It’s not necessary to spend $50 on gas, deal with traffic, pay for bridge toll and search for parking. Your next memorable outing can be right here in River City. Listen to live jazz, view fine art, learn how to self-publish your next book or hear ways to increase your business’s branding footprint. They can all be done a stone’s throw away from your front hall closet.
The opening reception for the Petaluma Arts Center’s High School Masterworks exhibit is 4-7 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at 230 Lakeville St., catered by Casa Grande’s culinary students and with music from all three schools. Through March 31, the works of Petaluma’s top 100 high school art students will be showcased, some for sale. Students will learn how to enter the public, professional art arena. The Center is open noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Free. More info: 762-5600 ext. 101 or petalumaartscenter.org.
The Calabi Gallery presents “100 Years of Bay Area Art” 1-4 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at 144 Petaluma Blvd. North, featuring artists of the past century who worked in all media. More information: 781-7070.
Erotic romance novelist Bella Andrew will deliver the keynote speech at a writers’ forum 7-9 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd. She is the author of “Take Me” and “Red-Hot Reunion” and will speak on “Epublishing = empowerment for writers,” how to navigate the world of digital publishing. Fee is $15. More info: 778-4380.
The Peter Welker Sextet will play tunes from the Great American Songbook 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 16, at Riverside Bistro, 543 Washington St., featuring vocalist Jeff Oster. Great food, free admission and a river view. More info: 781-7022.
The Baker Creek Seed Bank presents “The Ecology of Successful Businesses: Marketing Your Story from the Ground Up,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15, with Helge Hellberg, executive director of Marin Organic. It’s free and geared toward entrepreneurs, at 199 Petaluma Blvd. North. Reserve a seat at 773-1336 or dreambigwestmarin@gmail.com.
— Sheldon Bermont
