Seafood and more at Bodega festival

Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine Festival: The 12th annual edition of this popular event kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. at Watts Ranch (16885 Bodega Highway, Bodega). Things wrap up at 5 p.m. and start all over again Sunday, same time, same place.

If you go for the seafood, expect to find barbecued oysters, crab cakes, salmon on cedar planks, shrimp on skewers, coconut shrimp, albacore wrapped in bacon and more -- but you don't have to like seafood to attend. Bratwurst and teriyaki chicken will satisfy the carnivores, and there are plenty of vegetarian dishes and desserts, too.

Several wineries and breweries will offer libations, among them Korbel, De Loach, Rodney Strong, Lagunitas, Bear Republic and Anchor Brewing Co.

Artwork includes metalwork, ceramics, wood sculpture, glass, jewelry, painting, photography and wearable art.

Three stages will offer continuous entertainment and music. And don't forget your dancing shoes because there will be a dance floor.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors over 60. Kids under 12 get in free. Tickets for wine tasting are sold separately.

The festival is no longer allowing dogs, so you have to leave the pups behind. Please note that this festival is in the town of Bodega, a few miles west of Freestone, and not Bodega Bay, where it lived for its first 10 years.

For more information, call 824-8717, or go to www.winecountryfestivals.com.

Discover Yorkville Highlands: If you have a taste for high-elevation wines, you might want to check out the Yorkville Highlands Wine Festival, coming up Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m.

The fete takes place at Meyer Family Cellars, on Highway 128 at mile market 34.20, between Cloverdale and Boonville.

The afternoon will feature a barbecue with boar burgers and lamb, games, a grape stomp, live music, a silent auction and, of course, wines from the appellation, which became official on June 8, 1998.

There are 21 commercial vineyards within the appellation, as well as olive orchards.

Tickets will be $50 at the gate. Proceeds benefit the Yorkville Volunteer Fire Department and the Yorkville Highlands Growers and Vintners Association, a nonprofit organization.

For more information, call 894-9177 or go to www.yorkville highlands.org.

The Missing Link: Next Wednesday, Tayman Park Golf Course (927 South Fitch Mountain Road, Healdsburg) hosts the second in a series of "Missing Link Kitchen" dinners by chef Mateo Granados, whom you may know from his tamale stand at various farmers markets in Sonoma County. He was also executive chef for a time at Dry Creek Kitchen.

Chef Granados will serve three courses, all Yucatan-inspired, each paired with wine. The cost is $38, cash only.

The bar opens at 5 p.m. for cocktails. Seating for dinner begins at 6 and continues until 9.

For more information, e-mail info@mateogranados.com. For dinner reservations, call 433-2338.

Yes, it's fall: How do we know? Occidental Arts & Ecology Center is hosting its fall plant sale this weekend, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

The sale features organically grown starts for lettuces and other salad greens, leeks, onions, fennel, chard, brassicas and a wide selection of perennials, herbs and flowers.

There will be garden tours at 10 and 11 a.m. both days and an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., when you'll have an opportunity to learn about the center's various courses, workshops, lectures, performances, tours and other programs.

Occidental Arts & Ecology Center is at 15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental. For more information, call 874-1557 or visit www.oaec.org.

An afternoon in Italy, sort of: On Sunday, the public is invited to stop by the North Bay Italian Cultural Center (64 Brookwood Ave., Santa Rosa) for an afternoon of antipasti, wine, music and conversation.

Among the topics of conversation at the Open House will likely be upcoming events, including a community spaghetti dinner Sept. 18 and the Festa Italiana, coming up Oct. 15.

If you can't make it to the open house but want more information about the organization, call 591-9696.

A romantic summer evening: On Saturday, The Baguette Quartet presents its version of French cafe music at Rancho Nicasio. We know accordionist and vocalist Odile Levault from her performances at the Grand Aioli, a once and future event hosted by the Sonoma Provence Exchange, and have heard the full group at Chez Panisse, as well.

The band is a delight. When they're playing, the only way you know you're not in Paris is if the people around you speak English.

The music begins at 8:30 p.m., and admission is $12. If you'd like dinner, they start serving at 5:30 -- reservations are encouraged.

Rancho Nicasio is on the square in Nicasio. For more information, visit www.rancho nicasio.com. For reservations, call (415) 662-2219.

Worth Our Weight: Chef Evelyn Cheatham's mentoring program, "Worth Our Weight, from Seed to Plate: A Culinary Apprenticeship Program," is seeking three additional youths for the program's first session, which begins Monday.

To qualify, the apprentice should be 16 to 24 years old, should have experienced challenging life situations and should have an interest in the culinary world. Cheatham is particularly eager to mentor youth who are aging out of foster care.

The application process is easy. Simply give Cheatham a call at 837-2900 or write to her at worthourweight@sonic.net.

Apprentices will work in Tierra Vegetables' garden and receive excellent training in both a professional kitchen and at on-site catering events.

Worth Our Weight will accept six additional apprentices in November.