Mouthful: Fun and frights at Safari West

Bats, Boos, Bones and Pumpkins: Safari West (3115 Porter Creek Road, Santa Rosa) is hosting its first Halloween extravaganza this year, with several ways to celebrate.

On Halloween afternoon and evening, you and your little goblins can explore Safari West’s trick-or-treat trail, which explores a new skeleton exhibit and visits with monkeys, lemurs and other small mammals. One of the stations offers an opportunity to help make treats for the animals. Another hosts Corky Quirk of NorCal Bats, who will talk about our local bats at 7 p.m.

The evening includes an optional dinner. If you’d like to attend the trick-or-treat portion only, cost is $15 for kids and free for each adult who accompanies a paying child. Add dinner and it’s $35 for kids and $45 for adults.

On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be a Day of the Dead Celebration, with an exploration of the pre-Colombian roots of this holiday and a discussion about the importance of the Monarch butterfly, which symbolizes the souls of the returning dead. At 7 p.m., there will be a special presentation by anthropologist Socorro Baez-Molgado , project manager for FOROST (Forensic Anthropology Database). Participants can join in on the construction of a Day of the Dead altar in honor of endangered animals and those that have recently gone extinct.

Saturday’s fete, which includes a taco bar lunch, is $15 for kids and $25 for adults.

And what about those pumpkins? If you have an extras - winter squashes of any kind - Safari West would love to take them off your hands. They are special treats for the animals at this time of year. If you have some, feel free to drop them off at the Safari West office. For details on all events and to sign up: safariwest.com or 579-2551.

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Preston Vineyards Winemaker Dinner: On Wednesday, October 29, Rosso Rosticceria (1229 North Dutton, Santa Rosa) hosts a special evening with winemaker Matt Norelli of Preston Farms and Vineyards.

Things get started with a glass of Preston Sauvignon Blanc accompanied by roasted cauliflower, shrimp crudo, Preston persimmon and pomegranate gusto and more. Next comes Madame Preston wine with mozzarella, poached Preston quince and mint-pine-nut gremolata.

Preston Barbera will be served with pork cheeks, buttered polenta and horseradish cream, followed by Preston Petite Sirah, veal steak and Gorgonzola dulce. A selection of sweet nibbles will round out the evening.

Cost is $88 with the wine pairings and $63 without. To reserve a spot, call 526-1229. Seating is from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

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Dogtoberfest Time: It’s time to take your pup out for a fall celebration at Topel Tasting Room (123 Matheson St., Healdsburg) on Saturday, October 25, from noon to 5 p.m.

Throughout the day, the new 2015 Topel Wine Tails Calendar will be available for purchase. Calendars are $20 each, feature wine country pups on every page and benefit Green Dog Rescue, which rehabilitates dogs considered unadoptable.

From noon to 4 p.m., Marla Steele, a pet psychic, will offer complimentary pet readings. Artist Steven Javiel will paint a portrait of your pup for a small fee and if you can’t bring your pup with you, he’ll paint from a photo.

Gourmet treats for both canines and humans, prepared by nearby Wurst eatery, will be available and there will be special wine tastings and special prices on certain wines. All dogs that arrive in costume will automatically be entered into a costume contest; prizes will be awarded to their humans.

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A Little Autumn Aloha: On Monday, Da Puna Bruddahs return for another night of breezy Hawaiian music and dance at Sweet T’s, the Southern-style restaurant located at 2097 Stagecoach Road in Santa Rosa.

Music begins at 5 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m. If you want to stay for dinner, reservations are highly recommended.

The band consists of George Ah Chin , Bill Rhyne and Tom Martin all long-time musicians with life-long connections to Hawaii. They have developed a loyal following at Sweet T’s so if you want to be sure of getting a seat, you should arrive earlier rather than later.

And, yes, aloha shirts and dresses are welcome, though not required.

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Bea Beasley’s Fall Cooking Classes: Chef Bea Beasley, who operates a sweet little cooking school on the edge of downtown Santa Rosa, has announced her fall lineup of classes.

On October 31, the topic is authentic Mexican posole. On November 8, it’s “Sweet Joy;” on November 14 the topic is “Ragin’ Cajun Dinner;” November 18 focuses on plants and, on November 21, it’s “More Tasty Tapas.” All classes are hands on and conclude with a family style dinner.

For a complete schedule with pricing, detailed menus and registration information, call Chef Beasley at 595-5301 or email beabea@sonic.net.

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Harvest Party Round-Up: There are a lot of harvest fetes taking place this week. The Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market (50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa) celebrates the season Saturday with a kids’ costume parade, a Veggie Art display (customers are welcome to bring their creations) and a special tasting for all, which will include whole baked pumpkins stuffed with brown rice, mushrooms and sausage,(a vegetarian version will be available, too), along with grilled apples and sauerkraut. Cost of admission is simply to show up.

On Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Healdsburg Senior Living (725 Grove St., Healdsburg) hosts their Fall Festival, with 20 arts and crafts vendors, workshops on worm composting, seed saving, habitat gardening and beekeeping.

There will be food, live music, wine tasting, face painting, balloon fun and a raffle, along with a garden rummage salt and a pumpkin contest.

It’s not to late to donate outdoor items to the rummage sale; just bring them with you.

You can also enter the pumpkin contest on the spot, too; entries will be accepted between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Prizes in several categories--biggest, smallest, funniest, scariest and most unusual--will be awarded at 1 p.m.

Admission is just $5 for adults and free for kids. All proceeds will benefit the Community Garden Network of Sonoma County.

On Sunday, First Light Farm (4588 Bodega Ave., Petaluma) hosts a Harvest Party. From 10 a.m. to noon it’s a work party, when you can help with all manner of farm activities. From noon to 2:30 p.m., lunch will be available and from noon to 5 p.m., there will be all manner of fun for the entire family, including lawn games, a costume party, live lunch, a community seed mosaic and more. For more information about the farm, visit firstlightcsa.com.

Next Saturday, November 1, Tierra Vegetables (651 Airport Blvd., Santa Rosa) hosts its annual Harvest Dinner. From 3 to 5 p.m., there will be a reception with appetizers; cost is $20. At 5:30 p.m., a three-course family-style dinner will be served. Cost for both the reception and dinner is $45.

The menu will be crafted from the farm’s products, including produce, beans and meat, and all proceeds go towards the Barn Fund, which supports restoration of the historic white barn now on the property.

The event is vegetarian friendly and guests should bring their own wine glasses and a bottle of something to share. For reservations, call 544-6141.

Two more harvest events are coming up in a couple of weeks, both on November 8. One is a Farm Trails Dinner at Atwood Ranch, the other, “Best Winery Chefs,” a benefit for hunger-related organizations taking place at Santa Rosa Gold and Country Club. Tune in next week for details.

Email Michele Anna Jordan at michele@saladdresser.com.