Story and photos by Jake Walden
We are excited to welcome Jake Walden,
a multi-talented singer/songwriter (who happens to be gay) from
Northern California as a guest blogger. Jake is sending us dispatches
from the 20-city Rock the Folk OUT tour, that he is part of along with artists Stewart Lewis and Tom Goss. This is his sixth post. Click here to read about his adventures in Montana. Click here for Las Vegas. And here for Boulder. Seattle and Portland. Orefonia.
Writing about Cotati, my hometown seems a little redundant. For those who know me, or my work, Cotati is a town synonymous with everything me. I have had the chance to travel the world, backpack across Europe, live as an exchange student in Denmark, and tour most of the country by car, but I always end up back here.
Cotati lies about 45 minutes north of San Francisco. It is surrounded by giant redwoods and world famous wineries. The legendary filming location of Hitchcock's "The Birds" was filmed in Bodega Bay where you can visit the famous schoolhouse and playground where the birds ate the kids. You will also find a rough-and-tumble coastline and an infamous liberal culture that sprang from the 60's.
As an adult, I have always loved bringing people "home." Whether it be my Dad's BBQ or garden, his crazy room of collectibles and unique warm personality like no other created, or my Mom and her heart, her beautiful face and fascination with the lives of others. These two welcomed the Rock the Folk OUT tour with great anticipation. All of our lifelong friends came out and we had a big party afterward, a Cotati party, as you will see in the video.
Sonoma County does not need me to boast about all the reasons to come visit, but I will remind you that there are rare communities as welcoming, aesthetically beautiful and full of opportunity than the hamlets of this area. There are bed and breakfasts on every corner, and wineries at every bend.
Go have a cup of coffee and a Cotati Omelet at Redwood Cafe where as a 17-year-old I lived with my friends smoking cigarettes and spouting new found philosophies, or find yourself in the Cotati park where barefoot legends played before my time, and the students of Sonoma State with their hacky sacks and youthful dreams will surround you as you simply smile. There is peace to be found here.
Jake Walden is on
tour with Rock the Folk Out, sponsored by the parent company of this
website. He'll be submitting updates from his trip. Keep checking back
here.
Click here to learn more about Jake and hear his gorgeous music.
Click here to read a recent interview with Jake on Out.com.
Click here to listen to his tunes on our OutTraveler player.
Story and photos by Jake Walden
We are excited to welcome Jake Walden,
a multi-talented singer/songwriter (who happens to be gay) from
Northern California as a guest blogger. Jake is sending us dispatches
from the 20-city Rock the Folk OUT tour, that he is part of along with artists Stewart Lewis and Tom Goss. This is his sixth post. Click here to read about his adventures in Montana. Click here for Las Vegas. And here for Boulder. Seattle and Portland. Orefonia.
Writing about Cotati, my hometown seems a little redundant. For those who know me, or my work, Cotati is a town synonymous with everything me. I have had the chance to travel the world, backpack across Europe, live as an exchange student in Denmark, and tour most of the country by car, but I always end up back here.
Cotati lies about 45 minutes north of San Francisco. It is surrounded by giant redwoods and world famous wineries. The legendary filming location of Hitchcock's "The Birds" was filmed in Bodega Bay where you can visit the famous schoolhouse and playground where the birds ate the kids. You will also find a rough-and-tumble coastline and an infamous liberal culture that sprang from the 60's.
As an adult, I have always loved bringing people "home." Whether it be my Dad's BBQ or garden, his crazy room of collectibles and unique warm personality like no other created, or my Mom and her heart, her beautiful face and fascination with the lives of others. These two welcomed the Rock the Folk OUT tour with great anticipation. All of our lifelong friends came out and we had a big party afterward, a Cotati party, as you will see in the video.
Sonoma County does not need me to boast about all the reasons to come visit, but I will remind you that there are rare communities as welcoming, aesthetically beautiful and full of opportunity than the hamlets of this area. There are bed and breakfasts on every corner, and wineries at every bend.
Go have a cup of coffee and a Cotati Omelet at Redwood Cafe where as a 17-year-old I lived with my friends smoking cigarettes and spouting new found philosophies, or find yourself in the Cotati park where barefoot legends played before my time, and the students of Sonoma State with their hacky sacks and youthful dreams will surround you as you simply smile. There is peace to be found here.
Jake Walden is on
tour with Rock the Folk Out, sponsored by the parent company of this
website. He'll be submitting updates from his trip. Keep checking back
here.
Click here to learn more about Jake and hear his gorgeous music.
Click here to read a recent interview with Jake on Out.com.
Click here to listen to his tunes on our OutTraveler player.
