What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
May 20-26: Holly Near, important city council meeting, dance on film and in person, pet painting, Sebastopol Walks, and Peter Coyote
Holly Near at HopMonk Sebastopol
Monday, May 20, 7 pm at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $35.
Holly Near has been singing for a more equitable world for well over 50 creative years. She is an insightful storyteller through her music, committed to keeping the work rooted in contemporary activism. Get tickets.
Call Me Dancer – Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival
Tuesday, May 21, 1 pm and 7 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $13.75.
Part of the Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival, “Call Me Dancer” will take you on a magical journey from the streets of Mumbai to the stages of New York. It’s a story of perseverance, rebellion, passion, family, culture, and an unlikely friendship—filmed in India, Israel, the U.K., and the U.S.—and featuring music from legendary singer/songwriter Jay Sean and hip-hop artist/rapper Anik Khan, with a sublime score by Nainita Desai and Nina Humphreys. Get tickets.
Sebastopol City Council Meeting
Tuesday, May 21, 6 pm at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
There’s a full agenda for this meeting, ranging from a public hearing on the removal of a bunya bunya tree at the Barlow to a discussion of water and wastewater rate increases. There will also be a discussion of a sales tax measure for the November ballot and a report from the Library Ad Hoc committee. See the full agenda.
Sebastopol Active Transportation Plan Workshop
Wednesday, May 22, 4 pm to 6 pm, at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 High St., Sebastopol. Free.
Share your ideas for improving Sebastopol’s bicycle and pedestrian network at this in-person workshop.
Introduction to Social Square Dancing
Wednesday, May 22, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, at Wischemann Hall, 465 Morris St., Sebastopol. First lesson is free.
Today’s social square dancing uses 55 moves woven together in an ever-varying tapestry of dance set to a variety of music. Exercise your body and mind as part of a very supportive community of dancers. Everyone is welcome—lesbian, gay, and straight. Casual attire. No partner is needed, but it’s fun to share this free session with your friends. Register online. Walk-in’s welcome. Come early for parking and signing in.
Writers’ Salon: May Session
Thursday, May 23, 3:30 pm to 6 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $10.
Join us at the Writers’ Salon—a monthly in-person gathering for literary enthusiasts. Each person will have five minutes to read their work—any type of writing is welcome, including prose, poetry, essay, etc. Reserve your spot.
Art 101: Painting Pet Portraits
Thursday, May 23, 6 pm, at Chimera Arts and Maker Space, 6791 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. $95.
In one evening, this class teaches the most effective tactics in the use of oil painting materials and their application to quickly create an oil painting of your favorite pet. Suitable for absolute beginners as well as experienced artists who seek a fresh approach. Reserve your spot.
Spring Watercolor Painting Workshop
Friday, May 24, 11 am to 12:30 pm, at the Sebastopol Senior Center, 167 N. High St., Sebastopol. Free for members. $5 for non-members.
Cultural exchange student Manu Massun of Buenos Aires will be leading a spring-inspired watercolor (Acuarela) class.
Afternoon Birding-by-Ear at the Laguna
Friday, May 24, 5 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail. (Meet at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center parking lot, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol.) $25.
Spring offers an increase in noticeable bird activity, as many birds are singing and paired up for their breeding cycle. Slowly meander along the mostly flat trail, winding through open oak savannah, grasslands, riparian woodlands and marshes, listening closely and soaking up spring’s beautiful bird songs. Whether you’re eager to learn how to identify the birds vocalizing or you’re simply interested in taking in nature’s wonderful soundscape, this walk is for you. Reserve your spot.
Sebastopol Walks: Musical Sebastopol
Saturday, May 25, 9 am to 12 pm. Meet in the downtown plaza. Free.
Discover the various musical venues and musicians around Sebastopol as you stroll around town on this three-hour jaunt.
Asanas Outside Yoga
Saturday, May 25, 10:30 am to 11:30 am, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park (Lions Grove/Redwood Grove Group Picnic Area). $10-$12.
Breathe in the fresh air as you move through asana sequences for strength building and gentle stretching, breathwork and meditation in this session sponsored by Sebastopol Regional Parks. This is a vinyasa/hatha style mixed-level class. Please bring your own mat and props if needed. For more information, contact Mich Swannucci at ParkPrograms@sonoma-county.org. Registration required. Register here.
Woodshop: Beginning Wood Turning: Making a Pen
Saturday, May 25, 1 pm, at Chimera Arts and Maker Space, 6791 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. $100 ($80 for class, plus $20 materials fee.)
Choose a pen style and a wood blank. Learn how to safely set up and work with the lathe. You’ll learn all steps necessary to finish your pen or pencil. No wood turning experience necessary. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Reserve your spot. Bring the $20 materials fee to class. Register for class.
Conversation with Artist Evri Kwong: Turning National Issues into Bold Narrative Paintings
Saturday, May 25, 2 pm to 4 pm, at the Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Sebastopol Regional Library is honored to host artist Evri Kwong, who will talk about his lifelong passion of turning national issues into bold narrative paintings to catalyze uncomfortable conversations. Topics that Kwong’s artwork engages with include the racist murder of Vincent Chin, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and the 1867 Chinese railway workers’ strike.
Young Voices Concert Series: Windsor High School and Analy High School String Orchestras
Saturday, May 25, 2 pm to 3 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. Free or by donation.
Immerse yourself in a symphony of talent and passion at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, where the vibrant notes of the Young Voices Concert Series echo the boundless creativity of the next generation. This Saturday hear the Windsor High School and Analy High School String Orchestras.
Accessible Event: Spring Birding with I’m Birding Right Now
Sunday, May 26, 8:30 am to 10:30 am, at Laguna Environmental Center, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. Free. Registration required.
This is an inclusive bird walk led on accessible paths and spaces to accommodate individuals with mobility challenges. This event is meant to accommodate our community members who have always wanted to go birding but have felt limited due to lack of accessibility. Please spread the word to your friends and family members who may be interested. Reserve your spot.
Author Talk with Michael Krasny and Peter Coyote
Sunday, May 26, starts at 5:45 pm, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $35.
An intimate fundraising event in support of the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center’s commitment to celebrating and nurturing the culture, enrichment, and overall well-being of our community. Hear an unforgettable conversation featuring award-winning radio host, Michael Krasny, known for his insightful interviews and thought-provoking discussions on KQED’s “Forum,” and International bestselling author and Emmy-award winning actor Peter Coyote, whose work has captivated audiences across the globe. VIP experience available. See full schedule on website. Get tickets.
Donation matching for Senior Center until June 30. Have you been thinking of donating to the Sebastopol Area Senior Center? Current and former board members have generously pledged $23,000 as a matching campaign. That means for every $100 you donate, the Senior Center receives $200 from now until June 30. Donate here.
For a more complete musical schedule for Sebastopol, see happeningsonomacounty.com and choose Sebastopol from the dropdown.
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT to the official Sebastopol Community Calendar, one of the many sources I use to put this column together.