Black Violin brings classical music to the hip-hop generation.
Wil B (Wilner Baptiste) and Kev Marcus (Kevin Sylvester) of Black Violin. (Lisa Leone)
Sit in on any high school band class in America, and you’ll inevitably find one or two students warming up for the day’s Tchaikovsky or Mozart playing melodies from modern hits by Beyonce or Kendrick Lamar. Other students will gather around, reclaiming their instruments and starting a mini jam session — before the teacher taps the conductor’s baton and snaps the young musicians back into reality.
But for the Florida duo Black Violin, such a scene isn’t a warmup. It’s the show itself.
Along with a drummer and DJ, Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste perform a unique hybrid of hip-hop and classical music, throwing in scratching and freestyling along the way. It’s an energetic, uplifting mixture born from playing in their high school orchestra and listening to ’90s hip-hop.
“Every day in second period, we’re playing Bach and Beethoven and Mozart, and on the way to third period, we have our Walkman on, and we’re listening to Biggie and Mary J. Blige,” said Sylvester in a recent lecture at Florida International University. “We were in this interesting melting pot and we had no idea what was gonna become of it.”
Initially, they didn’t aspire to headline concert halls. But after playing with stars like Kanye West and Jay Z — and performing at both of President Obama’s Inaugural Balls — Black Violin set out to inspire other young students around the country.
While many attempts by classical organizations to appeal to youth falter, Black Violin never fails to get crowds on their feet. Returning to the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts after a successful appearance last January, the duo knows that their sound is more than mere novelty, with a message deeper than music.
“The point is to get people to think differently, to live differently,” Sylvester said. “It’s not about the violins.”
Showtime: 8 p.m. Feb. 22. Admission: $25-$35. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org
Hip Chick Farms founders pay forward the help they’ve received.
Hip Chick Farms founders Jennifer Johnson, left, Serafina Palandech and their daughter Rubyrose, 6, at their farm in Sebastopol. (Beth Schlanker)
For Hip Chick Farms founders , the “aha” moment came about six years ago, when they realized how popular chicken fingers were with the kiddie crowd.
Johnson, then a personal chef for billionaires Ann and Gordon Getty in San Francisco, was also cooking for the 20-some children who attended the private Montessori School the Gettys had set up in their house for their granddaughter. From that experience, the Hip Chick idea was born: Why not create a branded line of organic, allnatural chicken bites that the rest of the world could enjoy?
Then came the “uh-oh” moment, when Palandech and Johnson began to realize how much effort and funding it would take to turn that bird into a business. This daunting task was made all the more challenging by their especially high standards. Non-negotiables included the use of premium California poultry like Mary’s Free-Range Chickens, hand-ground panko breading, soybean oil for frying, and no fillers.
“How hard could it be?” Palandech recently recalled thinking, as she relaxed in the sprawling ranch home and animal-rescue sanctuary she shares with wife Johnson and their 6-year-old daughter, Rubyrose, in Sebastopol.
“It was mind-blowing,” Johnson chimed in. “Red tape, and raising money was brutal.”
Palandech and Rubyrose tend to some of their pet chickens. (Beth Schlanker)
Still, they managed to launch the brand in 2013, and today Hip Chick Farms chicken fingers, wings, nuggets, meatballs and grilled strips are sold at more than 3,000 stores across the West Coast. The business has upgraded from an “office” centered around an orange leather chair and coffee table next to a stone fireplace in their living room, to commercial space on Main Street in downtown Sebastopol.
In October, Johnson — who spent nearly a decade as a chef with Alice Waters at Berkeley’s Chez Panisse — visited the White House to cook a meal for President Barack Obama and his staff. Now she’s working on new adult-oriented recipes for gourmet sausages, among other food items.
It sounds like the perfect, magical success story of two tenacious women breaking into the highly competitive frozen food arena, and dipping their toes into a largely male-dominated agribusiness. Except there were a lot of unexpected twists along the way, and they couldn’t have done it, the pair insists, without a whole lot of help from a whole lot of friends in their Sonoma County community.
In October, Johnson — who spent nearly a decade as a chef with Alice Waters at Berkeley’s Chez Panisse — visited the White House to cook a meal for President Barack Obama and his staff.
“I don’t think this all could have happened anywhere else,” said Johnson, noting that when the couple decided to leave San Francisco five years ago, they considered many other relocation options, including Portland, Oregon. “We were determined to find a farm, and here, we discovered a magical place for community. All our neighbors were so welcoming, and we’re all here because we’re so in love with it.”
Initially, the two started with a $25,000 Kickstarter campaign, “but we went through that money so fast, it was scary,” Palandech said. So she drew on her expertise as a professional charity fundraiser and called on some fellow entrepreneurs.
Indeed, it sounds a bit like an Academy Awards acceptance speech as the duo rolls out the thank-you’s they owe to local entrepreneurs. Sue Conley and Peggy Smith of Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes and Petaluma. Neal Gottlieb of Three Twins in Petaluma. Willie Tamayo of La Tortilla Factory in Santa Rosa. Ernie Shelton of Shelton’s Natural Foods Market in Healdsburg. A big breakthrough came when a top local executive at Whole Foods not only promptly returned Palandech’s email, he asked if he could hang out with the creative women to help strategize their next steps.
“I think people want to help other people,” Palandech said. “There’s a really deep-rooted sense of kindness in this community, with thoughtful, cultured people interested in bettering the world.”
Jennifer Johnson poses with White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, fourth from right, and the kitchen crew.
One of the more fruitful reach-outs happened when Palandech cold-called Andy and Rachel Berliner of Amy’s Kitchen, the Petaluma-based familyowned company that makes organic and non-GMO convenience and frozen foods for international distribution.
“I essentially said, ‘Can you explain the entire business?’ and they did,” said Palandech.
Among other advice, the Berliners referred her to Acosta Sales & Marketing, a Florida-based company specializing in consumer packaged goods. The Acosta team then hooked up Hip Chick with Greg Hartman, president of Oasis Sales and Marketing in Sebastopol. Oasis works with clients like Three Twins and Redwood Hill Farm and Creamery in Sebastopol. Hartman agreed to take on Hip Chick at no charge.
“I have provided pro bono consulting for numerous brands over the years,” Hartman said. “Since I don’t go to shelters to help feed homeless people, I feel I can at least make a modest contribution to young companies, and help them launch their brands. Sometimes it leads to providing our brand management services, but mostly I want to contribute.”
He chose Palandech and Johnson since he felt they were so marketable, too.
“Hip Chicks have a special story to tell, rich with their unique family, expertise in gourmet recipes and cooking,” he said. “Plus, I love their chicken wings.”
Jennifer Johnson laughs at a comment her wife and business partner, Serafina Palandech, makes to the audience during their appearance at the Sonoma County Women in Conversation series. (Erik Castro)
Along the way, Palandech and Johnson have worked with SCORE, a network of volunteer business mentors who provide free answers to entrepreneur questions. The group also supports other local female-owned farm businesses like Audrey Hitchcock-Ramini’s Italian water buffalo mozzarella ranch in Petaluma.
They took small business development classes, and in 2014 applied to the Whole Foods Local Producer Loan Program, scoring $35,000 at low interest, plus free mentoring, packaging consultation and coveted entry into the prominent grocery store chain. Whole Foods is well-regarded for assisting other businesses like Grindstone Bakery of Santa Rosa, Saint Benoit Creamery of Petaluma, and Lydia’s Kindfoods of Petaluma.
Hip Chick also joined Sonoma County BEST’s Food Industry Group, an association of natural and specialty food manufacturers who collaborate and share experiences and resources. Other members include Straus Organic, Three Twins, La Tortilla Factory and Amy’s.
With all this community-driven momentum, the fledgling business was really gaining traction when the unimaginable happened. Johnson was diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2015, and the couple thought they might have to sell their farm to cover medical bills. Yet once again, a friend stepped in, giving them a sizable loan. Serendipity played a part as well, when in July of that year, they won $500,000 on the CNBC show “West Texas Investors Club,” which supports entrepreneurs.
Then, this past October, Hip Chick received a $2 million Series A investment round from Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners. ACAP is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to partner with nine Farm Credit organizations that support small business in rural communities.
“U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack helped create the program so investors would understand our challenges and have patience (for returns),” said Palandech. “They found us when we displayed at Natural Products Expo West this past spring.”
Today, the women are living their Hip Chick dream at their Ramblin’ Rose farm, with Johnson back in good health. They share the bucolic property with three Shire horses, two mini donkeys, five cats, two dogs, a half-dozen pygmy goats, many pet chickens and turkeys, and a kunekune pig named Willie.
They’ve recently added organic turkey patties to their lineup, fashioned with a bit of cream, egg, onion, panko and dried apple. Johnson is tweaking ideas for bourbon-bleu cheese-fig chicken sausages, breakfast patties, and more turkey entrees.
The next goal is to get their products into local school cafeterias; they’ve already broken into the Orinda district.
“It’s important for kids to have real food, sustainably made,” Palandech said.
The duo also hopes to expand into operating their own poultry ranch, to continue the humane practices their partner farms celebrate. They’ve already learned that USDA ranching rules are very complicated, and that, as Palandech said, “it’s very cost intensive to butcher.” Perhaps they’ll find a good local adviser for that step, too.
And then, they plan to pay it all forward.
“In the business, humane animal welfare is becoming a priority,” Palandech said. “Target just asked us what we’re doing to ensure happy animals as we grow. So we’re getting to talk about compassion and transparency.
“It’s funny,” she added. “Now, we’re helping others.”
How do you get to the heart of the craft brew craze? Go taste at the source: along the Sonoma and Mendocino ale trail.
Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. (Nino Padova)
“You guys thirsty?” Before we can answer, a hand yanks the tap and fills two tasting cups with an orangey golden ale. I’d been warned about this. Lagunitas pours heavy, enough people told me that we made it our first stop. Sneak a quick tour, then get back on the road. That was the idea. But here we are, early on a Friday afternoon, two guys in cargo shorts and T-shirts far away from the frenzy of our daily lives. Yeah, we’re thirsty.
Two weeks before, I’d sent my buddy Nate an email: Beer run … 3 days, 6 epic breweries. Book a flight! It was more of a challenge than an invitation, the torqued-up chatter that passes for dialogue between us. Years had gone by since we’d last seen each other, and somewhere along the way our lives had outgrown us—marriage, kids, premium cable. The next day he texted me his itinerary.
Our route started in Petaluma, about an hour north of San Francisco, and snaked through Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, home to some of the most exciting beermaking on the planet. We’d slip through wine country’s back door to taste toasty lagers, mouth-puckering sours, stouts the color of crude oil, and the West’s signature brew, the hoppy India Pale Ale. Bud country this was not.
There was, of course, the matter of the car. My 2004 Toyota Corolla with its Cheerios-encrusted car seat wasn’t fit for the occasion. So we rented the biggest, loudest ride we could find, a bright orange Dodge Challenger. Our only rule for the next three days: No Bad Beer!
Lagunitas Taproom in Petaluma on a Friday afternoon. (John Burgess)
“Beer speaks, people mumble” is the motto at Lagunitas Brewing, and judging from the line of trucks streaming in and out of the Petaluma brewery, beer has a lot to say. What started as a stovetop operation in Tony Magee’s home has mushroomed into the second-largest craft brewery in California (behind Sierra Nevada). Lagunitas cranked out 160,000 barrels of beer last year—almost 5 million gallons. This year, the company plans to bump production up to more than 200,000 barrels, which would make it about a fifth the size of Anheuser-Busch … in 1902.
Microbrews account for 9 percent of U.S. beer sales—a mere drop in the industry keg. But in recent years, overall sales have slumped while craft brew has exploded, growing 110 percent in the last decade. There are now more small breweries in more places making more styles of beer than at any time since Prohibition. Just walk down the beverage aisle at your local grocery store. Notice all the new sixers and bombers taking over the shelves? That’s beer talking.
There are about 30 of us sipping Lagunitas brews in its Loft, a tasting den that reminds me of an off-campus college clubhouse. It’s dimly lit and decorated with ratty old couches and spaghetti western posters. I could live in this room forever. The man behind the bar pours another beer, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ ale. I lean in for a whiff—citrus, grass, lots of hops—then nudge my cup to Nate. (My day to drive.)
“We planned our whole vacation around this,” says the guy next to me, Vince Rinaldo, a homebrewer and graphic designer from Akron, Ohio. He and wife Taylor are in the middle of a four-day beer run from San Francisco to Portland. “We’re not much into sightseeing. If you want to know a place, drink its beer.”
We take the full brewery tour, zip through a maze of stainless steel tanks and massive bins packed with hops, then jump back into the Challenger and rumble 20 minutes north, past fields of grazing cows and roadside fruit stands, to downtown Santa Rosa.
Beer lovers from Sweden, England, Canada and around the U.S. toast Pliny the Younger at Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess)
A Zen-like hush comes over Nate as we enter Russian River Brewing, considered by some to be the Holy Temple of American craft beer. Brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo came up in the wine industry, then bought a brewpub with wife Natalie in 2004. The place has been buzzing ever since. During Russian River’s February release of Pliny the Younger—a high-powered triple IPA—hopheads from as far away as Australia and Japan stake out on the sidewalk for hours just to get a taste.
Though famous for his hop-heavy IPAs, Cilurzo likes experimenting with Belgian-style sours, which call for local fruits, oak-barrel aging, and in some cases spontaneous fermentation, where the wort (pre-fermented beer) is exposed to the open air in order to suck up naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria. These beers—with names like Temptation, Supplication, and Beatification—taste unlike any brew I’ve ever had. They’re tangy and brightly acidic, with a complex, dry fruity finish that brings to mind a sparkling wine. They taste, I suppose, like Sonoma.
Brian Hunt, Moonlight Brewing brewmaster. (Chris Hardy)
It’s late afternoon when we’re whirring down dirt roads northwest of Santa Rosa. Nate is air-drumming to early Who while I wrestle with the GPS. I’d heard about Moonlight Brewing, a one-man operation in the middle of Zin country. No tasting room. No brewpub. But some of the most amazing beer I’ve never had, I was told.
I find Brian Hunt at his private brewery, where he kegs about 1,500 barrels, most of which travel 60 miles max—less than Nate and I drove this morning. “Beer is like bread,” Hunt says, tilting a glass of straw-colored Reality Czeck pilsner so it catches the light. “You want it fresh, and that means you want it local.”
We’re plunked down on lawn chairs at the top of his driveway. Behind us is a boneyard of empty kegs and the old barn where Hunt concocts his brews, including some flavored with mugwort and wild bergamot instead of hops. His Working for Tips, a copper-colored ale, is spiced with the sticky ends of redwood branches from his front yard.
Hunt tells us about New Albion, the Sonoma brewery that set the path for the industry 30 years ago, about its founder, Jack McAuliffe, an engineer and homebrewer who applied his skills to make real beer, ingredient-driven and full-flavored, about how McAuliffe welded together old Coca-Cola drums and dairy tanks to cook up 15 barrels a week. No tasting room. No brewpub. Just beer so innovative that it helped start a revolution.
A sampler flight of beers at Bear Republic Brewing Co., in Healdsburg. (Christopher Chung)
We leave Hunt’s feeling light and energetic, ready for whatever might lie around the next bend. In Healdsburg, we march past $600-a-night hotels in flip-flops to taste wheat ale from a barrel at Bear Republic. The next morning, we hang a left onto Highway 128, a snarl of hairpin turns that passes through vineyards, a goat farm, and a redwood forest before spitting us out at the coast. It’s a glorious drive, with the V8 Hemi humming and Petty’s “Free Fallin’ ” on the speakers. In Boonville, we stop to pose for snapshots beside an antlered bear, Anderson Valley Brewing’s “Beer” mascot.
Visitors tour the Anderson Valley Brewing Company. (John Burgess)
The Pacific peeks in and out of view as we coast the last stretch from Mendocino to Fort Bragg. It’s right on top of us, then behind a clump of trees, always hiding. We drop our things at the motel and hike out to a headland to watch the surf, then over an old railroad trestle once used to haul lumber. For more than a century, Fort Bragg was a booming mill town. And even today, the last of the saws long silenced, a scruffy blue-collar spirit remains.
Bartender Jessica Melcher at North Coast Brewing Company’s Taproom in Fort Bragg. (Alvin Jornada)
I notice it in the taproom at North Coast Brewing. An early player in the craft scene, the brewery specializes in sturdy, slow-sipping beer—Belgian darks and Imperial stouts.
And I notice it at Piaci, a one-room pub that serves the best thin-crust pizza in the county. The bar is three-deep. Locals, mostly. Men in baseball caps and sweaters with thick, calloused hands that make the pint glasses inside them look small. The beer menu reads like a road journal from the last 48 hours. There are Lagunitas’s hopped-up IPAs and a tasty black lager from Moonlight Brewing.
The pub is loud in the way that pubs get loud when everyone knows each other. Voices rising excitedly over other voices. We grab two stools beside a group of truckers. One of them is telling a story, waving his hands wildly, and his friends are laughing. Nate and I are laughing too. This is the last night before we point the car south and return to our regularly scheduled lives—back to our spread-sheets and youth soccer and fuel-efficient compacts—and I want to spend it right here in this room, with these guys. And that’s not the beer talking.
TASTE NORCAL’S BEST BEER
Take a 125-mile trip from Petaluma to Fort Bragg.
Lagunitas Brewing. The free brewery tour starts with a tasting and ends in the taproom for live music. Tap into: A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale, a “wheatish” beer with a huge hop finish. $; lagunitas.com
Russian River Brewing. More than 15 selections await in the busy brewpub. Tap into: Supplication, a brown ale brewed with sour cherries aged in Pinot Noir barrels. $$; russianriverbrewing.com
Bear Republic Brewing. The Healdsburg brewpub’s full-bodied ales pair well with its spicy chili. Tap into: Racer 5, a classic West-Coast style IPA. Big, bold, and balanced. $$; bearrepublic.com
Anderson Valley Brewing. The brewery sits on 30 acres that include a taproom and plenty of picnic tables. Tap into: The caramely smooth Boont Amber Ale. avbc.com
North Coast Brewing. The sampler tray covers all the beer bases. Tap into: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout. Dark, strong, bitter, beautiful. $$; northcoastbrewing.com
Piaci Pub & Pizzeria. The 14 tap handles rotate like the tides with local beers. Tap into: Moonlight’s Death & Taxes, an easy-drinking black lager. $$; piacipizza.com
MORE CLASSIC ALE TRAILS – Eric Smillie
1. Denver to Fort Collins, CO (76 miles)
Great Divide Brewing, Denver. Don’t miss: Oak Aged Yeti, a roasty Imperial Stout with a touch of vanilla. greatdivide.com
Avery Brewing, Boulder. Don’t miss: Small-batch specials; coconut shrimp with lemony White Rascal witbier. $; averybrewing.com
Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont. Don’t miss: Firkin Fridays for one-off experiments at the Tasty Weasel Tap Room. oskarblues.com
New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins. Don’t miss: The 90-minute brewery tour that ends with you going down a slide. newbelgium.com
2. San Diego to Placentia, CA (112 miles)
AleSmith brewing, San Diego. Don’t miss: Evil Dead Red, a red ale thick with hops and a smooth toffee sweetness. alesmith.com
Stone Brewing, Escondido. Don’t miss: Sampling four beers on the brewery tour, including the powerful Arrogant Bastard Ale. $$; stonebrew.com
The Lost Abbey, San Marcos. Don’t miss: Wild yeast brews, such as the dry, sour-cherry-flavored Cuvee de Tomme (released in mid-November). lostabbey.com
The Bruery, Placentia. Don’t miss: Beers made with surprising ingredients like yam, Thai basil, and toasted pecans. thebruery.com
3. Portland to Newport, OR (385 miles)
Hair of the Dog Brewery, Portland. Don’t miss: Adam, a chocolatey, earthy dessert ale. $; hairofthedog.com
Full Sail Brewing, Hood River. Don’t miss: Locally-raised-beef burgers and a view of the Columbia River from the pub deck. $; fullsailbrewing.com
Deschutes Brewery, Bend. Don’t miss: Trial brews such as the Oh Be Joyful pale ale and spicy mac and cheese. $$; deschutesbrewery.com
Rogue Brewery, Newport. Don’t miss: The brewery’s full catalog of beers on tap, plus halibut fish and chips. $$; rogue.com
The “HazyCaliFrajilisticHoppyaladocious” from Sonoma Springs Brewing Company is a rare fruity New England-Style IPA. (Sonoma Springs Brewing Company)
Sonoma Springs Brewing Company, located in the town of Sonoma, is releasing a new brew and it’s definitely much easier to drink than it is to pronounce – and it’s pretty much as magical as Mary Poppins! Modeled after the popular Northeastern-style “juicy” IPAs, the “HazyCaliFrajilisticHoppyaladocious” is a unique addition to the Sonoma County beer scene; a fruity New England-style IPA that contrasts the citrusy, piney, bitter IPAs common here on the West Coast.
As the name suggests, Sonoma Spring’s latest release is heavily hopped, with tropic flavors, and the appearance is cloudy – or hazy – resembling orange juice. New England breweries like Treehouse and Trillium have paved the way for this style of IPA among beer geeks around the world, showing that, while different, they can hold their hoppy own against the Blind Pigs (Russian River Brewing Company) and Racer 5s (Bear Republic Brewing Company) of the world.
“We are always trying to innovate and do something new,” says Sonoma Springs Managing Partner Derek Drennan. “It keeps things interesting for us, as well as for our customers at the taproom and for folks that drink our beers at the many bars and restaurants that serve them across Northern California. Plus no one, that we are aware of anyway, is doing this style in Sonoma County. It is always fun to try to introduce our great beer drinking community to a new-ish style.”
HazyCaliFrajilisticHoppyaladocious is a mashup of Crystal, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Citra hops. The alcohol comes in right around 7.5%.
“In early tastings this brew is a total fruit bomb – in a good way!” says Drennan. “We certainly took into account beers of this style that we have tasted from places like Treehouse and Trillium. There are some good regional ones regionally that we like as well, including Moonraker in Sacramento and Alvarado Street in Monterrey. However, we definitely went our own direction and gave it our own Sonoma flare,” Drennan adds.
The fruity and juicy IPA is now available on tap at Sonoma Springs Brewing Co. in Sonoma. If it’s well received, they plan to brew it again, making it a regular beer at the taproom and putting it into cans for purchase and distribution.
Sonoma Springs Brewing Company, Riverside Dr #101, Sonoma, CA 95476, @SonomaSprings, sonomasprings.com, (707) 938-7422, Taproom hours: Mon-Thurs 4-9PM and Fri-Sun 1-9PM
San Francisco/Sonoma County band Royal Jelly Jive plays at the Cloverdale Plaza “Friday Night Live.”
Spent too much money during the holidays, but still want to have a bit of fun? Check out this list of local events in January that won’t break the bank.
San Francisco/Sonoma County band Royal Jelly Jive performs at HopMonk Sebastopol, Saturday, January 28.
Arlene Francis Presents: Winter Clothing Swap – Santa Rosa
What better way to say “out with the old and in with the new” than recycling your old outfits at the Winter Clothing Swap at Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa? This is a popular community event, put on every couple of months, to help you clear out your closet and perhaps pick up a few new items. Meet some new people as you sort through potential finds and listen to live music.
Friday, January 20, 4 – 10:30 pm, $10 suggested donation, Arlene Francis Center, 99 Sixth Street, Santa Rosa
Phoenix Pro Wrestling – Petaluma
Who needs WWF Smackdown when there’s Phoenix Pro Wrestling? Skip Friday night wrestling on TV and see the real deal at one of Petaluma’s longest standing all-age venues: The Phoenix Theater. On Friday, January 20th, the 100-year-old venue turns into a wrestling ring, featuring fights that will beat any on-screen battle.
Friday, January 20, 7:30 – 11:30 pm, $2-$10, Phoenix Theatre, 201 Washington St, Petaluma
Laura Frost takes Lisa Lace for a spin at Phoenix Pro Wrestling in Petaluma. (John O’Hara)
Emerging Visual Artists Opening Reception – Petaluma
Want to explore the local art scene? Catch the fourth biannual “Discovered: Emerging Artists from Sonoma County” exhibit at the Petaluma Arts Center on Saturday, January 21. The exhibit showcases five local artists, selected by Creative Sonoma from a list of 49 applications, and will include mix media, oil, video, ceramics and paper art work. The opening reception is free and open to the public.
Saturday, January 21, 5 – 7pm, Free, Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville Street, Petaluma
Live Music at the Forestville Club – Forestville
Grab a few drinks and spend the night listening to an eclectic mix of local bands, and a special guest act from Portland, at one of Sonoma County’s best dive bars: the Forestville Club. The night’s lineup includes The Illumignarly, PWRHAUS, Rags, and Slow Bloom – whether you’re into surf rock, dream pop, indie tunes or something a little harder, there’s a band on the bill to fit a variety of musical tastes. Show up early for a cocktail and a game of pool.
Wednesday, January 25, 8 – 12pm, Forestville Club, 6250 Front St, Forestville
Roe v. Wade Birthday Party at Brew – Santa Rosa
Join some of Sonoma County’s finest female musicians at Brew in Santa Rosa for the 44th annual celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to affirm the legality of a woman’s right to choose. Drink beer, eat cake, check out local art, and dance the night away to the sound of talented ladies, including solo artist Ashley Allred, Emily Bonn of The Vivants, and Kristen Pearce of The Betty Blues. Entrance is by donation and all proceeds will benefit Planned Parenthood.
Sunday, January 22, 2-7 pm, $10-25 suggested donation, Brew, 555 Healdsburg Ave, Santa Rosa
Lauren Michelle Bjelde and Royal Jelly Jive combine elements of Soul, Rock, Swing and Hip-Hop. (www.royaljellyjive.com)
Royal Jelly Jive at HopMonk – Sebastopol
Skip the hour drive to the city and catch a rambunctious bunch of San Francisco musicians live at HopMonk Sebastopol. After playing festivals such as OutsideLands and Santa Rosa’s own Rail Road Square music festival, it’s a rare but delightful treat to see the band play in Sonoma County again. Royal Jelly Jive offers a fresh mix of soul and hip-hop with sultry songs such as “Bad” and a blend of high energy rock n’ roll tunes with a hint of swing in tunes like “Tommy The Cat,” that are likely to have just about anyone dancing.
Saturday, January 28, doors open 8 pm, show starts 9 pm, $12.00 – $15.00, HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol (21 and older only).
Fraser Ross pours a beer for the Friday crowd at Fogbelt Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, June 27, 2014. (Conner Ja
Fogbelt Brewing Company turns three this year, and the Santa Rosa brewery certainly have a lot to cheer to: a series of great events, an ever busy taproom, a phenomenal chef serving up seasonally inspired dishes and, of course, loads of fantastic beers. To celebrate their anniversary, Fogbelt is inviting all beer lovers to a big birthday bash on February 11th.
Paul Hawley, left and Remy Martin, founders of Fogbelt Brewing in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter)
Here is what is on the menu for the Fogbelt birthday bash:
Plenty of beer: Fogbelt is releasing 3 new brews during the event: Dyerville Giant Imperial Red, Godwood Triple IPA and Gin Barrel Aged Hyperion Red (limited production)
Barbecue and a special dish: A pig roast.
And, in true Fogbelt Brewing fashion, there will be live musicDown, Dirty Shake.
Fraser Ross pours a beer for the Friday crowd at Fogbelt Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. (Conner Jay)
Fogbelt Brewing will be expanding its venue space for the day, taking up parts of the parking lot so that more people can partake in the fun.
Deviled eggs at Fogbelt Brewing in Santa Rosa (Heather Irwin)
There is no cost to attend the anniversary party, just pay for the beer. Save the date to celebrate and raise a glass with the folks at Fogbelt in honor of their third year. Fogbelt Brewing Company, 1305 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, CA, 95401, (707)-978-3400, fogbeltbrewing.com, @FogbeltBrewing
Luke Zavala (left) and Robby Elfman (right) of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol.
The 1920s speakeasy spirit was alive and roaring this Saturday as Royal Jelly Jive and Marty O’Reilly took the stage at a sold-out HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. Check out the gallery below for some swing and jazz action:
Luke Zavala (left) and Robby Elfman (right) of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)Lauren Bjelde of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)Martin O’Reilly and Chris Lynch perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)The crowd is enjoying the Royal Jelly Jive show at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)Lauren Bjelde of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)
Martin O’Reilly performs at HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)Felix Macnee of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)Lauren Bjelde of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)
Jesse Lemme Adams of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)Lauren Bjelde of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)The crowd is enjoying the Royal Jelly Jive show at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)Felix Macnee, Jesse Lemme and friend at the Royal Jelly Jive gig at HopMonk in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)Lauren Bjelde of Royal Jelly Jive perform at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol. (Estefany Gonzalez)
On Friday night, renowned all-age music venue The Phoenix Theater turned into a battle scene as Phoenix Pro Wrestling returned to Petaluma. The family friendly fight night featured creative costumes, including an impressive lineup of colorful spandex outfits and luchador masks, and, of course, plenty of drama.
To catch a bit of the action, check out our photo gallery below. (For the real deal, check out the upcoming Championship Cage Match in March: phoenixprowrestling.com)
Football season is coming to a close. This Super Bowl Sunday, the Patriots will meet the Falcons in a final face off while millions of people eat unhealthy (delicious) foods, drink all kinds of beer and watch TV.
If you’re looking to pair the game with some good brews, I would recommend lighter beers because, let’s face it, there’s a lot of downtime during the game when everyone wants to reach for a cold one. Both New England and the state of Georgia are known for great beers, but here in Sonoma County we rival well known beers from coast to coast. Here are 6 local beers to drink during your Super Bowl party:
Bear Republic Brewing Co. – Pace Car Racer : A hoppy, session IPA with notes of citrus and pine. This brew comes in six-packs and is a great beer to bring to a party. Its light and tasty body pairs well with buffalo chicken wings.
Sonoma Springs Brewing Co. – Kolsch:This Kölsch style beer is light and dry. At 5.2% AVB, it will take you through the entire game. Pair this brew with creamy spinach and artichoke dips with toasty bread.
Lagunitas Brewing Co. – Daytime Pale Ale: A “Fractional IPA” that is dry-hopped and backed by a toasty malt backbone. This brew can be sipped on all day, starting with the pre-game. Pair this delightful beer with nachos piled high with savory pulled pork.
Russian River Brewing Co. – STS Pils: Everybody needs a little STS in their life. This classic Czech Pilsener is slightly hazy from being unfiltered, has a mile malt character and finishes with hints of zesty lemon and lime and a slight bitterness. Pair this brew with your famous guacamole and salty chips.
Third Street Aleworks – Puddle Jumper Pale Ale: A nice crisp mouthfeel with a balance of caramel and notes of honey, citrus and pine. Drink this during the halftime show – it pairs well with pretty much everything!
Petaluma Hills – Big House Blonde: This medium bodied beer has a slight creaminess coupled with a light hop and malt character, finishing slightly bitter. Buy this beer in bombers and share it with friends as part of your Super Bowl bottle share!
Sonoma County serves up a variety of great brews, visit these breweries or local bottle shops to pick up your beers for the big game!
What’s the best part of stormy weather? Rainy day reds, of course. On blustery days we crave slow-cooked braised meats and a bright red to cut through the rich flavors. What follows is a tasty line-up of wines that will partner well with meat and delight carnivores.
Copain, 2014 Tous Ensemble, Mendocino County Syrah, 12.9%, $24. This earthy syrah has plenty going on, with flavors of black fruit, smoke and spice, and a savory note of anise in the mix. Tasty.
Foursight, 2013 Anderson Valley Unoaked Pinot Noir, 14.1%, $25. This pinot has generous, layered red fruit, bright acid and finishes dry. It’s bright and refreshing, a steal for the quality.
Garnet Vineyards, 2014 Rodgers Creek Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County Pinot Noir, 14.4%, $35. It’s a bright and lively food wine, trumpeting tangy red fruit — cherry and strawberry — with notes of mineral and white pepper. Lovely.
Olema, 2014 Sonoma County Pinot Noir, 14.2%, $20. The Olema is surprisingly supple for the price. But its gorgeous red berry aromas set it apart, with a great concentration of bing cherry fruit on the palate. Layered notes of cocoa and spice in the mix. The pinot comes full circle with an impressive, lingering finish.
Enotria, 2012 Mendocino County Barbera, 14.8%, $19. This tasty barbera is weighted to black fruit, although it has a streak of red currant running through it. The red wine has jammy fruit, with notes of smoke and toasty oak. Its crisp acidity keeps the barbera in check.
