Handcar Regatta

“The Regatta shall not be stopped!”

Shouts heard ’round the township of Santa Rosa proclaim the good news (probably).

By cause of The People’s affection for their beloved Regatta and our own desire to forge ahead in valor regardless of poo-pooers and naysayers (and beyond love of sanity), the news is out that The Regatta shall live (likely as not)!

The forthcoming incarnation is (so far) christened Dr. Erasmus P. Kitty’s Kinetic Frenetic Opera of Mechanical Mayhem The concept maintains railcar races and embraces a larger notion of an arts festival (in some capacity or another).

To wit, co-founder Ty Jones as interviewed by Gabe Meline at the BoHo Blog:

“It’ll still be a rail race,” he says, adding that he’s been talking to some of the old Regatta crew, gearing up for another run. “But one of the ideas with the Regatta is that it would expand to incorporate these ancillary events”—he mentions the Wiskeydrunk Cycles gang, the Feed Barn in Rincon Valley. “So how can it spin off into the community, and foster the arts?”

Read all about it:

• Handcar regatta to morph into larger arts festival
• Handcar Regatta to Return as Kinetic Frenetic Opera

Dearest Regattans,

For all those who joined us yesterday (and for those less fortunates who wished to attend), I can hardly find the words through tears and full heart to relate such supreme joy and contentedness.

The truth is I am not here to trumpet our achievement in yet another astounding success among monumental Regattas past. Any person of any age present would have found the merit in our endeavors self-evident.

No, rather I am here to thank YOU, The People, for the extraordinary gift of taking The Regatta as your OWN these four years by doing and playing with us!

As I walked about the grounds during the day’s glorious events, I was struck by how we managed to fashion a frolicsome parallel universe for all to indulge in. Yet, the entirety means nothing without the many thousands who came forth to actually join us in merriment and invention!

So many masters of the tool pouring their passion for machinery into amazing contraptions of splendor, both on the tracks and off; so many artists of surprising performance and musicianship availing their talents to the stages; plus the spirited vendors of unusual wares rarely seen on festival grounds; and not forgetting the fine foods and libations in abundance and more fanciful arts seen anywhere; all in one fantastical place within our humble hamlet of Santa Rosa.

The grandest thanks, however, goes to everyday folks who joined us to play along. You have heartily taken our crude notion of a different kind of festival and possessed it as your own by creating madcap costumes and characters to match, by arriving in good cheer with your fellow participants to encourage and enjoy their artistic expression, and simply by shedding the workaday humdrum for the farcical joys of participation and silliness in the streets!

As many have heard, this was our last Great Handcar Regatta in Railroad Square. The SMART train is due for construction and other issues prevail so that our time is complete upon our beloved tracks in Santa Rosa.

Promises are sparse at the moment for a return in 2012, but do trust that we are busy employing the extensive can-do powers of our own unstoppable doers to secure a new Regatta location. Any news is sure to appear along these Aetherwebs when we have it.

Your gushing and joyful servant,
Erasmus P. Kitty

From Volume XVIII of the Great Theolibrum Addendum comes the following prophecy. It never made sense to scholars until now:

“It will rain. You will go to the Regatta. It will be sunny. You will go to the Regatta. Martha finds an eel in her hamper. You will go to the Regatta. Your cake falls. You will go to the Regatta. What happens happens. You will go to the Regatta.” — Tatty Kitty

“What a bunch of crap.” — E.P. Kitty

For the sum of $100 (and just $35 for youngsters) you may support the local arts whilst enjoying the excitement if the Handcar Regatta in luxury with a shaded, unobstructed view of the finish line.

Tickets available at the following locations:

• Handcar Regatta — procure your tickets upon entry on-site day of the event

Or in advance:

• My Friend Joe Coffee — 1810 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA
• Cast Away Yarn Shop — 111 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA
• Revolution Moto — 518 College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA

Ingest Wholesome Foods • Quaff Invigorating Beverages • Experience Dubious Cures

This tent shall be administered by the Nurses of the Mystical Order of the Anxious Toilers who shall see to every need.

Help make Santa Rosa just a bit WEIRDER

The Juke Joint (from Hopmonk Tavern) & The Great Handcar Regatta presents…

“The Horns of Man”

a celebration of Utopian pleasures and music

Saturday – September 24th – 2011
Doors at 8:30pm – 21+ – $12 

• Klezmer Boogie with — THE GOMORRAN SOCIAL AID & PLEASURE CLUB
• Junk Yard Swing with — THE WESLEY MORGAN
• Ragtime & Balkan Funk in the Speak Easy with:
  CHANGO B — MALARKEY — COUSIN LARRY & DJ GUACAMOLE
• Gypsy Jam Rock with — THE VOODOO MEDICINE SHOW
• Exotic Dance with — JOWEH R.A.W.

And featuring: Two Stages of Music — Lagunitas Brewing Company — Fire — Local — Regatta Hand Cars — Chai Booth & More!

The Arlene Francis Center for the Arts
99 Sixth Street, Santa Rosa, Ca 95401

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On August 27, 2011 , TEDx SantaRosa will bring together some of the most talented, creative and innovative residents of the North Bay to Santa Rosa Junior College to discuss the Future of Sonoma County.

TEDxSantaRosa is a locally organized event based off of the TED conference that brings people together to share ideas worth spreading. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx.

General Admission tickets are $50, but for the next two weeks, we would like to offer you a special discounted price of $35 by using the code “TEDXINSIDER”

Buy INSIDER tickets here

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July 30, 2011 | Petaluma River Heritage Center | 11 AM – 7PM

Rivertown Revival, with an expected attendance of thousands, has confirmed 15 local food & beverage vendors, 20 artisan craft vendors, 10 bands on several stages, and 10 community non-profits to be situated in various areas of the 9-acre McNear Peninsula along the Petaluma River.

This FREE event will fundraise for the River Heritage Center, a project of Friends of the Petaluma River.

Highlights of the day include:

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The glorious Rivertown Revival folks are going all out this season with kick-off and after parties in cahoots with us: The Great Handcar Regatta!

Rivertown Revival Kick-Off Party and Regatta Benefit

The Hootenanny is helping to host a very special evening on Thursday, July 28th, 2011 — 7:30pm.

Come help support two of the greatest events to come out of Sonoma County: The Great Handcar Regatta and the Petaluma Rivertown Revival with music, art, and more at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, including:

• Jug Dealers
• The David Luning Band
• Three Legged Sister
• The Crux
• The Easy Leaves
• Katie Phillips
• Brandon the Clown

Ages 21+ Beer by Lagunitas!
$8 general admission / $5 admission for Regatta or Revival volunteers!
Doors open at 7:30. More info:

• (707) 326-5274
• Facebook
• Zvents

Rivertown Revival After Party

Hopmonk’s Juke Joint and the Mystic Theater present the official Rivertown Revival After Party!

Saturday, July 30th, 2011 — 8pm

Featuring musical performances by:

• El Radio Fantastique
• Brothers Horse
• Malarkey
• Shovelman

Event includes: variety skits, circus stunts, antic attractions, and more to be announced!

$12 advance tickets, $15 doors — 8pm doors open, ages 21+, at the Mystic Theater, Petaluma

The rabble-rousing-dare-devil-collective-of-freak-bikes-and-more-builders known as Fun Bike Unicorn Club (FBUC) have just launched their new Aetherweb destination:

FBUC.org

The enterprising lads spared no expense to share a wealth of high resolution, gorgeous electro-luminescent photographs of their many contraptions and adventures of ill-repute around the Bay Area. Those represented, of course, are the infamous:

• Todd Barricklow
• Bunnyfluffer Cycles
• The Feed Barn
• Krank-Boom-Clank
• Whiskeydrunk Cycles

Harken Dear Fabricators and Builders of Santa Rosa, CA:

The Santa Rosa Tool Library has recently moved to its new location and is open for FREE lending!

What’s more, a Grand Opening Reception is scheduled for this Friday, May 27th from 6pm-8pm at:

642 5th Street
Downtown Santa Rosa
(707) 576-0590

I can assure you, dear reader, this organization is worthy as I’ve borrowed on multiple occasions with amazement at the quality and variety of implements available.

As always, such volunteer community organizations require your help in the form of donations. Please consider giving a bit back.

Get all the details…