Boy, it’s hot in LA this week, Tomatoes, but not to worry because the South Coast Botanic Garden is open to the public with evening hours. You can get the skinny on DJ Waldie’s latest book, “Becoming Los Angeles”, with Vromen’s Bookstore Virtual Event. If you are in desperate need of some humor and belly laughs, “The Shindig Show” has you covered. “East Coast Vibes on a West Coast Beach” gives you a breath of the East Coast air. The Improv Theatre is live streaming improvised one acts. Many of Broadway’s greatest stars are performing in a Zoom benefit for the Actors Fund. And listen into this week’s Happy Hour Podcast, “Taking Charge of Your Health.”

South Coast Botanic Garden

Tomatoes, you can add the “South Coast Botanic Garden”, aka the jewel of the peninsula in Palos Verdes, to your list of serene and safe outings that have evening hours. If you are in need of an early morning or evening stroll while it is blazing hot during the day, this is a spectacular garden to visit, Tomatoes.

The mission of South Coast Botanic Garden is to serve the community by providing a unique horticultural and wildlife habitat experience, and to represent a model of excellence for land reclamation and sustainability. 

South Coast Botanic Garden is one of the world’s first botanical gardens to be developed over a sanitary landfill. The Garden is a masterpiece of creative land reclamation and environment improvement for all to share. It is a testimonial to the fact that land reclamation not only offers a practical solution to refuse disposal problems, but also beautifies and improves land values at the same time. The South Coast Botanic Garden is now on my list of gardens to visit, Tomatoes.

You know the maxim, knowledge is power? Well when it comes to our health, knowledge and information we can trust, is so important if you want to take charge of your health. Listen in to our conversation with Beth Battaglino, the CEO of HealthyWomen, the premiere online source on women’s health, about taking care of yourself in midlife and beyond, and how to handle your health and wellness during this pandemic. Listen in here.

Aug. 25. Becoming Los Angeles

How does Angelenos see themselves and their city? In his latest book, “Becoming Los Angeles,” cultural historian, memoirist, and translator, DJ Waldie, will be discussing that question, his exploration of our city, how the city’s image was constructed and how it fostered amnesia about its conflicted past. Sounds fascinating, Tomatoes. And a valuable opportunity to learn more about the complexities of LA’s history.

The live virtual event is hosted by Vroman’s Bookstore, Southern California’s Oldest and Largest Independent Bookstore.  Waldie’s work focuses on the history of suburbanization and its cultural effects. He has published five non-fiction books, each dealing with different aspects of everyday life. Holy Land: A Suburban Memoir, Real City: Downtown Los Angeles Inside/Out, Where We Are Now: Notes from Los Angeles, and Close to Home: An American. Becoming Los Angeles is ultimately a book about learning how to fall in love with wherever it is you are. As far as I’m concerned, the majority of LA Tomatoes love Los Angeles, including myself.

Aug. 22. The Shindig Show

A funny cast of characters, including fellow Tomato and friend the marvelous Rosalee Mayeux, will be bring lots of laughs to you in the comfort of your home during the “Shindig Show on Zoom” tomorrow.  London Brown , from HBO’s Ballers, will be the headliner. Woo Hoo!

The Shindig Show, brought to you by the amazing LA based comedian and producer Jimmy Shin, is usually seen at The Comedy Store and Hollywood Improv, but with the pandemic the same show is going virtual on Zoom. Some of the funniest rising comedians in Los Angeles have been selected to participate in this Zoom Show and Party.  Doesn’t get any better than that when it comes to comedy Tomatoes!  Get tickets.

Aug. 26. Beach = Culture

Beach = Culture is the brainchild of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs and the Annenberg Community Beach House to provide a year-round series of free events with exhibitions, artist residencies, literary programs and other pop-up arts experiences. Next up, Tomatoes? “East Coast Vibes on a West Coast Beach”.

What a cool idea, Tomatoes. Red Hen Press is partnering with Santa Monica Cultural Affairs and Annenberg Community Beach House for the literary readings for Beach=Culture.  And so, this next week they all will present “East Coast Vibes on a West Coast Beach” with live virtual readings from writers Chelsea Catherine, Melanie Conroy Goldman, Didi Jackson Major Jackson, Patricia Spears Jones and Willie Perdomo. After, the writers will have a conversation about the influence the East Coast plays in their work. 

Aug. 23. August Wilson in August

The popular Impro Theatre delves into the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright’s lasting legacy in a virtual co-production with Collaborative Artists Bloc. The ensemble takes audience suggestions then performs two completely improvised one-act plays inspired by Wilson’s work.  I’ll say it again, Tomatoes…completely improvised! Wow!

Visit the site and meet the cast and get the free link to watch, Tomatoes! And you might find other presentations to watch.  Impro Theatre is an ensemble of actor/writer/performers that create theatre. The Impro Theatre School teaches actors and writers storytelling and performance skills. The theatre’s students include actors, writers, directors as well as non-professionals looking to expand their ability to communicate and create.

Aug. 31. “The Theatre Will Survive” featuring Broadway Stars

A virtual ZOOM fundraiser for the Actors Fund, “The Theatre Will Survive,” features many of Broadway’s greatest voices on video. The brainchild of lyricist Michael Colby and composer/orchestrator Ned Paul Ginsburg. With special permission from Actors Equity Association, many of the illustrious performers from the video will appear live to follow up and chat with the creatives and answer your questions on a special Zoom presentation:

Christine Andreas, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Christina Bianco, Chuck Cooper, Robert Cuccioli, Marc De la Cruz, George Dvorsky, Anita Gillette, Jason Graae, Ann Harada, Leah Hocking, Richard Jay-Alexander, Judy Kaye, Jeff Keller, Eddie Korbich, Michael McCormick, N’Kenge, Barry Pearl, Gabriella Pizzolo, Stephanie Pope, Faith Prince, Courtney Reed, T. Oliver Reid, Steve Rosen, Jennifer Sanchez, Analise Scarpaci, Tony Sheldon, Ryan Silverman and Paulo Szot.

This virtual Zoom fundraiser will support the amazing work of The Actors Fund at this vital time and is available for all to join MONDAY, AUGUST 31 at 7 pm EST.  You can be there with all the creatives and many performers for Q & A and chat. Participants will receive a ZOOM link once registered here.

Donations Can Be Made to The Actors Fund here: actorsfund.org/TTWS