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Bird’s Eye View

Greetings one and all. If you’re sitting comfortably then I shall begin. The Anderson Valley Theater Guild will present its 2010 production over two week­ends in the very near future. The play is entitled ‘Dearly Departed,’ a comedy about a dysfunctional family gathering for a funeral and will feature 13 of the Valley’s finest thespians. The shows will go on at 7pm both Friday and Saturday on the weekends of May 28th/29th and June 4th/5th and at this point the big­gest concern is not over the quality of the show (my inside contact believes it is the Guild’s best presenta­tion to date) but the health of Director, Rod Base­hore. With that in mind, let’s offer up a collective Valley invocation to the heavens for both his recovery and the resumption of his indefatigable leadership of those ‘treading the boards.’

Continuing on this topic, for our Quote of the Week, I suggest that in Rod’s absence the actors fol­low these words of advice from two-time Oscar win­ner for Best Actor, the great Spencer Tracy, “Just learn your lines and don’t bump into the furniture.” I don’t think even Rod could put it more simply than that!

Public Service Announcements: #93: It’s that time again, well not quite because normally the Barn Sale is the last weekend of the month but with that being Memorial Day Weekend it is going to be Saturday and Sunday, May 22nd and 23rd instead. You know the deal: it’s at The Big Barn at The St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on A.V. Way just north of Boonville from 9am to 3pm both days. The bargains await and the bbq will be open! #94: The Bob Ayers Big Band will be playing at Lauren’s on Saturday May 22nd after dinner at 9pm. #95: The ‘Live Music in The Deep End’ starts its summer run this coming Sunday afternoon (May 23rd) with the Hansen and Raitt Band. Pablo will be on the grill again, the beer and wine will be inexpensive, and the music will be special. See you there.

Moving quickly on to some of the topics under dis­cussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge. Yes it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Val­ley at a location known only to ‘those in the know.’

…Regulars at the The Three-Dot gave rave reviews for the Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo night at the Sen­ior Center last week. Joe Hansen, using the ‘top secret’ Pardini Spaghetti Sauce recipe, showed why he is the Pasta King and the Bingo session was a big suc­cess, particularly for winners Bingo All-Pro Pat Hul­bert and Supervisor Candidate Dan Hamburg. I’m sure if the event had a beer and wine license, which it may well do in the future, he’d have bought the house a drink! They’ll do it all again with another guest cook on Tuesday June 8th.

…The annual Pinot Festival took place this past weekend here in the Valley and from what I hear there were some truly exceptional wines that were enjoyed by some very wealthy people along with some not quite as wealthy people, all of them imbibing and pontificating among undoubtedly beautiful surround­ings. Same as every year then — not that there is any­thing wrong with any of that, of course.

…Something not the same as last year is the list of live music playing in The Deep End this summer, dropped off at The Three-Dot by live music impresa­rio and Navarro Store owner Dave Evans. As men­tioned above, the summer starts off with the Hanson and Raitt Band this Sunday, then in two weeks time, over the whole weekend of June 5th/6th, it’s the ‘Rainbow Beat on the Mountain’ event featuring all sorts of entertainment, including a variety of Mendo­cino’s finest musicians and headlined by the incompa­rable Willie G on the Saturday night at 7pm... More updates for The Summer Series of Live Music next week.

…A real wisenheimer at the Lounge asked if The AV Chamber of Commerce was the Valley’s best-kept secret. Some customers laughed at this harmless comment, some humorless types leapt to the defense of The Chamber, and some simply nodded knowingly. I didn’t know what group to join.

…After the recent blockbuster news about the new bar(s) possibly opening in the Valley (at the Buckhorn Building and The Lodge), may I just point out that the landlord at the former Lodge location will con­tinue to be David Johnson of Sonoma, who, after sit­ting on a vacant building for five months now, has greatly reduced his rental demands so that they are now in keeping with what former tenant Tom Towey and The Boonville Lodge might very well have been prepared to pay if given the chance. Has anyone fed those wild pigs on Ornbaun Road recently? Just won­dering.

Oh, dear, have I upset somebody? I’ll get my coat and leave shall I? With the hot weather almost with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle. Otherwise, be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; and may your god go with you. Of course, one final request, “Let us prey.” Poking and stroking wherever necessary, and as always, humbly yours, Tur­key Vulture. Keep the Faith. PS. Contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net. PPS. Hi, Silver Swan, behaving yourself? Hopefully not! PPPS. On the sheep, Grace.

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