SF LIFE: Festivals Galore, Lily Tomlin, Game of Throne Lovers
Oh my! This is the weekend that officially says Bye, Bye summer! But, never fear tomatoes, you know better than to pack away shorts and sandals as we head into the heat of September! Meanwhile there are festivals in abundance to celebrate the long weekend. Once again something for everyone, Scottish, Greek and Art Lovers rejoice this weekend. Peak2Peak returns with a challenging 12- mile urban adventure. Fabulously funny tomato Lily Tomlin is a coming to Berkeley, and Game of Thrones lovers should head to Levi Stadium….a tease right? And please DO continue to wear white!
Labor Day Weekend Festivals
Once again something for everyone, Scottish, Greek and Art Lovers rejoice this weekend.
Scottish Games
Scottish lassies and lads will love the annual Scottish Highlands Gathering and Games taking place this weekend in Pleasanton at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. First launched in 1866, this historical event has grown to become one of the largest fests of its kind in the States. Think bagpipes, delightful kilts, Celtic Rock and heavy athletics. Watch as the strongest of strong compete in throwing the caber (a long section of tree trunk), the putting of the stone (shot put) and more incredible weight bearing feats. Oh and yes, the competitors will be wearing kilts! Enjoy watching the kilted mile, and yes once more kilts are required. There will be dancing and drumming and the ever enchanting Clydesdales trotting. Scottish whiskey tasting a must! www.thescottishgames.com
Belmont Greek Festival
Feta Cheese, spanakopita, gyros and dolmathes. Ok, so this festival is worth going to taste all the deliciousness of the Greek Isles, easily accessible in Belmont. Live performances, traditional folk dancing and vendors round out this festival of treats. Get the details.
Sausalito Art Festival!
Calling all tomatoes to the Sausalito Art Festival! For years I avoided what I thought would be out of control crowds with too little art and too much fried food. However, attending this event last year changed my mind. The art is spectacular, the food delicious and the music; yes music is lively and danceable. George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic will be performing as will Jesse Colin Young among others. Under the Sausalito sun while sipping wine or beer you can browse the art booths that feature of fiber art, painting and sculptures – all juried and not a tacky velvet painting in sight. The caliber and energy of this event truly transforms our seaside village into a hub of art and community. Oh, and pro tip – take the ferry and buy tickets ahead of time! http://www.sausalitoartfestival.org
Sept. 8. Peak2Peak
My fellow adventurers, I invite you to join me and probably 200 other hikers on the annual Peak2Peak one-of-a-kind all-day urban trek across San Francisco. This fundraiser whose proceeds go directly to make San Francisco a safer and more enjoyable city to walk, sells out every year. It’s a day of exploring and discovering hidden gems in SF.
The route winds through historical, architectural and natural landscapes, along sidewalks, secret stairways and paths. This 6-hour trek includes snacks and lunch and guarantees stunning vista views! September 8th 8:30 – 5:30. Start at Duboce Park and finish on the Embarcadero. www.walksf.com
Sept. 8. Game of Thrones – The Concert
Winter is coming! Even if you are not familiar with the ever popular, somewhat disturbing, yet extremely popular show, I’m sure you have heard the music or the character’s names bandied about. I admit to never watching an episode, but I do know the music. The composer, Ramin Djwadi is coming to the SAP center in San Jose to conduct a live concert experience featuring the music of the iconic show.
More than just a symphonic concert, special effects highlighting the musicians and lighting that compliments each musical experience awes the worldwide audiences. This musical tour is meant to bridge the gap between seasons 7 and 8 of the series. For you who are fans, word has it that he won’t even be writing the music for Season 8 until his tour concludes next month and it appears that Spring of 2019 will have fans once more glued to their watching devices. For tickets: www.sapcenter.com
Sept. 20. Lily Tomlin at Berkeley
“The Road to Success is always under construction.” Just one of Lily Tomlin’s memorable quips. This fab lady is coming to Zellerbach hall at Berkeley on September 20th. You can join the incomparable tomato and more than a dozen of her timeless characters for a hilarious trip down memory lane. Surely you remember Edith Anne and Ernestine from her “Laugh in” Days. I smile just thinking about that.
Now she will dazzle us with comical insights and wildly witty observations about the human condition. I love how she has consistently been a presence through all of her ages and stages. She’s won many notable awards for her work on stage, in the recording studio and of course on our screens. Grace and Frankie is my new favorite show as I have reached “a certain age”. She deserves kudos and more applause for being an example of aging with grace. An avid philanthropist as well, a portion of the proceeds from the show goes to support One Fair Wage. Get tickets.
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.
