By: Virginie Boone

Earlier this month, The Washington Post published a story by Diana Lind, a fellow at the Center for Economy and Society at Johns Hopkins University, called, “America is becoming a nation of homebodies,” detailing how people are spending far more time at home than they used to and the costs to such isolation. The data was concerning.

“Americans now spend an average of 99 more minutes at home each day than they did in 2003, while this generation of 15- to 24-year-olds spends 124 more minutes at home than their counterparts two decades ago. Meanwhile, just 30 percent of Americans spent time socializing and communicating in person on an average day, down from 38 percent in 2014.”

The piece went on to add that time in the house is more likely to be time spent alone and sedentary and suggested that part of the solution needs to be “finding real-life environments and activities that can compete for attention with apps and streaming services at home.”

Other solutions such as walkable neighborhoods and making it easier for the private sector to revive social life through brick-and-mortar businesses were also proposed as ways to get people out of their homes.

“But it all starts with changing how we view the outside world on a personal level,” it said. “We should treat ‘getting out’ as a necessary health intervention rather than an optional luxury or a work burden. This might mean budgeting time and money differently, recognizing that the cheapest and easiest option – staying in – is costing us something else. Our health and our communities are worth the extra effort.”

We live in a beautiful, dynamic, and culturally rich place here in Sonoma County, with so many ways to get out, whether it be in nature, at a winery, restaurant, festival, or live music/theatrical venue. Need a few ideas?

The Sonoma County Chapter of Les Dames D’Escoffier holds its second annual Birds and Bubbles fundraiser Sunday August 24 at Bachhus Landing in Healdsburg, a fried chicken and local sparkling wine feast that supports women in food, fine wine, and hospitality. Duskie Estes and John Stewart will make the fried chicken, as local chefs from Jackson Family Wines, Catelli’s, Jimtown and then Sum, The Spinster Sisters, Spread Kitchen, Mad Batter Bakery and more offer other menu items. Alegria Vineyards and Comstock Wines are among the sponsors. Live music, bocce and more.

Dance and sing along to Bohemian Queen at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts this Saturday, August 16, a Queen tribute band celebrating the 50th anniversary of Queen’s first tour of America. Rodney Strong Vineyards and Breathless Sparkling Wines are both sponsors of the event venue, and their wines are featured on the concessions menu.

Festa Italia di Healdsburg will take place this Sunday, August 17 at Orsi Family Vineyards, a celebration of Italian grapes farmed in California. More than 25 California wine producers will be on hand, with food vendors like A16 and its wood-fired pizzas, Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery, Graffeo, and Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato. The day also features two wine panel discussions, one on Growing Italian Grapes in California and the other on Winemaking with Cal-Ital Grapes. Ticket sales benefit the Italian Catholic Federation in Healdsburg.

Pink Martini featuring China Forbes is on the schedule at Green Music Center for August 21, both in Weill Hall and the Lawn. Pink Martini has sold over 3 million albums worldwide and crosses genres from classical and jazz to pop. Summer dining options include pre-ordered boxed meals from Boudin, burgers and pizza from the on-site grill, food truck options from Indian Village Eats, and local wines from Matanzas Creek, Murphy-Goode, and Korbel.

New Sonoma County Winegrowers’ Wine Club partner the San Francisco Giants will play the Tampa Bay Rays this Saturday, August 16 for a 6 pm game followed by postgame concert featuring Northern California Grammy-nominated music star Saweetie.

If you prefer tribute bands that honor ABBA rather than Queen, you’re in luck as Summer Night City The ABBA Tribute is scheduled for Saturday, August 16 at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma. Don’t miss “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen” and all the hits. A lobby bar serves drinks, while food can be ordered from the venue’s McNears Restaurant next door.

Transcendence Theatre Company has two more outdoor theatre shows going this summer. One is “Beautiful, The Carole King Musical,” a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical based on the true story of the singer/songwriter behind 100 hit singles and six Grammys. The show takes place in downtown Sonoma’s Field of Dreams with local food and wine vendors like Benziger, Vaughn Duffy, Hopmonk Tavern and others providing dinner and drinks on site. It runs through August 17. A different show, “Ladies of Broadway,” is set for September 4-14. Among other impacts, in the decade that Transcendence has been performing in Sonoma County, it has raised $800,000 for Jack London Historic Park and other non-profits.

These are just a few of the things happening right now in Sonoma County. Make the extra effort, get out into the community and leave the homebody behind.