Podcasts about sonoma county california

Farmers work too hard for what they earn. They need to earn more and work less for their way of life that should be profitable. Small farms are critical to local communities and food systems, but are especially outmatched by the resources available to larger farms — technology, equipment, sales and marketing teams, and back office staff. So in partnership with local farms in Sonoma County California, Ari Memar founded Farmhand to level the playing field by equipping farmers with the technology and services to win back local share of the food dollar and support a thriving local food system. www.farmhand.partners/farmtotabletalk      

Today on the show:  Jennifer Lowenstein, updates the latest news from the killing fields of Gaza, the West Bank and Syria. The World Food Program warns  that Israeli blockades have entirely depleted food stocks in Gaza and warned that thousands of Palestinians could die of starvation. Also hundreds of Sonoma County California immigrants & their allies will to march on May Day To denounce Trump's programs of mass deportations. And Unions continue their front line resistance to Trump's extremely anti union/pro- genocide policies The post The World Food Program Warn That Israeli Blockades Have Depleted Food Stocks in Gaza appeared first on KPFA.

Join us for a solo episode this week on Spiritual Freak Show were talking about learning to LET GO! Sometimes we hold things inside of us that aren't even ours, how do we lean into the release?Grace is sharing some reflections from her personal healing journey, working with her mentor and receiving energy healing and how HEALERS need to get healing work done too! Themes include: Learning to Let GO, Letting love in, listening to your intuition, freeing yourself from martyr energy, finding your soul family and friends who can support you and understand you, psychic development and more! Sometimes we are our own worst enemy and its time to LET THAT SHIT GOOOOO !! For those local to Sonoma County California where Grace is LOCATED she will be teaching IN PERSON Spirit School, her psychic and mediumship development Course at Soul Rituals in Sebastopol California first class will be March 21 2025, more info coming soon follow us on INSTAGRAM @angelface.grace to stay up date on classes IRL and online! See you next week on Spiritual Freak Show Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @angelface.graceYoutube @angelfacegrace⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@angelfacegrace?si=o8FggbB6JvjNvkoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RATE AND REVIEW 5 STARS IF YOU NASTY :)

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with IFWTWA, travel writer Jo Clark talks about her top four park destinations in Sonoma County, California. Hear about Point Reyes National Seashore, Jack London State Historic Park, Sonoma Botanical Garden, and Sonoma State Historic Park, and read Jo's article about these parks here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/top-4-parks-to-visit-in-sonoma-county/  Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) at https://www.ifwtwa.org/  Follow this podcast here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1chVylr9kzBMftUgBoLS-m 

This week we have an interview with Matt Fritzinger of the Blue-Tailed Skinks, a kids' mountain biking program in Sonoma County California. Matt was the founder of the NorCal League, which grew into the National Interscholastic Cycling Association. He has started a new program, for kids from five to 11. The Blue-Tailed Skinks are about […]

Controversy on the measure against CAFOs was so high that a threatening email prompted the Sonoma County Farm Bureau — the initiative's primary organizing opponent — to lock its office doors and examine other safety measures.

Send Me A Text Message I would love to know where you are listening to me from!!Hello again Fellow Golfists, Got to do another talk and drive about golf on my way to a coastal destination in Sonoma County California.  Got to pontificate about the importance of making an American major golf championship difficult.  So many people think that birdies and eagles make for more entertaining major championship golf but, they are wrong.  To me birdiefest golf is really boring.  Thank you for listening to The Knackered Golfist Podcast. Visit Wild Flour Bread in Freestone California.  I recommend the Olive and Garlic Rosemary loaves of sourdough bread.  https://wildflourbread.com/Visit The Links at Bodega Harbour in Bodega Bay California.https://www.bodegaharbourgolf.com/ Support the Show.#theknackeredgolfistpodcast@theknackeredgolfistCheck out The Knackered Golfist on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheKnackeredGolfistThis episode brought to you by the Forged Golf Club Appreciation page on FacebookOughton's Golf Repairhttps://oughtonsgolf.com/#myscorecardThank a Veteran Today!!https://www.pgareach.org/services/militaryThe Observant Ear Radio Network GOD Bless You!!

Hear about travel to the wine region Sonoma County in California as the Amateur Traveler talks to Brooke Herron about this popular tourism region where she grew up. https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-sonoma-county/ Why should someone travel to Sonoma County? Brooke says, "A myriad of reasons, in my opinion beyond wine. It is an absolutely stunning region from an outdoors perspective. You've got the coast, you've got hiking trails, mountains, hills and then you've got also lots of farms, distilleries, breweries, cideries. And what I loved the most about living there for 20 years and now coming back home to it on a regular basis is really first, the outdoors and the beauty, right? The access to the ocean and trees. And then next, of course, the fact that you can get amazing food, and craft drinks everywhere." Brooke lays out a 5-day itinerary: Day One: The Sonoma Coast The first day begins on the breathtaking Sonoma Coast. Drive along Highway 1, skip the touristy Bodega Bay, and head to Shell Beach near Jenner. Here, you can choose between a leisurely stroll on the Kortum Trail or a more challenging hike on the Pomo Canyon Red Hill Loop. Chris recommends history buffs take the drive up to Fort Ross which was the Russian presence on the California Coast. After the hike, consider a stop in Jenner for a smoked salmon bagel or clam chowder with a view over the bay. For dinner, Santa Rosa offers the Bird and the Bottle, a favorite, or a more casual option at Russian River Brewery. Day Two: Sebastopol and Russian River On the second day, Brooke will explore the charming town of Sebastopol and the Russian River area. The Barlow, an open-air marketplace, is a must-visit. Enjoy craft cider, spirits, and unique food options. Highlights include Golden State Cider, Blue Ridge Kitchen, SpiritWorks Distillery, and the recently added Rewind Arcade for a playful touch. If you're not into alcohol, explore Goldridge Organic Farms for olive oil tastings and Bohemian Creamery for a delightful cheese experience. For wine enthusiasts, Horse and Plow, Dutton Estate Winery, and the unique Radio Coteau are recommended stops. Day Three: Relaxing in Petaluma On the third day, Brooke recommends a leisurely drive to Petaluma. Explore the historic downtown, and if in the mood for seafood, the Shuckery is a great choice. For a more casual experience, Brewster's Beer Garden offers a relaxed atmosphere with great outdoor seating. Accommodations in Santa Rosa can be found at Hotel E, a boutique luxury option in the heart of downtown. In Petaluma, Brooke suggests considering the charming Metro Hotel for a unique and affordable stay. Day Four: Explore Hillsburg and Windsor Brooke's top winery picks in Hillsburg include Idlewild Wines for unique Italian varieties like Arnés, Fresa, Dulcetto, Grignolino, Barbera, and Cortese blends, with educational Sunday events. Orsi Vineyards, a hidden gem in Dry Creek Valley, offers distinctive varieties like Sagrantino and Biancolella. Unty Vineyards, known for sustainable practices, provides a casual Rhone and Italian variety tasting experience. Gary Farrell in Sonoma County is recommended for exceptional Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, especially from the Russian River Valley. Aperture Cellars, known for Bordeaux blends, stands out, with a focus on texture. In Windsor, Artisan Alley hosts Two Shepherds Wine and Tilted Shed Cider. Two Shepherds offers organic and natural wines, including orange and skin-contact varieties. Grand Cru Custom Crush offers a diverse micro-winery tasting experience. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy Shiloh Regional Park's hikes and mountaintop views, while Riverfront Regional Park offers a scenic water setting. Brooke suggests exploring farmers' markets in Windsor and Healdsburg for fresh produce and vibrant atmospheres. Dining recommendations in Healdsburg include Bravas Tapas Bar, Willie's Seafood and Raw Bar, Valette Restaurant, and The Matheson. Lo and Behold is recommended for cocktails, and Black Oak Coffee and Flying Goat for coffee. In Windsor, Artisan Alley's Two Shepherds Wine and Tilted Shed Cider are must-visits, along with Pizzalea for gluten-free pizza. To unwind, Shiloh Regional Park and Riverfront Regional Park offer beautiful natural settings. For spirits, Young and Yonder Spirits and Alley Six Spirits in Healdsburg are noteworthy. Day Five: Explore the Sonoma Valley On day five, explore the renowned Sonoma Valley. Hike at North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park or Bartholomew Park. Kibblestadt Cellars, known for balanced wines, is a top choice. Prohibition Spirits in Sonoma offers unique tastings like Pink Gin. Bedrock Wines, near the plaza, features interesting varieties. Eldorado Kitchen is recommended for high-end dining. Café La Haye, Valley Bar and Bottle, and Sunflower Cafe offer diverse breakfast and casual options. Enoteca Della Santina is suggested for a relaxed glass of wine, while Winery 16 600 in Glen Ellen offers unique wines. Sonoma's fine dining includes Eldorado Kitchen and Café La Haye. Hot Monk Tavern and The Grapevine are casual favorites. Eldorado Cantina, attached to Eldorado Kitchen, offers delightful Mexican food at a more affordable price. Wrap up the day with tastings at Kibblestadt Cellars and Bedrock Wines. Brooke highlights Sonoma County's diversity, including hikes, beaches, cider, beer, and spirits. For planning, check Sonoma County Tourism's website for itineraries and information. Whether you are here for the wine, cider, and spirits or the coastal hikes and ziplining through the redwoods, Sonoma Valley offers adventures that bring you back again and again.

If you've ever tuned in to the show, then you're familiar with our first guest, Chef Elijah Milligan. He's joined us on several occasions, and now he's back to let all of you know about Rosemary Ridley Park. We dove deeper into the nuances behind choosing the freshest ingredients--including how he and the staff at Rosemary grow and pick their own herbs, which are then highlighted in the dishes and cocktails that are created. In addition to his fresh picks, Chef Milligan is building a menu that will change depending upon what is in season, bringing a fresh new vibe to the Ridley Park, PA restaurant scene. So if you are in the area and want an elevated meal that is less about the pomp and circumstance and more geared towards the enjoyment of every bite...check out Rosemary Ridley Park and tune in to hear more about Elijah and the restaurant!Our next guest, Wyatt Piazza, is the Chef and Co-Owner of Kiddo Restaurant which is in the works to open around mid-October 2023. Now that is fresh! Piazza is opening Kiddo Restaurant with his wife, Elizabeth Drake; the duo has a strong focus on a vegetable-forward menu that is both organic and strives towards maintaining sustainable practices. And before you think strictly vegan or vegetarian...think again. They will offer all of us carnivores something to dig into, like locally-sourced Bison, however their aim is to balance the dishes with an abundance of boldly-flavored vegetables. And if you're not in the mood for a full meal, Chef Piazza has curated his menu to encompass lite (shareable) bites to full plates. So be sure to tune in to Food Farms and Chefs this (and every) Tuesday at 6pm EST on WWDB and WPEN in Pennsylvania, and for our New York listeners you can turn your dials to WMLD at 1pm EST on Fridays, or listen at any time by searching for Food Farms and Chefs Radio Show on your preferred streaming platform!

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey are the Founders of Barefoot, now the world's largest wine brand. Since their successful acquisition by E&J Gallo, they have dedicated their lives to helping other entrepreneurs with the lessons they learned in the process. They are popular keynote speakers, writers, teachers, and regular media guests on the subject of entrepreneurship and business culture including several previous interviews on Critical Mass. Over the past year, Michael and Bonnie have spoken at Oxford, Cambridge, Nanyang University in Singapore, and Keynoted at several events including the Antrepreneurial Center at UCI.    They adopted their New York Times bestseller, The Barefoot Spirit, into a theatrically performed audioplay that was recognized as a 2020 Business Audie Award Finalist by the Audiobook Publisher's Association. That success gave rise to their new project, Business Audio Theatre where they dramatize founder's startup stories in an effort to preserve their legacy and attract, retain, and engage their people. Their Hollywood audio productions are reminiscent of pre-television 1940s radio dramas, complete with actors voicing parts in seminal scenes that demonstrate business principles, complete with sound effects and music. Their most recent production, The Brain Savers, How a Scrappy Startup Transformed Telemedicine and Patient Care chronicles the entrepreneurial journey of Dr Colin McDonald as he and his team overcome financial, technical, and legal obstacles to create a pioneer, interstate, telemedicine company in the early 2000s. Michael and Bonnie created Business Audio Theatre to address the increasing trend in resignations and lack of engagement. They believe that entertaining and gripping stories help listeners identify with the founder's principles and pull for their success.   Michael and Bonnie live in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County California, and host corporate retreats at their wine country estate. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com. Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews... YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m #orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Buddy Up: Sheinelle Jones, Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer recently had the chance to experience Sonoma and everything it has to offer. Also, The Upside: the story behind the filmmaker on a movie mission and what inspired her to open her own theater. Plus, an inside look at a brand new Hip Hop museum being built in the Bronx. And, Dylan Dreyer recently got to make her own personalized handbag.

Sam Durham talks to us about growing up in Washington, why he moved his family to Sonoma County California and what he offers with the farrier center. https://www.facebook.com/panel.truck https://www.facebook.com/thefarriercenter Episode Sponsors: https://www.equitherapeutics.com/ https://amiablesporthorse.com/

What follows is a single conversation with, Pomo, Wailaki, and Maidu indigenous educator and public health expert Rose Hammock on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (#MMIW). That phrase refers to both an epidemic and a movement that is at the forefront of the modern indigenous civil rights movement. For context we also discuss  the colonial history and colonial present of Sonoma County California.It is a difficult conversation, filled with the pain of a people but also the beauty and resilience of the native people of this land. And we have an instinct that it may be necessary to take some of that pain on to become a true friend and ally to them. Listen but stop at any point you need to.Toward the end of the discussion Rose gives several offerings of how to play a part in the modern native civil rights movement including observing and marching on The Federal Day of MMIW Awareness, May 5th.I want to thank Rose for trusting me, a white, Anglo-Saxon man to mediate in this, her presentation on  MMIW to the wider Sonoma County Community.  Trust is a choice and it is a courageous one.WEBSITES :Sovereign Bodies Institute : https://www.sovereign-bodies.org/California Indian Museum and Cultural Center: https://cimcc.org/Redbud Resource Group : https://www.redbudresourcegroup.org/who-we-areRose Hammock IG : https://www.instagram.com/rosie_hammock/Local and Global Map of Native Land  : https://native-land.ca/

Today you will hear my interview with Daniele Strawn of JoLee Blooms & Design. In addition to our Q&A conversation, you are in for a treat, because Daniele shared two video tours that you’ll see in the YouTube video above. The video episode begins with a field and studio tour, recorded by Emma Wood and […] The post Episode 583: Farm and Studio Visit with Farmer-Florist Daniele Strawn of JoLee Blooms & Design in Sonoma County, California appeared first on Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing.

Today's episode of the Studio Alchemy Podcast features in interview with Tenaya Amelia Wieczorek.  Tenaya is a web designer, personal branding photographer and intuitive dreamwork practitioner based in Sonoma County California. She attended the California College of the Arts and as well as the California Institute of Integral Studies. Tenaya is a life long dreamer, and completed a 3 year Dream Teacher Training with the creator of Active Dreaming, Robert Moss. You can find out more about her work at www.dreamsthatspeak.com On the Studio Alchemy Podcast we explore creative ways to transform our lives using visualization, art making, and new age self-help techniques.  Each episode includes stories and reflections to inspire you to transform your life.  Hosted by Addie Hirschten, a.k.a. Vita, a contemporary impressionist painter, art teacher, author, and public speaker.  Find out more at https://studioalchemy.art/. 

Sophia is interviewed on Our power is Within: “Sophia is a radical birth keeper and authentic Midwife. She is also my bestie. Sophia has her own midwifery practice in Sonoma County California. Prior to becoming a midwife she spent many years as a doula, helping to advocate for women's birthing experience. She empowers her families through extensive education, giving them choice, and encouraging them to make their own decisions around how they would like their pregnancy and birthing experience to be. She is a wife and mother of 2 children of her own. She shares with us today all about empowered birth, what that means, and how it can look. Often we don't even realize we have options and are able to make different choices, and today she talks about some of the choices we are actually able to make. She shares with us some of the lessons she learned through birthing her own two children, what she has learned over the years in her field and so much more.”

Frici is assembling a core group of people interested in starting a hackerspace in Sonoma County California, but he's got some questions. How do you get enough paying people to start affording rent? How do you proceed when you don't have a space or 501c3 status yet? How do you create something from nothing?

Our guest today is Sophia Henderson. Sophia is a radical birth keeper and authentic Midwife. She is also my bestie. Sophia has her own midwifery practice in Sonoma County California. Prior to becoming a midwife she spent many years as a doula, helping to advocate for women's birthing experience. She empowers her families through extensive education, giving them choice, and encouraging them to make their own decisions around how they would like their pregnancy and birthing experience to be. She is a wife and mother of 2 children of her own. She shares with us today all about empowered birth, what that means, and how it can look. Often we don't even realize we have options and are able to make different choices, and today she talks about some of the choices we are actually able to make. She shares with us some of the lessons she learned through birthing her own two children, what she has learned over the years in her field and so much more. How to connect with Sophia: https://sophiabirth.com/about/ Fb: Sophia's special deliveries IG: @sophiabirth Some resources that she talks about it todays' episode: Evidence based birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ Free Birth Society Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-birth-society/id1231912533 Born Wild Podcast (Sophia's podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/born-wild-podcast/id1563072121 Please follow @ourpoweriswithin on instagram for weekly challenges, updates & more Support this podcast by leaving a 5 star rating on Apple Podcast, a quick review, share an episode on social media and/or click the link in the bottom of the show notes to the virtual tip jar to support future episodes. Do you have a coaching program or service that you would like to advertise on this podcast? IF so please email me: ourpoweriswithin@icloud.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ourpoweriswithin/support

How to Internally Manage Stress? Flight stress used to be a bad thing for me. Still, now I have some internal managing tools that I am using this week to manage my stress around our upcoming international flight, a potential change to our flight date, moving out of our apartment, and being up in the air with all of our routines for the next two weeks until we land in our Airstream home for the summer in Sonoma County California. But I help humans fall in love with foods that make them feel good and internally manage stress. Holistically Healing Symptoms ❤️‍

Episode #151 - This WONDERFUL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WEDNESDAY, we proudly celebrate amazing women.  Women's History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8, and during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of Persons Day on October 18. The commemoration began in 1978 as "Women's History day" in Sonoma County California, and was championed by Gerda Lerner and the National Women's History Alliance to be recognized as a national week (1980) and then month (1987) in the United States, spreading internationally after that.  In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as Women's History Month. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women's History Month. Since 1988, U.S. presidents have issued annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women's History Month.  Did you know women couldn't get their own credit cards until 1974?  WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY? LINKS BELOW FOR: APPLE, GOOGLE, PANDORA, AND SPOTIFY. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ladiespromotingtransparentadvocacy/id1526382637 https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2xhZGllc3Byb21vdGluZ3RyYW5zcGFyZW50YWR2b2NhY3kvZmVlZC54bWw&ep=14 https://www.pandora.com/podcast/ladiespromotingtransparentadvocacy/PC:52161?corr=17965216&part=ug&_branch_match_id=819557998249581330 https://open.spotify.com/show/5x7xSxWi2wj2UXPsWnZ0cw?si=peGax6j6SIumBT5tq7_hhg Sources: New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/29/us/womens-history-month-march.html, Womans Day - https://www.womansday.com/life/a34908026/womens-history-month-facts/ 

This week, we head to Sonoma County California for a chat with Greg Morthole Winemaker Davis Bynam/Rodney Strong and Chris O'Gorman of Rodney Strong. Lee Man on Chinese New Year, and Leandro Nosal Winemaker Tinhorn Creek

The growing band of politicians posing with their pups on social media has sparked a study into just how important dogs are in getting elected. And noses to the ground, going underground with some truffle hunting dogs for that elusive delicacy. Can dogs help politicians get elected? If a politician poses with their pooch or they post about their pup on social media, what influence might it have on you and your perception of them? Might it affect how you vote? Could political dogo's be the pawfect branding tool in a bid to win an election? Researchers in Indiana and Ohio are on the hunt to find out and they are recruiting social media users to help in their quest. How much influence do dogs have at the ballot box? The Personalization of Politics: Dogs in Politicians' Social Media research study Truffle dogs are on the hunt Truffles are a delicacy prized by chefs and foodies around the world. These finicky fungi are hard to find. It helps to have a family of Lagotto Romagnolo, or truffle hunting dogs to do the dirty work. Join the Angerer Family at their truffle orchard as they take us on a hunt for these elusive and valuable fairy apples. Dog Lovers Live – Krista Karpowich  Dog Lovers Live, a discovery of dog loving podcasters and YouTubers. Krista Karpowich hosts the podcast Wag Out Loud, which she describes as the ultimate resource for dog lovers on a quest to provide the best care for their dogs. She is obsessed with bringing her listeners all kinds of tips on canine health care, nutrition, and overall wellbeing.  Wag out loud Chapters  0:19 On today's episode  0:59 Can dogs help politicians get elected?  9.17 Truffle dogs on the hunt   20.59 Dog Lovers Live – Krista Karpowich  25:44 On the Next Episode  About The Alexander Valley Truffle Company Angerer Family Farms is a family run operation specializing in cultivating truffles in Sonoma County California. For several years, as the family waited for their hazelnut trees, inoculated with the coveted French winter black truffle spores known as Tuber Melanosporum, to grow, they grew a variety of tomatoes and fruits which they sold to local markets. They also have a healthy flock of chickens who provide eggs to local restaurants. Now the first truffle hunt is on. https://www.avtruffles.com/home About Krista Karpowich  Krista Karpowich has studied Canine Nutrition with the Companion Animal Sciences Institute. She hosts the podcast Wag Out Loud and her goal is to share valuable information with other dog lovers about how owners can be the best advocate for their dog's health and wellness. https://www.wagoutloud.com/ https://www.wagoutloud.com/podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/wagoutloudunleashed/ https://www.instagram.com/wagoutloud/

Colin Bell, PhD spoke to W420 Radio correspondent Rich Walcoff on the floor of the 2019 Emerald Cup convention in Sonoma County California. Dr. Bell is co-founder, co-inventor and Chief Revenue Officer at Growcentia, which was founded by a team of three Colorado State University soil microbiologists with PhD degrees. Their technology has been extensively tested by growers and farmers around the world and by leading US academic institutions. Their products were developed by screening billions of soil microorganisms to identify those that most efficiently release bound phosphorus, making it available to plants. If you want to learn anything about state of the arts growing, this is the interview for you. Dr. Bell works is also an officer at Mammoth Microbes, which developed highly effective organic microbial biostimulants to enhance plant growth, and plant derived biocontrol products to prevent and control pests naturally. This is where science meets nature in delightfully blended way.Find more at: https://w420radionetwork.com/s3-e16-etfs-for-the-industry-cannabis-trends-growing-science-cannabis-portfolio/

Sam Masucci is the CEO and Founder ETFMG which is the first U.S. and world's largest ETF to target the global cannabis industry. It was founded with a vision to develop innovative thematic ETFs that provide investors with unique exposure to new markets. Hear how it all came about.Emerging Cannabis Trends in North America & EuropeJohn Kagia from New Frontier Data joins your host, Dan Perkins to talk about their newest report, released just this week. It is: 2021 Cannabis Regulatory Landscape: Emerging Trends in North America & Europe. From the company that emerged as the foremost cannabis industry analysts, comes the culmination of widespread and detailed data gathering.The Scientific Nature of GrowingColin Bell, PhD spoke to W420 Radio correspondent Rich Walcoff on the floor of the 2019 Emerald Cup convention in Sonoma County California. Dr. Bell works is also an officer at Mammoth Microbes, which developed highly effective organic microbial biostimulants to enhance plant growth, and plant derived biocontrol products to prevent and control pests naturally. This is where science meets nature in delightfully blended way.Where Does Cannabis Fit in Your Portfolio?Terri Riddle is the CEO and Founder of Civilized. Civilized established a lifestyle brand to elevate the status of cannabis and bring it to the masses in a proper manner. So where does cannabis fit in your portfolio? Listen in and hear what our innovative guest has to say.Find more at: https://w420radionetwork.com/s3-e16-etfs-for-the-industry-cannabis-trends-growing-science-cannabis-portfolio/

In this episode of the Somm and Somm'er Podcast, Floyd and Aaron review Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 vintage. We are psyched to be tasting this well known wine from Sonoma County California. Customers rave about this wine for how great it tastes. Is Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon held in high regard due to how great it taste, or is it because the name sells itself? Join us for our review and judge for yourself. Cheers!

Spencer Lewis is a Quality trim carpentry with a production/value mindset. Fort Wayne, Indiana https://www.instagram.com/insider_carpentry/ CJ Nielsen electrical construction Sonoma County California https://www.instagram.com/cnc_electric/ Jason Black is a Southern Living custom builder https://www.instagram.com/artisansignaturehomes/ This episode is brought to you by Duration Moulding and Millwork. DURATION is the industry leader in Poly-Ash moulding, millwork, beveled siding, and custom siding. Our products are available throughout the U.S. https://www.durationmillwork.com/ https://www.instagram.com/durationmouldingandmillwork/ Where to find our hosts: Nick Schiffer  https://www.instagram.com/nsbuilders/ https://bit.ly/nsbuildersyoutube Tyler Grace  https://www.instagram.com/trghomeconcepts/ John Hourihan https://www.instagram.com/heresjohnnyh/ https://www.instagram.com/vintagebuilders/ The Modern Craftsman https://www.instagram.com/the.moderncraftsman/ Music: "Dessert" by Nate Gusakov 

Audio: 33:28 Mins. The article/video is on RBN. Title: Face masks are more important than you think. All roads lead to Transhumanism. The vaccine roll out has started. Phases 1-4. How to Opt out using tact and skill in the wording. Pandemic Math using Common Core exposed; Sonoma County California. NOT A REAL PANDEMIC.

Audio: 33:28 Mins. The article/video is on RBN. Title: Face masks are more important than you think. All roads lead to Transhumanism. The vaccine roll out has started. Phases 1-4. How to Opt out using tact and skill in the wording. Pandemic Math using Common Core exposed; Sonoma County California. NOT A REAL PANDEMIC.

Extreme weather damage grows more expensive every decade. Storms, floods, droughts, and wildfire have cost the world more than $2.97 trillion dollars since 2000, according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Earth911 talks with Professor Ilan Noy, Chair in the Economics of Disasters Climate Change at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand about the economics of disaster and how society can make reasoned decisions when spending money to avert climate change. His recent YouTube lecture, The Economics of Disaster caught our attention.Noy discusses how insurers and government can spend now to reduce the cost of future climate-caused damage. Every decision we make about climate has an underlying economic impact, and there is no escaping the issue when choosing where we live, placing businesses, or building new infrastructure. The risk related to each our individual decisions is hedged by insurers who may begin to restrict coverage of homes in wildfire-prone regions or on coasts at risk of flooding due to sea-level rise. These companies must cover those rising costs, so insurance will become more expensive -- this may be the first direct experience many of us have of climate change. Noy shares his thinking about the distribution of risk, and how society has subsidized wealthy homeowners in areas like Marin and Sonoma County California who have lost homes to fires.We also talk about the how government can get involved to reshape risk by changing zoning rules and the scope of disaster damage recovery programs. In New Zealand, for example, banks are required to disclose the climate risks from their investments, but investors in the United States cannot check their bank's risk (though private and non-profit entities have published research on banks' undisclosed climate risk). Noy discusses the need to encourage greater transparency so people can make better decisions and how governments should begin to encourage the location of communities in areas that are not exposed to climate risk. He believes that well-informed private decisions can produce rational resutsl. And we explore a series of "Is it worthwhile to?" questions about locating homes and key infrastructure.

Extreme weather damage grows more expensive every decade. Storms, floods, droughts, and wildfire have cost the world more than $2.97 trillion dollars since 2000, according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Earth911 talks with Professor Ilan Noy, Chair in the Economics of Disasters Climate Change at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand about the economics of disaster and how society can make reasoned decisions when spending money to avert climate change. His recent YouTube lecture, The Economics of Disaster caught our attention.Noy discusses how insurers and government can spend now to reduce the cost of future climate-caused damage. Every decision we make about climate has an underlying economic impact, and there is no escaping the issue when choosing where we live, placing businesses, or building new infrastructure. The risk related to each our individual decisions is hedged by insurers who may begin to restrict coverage of homes in wildfire-prone regions or on coasts at risk of flooding due to sea-level rise. These companies must cover those rising costs, so insurance will become more expensive -- this may be the first direct experience many of us have of climate change. Noy shares his thinking about the distribution of risk, and how society has subsidized wealthy homeowners in areas like Marin and Sonoma County California who have lost homes to fires.We also talk about the how government can get involved to reshape risk by changing zoning rules and the scope of disaster damage recovery programs. In New Zealand, for example, banks are required to disclose the climate risks from their investments, but investors in the United States cannot check their bank's risk (though private and non-profit entities have published research on banks' undisclosed climate risk). Noy discusses the need to encourage greater transparency so people can make better decisions and how governments should begin to encourage the location of communities in areas that are not exposed to climate risk. He believes that well-informed private decisions can produce rational resutsl. And we explore a series of "Is it worthwhile to?" questions about locating homes and key infrastructure.

Sonoma County California has been impacted by numerous weather-related disasters in the last few years — from a historic drought to devastating wildfires in three of the last four years. In between the county experienced flooding and mudslides. These events have changed how Sonoma County prepares for disasters by improving mitigation efforts, expanding community outreach programs, increasing funding for emergency management, and providing multiple sources to alert the public of threats. Sonoma County District 4 Supervisor, James Gore shares how the county improved response to recent wildfires in 2020 as it continues to build community resilience. Key Takeaways Mitigating for disasters is key to ensuring communities can survive and recover from events including: How do you pre-defeat fires, How do you address sea level rise, etc. The Tubbs and Sonoma Complex fires of 2017 were a wake-up call for Sonoma County. It identified the need to better alert and for notification systems to warn the public of potential threats. It was resulted in changes to how Sonoma County prepares including additional funding for its emergency management program, development of public education campaigns, and establishing mitigation programs to prevent harsh impacts from disasters. Climate factors have impacted how wildfires are fueled in California including historic droughts, and changes in wind patterns. Significant improvements were made to expand communication systems across the county to enhance alert and warning capabilities. Community Resilience needs support from both elected officials and the emergency management community in order to be successful. Emergency Operations Centers need to operate as a preparedness center and not as a “bunker.” Dedicated funding to support mitigation and preparedness efforts is essential. Reviewing evacuation procedures and exercising for potential disasters is crucial to being ready for the next disaster. It's crucial for communities to routinely test their early warning and notification systems on a regular basis. Additional information: Sonoma County Recovery Page  

Here in Sonoma County California we are under a Governor Gavin Newsom mandated shelter in place directive aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus. What does that mean? Check out this link to get the details. Cancelled events, business losses and layoffs are starting to impact the wine business as Bill Swindell points out in an article for the Press Democrat.There is nothing worse for a food and wine lover than to experience a partial or complete lose of their sense of smell. Shawn Zylberberg explains how a loss of sense of smell may be a symptom of COVID-19 infection.Bill and I did a virtual contrast and compare of two Oregon wine producers Elouan and Illahe and I threw in a ringer from Sonoma Coast, W. H. Smith Pinot Noir. Jeremy Parzen, a wine industry professional and wine blogger has been posting letters he gets from his colleagues and friends in Italy. His latest post is a letter from Giancarlo Gariglio, editor-in-chief of the Slow Wine Guide to the Wines of Italy, Slovenia, California, and Oregon.  We interviewed Giancarlo last February. Here’s the link to that post. Bill and I discuss these items and more in this week's addition of VinoWeek. Thanks to everyone for listening. Cheers!

You gotta love a winery that leads with love and devotion, right? Well... Let's just say that's how things worked out for Meredith and Lou when they sat down to interview Bruce Lawton, owner of Pech Merle Winery. The attention to detail when it comes to how winemaker, John Pepe, approaches every wine he makes for Pech Merle starts in the vineyard and ends up in your glass.  Like most of the winemakers and wineries featured in the Major Crush podcast, you can't get these wines in your local stores, and for the most part, you have to be a part of the club to access the very best vintages. But after you listen to this interview, be sure to check out the Pech Merle website (https://www.pechmerlewinery.com/) for more information, and, if you find yourself in Sonoma County California, it's absolutely worth the trip to Geyserville to spend a little time with "Jenna" and Bruce at the totally hip and unique Pech Merle Tasting Lounge! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com  // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.

There's nothing like an open highway, car windows down, and some great music! Dana Gioia is an American Poet and writer, critic, as well as a businessman with an MBA from Stanford Business School. He has published five books of poetry and three volumes of literary criticism as well as opera libretti and over two dozen literary anthologies. He has served as a commentator on American literature for BBC Radio and as a classical music critic for San Francisco magazine. He became the California State poet Laureate in 2015 and teaches at the University of Southern California. He divides his time between Los Angeles and Sonoma County California.

Co-Host John Horrell discusses his recent mandatory evacuation from his home for the Kincade fire in Sonoma County California.  John discusses his experience evacuating with three cats, dos and don'ts and strategies for planning and escaping safely.  Image Courtesy LA Times. 

Memories are often attached to the landscapes they take place in. Dana Gioia is an American Poet and writer, critic, as well as a businessman with an MBA from Stanford Business School. He has published five books of poetry and three volumes of literary criticism as well as opera libretti and over two dozen literary anthologies. He has served as a commentator on American literature for BBC Radio and as a classical music critic for San Francisco magazine. He became the California State Poet Laureate in 2015 and teaches at the University of Southern California. He divides his time between Los Angeles and Sonoma County California.

Vermont's ultra rural Northeast Kingdom and small towns in Sonoma County California find that fare free is the way to go. It's filling bus seats; connecting residents to jobs, healthcare, education, shopping, and social opportunities; and even enticing drivers out of their cars. 

Bill Diles is an audiologist and 4th generation hearing care professional. Bill and his wife Christine, who is also an audiologist, own 5 clinics in Sonoma County California. Besides running the local clinics, Bill consults with private practices around the country representing the family business known as Pivot Hearing. Bill is often a guest speaker at regional and national meetings. His passion is bringing optimal hearing solutions to those who suffer from hearing loss. Sponsor: www.SeniorCareAuthority.com

Bill Diles is an audiologist and 4th generation hearing care professional. Bill and his wife Christine, who is also an audiologist, own 5 clinics in Sonoma County California. Besides running the local clinics, Bill consults with private practices around the country representing the family business known as Pivot Hearing. Bill is often a guest speaker at regional and national meetings. His passion is bringing optimal hearing solutions to those who suffer from hearing loss.Sponsor: www.SeniorCareAuthority.com

CJ Nielsen is a high-end residential electrical contractor in Sonoma County California. CJ talks about his start in the industry which eventually lead him to create CNC Electric. He discusses the economy he works in, wildfires, and where he sees himself in 10 years.  Where to find our guest: CJ Nielsen @cnc_electric on Instagram.  Where to find our Hosts: Nick Schiffer @nsbuilders on Instagram and YouTube Tyler Grace @TRGHomeconcepts on Instagram  John Hourihan @heresjohnnyh & @vintagebuilders on Instagram  Follow The Modern Craftsman on Instagram @the.moderncraftsman

The Myth is that homeless people are older white men with addiction problems.  The Reality is that nearly half of homeless people (in Sonoma County – 41%) live with a disability. The Myth is that homeless people travel from place to place looking for the best deal from local communities. The Reality is that most homeless people (in Sonoma County – 79%) live in the place where they once had a home. The Myth is that homeless people just want to party and don't want to be responsible people.  The Reality is that most homeless people (in Sonoma County – 71%) are homeless because they can't afford the rent. Sonoma County, California.  Wine Country, as it's known to the tourists.  Sonoma County:  One of the richest counties in the richest country on earth.  Sonoma County:  Where three thousand people are homeless. We talk about Sonoma County's and Santa Rosa's innovative local-sized attempts to improve the lives of homeless people as they increase enforcement of so-called anti-camping laws and clean up a long-time homeless encampment. We give you ways you can do something positive for the homeless in your local area as well as examples of inhumane activities you'll want to stand against. Guests: Julie Combs, Santa Rosa City Council Woman.  For more about Julie, click here. John Creager, a member of a local church congregation who worked to bring a sanctioned homeless encampment to church property. John is also a member of Homeless Action!, a local grassroots activist group. Produced and Hosted by Adrienne Lauby Statistics from the Sonoma County Homeless Census of 2017. The post Homelessness is Local – Sonoma County, California appeared first on KPFA.

The issue of high ticket-prices is rarely discussed openly within the North Bay theater community, nor do many seem eager to talk about the arguable effect of prices on the widely reported erosion of the audience for live theater. But it’s an issue the community thinks, and worries about, nonetheless. It takes money to put on a show. But it’s not unreasonable to expect that the more you pay, the better a show you get. A fully professional, Equity theater such as Marin Theater Company can charge what they do because the quality of their productions tends to be consistently excellent. Training programs like those at SRJC, Summer Repertory theater, College of Marin and SSU continue to have solid audience followings, despite uneven and understandably student-level work, because they rarely charge more than fifteen dollars a ticket. But when the average North Bay community theater show costs 28 or 29 dollars—and almost always requires the audience to overlook the acceptability of at least a few eager-but-not-always-stellar actors, singers and musicians—the cost, when weighed against the quality, invariably works to drive down overall audience attendance, sending those potential patrons to other entertainment options, ones that deliver more dependable bang for the buck. Well, for maximum theatrical bang, there is no better bargain for your buck right now than Curtain Theater’s joyously lowbrow, energetically slapstick production of William Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, running through September 11 in Mill Valley. Not only is the show good. It’s free. Yes, a hat is passed after the show, but given that the average per-patron donation for pass-the-basket shows is ten-fifteen dollars, this ludicrously over-the-top, highly energetic, crowd-pleasingly hilarious show easily offers the best all around bang-for-buck value to anyone seeking a bit of cleverly-wrought afternoon entertainment. Staged outdoors in the pleasantly redwood-shaded Old Mill Park, director Carl Jordan takes what is possibly Shakespeare’s crudest comedy, sets it in the 1920s, and adds a live band playing atmospheric tunes of the era, plus a few modern songs adapted to fit the style. Ingeniously mining the story for every possible pratfall, fart joke, rubber-chicken slap, and unexpectedly crude-gesture hibernating somewhere in the Bard’s gleefully bawdy text, Jordan’s cast—who should all be awarded prizes for most miles logged in a single onstage performance—attack this opportunity for outrageousness with an enthusiasm that astounds as often as it delights, even if Shakespeare’s ingenious language occasionally gets a bit muddied in the process. In the city of Ephesus—established as a colorfully dangerous place by Steve Coleman’s brilliant storybook set and Amanda Morando’s sexy performance of Coolio’s ‘Gangster’s Paradise’’—Antipholus of Syracuse (Adam Niemann) and his faithful servant Dromio (Heather Cherry) suddenly arrive, unaware that as children they were each separated from identical twins bearing their same names. The other Antipholus and Dromio (Skylar Collins and Nick Christenson) now live in Ephesus. Confusion quickly ensues as one set of twins is mistaken for the other, leading the resident Antipholus to accidentally alienate his wife (Melissa Claire) and make his sister-in-law (Heather Gordon) think he has fallen in love with her. Additional bits about gangsters, the twins’ father facing execution at sunset, and a frustrated goldsmith (Alexis Christenson, her hilariously snorty laugh a true thing of beauty) all bring value-added laughs to this first-rate example of how to give more while charging less. ‘Comedy of Errors runs Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day, through Sept. 11, at Old Mill Park Amphitheater in Mill Valley. All shows are at 2:00 p.m. and are Free. Further info can be found at curtaintheatre.org

Some stage musicals are lighter than air, soothing as water, sounding good and feeling delightful as long as they last, then evaporating on the wind, fading fast into the folds of our cerebral cortex, almost immediately after the show is over. Big Fish, the new production offered by Gene Abravaya and Spreckels Theater Company, is that kind of show. Light and fluffy, with pleasant but strikingly unmemorable songs, tinged with a touch of serious human drama, but mostly just a good old-fashioned American musical. But, as written by John August, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, this adaptation of the Daniel Wallace novel and the Tim Burton movie it inspired is so sweet-natured and so crammed with positivity and eye-popping pleasures, one can’t help but walk away feeling good. The stage version deviates wildly from the movie, which deviated wildly from the book. In many ways, the stage play is even more grounded and clear than the others, which tended to obfuscate the line between reality and fantasy. In the version now playing at Spreckels, playwright John August only occasionally muddies the line between what’s really happening and what is only happening in one of the many tall tales of master storyteller Edward Bloom. A travelling salesman with a knack for telling outrageous stories in which he’s always the hero, Bloom is played by Darryl Strohl-DeHerrera, who joyously protrays a variety of ages from teenage to old age. Bloom has spent his life gleefully fabricating encounters with mermaids and giants, werewolves and witches, but why? And why are there parts of his life he seems unwilling to even make up a story about? That what Edward’s adult son Will decides to find out. A recently married investigative reporter Will has always resented his father’s tendency to make things up. When Edward is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Will sets out to discover the real Edward Bloom, one way or another. Will’s mother Sandra—played nicely by Heather Buck, also portraying numerous ages — is clearly the love of Edward Bloom’s life, and in his stories, she’s the primary “plot motivation” for his various adventures and exploits, from his colorful love-at-first-sight encounter under a circus big top, to his unorthodox method of travelling to see her once he finds out who his heartthrob actually is. The script by John August drops some of the book and movies more outrageous images, so don’t go in expecting Siamese twins or magical glass eyeballs. The mysterious town of Specter, where no one where’s shoes and everyone seems to be under a magical spell? That’s gone too, which means August has to do a little fancy storytelling footwork to make the remaining pieces fit together. The cast is energetic and clearly having a great time playing so many colorful characters in gloriously offbeat costumes by Pam Enz. The songs by Andrew Lipa feature genuinely clever lyrics, though somewhat hampered by repetitive, oddly monotone and melody-restricted music. Most of the time, it’s all singing and no song. Abravaya’s staging makes ingenious use of Spreckel’s acclaimed projection system, which provides much of the ever-shifting scenery, along with a number of clever visual effects, including a man being shot from a cannon. Of course, the best part of a story is the ending, and ultimately, this ambitious and mostly satisfying production delivers a climax that is both impactful and surprising. It might even inspire you to call up your own parents or children, to tell them you love them—and perhaps to share a story or two. ‘Big Fish’ runs through August 28 at Spreckels Performing Arts Center, rpcity.org.

Let’s talk about Jukebox Musicals. That’s a slangy term describing a stage show that is built around an assortment of pre-existing, usually well-known songs, stuff you might have heard on the radio, or on a barroom jukebox. Most traditional musicals build the songs into the stories as a unified whole. A jukebox musical lets the songs themselves suggest the storyline, the characters, and the tone. It’s basically building a musical in reverse. Nice Work if You Can Get It, built around classic 20s and 30s songs by George and Ira Gershwin, is pleasant, classy, solidly performed, and light-as-a-feather. Written by Joe DiPietro, seems to evaporate almost as soon as its over, along with the majority of its pleasing but strangely unmemorable tunes, the two or three exceptions including ‘Someone to Watch Over Me,’ ‘S’wonderful,’ and ‘Fascinating Rhythm.’ The plot, about a Prohibition era playboy, falling in love with a sweet bootlegger on the eve of his marriage to a famous dancer, is slight and silly, but crammed with old-fashioned, simplistic charm. The performances are lively, if mostly just skimming the surface, and the dancing, from swing moves to ecstatic tap numbers, is frequently breathtaking. Rock of Ages—constructed from hard-rocking, face-melting, pop-rock-and-metal tunes from the garish 1980s—is coarse, crude, exuberant, and sprinkled with sleazy Sunset Strip darkness and danger. Created by Chris D’Arienzo Rock of Ages employs songs by Journey, Van Halen, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Starship and others in telling the story of Drew, a wannabe rocker stuck cleaning the bar at an L.A. music club, and Sherrie, the aspiring actress he falls hard for. That Drew will eventually break into a rendition of Steve Perry’s ‘Oh Sherrie’ is inevitable from the moment he first hears her name. While both working at the a legendary rock venue called The Bourbon Room, their budding romance is derailed by the arrival of Stacee Jaxx, the amoral lead singer of a band called Arsenal. A subplot involves a plot by German developers to raze the Bourbon Room to make way for chain stores, galvanizing the club’s supporters into various forms of protest, including repeated group performances of Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Going to Take It.’ As written, it’s a bit of a hot mess, with a fair share of gleefully offensive moments and one potentially moving scene marred by the actors’ use of distasteful stereotypes. But overall, Rock of Ages is infectiously pleasurable, with loads of high energy, a kind of gritty youthful innocence, and tunes written to stick in your brain for days. 'Rock of Ages' runs through August 11, and ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ runs through August 13. Visit www.summerrep.com

“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” One of Shakespeare’s scariest lines comes from what is easily his scariest play, ‘Macbeth,’ a show so frightening most theater people refuse to speak the title aloud. In the third season of Shakespeare in the Cannery—in the old cannery ruins near Railroad Square—director David Lear unleashes an offbeat, seriously gonzo take on the Bard’s bloody masterpiece, blending modern jeans, combat boots, and bike leather with traditional elements like capes, cackling witches, blood drenched swords … and a head in a bloody bag—which never gets old. Overall, Lear’s vision is impressive. He springs masks, trapdoors, and a whole toolbox of other theatrical tricks, including the incorporation of drummers from Sonoma County Taiko, pounding out a live percussive score throughout the show. Shakespeare’s eerie supernatural tragedy tells the twisty-gory tale of the highly suggestible Scottish warrior Macbeth, played by Ben Stowe, who emphasizes the reluctance and fear beneath his character’s fighting façade. At Macbeth’s side, sort of, is his blindly ambitious wife, whom Shakespeare never gave a name to. She is always only ‘Lady Macbeth,’ played here with cruel coolness by Ilana Niernberger. Mr. and Mrs. M are goaded into traitorous action by the riddle-spouting Weird Sisters—you know, the ‘bubble, bubble, toil and trouble twins— who tell Macbeth he will become king. Anyone else might sit around and wait for the crown to fall in their laps, but Lady M. wants that crown, and Duncan, the king, just invited himself over for dinner so . . . why waste an opportunity? Screwing their courage to the sticking place—a line that here takes on a seriously sexy second meaning—the married first-time murderers argue a bit before finally offing Duncan, quickly shifting blame to his sons, and then taking his throne as king and queen. That would be a terrible end to the story. But fortunately for the audience, Macbeth—not to mention Shakespeare—just can’t seem to stop killing people, and the whole kill-the-king-and-then-retire-from-evil-deeds scheme soon collapses under of storm of mystery, madness and mayhem. On a pleasingly playground-like stage, the performances sometimes stray toward the big, and over-acted. That’s not necessarily a bad choice for an outdoor show. But in this case, what’s gained in terms of clarity and size is often lost in terms of subtlety and absorbing emotion. That’s a problem enhanced by a number of freaky visual ideas that—while interesting and certainly not boring—often distract from the drama rather than heighten it. Still, there are some very strong moments in this ‘Macbeth,’ fueled by several effectively surprising acting choices. As Duncan, the doomed King, Clark Miller very convincingly plays the monarch’s essential sweetness. Eric Thompson, as a servant in Macbeth’s castle, is hilarious, making the most of the play’s one comedic scene. Sam Coughlin, as Duncan’s vengeful son, is impressively complex in a very small part. And as Macbeth’s fellow warrior Banquo, Alan Kaplan brings a sense of affronted decency and a solid soldiers’ bearing to a role usually played by a much younger man. Though perhaps lacking in actual human drama and emotion, playing more like a Halloween pageant than an actual tragedy, this particular ‘Macbeth’ is probably an excellent production to introduce kids to Shakespeare with. Energetic and ambitious—like poor befuddled Macbeth himself—the show may sometimes stumble … but it definitely brings the sound and fury. ‘’Macbeth’ runs Friday & Saturday through July 23 at The Cannery. Visit www.shakespeareinthecannery.com

Summer Repertory Theater Festival, Santa Rosa’s acclaimed training program, has returned for its 45th year. Over the last four-and-a-half decades, Summer Rep has earned a reputation as one of the country’s best experiences for young theater artists, who come from all over the U.S. to spend their summer rehearsing, creating and performing up to five shows, stage in repertory between June and August. Over that time, audiences have come to expect a certain degree of comfortable consistency in the shows staged each summer, usually an assortment of classics and Broadway favorites. But because this is a program designed to push and challenge its artists, sometimes something unusual, even a bit controversial, manages to sneak its way in. This year, that’s the case. In addition to the cozy-cute Gershwin musical Nice Work if You Can Get It, the rowdy heavy metal musical Rock of Ages, the Sondheim classic Merrily We Roll Along, and the musty bedroom-farce Boeing Boeing, Summer Repertory Theater is presenting one of its edgiest shows ever. Though you wouldn’t know it from the way Douglas Carter Beane’s The Little Dog Laughed has been marketed. Hardly the light-hearted romp the festival’s advertising suggests, this bold 2006 Hollywood satire brings a bit of welcome edge to a season crammed with frothy crowd-pleasers. The Little Dog Laughed – its title taken from the nursery rhyme about the dish who runs away with the spoon – is not quite an artistic triumph, due to some spotty performances by a cast otherwise game to tackle a very hard play. But for the sheer boldness of the choice, Summer Repertory Theater is to be commended. With luck, despite the show’s faults, I believe it may still find an audience in its final weeks. The story is narrated by Diane, a hyper-driven Hollywood agent played by Alexa Erbach, disappointingly off-key in a performance that is far too over-the-top. Diane’s client is a closeted second-tier movie star, Mitchell—played by Justin Genna, the best thing about the show. Mitchell yearns to balance his professional ambitions with his need to find real human connection. Early on, he drunkenly summons a scheming hustler, Alex, whose primary clientele is wealthy men—though he assumes he’s straight because he sometimes sleeps with his best friend Ellen. As Alex, David Miller, a bit weak in a tough role, though impressively committed to it, and Makenzie Morgan Gomez, as Ellen, is easily the next best thing about the production. Mitchell’s growing attachment to Alex creates a bit of a problem for Diane, who might still be able to turn Mitchell into a star—if she can only keep him in the closet. The script is clever, packed with sharp observations and inventive dialogue. The direction by Travis Kendrick is focused and well paced, but too heavy-handed to let the humor breathe. The cast is certainly to be congratulated for its professionalism in handling the script’s sexual content, its suggested nudity, and its intimately close proximity to the audience, the first row of which is seated close enough to touch them. Unfortunately, this kind of writing requires a better balance of darkness and comedy. Perhaps, with a stronger cast and direction, the frank and confrontational outrageousness of Beane’s socially biting storytelling might have been as funny as it is brutal, bleak, and unforgiving. 'The Little Dog Laughed' runs through August 7 at Newman Auditorium, on the campus of the Santa Rosa Junior College. www.summerrep.com

Prince Hamlet is a moody death-metal addict with a messed-up ghost on his case. The jealous monarch from The Winter’s Tale has become a tyrannical ruler in imperial China. And the 70’s musical The Wiz is … well … The Wiz. It’s hard to conceive of any scenario in which a presentation of ‘The Wiz’ – a variation on the Wizard of Oz set in a fantasy version of a New York ghetto – would be made to seem tame and safe, but safety is a matter of perspective. In what turns out to be Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s most daring and inventive summer season in years, the Allen Elizabethan Theater has now opened, presenting two supremely bold, thoroughly satisfying takes on William Shakespeare—and a perfectly pleasant production of The Wiz that, in any other year, might have actually felt like the risky choice. Helmed by first-time OSF director Robert O‘Hara, the delightfully revolutionary 1975 adaptation of Frank Baum’s fantasy novel has been given a respectfully energetic staging that may comes as a shock to anyone who thinks that the 1978 Michael Jackson-Diana Ross movie was actually The Wiz. The movie version changed the tone, cut crucial songs, and transformed the sweetness of the stage show into confusing, uncomfortable, weirdness. On a strikingly bare stage, a mostly African-American cast brings The Wiz to life, not with elaborate sets, but with brilliant costumes and over-sized, crystal clear performances. As Dorothy, Ashley D. Kelley is all kinds of adorable, and she leads an impressive cast of singers and actors who act first, sing second, and dance third, but fully capture the up-from-the-streets inspiration that is sewn into every beat of Charlie Smalls and William Brown’s groundbreaking show. Compared to the committed, goofy comfort of The Wiz, Lisa Peterson’s freaky, gleefully transgressive art-house horror show of a Hamlet is the equivalent of setting fire to elementary school. Which is to say, it’s brilliant, but possibly not what anyone expected. Danforth Comins’ angsty/angry prince carries an electric guitar, is haunted by the ghost of his dead father—who is seen running here and there past doorways and windows before suddenly appearing right next to his son. Hamlet is ominously “shadowed” by the ever-watching form of Neurosis guitarist Scott Kelly, accompanying the action on an array of instruments. The introduction Kelly’s Doom Metal music, intrinsically spring from feelings of anger and fear, is nothing short of ingenious, and the cast’s commitment the creepy beats of a classic horror story results in a Hamlet that is alternately thrilling, heartbreaking, and unforgettably disturbing. Standing somewhere in between those two shows is Desdemona Chiang’s surprisingly effective staging of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, an emotionally complex, endlessly surprising interpretation of the Bard’s silliest and saddest romantic fantasy. Almost post-modern in structure, the story begins in Sicilia – transformed here into China – where the jealous king Leonates — becomes convinced that his wife, the devoted queen Herminone has been unfaithful. The resulting series of misfortunes move the tale to Bohemia, here imagined as a kind of steampunk/Godspell version of the Old West, giving Shakespeare’s melancholy masterpiece a touch of Kung Fu. As Leonates abandoned daughter Perdita (Cindy Im, breathtakingly good) comes to adulthood in a foreign country, the patented forces of fate and Shakespearean soft-heartedness conspire to bring two broken families back together again. Rarely has The Winter’s Tale made so much emotional sense, transformed with skill and affection into a play overflowing with sweet, life-affirming beauty. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival runs February to October, in Ashland, Ore. For information on all currently running shows visit osfashland.org. I’m David Templeton Second Row Center, for KRCB

Money corrupts, as does Power, and they often work together, because of course, everywhere you go in this world, money is power. In playwright Ayad Akhtar’s uneven but often gripping drama ‘The Invisible Hand,’ these concepts are explored in ways that might not be particularly fresh or groundbreaking, but serve as above-average grist for smart, serious theater-making. Directed with an almost cinematic attention to detail by Jasson Minadakis, ‘The Invisible Hand’ runs through June 26 at Marin Theatre Company, in Mill Valley. The company’s sprawling stage has been somehow shrunk, the brilliant set by Kat Conley transforming it into a grimy brick prison cell in Pakistan, where American banker Nick Bright is being held after a daylight kidnapping that was intended to nab Nick’s much more important boss. The mistake turns out to be bad for both everyone. With Nick not a big enough fish for his bank to cough up the required ten million dollar ransom—as Nick is brutally informed by the English-born kidnapper Bashir—the frightened businessman soon realizes he’s never getting out of this cell alive. Encouraged by the kindness of a sympathetic jailer named Dar, Nick makes a desperate offer to Imam Saleem, the religious leader who claims he needs Nick’s ransom money to build roads and feed the poor. If allowed access to information and a computer, Nick says, he can raise the ransom himself, using the stock market and a series of tricky insider trading moves. It’s a great idea, and for the first half of the play, as Nick trades his way to a million, then three million, then five million, the tension rises powerfully, added to by quiet scenes of Nick patiently working to dig his way out of the cell at night. The second act loses much that torturous tension, or more accurately, allows it to evolve into a different kind of torture, as a series of setbacks lead Nick—and all us watching—to begin to doubt he’ll ever reach his goal and earn his freedom. The playwright’s best idea is that the enemy of the story is not the kidnappers, but the destructive power of money itself. Unfortunately, this is explained through long exposition-heavy conversations that, while rich with information, are a bit like listening to an economics lecture in college. Director Minadakis and his team of designers work hard to keep things moving, employing a brilliant soundscape during scene changes that opens up the story’s constricted world. Other effects, from light streaming through the window, the sounds of drones and bombings outside, and a nicely done bit of offstage violence, are expertly coordinated. But much of the onstage violence is as unconvincing has the actors’ ever-shifting accents, and the performances, though solid, rarely soar to the degree we’ve come to expect from a Marin Theater Company production. “The Invisible Hand’ has much to say—perhaps a little too much—but while it is an important message, it’s not an especially new message. Still, it’s a bit of a thrill just to be seeing things on stage that we usually only see on episodes of ‘24’. Like Nick working the markets, ‘The Invisible Hand’ doesn’t always deliver on its promises, but when it does, it’s a real rush. ‘The Invisible Hand’ runs Tuesdays through Thursdays at Marin Theater Company. Marintheatre.org.

West Side Story—Sondheim, Bernstein and Laurents’ beloved 50s-era street-gang homage to Romeo and Juliet. Few American musicals are as widely loved and as over-performed. Let’s face it, in America, it’s you can’t walk down a city street without seeing at least one poster for some upcoming production of West Side Story. There’s a reason for that, of course. It’s that ‘West Side Story’ is a really, really good show. But it’s not an easy show, and pulling it off requires a remarkable amount of talent, craft and theatrical panache. Which brings us to the Mountain Play, in Mill Valley, where West Side Story runs for three more weekends. Directed by Jay Manley, the sprawling production unfolds with admirable grace and energy, helped along, on opening day, by Mother Nature, dispensing a bit of classic Mountain Play magic. You know the story. Two teenage New Yorkers meet by chance at a tense interracial community dance. Tony is a former-gang member trying to go straight. Maria is a wide-eyed Puerto Rican émigré with dreams of becoming a “young lady of America.” Separated by race and tradition, their forbidden love sets in motion a series of events both hopeful and tragic. Now, for that all-important first-act meet-up to properly work, the audience has to feel the electrifying, fateful connection between and. Hopefully, that electricity will come from the actors. Sometimes it arrives in other ways. On opening day, during the pivotal Tony-meets-Maria moment, a beam of sunlight broke through the low-hanging clouds, suddenly shining directly down on the star-crossed lovers. Dressed all in white, the two literally began to glow as we all watched them fall in love before our eyes. That’s the kind of unplanned trick of nature that puts the Mountain Play amongst the most popular annual theatrical events of the summer. Spectacle, as usual, is a big part of the draw too. Director Manley certainly pulls that off, with an amazing set giving us New York streets-and-alleys painted in moody purple, with random streaks of lamplight painted across the stage, approximating the feel of evening in the city. The tale bursts into action with an athletic cast invading the stage, beautifully dancing and fighting their way through the famous opening succession of Sharks vs. Jets skirmishes. Aided by a first-rate orchestra under the direction of David Möschler, excellent choreography by Nicole Helfer and nifty fight-work by Zoe Swenson-Graham, the dangerous romanticism of “West Side Story” unfolds with maximum visual power. As Maria, a strong-voiced Lym brings all the fiery giddiness one could hope for, and though Lee is much too old to play the teenage Tony, his full, operatic singing finds every scrap of melody in the gorgeous songs he sings. The rest of the cast, particularly Zachary Isen as reckless Jets leader Riff, David Crane as the simmering Sharks leader Bernardo, and Erica Lamkin as his girlfriend Anita, are all very good. Whether or not the sun makes the same dazzling appearance in every performance, the cast and technicians bring plenty of their own light and emotional razzle-dazzle to this highly enjoyable spin on a true American classic. ‘West Side Story’ runs Sundays though June 19 (and one Saturday, June 11), at the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre on Mt. Tam. Visit www.mountainplay.org for all the information.

Fictionalized history, like ‘free trade’ and ‘forgotten memories,’ is something of an oxymoron. The minute you introduce fiction to a story, its claim to being history loses strength. But unless a playwright has a transcript of the backroom conversations held by historical figures, she has no choice, in telling the story of great historical moments, but to guess at and improvise those conversations. The result is a hybrid of history and fiction, that when done well, illuminates and expose the truth of what happened—or what very likely happened—while employing just enough imagination and guesswork as necessary to allow the story to be told at all. Such was the task lying before British playwright Lolita Chakrabarti as she tackled the story of a significant, but little known, figure in theatrical world history—Ira Aldridge, the first black actor of perform on the legitimate stage in London. That was in 1833, when slavery was still legal in England. Chakrabarti’s award-winning play ‘Red Velvet,’ now brings the story to the Bay Area, where San Francisco Playhouse has put together one of the best shows of the year. Following the death of famed classical actor Edmund Kean, Aldridge—in an openly provocative and controversial move—was called upon to replace him in playing the lead in William Shakespeare’s Othello. In taking on the role, Aldridge would be acting alongside the all white actors of the distinguished company, performing at Keane’s famed Theater Royal. Abolition was three months from becoming law in England, and the city was in a state of conflict and turmoil, with open riots in the streets. This was hardly the best time to challenge centuries of tradition and deep-seated prejudice. What is known are the basic details of what happened, what the critics said about Aldridge’s performance, how the company responded, and what Alrdridge did next. What is not known, and what Chakrabarti makes a highly entertaining and impressive effort at surmising, is what that first multiracial meeting of artists might have been like. How did the company respond? What was the first rehearsal like? Who said what to whom before and after opening night? Did it happen this way? Who knows? But, as deftly and powerfully devised by Chakrabarti, directed by Margo Hall with marvelous command of the script’s complex blend of social comedy and raw drama, Red Velvet transcends the oxymorns of fictionalized history. This is a good play and a strong production, with a towering performance by Carl Lumbly as Aldridge. The superb supporting cast includes Sonoma County actor Tim Kniffin, excellent in a tricky role as the dying Keane’s affronted actor son Charles, whose rising indignation at watching a black actor play Othello—a role he’d expected to assail himself—is simultaneously hilarious and chilling. Also strong are Richard Louis James in dual parts as Aldridge’s long-suffering dresser and a stodgy Shakespearean actor, Susi Damilano as Charles’ tentative but artistically intrigued actress fiancée Ellen Tree, and the effortlessly accent-shifting Elena Wright in a trio of key roles, including that of Aldridge’s white, English-born wife. Chakrabarti’s robust script does somewhat stretch believability in an effort to have fun with Aldridge’s first backstage appearance at Theater Royal. That quibble aside, Red Velvet stands as a thing of graceful beauty, earning its way, line by line, to its heartbreaking climax. Supremely satisfying on numerous levels, this is a must-see historical drama. In eschewing simple conclusions or one-dimensional characterizations, Red Velvet delivers a 180-year-old story that, sadly enough, feels vividly and unnervingly contemporary. ‘Red Velvet’ runs Tuesday–Sunday through June 25 at San Francisco Playhouse, sfplayhouse.org