parade This family-friendly evening parade features floats built by Napans themselves, Decked out in lights and focusing on the theme “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas.” Saturday, Nov. 28, 5pm. First and Second streets between Franklin and Main streets. Free.

Windsor Holiday Celebration on the Green Open the holiday season and bring the kids to send letters to Santa, make crafts, decorate gingerbread and ride the Polar Express before the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Dec. 3, Windsor Town Green, 701 McClelland Dr., Windsor. 5pm to 8pm. Free admission, $1-$8 for various activities. olddowntownwindsor.com.

Light Up A Life St. Joseph Hospice honors lives lost with annual candle- and tree-lighting ceremonies. Dec. 3, Montgomery Village Terrace, 911 Village Court, Santa Rosa. 5pm. Free. mvshops.com.

Lighting of the Vines Second annual family-friendly event offers new surprises as well as the usual favorites including snacks, crafts, desserts and, of course, wine. Join the community in celebrating holiday cheer with the formal lighting of the vines taking place at dark. Proceeds go to Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. Dec. 5, Hamel Family Wines, 15401 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma. 4pm. $25, kids are free. 707/996-5800.

Holidaypalooza Wine club members-only holiday party takes you into wine caves and lets you meet the merry winemakers at Gun Bun, with food pairings, games, prizes and more. Bring a new, unwrapped gift to donate to Toys for Tots. Dec. 5, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 2000 Denmark St., Sonoma. Sign up to join the wine club at 707/938-5277.

Calistoga 6th Annual Winter in the Wineries Visit up to 15 heralded wineries and meet the winemakers in and around the Calistoga area in relaxed tasting tours that you schedule at your convenience. Dec. 5 to Feb. 7, 2016. $50. visitcalistoga.com.

Napa B&B Holiday Tour & Taste Event The bed and breakfasts of Napa invite you inside their historic inns, decked out in festive decorations, to savor select wines and tasty holiday treats. Transportation and entertainment included. Proceeds benefit local charities. Dec. 5, 3pm to 7pm. $75 per person. napaholidaytour.com.

Petaluma Holiday Lighted Boat Parade Parade of sparkling boats shine on the Petaluma River to ring in the season and downtown shops stay open late for holiday strolling. Dec. 5, Petaluma River Turning Basin, Petaluma. 6pm. Free. visitpetaluma.com.

20th Annual Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade A small-town celebration of the holiday season and Calistoga’s agricultural heritage boasts vintage tractors, antique trucks and other rustic autos lit up in dazzling displays in this perfect family event. Sat, Dec. 5, Lincoln Avenue between Cedar and Stevenson, Calistoga. 7pm. Free. visitcalistoga.com.

Luther Burbank Holiday Open House A popular holiday tradition in its 36th year, this open house features Victorian-era finery and a charming tour of the home and gardens, with free parking at First and D Streets and free rides on “Rosie the Trolley” to and from the Handmade Holiday Crafts Fair held at the Finley Community Center. Dec. 5-6, 10am to 4pm. $2 (12 and older). 707/524-445.

ICB’s 47th Annual Winter Open Studios More than 100 painters, sculptors, fabric artists, jewelers, photographers and other media producers open their doors to let you discover new and unique works of art where they are created. Dec. 5-6, Industrial Center Building, 480 Gate Five Rd., Sausalito. 11am to 6pm. Free admission and parking. icbbuilding.com.

Osher Marin Festival of Lights Marin’s biggest Hanukkah party includes latkes, sufganiyot (donuts) and other festive food with the jazzy sounds of Brandeis Marin, an artisan crafts marketplace and kids’ activities. All are welcome. Dec. 6, Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. 11:30am. Free entry. 415/444-8000.

10th Annual Hanukkah Hootenanny Enjoy a Hanukkah bash featuring wine, brisket sliders, latke bar and traditional jelly doughnuts. Guests encouraged to bring unwrapped new toys and canned (non-perishable) food items for donation to local Napa charities. Dec. 6, Judd’s Hill Winery, 2332 Silverado Trail, Napa. Noon. $55/Free for Wine Club members. juddshill.com.

Guerneville Holiday Book & Bake Sale Find something great to read this holiday season as River Friends of the Library host their annual homemade baked goods sale and used book drive. Dec. 9-12. Guerneville Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. Wed., 4pm to 7pm; Thurs.-Fri., 10am to 5pm; Sat., 10am to 3pm. riverfriendsofthelibrary.org.

Holly Jolly Holiday Fundraiser Dress in your holiday attire and bring family and friends for a day of Christmas films, live entertainment, food and more. The Will Ferrell comedy Elf begins the festive double feature, followed by the classic White Christmas. Dec. 12, Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. 5pm. $6-$8. 707/588-3400.

San Rafael Canal Lighted Boat Parade A spectacular display can be enjoyed by the whole family when boats decked out in holiday lights cruise along the San Rafael Canal shore. Prime viewing locations include Montecito Mall, the San Rafael Yacht Club and Pickleweed Park, and prizes are handed out for the best lights. Presented by Roots of Peace. Sat., Dec. 19, 5:30pm; lightedboatparade.org.

SHOPPING

Holiday Arts & Seconds Sale Local Marin artists offer holiday shoppers a chance to pick up unique and unusual gifts and one-of-a-kind handcrafted items, including ceramics, jewelry, paintings and greeting cards. Refreshments included. Nov. 14, Terra Linda Community Center, 670 Del Ganado Rd., San Rafael. 11am to 4pm. Free admission.

West County Craft Faire Ramp up to the holidays with west county vendors selling handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, quilts, body care products, art and much more with live music, food and refreshments and a raffle to benefit ECO2 School. Nov. 14, Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Hwy. 12, Sebastopol. 11am to 4pm. Free admission. Sebastopolgrange.org.

Petaluma Arts Association Holiday Arts & Crafts Show Local artists and artisans show and offer their handmade wares at an art and crafts show perfect for gift giving, benefiting Mentor Me. Nov. 15, Cavanagh Center, 426 Eighth St., Petaluma. 11am to 5pm. petalumaarts.org.

Tam Valley Craft Fair Join more than 20 local crafters and artists and find bargains and unique one-of-a-kind items for all the people on your holiday lists. Free admission! Fri., Nov. 20, 5pm to 9pm, and Sat. Nov. 21, 10am to 3pm. Tam Valley Community Center, 203 Marin Ave., Mill Valley.  415-388-6393.

Gifts ’n Thyme Holiday Faire Forty-three years and counting, the fair highlights more than 85 local and regional artists and makers of fine crafts, holiday pieces and food. Live music. Nov. 20-22, Napa Valley Expo, Chardonnay Hall, 575 3rd St., Napa. 10am-6pm and Nov. 23 10am-4pm. Free. 925/372-8691.

The Holiday Boutique A tradition in the town of Ross for more than 25 years, the boutique offers homemade jams, jellies and baked goods, as well as holiday gifts and items such as wrapping paper and holiday cards. Proceeds benefit charitable causes; including supporting the community needs at St. John’s sister parish in Malawi, Africa. Nov. 27-28, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 14 Lagunitas Rd., Ross. Fri., noon to 6:30pm; Sat., 10am to 5pm. Free admission. 415/456-1102

Rohnert Park Holiday Arts & Crafts Faire 36th annual Faire features holiday decorations, live music and jolly entertainment, festive treats and cheerful holiday crafts and jewelry. Nov. 27-28, Rohnert Park Community Center, 5401 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. 10am to 4pm. Free admission. 707/588-3456.

45th Annual Dance Palace Holiday Crafts Fair The Community & Cultural Center rings in the holiday season with winter holiday sights, sounds and fun. Shop locally and find handmade artisan crafts, clothing, woodwork art and more. Dec. 4-7, Dance Palace, 503 B St., Point Reyes Station. Fri., 4pm to 9pm; Sat. and Sun., 10am to 5pm. Free admission. dancepalace.org.

11th Annual Holiday Craft Fair This festive event features more than 55 new and returning artists selling their fine handmade arts and crafts. There is a wide variety of items to choose from including woodwork, jewelry, glasswork, ceramics, decorations, knitwear, fiber arts, plants and much more. Free. Sat., Dec. 5, 10am to 5pm, Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. 415/383-1370.

Landmarks Holiday Arts & Craft Sale The Belvedere Tiburon Landmarks Society and local artists bring a wide range of gifts and holiday items to the historic farm cottage setting of the Landmarks Art Center. There will be jewelry, glass work, knitted items, paintings, spices and rubs and even vintage books and baked goods on hand from North Bay artisans. Dec. 5, Landmarks Art & Garden Center, 841 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon. 10am to 4pm. Free. 415/435-1853.

Handmade Holiday Crafts Fair Event features more than 70 local artists, holiday goodies, entertainment, a prize drawing and trolley rides to the Luther Burbank Holiday Open House. Dec. 5-6, Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa. Sat, 9am to 5pm; Sun, 10am to 4pm. $2, 12 and under are free. srcity.org.

Freya Lodge Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair The Norwegian group hosts this classic fair. Enjoy a wide variety of high-quality handmade items made by Sonoma County artists. There will also be Scandinavian baked goods, Norwegian waffles, coffee and light lunch available to purchase with a cozy holiday atmosphere. Proceeds from food sales go to children’s charities. Dec.12, Freya Lodge Sons of Norway Hall, 67 W. Ninth St., Santa Rosa. 11am to 5pm. 707/953-2258.

Muir Beach Holiday Arts Fair Enjoy the spectacular scenery of Muir Beach while browsing through amazing artwork and colorful crafts from more than 30 local artists from Marin and throughout the Bay Area. Dec. 12, 10am to 5pm and Dec. 13, 10am to 4pm. The Muir Beach Community Center, 10 Seascape, Muir Beach. Free. 415/388-8319.

21st Annual Goddess Crafts Faire Women’s art, music, dance and handmade gifts by local and regional women celebrates the winter season and holiday. Dec. 12-13, Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. 11am to 7pm. $5-$13 suggested donation, kids free. goddesscraftsfaire.com.

30th Annual Occidental Holiday Crafts Faire More than 35 local and regional artists and baked goods by Salmon Creek School students delight the senses this season. Dec. 13-14, Occidental Community Center, 3920 Bohemian Hwy., Occidental. Sat., 10am to 5pm; Sun., 10am to 4pm. Free. occidental-ca.org.

PERFORMANCE

The Holiday Gift Ballet Original, full-length ballet for the whole family takes place at the 1878 World’s Fair in Paris, France, and features 50 classically trained ballet dancers and lively fun. Opening night includes VIP wine reception. French boutique gifts, flowers and delicious treats are available. Nov. 13-14, 5409 Snyder Ln,. Rohnert Park. Fri., 6pm reception, 7pm show. $40; Sat., 1:30pm and 5:30pm, $27, $22 for seniors and youth.707/588-3400.

A Christmas Carol/Santaland Diaries 6th Street Playhouse puts on a pair of holiday classics. First, the Dickens’ story about Ebenezer Scrooge, played by veteran television actor Charles Siebert, experiencing an unforgettable night with three ghosts of Christmas is performed in the Hardt Theatre. Then, the hilarious and heartwarming comedy from David Sedaris, about a down-on-his-luck slacker working as an elf in Macy’s, is presented in the smaller Studio Theatre. Nov. 20-Dec. 20. 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W 6th St., Santa Rosa. $10-$37. 707/523-3544.

“A Christmas Memory” For the seventh year, novelist Truman Capote’s holiday masterpiece A Christmas Memory comes to life with an intimate candlelit reading by professional actors in a beautiful setting. The tender story recounts Capote’s memories of Christmas and his family that are both frank and funny. A reception with refreshments follows and proceeds benefit charitable causes. Nov. 27-28, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 14 Lagunitas Rd., Ross.  Fri., 7pm; Sat., 2pm. $20. 707/762-8872.

Le Cirque de Bohème Annual winter circus wonderland is based on the wondrous French traditions of a 1920s big top. This year, a brand new original production, Stolen Moonlight, tells its intimate, enchanting and magical tales with an amazing cast of performers who achieve world-class heights and delight audiences of all ages. Nov. 27-29, Dec. 19-20, Dec., 26-27, Cornerstone Sonoma, 23570 Arnold Dr., Sonoma. Times vary, $28-$55, $18 kids. 707/933-3856.

Little Women: The Musical The heartwarming classic novel about four sisters in Civil War-era Massachusetts gets a new interpretation with a lively musical that is a perfect treat for the whole family. Nov. 27-Dec. 20, Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. $26. 707/588-3400.

Michelle Schmitt’s Holiday Benefit Concert Acclaimed singer and her band present “Another Christmas Story,” blending holiday classics and rock and roll soul and benefitting ExtraFood.org, which helps feed the hungry in Marin. VIP tickets include a reception by Heidi Krahling/Insalatas, special seating, and Schmitt’s upcoming new record. Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 415/383-9600. Dec. 3, 8pm/reception 6:30pm. $25-$100.

Jazzin’ Up Joys of the Season Deborah Winters and the Peter Welker All Star Band headline a holiday party that brings big band jazz to holiday favorites and boasts many spirited surprises. Dec. 4, 8pm. $28-$45. Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 415/383-9600.

Miracle on 34th Street The classic holiday story of the People vs. Kris Kringle warms hearts and spreads seasonal joy for the whole family in this musical adaptation. Dec. 4-13, Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. Fri. and Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 2pm. $12-$18. 707/894-2214.

Occidental Community Choir: Got Nog? In its 37th year, the choir brings together beloved carols, traditional pieces, a Nigerian Christmas song and original works with special artist-in-residence Teresa Tudury sharing her talents. The first night’s performance features an audience sing-along and seasonal refreshments. Dec. 5, 11-12 at Occidental Center for the Arts; Dec. 6 at Sebastopol Center for the Arts; Dec. 13 at Glaser Center in Santa Rosa. $15, kids 12 and under are free. occidentalchoir.org.

Kitka: “Wintersongs” The Oakland-based women’s vocal ensemble channels Eastern European melodies with traditional vocal styling. They perform a program of critically acclaimed, winter-inspired music ranging from Slavic folk carols to Eastern Orthodox choral works. Dec. 12, The Kanbar Center for the Performing Arts, Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. 8pm. $10-$28. 415/444-8000.

Nick Lowe’s Quality Holiday Revue Songwriter Nick Lowe and his band Los Straitjackets sprinkle the holiday cheer with a few brand new Christmas classics from their 2013 album Quality Street, as well as careful selections from their extensive catalog. Dec.12, 8pm. $55-$65. City Winery, 1030 Main St., Napa. 707/260-1600.

VOENA: ‘Voices of the Season’ Concerts The angelic voices of the beloved children’s a cappella choir, magical musical arrangements and Victorian-inspired scenes and costumes come together to create a lively holiday celebration that always sells out. Dec. 6, Lincoln Theater in Yountville; Dec. 13, City Winery in Napa; Dec. 19, Glaser Center in Santa Rosa. $25-$40. voena.org.

The Healdsburg Chorus presents “A Christmas Collage” The musical institution in Sonoma County presents their annual holiday show featuring a medley of Christmas favorites and other songs of the season. Dec. 6, Glaser Center in Santa Rosa; Dec. 13-14, Healdsburg Community Church. healdsburgchorus.com.

Hard Working Americans Holiday Toy Drive Special four-night concert engagement brings the rock and folk super group, made up of Todd Snider, Dave Schools, Neal Casal, Chad Staehly and others, to Mill Valley for a rocking week of music. Attendees are encouraged to bring unused toys, books and other gifts that will be collected and donated to make the holidays better for less fortunate children. Dec. 15-18. Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley. 8pm. $42-$45. 415/388-1100.

Marin Oratorio Sings Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Johann Sebastian Bach begins his joyous Christmas Oratorio with a “Shout for joy.” This rarely performed Christmas Oratorio is filled with intimate arias, uplifting choruses, ringing trumpets, and rumbling kettledrums. The 100-voice Marin Oratorio Chorus and Orchestra will be performing this monumental work along with acclaimed soloists Christine Brandes, Karen Clark, Michael Belle, and Nikolas Nackley. Sat., Dec. 19, 7:30pm and Sun., Dec. 20, 3pm. James Dunn Theatre, College of Marin, Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Laurel Ave., Kentfield. Suggested donation: $20 general, $15 students and seniors. 415/485-9385.

Narada Michael Walden Foundation’s 19th Annual Holiday Jam This year’s honored guest is Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, appearing along with Neal Schon of Journey and many special guests in a “Dancing in the Street Christmas Party.” The benefit supports music programs for Bay Area youth. Dec. 19, 8pm. $125-$175. Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 415/383-9600.

A Chanticleer Christmas Holiday favorite from the vocal orchestra tells the Christmas story in Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, traditional carols and a medley of spirituals. Dec. 20, St. Vincent’s Church, 35 Liberty St., Petaluma. 6pm and 8:30pm. $35-$75. chanticleer.org.

New Century Chamber Orchestra: “Holiday Lights” The Orchestra highlights an international “Chrismukkah” celebration with performances by the San Francisco Girls Chorus and klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer and selections from classical holiday music. Dec. 20, The Kanbar Center for the Performing Arts, Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. 5pm. 415/357-1111.

Christmas Jug Band Annual appearance from the longstanding group of friendly Marin musicians brings a bluesy rock aesthetic to Christmas classics for two skewered and merry concerts of folksy scuffle swing. Dec. 20-21, Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley. Sun., 7pm; Mon., 8pm. Discounted tickets for seniors and kids on Sunday. $24-$27. 415/388-1100.

WELLS FARGO CENTER FOR THE ARTS EVENTS:

50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. 707/546-3600.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Grammy Award-winner Chip Davis presents the group’s seasonal mix of classical and rock in a multimedia show that’s long been a holiday favorite. Nov. 30, 7:30pm. $45-$75.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy The popular swing band offers up a ‘Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party’ with rocking renditions of yuletide classics and their own original Christmas tunes. Dec. 3, 8pm. $35-$45.

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: Home for the Holidays! Acclaimed chorus brings traditional favorites and new works in their 25th annual Christmas celebration, full of rich tones and festive choreography. A portion of the proceeds benefits Sonoma’s Face to Face. Dec. 6, 3pm. $19-$50.

LeAnn Rimes The country and pop powerhouse once again presents a fun-filled concert as part of her Today is Christmas album and tour that boasts new arrangements of holiday classics as only Rimes can sing. Dec. 8, 7:30pm. $49-$59.

Posada Navidena This Christmas production from Sacramento’s renowned Ballet Folklórico portrays the story of the “Pastorela” (pilgrimage) made by Joseph and Mary before the birth of Christ, with traditional Mexican folk music and dance. Free pre-show arts and crafts at 6pm. Dec. 11, 7pm, $5 for children, $10 for adults.

Symphony Pops: A Very Merry Holiday Pops Santa Rosa Symphony and special guests Roustabout Theater and the Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus present an afternoon of various holiday music, from traditional to swing to rock, to get you in the spirit of the season. Dec. 13, 3pm, $37-$80.

Moscow Ballet presents The Great Russian Nutcracker Christmas theatrical tradition with 40 world-class Russian artists is an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Meet-and-greet packages and handmade Nutcracker dolls are available. Dec. 19, 3pm and 7pm, $34-$181.

Dave Koz Saxophonist and bandleader makes another appearance as part of his annual Christmas Tour that’s earned him the nickname “Santa Koz.” The high-energy show features special guests and jazzy takes on holiday classics with VIP packages available. Dec. 22, 8pm. $39-$169.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra It wouldn’t be Christmas in Sonoma County without the former Stray Cat turned big band front man Setzer and his musically animated ensemble rocking the stage with his classic rock guitar and swing band antics for the group’s 12th annual “Christmas Rocks!” tour. Dec. 23, 8pm. $65-$85.

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It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play The family-friendly holiday classic about idealistic George Bailey’s Christmas Eve crisis of faith gets a lively stage interpretation that takes life as a 1940s radio broadcast. Raven Theater Windsor, 195 Windsor River Rd. Dec. 4-20, $10-$25. 707/433-6335.

The Night Before Christmas Healdsburg Ballet presents their 20th annual production of “The Night Before Christmas.” Dancers bring the classic story to life with a joyful blend of ballet, jazz and hip-hop set to classical and contemporary music. Dec. 5-6. Sat., 7pm; Sun., 2pm. Adults $20, Seniors $18, 12 and under $15. At the door, prices add $2. 115 North St., Healdsburg.

A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail H-Town Youth Theatre portray Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and their friends in the Hundred Acre Woods in a celebration of friendship, sharing and caring that’s become a holiday tradition. Dec. 11-20. $10-$15. 115 North St., Healdsburg. Raventheater.org.

MARIN CENTER EVENTS:

10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415/473-6800.

Just Dance Academy Winter Performance Annual performance is an abbreviated version of The Nutcracker, followed by jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, and Bollywood presented by the junior and senior dance programs. Nov. 22, 2pm. Adults $22, Seniors 65 and up/$20 Children 12 & under.

The TEN Tenors: Home for the Holidays International singing sensation proves it’s the most wonderful time of the year with their captivating and rousing holiday concert that features operatic adaptations of classics like “Joy to the World” and “White Christmas” as well as contemporary favorites. Nov. 27, 8pm. $30-$100.

Stapleton Ballet Nutcracker Vibrant dance company presents an inspired show with stunning visuals and imaginative choreography that’s a delight for all ages. Dec. 5-6, 1pm and 5pm both days. $35, $22, seniors and youth.

A Scarf in Union Square Celebrate the holidays with the Performing Arts Academy of Marin!  This festive event is sure to put you in the spirit of the season with classic melodies, dynamic choreography, and a re-imagined presentation of PAAM’s original production: A Scarf in Union Square.  Featuring performers ages 4 to 16 and members of PAAM’s Alta Vista Dance Company.  Sat., Dec. 5, 7pm and Sun., Dec. 6, 2pm.  $20 Adult,$16 Child (12 and under)/Senior (65 and over).

Mayflower Chorus: This Shining Night Familiar holiday melodies are infused with emotional harmonies from the 40-member chorus in this traditional performance running for 35 years. Dec. 11-12, 8pm. $18 General, $15 Seniors 60+ and Students 13-18, $5 Children 12 and under.

Marin Ballet Nutcracker Full-length ballet sparkles with holiday magic. Autographs and photos with dancers are available at the Candy Cane Party on Sat. and Sun., following the 1pm performance. Dec. 12-13, 1pm and 5pm. $42, $26 Seniors and Youth, $10 Candy Cane Party.

The Story of the Nutcracker Join the young dancers of Miss Sara’s Ballet School for this condensed, narrated, hour-long version of the classic holiday story featuring original costumes, scenery and choreography. Danced by kids for kids, “The Story of the Nutcracker” is aimed at little ones who may not be old enough to sit through a full-length ballet just yet, and is the perfect way for young children to experience their first Nutcracker. Sun., Dec. 13, 11am and 2pm.  $25, $20 seniors and children under 12.

Marin Symphony Holiday Pops Enjoy this Christmas concert with the full symphony that’s a favorite with all ages. Traditional carols, performed by adult and children’s choruses, includes sing-alongs, special guests and more. Dec. 15, 7pm. $45-$85, $20 Youth.

Marin Dance Theatre: Sophie and the Enchanted Toyshop More than 125 professional dancers bring to life Dickens-style street scenes with gypsies, townspeople, aristocrats, school children, cadets and mysterious masked players in this 20th annual performance. Dec. 19, 1pm and 5:30pm. $40 Adults, $30 Students and Seniors, Teddy Bear Tea Party $7.

Dance with Sherry Studio’s Tapcracker Experience a new twist on an old classic.  Dance With Sherry Studio is proud to present, for the sixteenth sensational year, the funny, quirky, and hilarious original take on that old standard The Nutcracker. Discover a newer, jazzier version that highlights all the students in their various venues of dance which includes tap, jazz, hip-hop, breakdancing and musical theater.  Sat., Dec. 19, 2pm and 5:30pm.  $25 Advance, $28 Door, $12, Children 10 and under.

SingersMarin: ‘Tis the Season … Candlelight Magic Various choral ensembles come together for an uplifting holiday treat filled with cherished Christmas songs of peace and joy. Dec. 20, 4pm. $20-$35.

NAPA VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT LINCOLN THEATER EVENTS:

100 California Dr., Yountville. 707/944-9900.

Rock the Season Holiday Concert Napa Valley Community Chorus presents their third annual concert with special guests, performances by the Napa Valley Ballet, Napa Valley Children’s Chorus, and Ballet Folklorico of Napa. Dec. 3, 7:30pm. $20.

The Sound of Christmas The four great-grandchildren of the famous von Trapp family, depicted in the classic film “The Sound of Music,” are themselves vocalists and musical ambassadors. They come to the North Bay for a celebratory Christmas concert alongside the Justin-Siena Choir on the 50th anniversary of the film. Dec. 4, 8pm. $25-$45.

USAF Band of the Golden West Holiday Concert The United States Air Force’s Band of the Golden West brings the sounds of the season to the stage with a stunning 50-piece strong ensemble decking the hall with classic and memorable holiday melodies. Dec. 7, 7pm. Free.

Sing Napa Valley’s Messiah The holiday tradition returns with talented professional vocalists singing Handel’s stirring “Messiah” compositions, accompanied by Symphony Napa Valley. Dec. 13, 3pm. $30-$50.

Napa Regional Dance Company’s The Nutcracker The 15th annual production is fun for all ages and features live music by the Symphony Orchestra of Northern California. Dec. 19-20, Sat., 2pm and 7pm; Sun., 2pm. $25-$35.

Traditions New & Old First, classic film “The Snowman” shows on the big screen as the California Symphony and Pacific Boychoir perform the soundtrack live. Then classic selections and audience sing-alongs get the whole family ready for Christmas morning. Dec. 21, 7:30pm. $35-$70.

GREEN MUSIC CENTER EVENTS:

Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 888/955-6040.

Santa Rosa Symphony “Joy To The World” The symphony orchestra begins with a fiery performance of a folk song cycle by late 20th century composer Luciano Berio. Then, a majestic rendition of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony boasts a full choir and several celebrated soloists. Dec. 5-7, Weill Hall. Sat. and Mon., 8pm; Sun., 3pm. Subscription packages, $76 and up.

Early Music Christmas: In Sweetest Joy Led by Robert Worth, chamber choir circa 1600 and organist Charles Russ illuminate an array of Italian, German and English compositions that embody the joyful spirit of the season. Includes a ‘BachGrounders’ pre-concert talk. Dec. 11-12, Schroeder Hall. 8pm. $15-$25. Sonomabach.org.

Soweto Gospel Choir World music choir steeped in African rhythms and soulful gospel power presents a program that celebrates the holiday season. Dec. 18, Weill Hall. 7:30pm. $35 and up.

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah The popular traveling ensemble, led by renowned conductor Nicholas McGegan and featuring award-winning soprano Amanda Forsythe, breathes life into Handel’s choral masterpiece. Dec. 20, Weill Hall. 3pm. $55 and up.

Hero & Zero: Damsel rescue & a rocket incident

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Hero & Zero: Damsel rescue & a rocket incident

By Nikki Silverstein

Hero: We try not to use the term “damsel in distress,” but can’t avoid it when describing Lily’s precarious position. She was traveling from her home in Novato to a doctor’s appointment in Mill Valley and made it to the Tiburon Boulevard exit. There, in the middle of the ramp, Lily’s car went kaput. Surrounded by vehicles to the left and right and a line of traffic behind, she panicked when she couldn’t locate the emergency blinkers. Though AAA was on the way, she got out of her car and stood behind it to wave traffic around. (Wince.) Luckily for Lily, a large truck pulled up, the driver pushed her car to safety and drove away. Thanks to an anonymous Hero, our damsel was out of danger.

Zero: A model rocket set ablaze at least five acres and endangered several homes in the quiet village of Lagunitas last Friday. The fire, which spread from west to east in a narrow path, stretched about a half-mile from the yard of Lagunitas School toward Nicasio Valley Road and the San Geronimo Golf Course. Joe Thibodeau, of Forest Knolls, is mortified that someone jeopardized the community by setting off a rocket over a grassy, drought-stricken area. Three fixed-wing aircraft, a helicopter and 70 personnel fought the flames, including 34 inmates overseen by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Whoever caused the devastation that put our fine firefighters in the path of danger should be held accountable for their irresponsibility and sheer stupidity.

Got a Hero or a Zero? Please send submissions to ni***************@***oo.com.

Free Will Astrology

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Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1978, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield began selling their new ice cream out of a refurbished gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Thirty-seven years later, Ben & Jerry’s is among the world’s best-selling ice cream brands. Its success stems in part from its willingness to keep transforming the way it does business. “My mantra is ‘Change is a wonderful thing,’” says the current CEO. As evidence of the company’s intention to keep re-evaluating its approach, there’s a “Flavor Graveyard” on its website, where it lists flavors it has tried to sell but ultimately abandoned. “Wavy Gravy,” “Tennessee Mud” and “Turtle Soup” are among the departed. Now is a favorable time for you to engage in a purge of your own, Aries. What parts of your life don’t work anymore? What personal changes would be wonderful things?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Before he helped launch Apple Computer in the 1970s, tech pioneer Steve Wozniak ran a dial-a-joke service. Most of the time, people who called got an automated recording, but now and then Wozniak answered himself. That’s how he met Alice Robertson, the woman who later became his wife. I’m guessing that you will have comparable experiences in the coming weeks, Taurus. Future allies may come into your life in unexpected ways. It’s as if mysterious forces will be conspiring to connect you with people you need to know.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Small, non-destructive earthquakes are common. Our planet has an average of 1,400 of them every day. This subtle underground mayhem has been going on steadily for millions of years. According to recent research, it has been responsible for creating 80 percent of the world’s gold. I suspect that the next six or seven months will feature a metaphorically analogous process in your life. You will experience deep-seated quivering and grinding that won’t bring major disruptions even as it generates the equivalent of gold deposits. Make it your goal to welcome and even thrive on the subterranean friction!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Here’s the process I went through to create your horoscope. First I drew up a chart of your astrological aspects. Using my analytical skills, I pondered their meaning. Next, I called on my intuitive powers, asking my unconscious mind to provide symbols that would be useful to you. The response I got from my deeper mind was surprising: It informed me that I should go to a new cafe that had just opened downtown. Ten minutes later, I was there, gazing at a menu packed with exotic treats: Banana Flirty Milk … Champagne Coconut Mango Slushy … Honey Dew Jelly Juice … Creamy Wild Berry Blitz … Sweet Dreamy Ginger Snow. I suspect that these are metaphors for experiences that are coming your way.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Beatles’ song “You Never Give Me Your Money” has this poignant lyric: “Oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go.” I suggest you make it your motto for now. And if you have not yet begun to feel the allure of that sentiment, initiate the necessary shifts to get yourself in the mood. Why? Because it’s time to recharge your spiritual battery, and the best way to do that is to immerse yourself in the mystery of having nothing to do and nowhere to go. Put your faith in the pregnant silence, Leo. Let emptiness teach you what you need to know next.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Should a professional singer be criticized for her lack of skill in laying bricks? Is it reasonable to chide a kindergarten teacher for his ineptitude as an airplane pilot? Does it make sense to complain about a cat’s inability to bark? Of course not. There are many other unwarranted comparisons that are almost as irrational but not as obviously unfair. Is it right for you to wish your current lover or best friend could have the same je ne sais quoi as a previous lover or best friend? Should you try to manipulate the future so that it’s more like the past? Are you justified in demanding that your head and your heart come to identical conclusions? No, no and no. Allow the differences to be differences. And more than that: Celebrate them!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the mid-19th century, an American named Cyrus McCormick patented a breakthrough that had the potential to revolutionize agriculture. It was a mechanical reaper that harvested crops with far more ease and efficiency than hand-held sickles and scythes. But his innovation didn’t enter into mainstream use for 20 years. In part that was because many farmers were skeptical of trying a new technology, and feared it would eliminate jobs. I don’t foresee you having to wait nearly as long for acceptance of your new wrinkles, Libra. But you may have to be patient.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Is it possible to express a benevolent form of vanity? I say yes. In the coming weeks, your boasts may be quite lyrical and therapeutic. They may even uplift and motivate those who hear them. Acts of self-aggrandizement that would normally cast long shadows might instead produce generous results. That’s why I’m giving you a go-ahead to embody the following attitude from Nikki Giovanni’s poem “Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why):” “I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal/I cannot be comprehended except by my permission.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Regard the current tensions and detours as camouflaged gifts from the gods of growth. You’re being offered a potent opportunity to counteract the effects of a self-sabotage you committed once upon a time. You’re getting an excellent chance to develop the strength of character that can blossom from dealing with soul-bending riddles. In fact, I think you’d be wise to feel a surge of gratitude right now. To do so will empower you to take maximum advantage of the disguised blessings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are slipping into a phase when new teachers are likely to appear. That’s excellent news, because the coming weeks will also be a time when you especially need new teachings. Your good fortune doesn’t end there. I suspect that you will have an enhanced capacity to learn quickly and deeply. With all these factors conspiring in your favor, Capricorn, I predict that by January 1, you will be smarter, humbler, more flexible and better prepared to get what you want in 2016.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): American author Mark Twain seemed to enjoy his disgust with the novels of Jane Austen, who died 18 years before he was born. “Her books madden me so that I can’t conceal my frenzy,” he said, even as he confessed that he had perused some of her work multiple times. “Every time I read Pride and Prejudice,” he wrote to a friend about Austen’s most famous story, “I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.” We might ask why he repetitively sought an experience that bothered him. I am posing a similar question to you, Aquarius. According to my analysis, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to renounce, once and for all, your association with anything or anyone you are addicted to disliking.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The Sahara in Northern Africa is the largest hot desert on the planet. It’s almost the size of the United States. Cloud cover is rare, the humidity is low and the temperature of the sand can easily exceed 170º F (80º C). That’s why it was so surprising when snow fell there in February of 1979 for the first time in memory. This once-in-a-lifetime visitation happened again 33 years later. I’m expecting a similar anomaly in your world, Pisces. Like the desert snow, your version should be mostly interesting and only slightly inconvenient. It may even have an upside. Saharan locals testified that the storm helped the palm trees because it killed off the parasites feeding on them.

Homework: Brag about a talent or ability that few people know you have. Tout one of your underappreciated charms. Report to FreeWillAstrology.com.

Advice Goddess

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Advice Goddess

By Amy Alkon

Q: I was dating a sociopathic compulsive liar for three months. I had a gut feeling that he was lying about his work, education and finances, but I had no real proof. This allowed him to manipulate me and convince me that I was crazy, insecure and paranoid. Finally, through Internet searches and contact with his ex-wife, I got proof together and confronted him. Though I dumped him, I’ve become super edgy and suspicious that everyone’s lying to me. I even accused a co-worker of stealing my phone. I think the stress this guy put me through probably caused PTSD. How does one move on after dating a sociopath?—Burned

A: Tales from your PTSD support group:

THEM: “I was held captive with a burlap bag over my head and beaten with electrical cords.”

YOU: “I’m right there with you, bro. This dude I was dating told me his Ferrari was paid for, and it turned out to be leased!”

YOU: “My boyfriend pretended he was buying a mansion, but he really lives with his parents.”

THEM: “That’s terrible. Can you help me put on my prosthetic leg?”

Sure, according to Pat Benatar, “love is a battlefield.” But spending three months fighting with a sociopathic boyfriend doesn’t leave you ducking for cover whenever a car backfires like a guy who did three tours of I.E.D. disposal in Iraq and came home with most of the parts he went in with. Ofer Zur, a psychologist who specializes in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, explains, “To meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, the stressor experienced must involve actual or threatened death or serious injury.”

What you did experience is called “gaslighting,” a covert form of psychological bullying that leaves you doubting your perception of reality and, eventually, accepting the bully’s distorted, self-serving version. So, for example, when you question your partner on something—like their work, education or finances—instead of doing the civilized, healthy-person thing and giving you an answer, they blast you for daring to insult them by asking. (People who are cheating will often do this.) Day after day, as they treat you like you’re nuts, blind or dumb, your self-worth erodes and you feel less and less able to trust your judgment—to the point where you start using all the red flags as carwash towels.

The thing is, gaslighting isn’t like an alien spaceship with a giant vacuum hose, sucking in any person in its path. It’s the need for outside validation that makes a person susceptible, explains psychologist Robin Stern in The Gaslight Effect. Another risk factor is an overvaluing of romantic love—seeing it as a magical eraser for life’s problems and a way to duck out of the grubby work of developing a self. Believing the unbelievable is the price of maintaining a relationship that seems “more intense, more glamorous and more special.” This is basically selling yourself out for love—though all you really have is a snake charmer and a snake, all in one basket, with a boyfriend face-taped across the front.

To your credit, you had a strong enough self that you eventually crawled up through the romantic cloud cover and did some late-night Internet snake-hunting. Though you’ve given your reptile the boot (or perhaps upcycled him into a handbag), your fear of being scammed again has you going all Inspector Javert on every slightly shifty-eyed co-worker. Consider that you’re reacting to the romantic con job as if it happened randomly, like a roast chicken falling out of a private jet and cracking you on the head. To stop wildly flinging suspicion around, accept responsibility: Admit that you got duped because you wanted to believe more than you wanted to see.

Granted, it isn’t always easy to identify the liars. (You can’t just keep an eye out for those telltale pants on fire.) Stern, however, offers good advice to avoid getting taken in by gaslighters and other pathologically inventive hustlers. Instead of debating them on whether a particular piece of information is right or wrong, focus on your feelings. Ask yourself: “Do I like being treated this way … talked to this way?”

And though you don’t have PTSD, you might take a page out of Zur’s playbook—his notion that we heal from bad experiences by creating a narrative that gives them meaning for the future. You, for example, could use this experience as a giant Post-it note reminding you to take a relationship slowly, meet a person’s circle of friends and see who they are over time—instead of immediately declaring that you’ve found the love of the century. If you’re going to have a fairy tale relationship, it shouldn’t be because little or nothing in it exists in real life.

This Week in the Pacific Sun

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This Week in the Pacific Sun

This week in the Pacific Sun, you’ll find our cover story, by David Templeton, on North Bay theater companies finding ways to create a year-round buzz. On top of that, Joseph Mayton writes about Marin’s upcoming Time to Lead on Climate forum, our Dirt Diva highlights the work of the Mill Valley Film Group and ‘The New Environmentalists,’ Tanya Henry reports on fresh spices at Tiburon’s Local Spicery, we’ve got a round-up of changes at local theater companies and the Orson Welles retrospective continues at the Rafael. All that and more on stands and online today!

Music: Rhythm and words

By Charlie Swanson The Last Poets are rightly called the godfathers of hip-hop. Formed in Harlem in the late 1960s, the group was the first to join percussion with politically charged poetry, inspiring a generation to use their voices and words as tools of social justice. This weekend, the Last Poets appear in a daylong event that includes a spoken-word workshop...
Read more

Theater: Their world

By Charles Brousse For the first 80 minutes of its 90-minute running time, Marin Theatre Company’s (MTC) Bay Area premiere of Elizabeth Irwin’s My Mañana Comes provides a strikingly realistic portrait of what the workaday routine is like for four men who are struggling to survive in New York City on the lowest rung of the restaurant job ladder. Being...
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Talking Pictures: Risk-taker

By David Templeton Whenever a big Hollywood comedian steps over the invisible laugh-line into the alternate world of dramatic movies, the news is received by the press and public much the same way that everyone greeted the news that Michael Jordan was switching from playing basketball to playing baseball. Such moves are viewed with a mix of curiosity and skepticism,...
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Food & Drink: Waste not

By Ari Levaux Ron Clark is no stranger to food waste. After more than 20 years working to supply fresh produce to California’s food banks, he knows every point on the route from farm to table—and every point where produce leaves the human food chain, to be ploughed under, composted, fed to animals or buried in a landfill. Most of this...
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Upfront: The road ahead

By Tom Gogola The North Bay’s relatively cheap commercial real estate market—especially in relation to what’s available in San Francisco and Silicon Valley—has boosters talking boom. But amid a generally cheery post-recession outlook across Marin and Sonoma counties, there are warning signs. Traffic is worsening on Highway 101, air quality is still great in Sonoma County but not every day, there’s...
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Feature: 2015 Holiday Arts Guide

The weather outside is delightful and except for the drought, not at all frightful, but believe it or not the holiday season is upon us. And that means nearly two months of holiday fun and cheer are coming your way. To help you navigate the season and keep your spirits bright, we present our select guide to holiday fun...
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Hero & Zero: Damsel rescue & a rocket incident

hero and zero
By Nikki Silverstein Hero: We try not to use the term “damsel in distress,” but can’t avoid it when describing Lily’s precarious position. She was traveling from her home in Novato to a doctor’s appointment in Mill Valley and made it to the Tiburon Boulevard exit. There, in the middle of the ramp, Lily’s car went kaput. Surrounded by vehicles...
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Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1978, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield began selling their new ice cream out of a refurbished gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Thirty-seven years later, Ben & Jerry’s is among the world’s best-selling ice cream brands. Its success stems in part from its willingness to keep transforming the way it does business. “My...
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Advice Goddess

advice goddess
By Amy Alkon Q: I was dating a sociopathic compulsive liar for three months. I had a gut feeling that he was lying about his work, education and finances, but I had no real proof. This allowed him to manipulate me and convince me that I was crazy, insecure and paranoid. Finally, through Internet searches and contact with his ex-wife,...
Read more

This Week in the Pacific Sun

This week in the Pacific Sun, you'll find our cover story, by David Templeton, on North Bay theater companies finding ways to create a year-round buzz. On top of that, Joseph Mayton writes about Marin's upcoming Time to Lead on Climate forum, our Dirt Diva highlights the work of the Mill Valley Film Group and 'The New Environmentalists,' Tanya...
Read more
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