Opera, Drama, Music & Wine

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Larkspur

Opera Glasses in Fashion 

Marin’s own Lark Theater just released a stellar lineup of entertainment for the coming year, including performances live from the stages of New York and London. Upcoming theatrical highlights include the Live from the MET HD experience, offering theater guests the opportunity to stream eight operatic performances throughout the season. Each opera will screen twice—the first screening of each show will take place at 10am on Saturdays, which allows guests to experience the performance live from the Metropolitan Opera. The second, recorded showing of each operatic performance will take place at 6:30pm on Wednesdays. The lineup begins with the Oct. 5 and 9 showing Les Contes de Hoffman (The Tales of Hoffman), followed Oct. 19 and 23 with Grounded, Nov. 23 and 27 with an encore performance of Tosca, and Dec. 7 and 11 showings of The Magic Flute encore performance. The Lark is one of a few select theaters in the nation to offer these viewing experiences. Tickets to the Met series and others, like the National Theatre Live from London series, are selling out fast. Buy tickets by visiting the website at larktheater.net. The Lark is located at 549 Magnolia Ave. in Larkspur.

Guerneville

Play Time

The much-anticipated Tapas Short Play Festival is perfect for those who enjoy typical human pleasures like entertainment, laughter and commiserating/celebrating together in the true human condition. This year marks the 16th (almost) annual rendition of the festival, which is put on by the Pegasus Theater Company. Guests who attend this nearly month-long event can watch any/all of the seven short plays as written by seven different Bay Area playwrights. Opening night will begin with The Last Drop, a short play opening the entire series themed around marriage, family and finding one’s heart’s desire in a world with dwindling resources. Time is finite and may be spent on entertainment and pleasure, starting with the Tapas Short Play Festival. The Pegasus Theater Company’s short play festival will run from Sept. 27 through Oct. 20. Showtimes are 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays. Tickets may be bought for $25 online or at the door for cash only and with limited seating. To learn more or purchase tickets online, visit pegasustheater.com. The festival is located at the Russian River Masonic Lodge at 14040 Church St. in Guerneville.

San Rafael

Jazz It Up

Marin Jazz is the new nonprofit putting some soul back into the community…one jazz show at a time. This week opens the season with Latin Jazz virtuoso Tito Puente Jr. A second-generation musician, he, and the seven-piece band that plays alongside him, are promising to bring a taste of Cuba right into California. A portion of the show’s box office proceeds will, in accordance with the Marin Jazz mission, go toward supporting local children in afterschool performance arts programs. So, it’s time to come out and support children’s access to the arts by enjoying performances showcasing and preserving food for the soul (i.e., jazz, soul, blues, cabaret, R&B and more). Tito Puente Jr. will play from 8 to 10pm on Friday, Oct. 4 at the Marin Center Showcase Theatre at 20 Ave. of the Flags in San Rafael. To purchase a ticket for $65 or to learn more about Marin Jazz, visit marinjazz.com.

Santa Rosa

Wine About It

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens is hosting a special farm-to-table dinner. This fall al-fresco foodie event will be complete with free-flowing wine and not one, not two but three celebrity guests cooking gourmet dishes. The special culinary stars include chef Casey Thompson of Folktable Restaurant, executive chef Tracey Shepos Cenami and master culinary gardener Tucker Taylor. To make this evening even more tempting, the dishes cooked by the celebrity guest chefs will be prepared from ingredients harvested directly from the estate’s four-acre culinary gardens. Guests are invited to dress up for the occasion and enjoy an evening of seasonal food and wine and an ambiance of autumnal abundance and celebratory spirit. The Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens is set to host this special harvest dinner starting with a garden reception at 5:30pm and ending around 9pm on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 5. Tickets are available for online purchase at $300 per person or $3000 per six-person table. Visit kj.com/events to purchase a ticket or learn more about the winery and its events.

Your Letters, 9/25

Faux Show

Regarding the “linear reasoning” of Joseph Brooke in response to the assessment by Libby Hicks that the assassination attempt of Donald Trump was fake (“Info Wars,” Sept. 11): Everything is not a WAR, Mr. Brooke. Ms. Hicks’ “experience” with gunfire and bullets whizzing past her at “2,000 feet per second” is irrelevant. The “rest of the world” knows the attempt was fake if they simply watch the replay. 

Let’s look at the facts presented in the video of the event. Forget the attached narrative or the follow-up assessment by media “experts.” Our sharpshooter, a young fellow with an agenda, somehow managed to place himself on the most obvious perch for a crazed assassin to carry out his deed. How he got there without notice from the “Secret Service” overwhelmingly suggests it was staged.

Not only did he “just miss” his target, but he managed to hit the “only body part” that is easy to conceal with “fake blood.”

If anyone has zero experience with gunfire or being grazed by a bullet, it is Trump, who avoided military service as one of his first deceptions. Who knew he was just getting started. Certainly, he would not have been standing up full-face in the direction of the “gunfire” if the experience you had described, Mr. Brooke, had actually occurred. 

The fact that the whole ruse was played out “just prior” to the Republican National Convention and never before in the myriad of Trump rallies preceding it suggests that unmitigated political deception runs deep. Our Donald had no problem speaking freely in public shortly after that.

I invite everyone to reexamine the event and their stance on the state of this nation.

Truth stands alone, Mr. Brooke. It does not require rules.

J.D. Moore

San Rafael

Grown-Up Gratitude: Remembrance of things past

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For me, humor has long been a tool of survival. I recall a specific moment when I was four years old, standing in our living room on Baker Street in the Marina, looking at my parents and my older sister, and thinking, “These people are crazy, and I do not belong in this house.”

It’s been 69 years since that moment, but it’s as clear in my mind as if it happened this morning. Our house was an IED before anybody knew what that meant (improvised explosive device). It could blow at any time. I was raised by people who should never have formed a couplehood and for whom stable parenthood was an impossibility. They were poster children for the Parental Peter Principle: They rose, or descended, to their proper level of incompetence. I forgave them a long time ago for being humans with flaws. Experience, as they say, comes along shortly after you need it.

The combination of a Jesuit accountant with a rage problem and a beatnik artist with an alcohol problem was never going to work. That they never divorced was more a product of the times, the post-war boom, than any conscious decision they would have made together simply because they wouldn’t have had the skills or courage to discuss it.

The irony of it all is that along with the powder keg waiting to blow was the almost constant presence of real, hard laughter. In observing how my parents interacted with their parents and the whole pack of aunts, uncles and cousins, while it was clear that nobody liked anybody else, all they did when they got together was LAUGH HARD WITH AND AT EACH OTHER. It was actually a pretty good show, and I paid attention to every word and nuance.

It was confusing for a shy and fearful little boy. I can tell you that. So, as a young person, I went looking for sane people who might show me the way, and they ended up being teachers, coaches, cops, priests and the parents of my friends, who knew a troubled child when they saw one.

They all saved me from, if not a life of crime and punishment, a life of unimaginable emotional torment. This is the first step toward a full expression of profound gratitude to those people.

Craig Corsini is a writer in San Rafael.

Ross Valley Players Stage ‘Delancey’

Sometimes, one just needs a rom-com. I don’t say that tritely. 

Like all genre literature, romantic comedies are usually sidelined as unimportant. But genre literature is a legitimate form of storytelling essential in imparting knowledge of societal norms. And it makes people happy. 

There’s nothing wrong with art that makes one happy. Ross Valley Players’ 95th season opener, Susan Sadler’s Crossing Delancey, will do just that. The show, directed by Adrian Elfenbaum, runs through Oct. 13. 

One already knows the plot if they have seen the movie of the same name or anything on the Hallmark Channel. In a story set in 1985 New York, single 30-something Izzie (Lisa Morse) visits her Bubbie (Tamar Cohn) every Sunday. Izzie works in a bookstore where she fantasizes about the obviously slimy but famous writer Tyler Moss (Steve Price). 

Bubbie enlists neighbor Hannah Mandelbaum (Jennifer S. McGeorge), a marriage broker, to help Izzie find a nice Jewish boy. Hannah sets up a meeting between successful pickleman Sam (Mark P. Robinson) and Izzie. To make Bubbie happy, Izzie agrees to meet Sam and, well, everyone knows the rest.

Morse is fantastic in the role of Izzie. At once relatable and down to earth, she also hits all the right notes that make one want to throw popcorn at her while shouting, “No! He’s a jerk!” (This is a professional critique, not just something we do.) Morse also has great chemistry onstage with Cohn’s Bubbie. Cohn is very well-cast in this role and is delightful to watch as the infuriating but loveable (and obnoxiously correct) grandmother. 

While McGeorge’s Hannah tends toward being a one-note joke, it is nevertheless an engaging and consistently funny joke. However, Price’s Moss is so over-the-top creepy that it is hard to believe that a woman like Izzie would fall for him. Luckily for us and Izzie, Robinson’s Sam is a gentle, grounded and complex portrayal of a much more nuanced love interest than rom-coms usually give us. 

The actors and director are aided in keeping free of saccharine territory by a highly realistic and surprisingly versatile set designed by Mikiko Uesugi. Valera Coble’s costumes, assisted by Michael A. Berg, are realistically subdued for a show set in the 1980s. This applies to everyone besides Hannah, whose wild costumes offer a hilarious juxtaposition between her and the staid world she keeps inserting herself into. 

This script has often been referred to as the quintessential Jewish rom-com. Not being Jewish, I can’t say whether that is true. However, I appreciate the Yiddish in the play, the characters who aren’t apologetic or embarrassed by their culture and how each of them is strongly individual within that shared culture. All of this speaks to the vitality of genre and the comfort with which one can be exposed to new experiences in a way that feels safe. Art can make you happy and still be important.

Give this show a try and see.

‘Crossing Delancey’ runs through Oct. 13 at the Barn Theatre in the Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. Thurs.-Sat. 7:30pm; Sun., 2pm. $24–$35. 415.456.9555. rossvalleyplayers.com.

Minding One’s Own Business, Guidance for Marin Entrepreneurs

Shopping small is one thing, but opening a storefront to one’s local community requires a person who is willing to dream big. 

For those who didn’t attend business school or grow up with a family full of entrepreneurial spirit and experience, turning those dreams into reality can require a seemingly demanding learning curve.

But Marin’s citizens shouldn’t be afraid to dream big because opening and operating a business is mostly about taking a leap of faith and building those wings on the way down. The rest is just details…literally. The small details that stand between a person and their dream business are like steps in a journey; they may seem insurmountable altogether, but the process is entirely doable when one starts with the first step and worries about the next after that.

Speaking of inspiring steps, Lark Shoes is one such “small” local business that’s made it big in the North Bay. It’s a family-owned and operated shoe store founded 45 years ago, in 1979. Harry Kupelian is the founder, and his well-honed craft expertise began at the age of 14 while working in his father’s factory in Lebanon. There, Kupelian learned to craft shoes from scratch, a skill he later brought to the United States. This helped him open a shoe repair shop and grow it into the successful business model it is today. 

Over the years, the Kupelian family has expanded Lark Shoes’ operations to include multiple family-run locations. It now has five storefronts across the North Bay, all of which specialize in providing comfort footwear, orthotics and supportive shoes, with a focus on quality products and personalized customer service.

“We specialize in comfort shoes because we know what it’s like to be on your feet all day,” said Maggie Kupelian, wife of Harry Kupelian. “Our customers can trust that we have the best selection of supportive footwear in a variety of sizes, colors and styles.”

Alongside the original Larkspur Landing location of Lark Shoes in Marin County Mart, the family expanded to open other storefronts in San Anselmo in 2009 and Napa in 2011. Another Napa outlet was opened in 2018, followed by a Northgate outlet in San Rafael.

“Our family is deeply rooted in this community, and we’re proud to be a part of it,” said Vatche Kupelian, who runs the San Rafael store and oversees all locations along with his mother (Maggie). “We listen to our customers and make sure to update our inventory with the latest trends while maintaining competitive pricing.”

The next step for the Lark Shoes family is opening up a new store in Bon Air in 2025—so Marin’s citizens can expect extra pep in their step come the new year. One may not want to miss out on some truly excellent, family-owned small business shopping opportunities…especially since the holidays are closer than one would expect.

But for those who wish to give the gift of opening their own small business to the local community, there is no better time to get started than the present. So, it’s time to wrap up with a rundown of some pertinent information that may help get the ball rolling toward what could one day be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate one’s own grand opening. 

The following information is sourced from the official County of Marin website (marincounty.org.), specifically its requirements checklist for nearly all new businesses. Be sure to visit the site for further information (especially for those interested in following through on opening a local business).

So, first things first—anyone interested in opening a local business must decide what kind of business they want to open. This doesn’t just mean waking up one day with a sudden desire to open a ping-pong emporium for senior citizens and their canine companions (sadly). One should also know early on whether their business model will operate from the perspective of a sole proprietor, in a partnership format or as a corporation, LLC (a.k.a. “limited liability company”), etc. This will determine the forms, profits and tax payment expectations.

After that, the County of Marin website suggests checking out the California Trade and Commerce Agency’s Permits and Licenses page to see if that ping-pong emporium requires a special state license.

Next is the fictitious name statement process, which essentially means giving a proposed business name to the County Clerk of the Civic Center. One may call the offices at 415.473.6152 for an explanation of fictitious names (including the who, what, when, where and why).

Once one has sorted out the details of their fictitious business name, it’s time to visit City Hall and check out the zoning ordinances. Those who wish to open a new business in an unincorporated area of Marin County, such as West Marin, must call the Marin County Department of Finance to proceed with plans. The phone number to call in cases of opening businesses in unincorporated areas is 415.473.7045.

Now that the ping-pong emporium business concept is well underway, it’s time for the final stretch, which means registering and awaiting assessment. To do this, one must simply contact the Marin County Assessor Business and Personal Property Division by calling 415.473.7208 or visit the Marin County Civic Center in person.

After all that, it’s time for everyone’s favorite part of opening a small business. That’s right; it’s time to contact the IRS and get all the details of the ping-pong emporium’s taxation expectations. Note that those who wish to sell physical goods or serve food at their small business must go through extra steps, such as acquiring a seller’s permit or a food safety certification. Don’t forget to hire professional advisors and get invaluable support from insurance agents, accountants and attorneys. This will ensure the ping-pong emporium is insured, fiscally viable and legally liable.

Starting a business from scratch can feel like a daunting endeavor—what “Ts” does one cross, and does every “I” require a dot? Whatever bureaucratic obstacle courses or reality checks await throughout the process, it’s well worth the effort if it means becoming the ping-pong kingpin, butcher, baker or candlestick maker Marin doesn’t even know it needs (yet).

Proposed city businesses must contact the individual city halls for business licenses, zoning and building permits. This includes the city halls for Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito and Tiburon.

To learn more about starting a business here in Marin County, visit the county website at marincounty.org.

Reel Deal at the 47th Mill Valley Film Festival

After offering a traditional thanks to the audience for attending a sneak preview of the 47th Mill Valley Film Festival’s highlights, executive director Mark Fishkin added a uniquely 2024 observation.

“I don’t know if you realize it, but you are the emissaries of film in this community,” he said on Sept. 12 at San Rafael’s Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center. This was after pointing out that the assembled moviegoers included many who are not just regulars at MVFF and the Rafael’s year-round cinematic offerings but were among the first film fans to return to movie theaters in measurable numbers following the pandemic. 

“By supporting the film festival, and by supporting film in general, you are actively encouraging other people to return to the theater. You are playing a vital part in the resurgence of film, and we thank you for that,” he continued.

As Fishkin suggests, for the first time since theaters reopened after the Covid shutdowns, film festival attendance numbers are up, if only a bit, and if only in some markets. This year’s Cannes Festival, in May, saw a 6% rise in attendance, and that same month, at the Milwaukee Film Festival, attendance was up by 10%. 

Earlier in the year, though attendance numbers were not released, the annual Sundance Film Festival reported that hotel vacancy rates in Park City, Utah, were at their lowest rates since 2022, which almost certainly shows that people are gradually returning to watch films and look out for celebrities at parties. At the same time, attendance at this year’s Berlin Film Festival and a number of other international festivals was slightly down.

Zoe Elton, MVFF’s longtime programming director, confirmed Fishkin’s optimism.

“There is reason to feel good about the future of film,” she said, “and this year’s crop of films is proof of that. The films we are exhibiting over the 10 days of the festival are some of the strongest we’ve seen in a while, and they show a huge expansion of diverse voices. The future looks good.”

Running Thursday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 13, the 2024 Mill Valley Film Festival does have a large number of promising offerings, from small gems one will likely find nowhere else, to potential Oscar-winners one will be able to brag about, professing to have seen them first. With screenings planned at a number of theaters from the Rafael to Mill Valley’s Sequoia Theater, there are films aimed at an array of audiences, from young to adult. Lovers of documentaries and fans of narrative storytelling will find plenty to enjoy; ditto those with an ear for an array of languages.

The festival opens with Conclave, a papal mystery-thriller from director Edward Berger, winner of the Oscar last year for Best International Feature, for his adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front. Starring Ralph Fiennes as a Vatican priest who is ordered to oversee the selection of a new pope following the somewhat detail-free death of the last one, the film also features Stanley Tucci, Lucian Msamati and John Lithgow as competitive priests, all in the running for the title. Isabella Rosselini also appears as a nun with secrets to share about what really might have happened in the late pope’s private chambers. 

Fiennes and Berger are expected to be present to introduce the film and engage in a post-screening Q&A. As is often the custom on opening night, the film will be screened simultaneously in several theaters, and will be followed by the Opening Night Celebration at the Marin Country Mart.

The closing night spotlight film (Thursday, Oct. 3, 5pm, all theaters) is the sensation-causing, somewhat polarizing Nightbitch, starring Amy Adams, and directed by Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?). Adams, who last appeared at the festival with her 2016 film, Arrival, is expected to be present to discuss the film. And it sounds like quite the experience. 

Described as a bold look at the dark side of motherhood, Nightbitch is the story of an overactive two year old’s frazzled mother (Adams), who begins to suspect she is turning into a dog. 

Anora, winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes, stars Mikey Madison as a New York stripper who impulsively marries the rich son of a ruthless Russian oligarch. It was directed by Sean Baker, best known for The Florida Project. The film plays Friday, Oct. 4 at 6 and 7:30pm at the Sequoia, with Mikey Madison expected to be there for pre-show introductions of the film. 

On Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7pm, actors Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofia Gascón, Adriana Paz and Edgar Ramírez will make an appearance to talk about their new film from director Jacques Audiard (Paris, 13th District). Titled Emilia Pérez, and described as a “narco trans musical,” the film follows a violent drug cartel leader (Paz) who hires a lawyer (Saldaña) to help him handle the complications that ensue when he decides to have a gender reassignment, becoming the title character of Emilia Pérez (Gascón). 

Better Man, another musical, of sorts, tells the true story of British boy band superstar Robbie Williams. Screening Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6pm at the Sequoia, the film stars … a monkey. That’s not an error. In the film, directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), Williams is portrayed as a monkey, using motion capture technology. Williams, for what it’s worth, does provide the voice for the primate imitation of himself. The film screens again on Friday, Oct. 11 at 1pm at the Sequoia. 

Jude Law will be present to accept a lifetime achievement award, supported by clips from his many films, and to introduce the film Firebrand, in which he plays King Henry VIII. That happens Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2pm at the Rafael. 

Another can’t-miss-this spotlight event features Danielle Deadwyler (Till), with a screening of The Piano Lesson, based on the play by August Wilson. Directed by Malcolm Washington, set in 1938 Philadelphia, the film features Deadwyler as a woman desperate to hang onto the family’s prize possession—a piano carved with the images of her enslaved ancestors. Also starring are John David Washington (BlacKKKlansman) and Samuel L. Jackson. It screens Sunday, Oct. 6 at 6:30pm at the Sequoia. Deadwyler is expected to be in attendance, with a reception to follow.

The full lineup of films and special events can be found at MVFF.com.

World Away, Writer Nina Schuyler

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Nina Schuyler’s latest book is a short story collection, In This Ravishing World, which won the W.S. Porter Prize and the Prism Prize for Climate Literature and was published in July 2024. As fiction mixes with fact, we need that sort of imaginative and forward-thinking more than ever. 

What do you do?  

I’m a writer, and I teach creative writing for Stanford Continuing Studies, The Writing Salon and Book Passage. 

Where do you live?  

San Anselmo.

How long have you lived in Marin?   

We moved to Fairfax in 2005, and then San Anselmo in 2017. I love them equally.

Where can we find you when you’re not at work? 

Riding my bike or hiking the hills, heading up, usually. A view from the hills is magnificent, an earned new perspective. I recently discovered County View Trail—a turnoff before you get to Tennessee Valley—with views of nearly everything, unless the fog has snatched them away. 

If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin is, where would you take them? 

The headlands overlooking Stinson Beach. That sensual curve of the beach, the wide expanse of blue and bluer; I feel exceeded in the best way.  

What’s one thing Marin is missing? 

Since everyone says diversity (and it’s true), I’ll suggest a giant telescope to look at the stars.

What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites? 

I don’t like to give advice, but I’ll tell you a story…

If you could ask anyone to join you at dinner, who would you invite? 

So many, but Virginia Woolf, for sure. I’d like to ask: How does your brain work? What do you see when you look out the window?

What’s some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago? 

Writing is a solitary act, but you absolutely need a robust writing community. 

What’s something that 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy? 

Fossil fuel consumption—unfortunately, more than cringeworthy.

Big question. What’s one thing you’d do to change the world? 

A massive conversion to alternative energy—sun, wind, hydro. Bring it on.

Keep up with Schuyler at @NinaSchuyler on Instagram and nina.schuyler on Facebook.

Nish Nadaraja was on the founding team at Yelp, serves on the San Anselmo Arts Commission and drives a hybrid car. 

Free Will Astrology: Week of Sept. 25

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Here comes the Hating and Mating Season. I want to help you minimize the “hating” part and maximize the “mating” part, so I will offer useful suggestions. 1. To the degree that you can, dissolve grudges and declare amnesty for intimate allies who have bugged you. 2. Ask your partners to help you manage your fears; do the same for them. 3. Propose to your collaborators that you come up with partial solutions to complicated dilemmas. 4. Do a ritual in which you and a beloved cohort praise each other for five minutes. 5. Let go of wishes that your companions would be more like how you want them to be.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Many fairy tales tell of protagonists who are assigned seemingly impossible missions. Perhaps they must carry water in a sieve or find “fire wrapped in paper” or sort a heap of wheat, barley, poppyseed, chickpeas and lentils into five separate piles. Invariably, the star of the story succeeds, usually because they exploit some loophole, get unexpected help or find a solution simply because they didn’t realize the task was supposedly impossible. I bring this up, Taurus, because I suspect you will soon be like one of those fairy-tale champions. Here’s a tip: They often get unexpected help because they have previously displayed kindness toward strangers or low-status characters. Their unselfishness attracts acts of grace into their lives.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You are in a phase with great potential for complex, unforeseen fun. To celebrate, I’m offering descriptions of your possible superpowers. 1. The best haggler ever. 2. Smoother of wrinkles and closer of gaps. 3. Laugher in overly solemn moments. 4. Unpredictability expert. 5. Resourceful summoner of allies. 6. Crafty truth-teller who sometimes bends the truth to enrich sterile facts. 7. Riddle wrestler and conundrum connoisseur. 8. Lubricant for those who are stuck. 9. Creative destroyer of useless nonsense. 10. Master of good trickery. 11. Healer of unrecognized and unacknowledged illnesses.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Tanzanite is a rare blue-and-violet gemstone that is available in just one place on earth: a five-square-mile region of Tanzania. It was discovered in 1967 and mined intensively for a few years. Geologists believed it was all tapped out. But in 2020, a self-employed digger named Saniniu Lazier located two huge new pieces of tanzanite worth $3.4 million. Later, he uncovered another chunk valued at $2 million. I see you as having resemblances to Saniniu Lazier in the coming weeks. In my visions of your destiny, you will tap into resources that others have not been able to unearth. Or you will find treasure that has been invisible to everyone else.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Marathon foot races are regularly held worldwide. Their official length is 26.2 miles. Even fast runners with great stamina can’t finish in less than two hours. There’s a downside to engaging in this herculean effort: Runners lose up to 6% of their brain volume during a race, and their valuable gray matter isn’t fully reconstituted for eight months. Now here’s my radical prophecy for you, Leo: Unless you run in a marathon sometime soon, your brain may gain in volume during the coming weeks. At the very least, your intelligence will be operating at peak levels. It will be a good time to make key decisions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Is there a greater waste of land than golf courses? They are typically over 150 acres in size and require huge amounts of water to maintain. Their construction may destroy precious wetlands, and their vast tracts of grass are doused with chemical pesticides. Yet there are only 67 million golfers in the world. Less than 1% of the population plays the sport. Let’s use the metaphor of the golf course as we analyze your life. Are there equivalents of this questionable use of resources and space? Now is a favorable time to downsize irrelevant, misused and unproductive elements. Re-evaluate how you use your space and resources.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): On the morning of January 27, 1970, Libran songwriter John Lennon woke up with an idea for a new song. He spent an hour perfecting the lyrics and composing the music on a piano. Then he phoned his producer and several musicians, including George Harrison, and arranged for them to meet him at a recording studio later that day. By February 6, the song “Instant Karma” was playing on the radio. It soon sold over a million copies. Was it the fastest time ever for a song to go from a seed idea to a successful release? Probably. I envision a similar process in your life, Libra. You are in a prime position to manifest your good ideas quickly, efficiently and effectively.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You have passed the test of the First Threshold. Congratulations, Scorpio! Give yourself a kiss. Fling yourself a compliment. Then begin your preparations for the riddles you will encounter at the Second Threshold. To succeed, you must be extra tender and ingenious. You can do it! There will be one more challenge, as well: the Third Threshold. I’m confident you will glide through that trial not just unscathed but also healed. Here’s a tip from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “Those who do not expect the unexpected will not find it.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What development are you so ready for that you’re almost too ready? What transformation have you been preparing for so earnestly that you’re on the verge of being overprepared? What lesson are you so ripe and eager to learn that you may be anxiously interfering with its full arrival? If any of the situations I just described are applicable to you, Sagittarius, I have good news. There will be no further postponements. The time has finally arrived to embrace what you have been anticipating.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn screenwriter and TV producer Shonda Rhimes has had a spectacular career. Her company Shondaland has produced 11 prime-time TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton. She’s in the Television Hall of Fame, is one of the wealthiest women in America and has won a Golden Globe award. As you enter into a phase when your ambitions are likely to shine extra brightly, I offer you two of her quotes. 1. “I realized a simple truth: that success, fame, and having all my dreams come true would not fix or improve me. It wasn’t an instant potion for personal growth.” 2. “Happiness comes from living as your inner voice tells you to. Happiness comes from being who you actually are instead of who you think you are supposed to be.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I have performed in many poetry readings. Some have been in libraries, auditoriums, cafes and bookstores, but others have been in unexpected places: a laundromat, a bus station, a Walmart, a grocery store and an alley behind a thrift store. Both types of locations have been enjoyable. But the latter kind often brings the most raucous and engaging audiences, which I love. According to my analysis, you might generate luck and fun for yourself in the coming weeks by experimenting with non-typical scenarios—akin to me declaiming an epic poem on a street corner or parking lot. Brainstorm about doing what you do best in novel situations.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I have two related oracles for you. 1. During the unfoldment of your mysterious destiny, you have had several homecomings that have moved you and galvanized you beyond what you imagined possible. Are you ready for another homecoming that’s as moving and galvanizing as those that have come before? 2. During your long life, you have gathered amazing wisdom by dealing with your pain. Are you now prepared to gather a fresh batch of wisdom by dealing with pleasure and joy?

Homework: Maybe it’s time to fix a seemingly unfixable discomfort. Do it! Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Is California the World’s Competitive Gaming Capital in 2024?

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California has become a major hub for competitive gaming in 2024, thriving on its esports scene, hosting various gaming events and being home to top gaming companies. With strong infrastructure and community support, California is now widely regarded as the global capital of competitive gaming.

California’s Rise in Competitive Gaming & its Relationship

The surge of competitive gaming in California has been impressive. It is driven by a strong tech industry, a diverse talent pool and a culture that values innovation. This growth is also supported by state-of-the-art esports arenas and a community that encourages both novice and professional gamers.

The connection between California’s technological advancements and its gaming industry is mutually beneficial. Technological improvements, including faster internet speeds and advanced gaming hardware, have enriched the gaming experience, drawing in more players and spectators. In response, the thriving esports sector fuels the need for more technological progress, establishing a cycle of advancement and growth that cements California’s role as a leader in competitive gaming.

The History of Competitive Gaming in California

California has played a major role in the development of competitive gaming. The journey began in the 1970s with the rise of arcade gaming, where players would compete for high scores on games like “Space Invaders” and “Pac-Man.” In the 1980s, home consoles emerged, and the first organized gaming tournaments, such as the Atari National Space Invaders Championship, took place. As technology advanced, the 1990s introduced online multiplayer games, significantly boosting the competitive gaming scene. Titles like “Quake” and “StarCraft” became staples of early esports competitions.

In the 2000s, California solidified its status as a gaming hub with the establishment of major gaming companies and the hosting of large-scale esports events. The state is home to iconic venues like the Staples Center, which has hosted numerous League of Legends World Championships. Additionally, the rise of online casinos has paralleled the growth of esports, offering another avenue for competitive gaming enthusiasts.

Gaming Events That Take Place in California

California hosts a wide range of gaming events throughout the year, attracting gamers from all over the world. Some of the most notable events include the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, one of the largest gaming conventions globally. This convention showcases the latest in video game technology and upcoming releases. However, it has been announced that this expo is shutting down permanently.

California is home to numerous esports venues and large-scale conventions. The Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in Los Angeles has hosted many high-profile esports tournaments, including the League of Legends World Championship. The Esports Arena in Santa Ana is another important venue, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and regular competitive gaming events. The Blizzard Arena in Burbank and the OGN Super Arena in Manhattan Beach also play significant roles in the esports landscape, providing top-tier venues for both amateur and professional competitions.

Top Players & eSports Teams that are California-based

California is home to some of the most prominent esports teams and players in the world. Team Liquid, based in Los Angeles, is renowned for its success across multiple games, including League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Another major team is FaZe Clan, also headquartered in Los Angeles, which has achieved significant success in first-person shooter games like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike.

Cloud9, based in Santa Monica, is another powerhouse in the esports scene, known for its strong performances in games like League of Legends and Valorant. Additionally, 100 Thieves, located in Culver City, has made a name for themselves with competitive teams in League of Legends, Call of Duty and Valorant.

Among the top players, Doublelift (Yiliang Peng) is a legendary League of Legends player who has been a key figure in North American esports, having played for teams like Team Liquid and TSM. Shroud (Michael Grzesiek), a former professional Counter-Strike player turned popular streamer, is also based in California and continues to influence the gaming community.

Comparison to Other Gaming Hubs

California is a major center for competitive gaming, but it is not the only one globally. Other regions, such as South Korea, China and Europe, also play important roles in esports and the gaming industry.

  • South Korea is well-known for its strong esports culture, especially in games like StarCraft and League of Legends. The country has dedicated esports stadiums and a solid infrastructure that supports professional gaming from a young age.
  • China has rapidly become a powerhouse in the gaming world, with a large player base and significant investments in esports. Cities like Shanghai host major international tournaments, and the country is home to some of the largest gaming companies, such as Tencent.
  • Europe is also a key player, with countries like Sweden and Germany leading the way. Sweden, in particular, has a rich history in game development and hosts major events like DreamHack, one of the world’s largest digital festivals.

While California is strong in the tech industry, has diverse talent and iconic venues, these other regions also make significant contributions to the global gaming landscape. Each has its own unique strengths and cultural influences.

Challenges in the Future

The future of competitive gaming in California and globally is facing several challenges. One significant issue is the increasing competition for attention. With the rise of various entertainment options, keeping audiences engaged in esports can be difficult. Additionally, the industry must navigate technological advancements that require constant updates and improvements to gaming infrastructure and platforms.

Another challenge is the volatility of the market. The gaming industry is highly dynamic, with trends and popular games changing rapidly. This can impact the stability of esports organizations and events. Labor issues also pose a threat as the demand for skilled professionals grows, leading to potential disputes over wages and working conditions.

California’s eSports Legacy

California’s ascent as a competitive gaming capital is a testament to its innovative spirit, robust infrastructure and vibrant community. While it faces challenges such as market volatility, technological demands and regulatory issues, the state’s commitment to fostering both amateur and professional gaming remains strong. As California continues to lead and adapt, it solidifies its position at the forefront of the global esports landscape, inspiring gamers and enthusiasts worldwide.

Harvest Time for a Local Couple…and Their Duck

They live on a one-acre plot of land in Novato, but the bounty they bring in feels abundant beyond the square footage they occupy.

Inside the home of Donna and Gary Rich, the kitchen table is strewn with a variety of fresh, ripe tomatoes in shades of red, orange and yellow. Alongside the tomatoes are boxes of beans for eating and drying out as seeds. Front and center sits a pile of vibrant, green and unreasonably shiny poblano peppers, ready to be made into a delicious chile relleno dish for dinner.

In the kitchen, the smell of brine permeates the air, and mason jars filled with pickles, sauerkraut and other tasty tidbits fill the countertops. To the side, even more empty mason jars await their fate (i.e., to be filled up and to preserve whatever else the Rich garden produces throughout harvest season).

But the kitchen is only the beginning of this abundant single-acre home farm; the rest of the work and magic happens just outside the back door. Past the outside sitting area and its table piled high with perfectly orange pumpkins of the Cinderella variety is the Rich homestead.

Chickens free-range their way throughout the day, scratching at the dirt and eating whatever they can find: bugs, leftover bits from the kitchen, and, if they’re lucky, some fallen fruit from the multitude of trees lining the property. They get along surprisingly well with the two cats and two family dogs, all of whom intermingled amicably during a recent farm tour.

And then there’s the newest addition to the Rich family: Quackers, an all-black duck less than four months old. It’s easy to see that this animal has earned itself a special place in the farm and its farmers’ hearts. And, given this lucky duck’s origin story, it’s even easier to understand why that is.

Quacker’s tale started a few months ago when the Rich couple decided to give a nesting chicken of theirs some viable, fertilized eggs to sit on. This was apparently because the chicken had an attitude about its eggs always being stolen (understandable). So, the chicken was given two chicken eggs and one duck egg. Of the three eggs, two hatched. First came a baby chick, and then, a week later, an all-black duckling.

But the duckling was rejected by its chicken foster and almost lost its life very early on. When the Rich couple found their fledgling duckling nearly dead, they rushed it inside at the first sign of life and spent all day warming it up and nursing it back to health.

Now, Quackers is not only healthy but also full of personality and not at all people-shy. In fact, she seems to quite enjoy being a part of the immediate family. Her webbed feet slap out a beat as she waddles alongside her people, participating in the farm’s day-to-day goings on. She doesn’t do much more than quack, but Quackers is doing an objectively stellar job for a personality-hire and farm mascot. So much so, in fact, that the farm has recently been renamed in an obvious homage to its newest member and the inspiration behind Laughing Duck Farm.

Backing up a bit, it’s important to note that this acre wasn’t always so prolific. When the Rich couple moved into their home over a decade ago, their now cultivated land was more or less a bare plot. After wrangling and removing an old, gnarled plum tree and renovating the house enough to live in, they turned their sights to developing a garden.

“The backyard was a bit of a clean easel,” said Donna Rich. “I knew I wanted a garden, though. And, at first, we did that by building hay bale beds.”

She went on to explain that hay bale beds are a great, effective and fast method for building above-ground garden beds. All anyone has to do is buy the hay bales, place them where they want them and fill the center with soil. Of course, these are more temporary than other forms of garden beds, but they are fantastic for those who want to garden but do not yet have access to a full, built-in bed setup.

“People come to Donna ’cause she’s got a green thumb, but it’s the research she does, too,” explained Gary Rich. “She knows that a soggy-bottomed tomato, for instance, is because of low calcium…and it’s because of her experience she knows how to fix it.”

Of course, the Rich family has more than hay bale beds, including a greenhouse and a fence-enclosed garden area with a handy dandy drip system to help water everything. This space, which is surprisingly small in perspective to the rest of the property, is where much of the harvest grows. Gargantuan tomato plants tower over whatever expectation one has for what size a tomato plant can or should be able to reach. Then there’s the zucchini, trellises filled with beans and the last bits of an end-of-season cucumber plant.

On the far end of the property, corn stalks wave in the wind. And there’s the entirely unique raspberry patch, too. But listing out all of this farm’s produce, which includes around 40 fruit trees, would take quite a while. Then there wouldn’t be enough space to highlight Donna Rich’s countless-seeming, county fair award-winning collection of preserves, all of which line the shelves of a temperature-resistant shed on the far side of the property. Shelves upon shelves are piled high with the most delicious, homemade and homegrown preserves, spreads, jams, pickles, tomato sauces and much more.

Alongside gardening, cooking, preserving their crops and caring for the animals on their land, the Rich family also makes time to create via hands-on hobbies. Gary Rich, for instance, keeps himself busy in the colder months with his bonsai garden, passion for leatherworking and impressive miniature train setup. And Donna Rich is sewing slip-on coasters for wine glasses, though her entire craft room is piled high with fabrics and projects.

Harvest is all about reaping what one sows, and the Rich family’s Laughing Duck Farm serves as a heartwarming reminder to remember what makes life feel abundant and rich—being outdoors, playing in the dirt, planting some seeds/ideas and seeing what sort of growth one can nurture, harvest and process, given hard work and time. After all that, one can bask in the abundance of their efforts and share their bounty with those they love. Such is the spirit of harvest and maybe even a seasonal lesson in living a fulfilling, joyful life. Just like Quackers.

Laughing Duck Farm’s business card describes the Rich family as, “purveyors of jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, fruits, vegetables, handicrafts and leather goods.” To learn more, call the couple at 415.250.8525.

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Is California the World’s Competitive Gaming Capital in 2024?

California has become a major hub for competitive gaming in 2024, thriving on its esports scene, hosting various gaming events and being home to top gaming companies. With strong infrastructure and community support, California is now widely regarded as the global capital of competitive gaming. California's Rise in Competitive Gaming & its Relationship The surge of competitive gaming in California has...

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They live on a one-acre plot of land in Novato, but the bounty they bring in feels abundant beyond the square footage they occupy. Inside the home of Donna and Gary Rich, the kitchen table is strewn with a variety of fresh, ripe tomatoes in shades of red, orange and yellow. Alongside the tomatoes are boxes of beans for eating...
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