What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Art, music, cat video fest and gardening for climate change

Compassionate Communication: Relational Dynamics 6-week class
Monday, July 29, 4:30 pm to 6 pm, at Ragle Ranch Park (picnic tables west of the playground area), Sebastopol. $100-$350 sliding scale.
Come join us in-person for 6 weeks to learn and practice skills for connection that will transform challenges and build community. Practice compassionate communication (also known as Non-violent Communication) as a tool to get along better with friends, family and others. At every meeting, this group takes on a new topic and practices with real life situations to hone listening skills to really “get someone’s world,” transform the patterns of communicating from surface level or sticky situations into heart-opening moments, and understand where disconnects happen. Reserve your spot.
Coffee with a Councilmember: Vice Mayor Stephen Zollman
Wednesday, July 31, 10am to 11:30am At Brew Brothers Coffee (962 Gravenstein Highway South, Sebastopol. Free.
Join Vice Mayor Stephen Zollman for the next “Coffee with a Councilmember” event. Come buy a cup of coffee and join the conversation. Ask questions and share your thoughts and ideas. Vice Mayor Zollman hopes to see you there!
Peacetown Concerts at Ives Park
Wednesday, July 31, 5 pm to 8 pm, at Ives Park, 7400 Willow St., Sebastopol. Free.
At this week’s summer Peacetown Concert in Ives Park, hear the Marshall House Project and Gill Brothers. Friends, food trucks, fun!
Invisible Nation: A film and Q&A about Taiwan
Thursday, August 1, 7 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $15.25.
With unprecedented access to Taiwan’s sitting head of state, director Vanessa Hope investigates the election and tenure of Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan. Thorough, incisive and bristling with tension, Invisible Nation is a living account of Tsai’s tightrope walk as she balances the hopes and dreams of her nation between the colossal geopolitical forces of the U.S. and China. Film followed by Q&A with Director Vanessa Hope and Producer Ted Hope. Get tickets.
Chimera First Fridays Open House
Friday, August 2, 5 pm to 8 pm, at Chimera Arts and Maker Space, 6791 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
At their First Fridays events, Chimera opens its doors to let you check out what they’re are all about. Stop by to meet your local community of makers, get a tour of our facility, enjoy some fine libations and food, and hear some great local music. You can also have some fun with hands-on activities and live demonstrations. Admission, demonstrations, tours and music are all free. Beer, wine and food are offered at a modest price.
Reichwage Winery Gallery Night with Gen Zorich benefiting Artstart
Friday, August 2, 5:30 pm to 7 pm at Reichwage Winery, 1689 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol. $25.
For collectors and admirers, join us at the serene Reichwage Winery to explore a private gallery of original works by Gen Zorich. Featuring new and unreleased pieces to inspire your space. Enjoy estate wines and sparkling cider and enter a raffle of art, wine and an African Safari benefiting ArtStart, a local nonprofit supporting art education for teens. Get tickets.
UC Master Gardeners presents ‘Gardening into the Future: Climate Adaptation in Your Yard’
Saturday, August 3, 10:30 am to 12 pm, Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Many climate change solutions require huge shifts by governments and corporations, but there are positive, impactful actions you can take in your own garden and community. ‘Gardening into the Future: Climate Adaptation in Your Yard’ offers concrete, achievable, science-based means to use your own garden for carbon sequestration, food security, plant and animal habitat, and increased resilience to extreme weather and other climate change events.
CANCELED: Witches Day Out Lammas Fair
Saturday, August 3, 11 am to 6 pm at Sebastopol Subud Hall, 234 Hutchins Ave., Sebastopol. $5 at the door includes ritual.
Once upon a time the ancient Celtic peoples would gather in early August, when it was warm and dry, to meet with the far away tribes and come together in community to trade and play. A group of Sonoma County Witches and Milk & Honey are teaming up to recreate a Witches Lammas Fair in Sonoma County with the first of what will hopefully be an annual event in Sebastopol. There will be witchy vendors and creators, readers, food, and the day will end with a Lammas Ritual. Learn more.
Sebastopol Summer Movie Night: The Peanuts Movie
Saturday, August 3, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Polly Baseball Field in Ives Park, Sebastopol. Free.
Live music, screening of The Peanuts Movie (2015), trivia, food truck, popcorn, candy, beverages, local beer and wine, Hosted by the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce.
Cat Video Fest
Saturday and Sunday, August 3-4, 1:30 pm at Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $15.75
A benefit for Forgotten Felines. Cat Video Fest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. Cat Video Fest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need. Get tickets.
Screamin’ Mimi’s Pint for Pint Blood Drive
Saturday and Sunday, August 3-4, 11 am to 4 pm, and Monday, August 5, 1 pm to 6 pm at Safeway, 406 N. Main St., Sebastopol
Screamin’ Mimi’s pint for pint blood drive is almost here. August 3-5 by appointment only. They filled up before the last one started, so if you want your free pint of ice cream make your appointment today!
Painting Poetry with Sherrie Lovler
Saturday, August 3-4, 9:30 am to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $240.
“Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks,” said the classical Greek lyric poet Simonides of Ceos. This concept is exemplified in ‘Reverberations: A Visual Conversation between painting and poetry’ here at SebArts this summer. With ink and Asian brushes, you’ll learn how to infiltrate your painting with the feeling of a poem. Explore the use of abstract calligraphic marks inspired by poetry, and learn how to add watercolor and work with gestures and movement, rhythm and contrast as well as quality of line, size of strokes, shape, energy, color, value and texture. Reserve your spot.
Sunday Funday with Clusterfunk! Painting, Games and Music for all ages
Sunday, August 4, 5 pm to 8 pm, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $5-$35.
Clusterfunk Carnival in Sebastopol—cornhole, tin cups, ring toss, and shake-it box. Top it off with a Flaming Tiger painting that will be fun to create. Come get competitive, get creative, and get busy on the dance floor with us. These paint parties are just that, a party with a side of paint. All ages and artistic abilities welcome. Get tickets.
NEXT WEEK: Get your tickets now for the Gravenstein Apple Fair, Saturday and Sunday, August 10-11, 10 am to 6 pm, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park, Sebastopol.
For a more complete musical schedule for Sebastopol, see happeningsonomacounty.com and choose Sebastopol from the dropdown.
Want us to feature your event in “What’s happening this week in Sebastopol?” Submit your events to the Sebastopol Community Calendar, which is back online. This is one of the many resources I use to put this column together.