Southern Sonoma Country Life

Top Pick — An Exciting Night of Shakespeare Shorts at The Phoenix Theater, Petaluma, Saturday April 6th, 2918

The Petaluma Shakespeare Company and Shakesprints are hosting a community event to bring Shakespeare to the people and his universal themes to our youth through a fun scene competition- A Night of Shakespeare Shorts- Scene Competition at the Phoenix Theater on Saturday, April 6th 2019 at 8pm. Join me there! 

In a nutshell jr. high, high school, college students and young adults from all over the Bay Area are set to compete to win $500 for Best Scene of the Evening, $100 for Best Comedic Scene and $100 for Best Dramatic Scene by performing a short scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays.  

They will be adjudicated by a panel of Shakespeare savvy judges from the Bay Area including Sheri Lee Miller from Spreckles, and Beth Kellerman Fouts from Marin Shakespeare.  

MC-ing the evening fresh from England, John Langdon, Petaluma’s Shakespeare expert will enlighten the audience through the Bard’s works with music by local musician Chris Newton and special guest performance by the talented film/stage actor Jeffrey Weissman.

There will be a free slice of birthday cake for everyone who attends in light of Shakespeare’s birthday month and a People’s Choice Award given for Best scene chosen by the audience.  Tickets are $10 Adults/$5 Students and can be purchased at the door and online at www.thephoenixtheater.com or www.brownpapertickets.com 

 

 

Please Join Me and Our Good Friends at Petaluma's Flower Casita in Theatre Square for Evening Conversation and an Exclusive Preview Reading from the Manuscript of My Debut Novel Big Green Country — 6.30 pm Thurs March 28th, 2019

Join me amongst the blooms and greenery at beautiful Flower Casita (formerly known as Second Street Flowers) in Petaluma's Theatre Square for conversation and an exclusive evening preview reading from the first chapter of my debut novel, Big Green Country, an impeccably-researched, fact-to-fiction narrative placing women at the center of the cannabis story.

Former San Francisco career tech worker, Maggie puts aside her own close-to-crippling mid-life problems when she takes to the road in an unexpected journey behind the Redwood Curtain in search of her missing 18-year-old niece, Mia and Jazmin, the teenager's undocumented best friend. The two have been missing in the remote forest land of the Emerald Triangle during the winter months following the teens' first harvest season as cannabis trimmers.

Maggie and her rapidly assembled crew of would-be rescuers leave coastal Sonoma County on what proves a catastrophic road trip along  the storm-bashed Russian River and through the Redwood Curtain in search of the missing trimmigrants.

Be amongst the first to be introduced to the story behind Big Green Country, which is still in manuscript form. Please join us for this informal gathering at 6.30 pm, prompt, on Thursday, March 28th, 2019. 

Flower Casita is located at:

140 2nd Street, Suite 116
Petaluma, CA 94952

Monday - Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday : Closed

A Series of ExtraordinaryNew Intrepid Women's Expeditions Mark International Women's Day

The world's largest experiential travel company, Intrepid Travel, has introduced four new Women's Expeditions to mark International Women's Day, giving truly intrepid female travelers an opportunity to learn about the everyday lives and challenges facing women around the world.

Women-only tours, led by female guides, provide a unique insight into the lives of women in Kenya, India, Nepal and Turkey. Travelers will meet people from all walks of life and hear their inspiring stories, from Becky, the first female overland truck driver in East Africa, to Syrian refugees forging a new life in Istanbul.

The new trips build on the success of the original Women's Expeditions in the Middle East, launched on International Women's Day 2018. The range has proven one of the most popular in Intrepid's 30-year history, growing from just four departures to 36 in the space of a few months.

Intrepid is committed to diversity and inclusion at all levels of the business and in 2017 set the ambitious goal of doubling its number of female tour leaders globally by 2020. Thanks to the work of Intrepid's local teams in destinations including India, Morocco and Indonesia, the company has increased its number of female leaders by 70% and is on track to meet its target in 2020.

The new trips include:

Kenya: Women's Expedition (10 days)

Journey through Kenya with Becky, the first female overland truck driver in East Africa on this unique expedition. Starting and finishing in Nairobi, you'll visit women-only villages, safari in iconic and lesser known National Parks such as Samburu and Mount Kenya, join a cooking class with local women in Samburu National Reserve and swim in thermal baths in Hell's Gate National Park. Meet Kenya's female wildlife rangers and understand the challenges they face in a male dominated industry. You'll also spend time at Umoja Village, a women's-only Manyatta (settlement) which offers sanctuary for survivors of genital mutilation, rape, and forced marriages, and hear their stories. Finally, you'll visit the au Mau caves and hear how women played a key role in helping the Mau Mau war veteran win the war against colonial rule. From $3,215 USD per person.

Turkey: Women's Expedition (12 days)

Meet the women changing the face of tourism in Turkey and learn about fascinating ancient traditions on this new trip from Intrepid. Beginning in Istanbul, you'll spend an afternoon with some Syrian women and discover how they are trying to put their displaced lives back in order. From there, you'll head out to sea with a female skipper in Üçağız and learn about Intrepid's efforts to improve female participation in Turkey's tourism industry. In beautiful Cappadocia, hike among the fairy chimneys and enjoy a home-cooked meal in a cave with a local family. Enjoy a soak in an Ottoman-style hammam in Istanbul and learn about this ancient woman's ritual before taking a dip in the Mediterranean on a women's only beach in Antalya. Take part in 'altın günü' or Gold Day Eskisehir, a day for women to socialize and gift gold to a friend in need. From $1,720 USD per person.

Nepal: Women's Expedition (13 days)

Join an all-female hiking crew for an unforgettable trek in Pokhara on this inspiring new trip from Intrepid. As very few women have the chance to become mountain guides, Intrepid is working with local suppliers to train and empower women from local communities in this field. Hear first-hand how these women are breaking tradition and becoming breadwinners for their families. You'll also visit Seven Women, an organization empowering marginalized women through education, skills training and income generation - and cook some delicious Nepalese food. From $1,895 USD per person.

India: Women's Expedition (12 days)

Led by one of Intrepid's amazing female guides, travelers will celebrate the female-only Gangur Festival in Rajasthan, with Rangoli making, henna painting, dance show, and traditional dress. Enjoy a home-cooked meal at the home of a local family in Delhi and explore Jaipur with the female rickshaw drivers. Shop for clothes, accessories and crafts in support of the development and empowerment of marginalized women and girls in Rajasthan and visit the center where they produce their creations. Finally, stop by a cafe run solely by female acid attack survivors and hear the heart breaking yet overwhelmingly inspirational stories of perseverance and strength. From $1,215 USD per person.

For more information about the Women's Expeditions, or to book, visit:

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/womens-expeditions.

 

Experience Life in New Orleans of the 1800s With a Visit to the 1850s House Museum

Amongst the pageantry, music, decorations, masked balls and parades of Mardi Gras, a festive table is an integral part of the carnival party. There are many versions of the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake, though the classic French Galette des Rois — puff pastry with frangipani filling is one of the most delicious and decadent, served with an old-world punch after a tasty crawfish boil, platters of Creole crab cakes, shrimp and grits, dirty rice . . .  

Wherever I find myself on my travels in the U.S and abroad, I make a point to seek out museum homes that have been preserved or meticulously recreated to offer a glimpse into the history of a specific place and how its inhabitants actually lived their daily lives. And so I was happy to discover Louisiana State Museum's The 1850 House in New Orleans open during my first visit to the Big Easy, a couple of weeks prior to Mardi Gras. The formal dining room was decked out in the colors of the season, purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power.

The 1850s House offers a a glimpse of upper-middle-class life in antebellum New Orleans, the most prosperous period in the city’s history. 

This particular house doesn’t represent one specific family, though is does reflect mid-19th century prosperity, taste and daily life in New Orleans. The house is furnished with art and décor of the era including a set of John Slidell’s china, Old Paris porcelain, New Orleans silver and notable paintings and furnishings that, taken as a whole, transport visitors back in time.

The 1850 House is part of the Lower Pontalba building. Built on opposite sides of Jackson Square, the Upper and Lower Pontalba buildings were designed and financed by the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, whose father, Don Andrés Almonester y Roxas, was a Spanish colonial landowner who helped finance The Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral and The Presbytère.

Inspired by the imposing Parisian architecture the Baroness favored, the distinctive rowhouses were designed to serve as elegant residences and retail establishments on the lower floors. The Pontalba family sold the Lower Pontalba Building in 1921 to philanthropist William Ratcliffe Irby, who bequeathed it to the Louisiana State Museum in 1927.

To put its timeline into perspective, La Nouvelle-Orléans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville of the Mississippi Company in 1718. The French colony ceded to Spain in 1762 with France regaining power, on paper in 1802. In 1794 the nearby St. Louis Cathedral was built on the site of an earlier Catholic cathedral. It is the oldest Catholic cathedral in the United States. Louisiana became a state in 1812 with New Orleans its first capital. Napoleon sold a huge swath of the Northern territories to the U.S. in the Louisiana Transfer in 1803. 

New Orleans reached around 102,000 or double its 1830 population by 1840. By this point, New Orleans was the wealthiest city in the nation, the third-most populous and the largest city.

In 1849 the state capitol was relocated to Baton Rouge. According to GoNola: "In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Carnival in New Orleans was an informal celebration by individual families. Some folks would take to the streets, going from house to house, to celebrate.

The Spanish, who controlled Louisiana from 1763 to 1803, were much more conservative than the french. They discouraged public drinking and celebration. That let up a bit after Napoleon sold Louisiana to the Americans. By 1830, public celebration on Mardi Gras became an organized parade in Mobile, Alabama. People in New Orleans took to the streets, but in a more disorderly fashion. Beginning in 1837, New Orleans had parades, but they were rowdy, almost riotous. By the 1850s, the city leaders considered closing down public celebration of Carnival."

It was in 1857 that a small group of businessmen, three of whom were from Mobile, took steps to “save” Carnival. The men from Mobile were familiar with  “secret societies” and formed a similar group in New Orleans, naming it the Mystic Krewe of Comus. A tightly-organized, two-float parade was held on the night of Mardi Gras, 1857. Afterwards, the Krewe held a private bal masque.

Though the parade caught on,  the Civil War and the Union occupation of New Orleans shut down public celebrations.  Twelfth Night Revelers would wait until January 6th, 1870 to parade again.

Carnival parades gradually spread into various neighborhoods of New Orleans. The need for crowd control and law enforcement economics forced the city to divert these widespread celebrations into more-standard routes. Whether it is Uptown, Downtown, or in the West Bank, carnival lives on and thrives in the New Orleans of today.

Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 am to 4.30 pm, at 523 St. Ann Street, New Orleans, admission to The 1850s House is a bargain at just $3 for adults and $2 for seniors, students and active military. Click here for more info.

Mardi Gras at The Lagunitas Beer Sanctuary Fat Tues, March 5th, 2019 — A Benefit for Petaluma Music Festival, Keeping Music in Schools

Laissez le bon temps roule! Let the good times roll yet again for the Petaluma Music Festival's 6th Annual Mardi Gras Party on Fat Tuesday, March 5th at the Lagunitas Beer Sanctuary, Petaluma (5:30 to 8:30 PM). The King Street Giants (formerly the Dixie Giants) will have you up and dancing with their infectious energy and second line groove.

Chef Gator’s Rustic Burgers & His Creole Friends are providing delicious chicken & Cajun sausage jambalaya, red beans & rice, cornbread, and pineapple jalapeño slaw!

Tickets include dinner and are $27 for adults over 21, $17 for teens (13 to 20), and kids 12 and under are free. 

This is a benefit for The Petaluma Music Festival — Keeping Music in the Schools by bringing live music and fun to you, so come on out and celebrate!  

Tickets available online by clicking here or at the door.  All proceeds benefit the music programs in all Petaluma area public schools!  

   

A Visit to The National World War II Museum in New Orleans

My first visit to New Orleans was loosely planned as a three-night, four-day, past faced city-break of one of my bucket-list U.S. destinations. I would listen to the world's best jazz, eat great southern food, explore the French Quarter and the Garden District by foot, tiptoe around the above ground marble chambers of one of the famous old cemeteries and do my best to steer clear of the overtly touristy entrapments. I'd read that the city's expanding war museum was a big deal, but somehow, no one I know who has visited New Orleans in recent years had mentioned this as a top pick for the itinerary of a history buff such as myself. 

Good thing Historic Hotel Monteleone offers a history package that included passes for The National WWII Museum, which, in its own words "tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world — why it was fought, how it was won and what it means today—so that all generations who visit will better understand the price of freedom."

How could I resist? As a frequent flyer British/American I have trawled my family around the monumental Imperial War Museum and Churchill War Rooms in London as well as the superbly interactive, haunting World War I In Flanders Museum in Ypres. I couldn't help but wonder if The American version of a National WWII Museum might disappoint by nudging out the allies in its primary focus on the story of the war from an overtly U.S. perspective. Thankfully, I found it to be an enthralling, riveting, well balanced museum experience, running out of time with a one-day visit to complete the last of its compelling blend of sweeping narrative and poignant personal detail. 

Through its immersive exhibits and galleries, multimedia experiences and expansive collection of artifacts, the museum's mission to inspire people, young and old, to embrace the lessons of the monumental global conflict of World War II through its stories of heroism, human tragedies, voices of liberation and the fruits and responsibilities of victory makes it all the more relevant in today's world and into the future.

The museum, which was established and operates on endowment funds, was founded by academics and friends, Stephen Ambrose, (1936-2002) PhD and Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, PhD, an historian and his colleague in the History Department at the University of New Orleans and Vice Chancellor of the University. Ambrose’s role as founder of the institution that would later become The National WWII Museum was strengthened in many ways by his celebrity as a bestselling historian who was sought after as a speaker and film consultant. The museum first opened its doors in the year 2000. It is located in downtown New Orleans on a six-acre campus, where five soaring pavilions house historical exhibits, on-site restoration work, a period dinner theater and restaurant.

I'm going to have to plan a return visit in a couple of years. The museum is in the midst of a $400 million capital expansion project that will quadruple the size of the original Museum facility, add state-of-the-art programs and exhibit space, enhance the library and archives, and expand collections and conservation space.

My visit began as I boarded the L.W. Pete Kent Train Car Experience, a clever, interactive introduction to the museum designed to transport guests as newly enlisted soldiers by 1940s military-style rail. There is much ground to cover, both figuratively and literally after guests go through the initial multi-media European theater of operations and the global build up for invasion.     

The Boeing Center was a highlight for me, with its magnificent flying machines, salvaged long after the war from long abandoned, remote locations, dismantled, shipped back to the States and, in the case of My Gal Sal, devotedly rebuilt by retired veterans over 12 long years to once again grace the heights, if not the skies. Read the amazing story of My Gal Sal by clicking here. 

I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with friendly, engaging, knowledgeable and passionate military veteran volunteers throughout the museum. If stepping aboard a simulation of the most successful submarine in World War II is not nearly as terrifying as its actual fifth and final war patrol on October 25th, 1944, then that's a good thing. Reliving the general gist of USS Tang Submarine's epic battle against Japanese forces in a recreation of its subsequent sinking sufficed. 

The D-Day Invasion of Normandy exhibit tells the story of the American effort in equal measures with the allies during the largest ever amphibious invasion, on June 6, 1944.  I was thrilled to hear from one of the veteran volunteers what a pivotal role New Orleans had in the D Day Invasion. It was New Orleans native, Andrew Jackson Higgins, manufacturer of the Higgins Boat, whose shallow draft barge-like boat helped get soldiers, jeeps and tanks on shore. His boat was the first of its kind and some 9,000 were built in New Orleans and shipped to Europe for use in the D-Day Invasions. President Dwight Eisenhower dubbed Higgins: "The man who won the war for us."

The National World War II Museum is located on Andrew Higgins between Camp and Magazine streets.

On a personal note, my paternal grandfather served in the British Army. He was based in Sorrento after Anglo-American forces took back Italy in 1943, through to the end of the war. I toured The National WWII Museum's Allied Invasion of Sicily and southern Italy with considerable interest given the level of detail, photography, oral history and artifacts that helped me form a clearer picture of the experience my greengrocer grandfather had on disembarking his ship in the Mediterranean.

It was the first and last period of time my grandfather would leave his beloved family business in a small town in the English countryside. He would joke with me as a child that we should take his weekly cash earnings from the green grocery business to America. It strikes me now that this jolly and gregarious, food-loving supplies officer most likely made a whole lot of American and Italian friends during his two years with the allied forces south of Naples. He never spoke of the war, other than to talk of the crates of giant lemons he was sent from the Amalfi coastline during the first few years after he'd returned home.  

If I was choking up at how little I really knew or understood of my grandfather's war time experience, each and every section of the museum was filled with veterans and families of veterans looking to learn more of the stories of servicemen and women who served in World War II. My grandfather was one of the lucky ones who survived. How he would love my American adventures, after all — as well as the son of southern Italian immigrants to the UK who talked me into a new life in California shortly after we were married!

Here's my grandfather, Frank, in the one photo I have of him from World War II, pictured at far right, clearly making friends and influencing the Italians! According to my dad, his father had as "good a war" as he could have hoped for, one of the better memories he talked of was having lunch with British entertainer Dame Gracie Fields and her second husband, Italian-born film director Monty Banks on the Isle of Capri, where she lived the rest of her life.  

The total death count for Americans in WWII was around 420,000. This was the bloodiest war in human history, killing over 60 million people world wide. Let us never forget. 

If you go:

Pre-purchase tickets to save time in line. Entrance is $28 for adults, $26 for seniors and free for all WWII Veterans. 

The National WWII Museum is located at 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130 and is open daily 9 am to 5 pm (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Mardi Gras Day and Thanksgiving). 

Maximize your time with a recommended itinerary available online at nationalww2museum.org/itineraries. If you'd like to see it all, plan on a two day itinerary. Ticket cost for a second day is an additional $7. 

There is a great gift store with piles of books and interactive DogTag experience with which you may follow your assigned war hero's story at stations during and online, after your visit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrating the Bard's Birthday in Sonoma County with A Night of Shakespeare Shorts, April 6th, 2019

 

“A Night of Shakespeare Shorts” is a celebration of short scenes from the plays of William Shakespeare in the spirit of a competition at the iconic Phoenix Theater, 201 E. Washington Street,  Petaluma, CA where Harry Houdini, Enrico Caruso, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Huey Lewis and Santana have performed.

A variety of short scenes from Shakespeare’s plays interspersed with music by local musicians will be performed by a variety of participants.  Scenes will be adjudicated by a panel of Shakespeare savvy judges and participants have the chance to win $500 for Best Scene of the evening, Best Dramatic Scene $100 and Best Comedic Scene $100. 

Shakespeare Shorts is hosted by The Petaluma Shakespeare Company, Shakesprints and The Phoenix Theater on Saturday April 6, 2019.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Performance at 8:00 pm. Tickets $15 under 18 and $20 adults. All tickets include a slice of birthday cake.  It’s early but we have to celebrate William’s birthday when we can!

http://shakespeareshorts.brownpapertickets.com

What inspired A Night of Shakespeare Shorts?

"We were having a cup of coffee with Crispin of Shakesprints, thinking of what to do to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday in April and how we could bring Shakespeare's work back to the people he intended it to be for, which is everyone," says Petaluma Shakespeare Company.  "There are not a lot of opportunities for young performers to perform so we decided to create one for them."

A Night of Shakespeare Shorts (April 6th, 2019) will be a celebration of Shakespeare's plays, giving young performers from all over Northern California a chance to perform, be seen by Bay Area Shakespeare savvy judges from Marin Shakespeare, ACT, SF Shakespeare, and others, a chance to win money and pursue their love of theater.

The Phoenix Theater has a long history of promoting youth in Petaluma and the once upon opera, now skate club and music venue offers the contemporary vibe which is perfect for Shakespeare in the 21st century.  The Phoenix has a music program for youth so Petaluma Shakespeare Company decided to collaborate together by interspersing the scenes with music by local musicians, giving everyone an opportunity to perform. Of course there will be birthday cake too!  I mean it is William's birthday after all. 

There are two ways to support this wonderful new program. Purchase tickets on the brown paper ticket link above and attend and/or secondly, be a star and pledge to the Night of Shakespeare Shorts Kickstarter fundraiser, to boost the coffers to raise $1,000 for production costs and cash awards to the top players. Pledge as little as $10 or $50 to $100 for VIP seating, beverages and being a part of something special in our community. 

CLICK HERE FOR A NIGHT OF SHAKESPEARE SHORTS KICKSTARTER FUNDRAISER

Located in Petaluma, California, Petaluma Shakespeare Company is a non profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to put Shakespeare's timeless works into the hands of 21st century performers. It us the only free Shakespeare theater group in Sonoma County and is supported by an annual fundraiser and through donations. Past seasons of Free Shakespeare By The River under the stars at The Foundry Wharf, has enable the group to provide the community with theater culture, strengthen community bonds through shared theatrical experiences and create more compassionate global citizens.  2019 will be its 5th season and the group is excited to bring forth Macbeth.  Past productions ofTaming of the Shrew,  As You Like It, Henry IV part I, and All's Well That Ends Well  have brought collaborators from all of the Bay Area to bring Free Shakespeare By The River to thousands of audience members of all ages. 

Tickets for 13th Annual California Artisan Cheese Fabulous Range of Festival Farm & Producer Tours and Seminars & Events (March 23 to 24, 2019) Now Available for Purchase

California’s premier cheese event, the California Artisan Cheese Festival, to be held March 23-24, 2019, at various locations in Northern California, brings together cheese enthusiasts for a weekend filled with cheese tastings, pairings, tours, seminars, a culinary competition, and cocktail and wine tastings. While the festival’s larger events like Cheese, Bites, & Booze! (where guests can nosh on tasty bites created by cheesemakers, chefs and cheesemongers’ and sip on regional artisan wines, ciders and spirits) and The Marketplace (where attendees are invited to taste, discover and purchase specialty items from over 100 artisan producers) are sure to appeal, it's the smaller events like the festival's Farm & Producer Tours and Seminars that provide festival goers intimate, immersive experiences with some of the most reputable and knowledgeable experts in the industry. 

The Festival’s 2019 Seminar Schedule is as follows:  

 Seminar 1: Red or White? Best Wines for the Cheeses You Love

Instructor: Janet Fletcher, author and educator

9:30 – 11 a.m.

$75 per person

Join the debate as to whether red or white wine is a better match for cheese with Planet Cheese publisher and educator extraordinaire, Janet Fletcher. Attendees will sample five cheeses alongside both a red and white wine while Janet shares some sensory research into wine and cheese pairings. 

Seminar 2: California Cheese: Old School to New School 

Instructor: Juliana Uruburu, cheese expert, Market Hall Foods

9:30 – 11 a.m.

$75 per person

California has a rich and dynamic history of cheesemaking. Juliana Uruburu leads guests on a tasting journey illuminating the connections between the Golden State’s storied old school and new school cheesemakers.

Seminar 3: Cheese, Beer & Cider

Instructor: Rachel Perez, American Cheese Society (ACS) Certified Cheese Professional®

1:30 – 3 p.m.

$75 per person

Unique beers and ciders are the pairing of choice for many cheesemongers as an alternative to wine. Rachel Perez guides attendees on a tasting journey demystifying the characteristics that make beer and cider so cheese-friendly. Guests will leave this session with a solid foundation of pairing principles and several foolproof beer, cider, and cheese pairings to try at home.

Seminar 4: A Taste of Cheese Science with The Cheese Twins

Instructors: Charlie & Michael Kalish, The Cheese Twins

1:30 – 3 p.m.

$75 per person

Having made cheese on more than a dozen dairy farms across Europe with some of the finest affineurs (professional cheese agers), Cheese Twins Charlie and Michael Kalish bring their savoir-faire home to California. This comparative tasting gives guests a crash course in the science behind cheesemaking and highlight how seemingly subtle shifts in pH, moisture, and aging result in staggeringly different cheeses. 

Seminar 5: Cheese & Cocktails: The Basics of Bitters, Booze & Cheese

Instructors: Vanessa Chang, American Cheese Society (ACS) Certified Cheese Professional® and Lassa Skinner, co-founder of Culture magazine

1:30 – 3 p.m.

$85 per person

Cheese mavens Vanessa Chang and Lassa Skinner demonstrate how a well-made cocktail can shake up preconceived notions of what goes with cheese. This dynamic duo will distill the basics of the various spirits, demystify the universe of bitters, and help identify cheeses to round out cocktails like Manhattans, Mai Tais. 

 

The Festival’s 2019 Farm & Producer Tours are as follows: 

Tour A: Point Reyes Farmstead & The Fork

9:15 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

$150 per person

Attendees of this tour will spend a day at Giacomini Dairy to discover what makes Point Reyes so special. Visitors start their day with a tour of the farm, meet the cows and learn about the farm’s history. Following the tour, guests head to The Fork, Point Reyes Farmstead’s education and culinary center for a focused cheese tasting and end the day with a three-course lunch and cooking demo with Chef Matthew Accarrino of San Francisco’s Michelin-starred restaurant, SPQR.

Tour B: Pennyroyal Farm Tour

10:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

$120 per person

Start your day with a guided walking tour at Pennyroyal creamery and vineyard to learn more about the integrative farming methods behind Pennyroyal’s handcrafted cheese and wine. Following the tour, enjoy a seasonal multi-course lunch prepared from the bounty of the kitchen garden as well as farmstead meat and cheese. Pennyroyal Farm cheesemaker Erika McKenzie-Chapter and It’s Not You, It’s Brie Author and Educator Kirstin Jackson will lead a delicious and instructive seminar that poses the question, “If it grows together, does it go together?” while leading a tasting that explores the cheeses, wine, beer, and cider of the Anderson Valley.  

Tour C: North Capitol Area Tour

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

$150 per person

This tour explores the North Sacramento Valley cheesescape beginning with a tour of Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese Company, to meet Tim Pedrozo, a third-generation dairy farmer and self-proclaimed “accidental cheesemaker.” After Pedrozo, the tour will head to Orland Farmstead Creamery, followed by lunch and a talk with Rumiano Cheese Company, California’s oldest family-owned cheese company.

 Tour D: Hop to It! 

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

$150 per person

The Santa Rosa area is home to an amazing community of talented brewers and delicious beers. This all-day tour starts at Russian River Brewing Co., crafters of legendary Pliny the Elder, with a cheese pairing from Beehive Cheese Co., followed by a stop at the Barrel Brothers Brewing Co. to taste hops and malts alongside chocolates by neighboring Volo Chocolates. Seismic Brewing Co. is the next stop on the tour to taste brews paired with cheese from a local cheesemaker and concludes with a visit to Old Possum Brewing Co., one of Santa Rosa’s newest breweries. 

Tour E: Farm Forward 

8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

$150 per person

This tour travels west of Petaluma to Toluma Farms, home to a herd of goats, a flock of sheep, and Tomales Farmstead Creamery. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the organic pastures, meet the goats and sheep, taste an array of cheeses, and enjoy an incredible brunch spread from Daily Driver SF, California’s newest creamery. The tour will continue with a stop at AppleGarden Farm to meet owner Jan Lee, learn about cider apples, and taste the fruits of their labor. The day concludes at Marin French Cheese, the country’s oldest continuously operating cheese company to taste their signature cheeses, including Brie and Camembert. 

Tour F: Dairy Divas 

8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

$150 per person

This tour begins at Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station where attendees will taste their way through a flight of Cowgirl Creamery and witness a curd-making demonstration before heading over the hill to DeBernardi Dairy, home to Two Rock Valley Goat Cheese. Attendees will stop for lunch before heading to Achadinha Cheese Company where Jim and Donna Pacheco, with help from their four children, milk goats and make cheese inspired by their family legacy and the Old World traditions of Portugal. 

Tour G: Stars of Sebastopol – Sold Out

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

$150 per person

Start the morning off at Wm. Cofield Cheesemakers, one of California’s newest creameries known for its fresh cheese curds, clothbound cheddar, and Stilton-esque blue cheese. Next, attendees will visit Bohemian Creamery and meet Lisa Gottreich, one of the region’s most creative artisan cheesemakers, followed by a stop at The Barlow where Chef Duskie Estes, a regular guest on the Food Network and self-professed cheese lover, will prepare a delicious multi-course lunch inspired by cheese and locally-sourced ingredients. The tour will conclude with a visit to Spirit Works Distillery for a guided tasting though its local spirits alongside pairings from Cypress Grove Cheese. 

Tour H: Local Legends

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

$150 per person

Rise and shine at Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, California’s only organic farmstead creamery with a tour and tasting of its award-winning cheeses followed by a visit to Marin French Cheese, the country’s oldest continuously operating cheese company, which will celebrate its 154-year anniversary in 2019. Guests will continue on to Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery to enjoy a delicious cheese-focused lunch, tour and tasting of Valley Ford cheeses, crafted with milk from the family’s nearby herd of Jersey cows.

Tour I: The Milky Whey

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

$150 per person

Attendees start their morning outside Petaluma at the Pacheco Family Dairy for a tour of the farm while learning why the Pachecos transitioned from a traditional cow dairy to a goat dairy; complete with a tasting of the farmstead cheeses. Next, the tour will head to Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, California’s only organic farmstead creamery, to taste its award-winning cheeses that capture both the essence of this 1,150-acre family ranch and the legacy of the family’s Swiss-Italian heritage. Guests will stop along the way for lunch before heading to Lagunitas Brewing Company just in time for happy hour to taste a selection of their innovative local brews paired with cheeses from Sierra Nevada Cheese Company.

 ***Note: Bus transportation is provided by Pure Luxury Transportation for all tours except Tour B and Tour C (Tour B does not include transportation, Tour C transportation is provided by North Valley Shuttle.) Start and end times and tour departure pick-up and drop-off locations vary. All sales are final, and events takes place rain or shine. A more detailed list of the tour descriptions can be found at https://www.artisancheesefestival.com/tours.

Following the educational seminars and tours, guests can opt to end their day participating in Cheese, Bites & Booze!, Saturday night’s grand tasting event held inside the Jackson Family Wines Aircraft Hangar at Sonoma Jet Center. This delicious competition features cheesemakers, chefs and cheesemongers’ creating their “best bites” of California artisan cheesy goodness. Guests sample the amazing creations while sipping on regional artisan wines, ciders, spirits, and beers at this light-hearted walk-around tasting event. Tickets for Cheese, Bites & Booze! are $80 per person (21 and over only, no children will be admitted). 

 

Don't Miss The National Parks Plein Air Project by Petaluma Artist Mary Fassbinder January 29th through March 23rd at Petaluma Arts Center

Sixty plein air paintings of each of the U. S. National Parks are the product of an extraordinary 72,000 mile, 3 ½ year journey by Sonoma County artist and gallery owner Mary Fassbinder and the centerpiece of an exhibition at the Petaluma Arts Center opening late January, 2019.

“The National Parks Painting Project by Mary Fassbinder & Guest Artist Davis Perkins” exhibition will run from January 29th through March 23rd, with the public opening scheduled for Saturday, January 26th, 2019 at 5:00pm.

“This project forced me to push, crawl, climb –you name it, through my own set of obstacles and most importantly to trust the outcome,” Mary recalls of the many challenges she overcame.  “It truly was a rite of passage”

Mary Fassbinder feels more strongly than ever that, “this is a crucial time in the preservation and conservation of our national treasures. I sincerely hope these paintings will be an inspiration to generations to come.”

Joining Mary at the Petaluma Arts Center will be Davis Perkins, a California landscape painter with an exhibition featuring his landscape paintings from around the world.  Dave Perkins, who has had an exciting career as smokejumper, firefighter, and paramedic, received a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Oregon. In 2015 he was selected as a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America.  He exhibits his work in galleries and other art venues in Northern California, while continuing his life of travel and public service.

Story Pole Event — "A Fine Balance" for Petaluma's First Public Art Installation — A First Look at The Proposed and Much Debated Bathtubs on Stilts

Photo: Frances Rivetti 

Blue skies made for a bright backdrop as Petalumans were invited to see for themselves how the city's first proposed large scale public art installation will look in place during a story pole event for San Francisco artist Brian Goggin's controversial five Victorian cast iron bathtubs on stilts. "A Fine Balance" has drawn hot debate from a vocal range of residents, most of whom either love it or hate it, with plenty others on the fence as to its potential for somewhere else other than Water Street. 

To put the scene into perspective for anyone who is reading this post and is not familiar with Petaluma's Water Street, which runs parallel to Petaluma Boulevard's restaurant row in the riverfront city's charming iron front historic downtown, this is, in the words of my friend, photographer Frank Simpson, whose photos are featured in this post: "the most abused street in Petaluma." 

It's also one of the most beloved historical locations given the importance of the river and its turning basin as a vital lifeline throughout the city's founding Gold Rush era. Blighted by a failed cobblestone installation, frequent rat infestations, an historic railroad trestle that is fenced off and is shamefully crumbling day by day into a river that has almost filled with mud, a big art debate shines a major spotlight on the indisputable fact there's a lot to be done to save the grace and beauty of the little street that once was the city's most dynamic incoming and outgoing hub.

Flash forward from the Gold Rush to 2019 and the city of Petaluma's first ever large scale public art installation has many of its citizens spitting verbal abuse at one another online and in person as to whether or not the San Francisco artist's idea should continue to make it through the final steps to go forward in this prime location. I talked with one resident who said she had expected to be met with neighbors holding torches, their pitchforks at the ready. "The villagers are not happy," she remarked, adding that the prototype was not nearly as big or oppressive as the unfortunately post-apocalyptic artists impression that has been splashed across social media. A reliable source told me later that particular take of a dark sepia illustration was never intended to have been distributed. 

The community of Petaluma is a notoriously headstrong one. That Goggin's concept is Petaluma's pathway as it navigates the path forward while maintaining its treasured heritage, agricultural roots and eclecticism seems to be lost on the majority of its naysayers.      

Photo: Frank Simpson, Artist Brian Goggin arrives on the scene for a public story pole event on Petaluma's Water Street.

A crowd of around 200  mingled and awaited Goggin's story pole procession, slowly moving the same large scale prototype from one of its five positions to another. There was some shouting and scuffling and reports of people not being on their most polite behavior at the start of the event, but on the whole it proved a civil gathering and a there was lots of debate and discussion going down between both sides of the yes or no nod for the installation being made permanent. It still has one more round with the city council for a final vote after the story pole event is reviewed.

Newly sworn in Mayor of Petaluma Teresa Barrett was surrounded by constituents vying for an impassioned word in her ear. The mayor kept her cool, reminding people that whatever the outcome of the installation, it would not feed or keep someone from being fed. One of the key talking points being that the $150,000 awarded to the project by a specially assigned Public Art Committee is earmarked for public art and public art alone (sorry, no budget anywhere else for dredging the river & fixing up the trestle). 

"I don't find it offensive," said Mayor Barrett, in discussion with a politely agitated group. "There is nothing that we'd all like. Let Petaluma be the town that can have controversy and keep community." She pointed out that people were talking to others they wouldn't usually be having conversations with. "If you look at it in context," she said, referring to the positioning of the fifth and final tub on stilts mid-Water Street, with the feed mill in the background, "it doesn't look so out of place." The Mayor did concede that she would have liked to have seen the installation across the Washington Street Bridge in the more industrial part of Water Street down by Brewsters Beer Garden, though that was not the part of town the public art fund was earmarked for. 

Carol Isaak is a Petaluma resident for over fifty years and the city's Volunteer of the Year for 2017 for her years of exemplary volunteer service. A former librarian with a 30-year career with the Petaluma City Schools District managing the teaching and learning resources center at the district office, Isaak has dedicated her retirement to sorting books and home goods in the store room of Alphabet Soup, the fundraising store of Petaluma Educational Foundation. Isaak is not a fan of the bathtubs on stilts. "Absolutely not," she said, when I talked to her during Saturday's story pole event. Isaak and several others I spoke with were not against the art being relocated to a more suitable location. "If they put it in the wetlands over at Ellis Creek (Water Cycling Facility) it would be better suited. It would look like long-legged shore birds standing in the water."

Landscape architect Louise Leff on the other hand, is thoroughly on board. "It's thrilling to me to see a bathtub juxtaposed with the river," she said. "I love the form, the beautiful, round, elegant form, the heaviness of it, the tension on the stilts." She considers it "really cool to have sculpture amongst the trees and five of them have a rhythm."

Photo: Frances Rivetti

Goggin spoke of his research into Petaluma history and his interest in "some of the only existing iron front buildings in California." The Victorian era ball and claw tubs he'll be using were cast in San Francisco and reclaimed from an abandoned building — representing a tribute to the bathtubs traded with early Petalumans building their Victorian homes in exchange for farm goods during the Gold Rush era. Goggin's mom was in town to support her artist son and served tea to attendees. 

I spotted multi-generational Petaluman and journalist John Sheehy author of the wildly popular newly released On A River Winding Home, a beautiful book of photography by Scott Hess and his own essays on the Petaluma watershed. "Another river story," John said of "A Fine Balance" and the energy it has whipped up, "an important new element of Petaluma's history."

A large comment box filled up with folded paper by the end of the afternoon. A good sign that there are still opportunities for all sides to be heard.

The Wall Street Journal sent a photojournalist who spent a good part of his day capturing the event. Look out for his take on our riverfront conundrum, it will be interesting to read a report from an outsider looking in. 

Citizens Against Bathtubs posted the following on Facebook after the event: "There are many many issues with this "event". First, no construction project I have ever seen that included story poles has had only a portion of the structure represented, and then not at full height, and only for 30 seconds. If the intent if this was to give the public a feel for the installation, and its impact on circulation and visual elements, it failed, big time! IMO the PPAC has not met the requirement set forth by the council as a provisional of moving forward. They need to go back and erect actual story poles representing all FIVE tubs and all 20 poles, at full height, and leave them there for at least a week or two." The group will be taking this up with he council at the next meeting.

Photo: Frank Simpson 

Photo: Frank Simpson

Photo: Frank Simpson 

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see," 

Edgar Degas