Published May 10, 2007

Paul Hawken, founder of Smith & Hawken and Pax Scientific, and director of Natural Capital Institute, speaks and signs books tonight (Thursday) at the Sonoma Community Center’s Andrews Hall. Hawken will talk about “Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming,” which happens to be the title of his new book. Thursday, May 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, $10 for Praxis Peace Institute members. 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. Tickets at Readers’ Books, praxispeace.org or by calling 707.939.2973.

Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food International, speaks at the Sebastiani Theatre on “At Our Table,” an on-stage farm table conversation with Ig Vella of Vella Cheese and Bob Cannard, Sr. Sponsored by Slow Food Sonoma Valley, Slow Food Valley of the Moon, Whole Foods and the Sonoma Community Center. Petrini’s new book, “Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be Good, Clean and Fair,” will be available. The event begins with a wine and cheese reception at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, following a luncheon at the Community Center. 476 First St. E., Sonoma. Tickets are $8 at Readers’ Books or Sage Marketing, or call 707.738.8759 or 707.939.1779.

Bear Flag Social Club presents Ten Foot Tone and a spaghetti dinner cooked by Kent Stephan Wells at Sonoma Moose Lodge on Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Dinner includes salad and garlic bread. Show tickets are $10 at the door, dinner by donation only. For more info call Ken Brown at 707.938.8623 or email ken@bearflagsocialclub•com.

Celtic Evening, a charity benefit concert for the Children’s Cancer Community, features San Francisco’s Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums; Fairfield High School Scarlet Brigade Pipes, Drums and Brass/Wind Ensemble; California Fife & Drum Corps; Highland Dancers; McBride Irish Dancers and solo vocalist Caryn Prince, Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 62 and over, children with cancer and their families free and children under 10 free. Free parking. Sonoma Valley High School, 20000 Broadway, Sonoma. For tickets and more info call 707.815.4348.

Sonoma Valley Chorale presents the finale of its 34th year with “Serenade to Music,” by the Chorale, the Sonoma Valley Chorale Orchestra, its Chamber Ensemble, and special accompanists Jo Anne Connor and Barbara McElroy. Listen to jazzy “Songs and Sonnets from Shakespeare,” set to George Shearing’s music, celebrating the human soul and beauty. Saturday, May 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 13 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. General admission seating is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $10 for children under 12. Reserved seating is $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, and $10 for children under 12. Tickets are available at the UPS Store and Pharmaca. For reservations call 707.935.1576. For more info check out sonomavalleychorale.org.

Alexander String Quartet performs at the Sonoma Community Center with enticing Mozart, Webern and Beethoven, sponsored by the Sonoma Classical Music Society. Saturday, May 12 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for Society members and $10 for students. 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. Tickets and program notes at sonomaclassical.com, Readers’ Books, Sonoma Music Store, Pharmaca and at the door.

Looking forward:

Passport Sonoma Valley Wine tasting weekend at 40 well-known and secret wineries throughout the Valley of the Moon on Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. both days. Loads of food pairings, fun and music. Weekend passport $50, or $60 walk up; $45 one day, or $55 walk up; $10 designated driver. For more info call 707.935.0803 or check out sonomavalleywine.com.

“CATS” plays its 25th anniversary tour at Lincoln Theater in Yountville. Because of huge demand, a fourth performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony-winning classic has been added on Sunday, May 20 at 3 p.m., $45-$125. For tickets call 707.944.1300 or visit
lincolntheater.org.