Fourth Fun: Options for music, barbecues, fireworks, parades and more to celebrate the Fourth of July are nearly endless, with way too many worthy possibilities to mention them all. Here are a few highlights that captured our attention.
The Healdsburg Boy Scouts (Troop 21) host their annual Pancake Breakfast at Villa Chanticleer (1248 Fitch Mountain Rd., Healdsburg) from 7 a.m. to noon. The all-you-can-eat menu includes pancakes, real maple syrup, ham, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee, all for $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.
Jimtown Store (6706 Highway 128, Healdsburg) will be grilling house-ground beef and pork burgers, along with good hot dogs from Zoe's Meats. It all takes place out front from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be Frozen Art paletas (popsicles) available for purchase, too.
In Forestville, Backyard (6566 Front St.) will host an all-day barbecue featuring Greenstar Farms chicken, house-made pork sausage, Grandma's potato salad, baked beans, vegetables, strawberry-rhubarb crisp, blueberry trifle and watermelon sorbet, plus the regular menu. Planet Waves, a Bob Dylan tribute band, plays on the patio from 5:30 to 9 p.m. For reservations, call 820-8445.
On Sunday, the 39th Annual Penngrove Parade, known as the "Biggest Little Parade in Northern California," kicks off at exactly 11 a.m. on Main St. Following the parade, there's live music and a barbecue at Penngrove Park from noon to 4 p.m., with free games for kids, music by Charley Baker, an apple pie contest and more. Tickets for the barbecue will be sold at the fete. No outside food or drink is allowed.
Nearby, the Twin Oaks Tavern (5745 Redwood Highway, Penngrove) hosts a post-parade fete, with the Trailgatorz playing from 1 to 4 p.m. and the Blues Defenders from 5 to 8 p.m. Rasta Dwight's barbecue will be available starting at 3:30 p.m. There's no cover charge.
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Wednesday Night Drop-In Bocce: Starting July 9 and continuing through August 27, Coppola Winery (300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville) hosts drop-in bocce on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. Attendees will form teams and play for both fun and prizes.
These evenings include a court-side wine bar with wines by the glass and pizzas from Rustic restaurant available for purchase.
Admission is $10, which includes a glass of wine.
If you're new to bocce but like the idea of a sport that allows for a glass of wine in one hand while you place, you'll love it.
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Holiday Aloha: On Sunday, July 6, from 1 to 4 p.m., Da Puna Bruddahs bring their breezy Hawaiian music to Truett Hurst Winery (5610 Dry Creek R., Healdsburg). There's no cover charge and picnics are available for purchase in the tasting room.
That evening, Led Kaapana, Hawaii's legendary slack key guitar and ukulele player who has one of the sweetest falsettos ever, plays at the Mystic Theater (21 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma), with our own lovely Hawaiian songbird, Faith Ako, opening the show with her trio. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show gets started at 7:30. Admission is $21 and you must be at least 21 to attend.
On Monday, Da Puna Bruddahs return to Sweet T's (2097 Stagecoach Rd., Santa Rosa) for a "Happy Hour" performance from 5 to 8 p.m. George Ah Chin, one of the Bruddahs, has joined the crew of Sweet T's, where he's known as the back-of-the-house manager and over-sees the smoker and all its meats. If you want to stay for dinner, it's a good idea to make a reservations by calling 595-3935.
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Fried Chicken Wednesdays: Twin Oaks Tavern (5745 Redwood Highway, Penngrove) continues its fried chicken dinners on Wednesday, when $12 will get you pan-fried chicken, corn on the cob and mashed potatoes. Dinner is served from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
This Wednesday, Kevin Russell and friends return for an Americana jam from 7 to 10 p.m. If you've been longing to test out your favorite Pasty Cline cover on a live audience, say "pretty please" and Russell might put you in front of a microphone.
There is no cover charge on Wednesday evenings.
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WIC Farmers Market: One of the final seasonal farmers market openings takes place next Thursday, July 10.
Operated by the Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market, it is known as the WIC market, as it takes place in the parking lot of the WIC office at 1450 Guerneville Rd., Santa Rosa.
It opens at 9 a.m., wraps up at 1 p.m. and continues on Thursday mornings through September.
This is the market's fourth year. Confirmed farms include Hector's Honey, The Patch, EGB Farm and Ponce Farm.
On July 24, Mary Miles, nutrition services case manager for the Council on Aging, will attend the market with $20 coupon books for seniors.
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Almost a drive-in: One of the things we love about summer is watching movies outside, under a big bowl of stars, wine glass in hand.
St. Francis Winery and Vineyards (110 Pythian Rd. at Highway 12, Santa Rosa) kicks off its Outdoor Film Festival next Thursday, July 10, with a screening of the 1961 classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's," starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. "Stars Under the Stars" kicks off next Thursday evening at St. Francis Winery and Vineyards.
There will be pre-show entertainment by The Atomic Lounge Show.
Admission is free. Wines will be available by the glass and the Lonchera Emely taco truck will have plenty of food available for purchase.
For a full schedule of July's films, visit stfranciswinery.com.
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Mark Your Calendars: The 60th Annual Chicken Teriyaki and Bazaar takes place next Sunday, July 13, at Enmanji Buddhist Temple (1200 Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol).
One of summer's most popular festivals, with visitors from throughout the Bay Area, the fete serves hundreds of teriyaki plates--half a chicken, potato salad, rice, coffee and tea--throughout the day. There's even a drive-through to-go booth if you can't linger.
There are many other foods, too, including sushi, kushiyaki (skewered meat and vegetables), desserts, shave ice, cold beer, sake, wine coolers and soft drinks, along with a special Japanese pastry, imagawayaki, that many people buy by the boxful.
There are performances and demonstrations throughout the day, activities for kids, bingo, bonsai exhibits, a popular plant sale, a handicraft sale and more.
This year's event marks the 80th anniversary of the construction of the beautiful temple. There will be guided tours, with historical information, throughout the day.
Michele Anna Jordan has written 17 books to date, including "Vinaigrettes and Other Dressings." You'll find her blog, "Eat This Now," at pantry.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. Email Jordan at michele@saladdresser.com.
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