If you’ve got a penchant for pancakes, then zoom over to the annual Two Rock Volunteer Fire Department Pancake Breakfast Sunday, July 8, and celebrate the organization’s 85 years of service. The menu includes, in addition to “world class pancakes,” scrambled eggs and ham, juice, coffee and real milk (you know, with cream on top). Local 4-Hers will have a bake sale, there will be a raffle and you can show your support for the department by picking up a T-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie. Sparky the Fire Dog starts flipping the flapjacks at 7 a.m. and continues until noon at the Two Rock Social Hall, 7618 Valley Road Road. Go to tworockfire.com.
Head downtown on Sunday, July 8, for the 11th annual Petaluma Art & Garden Festival. Local artists will display their works, booths will offer home and garden items, Petaluma eateries will supply the food and wine and of course there will be plenty of music to make the day complete. New this year is a Chalk Art Competition. Festival attendees can watch the often fanciful creations emerge, literally underfoot, via a simple box of chalk and a creator’s imagination. The fun starts at 11 a.m. and continues through 5 p.m. July 8. Visit petalumadowntown.com to learn more.
Kids, this one’s for you. Kids Alive! Summer Music Camp starts Monday, July 9, and ends July 19 with a performance of the musical, “Happily Forever After.” Hours are 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily. During the two-week camp, children from first grade through middle school will take part in singing rehearsals, drama, choreography, and games.Cost is $100 per child, with family rates available. The camp takes place at Petaluma United Methodist Church, Fifth and D streets. Go to petalumaumc.org for more information.
Want to write, or recharge your writing? After all, it’s summertime and the writing is (or should be) easy. Marlene Cullen, founder of Writers Forum of Petaluma, offers a Jumpstart Writing Workshop for adults from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 10. Guest facilitator is author Arlene Mandell. The workshop takes place at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd. Cost is $15. Learn more at thewritespot.us.
On Wednesday, July 11, experience West Side Stories, five minute true stories told live, on stage, without notes. Everyone has a story, says host Dave Pokorny. Share yours, or just listen This month’s theme is “Things I Never Told My Mother.” The evening features 10 stories. Storytellers are picked at random and an audience member chooses the winner, with a $50 prize. Story time is 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Sonoma Valley Portworks, 613 Second St. Cost is $5. Call 477-4416.
Are you tired of sitting at your desk all day? Why not join the Swedish-inspired Lunch Beat movement? Local dance maven Val Richman offers Lunch Beat Petaluma. Spend noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, dancing with DJ Val. Interested? Just show up at 143 Petaluma Blvd. North. Cost is $5.
Got beer? Authors Ken Weaver and Anneliese Schmidt do, with their new release, “The Northern California Craft Beer Guide,” a handbook of the local craft beer scene. Celebrate with them at 7 p.m. Friday, July 13, and learn more about this beer-centric area at Taps, 205 Kentucky St. And yes, beer will be served. Visit copperfieldsbooks.com for details.
Meet one of Petaluma’s best-known gamers, Susan McKinley Ross, creator of Qwirkle. It’s a little like dominoes and Scrabble, but is based on colors and shapes so it appeals to readers and non-readers. Ross will be at HobbyTown USA in the Petaluma Plaza from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 14, to teach locals how to play the deceptively simple game with the intriguingly quirky name. Visit htupetaluma.com or call 762-2176. HobbyTown is at 1717 N. McDowell Blvd. in the Petaluma Plaza shopping center.
— Katie Watts
