You had us at chocolate, and we look forward to the Chocolate Salon every year. The cherry blossoms are back and you can experience their glory at the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival. We love a bon French Flea Market and we just discovered you can find them in Marin. The annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase is back in town. Northern California artist Tucker Nichols explores the power and meaning of flowers. Head to the vineyard—Napa for Live in the Vineyard Goes Country, and in Sonoma you can experience The Laugh Cellar, where comedians visit local wineries.

April 7. The Chocolate Salon

You too can taste and experience the finest in artisan, gourmet & premium chocolate. Indulge, learn, and purchase from some of the most delectable chocolatiers. Not sure why the bay area has so many chocolate specialists and creators, but we aren’t mad about it. There are panels featuring Master artisan chocolate makers, one with a chocolate and coffee combo creator – yum, and this one with host Joey Garcia. This tomato is celebrating 20+ years as the Sacramento News & Review’s advice columnist. Joey learned about the healing power of chocolate from her Mayan grandmother and is also Fox 40’s TV relationship expert. Can’t think of a better way to while away a Sunday! https://www.sfchocolatesalon.com/

April 13-14 & 20-21. The San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival

Japan Town comes to life with the gorgeous blooms and the delighted visitors. This festival began in 1967 and has turned into one of the largest cherry blossom festivals in the U.S. Of course, there will be an abundance of music, food, and Japanese traditions. Fresh sushi, tempura, teriyaki – oh and delicious Japanese sweets will provide a taste of Japan for everyone. Taiko drummers will be evident, and as they were originally used as a way to ward off evil spirits and pests from harming the crops – come watch and leave feeling refreshed. You will also be able to participate in and learn about traditional tea ceremonies and on the 21^st a beautiful and grand parade will complete the festivities.https://sfcherryblossom.org/

April 14. French Flea Market in Marin

We love a bon French Flea Market and we just discovered that Marin brings the ambiance of these special markets to us the second Sunday of every month. Head to the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael and get ready to browse the over 140 booths of vintage and antique treasures. Enjoy strolling through the aisles of Home and Garden Décor, Vintage and Estate Jewelry, Books, Vintage Shabby Chic, Farmhouse style, art, floor coverings and more. Listen to French Music, grab a tasty crepe, greet your favorite exhibitor with “Bonjour” and go home with a treasure or deux. Next market will be April 14^th. https://www.thefrenchmarketmarin.com/

Now-May 10. The Power and Meaning of Flowers

Northern California artist Tucker Nichols explores the power and meaning of flowers in our culture in the new exhibition, “Somebody’s Cheering Somewhere” at Gallery 16. When the shutdowns began in 2020, Nichols sent small flower paintings to the ill on behalf of their loved ones, eventually sending thousands to those in need. The project, “Flowers for sick people”, helped Nichols stop scrolling and participate in our challenging times. This exhibition of new paintings, drawings, and sculptures, explores the many meanings, feelings and cultural associations flowers can evoke. For anyone who thinks of floral works of art as merely decorative, this will challenge that outlook. 501 3^rd Street. https://gallery16.com/exhibitions.

April 27-May 27. SF Decorator Showcase

Inspiration for design and décor is something we love. The annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase will give us all the inspiration we need later this month. You can visit the mansion at 2892 Broadway on famous “Billionaires Row” in Pacific Heights. This is the 45^th annual showcase benefitting the San Francisco University High School financial aid program. The ticket prices will go towards assisting deserving Bay Area students access to a world-class college prep education.

Twenty-eight of the West Coast’s top interior and landscape design firms will remake 31 spaces in the culturally and historically significant 11,155-square-foot Dutch Colonial mansion boasting five floors of living space with commanding views of the San Francisco Bay and beyond. Featured as the Decorator Showcase venue in 1989 and built in 1899 by renowned architects Walter D. Bliss and Walter Paville (Saint Francis Hotel, James Flood Mansion, Geary Theater) for Walter Bliss’s parents Elizabeth and Duane “D.L.” Bliss, 2898 Broadway stood at the highest echelons of prestige and was the perfect home for the family who built a large fortune in gold mining, lumber, railroads, Lake Tahoe tourism and were significant players in San Francisco society. https://decoratorshowcase.org/

Live in the Vineyard Goes Country

This is the time when the wine country blooms in more ways than one. Music, wine, and food pair together beautifully and LITVGC has quickly become one of the most sought-after tickets across the country as the only private music, food & wine festival of its kind, pairing exclusive access to today’s hottest musicians with Napa Valley’s most revered winemakers and world-renowned chefs during an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime event.

​Celebrating Live In The Vineyard’s 16th Anniversary and the 5th installment of the Country–genre event, LITVGC provides a high-end, luxury experience for a variety of guests who appreciate the art of living well through discovery and exploration. Doesn’t’ that sound like you? If you are a country fan, you will appreciate the music of Scotty McCreery, Rodney Atkins, and Sara Evans as the headliners with many more talented musicians on the docket. https://www.liveinthevineyard.com/

The Laugh Cellar

On the other side of the valley in Sonoma County you can experience The Laugh Cellar, where comedians visit local wineries for an evening of laughter – they are crushers of comedy. This month on April 13^th, Paige Weldon is the featured funny maker at Deerfield Ranch Winery. On May 18^th, Lisa Pedace will be bringing the laughs at Ram’s Gate.

This laughter in the wine country has been bringing joy since 2014, but we just discovered it. The founder is tomato Lisa Pidge, a marketing visionary, fitness enthusiast, life adventurer and so much more. Fun fact for you tomatoes who love pickleball, Lisa is a certified Pickleball Coach! https://www.crushersofcomedy.com/