This is a great time to hop in the car to view Christmas lights, with a thermos of hot cocoa or hot toddies and pretend you are in a Hallmark Movie. Many neighborhoods are awash with twinkling lights and we have a few places that will really light you up.  We also have some spectacular virtual events, locally produced for you. Walks, hikes and visits to outdoor gardens are still available, so take advantage in between our much-needed raindrops. As of this writing, some wineries are open in our surrounding wine country and new winery passes will encourage you to visit, taste and support local. And make sure to listen in to this week’s podcast – it’s all about love, life, and real estate.

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Holiday Lights

When you are in San Francisco the lights decorating many of the Victorians in Pacific Heights will make you feel as if everything is 2019 again. And don’t forget to swing by the Tom and Jerry House.Decorated to the nines with all the Christmas bells and whistles each year by Tom Taylor and Jerome “Jerry” Goldstein, the house is a local holiday tradition. Taylor passed away from cancer this past October, but the quirky show goes on. Do know that the climb up to the house is a steep one, but the fabulously kitschy display is well worth the heart pounding walk. Snap a pic before January 1st.  3650 21st St. (Castro)

Palo Alto’s Christmas Tree Lane has themed houses that will have the little kid in you shining with delight. This neighborhood helps us remember the most wonderful time of the year. Be prepared to drive very slowly through this enchanted street of lights. From 5 – 11 p.m. 1705 Fulton St. Palo Alto. Through December 31^st. https://www.christmastreelane.org/

Candy Cane Lane in Willow Glen has more gloriously decorated homes. Streets are a bit narrow for driving and apparently it gets very crowded, so plan accordingly. 1000 Carolyn Ave, San Jose

Virtual Events

Get in the spirit with Transcendence Theatre’s “Broadway Holiday Online.” Grab a cup of cocoa and light your fireplace, then sing along to holiday hits and performances from years past; 8pm Fridays and 4:30pm Saturdays through December 23. Free tickets on transcendencetheatre.org

Watch the San Francisco Aerial Arts Festival 2020 Video Project. Zaccho Dance Theatre’s project spotlights 16 aerial artists from around the world who together create a collective narrative amidst uncertainty and chaos; stream beginning Saturday. View (free) on zaccho.org

You can still wrap yourself in the magic that is the annual Chanticleer Christmas.This year’s film version of the a cappella show, “From Darkness to Light,” will include a candlelit procession and holiday repertoire including Ave Maria and Oh Jerusalem in the Morning, plus works by Antoine Brumel and Josquin Dez Prez; now through January 1. Purchase tickets ($42 per household) on chanticleer.secure.force.com.

View San Francisco artist Kelly Tunstall’s third solo exhibition with Hashimoto Contemporary, Still, which blends her signature, whimsical creatures with floral imagery and wallpaper-inspired backdrops to reflect her daydreams, experience sheltering in place, and paradoxes of modern communication; through December 26.  hashimotocontemporary.com

Get Out and Stroll 

Explore a new pedestrian trail and seven acres of restored tidal marshland at Quartermaster Reach in the Presidio. The project transformed a paved construction site under the Presidio Parkway into a wetland with a previously buried 850-foot stream and more than 40 different species of salt marsh and dune plants. The best part? The new trail allows you to hike from the East Beach all the way to the southern side of the Presidio via the Tennessee Hollow Watershed; opens today.  presidio.gov

Explore the Ruth Bancroft Garden’s Garden of d’Lights. The enchanting experience features more lights and lasers than ever before spread around 3.5 acres of cacti, succulents, and trees. Wear a mask and rest assured you’ll have plenty of space for social distancing. Timed tickets are available Tuesday through Sunday through January 17th. Tickets ($20/adults, $16/members) on ruthbancroftgarden.org

Winery Passes

Keep Napa and Sonoma Valley thriving. Two new passports are available that will give you access to complimentary tastings and more.

Purchase a Calistoga Winter in the Wineries Passport. You’ll receive complimentary wine tastings at 15 wineries including Tank Garage Winery, Beringer Vineyards, and Girard Winery, plus complimentary corkage at participating restaurants and discounts at Calistoga lodging, spas, and shops; valid through April 1stPurchase a passport ($60) on visitcalistoga.com.

The Covet pass, ($150) gives you access to wineries in Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Lake county. You have 365 days to redeem your complimentary tastings, pays for itself in just a few visits. Freedom to taste more and perks sweeten the deal as well. For more info.

We will see you in the New Year

Sending Ho! Ho! Ho’s to all of you tomatoes! Although this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations will be different, we wish you peace, joy, laughter and may all of your virtual connections run smoothly! 

We look forward to sharing more offerings from and around the bay when we return on January 8^th.  Thank you for sticking with us this year as we navigated from bringing you in person events to virtual everything. May your (our) 2021 be filled with great health, hugs and visits to our favorite friends, events and locations!  If you find yourself with downtime would love for you to catch up on past Three Tomatoes Happy Hour Podcasts and my own podcast, Ignite Your Spark. Both can be found on any podcast platform!

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