Yes, tomatoes there is still live theatre. Read on to fine out my experience with Harry Potter! Also coming up – Guys and Dolls, Freestyle Love Supreme, and more. FOG Design and art returns after a long hiatus. And check out an intriguing “who dunnit” evening out. And we have a new insider’s newsletter launching this month – MIAMI.

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

This is one of the most entertaining theatrical experiences I have ever had the opportunity to watch. If you even like the books a little, I highly encourage you to go. I don’t usually give reviews on here, but I just had to tell you that this is a magical performance with actors who are truly stellar. The sets, the effects, the staging – everything works as a finely tuned instrument to give the audience an unparalleled time in the theatre.

Reworked over the past few years to a 3 hour and 15-minute event (from the two day experience pre-Covid), the time flew by. We were on the edge of our seats and entertained every single second. It felt amazing to be in a theatre supporting the arts. You can even order from “the trolley” and snacks, wine or beer will be delivered to your seat. Must be vaccinated and masked of course. Wands not required! Get tickets.

Welcome to Miami

We are excited to introduce you to our new Miami Life Insider’s Guide editor, Lois Whitman Hess. The newsletter will be published weekly and whether you live in Miami or visit from time to time it will chock full of fun things to do in this vibrant city. Read more.

Feb. 4 — 20. Men On Boats

Now playing at the Lucie Stern Theatre this is the tale of ten men, four boats, and two great rivers, told on stage entirely without boats, rivers or men! It’s a twenty-first century telling of nineteenth-century American explorer and one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell, who assembles a brawny band of soldiers, trappers, and adventurers to explore the waterways of the American West.

Inspired by Powell’s actual travel log from 1869, Jaclyn Backhaus nimble and ingenious script is provocative, laugh-out-loud theater, performed by a cast of women who infuse America’s legends of male conquest with a sly blast of subtext.www.paplayers.org

Feb. 11 – 12. Guys and Dolls

A riveting production of this classic 1950 Tony Award winning show comes to San Mateo. Peninsula Ballet Theatre puts high energy dancing to the well-loved music and songs in this oddball romantic comedy. With a brassy and memorable score by Frank Loesser, you (well I) will be humming the songs well after the curtain call.

In this oddball romantic comedy, Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the strait-laced missionary, Sarah Brown. Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong. www.peninsulaballet.org

Jan. 21 – Feb. 13. Freestyle Love Supreme

Chris Sullivan (left), James Monroe Iglehart, Andrew Bancroft, Anthony Veneziale and Utkarsh Ambudkar at a “Freestyle Love Supreme” performance at Greenwich House in New York City. When the show performs at Sydney Goldstein Theater as part of Sketchfest, audiences will find out who’s in the cast only as the show begins.

Created by the unstoppable Lin-Manuel Miranda Freestyle Love Supreme is an improv hip-hop show created by Miranda and his friends. A.C.T. comes back with this seven-person strong improv group who create a brand-new hip-hop show every night. Freestyle Love Supreme asks the audience to suggest topics as the troupe make up a brand-new and unique hip-hop musical on the spot!

And this is cool, when you select your seats, certain tickets will show a variety of prices that you can pay—including a “pay it forward” option. If you choose this level, you support A.C.T. as a nonprofit organization, and help provide subsidized tickets to the community. Act-sf.org

This Weekend. FOG Design+Art

Chris Sullivan (left), James Monroe Iglehart, Andrew Bancroft, Anthony Veneziale and Utkarsh Ambudkar at a “Freestyle Love Supreme” performance at Greenwich House in New York City. When the show performs at Sydney Goldstein Theater as part of Sketchfest, audiences will find out who’s in the cast only as the show begins.

Celebrating today’s most significant creatives and leading contributors to the worlds of design and visual arts, FOG Design+Art returns this weekend, with more than 45 leading international galleries and prominent 20th-century and contemporary design and art dealers.

FOG provides an opportunity to experience works of contemporary art and design by some of today’s most revered artists and designers. Sure, you can purchase, but it’s just as much fun to browse and get inspired. www.fortmason.org

Jan 22 – 30. Art Exhibition, Plus Bar and Food at Pier 70

Bay area artists did not let the pandemic stop them from creating. This weekend and next, we get to celebrate the art and artists that transformed the city into a canvas – giving us light in the dark. City Canvas: A Paint the Void Retrospective is a free exhibit; however, reservations are When San Francisco shut down for COVID shelter-in-place in early 2020, artists created beautiful works throughout the city on boarded up storefronts.

This retrospective will showcase these artists and a selection of their murals – together for the first time in historic Building 12 at Pier 70. This is an emotional collection of art which we can enjoy along with food and drinks and a specially curated background of music. The concept is to gather and celebrate during challenging times. As an exciting addition, the art pop-up Love Letters to SF (presented by Shine On SF) will also be on display. This traveling installation shares over 3,000 responses to the question “What makes San Francisco Shine?” on giant shimmering block letters. Get the details.

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show

America’s LARGEST interactive comedy murder mystery dinner show is now playing in San Francisco. We get to tackle a challenging crime while feasting on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The criminal is lurking somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it!

Each admission includes a fantastic full dinner, murder mystery entertainment, waitstaff gratuity, prize package for Top Sleuth, and much more! thedinnerdetective.com