Sonoma Country Life

Light a Lantern for Petaluma's Heritage Homes Holiday Parlor Tour this Sunday

This year's Petaluma Heritage Home Holiday Parlor Tour (Sunday, December 6th, 2009) features five homes and an authentic, Victorian horse-drawn surrey for a genteel travail up and down stately D street.

Evening entertainment begins with a free and festive Wings of Glory Gospel Christmas Concert from 5-6pm at Historic St. John's Episcopal Church.

Don't miss Sara Dooley's outstanding welcome as hostess and acclaimed classical vocalist singing traditional carols in her gracious 30 Brown Court home (below), freshly decorated for Christmas as one of this year's most sumptuously situated historical homes on tour.

You can also pick up tickets in downtown Petaluma at Marisa's Christmas Fantasia, Tuscan Gardens, Petaluma Museum, Copperfield's Books. Also at Think Biz in the G&G Shopping Center and at St. John's from 4:30-7:30, on the evening of the tour. $15 adults, Children FREE (accompanied by an adult).

Heritage Homes was founded back in 1967 to protect the unique character of the Petaluma area by encouraging preservation and restoration of vintage buildings that have historic, architectural, or cultural significance. Halloween and Winter Holiday parlor tours provide fantastic opportunities for a glimpse inside of these architectural beauties at their seasonal best.

Petaluma Educational Foundation's Gift of Live Theater for 1,000 City School Kids

If there was ever any doubt that today's young, digital generation can only benefit in expanding their fast-tracked, high-tech, increasingly short attention spans, a live theatrical performance of a classic simply hammers it home in the most fundamental of methods.

For during an informative 'question and answer' session with the two traveling troubadours who'd performed an exuberant short of the world's most popular seasonal show, one eleven-year-old lad asked quite innocently if the play was produced after this winter's movie release of a flick with the same name.

"Well," replied one of the two Greg's who have trodden the planks of Petaluma's stages multiple times in the past eight years (thanks to the annual generosity of PEF) "That's actually a very good question," said he. "The movie A Christmas Carol has increased the popularity of the story, but it has been known around the globe for over 150 years. There was a book, you should read it."

Catching the eye of a teacher seated across the aisle, the poignancy of this moment wasn't missed! When PEF first started bringing the Traveling Lantern Company back to town (original founding partners, Peter and Ann Wengraf were a popular pair of Petaluma residents who moved back to the UK several years ago) many of the city's elementary school students had not seen live theater in their lifetime. Now that they are able to attend a performance at least once each year, there has been a 100% hand raising in the young audience for those who have enjoyed live theater.

In order to continue to offer cultural enrichment programs, grants for innovative classroom programs and scholarships for city-wide high school's outstanding grads, PEF relies on private donations from the businesses and corporations of Petaluma and supportive families and individuals. Read more about PEF in the foundation's holiday newsletter and pass along the link to friends and family.

Sushi Thanksgiving Starters with John and Yoko

Thanksgiving's multicultural status rose up a notch for Scribbles Daily here this year with the addition of John, Yoko and a platter of sensational handmade sushi starters at Yolanda and Jose's annual Santa Rosa gathering. 

Expanding the international transplant circle from Italian/German/Peruvian/Mexican and British to embrace John and Yoko's (fabulously absolute, real names, I kid-you-not) Scottish/Japanese combo was even more of a boost to the multicultural extravaganza of 6 native born Nor Cal teens of marvelous mixed heritage, three pre-teens and an end-table of immigrant/American citizen hybrid collection of eight good friends whose communal toast was to the joy-at-hand of the proverbial melting-pot.

Peter's home made lamb and veggie samosas flew off the platter following the sushi-go-round in what was nothing short of a smorgasbord of international, pot-luck offerings and a safe ride home before the rain came in.

Traditional, alternative, rowdy or quiet, hope your Thanksgiving was a happy one!

Absolute Abalone

The lovely Lori did a smashing job of tenderizing an end-of-season Abalone catch plucked fresh from the North Coast by intrepid Dave and husband of November birthday girl, Jennifer. What a fleet of delicious dishes it made, in a variety of incantations, my favorite being the simple lemon, butter, caper combo whipped up in a red-hot, stove-top skillet.

So, what's the skinny on Abalone, that luxury dish that most of us here in California salivate over widely when in the good fortune to be in the company of a sport diver?

Sport harvesting of California's red abalone is legal with a CA state fishing license and an abalone stamp card that comes with a set of 24 tags  (abalone has to be tagged as soon as it has been harvested from the Pacific).

Abalone has to be caught legally by using breath-hold techniques or shorepicking, with a minimum size of seven inches across the shell and no more than three a day, or 24 a season, from April to November, excluding July. Absolutely no scuba diving allowed for abalone here in California and anything south of the mouth of the SF Bay is strictly prohibited as are the taking of black, white, pink and flat abalone, which are all protected by law.

Wetsuited abalone divers don mask, snorkel, weight belt and a gauge and an abalone iron - utilized for prying the abalone from the rock before it has fully clamped down. Boats, tube floats and kayaks are commonly used to carry divers only a short distance off the shore.

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.

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.  

Yard Dogs Roadshow - Bringing Vaudeville Back Where it Belongs

Scooped up a couple of the last handful of hot tickets for the sensational Yard Dogs Road Show which rip-roar-romanced the vintage boards of  Petaluma's historic downtown Mystic Theater appropriately the night before Halloween.

Yard Dogs Road Show  :"Born from the saloon vaudeville that toured the Wild West in the late 1800's and slammed into the underworld of modern American road culture" was as close a revival of the original theater's era imaginable to modern day show goers such as myself. A wild ride back through time to the unbeatable music-hall culture of Victorian underworld.

Creating: "a timeless space for the union of ancient theatrical alchemy and modern pop culture," the troupe of ultra-talented originals might best be described as a rare breed of intimate Rocky Horror Picture Show come Dickens Fair/Cirque du Soleil salon.

Self described as a 'hobo cabaret - a living patchwork of vaudeville and rock and roll', the yard Dogs Road Show was outrageously entertaining, quite simply the best thing to come to the Mystic in my book in years.

Vaudeville theater originated in London as Music Hall in the mid 1800s -  concert of songs, ribald, sentimental and patriotic with comedians, dancers, acrobats and conjurors being added to the mix as more and more members of the public partook in exhuberant audience participation of now legendary whooping and hollaring - plenty of which was heard in the halls of the Mystic on Friday night, as the troupe's illustrious individuals shocked and astonished a lively crowd. 

To Be or Not to Be

Come clean, are you a Halloween enthusiast or not? Have you been planning your look for the past six weeks or will you be one of the many friends and neighbors showing up at my door tomorrow begging for a forage in the costume box?

It's slim pickings at this stage, as the boys have had at it, draping sofas, chairs and any clear surface inside of the house with scrunched up wigs and gold, lame bomber jackets, tatty old fake fur coats, an Elvis suit, pirate attire of various shapes and sizes, face paint, fake blood (all over the bathroom counter, thanks for that), Renaissance shirts and rapper glasses. It's all coming together, in a haphazard, somewhat eccentric sort of way. At least that's what I'm told. And the fantastic thing about the offspring all being of double digits in age at this stage, is that I haven't had to go traipsing around town and county in search of some random essential costuming element.

We all here in the house remember the oldest's rather unfortunate eighth grade Edward Scissorhands episode. Then there was a series of masks, Austin Powers, that sort of thing. Way too sweaty, ultimately distressing and almost totally vision impairing to parade safely up and down D Street.

Whatever mish-mash of a creative outfit comes out of the door for last ever elementary school parade is A OK with moi. It's only been about 14 million years since the oldest was at kindergarten, maybe I should be sporting a cave woman outfit in recognition of my tenure in line to view the annual grade-school parade?

As for me, I'm still thinking along the lines of historical Petaluma chicken ranch proprietress, but haven't decided if I need to hard boil the eggs first? Italian husband tends to look at me cross eyed whenever I bring up the concept. Think he'd prefer the French Maid approach, but why be boring with such rich, cultural heritage to call on? I know, how about exhausted English/American mother, sporadic writer and wife with faint image of ghostly, golf-club toting Italian Husband somewhere in the far outreaches of background? That might be a good one.