As we barrel head first into the New Year, perhaps one of your resolutions was to get out and get informed. We always have great places to go, fascinating people who open our eyes and intriguing art, not to mention shows that make us guffaw. Fran Lebowitz is going to be in conversation at Berkeley Rep next month, entertaining and enlightening – get tickets now. Menopause the Musical is now playing in San Jose – can anyone relate? The music of the 80’s and 90’s will have you hopping in your leg warmers at The Mountain Winery, and the San Jose Quilt Museum brings us amazing art with fabric. Here we go 2018 – we got this!

Feb. 2-4. Fran Lebowitz at Berkley Rep

Fran Lebowitz is giving us three off the cuff conversations. This Tomato who is a style icon and one of the most intriguing and insightful social commentators today will be talking on Literature, Politics & Money and on Nostalgia, Warhol, New York, Art & Culture.

She is kind of the purveyor of urban cool and you may recall she was once named one of the year’s most stylish women by Vanity Fair. Fran’s insights and experiences are sure to convey her thoughts with her well known acerbic wit. She is forthright, irascible and unapologetically opinionated. And that’s what makes for an intriguing evening. Get the details at www.berkeleyrep.org

Now – Jan. 21. MENOPAUSE The MUSICAL

If you haven’t yet been there, or if you have been through it or are suffering now, you will laugh out loud at this musical celebrating(?) the change. The show seen by millions of women nationwide now comes alive at the Hammer Theatre Center in San Jose. If you can call the change “joyful” you will revel in this parody that tells the tale of four ladies with nothing in common except a certain black lace bra. They meet by chance at a lingerie sale in a department store and end up poking fun at their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges.

With classic tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s moving the action along, these diverse women create a sisterhood as they realize that menopause is a shared experience. I’ve seen it and believe me, you will love it. Giggles can be had now through January 21. http://www.menopausethemusical.com

Thursdays on the Moutain

The Mountain Winery has tapped into the decade of scrunchies, perms and leg warmers At Thursdays On The Mountain. You can dress up in your favorite fashions of the ’80s and ’90s, get your groove on and join the fun on the Mountain! Each month they host era-specific dance jams (mostly for tomatoes like us!) At these monthly evenings, you can enjoy dancing to era-specific music and partake in award-winning Estate wine tasting, classic cocktails and tasty bites at the lovely Mountain Winery in Saratoga. The ticket includes entry, entertainment, games and parking.

The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

This is just the place to go when you are fed up with the winter rains or if you love textiles, the creative process or unique exhibits. You may have a vision of quilts from your Grandmother’s beds, but this is so much more. I never realized how innovative the artists who work with materials can be. The ever-changing exhibits will have you coming back time and again.

Coming right up next week is A Geographical Journey: The Paul J. Smith Textile Collection. He is the Director Emeritus of the Museum of Arts and Design in NYC and he will also be delivering a talk on January 29^th leading us on a journey of the last 100 years of American Fiber Art. Also arriving on January 19^th is an exhibit titled Talismanic Tresses Award winning British textile artist and designer, Vien Le Wood is the founder of Gold Spink Studio, a fashion embellishment concept house based in Brooklyn, New York. Vien’s exhibition, Talismanic Tresses is based on her view of human hair which she believes acts as a conductor to our higher consciousness and intuition. Without a Net is yet another fabric art installment by Santa Cruz based fabric sculptor Susan Else who pushes the boundaries of the studio art quilt movement by integrating sound, light and motors with colorful, stitched figures. Her solo exhibit explores the theatrical awe and dark underbelly of the circus.  Get more details at http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org