Out&About

June 21, 2006

Close encounters with the big cats

The public is invited to get up close and personal with cheetahs, a lynx, a snow leopard and other big cats at 6 p.m. Sunday at Valley Orchards Retirement Community, 2100 E. Washington St.

Seating is limited, so reservations are required. Admission is $5 general, free for kids under 12.

Call 778-6030 for tickets.

St. Anthony's Farm Day Sunday

Take a tour of St. Anthony's Farm at its 23rd annual Farm Day taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the farm, 11207 Valley Ford Road.

The day includes the groundbreaking for the farm's new organic buttery at 11 a.m. A barbecue chicken lunch begins at noon. There will also be activities for kids, a live band and tours of the milking facility, organic garden and calf barn.

Tickets are $10 general, $3 children. Call 762-5679.

36th annual fair kickoff breakfast

Cowboy omelets and pancakes are on the menu at the 36th annual Sonoma-Marin Fair kickoff breakfast set from 6 to 10 a.m. in Behrens Park on the fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive.

Cost is $7 general, kids under 5 eat free.

Contact Mike Piro at 953-0393 or Joe Cimino at 781-0871 for tickets.

Hidden Hawaii revealed Monday

Explore the mysteries of the Hawaiian islands during a "Hidden Hawaii Revealed" class held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd.

Hawaiian Nature Conservancy member Tom Bold will discuss the cultural history, myth and romance of the islands. He will also help participants decide on which island fits their travel plans best. Cost is $25.

Call 778-4380 to register.

Author/architect book signing

David Weinstein, author of "Signature Architecture of the San Francisco Bay Area" will be at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum for a presentation and book signing at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Weinstein is an architectural columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle.

The museum is located at 20 Fourth St. Call 778-4398.

Native California plants discussion

The Master Gardener series continues with a presentation by Nancy Kissam on "Native California Plants for the Garden" at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive.

Admission is free. For details, call 763-9801.

Living wage public forum June 28

New Economy Working Solutions and the Living Wage Coalition host a public forum on the living wage topic from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive.

Discussion panelists include Teresa Hernandez, Lyn Camhi, Larry Modell, Mike Healy, Ben Boyce, Sara T. Mayer and Tim Kellgren. Admission is free.

Call 545-7349 ext. 220 or visit www.livingwagesonoma.org.