As Sigmund Freud said, “Culture is roughly anything we do and the monkeys don’t.” So with that as your guideline, you can chase any degree of enlightenment you feel the need for, right here in Petaluma. From art tours to square-dancing…the world is yours for the taking.
The annual Love of Art progressive art and culinary tour through eight downtown spots is Sunday, 1/22, with festivities running 5-9 p.m. and starting at Pelican Art Gallery, 143 Petaluma Blvd. North. Entertainment includes live performances by Petaluma City Ballet dancers and John Allair, long-time piano-man for Van Morrison. Vans will shuttle guests from gallery to gallery. Tickets are $30, with proceeds benefitting Petaluma City Ballet. More information: Robin Harrigan, 694-9888 or petalumacityballet.org. Participating businesses include Calabi Gallery, Gallery One, Haus Fortuna, Pelican Art Gallery, Petaluma Arts Center, Riverfront Gallery and Viva Cocolat.
Aqus Café hosts “Language Groups” night 6-10 p.m. Mondays at 189 H St. Here’s a chance to speak your native tongue or the second language you are desperately trying to dust off. German, Italian, Japanese, French and others are covered. There is no admission fee. More information: 778-6060 or aquscafe.com.
Copperfield’s Books hosts a meet and greet with young adult author Marissa Meyer at 3 p.m. Tuesday. She’s the creator of “Cinder,” futuristic saga set in New Beijing that has a part-human/part-cyborg heroine interacting with androids and lunar people. Copperfield’s is at 140 Kentucky St. More information: 762-0563 or copperfieldsbooks.com.
Allemande left and dosado your partner. Learn the basics of square dancing 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Petaluma Woman’s Club, 518 B St. For a $5 entry fee, you can learn how the west was really won — out on the dance floor. Casual attire is requested, chaps and spurs optional. Call 762-8515 or 762-6922 or visit adobesquares.com.
If you’re a dyed-in-the wool crab-feed nut, here’s another shot at it. Dunham Elementary School puts on the PTO’s fifth annual Crab Feed Saturday, with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 and auction and raffles to follow. It’s an adults only event at the Hermann Sons hall, 860 Western Ave., benefitting the school. Tickets are $40 cash, $42 credit at dunhamsd.org or 795-5050.
— Sheldon Bermont, Petaluma Towns Correspondent
