Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay 

Can you smell it? Fall is in the air along with the delicious aromas created by our fabulous restaurants to celebrate Eat Drink SF. The De Young introduces a very cool new program and exhibit. Who among us wishes heels were more comfortable? ME, read on to see how one Silicon Valley Techie solved the problem. You all know I love a good dance performance, class and film, and now we (I) can indulge that love of twirling with the Dance Film Fest. Listen in to this week’s fascinating podcast—improve your vision without surgery.

Listen in to this Week’s Podcast

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Judy Chicago’s Forever de Young

Put tomorrow’s plans on hold and head to Golden Gate Park to experience Judy Chicago’s Forever de Young. Forever de Young is the artist’s largest public performance to date and is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Judy Chicago: A Retrospective at the de Young museum. Forever de Young takes place directly in front of the museum.

The performance employs media that mixes with the wind and the light to create spectacular color effects. The materials employed are used in film, photography, and theatre productions, and contain non-toxic color pigments that will be released into the air temporarily and will then disappear. Forever de Young is free and open to the public.

The performance will take place in front of the main entrance to the de Young museum, at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. In preparation for the performance that takes place at 5 p.m. the de Young museum will close at 4 pm. Deyoung.famsf.org

Two Awesome Food Events

Curated by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, two simultaneous events offer us the chance to explore our San Francisco food scheme through both indoor and outdoor dining, featuring prix fixe menus, chef collaborations, cocktail events and ticketed experiences. A few stand out events include:

Winner Winner Fried Chicken Dinner – A Menu of Wayfare Tavern Favorites

Dig into the flavors of San Francisco with a night of classic dishes in Wayfare Tavern’s heated outdoor parklet. Featuring their signature fried chicken, handcrafted cocktails, and more. Oct. 22, with two seatings (5:30-7 p.m. and 8-9 p.m.) at Wayfare Tavern.

Escape to Greece at Chef Michael Mina’s newest concept at his iconic 252 California Street flagship location, Estiatorio Ornos, . Enjoy a three-course lunch and welcome cocktail as Chef Mina, alongside partners chefs specializing in Greek cuisine take guests on a tour of the Greek islands with delectable fresh fish, beloved Mediterranean specialties, and genuine Greek hospitality. Oct. 24, 12-2 p.m. at Estiatorio Ornos.

SF Restaurant Week

In addition to the big events it is also Restaurant week –  a fabulous opportunity to try some of the places on your “must dine” list for a great price. This is a city-wide tradition where establishments can offer prix fixe menus at lunch and dinner at several price points: Lunch (2+ Courses): $10, $15, $25 | Dinner (3+ Courses): $25, $40, $60

Participating restaurants and bars joining San Francisco Restaurant Week for the first time include Wilder, Westwood, Quik Dog by Trick Dog, Luna and La Mejor Bakery. Returning favorites include E&O Kitchen and Bar, La Cocina Municipal Marketplace, Mr. Tipple’s, Fiorella, and Violet’s.

Highlights include a three-course dinner show experience at Asia SF for $40, a four-course dinner at Matterhorn for $40 with sweet and savory fondue taking center stage, and a lunch menu of agua fresca and the consumer’s choice of super burrito at El Taco Loco for $15. More info: www.eatdrink-sf.com

Handmade in Italy

Yes, they’re comfortable—and handmade in Italy. Off to a good start. Launched this summer by Erika Carrero, Elizée is a gorgeous, curated collection of pumps, sandals, and booties with exquisite detailing. The former Silicon Valley tech CFO ditched the boardroom to focus on creating sky-high heels. However, she didn’t give up her reliance on stellar engineers; in this case, they were responsible for providing the all-day comfort.

The brand’s secret weapon is its plush contour insole. Developed with podiatrists, it combines layers of memory foam and gel cushioning that reduces pressure in the forefoot, absorbs impact, and provides major comfort and stability. Each style is handcrafted of Italian leather in a family-run artisanal factory outside of Milan. Time to “step” out of our comfort zone. Pricey but comfort is key, eh? Particularly if you have a wedding or big event coming up! Prices range from $400 to $600.  elizeeshoes.com.

12th annual San Francisco Dance Film Festival

The 12th annual San Francisco Dance Film Festival is upon us. We have been fortunate to experience years of films portraying dance in so many ways. This October starting today through 10/24 you can see virtual and live performances across the city.

Ones that are stand outs include:

Coppelia – A modern fairytale, told without words, Coppelia is a visually opulent adventure that blends live action ballet with charming animation. Tomorrow at the Cowell Theatre in Fort Mason.

Feature films include AILEY – about the great visionary dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, and NATYAM, a story of a woman dedicated to the craft of ballet since the age of 6, in the Bollywood style.

http://www.sfdancefilmfest.org

Can You See Us Now? and the sequel Can You Hear Us Now? are written by Cheryl Benton (aka “the head tomato). Available on Amazon and booksellers everywhere.