Sonoma Spotlight

Gravenstein Mandolin Ensemble
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 @ 7:30pm

The Gravenstein Mandolin Ensemble is the only mandolin orchestra in the North Bay, consisting of mandolins, mandolas, mandoccellos, and bass. Under the musical direction of Gus Garelick, the ensemble’s eclectic repertoire includes music from George Frederick Handel to Scott Joplin with some musical excursions to Brazil, Italy, Ireland, and Brooklyn along the way. It is a great group with lots of energy. Feel free to sing along!

Tickets:
$15 General
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2919901

Location:
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
282 S High St
Sebastopol, CA 95472-4366

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Around The World With French Oak Gypsy Band!
Occidental Center for the Arts
Saturday, May 27th, 2017 @ 8:00pm

French Oak Gypsy Band gives a fresh spin on French and American Swing Era classics . Playing classic international jazz standards in the style of Django Reinhardt, this stellar group mixes French chanson, Gypsy jazz, Dixieland and Django swing; also traditional and modern world folk music.

It features the magnetic vocals of Stella Heath, who leads the group along with French/American Gabe Pirard (both formerly of the popular band Djiin) on guitar and vocals, with veteran reed player Jimmy Inciardi on saxophone, James Foster on drums and Josh Fossgreen on bass rounding out the full band version. Check out stellaheathmusic.compurchase brown paper bag tickets

Don’t miss this evocative evening of classic jazzy tunes to listen or dance to with this popular local band of musical gypsies who infuse their performances with skill and fun!

Fine refreshments will be available. Art Gallery open for viewing.
OCA is accessible to persons in wheelchairs.

Tickets
$15 advance
$20 at the door.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2936455

Location:
Occidental Center for the Arts
3850 Doris Murphy Court (Graton Rd & Bohemian Hwy)
Occidental, CA 95465
(707) 874-9392.

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The 2017 Healdsburg Jazz Festival
June 2nd – 11th, 2017

Lineup:
June 2, Friday, Paul Mahder Gallery – Two Shows, 7 pm and 9 pm
Dave Stryker Quartet with guest Bob Mintzer

June 3, Saturday, Jackson Theater – Double Bill -7 pm
Heath Brothers with Jimmy and Tootie Heath and Jeb Patton and David Wong; and
Bobby Hutcherson Tribute band with Renee Rosnes, Ray Drummond, Victor Lewis and Steve Nelson

June 4, Sunday – Jackson Theater – 7 pm
Pacific Mambo Orchestra 20 Piece Big Band; also Dance Lessons with Santa Rosa Salsa

June 5, Monday, Dry Creek Kitchen – 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Ricardo Peixoto Trio with Peter Barshay and Kendrick Freeman.

June 6, Tuesday, Healdsburg Plaza – 6 – 8 pm
Carlitos Medrano & Sabor De Mi Cuba, free concert in the Plaza

June 7, Wednesday – Spoonbar, Wednesday – Two Dinner Shows 6 pm and 8 pm
John Santos Quartet with guest spoken word artist Rico Pabón including Saul Sierra, Marco Diaz and David Flores

June 8, Thursday, Healdsburg SHED – Two shows, 7 and 9 pm
Kenny Garrett Quintet (replaces John Abercrombie Trio)

June 9, Friday, Raven Theater – 7:30 pm
Lavay Smith and Her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers – “Lady Sings the Blues”. Opening the concert will be the winner of the Student Jazz Combo Competition

June 10, Saturday, Raven Theater – 7:30 pm
Joe Lovano Classic Quartet with Lawrence Fields, Peter Slavov and Lamy Istrefi

June 10, Saturday, Hotel Healdsburg – 8:30 to 11:30 pm
Harvey Wainapel Quartet with Adam Schulman, Peter Barshay and Sylvia Cuenca

June 11, Sunday, Raven Theater – 1 to 3 pm
The Django All-Stars, direct from France with Samson Schmitt (the son of group founder Dorado Schmitt), Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blanchard, Doudou Cuillerier and Antonio Licusati

June 11, Sunday, Raven Theater – 7 pm
History of Traditional New Orleans Music:
Henry Butler Solo Piano and Vocals, and the Russian River Ramblers

For more information:
http://www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org/

Tickets:
$25 – $75, depending on event
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/13519

Various Locations.

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Natural History Walk and Picnic with Kevin Munroe
Laguna Environmental Center
Friday, June 9, 2017 @ 5:30pm

Join us for this special full-moon exploration of Irwin Creek and Lower Stone Farm!
This evening adventure includes a picnic dinner alongside the Laguna in an area not usually open to the public. Bring your own picnic, and we’ll provide the hors d’oeuvres, dessert and hot drinks! On this 1.5 to 2 mile walk, over mostly flat but uneven terrain, we’ll explore the beautiful area’s animal and plant life and learn about the history of Stone Farm and the on-going collaborative restoration work that’s bringing back a thriving ecosystem. We’ll also focus on the critters large and small that come out at dusk and the plants used in restoration work that support wildlife, water quality, and us all. Starting in Heron Hall with hors d’oeuvres and a brief presentation, we’ll head out for a leisurely amble across the picturesque hay field to Irwin Creek, and across Sanford Rd. to quiet Lower Stone Farm and the Laguna channel, where we’ll enjoy our picnic dinners (tarps to sit on provided). We’ll start heading back after sunset, keeping our ears and eyes open for resident owls, coyotes, egrets, river otters, mink, frogs, bats and any other emerging evening wildlife. Back at cozy Heron Hall, we’ll enjoy yummy dessert and hot drinks.

Kevin Munroe is the Laguna Foundation’s Executive Director. Kevin developed his passion as a naturalist in early childhood and subsequently transformed this interest into a rich career that includes conservation resource management, restoration, and environmental education. Among his accomplishments was leading a 50-acre wetland restoration project within Huntley Meadows Park, a well-known park in Fairfax County’s Potomac River Watershed, roughly 12 miles NE of Washington, D.C. In his diverse career, Kevin has excelled in building community partnerships, diversifying fundraising activities, and working with a variety of public and private agencies that include the Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Services, the Audubon Society, and more.

Suitable for adults and youth 9 years old and up (children must be accompanied by an adult).

Heavy/significant rain cancels (with full refund.)

Admission:
$30. Pre-registration required
http://www.lagunafoundation.org/laguna_walks_classes.shtml

Location:
Laguna Environmental Center
900 Sanford Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 527-9277

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Celebrate Foster Care in Sonoma County
Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
Thursday, May 25th, 2017 @ 5:00pm

The Sonoma County Coalition for Foster Youth is a collaborative group of youth and adults from various backgrounds who are committed to supporting current and former foster youth in Sonoma County.

Join us as we Celebrate Foster Care in Sonoma County! Whether you’re a young person interested in resources available to you or a community member curious about how you can support Sonoma County youth, this event is for you!

This FREE event will include:
Free Food! Raffles and Prizes! Jump House! Games and Activities! A dunk tank featuring Child Welfare Director Nick Honey! Information about Resources! Chances to Learn about Becoming a Foster Parent!

Music provided by DJ Dax of Dax Entertainment!

Participating organizations to date:
Napa/Sonoma Chapter CYC
CASA of Sonoma County
Sonoma County Family, Youth, & Children’s Services
Junior League of Napa-Sonoma JLNS
Social Advocates for Youth – SAY
Impact100 Sonoma
TLC Child & Family Services
Community Support Network
Sonoma County Children’s Village
Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation
V.O.I.C.E.S. Sonoma
Sonoma County Office of Education
Sonoma County Job Link
Project Blue
The SCMAA Foundation

Admission is Free.

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1867424396831784

Location:
Old Courthouse Square
Santa Rosa, CA 95404

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A Taste of the Wild
Jack London State Historic Park
Friday, June 9th, 2017 @ 6:00pm

A tasty evening of food and wine pairing in the historic Winery Ruins

Inspired by Jack London’s adventurous spirit, five local restaurants will convert a regular dish and by adding a spicy, special twist to elevate it from ordinary food to an “untamed” masterpiece, while pairing it with one of the four Kenwood Vineyards wines grown at Jack London’s Beauty Ranch—Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah. Participating Sonoma Valley restaurants include Yeti, Palooza Gastropub and Wine Bar, Tips Roadside, El Brinquito, and Sweet Scoops. As guests enjoy a tasty adventure and sip delicious wines, restaurants will compete to be chosen the diners “Favorite Restaurant” in a contest that will culminate with the winner announced at the end of the evening. Throughout the event, tasters will be kept loose and lively by the Sonoma-based dance band Loosely Covered; plus, they will have the opportunity to learn more about the wines from the winemakers at Kenwood Vineyards, who will be available to discuss the distinctive qualities of each of their Jack London series of wines.

Since 1976, Kenwood Vineyards has been the exclusive producer of wines from grapes grown at the historic red lava-terraced vineyards at Jack London’s Beauty Ranch. Last year Kenwood Vineyards, announced a new partnership honoring Jack London with a three-year pledge of financial and in-kind support. As part of that neighbor relationship, the park and Kenwood Vineyards are collaborating to present “A Taste of the Wild.”

Tickets:
$75 Adults
http://jacklondonpark.com/taste-of-wild.html

Location:
Jack London State Park Winery Ruins
2400 London Ranch Road
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 938-5216

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Funky Fridays Concert Series
Hood Mansion
Friday, May 26th – Friday, September 1st, 2017 @ 7:00pm

Funky Fridays is family-oriented for kids and adults of all ages in a festival-like atmosphere including live music, dancing and picnicking. Gates open at 5:30 PM and concert-goers can park in one of three parking lots in the Los Guilicos complex.

The 15-week FUNdraiser for Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation offers live music from some of the best bands of Northern California, 7 to 9 PM.

2017 Schedule:
May 26 – The Bruthas
June 2 – RoseTown Soul and R&B Revue
June 9 – Stax City
June 16 – Volker Strifler
June 23 – Hour of Tower
June 30 – Funky Dozen
July 7 – The BluesBurners
July 14 – Gator Nation
July 21 – Soul Fuse
July 28 – The Poyntlyss Sistars
August 4 – Frobeck
August 11 – Dylan Black Project
August 18 – The Soulshine Blues Band
August 25 – The Jami Jamison Band
September 1 – A Case of the Willys

Tickets:
$10 Adults
Kids (18 and under) FREE.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2885697

Parking is $10 per vehicle or FREE with a Regional Parks pass. Advance ticket sales are available online through this website.

More information:
(707) 833-6288
funkyfridays@sonic.net
http://www.funkyfridays.info

Location:
Hood Mansion, front lawn
1450 N Pythian Road, off Hwy 12
Santa Rosa, CA 95409

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CalFresh Clinic
Redwood Empire Food Bank
Saturday, May 20th, 2017

It’s CalFresh Awareness Month, and the Redwood Empire Food Bank will be celebrating by helping our neighbors stretch their food budgets! The REFB is offering a CalFresh Clinic at the monthly Food Plaza distribution, open to everyone! Our friendly, bilingual Food Connections team will be offering CalFresh pre-screenings and application assistance between 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm.

You can also call Food Connections anytime before the 20th to have your pre-screening interview conducted over the phone!

For more information:
(707) 523-7903, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm.

Location:
Redwood Empire Food Bank
3990 Brickway Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 523-7900

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2017 Home & Garden Tour
Food For Thought
Sunday, May 28th, 2017

The 22nd annual Spring Home & Garden Tour is a self-guided tour of several Sonoma County private homes and gardens. Enjoy viewing native plants and trees, breathtaking views, a bountiful rose garden, and more!

All proceeds provide food and nutrition services for Sonoma County residents living with HIV and other serious illnesses.

Tickets:
$50 General
Box lunch available for $15
http://fftfoodbank.org/2017-home-garden-tour

Location:
Food For Thought
6550 Railroad Avenue
Forestville, CA 95436
(707) 887-1647
Info@FFTFoodBank.org

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Jewish Cultural Festival – Simcha Sunday 2017
Sonoma Mountain Village
Sunday, May 21st, 2017 @ 12:00pm

Celebrating all things Jewish!
Bring your friends, family and out of town guests to this great annual community event!

Meet Jewish Sonoma County! Information tables from local and Bay Area organizations.
Facepainting, twisted balloons, magic show, jumpy house, ice cream, arts & crafts, camp chai sing-a-long, giants bubbles, and games for the kids!

Live stage entertainment:
Gale Kissin, Rick Concoff’s Serenade, Elon’s Loose Leaf, Jubilee Klezmer & Jeff Diamond and Friends, and Laurie Lippin

Artisians & crafts people:
Nina Bonos, Della Littwin, Karren Rhodes, Personality Plus

Sally Tomatoes Café Menu:
Corn Beef Sandwich on good rye.
(served with slice of dill pickle, and homemade chips, potato salad, or cole slaw!)
Jumbo Kosher hot dog (with sauerkraut, relish, and mustard)
Free Straus ice cream (while supplies last!)
Knishes imported from Saul’s Deli in Berkeley just for YOU!
Non-hosted bar, plus soda and ice tea

Plenty of free and easy parking!

Location:
Sonoma Mountain Village
1400 Valley House Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928

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