El Verano
Punk Rock Holiday
Fireworks are optional when the guitars are loud enough. The El Verano Inn annual punk-rock throwdown returns on the eve of Independence Day with a three-band lineup drawn from some of Sonoma County’s most durable music circles. KC & the Clamps headline alongside Dirty Westside and S.U.A., whose members collectively trace through local outfits including BITE, The Randumbs, The Bodies, Tri-Polar and Half People. Expect fast songs, familiar faces and the sort of community-minded chaos that keeps local punk scenes alive long after the major labels lose interest. Bonus—no cover charge. 8:30pm, Friday, July 3, at El Verano Inn, 705 Laurel Ave. No cover. More information at the venue.
Petaluma
Summer at the Seashore
The Point Reyes National Seashore has long inspired photographers, naturalists and anyone in need of a little perspective, and Summer at the Seashore brings that inspiration indoors for a summer-long exhibition at Aqus Cafe. Featuring the work of photographers Jim Coda, Sarah Killingsworth and Leslie Curchack, the show explores the wildlife, landscapes and changing character of one of Northern California’s most beloved public lands. Beyond celebrating the seashore’s beauty, the exhibition also reflects on the environmental and cultural transitions unfolding there today, inviting viewers to consider both what is being preserved and what is evolving. Exhibition runs June 29–Oct. 4 at Aqus Cafe, 189 H St., Petaluma. Opening reception 5–7pm, Thursday, July 9. Free admission. More information at aqus.com.
Larkspur
The Coup Revisited
History doesn’t always stay in the past. Coup 53, the documentary by Taghi Amirani (edited by Marin’s own Academy Award-winner Walter Murch), returns to theaters at a moment when questions of regime change, foreign intervention and Middle East politics have reentered public debate. Part investigative thriller and part historical detective story, the film, now playing at Lark Theater, examines the 1953 overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, revealing the covert roles played by British intelligence and the CIA in a coup whose consequences continue to reverberate today. Featuring actor Ralph Fiennes reading from long-suppressed intelligence transcripts, the film transforms archival research into gripping cinema. As current events once again cast a spotlight on the region, Coup 53 offers a timely reminder that today’s headlines often have deep historical roots. Plays through June 25 at Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. Times and tickets at larktheater.net.
Petaluma
World Cup Under the Stars
The road to the FIFA World Cup runs through Petaluma for one evening when Petaluma’s La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge and Taittinger (one of the last remaining independent, family-owned Champagne houses in the world) host an outdoor watch party for the USA–Turkey match. A giant projector screen transforms the adjacent Theater Square into an open-air stadium, while guests cheer on Team USA with glasses of Champagne and freshly shucked Tomales Bay oysters close at hand. A limited-edition FIFA World Cup commemorative bottle from Taittinger will also be available. For those looking to elevate the experience, reserved tables for four are available in the La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge with a $150 food-and-beverage minimum. International soccer, sparkling wine and summer evening vibes—an elegant way to watch the game. 6pm, Thursday, June 25, at La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge, 151 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma. Kickoff at 7pm. Reserved tables available with $150 food-and-beverage minimum per table. More information at ldvwine.com.
