Roundup: Nothing Compares
Packing the Barlow; Fun Music Lessons; dry season; SloCo
A roundup for the last week of July with an homage to the passing of Sinéad O’Connor.
A Crowd for Live Music
Peacetown packed The Barlow last Wednesday. Even the overflow parking was overflowing by 5pm. Just try finding a parking space near The Barlow. Security guards were posted at the Rialto Cinemas, trying to keep spaces open for movie goers but people looking for Peacetown were taking up every possible space in town.
According to Peacetown organizers, about 2500-3000 people came to Peacetown events last Wednesday. Sitting in lawn chairs listening to live music on a pleasant summer eventing is about as good as it gets. Those who were up dancing seemed to enjoy it even more. Not a mask in the crowd, not that I saw anyway.
Peacetown organizes music on seven music stages, four of which are in The Barlow. These free concerts will continue on August 2nd, 9th and 16th. So, as Peacetown keeps rolling along, bringing a lot of people to town, concerns about who was paid what to manage them is not keeping people away. Just keep the live music coming.
Music School coming to corner of Main Street
A Cotati-based music and performing arts school, Music to My Ears, has expanded to Sebastopol, and will start offering its “Fun Music Lessons” in August at the Crawford Building on 104 N. Main Street, formerly the Main Stage West. Owners Christa Durand and Evan Bowers, in a press release, said that the Sebastopol facility will offer private lessons for various instruments and vocals. Additionally, the venue will host group instrumental and vocal classes.
"The heart of our vision for this space is to engage the entire community," explains Evan Bowers. "We're not just a music school - we're a creative hub where people can learn, perform, and experience various genres of music, theater, operas, and more."
Music to My Ears will host a grand opening event on the weekend of August 18-20. During these three days, the community is invited to tour the new location, attend free concerts, and participate in free workshops.
To learn more and keep up-to-date with all the news and events, visit FunMusicLessons.com or contact Christa and Evan at info@FunMusicLessons.com or 707-664-0123.
Seasons Come and Seasons Go
Because I have not walked the trail behind the Community and Cultural Center this summer, I failed to notice that the floating bridge that spans the laguna was in place, connecting the western and eastern sides of the Laguna trail.
Six months ago, the whole area was flooded, which we covered in Laguna: The Way of Water, Part 2.
Now that it’s dry, fire season is here. Be sure to download the Watch Duty app if you haven’t already. Last summer, we wrote about Watch Duty, which notifies you of any fire in your area.
On Monday evening this past week, Watch Duty notified me of a fire on Valley Ford Road in Freestone. A minute later I could hear sirens on Bodega Hwy and Watertrough Rd. I knew what was going on and saw that it was a small, rather minor fire. I was also glad to know that the fire was put out pretty quickly.
Slow Down, You Move Too Fast
Okay, this is not happening in Sebastopol but a fundraiser for sloths, the slowest animals on the planet? Surely you’d go out of your way to learn about the plight of sloths and help save them?
Hanging Out for Sloths: A fundraiser for Sloth Conservation, which takes place on August 19 at Beaumont Farms in Petaluma, is a benefit for the Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo). Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, founder and director of SloCo, and award-winning wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas, will be giving a joint presentation about sloth conservation. There is also live music and drinks. Tickets are $75.
To be clear, SloCo has nothing to do with Cittaslow Sebastopol, whose website appears to be down.
ICYMI…
It’s all in the buzz
Osha Levgin, 44, of Sebastopol, is a creator at heart. In a previous life he pursued a singer/songwriter path, even releasing an album called Mirrors of the Wild. He also traveled widel…
Every Fiber of Our Being
The biennial International Fiber Arts show at Sebastopol Center for the Arts is the kind of exhibition that makes Sebastopol feel, not like a small town, but like part of the wide…
Circus, Circus
We’re excited that the circus is coming to town next week.
We surpassed our goal this week and reached 508 paid subscribers. Thank you so much for your support.
Laura and I will speak about reviving local news in a digital format on Friday August 4th at the noon Rotary Club meeting.