What’s happening this week in Sebastopol?
A different Science Buzz, Protest Poetry at SebArts, Peacetown, Bachan's Day and more
Sprichst du Deutsch?
Monday, July 13, at 5:30 pm, at Crooked Goat, 120 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
Come chat auf Deutsch, meet fellow German speakers, and grab a cold one at Crooked Goat Brewing. This relaxed gathering takes place on the first Monday of every month and offers a welcoming space to practice German, dust off your language skills, or simply enjoy good conversation over great beer. Alle sind willkommen. No sign-up needed.
Science Buzz Cafe: 5-minute Stories from Life
Monday, July 13, 6 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $10 cash at the door.
Well, this is a bit of a departure. The evening starts with stories from three guys: The Impossible from Dr. Harry Simms; A Reflective Gem from Larry Robinson; Adventure Story with Dr. Allan Bernstein. Then others in the audience, who have a short (under 5 minutes) story, can tell theirs.
Jewish Film Festival — Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm
Tuesday, July 14, 1 pm and 6:30 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $16.
Get ready to laugh and kvell with Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm as self-proclaimed international Yiddish-ish icons YidLife Crisis—comedy duo Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman—bravely step onto Swedish soil to unearth a hidden treasure trove of Jewish culture. From the moment they arrive in Stockholm, our heroes, like gefilte fish out of water, prepare for a big live show while unraveling the little-known history of Sweden’s Jewish community in their hilarious and heartfelt journey. Get tickets.
Poetic Medicine: An Instrument for Healing
Tuesday, July 14, 4 pm to 5:30 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $15.
Poet, author and palliative-care nurse Judith “Redwing” Keyssar leads this monthly circle of listening to and writing poems in community. No experience needed — you don’t have to be a “poet” or even a “writer” to take part. Limited to 20 attendees; pre-registration is required. Reserve your spot.
Home Gardener Produce Exchange
Tuesday, July 14, 5 to 5:45 pm, at Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy 12), Sebastopol. Free.
Bring surplus produce from your garden to swap with neighbors — and take home some of theirs. Anything left over is donated, and Master Food Preservers will be on hand to answer food-preservation questions. Held the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. More info.
Luther Burbank Experiment Farm Work Day
Wednesday, July 15, 9 am to 12 pm, at Luther Burbank Experiment Farm, 7777 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Join a cadre of enthusiastic volunteers preserving and maintaining the historic Luther Burbank Experiment Farm. Help is needed with gardening, leading tours, showing visitors around the cottage, staffing the gift shop, and more — all skill and ability levels welcome. Held every Wednesday morning. Details here.
Common Threads Fiber Night
Wednesday, July 15, 4 pm to 6 pm, at Gather, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Every Wednesday at Gather, doors are open for an easygoing evening of fiber arts and community. Bring whatever you’re working on—knitting, crochet, embroidery, mending, or any project that feels good in your hands—and settle in with fellow makers for a few hours of quiet craft and good company. Common Threads is a space to unwind midweek, share skills, and be surrounded by people who love making things, slowly and with care. Whether you’re brand-new to fiber arts or have been stitching for years, you’re welcome here.
Peacetown Concert: Vernon “Ice” Black and Burrows and Dilbert
Wednesday, July 15, 6 pm, at Ives Park, Sebastopol. Free.
Here’s the word from Jim Corbett: “Vernon “Ice” Black is an absolute legend! The guitarist behind two of the most iconic Pop divas of all time - Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. In his amazing career, he has had hits working with Narada Michael Walden, Booker T. Jones, Shakka Khan, and Aretha Franklin. Besides being a master musician, Vernon will deliver the Peacetown vibes of Love, Peace and Joy with his incredible aura and music. Backing up Vernon will be a star-studded band of local musicians including: Paul Spina on drums, Josh Fossgreen on bass, and Spencer Burrows on keyboards, Benjamin Andrews on guitar, Mingo Lewis Jr. on percussion; and local legendary singer, Devin Ruddick on lead vocals. Spencer Burrows and Kris Dilbeck are the powerhouse songwriting duo most known for the music of their award-winning North Bay super-funk-rock band, Frobeck. Said to have harnessed their many different soul, funk and pop-rock influences into a unique sound, Burrows and Dilbeck have written seven full-length albums and are celebrated musician/performers in their region…(P.S. Spencer is also the Choir Director at Analy High School, so we expect those students to show up in support of their teacher.)”
Bachan’s Day 2026
Thursday, July 16, 4 to 8 pm, at The Crooked Goat Brewing, 120 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
Sebastopol-born Bachan’s (of Japanese barbecue sauce fame) invites the North Bay community to an afternoon of great food, refreshing drinks, live music, and fun for all ages at Crooked Goat Brewing this Thursday.
Becoming an Active Agent of Change: A Conversation with Geshe Dawa
Thursday, July 16, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, at Many Rivers Books & Tea, 130 S. Main St., Suite 101, Sebastopol. By donation.
A conversation with Geshe Dawa of Gaden Shartse Monastery in South India, which he joined at age 10 to become a monk before earning the Geshe Lharampa degree. He is currently a spiritual teacher at Cho Khor Gepel Ling, a Buddhist center in Los Angeles, and is known for his kindness and easily understood teachings. Geshe will ask the audience to consider the most challenging aspects of their lives and offer his view of the principles and practices which will be most helpful for navigating the path through conflict, disappointment, and profound loss. We invite you to sit with us and consider how to navigate these times with resilience, hope, and even good humor.
Geshe Dawa will also be appearing at the following events:
Audio Angel + East Bay Soup Kitchen
Thursday, July 16, 8 pm, at HopMonk Sebastopol (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $18 plus fees. All ages.
Hear Audio Angel & Her Good Intentions — “All styles, all smiles, a live mixtape; Surprising you, while touching your spirit” — with East Bay Soup Kitchen, a high-energy Concord rock band channeling that early-’90s Berkeley Square punk-funk sound. Tickets here.
Live Music Fridays at Pax Wines
Friday, July 17, 5 to 7 pm, at Pax Wines, 6780 McKinley St., The Barlow, Sebastopol. The music is free; beverages for purchase.
Spend a casual Friday evening with live music this week from Sam Gray Edmondson and local wines at this small, family-owned winery in The Barlow. No reservations required, and the tasting room is family- and dog-friendly.
When Voices Rise: Songs and Poems of Resistance
Friday, July 17, 6 to 8 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $25.
An evening of poetry and music presented in conjunction with SebArts’ “Resist and Persist” exhibition, hosted by poet Shawna Swetech and featuring poets Dave Seter, Kim D. Hester Williams, Maya Khosla, Gwynn O’Gara, Claire Drucker, and Elizabeth Herron, alongside the Harmonia Choir led by John Maas. Open-mic sign-ups the night of the event; spaces are limited. Get tickets.
Milk & Honey 30th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, July 17, starting at 6 pm, at Milk & Honey, 123 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
Milk & Honey is turning 30. Come and celebrate 30 years of honoring the Goddess and celebrating magick and community. Games, prizes, performances. (See our article from earlier this week about Milk & Honey.)
Book event: M.A. Carrick's The Eye of Leviathan
Friday, July 17, 7 pm to 8 pm, at Copperfield’s Books, 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol. 0 to $28.25 (with book)
From the author of The Mask of Mirrors comes a sweeping adventure set in an alternative world, ruled by Spain, where the fae secretly walk amongst those who seek to persecute them. Learn more.
8th Annual VFW Car Show
Saturday, July 18, 9 am to 1 pm, at Sebastopol Vets Building, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Free to visit, $20 to enter your car.
Cars, cars, cars! Plus awards, food, live music, fun. All proceeds support Veterans through VFW. To enter your car, sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/RnpP0g3Y3S Got questions: info@vfwpost3919.org.
Sourdough from Scratch with Monica Flaherty
Saturday, July 18, 10 am to 1 pm, at Gold Ridge Organic Farms, 3387 Canfield Road, Sebastopol. $125.
Monica Flaherty of the Sebastopol Sourdough Company leads three immersive, hands-on hours in the farm’s Apple Cottage, covering everything you need to know about the art and science of sourdough bread making. Reserve your spot.
July Plein Air Watercolors at Ragle
Saturday, July 18, 10 am to 2 pm, presented by Sebastopol Center for the Arts at Ragle Ranch Regional Park, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol. $75 plus $10 materials fee.
In this one-session workshop, instructor Hannah Day teaches watercolor technique and the basics of painting landscapes from life in this single-session outdoor workshop, with instruction on composition, color temperature and value, and perspective. All experience levels welcome; materials provided, and the exact meeting spot is emailed the day before. Reserve your spot.
OAEC Garden Tour
Saturday, July 18, 1 to 2 pm, at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental. Free.
Join a guided tour of OAEC's demonstration gardens and living landscapes, led by rotating staff, and explore the center's diverse food, medicinal, pollinator, and native plant gardens while learning about the ecological principles that guide their work. A highlight of every tour is the OAEC Nursery, a nonprofit nursery featuring perennial food crops, medicinal and native plants, and regionally adapted vegetables and herbs. No registration required — just show up. For mobility or accessibility support, call ahead at (707) 874-1557 ext. 101. Details here.
Sol Horizon: Bob Marley Tribute
Saturday, July 18, 4 pm, at HopMonk Sebastopol’s outdoor venue, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $25 plus fees. All ages.
Nine-time NorBay Award winner Sol Horizon — Sonoma County’s premier reggae band — expands to a 12-piece band with extra keys, vocals, and horns for its renowned tribute to Bob Marley, mixing chart-toppers with rare cuts and blazing solos. Get tickets.
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