What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
What Buddhism and science have in common, plus an important city council meeting, mussel foraging, Chinese architecture, music, dancing and more
Science Buzz Café—Reality Is Not What It Seems: A Scientist’s Journey to the Intersection of Buddhism and Modern Science
Monday, Nov. 3, 6 pm, at HopMonk Tavern (in the Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $10.
Scientists create many varied instruments for perceiving and detecting phenomena that were once ‘invisible’ to our outer senses: infrared, ultraviolet, gravitational waves, neutrinos, etc. Seemingly new worlds and phenomena emerge and take shape that were previously unknown. Is it possible for scientists to also explore the inner life of the human being to discover new instruments or processes for perceiving and detecting what was formerly unknown and invisible to the inner ‘eye’? Join Carl B. Pilcher, PhD., for a rigorous exploration of two seemingly irreconcilable worlds.
The Art of Spellcraft
Mondays, Nov. 3, 10, and 17, at 7 pm, at Milk & Honey, 123 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $100.
In this three-week class, we will explore the many ways of working spells. Each week there will be opportunities to create your own spells for love, prosperity, health, protection, and more. Cost is $100 for the three weeks and includes supplies. Space is limited and a deposit of $40 is required to reserve your spot. To register for this class, email here.
Senior Saunter on the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 10 am to 12 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail (Hwy. 12) entrance, parking lot. Free.
Senior Saunters are low-impact hikes designed to connect older adults with beautiful parks and each other. Join us for leisurely walks throughout Sonoma County. This month’s hike will take place at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail. Learn about the plants and animals that call the wetland ecosystem home while taking in the beautiful views in this low-impact hike designed for older adults. No registration required. Please bring your own water and snacks. We recommend participants dress in layers and bring a hat and sunscreen.
Mussel Foraging
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 3 pm to 5:45 pm, on the Sonoma Coast near Bodega Bay (location shared upon registration). $75 to $125.
Join Fork in the Path for a magical mussel foraging adventure on the Sonoma Coast. You will learn how to sustainably forage, clean, and prepare our beautiful California coast mussels—and also learn an overview of the land’s history, the intertidal zone ecosystem, and what it means to be a good steward of our land and waters. If you haven’t experienced freshly foraged mussels, you will be in for a treat! A post-foraging feast of mussels on the beach provides the perfect gathering spot to learn how to care for your mussels, ask questions, and enjoy the view. Each person will take home up to 10 lbs. of fresh foraged mussels to share, recipes and instructions. Register now.
Sebastopol City Council Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 6 pm, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
The council will hear the 2025-26 first-quarter financial updates for both the city’s Enterprise Funds and the General Fund. It will also consider an urgency ordinance to add a Just Cause Eviction and Tenant Relocation section to the Sebastopol Municipal Code. In addition, they’ll decide whether to award WBCP the contract to recruit for the city manager position. See the full agenda and documentation here.
Autumn Watercolors
Wednesdays, Nov. 5, 12 and 19, 10 am to 12 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. $160.
We’ll take inspiration from warm, earthy tones and classic autumn subjects like colored leaves, seed pods, harvest tables, dried corn, pumpkins, gourds, squash, baskets, zinnia, marigolds and persimmons—perfect for capturing texture, color, and form in watercolor. Designed for all skill levels, the class focuses on technique and skill development, including wet and controlled wash, color mixing, texture, and line. Beginning painters will work on building a strong foundation, while advanced painters will benefit from new approaches to the basics and sharpened techniques. Reserve your space.
Foraging Wild Sea Urchin (Uni) to Restore Balance
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 3 pm to 6 pm, on the Sonoma Coast (location shared upon registration). $75-$125.
Save kelp, eat urchin! Join this half-day intertidal ecology class where we will do the intertidal zone a big favor by helping to remove some of the overgrown sea urchin population. We will teach you how to open and enjoy this incredible delicacy. You may have heard it called “uni” in a sushi restaurant, but it’s so much tastier when it’s fresh! Take home up to 35 uni. Requires a California fishing license. Register now.
Sakoyana and AfriCali at SebArts
Thursday, Nov. 6, from 7 pm to 10 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $25.
African music and food celebration family night of Afro Fusion and Jazz Afro Beat celebrating Fela Kuti. They’ll also have Abyssinia Restaurant doing a pop-up with vegan Ethiopian food and their famous honey wine. Get tickets.
Songs of Self, Spirit, and Society
Friday, Nov. 7, 7 pm to 8 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $10.
Join conductor John Maas and the Sebastopol Community Harmonia at Sebastopol Center for the Arts for an uplifting musical journey that blends personal expression, spiritual depth, and social purpose. This vibrant community choir, formed in 2022, welcomes singers of all experience levels and performs a wide range of music—from accessible folk traditions of various cultures to more intricate choral works. Reserve your spot. Get tickets.
SunRidge Falling Leaves Festival
Saturday, Nov. 8, 11 am to 3 pm, at 7285 Hayden Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
When the leaves begin to change color and fall from the trees, it’s time for the SunRidge Charter School’s beloved Falling Leaves Festival. Celebrate the season with live music, delicious wholesome food, crafts to make, games to play, and a handmade marketplace to help you get started in your holiday shopping. Free entry and open to the community!
Fantasy/Abstract Acrylic Painting from Imagination, Dreams, & Spirit
Saturday, Nov. 8, 1 pm to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. $120.
Utilizing your own ideas and images and/or images from books, magazines, dream journals or sketches, each student will design a painting of their own. Learning design balance through size, shape, texture and color, each student will complete a unique painting relevant to their imaginative creativity. We will incorporate a collage of texture techniques and color, both abstract and realist images, using elements from nature, animals and themes. If you have always wanted to experiment with your creative imagination, this class may provide just what you like. Reserve your spot.
Irish Music in the Vineyard
Saturday, Nov. 8, 3 pm to 5 pm, at Reichwage Winery, 1689 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol. $12.
Cady & Murphy “Hardly-strictly Irish” Duo performs lush, acoustic country-folk and popular songs, and traditional Irish tunes on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bodhrán, and vocals. This talented duo will mesmerize you with their intricate harmonies and unique instruments. Kid + pet friendly. Get tickets.
Architecture in Harmony with Nature: Lecture on the Chinese Garden
Saturday, Nov. 8, 3 pm to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $10.
In this illustrated talk, architect Ryan McCaffrey will explore the timeless design principles behind some of China’s most celebrated landscapes—from the classical gardens of Suzhou to the scenic West Lake in Hangzhou, as well as intimate scholars’ gardens. Discover how pavilions, corridors, and terraces are carefully placed to frame views of water, rockeries, and lush vegetation; how paths, courtyards, and platforms guide both footsteps and the gaze; and how materials like whitewashed walls, timber columns, roof tiles, and Taihu rock bring texture, symbolism, and durability. These ancient strategies still inspire architecture today, offering enduring lessons for blending built form, landscape, and human experience. Reserve your spot.
African Textile Printmaking Workshop for Families
Sunday, Nov. 9, 10:30 am to 1 pm, at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $25 per individual, plus family pricing.
Discover the beauty of African textile art through the use of ancient Adinkra symbols in this hands-on workshop led by artist Asual Aswad. Participants will create and print their own fabric designs in what Asual calls “talking cloths.” Using 4–6 hand-painted stamp symbols in colors of your choice, you’ll layer designs to transform a blank piece of fabric into an original work of art. Along the way, you’ll explore key artistic concepts such as color, design, symmetry, pattern, and balance. All materials are water-based, non-toxic acrylics safe for all ages. Get tickets.
Hot Flash Dance Party
Sunday, Nov. 9, 5 pm to 8 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. $15.
Got hot flashes? This is your dance party! Come dance your cares away to ’80s, ’90s, and early ’00s music—that ends at a reasonable hour—to support SebArts. Get tickets.
FARTHER AFIELD
An Evening in Paris with SonoMusette
Saturday, Nov. 8, 7 pm to 9 pm, at Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental. $15 – $30.
Spend an evening in Paris with SonoMusette at OCA! Featuring Parisian singer Mimi Pirard, SonoMusette authentically recreates the moody and evocative sound of the Paris music scene of the Mid-20th Century. SonoMusette’s renditions of timeless French classics provide a freshness and excitement that is contemporary, yet faithful, to the spirit and tradition of the original artists. Get tickets.
Gosh, a class to teach me to spell; I’ll learn a lot in three weeks… ha
Believing is easier than thinking. But does easy produce wisdom or distraction?
Fuzzy thinking is how the US lost democracy.
A class about critical thinking might not be worth $100 for an audience that favors spells…