Out, About & Around the County
The Writers Forum of Petaluma will present Ransom Stephens who will discuss The Writers Toolbox: The irony of effective dialog. Dialog brings characters to life, but it's tricky. With plenty of fun examples and exercises, Stephens teaches you how to write fresh, crisp dialog that resonates character and keeps stories moving. Stephens is a novelist, science writer, speaker, and physicist. His first novel, The God Patent, was “the first debut novel to emerge from the new paradigm of online publishing” according to the SF Chronicle and has spent over a year on several top ten lists. His second novel, The Sensory Deception, is forthcoming. His lecture will take place May 17, 7-9 p.m. $15 admission charge.
Info: www.thewritespot.us. Petaluma Community Center, 320 No. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma.
Wish you could turn out party fare for friends that has them coming back for seconds and asking for your recipes? Chef Sarah Pinkin knows how to cook up a mouthwatering menu that is easy to follow and will garner two-thumbs-up from your family and friends. From the amazing Pub Style 50/50 Sliders to the delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding, Chef Pinkin gives you the skills and tips that will turn your gathering into a culinary triumph. Pair those skills and that menu with the food-friendly beers of Lagunitas Brewing Company in an evening for the ultimate food and beer lover. This hands-on Ramekins class, Favorites from Murphy's Pub with Chef Sarah Pinkin and Lagunitas Brewing Company, will take place May 18, 6:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Cost $110.
Info: 933-0450. Ramekins, 450 W. Spain St., Sonoma.
Enmanji Buddhist Temple and the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League will host a benefit dinner for the relief and recovery efforts in Japan on Saturday, May 19, 2-5 p.m. This is the second Japan relief benefit dinner organized by Enmanji and Sonoma County JACL. The first event, which was held soon after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011, raised $26,000 with almost 400 community members gathering in support of the cause. Enmanji and JACL are calling for support from the community again, since even after one year the disaster-stricken regions in Eastern Japan are facing significant challenges in their rebuilding efforts. With tens of thousands of people still homeless or living in temporary housing, continuous financial support is much needed. The Italian dinner is generously donated by “The Pasta King” Art Ibleto. This event is open to public. Donations are graciously accepted at the door. There will also be live music, raffle, and bake sale.
Info: 829-5419, info@sonomacojacl.org. Enmanji Temple, 1200 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol.
What do Buffy the vampire slayer and Katniss the Cattail have in common with Scarlett O'Hara and Psyche? For mythologist Valerie Estelle Frankel, they are all examples of heroines, and on Sunday, May 20, 3-5 p.m., at the regular Redwood Writers meeting, she'll take you on a whirlwind tour of their paths through classical and modern literature. Frankel is the author of From Girl to Goddess: The Heroine's Journey in Myth and Legend, the first book to examine the heroine's epic quest in women's mythology the world over. Her books on pop culture, Buffy and the Heroine's Journey, and Katniss the Cattail: An Unauthorized Guide to Names and Symbols in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, have just been released. Admission is $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers.
Info: 478-1460, www.redwoodwriters.org. Flamingo Hotel, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
Join Dolphin Charters for a three-hour narrated history and natural history cruise on the scenic Petaluma River. The boat leaves from the turning basin in downtown Petaluma, journeys downriver and returns. Each cruise accommodates a maximum of 30 people, and children must be eight years or older. The cost is $35 per person with a portion of the proceeds going to The Friends of the Petaluma River. Reservations are requested and payment can be made by check or credit card. The cruises will run on May 19 and 20, 1-4 p.m.
Info: 510-527-9622, www.dolphincharters.com.
The “Spirit of the Man” is an exciting new sculpture exhibition at Paradise Ridge Winery opening May 20, 1-4 p.m. This yearlong show features 36 major works by sculptors based locally and throughout the United States. More than an art exhibition, The Spirit of the Man honors artist and art patron Al Voight, cofounder of the Voight Family Sculpture Foundation, who passed away in 2011. Al's generosity and artistic vision are widely recognized for boosting the quality and quantity of public art in Northern California. The show will include significant woks by world-renowned sculptors including local artists Bryan Tedrick and Doug Unkrey, among others.
Info: www.thespiritoftheman.com. Paradise Ridge Winery, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa.
The very talented Vintage House Singers, under the direction of JoAnne Connor, will present “Gershwin & Friends” at their annual spring concerts on Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m., and Friday, May 25, at 1:30 p.m. The concerts will take place at Vintage House in Sonoma. Plan to attend for an enjoyable event featuring several solo performances. The concerts are free and open to the community.
Info: Vintage House, 264 First Street East, Sonoma.
On May 30 at 7 p.m., Gordon Medical Associates presents Jane Kennedy NP, MN, MPH, who will explore mid-life body change issues with the topic Menopause, Men, Women & Hormones. Kennedy, whose training includes studies with renowned experts such as Dr. Bernie Siegel and Dr. Andrew Weil, will offer useful information and answer questions from the audience. People interested in learning about hormones, menopause, andropause, and other mid-life related medical issues are invited to attend. Topics will include shifting body physiology, stress, and the inclusion of all aspects of health when addressing hormone issues. This lecture is free and open to the public.
Info: 575-5180, www.gordonmedical.com. Gordon Medical Associates, 3471 Regional Parkway, Santa Rosa.
The World Affairs Council of Sonoma County will present Arab Spring or Arab Freeze?- Prospects for Democracy in the Arab World with Larry Diamond, author and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institute and at Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. His latest book is The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies Throughout the World. The Arab world has been seized by a series of popular uprisings seeking human dignity, political accountability and freedom. Arab authoritarian regimes have come under challenge as never before. Some regimes responded with efforts at reform, others with naked repression. Mr. Diamond will discuss the prospects for democratic change in the region and the implications for U.S. foreign policy. The lecture is May 31, 7:30 p.m. Members and SLV residents free, visitors $5.
Info: 573-6014, wacscca@gmail.com. Spring Lake Village Auditorium, 5555 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa.
Are you interested in growing more healthful food for yourself and your family? Do you already garden, but could benefit from more specific skills and information? Sonoma County Regional Parks and iGROW Sonoma are offering a series of specialty gardening workshops for beginners and experienced gardeners. The classes will be taught at Tolay Lake Regional Park by Stefan Stehling of Work Horse Organic Agriculture, Wendy Krupnick, a veteran of North Coast organic farming, and Cheryl Witte, an experienced garden manager for several youth gardens. The first class, June 2, 1-3 p.m., is “Success with Seeds and Starts: Growing your own transplants.” Buying transplants at a nursery is convenient, but can cost more than using seeds, and offers limited choices or lesser quality plants. Although starting some seeds without a greenhouse can be challenging, others are easy to grow in most home situations. This class will discuss how to choose among varieties, look at several seed sources, and go over the requirements for growing healthy seedlings. $30 suggested donation, $20 for Regional Parks members.
Info: 565-2041, www.sonoma-county.org/parks.
You may have seen the 60 Minutes segment last month called “Joy in the Congo” about a symphony orchestra in Central Africa. On June 1 you'll have a chance to view the award winning documentary that started it all. Kinshasa Symphony is a study of people in one of the world's most chaotic cities doing their best to maintain one the most complex systems of joint human endeavor - a symphony orchestra. The film is about the Congo, the people of Kinshasa and the joy of making music. Come to Vintage House on June 1 at 1:30 p.m. for this free showing. Donations graciously accepted.
Info/RSVP: 996-0311. Vintage House, 264 First Street East, Sonoma.
The 2nd annual Tour de Coop takes place on Saturday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chicken owners from all over Sonoma Valley will open their “roosts” to chicken lovers to learn all about the benefits of keeping chickens while viewing coops that range from rustic to fancy. There are 10 homes on this year's tour, including the home of Sam Mogannam, owner of Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco. Participants will also be treated to light food and beverages at each stop on the self-guided tour. Participants will receive a map of the various homes, and can tour the coops at their own leisurely pace. Tickets are $20 (children 12 and under are free) and are available for purchase Saturdays at the Harvest Market at Sonoma Garden Park, or on Brown Paper Tickets which can be accessed by visiting the Sonoma Ecology Center website
Info: www.sonomaecologycenter.org. Sonoma Garden Park, 19996 Seventh Street East, Sonoma.
