Dia de Los Muertos at Jimtown Store

Jimtown Store celebrates El Dia de Los Muertos on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m., with special guest Steve Sando of Rancho Gordo, purveyor of fine heirloom shell beans.

There will be a sugar skull decorating contest and special foods — pan de muerto (bread of the dead), fresh tortilla, hot chocolate and churros, among the offerings — and much more.

Guests are encouraged to bring something to add to Jimtown’s altar.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Please R.S.V.P. at 433-1212 by the end of today if you want to join in the fun.

While we’re on the subject of Jimtown, mark your calendars for next week’s First Thursday Wine Bar, as it promises to be one of the best yet. Laura Catena, the charming and articulate owner of Luca Wines, and her gracious father, Nicolas Catena, of Bodega Catena Zapata, are special guests for the evening, which will feature several of the wines the family produces in Mendoza, Argentina. Their wines are among the finest we’ve tasted from South America.

Chef Peter Brown’s menu suits the wines beautifully, with selections such as as parilla-style mixed grill of leg of lamb, hanger steak and longaniza sausage, served with chimichurri, and, for dessert, thin cookies layered with dulce de leche.

Cost is $35 with reservations and $40 at the door, if there is room — it’s highly likely that this event will sell out in advance. There’s a $10 discount for nondrinkers. To reserve your space, call 433-1212.

Jimtown Store is located at 6709 Highway 128 in Healdsburg.

Pumpkin festival in Healdsburg

On Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, the Healdsburg farmers market is hosting a pumpkin festival, with all manner of fun for kids of all ages.

If you want to participate in the pumpkin carving, you must register between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. To enter a pumpkin car in the races, register between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.; there are two categories, children and adults.

Winners of the best decorated cars will be announced at 9:50 and 9:55 a.m., immediately before the races begin. All pumpkin cars must arrive at the market with wheels attached and they must fit within an 11-inch-wide track.

The winners of the pumpkin carving competition will be announced at 11 a.m.

Even if you don’t participate in one of the contests, a farmers market is a wonderful place to be on Halloween.

The Healdsburg market is held at North and Vine Streets, one black west of the town plaza.

Sebastopol Farmers Market

On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Sebastopol farmers market kicks off its final month of 2009 with a celebration of El Dia de Los Muertos.

The festivities include traditional Mexican folklorico dancing by Santa Rosa’s Ballet Sonatlan, holiday art by students from several west county middle and high schools and special holiday foods.

The market’s annual heritage turkey drawing — as in raffle, not art — is under way, too. Customers are given raffle tickets with purchases between now and the Sunday before Thanksgiving, when the winner will be drawn and the turkey — along with many other organic goodies — will be delivered by the market manager herself, Paula Downing. The farmers market opens officially — there are always dozens of early bird shoppers — at 10 a.m. and wraps up at 1:30. It is located in the town plaza, across from Whole Foods Market at the corner of Petaluma Avenue and McKinley Street.

More Halloween celebrations

The Sonoma County Museum is hosting a free family day on Halloween from 1 to 4 p.m. The museum, decked out in Halloween and Day of the Dead art, will offer a pumpkin painting contest, a mask-making table, a costume contest, a make-your-own ice cream sundae bar and lots creepy treats.

The Children’s Museum “Museum on the Go” of Sonoma County will participate in the event. Reservations are not needed; just show up in all your spooky glory.

The Sonoma County Museum is located at 425 7th St. in downtown Santa Rosa.

Mouthful’s top pick

Although we love to attend as many Halloween and Day of the Dead festivities as is humanly possible, there is one at the top of our list. If you’ve never attended the Traditional Candlelight Procession in Petaluma, just trust us and go. The extraordinary giant puppets alone are worth it but the entire event is unforgettable. And this year promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Things get started tonight at 6 at the foot of Western Avenue, in front of Water Street Bistro at 100 Petaluma Blvd. N. There will be a ceremony followed by the candlelight procession, led by a mariachi band and those giant puppets, to the Petaluma Arts Center at 230 Lakeville St. at East Washington Boulevard.

Festivities continue at the center at 7 p.m., with dance performances and a bilingual presentation of “La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)”, a Spanish folk tale. A mercado will be set up at the center where you can purchase traditional folk art, beverages and food, including — yes! — tamales!

Although anyone unfamiliar with the traditions of El Dia de Los Muertos might find the emphasis on death a bit disconcerting, the holiday is neither macabre nor depressing. It is a celebration of the lives of those we have loved — ancestors, departed parents and other loved ones, pets no longer with us — and a beautiful way to connect with other members of your community.

If you can make a day of it, you might start with lunch at Dempsey’s Restaurant & Brewery (50 East Washington St.), where there there is always a special Day of the Dead menu at this time of year, and then spend the afternoon visiting the dozens of altars and art displays located throughout downtown.

Worth Our Weight's new schedule

Evelyn Cheatham’s Worth Our Weight Culinary Apprenticeship Program (1021 Hahman Drive, Santa Rosa, 544-1200) has announced a number of changes.

The cafe is now serving brunch on both Saturday and Sunday but has discontinued Friday lunch. The first Friday of each month is Apprentice Dinner Night, with the apprentices creating, executing and serving a special menu. Next Friday’s highlight will be hand-made pumpkin ravioli, served from 6 to 8 p.m. by reservation only.

Second Fridays feature take-away dinner of roast chicken, spare ribs or tri-tip, with pickup between 2 and 5 p.m. The last Friday night of the month is Family Game Night.

Stay tuned for additional updates, including information about WOW’s Thanksgiving plans.

PICK YOUR FAVORITE CAKES

Now that Patisserie Angelica has closed its retail cafe, Condra Easley and Deborah Morris, the sisters behind the yummy magic, have created a new option for local customers. All you do is head to the Web site www.letthemmailcake.com and click on the “locals only” button for instructions on how to place your order for a classic cake, a holiday special or the other baked goods offered. You then arrange to pick up your order between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at the bakery, located at 6821 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol.

If you suddenly find yourself in need of a cake, you can call 827-7998 to find out what might be available at the last minute.

Please note: This is not a drop-in retail operation. You must place your order first or you will have made the drive to the bakery for nothing.

Michele Anna Jordan hosts “Mouthful” each Sunday at 7 p.m. on KRCB 90.9 & 91.1 FM. E-mail Jordan at michele@micheleannajordan.com.