Southern Sonoma Country Life

Celebrating the Fiftieth Birthday of the Renaissance Pleasure Faire

On May 11th and 12th, 1963, Pacifica Radio in Los Angeles presented the first Renaissance Pleasure Faire and May Market.

Culled from nearly six hours of live broadcasting, in celebration of the 50 years since the founding of this iconic Californian cultural event, forty minutes of the pageantry and revelry from the Pleasure Faire has been lovingly edited down from the original reel tape into a commemorative soundscape and generously shared by one of the radio host's and co-founder of the Firesign Theatre, David Ossman.

Phyllis Patterson, a high school history and English teacher, home on maternity leave and her husband, Ron Patterson, a theatrical and whimsical art director at a Hollywood graphics firm were on the forefront of inventive new theater.

The couple invited neighborhood schoolchildren, many the offspring of Hollywood writers, directors and musicians to sign up for innovative new drama and art classes called "Into the Woods." To quote the Renaissance Pleasure Faire history page, there, in the Hills of Hollywood: "they gathered around them a band of merry artists, actors and musicians, and a thrilling concept was conceived."

Curated by the Patterson Family, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire online history page records a rich and significant cultural experience enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of participants and time traveling visitors since that first weekend in May 1963.

Two commemorative books also provide an illuminating insight into this much loved American phenomenon. Though there have been many spin-off events around the United States over the past many decades, there was and will always be only one authentic Renaissance Pleasure Faire. Happy Half Century RPF.

Author of 'Wild' Memoir - Cheryl Strayed To Teach Workshop in Petaluma, CA Saturday, June 1st, 2013

Okay writerly friends, this is kind of a big deal. I don't know anyone who read Cheryl Strayed's 'Wild' and didn't love it. This frank and talented author is in Southern Sonoma County on June 1st, 2013, teaching an exclusive one day writing workshop at the Sheraton in Petaluma. Be there or be boot-flattened square. I can't, as it is son # 2's graduation day from Petaluma High. Otherwise, I'd be first in line. 

Workshop Schedule - Subject to Change

8:30 Continental Breakfast
9:15 Welcome and opening remarks.
9:45 Introduction
10:00 Talk & First Writing Session
11:00 Sharing Q&A
12:30 Lunch
2:00 Craft Talk & Second Writing Session
3:30 Sharing and discussion
4:00 Reading
4:30 Q&A
5:00 Book Signing & Close

This workshop is brought to the Bay Area by Albert Flynn DeSilver & The Owl Press.
Official Bookseller at the event will be Point Reyes Books.

Earlybirds can sign up for $197, lunch included. 

April Books Pick

It wasn't easy deciding which to read first, but I decided to go for Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter before delving later into the realm of Elizabeth Strout's The Burgess Boys. 

Beautiful Ruins was NPR Fresh Air's Best Novel for 2012, amongst its many more outstanding literary accolades and its evocative front cover has been splashed over the pages of most of the magazines that I read on a regular basis, of late.

Two chapters in and I'm sold. After slogging my way through Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior, her heavy-duty, latest novel delving deep into the converging of environmental, political, social and domestic issues amidst a claustrophobic, rural community in Appalachia, Beautiful Ruins' cinematic scope opens with precisely the sort of escapism the doctor ordered for Spring. 

Ties that bind us to family and home appeal as the subject matter in Elizabeth Strout's new novel, in which the  Minneapolis Star-Tribune describes as: “…beautiful and detailed writing. Strout’s manifestations of envy, pride, guilt, selflessness, bigotry and love are subtle and spot-on.”

Strout won the Pulitzer Prize for her poignant, riveting and memberable "Olive Kitteridge."  

I haven't read Jess Walter before Beautiful Ruins but I have a feeling that I will be back tracking to some of his earlier works after this. 

Janet Maslin of the New York Times describes Walter's latest offering as: "A monument to crazy love ... deeply romantic (with) vividly etched characters."

And: "Poignant, comical and marvelous … a mix of satire and love story," says Tom Nolan of the San Francisco Chronicle.

March of Authors - Spring Into Reading & Support Local Bookstores

Pippa Middleton's Penguin-Published Party Planning Book Not a Total Flop

Pregnant Princess of England's pretty sister, Pippa Middleton was apparently paid a princely sum of 400,000 British pounds for her late 2012 released party planning book Celebrate. No trifle matter for a publisher left with egg on its face, thanks in no small part to the notoriously brutal British tabloid press.

But really, it's not all that bad. Slammed for the author's social standing, sudden rush to celebrity status and an oversimplification of the basics of seasonal home entertainment (despite the fact that she does happen to be a party planning pro), Celebrate has been subject to all sorts of mean ridicule even prior to hitting the printing press.

Penguin's U.S. edition politely acknowledges the fact that most Americans might have little inclination towards the likes of the ancient English Easter Simnel cake, Burns Night Haggis, or some of the more peculiar, old English party games. Yet, what the book does deliver is an evocative visual for staging charming and do-able homespun get togethers for a wide variety of seasonal gatherings. 

Take what you will from the content, it's rather sweetly shot and organized and captures the essence of traditional English hospitality with a glamorous, modern twist.

Good for Pippa Middleton to strike out as an author, despite some inevitable public humilation in the press. I hope that, now that its cover price has been consequently slashed, people do pick it up and give it a place on the shelf with their Nigella and Jamie collections. If only to look at the pictures with a degree of healthy envy or nostalgia.

Critics ought to pay heed to the fact, especially here in the States, huge amounts of people barely cook at all. To encourage the art of party-throwing to any level of complexity can only be a good thing!  I for one, would love to go on a countryside picnic with a hamper of homemade ginger beer, Scotch eggs, pork terrine strapped to the front of the bike. Throw in a few strapping, handsome hamper carriers sporting peddle power in pink cotton trousers and pressed white shirts, what's wrong with that? 

 

 

Beautiful New Book on The Poppy Lady - American Moina Belle Michael and her Tribute to Allied Veterans

Author Barbara Elizabeth Walsh and prolific children's book illustrator, Layne Johnson have released a beautiful tribute to America's historic Poppy Lady, a humanitarian and school teacher from Georgia, Moina Belle Michael who singlehandedly launched a campaign to establish as a symbol the red poppy from the First World War torn Fields of Flanders. 

Inspired by finding a box in the attic as a child, containing a postcard signed Pat's Poppy Lady, with a red, crepe -paper poppy pinned to the card, the author learned that her father had met Moina Belle Michael while he was a private first class studying communication at the University of Georgia during World War II. He was living at the Georgian Hotel, along with some 300 additional soldiers in training when he heard that his two brothers, serving in the Italian army, had been taken as prisoners of war. The school teacher/humanitarian lived on the fifth floor of this same hotel at the time and, after having established herself as the Poppy Lady, made it a personal mission to talk to troubled young soldiers whenever she had a chance.

Moina Belle Michael had written to the young soldier's fiancee, the author's mother, on his behalf. Half a century later, the author traveled to the Georgian Hotel after deciding it was time to write the story of Moina Belle Michael's poppy legacy.

Published by Calkins Creek Books/Boyds Mills, a portion of proceeds of The Poppy Lady book sales will go to support the National Military Family Association's Operation Purple(R), which benefits children of the U.S. military.

This gloriously illustrated tribute to veterans marks almost a century since the Poppy Lady handed our her first 23 red silk poppies in New York before pursuading several national and international organizations adopted the poppy as their memorial flower. Millions of disabled service people have been employed in producing these memorial poppies around the world, over the years, raising millions of dollars for veterans. 

What a great way to teach young children about the sacrificies made by allied veterans in World War I and II and also to share the simple, powerful story of a school teacher who made such a marvelous and lasting huminatarian contribution.

 

 

Sonoma County Teen Selected as Star Speaker at 2012 National Kidney Foundation Author's Literary Luncheon

Outstanding Sonoma County teenager Leah Kaufman has been selected as a patient speaker at the Bay Area's premier literary event, the upcoming 24th Annual Kidney Foundation Luncheon that takes place in San Francisco on November 10th, 2012 at the Marriott Marquis.

Over the past two decades the Annual Kidney Foundation authors luncheon has evolved into a much anticipated, major fundraising event, attracting up to 1,000 guests each year.

Seventeen-year-old Leah is a Senior at Santa Rosa High School, who lives in Sonoma County with her mother Sarah, father Michael, and younger sister Anna.

On her 16th birthday Leah woke up with her eyes swollen shut. Soon afterwards the active teen learned that she had a rare and chronic, autoimmune kidney disorder. Fortunately, Leah has since gone into remission and has learned to navigate life with a lot less salt and a lot more sleep and medication.

Even though she has a kidney disease it hasn't dampened her zest for life. Leah loves to sing, swim, travel, and especially loves an occasional slice of her mom's coconut cake. She considers it  a huge honor to have been selected to speak before the prestigious crowd at this year's NKF Author's Luncheon.

Leah's not alone. Close to 2 million people in Northern California suffer from chronic kidney disease, including 1 million living in the Greater Bay Area alone.

Raising awareness and funding, luncheon proceeds support the work of the National Kidney Foundation to  enhance the lives of people  who are either dialysis or transplant patients, or at risk for developing kidney disease.

Captivating stories, wit and humor of the following six nationally known, best-selling authors are slated for this year's  event. Individual tickets are $125, Individual Tables start at $1,100 and Table Sponsorships began at $2,500.

Hubert Keller  - author of Souvenirs: Memories, and Recipes from My Life. He is best known for his world-renowned restaurants, including Fleur de Lys in San Francisco.

Tom Lichtenheld - a New York Times bestselling children’s author and illustrator.  His newest – Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site – is irresistible for all ages.

Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III -co-authored the New York Times bestseller Highest Duty. He is a retired airline pilot and a source of inspiration for many after his emergency water landing of a disabled airliner on the Hudson River. Sullenberger was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People.

Emma Donoghue - writer of contemporary and historical fiction whose critically acclaimed books include the internationally bestselling Room – a finalist for the Man Booker Prize and the winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, as well as Slammerkin,The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits and other works of literary history, plays for the stage and radio, and short fiction.

Andrew McCarthy - actor of stage (Broadway's Side Man) and screen (Pretty in Pink, Weekend At Bernie's, The Joy Luck Club), McCarthy is also a director (White Collar, Gossip Girl), and an award-winning travel writer. A contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler, this fall sees the publication of his memoir The Longest Way Home.

Dr. Vincent Lam is an emergency physician Lam and has won the 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize for Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures. His forthcoming novel is The Headmaster’s Wager.

For more info or to buy tickets click here:
Attendees will have the chance to meet each author in person during book signing sessions preceding and following the luncheon that will be presided over by Master of Ceremonies is Michael J. Krasny, PhD, host of KQED public radio’s Forum.

The Next Great American Novel? Meet the Author, Michael Chabon at Petaluma Copperfield's 10/24/2012

Berkeley's Pulitzer Prize-winning Michael Chabon makes a pit-stop at Copperfield's Petaluma, this Wednesday, October 24th, 2012 at 7pm.

His newly released novel Telegraph Avenue is described by our local booksellers as: "An intimate epic, a NorCal Middlemarch set to the funky beat of classic vinyl soul-jazz and pulsing with a virtuosic, pyrotechnical style all its own, the great American novel we've been waiting for." Wow, what's not to like? Wait, there's more: "Generous, imaginative, funny, moving, thrilling, humane, triumphant, it is Chabon's most dazzling book yet!"

I have a copy of Telegraph Avenue that one of the men in my house has hijacked from my 'to read' pile on my bedside table - I hope he's a quick reader. Now that the rain is here, it's time to hunker down amongst the pages (or cuddle up with an e-reader, if that's your cup of tea!).

My English Major son over the Bay at Cal heard Chabon speak about his latest book in Berkeley a few weeks back and highly recommends that we don't miss out on Wednesday's reading here in Southern SoCo.

Meet Former Petaluman and First Time Novelist Kathleen Alcott at Copperfield's Bookstore Friday October 12th - 2 PM

A quite brutal and yet at the same time, stunning, heartrendering portrait of one girl's coming of age in Petaluma in the familiar 90s flows from the powerful prose of first time novelist Kathleen Alcott's The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets.

Though born and raised in Petaluma, it's not clear how much of this haunting work of fiction, a story of love and loss, of young people forming their own family bonds in single parent households, Alcott draws from her own experiences. Names and sometimes gender thinly veil references to the Polly Klass tragedy, a teenage drowning, the woman who hoarded hundreds of cats in her west side home. The Petaluma River looms large in her sense of place as a setting for teenage adventures of the nocturnal variety and anyone reading this with a connection to the area will discover one familiar landmark after another as the author steers the course through a tumultous adolescence and the painfully intense coupling of two of its main characters. 

An impressive debut and testament to her literary heritage as the daughter and grandaughter of newspaper men. Neither her late father or grandfather had been able to prove a direct link between the author Louisa May Alcott, though it's nice to think that there's a Petaluma connection between the promising young novelist and her illustrious ancestor.  

Interestingly, author Patricia O'Brien recently decided to publish under the pen name of Kate Alcott, causing Petaluma-raised, Brooklyn resident Kathleen justification in defending her name in print earlier this year.

Explicit and upfront, The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets is a no-holds barred account of adoration, abuse, emotional self preservation and a coming to terms with life, love and death.

The author will be signing at Copperfields, Petaluma, Friday afternoon at 2pm, prior to a literary dinner at Risibisi at 6pm.

 

Beats of the Heart, The Sonnets, The Stories and The Telling

"The human heart beats about 72 times a minute," says my friend Elaine Silver, Writer/Producer of Beats of the Heart, a highly original Petaluma Readers Theater production that expores the sonnets of Shakepeare by illuminating the timeless human stories they tell during a series of weekend performances October 19th through 28th, 2012 at Murray Rockowitz Photography Studio, 128 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma, CA.

"Tick-tock goes our hearts, circumscribing our stories, marking time for the sonnets we write," says Elaine. " ticking of a Shakespeare sonnet is called iambic pentameter, iambic pentameter-it sounds like a medical condition, a heart condition, a condition of the heart. 10 beats per line, 10 syllables, 10 snippets of emotion strung together to tell a story, share a feeling, scold a friend, plead for mercy, woo a lover. Each group of 10 beats is a lungful of air, it is the music of the heart translated into speech. And patched together they form heroic couplets shouting out a life filled with passion."

More info and tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/283530!