Theatre lovers rejoice, or anyone who wants to get out and enjoy some safe entertainment. Pacifica has it going on! So much Art to see and enjoy, some on the streets, and of course some virtually. Hear from a Holocaust Survivor and listen to an artist talk through the DeYoung. Peninsula tomatoes can now enjoy a drive-in movie in San Mateo. Those of us who are a part of The Three Tomatoes simply love Broadway and live theatre, and there’s a live ZOOM benefit for The Actor’s Fund on August 31^st – join us at “The Theatre will Survive” featuring favorite Broadway stars. And check out this week’s Happy Podcast on Taking Charge of Your Health.

Theater in the Woods

Pacifica Spindrift Players has it figured out. They are offering a series of outdoor, socially distanced, live theatrical experiences! Theatre in the Woods is an 8-week series of classic and contemporary staged readings against the backdrop of the beautiful woods of Oddstad Park in Pacifica. Having cancelled their 20–21 season they have created “Together Apart: An Unprecedented Season for an Unprecedented Time.”  

This will feature a mix of outdoor live theatre and streamed performances developed to keep theatre alive while protecting the health and safety of both audience and performers. Theatre in the Woods is this new season’s first production. To prevent transmission of COVID-19, patrons are asked to bring their own seating (chair or blanket), wear a face covering at all times, and maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet from persons outside their household. Coming up this weekend at 5 p.m. Dead Man’s Cell Phone. Future shows include plays by Shakespeare, Chekov, Oscar Wilde, new works and more. Tickets are $15. Pacificaspindriftplayers.org

You know the maxim, knowledge is power? Well when it comes to our health, knowledge and information we can trust, is so important if you want to take charge of your health. Listen in to our conversation with Beth Battaglino, the CEO of HealthyWomen, the premiere online source on women’s health, about taking care of yourself in midlife and beyond, and how to handle your health and wellness during this pandemic. Listen in here.

Dinner and Movie

Last month we told you about the drive-in’s in San Jose and Concord, now add San Mateo to the list of locations where you can safely get out and watch a movie. Grab your saddle shoes and spray your hair into place and pretend it’s the 50’s. Now through the end of October, the beautiful outdoor setting at Poplar Creek in San Mateo offers dinner and a movie every Saturday night.

Doors open at 7:45, with the movie beginning at sundown. Tickets are $30 per vehicle. Guests purchase movie tickets online, dine in the great outdoors or take food to go and eat in their car while enjoying the movie. Outdoor dining options include meals on the patio or a picnic with lawn seating complete with blankets.  This weekend enjoy “50 First Dates” They have some great films coming up! Par3thelodge.com

Art

If you are walking in SF and longing to head into the Asian Art Museum, you can simply stand outside and see Chanel Miller’s mural, “I was, I am, I will be”. The victim of a high-profile sexual assault case and author of the award-winning memoir Know My Name, Miller’s 75-foot art work explores personal healing, reflection, and trauma and can be viewed through the gallery windows from outside of the museum. This is one of several public artworks commissioned by the museum to engage the surrounding community.  asianart.org

Checkout Local Lens, a collection of works by 28 Creativity Explored artists. This exhibition focuses on the artist’s view of their hometown, our city, San Francisco.  Fall in love with a piece? You can purchase some of the works online; view online through September 14th.  raredevice.net

Online Talks

How about a virtual studio visit as you go behind-the-scenes of The de Young Open, a three-part virtual event series. The first features Hung Liu, one of the renowned artists who served as a juror for the upcoming invitational exhibition for Bay Area artists. Liu will be in discussion with exhibition curator Timothy Anglin Burgard regarding the selection process for The de Young Open as well as the narratives of memory, history, and displacement that are prevalent in Liu’s work. Takes place on our favorite online platform ZOOM. August 25^th at 5 p.m. Deyoung.famsf.org

A holocaust child survivor Trudie Strobel, weaves tapestries of Jewish history. On Sunday at 2:00 p.m. hear from this remarkable woman, one of very few alive who was witness to the Holocaust. Stitched & Sewn: The Life-Saving Art of Holocaust Survivor Trudie Strobel is the story of Strobel’s life and work.

Trudie will be present with her biographer, Jody Savin, and the curator of a new series of exhibitions of Trudie’s tapestry work. Suffering from severe depression, due to the trauma of her childhood, a therapist suggested she draw the memories that haunted her. She did, but with needle and thread instead of a pencil. What began as therapy exploded into works of art, from narrative tapestries of Jewish history rendered in exacting detail to portraits of remarkable likeness. Jewishlearning.works

Aug. 31. “The Theatre Will Survive” featuring Broadway Stars

A virtual ZOOM fundraiser for the Actors Fund, “The Theatre Will Survive,” features many of Broadway’s greatest voices on video. The brainchild of lyricist Michael Colby and composer/orchestrator Ned Paul Ginsburg. With special permission from Actors Equity Association, many of the illustrious performers from the video will appear live to follow up and chat with the creatives and answer your questions on a special Zoom presentation.

Christine Andreas, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Christina Bianco, Chuck Cooper, Robert Cuccioli, Marc De la Cruz, George Dvorsky, Anita Gillette, Jason Graae, Ann Harada, Leah Hocking, Richard Jay-Alexander, Judy Kaye, Jeff Keller, Eddie Korbich, Michael McCormick, N’Kenge, Barry Pearl, Gabriella Pizzolo, Stephanie Pope, Faith Prince, Courtney Reed, T. Oliver Reid, Steve Rosen, Jennifer Sanchez, Analise Scarpaci, Tony Sheldon, Ryan Silverman and Paulo Szot.

This virtual Zoom fundraiser will support the amazing work of The Actors Fund at this vital time and is available for all to join MONDAY, AUGUST 31 at 7 pm EST.  You can be there with all the creatives and many performers for Q & A and chat. Participants will receive a ZOOM link once registered here. Donations Can Be Made to The Actors Fund here: actorsfund.org/TTWS

Dining Update

Last week we told you about dining bubbles at Hashiri SF. Due to controversy, they have now been removed.