Published March 16, 2006

Huge Barrel Tasting event, a rare chance to celebrate fine food, fine wine, and film in the Glen Ellen-Kenwood part of Sonoma Valley, Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19. Twenty wineries will feature movie themes, from Casablanca and Grease, to Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, while you sip sneak previews of 2005 vintage wines straight from the barrel, taste great foods, and schmooze with winemakers. An unusual opportunity in a stunningly beautiful spring scene amid vineyards coated with wild mustard! 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. both days. Advance tickets $40-$55, with Designated Driver Special Passes $20 for weekend, $10 Sunday only. At door prices: $65 for weekend, $30 designated driver for weekend. Reserve tickets at (866) 794-9463 or at www.heartofsonomavalley.com.

Sonoma County Poetry Slam visits Sonoma Valley Regional Library Friday, with an open mic and slam competition. Keep your poetics to three minutes, compete, and move on to the countywide Grand slam finale from there. Poetry becomes sport! 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma. Doors open 6:45, mic opens at 7 p.m. For more info call Nancy Cummings at (707) 537-0162.

Sonoma Hometown Band presents its almost-serious side with its annual Sousa concert, Saturday, March 18. It’s not all your grandfather’s Sousa, though, but close. Forty-member sometimes marching band plays baroque, classical, opera, and jazz, plus John Philip Sousa marches. This is the same band that goes around Sonoma Plaza twice in parades, first as “the town band,” and then as “the other town band.” Sebastiani Theatre, 476 First Street East, Sonoma. Free. For more info or to join the band, call (707) 933-8989, 996-3413, or visit www.sonomahometownband.org.

Toot, Rattle, Plunk & Boom!, the fifth annual Art Rewards the Student exhibit showcasing more than 700 works of art by local schoolchildren. Show includes world music and instruments, music-inspired artwork, and interactive displays by Sonoma’s fourth and fifth graders, all taught in a variety of media by Sonoma Valley Museum of Art instructors, as well as middle school learners. Curated by Sonoma Valley High School and Hanna Boys Center students. Friday, March 10 through March 26, Wednesdays-Sundays. Community Music Day with art activities and entertainment, Saturday, March 18. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 551 Broadway, Sonoma. Call (707) 939-7862 or visit www.svma.org.

Napa Valley Mustard Festival Marketplace features mustards from around the world, wines, craft brews, arts at COPIA, in tent outside the American Center for Wine, Food and Art. Current efforts to attract locals to COPIA means free admission in March to its displays, but COPIA is only open to Mustard Festival attendees this weekend: $30 advance or $35 at door to festival tent for adults, $10 students ages 13-20, $5 ages 6-12 (no tasting tickets), and under 6 free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 500 First Street, Napa. For more info contact (707) 944-1133, or visit www.mustardfestival.org.

Looking Forward:
The Sunny Awards come to Sonoma Valley April 1, honoring outstanding “Best of Sonoma” community leaders and the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. This inaugural Gala Show is a must-see, with glitz, glamour, great food, award presentations, and fun dancing late into the night at Club Sun. Tickets $125 benefit Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. The Lodge at Sonoma, 1325 Broadway, Sonoma. For more info or to make reservations before March 24, visit www.sonomasun.com.