What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Sept. 16-22: City council meeting, library book sale, classical Hindustani music, a Sebastopol Walks tour of local restaurants, and more
Sebastopol City Council Meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6 pm, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
The council will consider the following items: a resolution for city council policy on the allocation of sales tax revenues; tasks, timeline and budget for city council ad hoc committee for city council protocols and procedures handbook; extension of contract with Gold Ridge Fire Department; a resolution of opposition to Measure J; a discussion of city priorities; fleet management study cost increase of $18,900; selection of facilitator for February 2025 city council goal-setting session. See full agenda here.
Friends of Sebastopol Library Book Sale
Wednesday through Saturday, Sept. 18-21, at Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Sale includes adult/children/teen books. Most books are bargain priced at $1, even the newest fiction. Most children and teen books are 25-50 cents. The sale is open to all. Proceeds help the Sebastopol Library continue its mission of providing great reading, wonderful free programs and fantastic services to West County. Cash or check please. Opening night is Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 to 8 pm; all day bargains, Thursday, Sept. 19, 10-6 pm; half price day, Friday, Sept 20, 10 to 6 pm; $5 per bag day, Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 to 2 pm.
The Movement and the Madman: film and Q&A
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 6:30 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $16.50.
The Movement and the Madman shows how two antiwar protests in the fall of 1969—the largest the country had ever seen—pressured President Nixon to cancel what he called his “madman” plans for a massive escalation of the U.S. war in Vietnam, including threats to use nuclear weapons. Stephen Talbot’s film is a deeply researched project told by a variety of voices providing multiple perspectives. Talbot and his team conducted 30 in-depth interviews with antiwar movement organizers, members of Congress, historians, and Nixon administration officials, including three men who worked directly with Kissinger on Nixon’s “madman” plans. There will be a Q&A with director Steven Talbot as a part of this event. Get tickets
Other Rialto films to catch this week: 10th anniversary re-release of the horror classic The Babadook (Sept. 19-21) ; Outwatch Festival’s Gondola (Sept. 19) ; and Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival’s Vishniac (Sept. 17)
Horticultural Garden Tour at Osmosis
Thursday, Sept. 19, 9:30 am to 12 pm, Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, 209 Bohemian Highway, Freestone. $28.52.
A 2-hour-long guided tour of the Osmosis meditation garden will be conducted by Osmosis founder Michael Stusser and tree pruning expert Michael Alliger. This garden makes extensive use of stone, water and deer resistant plants to express the tranquil feeling of a Japanese style design. Get tickets.
Sonoma County Mycological Association meeting
Thursday, Sept. 19, 6 pm to 9 pm, at Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol. Free.
First-of-the-season monthly meeting to kick off the mushroom season and pray for rain. Many board members will be present. Join them for a casual potluck with a brief presentation by Gordon Walker and Harte Singer about the “early” season fungi and unusual findings of cool summer fungi.
Election Presentation with Vice Mayor Zollman
Friday, Sept. 20, 2:30 pm to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Area Senior Center, 167 N. High St., Sebastopol. Free.
This presentation with Sebastopol Vice Mayor Stephen Zollman aims to inform the community about the upcoming local election ballot measures. It will provide information on ballot measures including their implications, potential benefits, and any associated costs. The goal is to ensure that voters are well-informed before heading to the polls.
A Night of Hindustani Classical Music
Friday, Sept. 20, 7:30 pm to 10 pm, at Soft Medicine Sanctuary, 186 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $32-$38
Hear two masters of Hindustani classical music. Arjun Verma has emerged with a unique voice on the sitar—both within the tradition of North Indian Classical Music, and through his innovative cross-genre collaborations. Nilan Chaudhuri on the tabla is dedicated to the preservation of Hindustani classical music. Learn more and get tickets.
iWalk, iEat Local, Sebastopol: The 6th Annual Walking Tour of Sebastopol Restaurants
Saturday, Sept. 21, 9 am. Meet at the downtown plaza. Free.
Want to take a Sebastopol Foodie Walk? Councilmembers Neysa Hinton and Jill McLewis will lead what has become a “fan-favorite” walking experience to some of our town’s local featured restaurants. The group will be walking and making short stops for food samples along the way. Plan to learn more about Sebastopol’s food scene from the owners and managers along our walk route. We’ll be visiting local favorites and new additions, so discover a new restaurant you may not have known about.
Taize and Contemplative Chant with Benjamin Mertz to honor the Autumnal Equinox and Day of Peace
Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. By donation.
Benjamin Mertz is a renowned musician, composer, performer and song leader specializing in the rich tradition of Black Spiritual music. He is the founder and the director of the Joyful Noise Gospel Singers. We are pleased that he will be leading us in song on the International Day of Peace and the Autumnal Equinox. This event is donation based. All are welcome.
Fall Clothing Swap at Retrograde
Sunday, Sept. 22, 10 am to 1 pm, at Retrograde Coffee, 130 S. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Bring clean clothing in good condition to swap. All sizes, ages, genders welcome.
Sebastopol Lion's Chili Cookoff
Sunday, Sept. 22, 11 am to 4 pm, Sebastopol Center for The Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol.
What are you doing September 22nd from noon to 4pm? Come on down to the Sebastopol Lions inaugural Chili Cookoff at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts in beautiful Ives Park. If you or someone you know would like to participate, please email us at gravensteinlions@gmail.com Attn: Chili Cookoff Participant
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 calendar is, sadly, currently malfunctioning, but I still see all submissions in my email.) This is one of the many resources I use to put this column together.