Sonoma Country Life

No Shortage of Talent in Petaluma Art Center's Small Works in Hard Times

 

Mixed media works within 10"/20"/20" opened as the annual members' exhibit at the Petaluma Art Center today, illuminating the plethora of ingenuity in artistry that abounds in naturally inspirational Southern Sonoma County and the Bay Area beyond.

Small Works in Hard Times features an eclectic range of unique pieces produced by Bay Area multi media artists such as Mike Hardin (1935 Trolley - photo # 1), Petaluma's Gail Foulkes (Sonoma oil -photo #2), Diana Marta (For our Mothers, mixed media with grandmother's blanket - photo #3).

Many of these original works are for sale, providing Art Center visitors with a terrific holiday shopping opportunity and although the exhibit runs until the New Year, purchases will be available to take home, wrap and be hidden under the tree from December 15th.

For those who are particularly fond of art depicting the Petaluma area, look out for several lovely Shollenberger Park works including a vibrant watercolor of the area by Pat Spiz. Terry Murphy's Blackberry girls brings the Sonoma County landscape to life in delicious hues of the golds and greens we are so familiar with, while Petaluma photographer Terry Hankins' Book and Trunk photo shows the well-known Argus camera man in his own light as a still life and portrait photographic artist.

In keeping with the theme of Small Work in Hard Times, artists Judie Cosmo Peterson and Michele Flannery's 'Foreclosure, Left Behind" watercolor on graphite and "Demise of Business" collage and acrylic are a poignant reminder of art as an excellent medium of recording an era. 

One of the most outstanding pieces on display is Hella Merrill's Tomales Bay Patina on brass, rather like standing on a bank by the bay in awe of the slowly setting November sun brushing the waters with a murky, golden wash. 

What's more, the Art Center exhibits are free to attend and a welcome respite whilst red-light stop-starting across town. Pull into the ample parking lot (from East Washington) next time you are down near Lakeville between East Washington and D Streets and take a time-out from your errands to get lost in the art of extraordinary, ordinary people whose holidays will be all the brigher for a hard times sale!

Artists in the area are invited to a salon series at the Art Center November 19th, December 3rd and December 17th. Share your experience as an artist here in Sonoma County and hear how others are handling the economic pressures of today's environment. Art in Hard Times Here and Now addresses how art contributes to community, the economy, youth, society in hard times, what resources are available to artists in the area for inspiration, creation of art, marketing and sales while looking closely at how artists have been responding and overcoming a recession-hit marketplace. Suggested donation per session - $3.

Petaluma Art Center is located at 230 Lakeville Street, Petaluma and is open Thurs.- Mon., noon to 4:00 p.m. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).Call 707 762 5600.

PHS Opens Plaza Suite - An Uproarious Three Act Play in Room 719

Talented cast and crew of Petaluma High School's ambitious Fall production of sophisticated Neil Simon's Plaza Suite pulled off an astonishingly grand and entertaining opening night show, Thursday - launching a six show run which extends this evening (Friday 13th November), Saturday 14th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th and Saturday November 21st at 7.30 pm. 

Three first time directors (Jessica Dennen - Act I - Visitor from Mamaroneck, Laura Stevick Act II - Visitor from Hollywood and Bob Kind - Act III - Visitor from Forest Hills) stepped in with combined enthusiasm and dedication to support Producer/Second Director Jonathan Knox bring live theater back to the school stage this season after Fall production prospects had looked a little shaky.

With the monumental task ahead of them in a few short weeks, the trio of intrepid directors crafted an awesome, compact cast of student actors to tackle such meaty, grown-up comedic material cleverly molded in three acts from the end of an American era so completely alien to today's liberated young. 

Marvelous pairing of Maddie Jenson and Andy Doll opened Act I with a slowly explosive unfolding of a faded marriage as wedding anniversary room guests Karen and Sam Nash (the couple from Mamaroneck).

In Act II it would have been easy to say that the fabulous Casey Holmberg stole the show as Hollywood big-wig back East to oh-so-slyly take advantage of his former high school sweetheart, yet the delightful Maddi Scarbrough balanced the spot-lit boards as his prey, the manipulated, man-handled Muriel Tate and the performance made for a raising of the bar to which each unique Act was more than able to uphold.

By the time Act III roled around the audience was in stitches at the hilarious scenario in suite 719 as Sierra Kind and Joe Kowalski completely commanded an extreme-stress-scenario in classic comedic spousal casting as parents of the bride who won't come out of the loo for her wedding. Considerably more statuesque than floor-pacing, hand-wringing, ledge-scaling, door-punching Roy Hubley (Visitor from Forest Hills), Sierra was a scream as fellow panic-ridden parent, the glove-toting Norma Hubley.

Costumes (Heidi Kind and Erin Stoll) were spot on for the 60s and the set, designed and constructed by Mike Long, Jeff Scarbrough, Bob Kind and Eric Schleth was one of the best I have seen for a high school play. 

In this season of big cinematic box-office releases, it is still such a far more thrilling experience to watch live theater in action, locally all the more so and with such remarkable passion from all involved.

Petaluma High School Multi Purpose Room, located on Fair Street. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors.

Petaluma's Vital Veterans Day Parade Packs in the Crowds

Not too many years back the annual Veterans Day Parade here in Petaluma had begun to dwindle somewhat. Fat times, you recall. Now that we have returned to grace somewhat as a re-thinking nation, the people of Sonoma County continue to count their blessings and packed the streets of their home town by the hundreds to salute an hour-long procession to honor the fallen and the continually brave. Not only for our American troops were the flag-waving, cheering crowds content to show their collective support for goodwill toward all men and women of the armed forces, at home, abroad and throughout the allied lands.

Today in London the Queen of England led her country from glorious Westminster Abbey in observing a two-minute, mid-morning silence for the "passing of a generation". The special service marked the deaths this year of the final three World War I veterans residing in the UK.

Meanwhile, stateside, President Obama spoke eloquently at Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the end of World War I. As he prepares for the prospect of deploying thousands more American troops to  Afghanistan, Obama pledged: "As long as I am Commander in Chief, I am going to do right by them. American will not let you down, we will take care of our own."

Watching old soldiers and younger members of today's armed forces proudly pace the well trodden Veterans Day Parade route through sunny downtown Petaluma today, well-wishers could only imagine a day when this country will have ceased its present at-war state.

 

Debut for New Look San Francisco Chronicle

Pedaling away furiously at 24 hour fitness first thing this a.m whilst setting the world to rights with Lesley on the neighboring bike (who just-so happened to have found a rare 45 minute window in her usual morning role as bustling coffee shop proprietress), I noticed that the guy in front was flashing around a copy of the all-new, color magazine print style San Fran Chronicle.

Not being a subscriber myself (due to the fact that I reside in the boonies of the North Bay and very little in the Chron relates even remotely to those of us content to forage around in the seemingly mysterious outer realms of the greater Bay Area.)

Though judging by the rather meager content in today's dazzling, debut, new-look Chron ( I had the Italian husband driving all over the West Side here in P'Town this evening in search of a remaining copy - so clearly we hicks can in fact be tempted by a little splash of color and the silken promise of a bright new future for print media) there's really very little about local Bay Area life (other than the bridge and obligatory sports) to bring tears of nostalgia to the eyes of either long-time or reunited readers.

The majority of the main section was made up of associated press and NY Times syndicated news which is such an insufferable shame when readers are looking for authentic voice. Unlike most of the on-line critics of the new, tabloid-style layout, I don't think it's all that shocking or off-putting, except perhaps for the sudden brevity of reporting compared to the in depth traditions of the American traditional press. And I'm not too sure that the oversizing of lush, color photography doesn't add insult to the educated reader.

When I started my journalistic career in the far corners of the Cambridgeshire Fens back in an England of the late 80s I remember being told that standard reporting should be comprehensible to an average 14-year-old. I guess that's where we're going with the Chronicle, but the question begs to be asked. Does the average Bay Area 14-year old in Mill Valley, Richmond and San Leandro find the new look Chron a slam dunk for daily digestion?

As for me, I'll give it another go on the weekend. Take a look at the British Daily Telegraph, Times and the Sunday Times, think-tank members at the SF Chron, there are success stories out there in print media land, but will this be one of them?

Pizza and Politics in Petaluma

Look who I captured on my phone cam whilst strolling homeward along B Street, in West Petaluma yesterday afternoon. None other than the flour-fingered, politically involved Naomi of Pizza Politana as she deftly dealt with a mound of the day's softest, fluffy, white dough for a fleet of delicious, wood oven artisan pizzas to please the crowd at Lynn Woolsey for Congress fundraiser at Petaluma Women's Club. With supporters from all over the North Bay in town for the afternoon, Pizza Politana was a warm welcome to Petaluma, showcasing the best of the best of our regional produce and family owned business. After all, that's what it's all about.

Men in Purple - Pressing of the New Wine

Having just slightly miscalculated the volume of juice he was about to extract in the garagiste's lair last night, the Italian husband was fortunate to have the help of a few good men (in purple - hands, feet, shirts!) to force the season's new wine through traditional press and into the barrel beyond.

And it just goes to show that German muscle, determination and technology (in the form of good friend, Rob Brockman, who innocently 'popped'  by to see the action en route to Cucina Paradiso for a civilized Friday night dinner with Karen) does succeed in kicking the casual Italians into top gear.

After shedding top layers (to keep clean for his supper at Cucina!), Rob was a one-man power house at the press, squeezing at least a couple more gallons than would have emerged had he not been on the spot and willing to get stuck in!

Pressing the new wine is a messy affair, let me tell you. Not for the faint of heart and certainly not for the house proud when the wine making process takes place at home.

What a massive sigh of relief when the last drop has been officially declared and our friend Mike hauls away the shallow skins for his happy cows.

It's done and dusted for another year, with the garagiste hard at it this morning with a power washer and a wicked clean up mission.

Noelle's Big Night - Petaluma Businesswoman and Women's Initiative Grad Award Winner

Three huge cheers for Petaluma's own Noelle Marshall of One Planet Global Handcrafted Fair Trade Store who scooped a major award for women in business from the Bay Area Women's Initiative - Marin County.

Noelle, a graduate of the ultra-educational, motivational and ultimately empowering Women's Initiative Program was recognized at a special red-carpet ceremony at Marin's R.A.B Motors, along with eight other outstanding North Bay Women in Business, including the Book Passage's Elaine Petrocelli, Bernice Baeza of Larkspur's Lark Theater, Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell of Equator Coffees, Kim Juarez of LOLA, Lydia Kindheart of Lydia's Organics and Lydia's Lovin Foods, Mary Loveland of Indigo Healing Arts, Molly Robbins of LicenZing and Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter of Serena and Lily.

The evening's presentation highlighted North Bay women in business at the plethora of successful entrepreneurship within the community alongside fledgling entrepreneurs such as Noelle, who share a common ground of embracing business models that give back through job creation, mentoring, innovation and visionary community outreach.

To shop for the holiday season from Bar Area Womens Initative member businesses, check out the wi orange pages  and help create quality jobs for future Women's Initiative Graduates by boosting the ability for current business owners to continue to inspire and mentor thousands of new members looking to establish new businesses each year. 

Noelle is readying for a busy holiday shopping season, as more and more of the community look to Fair Trade goods as a more meaningful way to gift and to recieve. Stop by to congratulate Noelle and have a browse goods from more than 20 developing countries at 4 Fourth Street in historic downtown Petaluma.

Dickens Dominates Upcoming Holiday Festivities

Consumed today's first reviews of Disney's A Christmas Carol with baited breath in case Dickens' most beloved, Victorian holiday story had been mishandled in any small way. With modern animation magician Robert Zemeckis (The Polar Express) at the helm and the one and only Jim Carrey infiltrating the very soul of Scrooge, the critics have been frolicking around like Fezziwig at the warehouse, leaping to new heights to applause the season's most anticipated cinematic offering.

Told the boys we'd wait until the holidays were actually here to head downtown to the Boulevard Theater and claim our seats for the festive ride of the year, though after absorbing the reviews I seriously doubt my own self-will to wait that long.

My soft spot for Dickens and his A Christmas Carol is revealed via my own particularly English brand of 'dulcet tones' , recorded at the 800 line for the upcoming San Francisco Great Dickens Christmas Fair! Call toll free on (800) 510-1558 for info and directions and details on how to pre-purchase tickets for the most fantastic Victorian Christmas card come to life:

FOUR WEEKENDS
including the FRIDAY
after Thanksgiving!
Fri. Nov. 27 thru
Sun. Dec. 20, 2009
11am-7pm
In the Cow Palace
Exhibition Halls

 It's one thing to immerse ourselves in the deep, dark depths of candlelit London in the comfort of a cinema auditorium and quite another thing altogether to wander the lamplit streets of the fantastic Dickens Fair, brushing shoulders with the literary likes of Nancy and Oliver, Mr Fezziwig and his family, even the maestro himself is approachable to the time-traveling visitor willing to participate in real life, festive living history of the unbeatable Victorian variety.

And while I'm on the subject, I'm just wrapping up a read of author Mathew Pearl's "The Last Dickens" which I picked up on a mad dash through Heathrow Aiport en-route back to California from England romps this summer. It sat on my bedside table for quite some time as I ploughed through a pile of great books that took me on a literary tour of various regions of the world. Waiting for the air to chill, Dickens would have his way before the winter and Pearl's novel, fictional approach to uncovering the mysteries of Dickens' unfinished, final "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" has forged an exceptionally fascinating link between the epic writer's extraordinary successes in the USA and the inspiration behind his enduring characters.  

2009 Community Crush Season at Petaluma's McEvoy Olive Ranch

 

The rush to crush may be over in the wine world here in Sonoma County, but the next mad dash is hot on its heels - for Tuscan-varietal olive trees are a ripe for the picking and Petaluma's magical McEvoy Ranch makes it ever-so-easy for producing community crush oil.

In addition to milling McEvoy's own olive fruit, the ranch offers its Rapanelli mill and expert oil makers to other growers in the region. "We can mill your olives with our stone wheels or with one of our two blade mills. Our commitment to making high quality oil continues in our custom milling program, giving our customers the best possible oil that can be made from their fruit," says the web site for the scenic west Petaluma ranch positioned right along the border with West Marin off the D Street extension.

Due to the size of the McEvoy mill there is a 250 lb minimum for individual custom milling; those growers with fewer than 250 lbs of olives are invited to join one of two 2009 community mill days: Sunday November 15 or Sunday December 5. Price per lb of fruit: $1.00

For customers with small quantities of fruit who want to pool together with other growers, Tuscan olive varieties and all other varieties will be milled in two separate batches. Arrive between 9 and 12 p.m on either Sunda, preferably having picked your fruit the day before milling, keeping it dry and cool.

Alternatively, charge is $450.00/ton for custom milling (250 lb minumum) and the McEvoy mill is open from late-October to mid-December. Reservations can be made with Shari DeJoseph (shari@mcevoyranch.com 707-769-4100.

Bring your own oil containers (well-marked with your name) unless you would like to purchase them from McEvoy Ranch. Plan on 1 gallon from approximately 60 to 80 lbs of fruit depending on the overall ripeness.Fruit will be weighed and charged accordingly upon acceptance. Due to the amount of time to calculate and divide up everybody’s share of the oil, the following Tuesday is the designated pick-up day.

If the weather is looking wet, be sure to check with Samantha Dorsey at 707-769-4123 or samantha@mcevoyranch.com.

Fruit which is very badly damaged by olive fly will not be included in the milling and leaves must be thoroughly discarded. Thanks to Teela Ridgeway for reminding me and many more Tuscan olive tree growers in and around west Petaluma to get on with our annual harvest and participate. Teela is a passionate protector of the Petaluma olives, having launched a program last year to hand pick practically every unwanted specimen in town in order to protect growers like herself and husband Mike from having to endure a potential olive fly infestation that would swiftly swamp the area. It is really imperative not to leave unwanted olive fruit hanging or rotting on the ground. And why would you when the offer to conveniently produce your own house oil awaits at McEvoy?

Dinner and an Aerodynamic Date with Amelia

It's always advisable to travel on a full tummy and Sugo Trattoria on the Boulevard fit the bill for this evening's bite of supper prior to adventure's in cinematic exploration with Amelia.

My dinner date declared a dish of housemade pappardelle, rotisserie chicken, wild mushrooms, pistachios in a spicy broth just the ticket for taking on Ms Earhart's intrepid life story while I myself opted for even heartier fayre with the simmering special of slow braised short ribs in a red wine sauce over rigatoni. 

Having lunched at Sugo's several times over the past few months, I'd not had an opportunity to sample the cozy, yet stylish Trattoria's dinner menu. Suffice to say this is surely one of the best Monday night pre-movie dining spots in P'Town. 

"Defying the impossible, Living the Dream," Amelia Earhart vanished somewhere over the Pacific on July 2nd, 1937, but not before she had astonished the world with her own brand of historic feminine verve for brave solo discovery of the friendly skies.

On film, rather too much of the love story of which who really knew how much of it was true and not nearly enough of the fundamentals of Amelia herself. Though the planes and the clothes and the scenery were pretty fantastic. Kissing Richard Gere then Ewan McGregor, the Richard Gere again can't have been half bad, either and Hilary Swank's styling as the great Amelia was superb. 

One thing that really bugged me, however, is not knowing what a solo transatlantic pilot would have to do when she needed to pee?