Did someone say Valentine’s Day? Well, I’m saying it! Happy Valentine’s Day, TODAY, Tomatoes! You can celebrate by immersing yourself in all these romantic events this week. Grand Park will be hopping on Valentines and Pacific Park will be stepping up the romance on the Pier. The Musical Theatre Guild is presenting one of the funniest musicals with fab Tomato performers.And you can celebrate Black History Month and Love at the LA Central Library.The Oscars have come and gone but the crème dele crème of Oscar Costumes can still be enjoyed up close and personal at the FIDM Museum. Speaking of costumes, don’t miss this week’s podcast with Grace and Frankie’s Emmy award winning costume designer, Allyson Fanger. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!  

Feb 14. Lovers Rock

The Valentine’s Day Celebration “Lovers Rock” at Grand Park is FREE and easy Tomatoes. Special music, chosen to enhance the park’s beauty, it’s iconic views and the romance in the air will be playing throughout the evening.  Sounds perfect for a moonlight walk or relaxing under the stars on this special day Tomatoes. 

You can bring your own dinner or enjoy the food trucks. There will be tables around the fountains and through-out Olive Court to accommodate Tomatoes, couples and families. You can also get a small personalized Valentine and mini bouquets will be for sale.  Again, it is free and for all ages.

Feb 14.  Valentine’s Day at Pacific Park on the Pier

Another very special place for Valentine’s Day is Pacific Park. I mean, really…look at that photo, Tomatoes.  Just sitting or strolling on the golden sandy beach in Santa Monica and enjoying the vibrant colors of an LA winter sunset complimenting the unique light on the Pacific Wheel will certainly be delightfully romantic Tomatoes.

They say the beach south of the Pier has the best viewing. But there is more, Tomatoes. Well known LA-based Viola player Daniel Morris will be serenading with his special style all who come to enjoy this magical evening on on the Pacific Park Pier or while flying high on the Pacific Wheel.  And I have two words for you gals. Funnel Cake!

February 16.  It Shoulda Been You

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! For one night only, the hilarious, multiple award nominated Broadway musical “It Shoulda Been You,”will be presented as a staged concert version by the esteemed Musical Theatre Guild at the Alex Theatre.  A super stellar cast includes this Tomato’s fellow Tomato friends, Eileen Barnett, Pam Hamill and a Mr. Tomato, Tom Ashworth. My apologies for name dropping. They are so talented, I’m so proud of them and to know them that I just can’t help myself.  What a wonderful way to spend an evening on Valentine’s Weekend, Tomatoes.

And Tomatoes have got to hear Eileen Barnett and Pam Hamill sing!The bride is Jewish. The groom is Catholic. Her mother Judy Steinberg (Eileen Barnett), is a force of nature. His mother, Georgette Howard (another amazing Tomato, Barbara Carlton Heart), is a tempest in a cocktail shaker. “It Shoulda Been You” invites you to an unforgettable wedding, where anything that can go wrong does and love and music pops up in the most mysterious of places.  The Musical Theatre Guild, a nonprofit membership company of theatrical professionals, is devoted to preserving the unique American art form of musical theatre by presenting seldom-seen musicals, and by offering education for both the current and next generations of musical theatre audiences. Wow! That’s great!

Feb 15.  Love & Basketball at the Central Library

The Central Library Downtown will be screening the film “Love and Basketball” for adults for FREE to celebrate African American Heritage Month and this weekend where hearts and romance are on everyone’s mind.  And there’s even more screenings lined up, Tomatoes.  Woo Hoo!

For teens, adults and seniors, The Mark Twain Branch Library will screen “Get On Up” on the Feb 15 as well as The John Freemont Branch Library will screen the Best Actress Oscar Nominated film “Harriet” on Feb 18. The Los Angeles Public Library has an exciting long list of a variety of African American Heritage Celebrations at the different branch libraries all through the month of February. Be sure to check it out Tomatoes!

Grace and Frankie’s Designer Shares How to Get Their Style + Season 7 Sneak Peek

We are huge fans of Grace and Frankie, the Netflix Show starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and especially their clothes, so we were over the moon to have the chance to interview the show’s Emmy-nominated costume designer Allyson B. Fanger on our Happy Hour Podcast and we have a sneak peek of some of season seven’s clothes. Get the scoop.

Till March 21. The 28^th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design

Boy, oh boy, oh boy… an LA Tradition is back. This year’s “Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibit” at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) features over 100 costumes from 30 2019 films, including the five Academy Award Nominees. I would pay top dollar to see this display because it is so awesome and never disappoints.  I can’t wait to go! And, Tomatoes, this incredible exhibition is…FREE! Wow!

Quite a gift that it is free.  As in the previous 27 years, FIDM has outdone itself again. Oscar nominees Jacqueline Durran (Little Women), Mark Bridges (Joker), Mayes C. Rubeo (JoJo Rabbit), Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson (The Irishman), and Arianne Phillips (Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood) are among the many designers showcased in this annual exhibition. As always, they have brought back last year’s Academy Award winning costumes: “Black Panther”, designed by Ruth Carter – shown alongside her Oscar statuette! Costume design is an integral part of bringing a character to life and making the film memorable and magical. This annual exhibition is the only one of its kind in the world. And FIDM Museum & Galleries has one of the nation’s finest costume collections of more than 15,000 objects, dating from the 18th century to the present. So, there is always lots more to enjoy at FIDM Tomatoes.

Join Me in NYC on May 1 at the Renewal Summit

This all-day event will focus on health, wellness, beauty and more in midlife and beyond. I’ll be moderating a panel on “Women’s Heart Health,” a topic that is very personal to me. We have a block of hotel rooms reserved at a special rate, and if you signup for the event by March 6^th you’ll save $15.