Mouthful: Mendocino celebrates Winesong

Winesong 2014: This year’s Winesong, a benefit for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital, takes place on Friday, September 5, and Saturday, September 6.

Narsai David, who has long served at the event’s master of ceremonies, is this year’s celebrity chef, too, serving as inspiration for the auction luncheon’s menu.

On Friday from 1 to 4 p.m., Little River Inn hosts a celebration of pinot noir, with more than two dozen regional wineries participating. General admission to this part of Winesong is $50.

The Winesong Wine and Food Tasting takes place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the beautiful Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Here, wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa Counties are joined by dozens of Mendocino food purveyors for a walk-around tasting with live music by nine different groups.

Following the tasting, the Winesong Charity Auction continues the fun from 2 to 5 p.m.

General admission for the tasting and auction is $150 per person. If you’d like reserved seating in the auction tent, a three-course luncheon, a tote bag and a commemorative glass and tray, you’ll need to pony up $250.

For complete details, tickets and to view auction items, visit winesong.org.

***

Harvest Table, Calistoga-Style: Next Sunday, September 7, downtown Calistoga will be closed to traffic so that tables can stretch the length of Lincoln Ave. for the first Calistoga Harvest Table.

Here’s how it works. Diners choose among 15 participating restaurants and purchase tickets in advance.

As of press time, a few were sold out, with La Prima Pizza, Barolo, Boskos Trattoria, Brennan’s Grill, the Calistoga Inn, the CIA at Greystone, Hydro Grill and Kopio still selling tickets.

Prices vary by restaurant, with a range of about $65 to $150, which includes tax and gratuity.

Beverages will be available for purchase at several bars along Lincoln Avenue and winemakers from the Calistoga appellation will join in the evening’s merriment.

Participating wineries include Bennett Lane Winery, Canard Vineyard, Dutch Henry Wines, Jericho Canyon Vineyard, Larkmead Vineyards, Schramsberg Vineyards, Ziata Wines and several others.

The fun gets started at 5 p.m. and wraps up around 9 p.m., about the time the nearly full Harvest Moon will be overhead.

For tickets and complete details, go to visitcalistoga.com.

Outside alcoholic beverages and pets are not allowed.

***

Fishstock Festival: On Sunday, August 31, Jenner Community Center hosts the Second Annual Fishstock Festival from noon to 5 p.m.

This free kid-friendly event takes place outside at the Jenner Community Club (10398 Highway 1, Jenner) and features wild Pacific King salmon, barbecued oysters, chowder, an ice cream bar, beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, live music and more.

***

Friday Night Fun: On Friday, August 29, Red’s Apple Roadhouse (4550 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol) features live music from 6 to 9 p.m. with Kevin Russell, Cori Wood, Markie Sanders and, possibly, some surprise guests.

The west county eatery has music on Wednesday and Friday evenings, with a schedule - subject to change - posted at redsappleroadhouse.com.

Red’s Apple Roadhouse is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The menu features hearty, rustic foods, including a pulled pork sandwich, a pastrami burger, Hot Brown, fried chicken, mac n’ cheese and, at breakfast, grits, biscuits and gravy, cornmeal cakes and chicken friend steak and eggs.

Music takes place in the tavern, where the full dinner menu is available.

***

Time for Chautauqua Tix: Occidental Art and Ecology Center’s Fall Chautauqua Revue is coming up fast, on September 11, 12 and 13.

If you don’t want to miss this popular, old-time variety show, get your tickets right way.

The review is inspired by Chautaquas of a century ago, when performances through the country combined entertainment with social, political and economic commentary, with the Populist movement, child labor, women’s suffrage and Prohibition common topics.

This year, the eleventh annual event, a children’s matinee will be offered on Saturday, September 13, with music, clowns, acrobats, storytelling and magic.

Taking place from 2 to 3 p.m., it is a shortened version of the evening performances, which take place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased in advance; none will be available at the door. There is a sliding scale, from $6 for kids aged 3 to 15 to $45 for adults, with many options in between.

To purchase tickets and for more details about this year’s event, visit oaec.com.

The Fall Review takes place in the North Garden Theater. Weather is unpredictable so you should bring layers.

OAEC is located at 15290 Coleman Valley Rd. in Occidental.

***Arriverderci, Don Giovannis: The Naples-inspired Sebastopol-based Don Giovannis are no more, but there’s good news for everyone who loved this fabulous group of local musicians who brought us the tunes of old Italy.

Say hello to Ancora, which makes its debut performance on Thursday, September 5, at 5 p.m. at Taylor Maid Farms Coffee Bar and Roastery in The Barlow center.

Ancora’s line up features members of the Don Giovannis, including John Davis on guitar, mandolin and vocals; John Pedone on accordion; Mark Petrella on stand-up bass; Jim Castrone on drums, Tom Tally on viola; Lindsey DeRutte on vocals and the beloved Carlo Solivan, who has returned to Sonoma County from Florida.

There is no charge for this inaugural performance, which takes place during The Barlow’s Thursday street fair. For easy parking, arrive early.

For details about Ancora, including booking information, visit ancoracantiamo.com.

Michele Anna Jordan has written 17 books to date, including “Vinaigrettes and Other Dressings.” Email Jordan at michele@saladdresser.com. You’ll find her blog, “Eat This Now,” at pantry.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.