Local

The new documentary film “BOBBY JO: JOURNEY OF A SINGER-SONGWRITER” will premiere on closing night at the Wine Country Film Festival in Kenwood. The September 22 film premiere will also include a Q & A with director Ron Rogers and Sonoma County singer-songwriter and film subject Bobby Jo Valentine and a live performance on the main stage by Mr. Valentine. The 22 minute film, recently chosen as an official selection at the Wine Country Film Festival, tells the compelling story of the journey of a unique Sonoma county artist: Young Petaluma singer-songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine is at a crossroads. Having […]

The Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights has approved the creation of a Task Force of the Commission to focus on the state of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and interest (“LGBTQI”) community in Sonoma County. The LGBTQI Task Force consists of three sitting Commissioners – Kevin Jones (2nd District), Christopher Mahurin (3rd District), and Ramon Meraz (5th District) – and Commission Chair Judy Rice (5th District) as an ex officio member. Over the coming nine months, the LGBTQI Task Force will undertake to collect information from all parts of the County in order to develop recommendations that the […]

Cabaret de Caliente and Pinch Of GlitterProductions celebrate Eva D’Luscious’ Pretty Pretty Princess Birthday Party with Twice Upon a Tassel, A Royal Rambling Revue at Buck’s Rivermill Dinner Theater Saturday, September 6. The Burlesque and variety show features tales of princesses, traveling rogues and minstrels and Eva’s very own Fairy Drag Mother! Guests are invited to wear their own princess gowns to compete in a costume contestwith prizes from local businesses, and as always the show includes a fundraising raffle benefitting The Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Buck’s Rivermill Dinner Theater Street, Guerneville Doors 8:30pm; Show 9:30-11:30pm GA Standing […]

Food For Thought, Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank, in collaboration with the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, will host the 14th annual CALABASH – A Celebration of Gourds, Art and the Garden on Sunday, October 5, 2014. Sonoma County’s unique and inspiring harvest event, Calabash was voted Best Fundraiser by the North Bay Bohemian in 2013 and 2014, and features a silent auction of fine gourd art along with tours of Food For Thought’s beautiful, organic garden Guests at Calabash enjoy a sumptuous array of fine food and wine from the county’s bountiful harvest, a chance to buy gourd art […]

  The Wildwood Conservation Foundation & Retreat Center will be hosting its 9th Annual Fall Men’s Festival Thursday, September 18 through Sunday, September 21, 2014. Wildwood, located in the hills above Guerneville, California, is a non-profit sanctuary created and sustained by gay men for healing, transformation and spiritual growth. “The intention of the Fall Men’s Festival is, first and foremost, to build community,” says Darrel Richey, Chairman of the board for the Wildwood Conservation Foundation. “It’s also a sampling of the type of men’s workshops we have throughout the year like yoga, massage, and erotic work.” This year’s activities include […]

“Women’s Weekend”, the classic women’s music and comedy festival that has been happening in the Russian River area for over 27 years is being reinvented by it’s original founder. In September of 1986 Carmen McKay was a worker at the West Coast Women’s Music and Comedy Festival near Yosemite when a large forest fire broke out endangering the lives of the 150 workers setting up for the festival, and ultimately, cancelling the festival itself. Carmen donned a Wonder Woman outfit she happen to have with her, and led the woman out of danger on her motorcycle. She then diverted 600 […]

The Sonoma Valley is celebrating Gay Pride Month with activities that welcome the LGBT community with special tributes and tours. The crown jewel of the celebration is Gay Wine Weekend 2014 Friday through Sunday at various Wine Country venues. Now in its fourth year, the weekend is organized by Out in the Vineyard, a a LGBT travel company run by Healdsburg native Mark Vogler and long-time Sonoma resident Gary Saperstein. “It’s a celebration of food and wine and the ambiance and lifestyle of Wine Country,” Saperstein said of the weekend. “That’s what we really want to show off.” Gay Wine […]

 Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch breezed to re-election Tuesday, weathering a challenge from a senior prosecutor in her office and a storm of protest over the death of teenager shot by a sheriff’s deputy. Ravitch beat rival Victoria Shanahan 64 percent to 35 percent, with mail-in ballots and 366 of 366 precincts counted early Wednesday. Ravitch did not return calls Tuesday night. Shanahan, who ran a low-budget campaign, said her share of the votes was evidence of dissatisfaction with her boss.  Auditor-controller-treasurer-tax collector candidate Gary Wysocky, pictured third from the right on the top row, watches results come in […]

  Guerneville rolls out the rainbow carpet for the LGBTQI community the weekend of May 30 – June 1, 2014. ‘Official’ events include Sunday’s Pride Parade and Celebration on the Plaza. ‘Unofficial’ events fill the rest of the weekend with something for everyone. Highlights include Pandora Boxx performing at Buck’s River Mill Dinner Theater, welcoming receptions at local merchants & restaurants, a ‘Disco Deliverance Dance’ at the R3 Hotel, pool parties (for both families and the over 21 set) and an opportunity to participate in a Commitment Ceremony on Sunday after the Parade. Honored Grand Marshalls are openly-gay Mayor Robert […]