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Front of the Museum of International Propaganda

Find out about Propaganda, Museum for International Propaganda, San Rafael

November 21, 2025Silvia

When, in 2016, Tom and Lilka Areton opened the Museum for International Propaganda in San Rafael, some might have felt it was a comment on the political landscape. However, the museum’s focus is on the 20th century. Their fascinating collection takes you through 30 years of propaganda art for about 25 countries during the 20th century.

But their mission is also to inform you on how propaganda works. In their main exhibit, they display 7 propaganda ideas, from Leader Idealization to Vilification, all supported by posters that illustrate these ideas. At the end of the self-tour, you can look at the post–1989 area documented with posters and photographs. On their website you can also take a virtual tour, where Tom Areton walks you through the museum. But it is really impressive in real life.

They also have a room reserved for special exhibits. Right now, they are showing Robert Leon Bru’s collection of German political cartoons, saved while he was a POW in Germany during WWII. In the back library room, I was most impressed by a replica of Picasso’s Guernica.

What a great place to learn about propaganda!

Especially in a time of fake news and an overabundance of false information, we have to pause and consider, making sure we don’t get manipulated. Not an easy task.

The International Museum for Propaganda, located at 1000 5th Avenue in San Rafael, is free. Donations are welcome. Opening hours are Thursdays and Fridays, 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and Saturdays, 11 am to 5 pm.

Visit the Pedrick Produce, Dixon

November 7, 2025Silvia

Last week I talked about seeing the Minions going south on I-80 from Sacramento near Dixon. And we are in Dixon, again! You might notice signs advertising fresh produce around Dixon. These signs will lead you to Pedrick Produce. For over 30 years, Pedrick Produce has served the community with fresh, locally grown produce.

Huge bins greet you – pumpkins and other seasonal items – with great prices before you even set a foot into the store. Their selection of dried fruits and nuts is incredible. In fact, this is a great stop if you have out-of-towners looking for something Californian to bring back home. Their website has a coming soon label on their seasonal gift boxes. But of course, you can put an assortment of pistachios and dried fruits together yourself. To spice it all up, you might want to add different hot sauces from the Wall of Flame.

Pedrick Produce is open 7 days a week, year-round, from 7 am to 7 pm. It is located at 6850 Sievers Rd, Dixon, CA, right off the I-80 exit.

A Closer Look at Farm Workers and Other People on the Line, UC Davis Library

October 11, 2025Silvia

The UC Davis Shields Library is currently showing photos of farm workers by journalist David Bacon. This exhibit, In Camps, Under Trees & Evicted, documents farm workers and people without a stable place in Northern California. It will be up until March 30th, 2026.

With about 80 photos, Bacon introduces us to the work and living situations of people who are rarely seen in society. This exhibit spans 35 years of his black and white photos. They are sprinkled with biographies that dive deeper into the living situations of people on the verge of society. These texts are provided in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. The exhibit was brought to Shields Library by the UC Davis Labor and Community Center.

You can find the exhibit In Camps, Under Trees & Evicted on the first floor of the Shields Library at UC Davis until March 30, 2026. It begins near the archives section on the left of the main entrance and continues in the east wing.

There are a few other exhibits here that might pique your interest. Most of them change every 3 to 6 months. The permanent exhibit Student Live in Color, showcasing UC Davis’s diverse community, is in the hallway to the east wing.

Relax at Soul Food Farm, Vacaville

October 3, 2025Silvia

With a name like Soul Food Farm, it was no surprise that our first encounter following the signs to the farmstand was a group of watercolor painters. There is definitely a heart and soul present here. This place offers opportunities for people searching for relaxation and nature.

We strolled over to the farmstand, which is so instagrammable, you wonder where your big white hat is. But in all honesty, they offer wonderful produce, delicious little cakes, homemade jam, ACME bread, and so much more. The owner told us that her main business has now become olive oil.

As we indulged in the little berry pie in the dreamy setting in the olive grove, we connected with nature.

There is an attention to detail that shows in every corner of the little farmstand. For example, a vase with rose hips and a mannequin wearing dried flowers show off the attentiveness. As we were leaving, a family with young kids got out of their car. You could tell that the kids were excited to be there. Maybe on their way to pet some sheep?

I am amazed at their local partnerships and their commitment to issues such as community land use and workers’ rights. Alexis Koefoed, one of the owners, is the president of the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association (PVAA).

I highly recommend stopping by Soul Food Farm! They are located at 6046 Pleasants Valley Road, Vacaville, CA. The farmstand is open April – December; Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. By the way, the watercolor group is there every Friday.

Imagine Creatures, Alebrijes in San José

September 12, 2025Silvia

Alebrijes are brightly colored artworks from Mexico. Usually, they depict multiple animals painted with intense, intricate patterns. They originated in 1936 from a fever dream by the artist Pedro Linares. These days, they are a symbol of Mexican folk art. Although Alebrijes are attributed to Oaxacan culture, you can buy little wooden creatures in gift shops all across Mexico.

My first encounter with Alebrijes was in the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City. Of course, while the little representatives were in every gift shop, the large sculptures entrance you at a higher level.

To experience a group of 22-foot-tall mythical creatures, you can marvel at them at Plaza de César Chávez in San José until September 28th, 2025. This exhibition is in partnership with San Jose Jazz; they offer a lot of free events around the plaza to celebrate Mexican culture. While we saw the Alebrijes at the golden hour, San Jose Jazz recommends you see them at night, as they come to life glowing with vibrant, multicolored LED lights.

The fantastical creatures are on a tour. The next stop will be from October 10th to December 7th, 2025, at the Arte Américas in Fresno. At this stop, you will also be able to see the original, smaller hand-made sculptures.

Do you have a favorite Alebrije?

Experience Arts of Fire in Benicia, NY2CA Gallery

September 5, 2025Silvia

Every city in the Bay Area has a vibe. For Benicia, the art galleries on First Street communicate a welcoming vibe for art lovers to browse and discover new artists.

The most recent addition to the First Street art scene is the NY2CA Gallery.

With changing exhibits every seven weeks, this place will truly entice you to come visit often!

Currently, they show Arts of Fire – Clay. Glass. Transformation. This juried show featuring 36 artists is all about working with clay and glass in a contemporary and fantastic way. I found the Drops of Lights by Jenn Shiflett inspiring. A glass plate that looks like it captures raindrops, but also reflects everything. I have two photos, both somehow showed up as distorted selfies.

Arts and Fire will be open until September 21st, 2025. The NY2CA Gallery is on 617 First St in downtown Benicia. Opening hours are Thursday to Sunday from noon to 5 pm.

A door painted in brown with Kollar Chocolate written on it

Indulge in Chocolate, Kollar Chocolates, Yountville

August 29, 2025Silvia

The smell of rich chocolate greets you at Kollar Chocolates, a small artisan chocolatier in the heart of Yountville. Located at the V Marketplace, a historic winery, now an upscale place for fine dining and wine. The award-winning pralines are works of art crafted with ethically sourced ingredients. Kollar dove into the chocolatier artistry in Europe, and his research paid off. He was named one of the Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine.

On our visit, we were given a red wine truffle to sample and enjoyed an affogato. Both were excellent!

Given the current temperatures, chocolate seems a hard sell. But the descriptions from Chocolate By the Bay made my mouth water and I definitely regret not trying more of these artful bonbons – especially the chopped truffle, a concoction created after winning the 2020 Food Network’s Chopped: “It’s a white chocolate ganache flavored with miso paste and cayenne in a dark chocolate shell.” Sounds salty, lightly spicy, surrounded by chocolate. What could go wrong?

Kollar Chocolates is located in Yountville’s V Marketplace on 6525 Washington Street in Yountville. It is open every day from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Where do you indulge in chocolates?

Produce offered at the FarmStand in Yountville

Shop at the FarmStand, Yountville

August 22, 2025August 22, 2025Silvia

Last week, I was talking about the Yountville Art Walk. While we checked out the art, we also wanted to stop by the FarmStand. The FarmStand Garden is advertised on the town of Yountville’s website as a “thriving, community-powered space growing fresh, seasonal produce in the heart of town.” What we didn’t realize was that this was so much more than a place to buy fresh produce.

In the back of the Yountville Commons, a former Elementary school that now awaits a community space overhaul, we found the Coop. The Coop is a café with inviting yellow and green seats in the shade. Additionally, it serves as a collaboration of the 4G gardening club’s FarmStand and the Hoopes Winery owner’s cafe. The 4G gardening club stands for Grow, Garden, Glean, and Give. You can find the FarmStand next to the Coop. Shop for locally grown produce, support sustainability, and find community.

The Coop offers a changing menu, drinks, and a welcoming space to hang out. This is a fantastic place to meet old and new friends! And if you are a Yountville resident or worker, you’ll receive a discount! They are a flagship for sustainability and community building. A definite stop if you are in Yountville!

The Coop and the FarmStand are located at 6554 Yount Street. Opening hours for the Coop are Tuesdays to Thursdays 10 am to 5 pm, Fridays to Sundays 9 am to 6 pm.

Follow the Art, Yountville Art Walk

August 16, 2025Silvia

Yountville combines food and wine culture with an advocacy for the arts. The Yountville Art Walk displays more than 30 outdoor sculptures. Many of these artworks are for sale.

We picked up a brochure at the community center. The community center is a great starting point for the art walk as a lot of sculptures are nearby. But you can really start this art exploration anywhere. Most of them are on a 1 mile stretch of Washington Street. At Van De Leur Park is another cluster of sculptures. The park is not very extensive but it offers shade and the possibility to sit and rest. It also has a little rose garden.

The Steve Rogers Gallery at the community center hosts six free exhibits a year. Currently, they are displaying painted trays, Midnight Snack Trays – A Feast for the Eyes by Seward Johnson. These trays can be viewed through September 12, 2025.

My favorite sculpture was this Yellow Sphere by Ivan McLean – a large yellow ball made out of woven metal.

We enjoyed our stroll while we discovered Yountville. What an excellent way to promote both the walkability of Yountville and the arts!

The Steve Rogers Gallery is located at 6516 Washington Street. Opening hours are Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm. You can also listen to descriptions about the sculptures in an audio tour: https://youraudiotour.com/tours/yountville-art-walk/

Information about the art walk can be found on their website: https://ca-yountville.civicplus.com/238/Art-Walk

Jonah and the Whale mechanical bank at the Napa Toy Museum

Adore Vintage Toys at the Napa Toy Museum, Napa

August 9, 2025Silvia

They name themselves the collectors of collections. The owners of the Napa Toy Museum proudly display their collections of wind-up toys, mechanical and still banks, patent models, and salesman samples from 1890’s to the 1960’s. It’s as fascinating as it is whimsical.

We were offered a tour that was included in the admission, and we gladly accepted. Our guide, one of the owners of the museum, opened cases and demonstrated how a mechanical bank works, and showed us vintage wind-up toys.

The Barbie collection is on loan from the collector Myk Ciapusci. Ninety-eight Barbies with accessories prompted us to share memories and stories about miniature outfit creations.

But there is also a lot of history in those pieces. Like the patent models that inventors had to submit to the patent office with their inventions. Or the Ark toys that were popular in Germany around the late 19th century. These toys were also called Sunday toys because they were the only toys kids were allowed to play with on the Sabbath. Although only a fraction of the 150 ark animals are displayed in the case, we still appreciated the love that went into carving the animals.

Thank you to the Halls for sharing and explaining your collection.

The Napa Toy Museum is located at 964 Pearl Street in downtown Napa and is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $8 for adults with discounts for seniors, locals, first responders, and kids. The museum is free for under-8-year-olds. If you bring an unwrapped, new toy for Toys for Tots through December 17th, 2025, you will receive one free admission.