What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Flamenco, Ukraine, film, music, comedy and more
Fall Prevention for Older Adults
Monday, Nov. 10, 2:30 pm to 4 pm, at the Sebastopol Area Senior Center, 167 N. High St., Sebastopol.
Stay active, independent, and confident at any age. Join us for Older Adult Safe Mobility, a free, interactive workshop where you’ll learn practical fall-prevention strategies, simple strength exercises, and how to have more effective health conversations with your doctor. Empower yourself with tools for safer living, smarter movement because your best years are meant to be lived on your feet. Registration is required. Call 707-829-2440 to register.
Coffee with the Mayor
Monday, Nov. 10, 4 pm to 5 pm, at City Hall, 7120 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Mayor Stephen Zollman invites you to join him for “Coffee with the Mayor.” Ask questions, share your thoughts and ideas, and discuss issues that matter to you in this new monthly series. The series is the second Tuesday of each month from 4 pm to 5 pm at City Hall. Local donuts and coffee will be provided. Bring your own recyclable or reusable cup.
VFW lunch for veterans on Veterans Day
Tuesday Nov. 11, at 11 am, Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building, 282 S. High St. (in the main hall), Sebastopol. Free.
Please join the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Gold Ridge and Russian River Post 3919 on Tuesday Nov. 11, at 11 am to honor our veterans. All veterans, their families, and their friends are welcome as we pay tribute to them. Lunch will start at 11 am at the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building, 282 S. High St., in the main hall. Find more VFW activities here.
Jewish Film Festival: One Big Happy Family
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 1 pm and 7 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $15.25.
When a DNA test completely upends a woman’s life while planning her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, she embarks on a hilarious journey with her eccentric mother to find out who she really is. Linda Lavin (Alice) shines as an overbearing Jewish grandmother in “One Big Happy Family,” a big-hearted contemporary Bat Mitzvah comedy about mothers, daughters, sisters and the mensches we pick along the way to join our chosen family. Get tickets.
Contemporary Eco-poetics: Beyond Nature Poetry
Thursday, Nov. 13, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. $27.24.
Explore contemporary eco-poetry and environmental justice with Lynn Keller in this thought-provoking presentation. Many contemporary poets who care about the environment find writing about the solace and beauty to be found in nature inadequate to current realities. Awareness of environmental degradation, environmental crises, or environmental injustice is pushing them to produce alternative kinds of environmental writing. Poets whose powerful works may be presented to illustrate these developments include Lucille Clifton, Allison Cobb, Brenda Hillman, Evelyn Reilly, Ed Roberson, Juliana Spahr, and Brian Teare. Reserve your spot.
Our Wild Watershed: Squirrels!
Friday, Nov. 14, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa.
Come to this heartwarming and educational presentation with Marcia Willner, highlighting the incredible world of Sonoma County’s native squirrels through photos, personal stories, and one unforgettable blind squirrel who now serves as an education animal at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue. Along the way, you’ll learn about the many types of squirrels and chipmunks in our region, including the native Western Gray Squirrel, and the impact of introduced species. Reserve your spot.
Simrit Acoustic Trio
Friday, Nov. 14, 7:30 pm, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. Range of prices.
Join us for a transformative evening of music, spirit, and connection as the acclaimed Simrit Acoustic Trio takes the stage at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. Known for her hauntingly beautiful voice and deeply meditative sound, Simrit blends ancient chant traditions with modern sonic elements—from ethereal vocals to world rhythms and layered harmonies. Get tickets.
Fleetwood Macramé
Friday, Nov. 14, 8 pm, at HopMonk Tavern (in the Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $36.79.
Fleetwood Macramé has become one of the Bay Area’s most exciting tribute bands. What began as a simple exercise in fun has turned into an awe-inspiring live experience complete with show-stopping renditions of Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits. Audience participation is encouraged. Get tickets.
Professional Life in Wartime Ukraine
Friday, Nov. 14, 7 pm to 9 pm, at Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Road (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol. Free.
Sebastopol World Friends, Sebastopol’s sister city organization, hosts a community presentation by a delegation of five Ukrainian professional women who are visiting Sonoma County as part of Open World, a U.S. Congressionally sponsored program that brings professionals from former Soviet and developing countries to the U.S. to experience our form of governance and to study a focused topic. This delegation’s focus is “Serving Children in Times of War” and “Establishing Child/Family Counseling Networks.” The delegates are special education teachers, community service organizers, and a legislative advisor. During their two-week stay, they will be visiting schools and social service agencies, meeting with elected officials, and they’ll also have some time to visit local tourist sites. They will be sharing their professional lives in Ukraine and their initial impressions from their visit here. This event is free and open to everyone.
Adorn Holiday Market
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, 10 am to 5 pm, at Chimera Arts and Maker Space, 6791 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Come to the second annual Adorn Holiday Jewelry Market, a two-day showcase of beautifully handcrafted pieces by talented local artisans from the North Bay Jewelry Arts Guild. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts and support local artists.
Holiday Wreath Making
Saturday, Nov. 15, 4 pm to 6 pm, at Gather Sebastopol, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $140.
Join us for a festive evening of creativity and connection as we craft beautiful dried floral wreaths, using a curated selection of dried flowers, foliage, and natural materials. Led by Jessy Gaumann of Descendants Art Studio, this hands-on workshop is the perfect way to welcome the season and create a lasting piece of art for your home. Reserve your spot.
Flamenco Audaz
Saturday, Nov. 15, 7 pm, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $30.
Audacious flamenco for an audacious cause. A spellbinding and unforgettable evening with Sol Flamenco sponsored by Audacity Rising. The tradition of Flamenco dance and its music have enjoyed centuries of acclaim for its ‘fire and passion.’ Sol Flamenco animates this age-long tradition with impeccable and searing artistry. All profits from this event will go to aid the immigrant community through paying legal fees and giving support to immigrant families in need. Get tickets.
Handset Type Fundamentals
Sunday, Nov. 16, 10 am to 3 pm, at North Bay Letterpress Arts, 925 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Suite D, Sebastopol. $170.
Step into the timeless craft of letterpress printing by learning the art of handset type. This hands-on class introduces participants to the fundamentals of traditional typesetting, from understanding type anatomy and layout to composing text by hand with movable metal type. Students will explore spacing, alignment, and lock-up techniques, and gain a working knowledge of the tools, terminology, and processes that defined print for centuries. By the end of the session, each participant will set and print a small project of their own, experiencing the tactile satisfaction of bringing words to life on paper. No prior experience required—just curiosity, patience, and a love for craft. Reserve your spot.
ReVision: Writers ReGroup
Sunday, Nov. 16, 1 pm to 3:30 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $35
Write your way into a productive and rewarding relationship with revision. Revision is to a first draft what marriage is to falling head-over-heels. It is to a free write what deep friendship is to a casual meeting. Revision takes time, skill, caring, and fortitude. Revision is not for the faint of heart, but for writers committed to their relationship with creative expression through all the rough patches. Revision allows us to investigate our heart work and stay true to our intentions. Reserve your spot.
Dinner and a Movie series at the Rialto: What’s Cooking?
Sunday, Nov. 16, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $76.50.
On Thanksgiving Day, four ethnically diverse families— Vietnamese, Latino, Jewish, and African American — gather for the traditional meal. Each family has its own distinct way of cooking the traditional holiday meal and its own set of problems. See the menu here. Get tickets.
Comedy Open Mic
Sunday, Nov. 16, 7 pm, at HopMonk Tavern (in the Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Comedy Open Mic happens on the third Sunday of the month. Interested in performing? Now is your chance. Sign-up before the show starts to put your name in the hat—random draw for show spot—up to 25 comedians can perform. All levels of experience are encouraged. No musical, ventriloquist or magic acts—stand-up or performance comedy only. Hosts are Jefferson Mars, award-winning comedian and street performer, and Jon Lehre, prize-winning speaker and stand-up comic. Best of all, it’s totally free, but have a drink or two or even a bite to eat while you laugh your Sunday night away. Get tickets.