Happy Easter and Happy (end of) Passover. I do enjoy a good egg hunt and a good matzo! And yes, I realize there is a religious component to these holidays, but sadly that sometimes takes a back seat. So let’s celebrate the joy of spring. If you are not on a tropical island during your “Spring Break”, don’t worry there are a multitude of things to do right here! San Francisco is abundant with festivals and fun. The annual Union Street Easter Parade and Spring Festival is tomorrow, and if you haven’t been, get there early and stay all day, so much to do! Goatchella returns to the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market, SPAMALOT delights audiences in Palo Alto and The Walt Disney Museum exhibits the art of Andreas Deja – animator extraordinaire. Celebrate Spring in our own backyard tomatoes!

Easter Parade

Oh tomatoes, root through your closet for that old Easter Bonnet, or head to Michael’s to embellish one and strut in your Easter Finery on Sunday. I loved the movie with Judy Garland and every year as a wee child I looked forward to putting on my new Easter outfit complete with white Mary jams and straw hat!  If you haven’t been to the Easter Parade and Spring Celebration on Union Street, it is a beautiful sight to behold. With great humor, the bonnets are worn in wonderful, wacky, or elegant ways.

Past parades have featured roller blading butterflies, self-propelled mini-floats, elegant ladies and classic cars. Bonnets are judged between 11:00 and 1:30 and categories have featured, Best Family, Best Pet, Most Elegant, Largest hat (take your cue from Beach Blanket Babylon), Most Comical and of course Best in Show. A great opportunity to sample some local Union Street restaurants and perhaps pick up a new bauble or two from the many jewelry vendors. Hooray for spring.  Check it out here.

April 28 – May 14. Spamalot

Fans of Monty Python and his quest for the Holy Grail will chuckle and chortle at this lovingly ripped off musical theater production. 2005 Tony award winning show arrives at the end of the month to spread laughter and cheer throughout the kingdom.

As gleefully silly yet wickedly smart as Monty Python, the beloved British comedy troupe that inspired it, SPAMALOT tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. You’ll enjoy some mostly handsome Knights, a bevy of beautiful showgirls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people, before the familiar sound of clomping coconut shells brings down the curtain on the season’s goofiest, if satirically dead-on, comic delights. The Palo Alto Players has the finest community theater actors stomping and singing their way across the stage.  Get your tickets here.

Goatchella

CUESA’s 9th annual Goat Festival (Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture) heads to the Ferry Building tomorrow. Do you love your goat cheese? This is the place for you. More than just that one savory delight, this is a celebration of all things goat. There are goat-centric cooking demos, talks and lots and lots of samples. Particularly great for those allergic to cow’s milk.

Here you will discover and taste ice creams, yogurts and more. You will meet local ranchers, and food crafters and just ogle those baby goats. No charge for goat therapy. Warning – cuteness overload may occur.

You might want to bring your recyclable bags, as the farmer’s market will be overflowing with bountiful spring harvests. Goat info here.

Now – Oct. 4. Deja View

Beauty and the Beast has taken the theaters by storm; those Disney people sure know what they are doing. Here is your chance to see works by the accomplished Disney animator Andreas Deja – creator of that square jawed, pumped up and devilishly handsome Gaston amongst others. You are probably aware that we have our own Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio, and on view now is an exhibition of original works from Deja.

The exhibit showcases works on paper and maquettes (small scale models and rough drafts) of his most iconic characters including Scar, Jafar and Hercules. Deja is known for independent projects as well including his upcoming film Mushka. The film—featuring a young girl and her tiger in “a story of love and sacrifice set in Russia”—is animated in a colored pencil style. Deja View showcases Deja’s prolific and wide-ranging career, bridging the rich tradition of classic hand-drawn animation with animation’s innovative future. Get more information.