What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
PorchFest, SebARTS gala, Learnapalooza, native plant gardening and more
Foundational Acrylic Painting Techniques
Monday, Sept. 9, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. $150.
Learn foundational techniques in acrylic painting through getting to know tools and surfaces. Experiment with various types of acrylic mediums, how to use different types of brushes, palette knives and spatulas and learn how to create a variety of marks. Try different surfaces like wood, canvas, fabric, watercolor paper and cardboard and learn how to prepare your surface with gesso. Learn how to thin your paint and glaze and how to thicken your paint to create dimensional textured paintings. We will also learn about the composition of your work and look at many artists and break down the elements of composition in painting. Reserve your spot.
Two-Step Dance Class
Mondays, Sept. 9 to Sept. 30, at Wischemann Hall, 465 Morris St., Sebastopol. Four classes, $45. $15 drop-in per session. Students/Fixed Income: $10 per session.
Non-gendered weekly dance classes are back. Each class will be a stand-alone lesson. Intermediate and beginner-plus dancers can drop-in anytime. Beginners must attend the first week’s lesson, when the basic step is taught. Elevate your skill level, learn more patterns and gain confidence. 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm: Country Two-Step Lesson with Christa Youngern, who will teach lots of dance patterns from closed, sweetheart, skater and cuddle positions. 7:30 pm to 8 pm: Dance Social & Practice. Practice various dance styles, plus coaching, line dance review, etc. Register here.
Several city committee meetings this week
Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 9-10, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 S. Main Street, Sebastopol, and on Zoom
Want to learn more about city government? Tune in or attend the following city committee meetings this Monday or Tuesday: Budget Committee (City Hall/Zoom), Public Arts Committee, Climate Action Committee, Planning Commission. See the full list of September committee meetings here.
Sebastopol City Council Candidates Forum
Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
The League of Women Voters of Sonoma County is holding their Sebastopol City Council Candidates Forum this Wednesday, Sept. 11, on Zoom. This a great opportunity to learn more about the people who are running for Sebastopol City Council. Hear from candidates Neysa Hinton, Phill Carter, and Stanton Key Nethery. Link to the event: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86959879966. Can’t find it? See the League of Women Voters web page for this event here.
What’s happening in Ukraine?
Thursday, Sept. 12, 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the Community Church of Sebastopol, 1000 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. Free.
An audio-visual presentation of Sebastopol resident John Namkung’s trip to Ukraine. From John: “The focus of the presentation will be to give you a snapshot of what it's like to live in a country at war, both in relatively safe areas as well as near the front lines of the war. What you see and read in the news are often sensational and newsworthy events. I try to show you what the ordinary Ukrainian copes with on a daily basis. I will also share with you the stories of brave, heroic and compassionate Ukrainians who are devoting their lives to try and meet the needs of struggling Ukrainians who either live near the front lines of the war or who fled and are displaced throughout the country.”
United States Postal Service Hiring Event in Sebastopol
Friday, Sept. 13, 10 am to 2 pm, at the Sebastopol Post Office, 290 South Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Welcome to the USPS Hiring Event. Are you looking for a new career? Do you like to work outdoors in a physically vigorous job that'll maintain your active fitness level? Come to this USPS hiring event and learn about the different positions and start your application process. Our staff will be there to share information about what it is like to work for the Postal Service and how to submit an application. Register here.
Election Presentation with David McCuann
Friday, Sept. 13, 2:30 pm to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Area Senior Center 167 N. High St., Sebastopol. $20-$25.
As the 2024 Primary Election begins, what are the dynamics of the 2024 elections? We will focus on the advantages and challenges of re-election for presidents, what to expect on races in the House and Senate, and how this all impacts the politics of California and the nation moving forward. This election is quickly turning into the most important election that this nation has seen since 1860. Register here.
Intro to Tarot
Friday, Sept. 13, 6:30 pm, at Milk and Honey, 123 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Sliding scale of $30 to $50.
The Tarot is a language of symbols and symbology. Although anyone can learn the code of these symbols, what is important in a tarot reading is how our individual intuitions interpret the messages and share the translation of the imagery. The language might be universal, but the personal interpretation will always be unique. In this class we will open up to our intuitive voice and dive into the basics of the tarot code. This class is based on the Rider/Waite/Smith tarot deck and its derivations. Space is limited and registration is required. Email with questions or to register.
Sebastopol Compost Giveaways — Free Organic Compost!
Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 am to 12 pm, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol (Behind Community Center Youth Annex)
Bring: gloves, shovels, buckets, bags, tarps, good spirits. Get: up to 1/2 cubic yard of organic compost per household. Please be prepared to wait your turn in line, with your car turned off to minimize hydrocarbon emissions. Vehicles will be directed to the compost pile as places open up. These events are coordinated by volunteers from the Sebastopol Climate Action Committee.
Third Annual Heirloom Apple Celebration
Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 am to 3 pm, at Gold Ridge Organic Farm, 3387 Canfield Road, Sebastopol. $10-$50.
Join Gold Ridge Organic Farm for its Third Annual Heirloom Apple Celebration. Welcome the arrival of fall and beloved Heirloom Apples at this family-friendly event. Featuring curated tastes of a handful of the 70+ heirloom apple varieties grown in Gold Ridge’s organic orchards. Enjoy local cheese and apple pairings and taste a new line of apple cider vinegars. Here’s the schedule: 10 am - Gates open; 10:30 am - Pip’s Tour; 11 am - Pairing Demo: The Perfect Autumn Salad; 11:30 am - Apple Aficionado Tour; 12:30 pm - Pairing Demo: Building A Beautiful Cheeseboard; 1 pm - Pip’s Tour; 1:30 pm - Apple Aficionado Tour. The event ends at 3 pm. Get tickets.
Sebastopol Porchfest
Saturday, Sept. 14, 12 pm to 6 pm, South High St. between Calder and Palm, Sebastopol. Free.
Enjoy a day of music and community building along South High Street in Sebastopol! Sebastopol Porchfest is a free event for all. Local musicians will perform on five stages throughout the neighborhood. Stroll from stage to stage and enjoy the tunes. From folk to rock to rap to jazz, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this first annual community celebration!
Native Plant Gardening in Sonoma County
Saturday, Sept. 14, 1 pm to 2:30 pm, Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. From $11.49-$27.24.
Come to a fun and informative presentation by Betty Young on gardening with native plants in Sonoma County! Betty will discuss planning your garden, pre-planting preparation, plant selection, establishment, irrigation or not, and on-going pruning and maintenance. After the talk and questions, we will discuss more details about maintenance with a tour through the Laguna Environmental Center garden. Bring your hat. Register here.
Dance Kaleidoscope
Saturday, Sept. 14, 4 pm at Subud Hall, 234 Hutchins Ave., Sebastopol. $15-$20.
Join the Sirens of Subud Hall for an afternoon of fun and dance. Enjoy performances of dances from across the globe. Tickets are on a sliding scale; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Adults $15-$20; kids 5-12 $5-$10; kids under 5 free.
SebARTS’ North Star Gala
Saturday, Sept. 14, 5 pm to 9 pm, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S High Street, Sebastopol. $250.
This annual fundraising event celebrates the intersection of art, culture, and community, honoring both inspirational artistic visionaries and the dedicated individuals who make the center’s mission possible. Immerse yourself in multi-Sensory arts experiences throughout the evening with music, art, film, poetry and performances. This year’s gala will feature a prestigious art auction showcasing works by notable artists such as Ned Kahn, Maria de los Angeles, Tamsin Smith, Patrick Amiot, Gregory Rick, Regina Saura, Monika Rosa, Peter Gee and many others. Attendees will have exclusive access to these exceptional pieces, with additional original works by Sonoma County artists available through an online art sale. Get tickets.
The Trade - Live music, artisan crafts and gourmet eats
Sunday, Sept. 15, 11 am to 4 pm, at the Barlow, Sebastopol. Free.
Explore a curated selection of vintage treasures, handmade goods, lush plants and more. Family and pet-friendly. Whether you’re looking to shop, eat, or simply enjoy some fantastic live music, The Trade has something for everyone. Bring your friends and family for a fun-filled day of shopping, eating, and dancing.
Learnapalooza
Sunday, Sept. 15, 11 am to 3:30 pm, at Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Road (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol. Free.
Learn something new! LEARNapalooza is a showcase of local classes and workshops of all kinds. Come learn about local resources, enjoy hands-on activities, watch demonstrations, talk to teachers, and sign up for classes. Learn more.
Car-A-Bunga classic car show
Sunday, Sept. 15, 11 am to 2 pm, at HopMonk, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Bring your woody's, hot rods and classics for a day of chrome car shine & high grade suds. NO registration fee, cars 1975 and older. Register your car here.
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. This is one of the many resources I use to put this column together.