What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Science Buzz on geothermal, a history of the grange, whales, astrology, a new Sebastopol Walk, music, film, art and more
Science Buzz Cafe
Monday, Feb. 23, 6 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $10.
Woody Hastings has been with The Climate Center for 15 years when he began working on Sonoma Clean Power and now the GeoZone Project. He will introduce the idea of advanced geothermal energy production based on a new approach and technology that could be an inspiration and example for the state of California and the nation.
Great Art on Screen: St. Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1 pm and 7 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $21.50.
“St. Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome” takes you on a journey through the four Papal Basilicas and their treasures: St. Peter’s (one of the most-visited destinations by tourists from all over the world), St. John in the Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Four majestic buildings— each with a precious papal altar, each a treasure trove of timeless works of art and a destination for millions of travelers and pilgrims over the centuries. Get tickets.
Citrus Exchange
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 5 pm to 5:45 pm, at Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy 12), Sebastopol.
Part of the grange’s ongoing produce exchange series. Bring citrus, greens, winter squash, seeds to share and exchange. The next exchange (for plant starts, produce, seeds, herbs) is in April, and the regular, bi-monthly produce exchange resumes in May.
Sebastopol Grange monthly meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 5:30 pm, at Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy 12), Sebastopol. $10.
Everyone is invited to join the Grangers and friends at our monthly general meeting. Come for social time starting at 5:30 pm, followed by a potluck dinner and music. Please bring food to share (lovingly labeled) and your own dishes and utensils. Tuesday evening’s presentation will feature Peter Schurch talking about the Grange’s early history and the historic events that helped shape it, including the Civil War, Reconstruction in the South, segregation in the Grange, westward expansion, farmers vs. railroads, Blacks in the Grange, and the Farmers Movement.
Peacetown presents: Foxes in the Henhouse
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 6 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Foxes in the Henhouse is five audacious women with stunning three-part harmony and mad instrumental skills. Foxes in the HenHouse is She Done Him Wrong songs, She Got Him Back songs, She Kicked Him Out Once and for All songs. It’s a bluegrass Bob Marley tune. A swinging Jimmie Rodgers number. It’s Frankie and Johnny drinking lemonade under a shade tree with Nina Simone, with a dash of fiddle and a splash of moonshine.
The Indivisible Sonoma County Film Series at the Rialto: Origin
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1 pm and 7 pm, at the Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $11.50.
Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Ava DuVernay, “Origin” (2023) chronicles the tragedy and triumph of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson as she investigates a global phenomenon of caste. Portrayed by Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Isabel experiences unfathomable personal loss and love as she crosses continents and cultures to craft her New York Times best-seller Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. “Origin” explores the mystery of history, the wonders of romance and a fight for the future of us all. A discussion will follow the 7 pm screening, between Steven Rohde, former chair of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, and Professor Kim D. Hester Williams, professor of Ethnic Studies and Languages at Sonoma State University. Get tickets.
Common Threads Fiber Night
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 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.
When Whales Speak: Turning Research and Real Encounters into Visual Poetry
Thursday, Feb. 26, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. $12-$27.
Join artist and marine conservation advocate Firuze Gokce for an inspiring talk that blends art, science, and storytelling. In this presentation, Firuze shares her creative process of transforming whale songs, spectrograms, and real marine research into vibrant visual art. Through the true stories of individual whales and the scientific discoveries behind her pieces, she explores how storytelling can spark emotional connection and drive conservation action. This talk invites audiences to listen more deeply to the ocean, understand the lives of the whales who inhabit it, and discover the power of art as a voice for the natural world. Reserve your spot.
Book Presentation: Dance of the Archetypes: How Astrology Informs Our Lives & Connects Us to the Earth
Thursday, Feb. 26, 7 pm to 8 pm, at Many Rivers Books and Tea, 130 S. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Join local author, astrologer, and photographer, Diana Badger, in conversation as she presents her new book, Dance of the Archetypes, which bridges astrology with earth connection and our ordinary lives. Offering a grounded, psychologically informed approach to astrology, Diana draws from decades of engagement with depth psychology, spiritual practice, and ecological awareness, illuminating the zodiacal archetypes as patterns that speak simultaneously to our inner lives and the world around us. Whether you’re new to astrology or already immersed in it, Diana’s offering benefits those seeking relevance, connection, and purpose in rapidly changing times, and is brought to life by her striking photographs.
Fuel for Your Body: Understanding Protein, Carbs, and Healthy Fats
Friday, Feb. 27, 10 am to 11 am, at the Sebastopol Area Senior Center, 167 N. High St., Sebastopol. $8.
Learn how to balance protein, carbs, healthy fats, and macronutrients to support energy, strength and overall health. Gain credible insights, practical tools and renewed confidence in navigating nutrition at every stage of life. Presenter Caitlin Beale, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian and freelance health writer with experience in clinical nutrition, education, research, and private practice. Register here.
Make. Believe. at Laguna Lab
Friday, Feb. 27, 6 pm to 2 am, 117 Morris St., Sebastopol. $30 online, $50 at the door.
According to the invitation for this event, “There is a portal opening in the heart of our community. Laguna Lab isn’t just a space; it’s a living, breathing experiment in radical inclusion and collective magic…This night is a celebration of the dreamer and the doer. We are gathering to breathe life into our new experimental sanctuary and to fuel our collective fundraising journey. Whether you are an emerging seeker or an established creator, there is a seat at our table and a spark for your fire. Come and meet the team, support emerging artists and see something completely new.” Our reporter Mark Fernquest loves this interesting, new art and happenings space. Attendance is by donation. RSVP is preferred. Learn more, get tickets and RSVP here.
Jordan Tice Band | Water Tower
Friday, Feb. 27, 7 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $28-$37.
Jordan Tice is a musical seeker of the most dedicated sort. Listening to the breadth of his discography, which includes seven projects as a solo artist and six as a founding member of the string band, Hawktail, you can hear this dedication at play. Equally virtuosic as a flatpicker and finger stylist, and with a casual vocal style, Tice conjures ingredients from far-flung worlds with an ease which has earned him glowing press from such outlets as NPR and American Songwriter and taken him to stages such as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Ryman Auditorium. His performances call upon the repertoires of American and British Isles folk, bluegrass, blues and pop. Get tickets.
Sebastopol Walks: A Historical Tour of the Hilly Neighborhoods of South Sebastopol
Saturday, Feb. 28, 9 am to 11:30 pm. Meet at the downtown plaza at 9 am. Free.
Join the Sebastopol Walks crew for a historical tour of the hilly neighborhoods of South Sebastopol. Explore the hills in the south part of town and learn some of the local history of the neighborhoods, as well as the land use decisions that created them. This figure-8 route, featuring some charming residential areas, will give you a light workout. Distance: Approximately 3 miles. Elevation: 230 feet gain and loss. Duration: 2.5 hours. Pace: Moderate. Led by Geoffrey Skinner and Sarah Gurney.
Eco-Friendly Weed Management
Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 am to 11:30 am, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Free.
Are your weeds taking over? Would you like to control them without harsh chemicals? This Master Gardener-led class will show you how. The class will focus on sustainability based on integrated pest management (IPM) and utilizing multiple tools and practices. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the talk. A Sonoma County Master Gardeners presentation. Reserve your spot here.
Film Screening: “The Collector” with filmmaker Olympia Stone
Saturday, Feb. 28, 3 pm to 5 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $15.
“The Collector” explores the 46-year career of Allan Stone, the famed New York City gallery owner and art collector. Producer and director Olympia Stone reveals her father’s compulsive collecting genius while telling the parallel story of his lifelong journey through the art world from the 1950s to 2006. Viewers are taken on an extraordinary path inside one man’s obsessive submersion in art and its influence on the artists, art dealers and family members with whom he worked and lived. Get tickets.
Steve Pile (George Harrison & John Lennon Tribute)
Saturday, Feb. 28, 7 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $31.
This year, to celebrate George Harrison’s 83rd birthday, Steve Pile brings you “Something To Imagine” a tribute to the two “spiritual” Beatles, John Lennon and George Harrison. An all-star band of local musicians will concoct a magical, mystical mixture of solo and Beatles songs by each artist. Sometimes reaching for Divine Love, and sometimes for the dark, rocking, and often political underbelly that both artists captured so well, it will be an evening of masterful tunes and unexpected interpretations. Steve Pile will be joined by some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians like Jon Chi, Jordan Feinstein, James Stafford, Stephanie Salva, and more. Get tickets.
Collage Your Story with Catherine Cruz
Sunday, March 1, 11 am to 3 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $130.
The word collage comes from the French verb coller, meaning “to glue,” and is all about merging various materials to tell a visual story. Much like our lives, which are shaped by countless moments and experiences, collage pieces bring together fragments that reveal hidden connections and untold narratives. In this class, you’ll reflect on what matters most to you and how that can be expressed through art. Teacher Catherine Cruz will help you release the need for perfection and trust your creative instincts. By the end of the workshop, you’ll not only have a finished artwork but also a deeper connection to your creative potential and a renewed love for the art of collage. For adults and teens, ages 16 and up. Reserve your spot.
Cousins Maine Lobster at the Punchdown Wine Bar and Bottle Shop in the Barlow
Sunday, March 1, 12 pm to 8 pm, at 6770 McKinley St., Sebastopol. Roughly $33–$40.
Enjoy some lobster rolls with family and friends at the Punchdown. Cousins Maine Lobster food truck will be in front of the Punchdown this Sunday. Order on site or via the mobile app. Ordering on the app opens up a few hours before each food truck event. And, of course, you can always order directly at the truck.
Wildflowers of Sonoma County Backroads
Sunday, March 1, 2 pm to 3:30 pm, at Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
April Lynch shares about the abundant wildflowers of Sonoma County backroads. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the library talk. A Sonoma County Master Gardeners presentation. Register here.
Want us to feature your event in “What’s happening this week in Sebastopol?” Submit your events to the Sebastopol Community Calendar. This is one of the many resources I use to put this column together. Submitting your event to the community calendar doesn’t guarantee that your event will make it into “What’s Happening this Week,” but it means that I will see it and consider it.