The McCune Collection Presents the Spring 2016 Lecture Series

Sunday March 20th, 2pm
Frances Dinkelspiel
Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California.

On October 12, 2005, a massive fire broke out in the Wines Central wine warehouse in Vallejo, California. Within hours, the flames had destroyed 4.5 million bottles of California's finest wine worth more than $250 million, making it the largest destruction of wine in history.

“The eight-alarm fire devastated the 240,000-square-foot Wines Central, LLC facility and caused an estimated $10 million in structural damage with a loss estimated in the tens of millions in stored products. Hardest hit will be local, small, high-end niche wineries, one victim said.” — Vallejo Times-Herald Newspaper excerpt, Oct. 14, 2005

Join us for an intriguing afternoon with award-winning journalist and author Frances Dinkelspiel as she talks about the investigation and back story that led to the writing of Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California. A fifth-generation Californian born in San Francisco, the author lives in Berkeley with her husband Gary Wayne.

Find more at: Frances Dinkelspiel


Sunday April 17, 2pm
Jim Kern
The History of the History of Vallejo

Authors, Historians, and Storytellers have preserved and shared the history of Vallejo and Mare Island from the mid-1800s up to the 21st century. Learn more about the authors who have written about Vallejo and Vallejoans over the years. How have their perspectives changed? Are there still new stories waiting to be told? Join local historian Jim Kern for a look at the many different versions of the history of Vallejo and Mare Island.

Find more at: Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum


Sunday June 5, 2pm
Magical Moonshine Theatre presents
Chanticleer the Rooster

Magical Moonshine's newest addition to the Canterbury Collection is Chaucer's Canterbury tale about a rooster who is caught by the flattering fox...but foxes can be fooled as well. Assisting the beloved Chanticleer is a wise ant, as well as the pig, sheep, goat, dog, hen and farmer. Medieval costumes and live, ancient music (including a version of "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" from 1710!) make for a delightful and interactive family program. This production is inspired by the Kelmscott Chaucer from the McCune Art and Rare Book Collection, who are sponsors of the project.

Find more at: Magical Moonshine Theatre

Back to Top