Happy Mother’s Day Friends!  Whether you are a mum or not, we have all been surrounded by some sort of motherly love and attention whether received from a blood relative or a friend. So why not celebrate the love this weekend with a variety of events and goings on here in the bay area. One of my favorite ballet companies opens its spring season tonight. SMUIN Ballet presents Dance Series Two (the name is not nearly as exciting and exhilarating as the dances and dancers!) Tomorrow all of you Oyster lovers can head to Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park for live music, fresh oysters and other tasty bites.  If you live in the East Bay, a really innovative way of dining connects you to neighbors and home cooked meals. Intriguing right? If you didn’t get any roses, you can view and take in the scents of these beauties at the 75^th Annual Mother’s Day Rose show.

May 6th – June 11. Smuin Ballet

Warning: This is not your typical ballet company. Do not expect the typical tutus and tights you might find in traditional ballet. YOU WILL see spectacular feats of dance artistry performed by dancers who excel in technique, uncommon physicality and expression along with extensive ballet training. These programs are not only entertaining, they are thought provoking, original and evocative. Various locations throughout the Bay Area.

Since 1994 the company founded by Michael Smuin presents original works and commissions world premieres. We are so fortunate to have this company based here. You can attend the opening night dinner this evening and  enjoy conversation with the creative team of the world premiere ballet of Oasis.(Composed by Jeff Beal, award-winning House of Cards composer. If so compelled, (this is a non-profit!) a Fun-raiser evening merging bowling and ballet is happening later this month. Get more info and tickets.

 May 7. Oyster Fest

This may not be your typical “tomato” event, however I LOVE oysters and an entire afternoon filled with the briny taste treat from the sea tickles my taste buds. There will be live music (loud of course) and attendees of all age with one commonality of a love of oysters. Should you be in attendance with someone not an oyster devotee, there will be many other food options provided by San Francisco’s top restaurants. Bonus – the food is fresh, local and sustainably farmed. Don’t you just love our bay area? Head to Goldstar for bargain tickets.

Josephine – An App For Home Cooked Meals

Yup, there’s an app for that!  Here we go, the latest Uber….uber for food. Hello East Bay you lucky folks, you get to use that app, and the rest of us will just sit and wait for them to come to us. Here is the premise.  Potential customers (i.e. Hungry people who don’t want to, or have time to, cook) go online to peruse meals cooked by a group of vetted home cooks on any given day of the week. The cook describes the meal (along with photo) and provides price per plate (approx. $7 – $13). If you want a meal, you click to reserve a plate and charge it to your trusty credit card. Then you get the address, hop over and pick up a delicious home cooked meal.

You can also review your meal once you have managed to inhale the delicious feast. Along with providing nutritious home-cooked meals, the company hopes to empower cooks who might have a difficult time finding their entry position in our ever competitive food world. Really great idea!  Learn more here.

May 8. Mother’s Day Rose Show

I really think this is a great way to spend a portion of Mother’s Day. After the requisite dining (usually brunch), and maybe before or after a hike, a trip to see the 75^th annual rose show should be on the agenda. Who knew? 75 years of beautiful roses exhibited for free.

The San Francisco Rose Society along with the Golden Gate Rose Society present this show because they simply love roses. From May to October the organizations offer interactive programs and lectures, rose garden tours, public displays and monthly rose shows. What a festival for the senses – sight and smell. Get more info.