SF Life: Fashion, Golden Gate, Fests, Flower Piano, Apples
The summer flew by, but you know there are so many things our area has to offer in our beautiful fall. Fashion community week is coming up at the end of the month, so get ready for fall outfit inspo. The Golden Gate Park Golden Mile is truly an experience, and this is the last weekend for this year’s Beer and Wine Garden. Flower piano also returns to the Conservatory of Flowers in the park, such a special treat. Some very popular festivals signal the end of summer, one celebrates its 60th year and one it’s 51st. Apples signify fall, so grab your pals and pick your own, we have the spots.
Sept. 29-30. Fashion Community Week
It’s fashion time. Although SF may not have the designers of Paris, New York, or London, we do put our own spin on things. Fashion Community week is right around the corner and often marries technology with fashion. You have to attend to find out more! This is an organization committed to establishing emerging fashion designers from across the world.
More than just a company that produces shows, the organization offers many opportunities for the growth of emerging fashion businesses including consulting services for fashion designers and startups. They support emerging local and global fashion businesses. Every year Fashion Community Week chooses a non-profit organization to raise awareness by gifting proceeds from the events to benefit the organization. The opening part is on September 29th at The Modernist in Sf. Cocktails, conversation, socializing and of course fab fashion. The Fashion Show itself is on the 30th at the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel and is a wow event that sells out every year. Fashionable fun for all! GET YOUR TICKETS.
The Beer and Wine Garden
Golden Gate Park has it all going on. If you have not yet attended the Beer and Wine Garden at the Golden Gate Park Golden Mile, this weekend is your last opportunity until next year. Live music, food trucks, street art, games and more await. It is open from noon to 7 p.m. at the 14th avenue East Meadow.
The Golden Mile starts by the Conservatory of Flowers and is 1.5 miles full of massive murals painted on the pavement, large-scale public art, three pianos for open play, ping pong, a library, a living room, and more. This was previously one of San Francisco’s most dangerous roads for pedestrians and bikers, the 1.5 mile stretch has now been transformed into an urban oasis bursting with art, music and joy. The mile will still be there after Labor Day, but the beer garden won’t be around again until next summer, so hurry on by to sip and savor the beauty that abounds. https://goldenmileproject.org/#map
Sept. 8-12. Flower Piano
Photo by Travis Lange, courtesy of SF Botanical Garden
While we are in the park, it’s time once again for at the Conservatory of Flowers. Wander, listen and/or dance! The Celebration Garden in the Botanical Garden will be transformed into an experience called the Flower Piano Lounge. In the Lounge, you will enjoy private concerts with access to full-service bar offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages & food makers from Off The Grid.
You can enjoy lounge seating, play lawn games, and then use the expedited entrance to the main Flower Piano Festival when you purchase tickets. Do it early as the lounge has limited capacity. The lounge is a separate space from Flower Piano. All of the events throughout the conservatory are incredible and a full listing of what’s happening and where can be found on the website. Don’t miss it. Truly one of our most incredible offerings in the bay area. https://www.sfbg.org/flowerpiano
Festivals
There are a lot of festivals in the area as you Tomatoes all know. Two coming up are very popular and feature some of the best of the best artists, food and more. This weekend in the Redwoods is the Kings Mountain Art Fair. Let’s just call it the “tomato” of art fairs celebrating its 60th year in 2023. Every Labor Day weekend, a magical transformation occurs in the redwood forest 30 miles south of SF.
Artist booths pop up around the Kings Mountain Fire Station and local beer and wine begin to flow. This is not your average kitschy craft fair. It’s a fine art fair where you can talk to the artists, hang out in a gorgeous forest and enjoy great food and clean fresh air. We recommend going early, breakfast starts at 8 a.m. What a way to start the weekend. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. https://kingsmountainartfair.org/
September 9 – 10. Art And Wine Fest in Mountain View
Each year, this grandmother of an event gets bigger and better. Over 350 of the region’s finest artists and craft makers will be displaying their creations live music, activities and delish food offerings will be there as well. This year there is a collaborative paint temple featuring bay Area artist Richard Art Felix an internationally exhibited and collected mixed-media artist.
At this year’s festival, Felix will bring an all-inclusive collaborative mobile ART TEMPLE experience for festival goers to express themselves in the “thinking and creating” format that he has developed doing hundreds of events around the world. Just one example of the unique offerings you will find. https://www.mvartwine.com/collaborative-paint-temple
Apple Picking Time
Summer is still in our minds and in the weather, but it’s already apple picking time. Want fresh apples? It doesn’t get any fresher than straight from the tree. There are lots of local farms near San Francisco where you can pick your own apples and peak apple-picking season near the Bay Area is typically September and October. But don’t wait – many people who wait until later in the season are disappointed that many varieties have slim pickings. The following apple orchards offer apple picking for free, but you’ll buy what you pick, of course.
Ratzlaff Ranch is located in the rolling hills of Sonoma County, pack a picnic and head to a local, family-run farm focused on apples and pears. Ratzlaff Ranch usually opens the third week in September but check their FB page. Their ranch has picnic tables and ample parking. In addition to apples, you can also take home some of their award-winning crisp apple cider. Apples are golden delicious, gravenstein and roman beauty. https://www.facebook.com/appleadayranch/
Gizdich Ranch is one of the most popular u- pick apple orchards in the bay area. Located in Watsonville. You can pick your favorite fruit of the season right off the tree or vine and then picnic among the apple trees and the hills. Gizdich Ranch’s “Pik-Yor-Self” program allows you to harvest your own strawberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, and apples. Check their site for details. https://www.gizdich-ranch.com/u-pick
Lucky You Orchards is set to open this weekend through November in Ripon, northwest of Modesto. This is a 100+ year old 4th generation organic family farm. Get a real-life harvest experience and walk away with the bounty of the season including organic Early Fujis. Guests of all ages can enjoy a free scenic tractor ride and fresh picked organic apples. Admission to the orchards is free; relax among the trees, munch on delicious organic apples and take a scenic tractor ride all while learning how California Apples are grown on this working farm.https://www.luckyyouorchards.com/
Kim Selby, the SF life editor of The Three Tomatoes, is your gal for info on what’s hot and happening in the beautiful bay area. Having lived on the Left Coast for 27 years, after almost a decade in NYC, she has explored and continues to have adventures all over the San Francisco area. Passionate about fashion, formerly with GLAMOUR magazine and Fashion Director at Saks Fifth Avenue , Palo Alto, Kim produced fashion shows in the bay area for over 20 years. She now creates events to empower, delight and inspire women, aka “Tomatoes”. Learn more about Kim at www.kimduffselby.com
Listen to her podcast, "Ignite Your Spark" wherever you listen to podcasts.
