Happy weekend, Santa Rosa! In today’s edition: AI-built home from Cosmic Buildings, Amy’s Drive-Thru closure, a Dave & Buster’s scavenger hunt, and more.

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

AI-built homes take shape: San Francisco’s Cosmic Buildings is building a Santa Rosa home using robotic factory tech in the 2017 Tubbs Fire burn area. Almost a third is done for a fire-resistant house — see how the approach works.

Popular chain’s next move: Rohnert Park’s original Amy’s Drive-Thru will close March 8 as the company shifts focus to organic frozen foods for retail, while its other locations are expected to stay open — read the full story.

Pitch in behind the scenes: Sonoma County groups are seeking volunteers, including Santa Rosa’s CASA office advocates and Forgotten Felines helpers. Ages 16+ can work 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and alternating Thursdays — learn how you can help.

Affordable housing community update: Bethlehem Tower residents have returned home after the New Year’s Eve fire in Santa Rosa, with no injuries reported, though the 12th floor unit remains uninhabitable and cause is undetermined — get all the details.

New arcade experience arrives: Dave & Buster’s will mark its Jan. 26 opening at Santa Rosa Plaza with a weeklong citywide scavenger hunt. Look for two clues posted daily on its website. Each day’s winner gets a prize, a gift card, and an invite to a private celebration. Get all the scavenger hunt details.

Upgrade your brow game: Skip the daily pencil and let Faces by Morgan shape natural-looking arches with microblading or machine-method brows, plus smart fixes for faded brow tattoos. Appointment-only and low-fuss, so your brows still look like you… just more polished.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🤝 MLK Day of Service @ MLK Park | Monday (1/19) at 9:00 AM – Make it a day on, not a day off, at a neighborhood clean-up in MLK Park. We’ll pick up litter, spread mulch, and pretend we like weeding, with tools and light refreshments provided, rain or shine. Bring family, neighbors, and your sturdy shoes.

🎨 Paint Your Pet @ Victory House | Monday (1/19) at 6:00 PM – If your camera roll is 90 percent your pet, put it to use at the Trophy Room at Victory House. Email a face photo after you sign up, the artist hand-sketches your 11-by-14 canvas, and you just paint in acrylics, sip, and gloat.

🍳 Kids in the Kitchen @ Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma | Wednesday (1/21) at 4:00 PM – After-school win alert. Kids in the Kitchen lets your mini chefs knead challah, roll sushi, and fry up falafel, all kosher, all fun at Chabad on Keller. Three Wednesdays, $35 for the series, they bring home the goods, you pretend it’s dinner. RSVP: www.JewishPetaluma.com/Kitchen

📜 Dusty Artifact or Window Into the Past: Writing Poems on Petaluma History @ Petaluma Historical Library & Museum | Wednesday (1/21) at 5:30 PM – Think you know Petaluma? Prepare to be surprised in a workshop where Sonoma County Poet Laureate Dave Seter teams with Stacey Atchley for a museum tour, then you write poems or short prose about overlooked artifacts. No experience needed, curiosity, a pen, and limited spots.

🎤 Michelle Lambert @ Adobe Road Winery | Thursday (1/22) at 4:30 PM – If your week needs tuning, head to Adobe Road Winery for Michelle Lambert, the pop powerhouse who’s gone coast to coast and still finds time for downtown Petaluma. Settle into a warm room, award-winning wines by the glass or bottle, and reserve on Tock.

🥀 Romeo and Juliet @ 6th Street Playhouse | Friday (1/23) – Swap your Nextdoor feud for Verona’s original family drama with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed teens, whispered vows, and consequences that spiral faster than a group text, all wrapped in gorgeous language. Make it a grown-up night out, then argue about blame over dessert.

🐖 Half Hog Demo – Butchery Class @ Sonoma County Meat Co. | Friday (1/23) at 3:30 PM – Less TikTok, more knives. Watch a pro break down a half hog behind the scenes at a USDA inspected butcher shop, get your questions answered, and learn your ribeye from your shank. Small, reservation-only class, you leave with real skills, and SOCO swag.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Santa Rosa report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 66°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 0%

Mostly sunny. High near 66, with temperatures falling to around 61 in the afternoon. East southeast wind around 3 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. East northeast wind around 3 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 66°F – Low: 42°F – Precip: 0%

Partly sunny, with a high near 66. East northeast wind around 2 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Most popular house this week

At 5866 Sailing Hawk Ave, more than 3,700 square feet deliver grand scale with curated luxury. Built by Christopherson, the home opens with a dramatic wrought-iron staircase. A remodeled chef’s kitchen brings custom cabinetry, stone, and solid, uncoated brass hardware. Formal living and dining flow to a relaxed family room with one of two fireplaces. Expansive windows capture hill and parkland views, and a southwest deck is set for sunsets, with plans for accordion doors.

Upstairs, a generous landing, reading nook, and open loft add flexibility. The primary suite has a spa bath and walk-in, two junior suites are ensuite. Designer updates and Tesla solar included. Top-rated schools, shopping, dining, and Trione-Annadel nearby.

Take a peek inside →

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