Memorial Day – a time to remember the men and women who valiantly served in the armed forces. Plenty to enjoy at our Presidio – a beautiful location to provide tribute. Of course Memorial Day also signifies sunshine (we hope), barbecues and white jeans (Just kidding, they are a year round staple). Carnaval is also a Memorial Day celebration in our fair city! Docufest is upon us and 50 plus Indie films will be screened – grab your junior mints.  And let’s celebrate some historical females at performances by The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble as they inspire us with original offerings.  Ready to reboot or advance your career? Read on. Happy Summering tomatoes!

Memorial Day Events

The Presidio is the place to be on Monday to honor the one million Americans killed while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Spend the day honoring these armed forces personnel. Begin with a flag raising ceremony, a parade with veterans, music and then get chills at the formal ceremony where all are honored. The highlight is the 21-Gun Salute at noon. Then head to the main parade ground for a picnic. Should the weather cooperate, it’s a great time to visit the various buildings and outdoor art that surrounds the Presidio.

Always a great way to start your day, and particularly moving on Memorial Day – Beach yoga for you yogis. Baker Beach on Memorial Day at 11 a.m. is the place for a soulful and athletic class to jump start your day. Led by a lovely instructor named Julianne, who founded Outdoor Yoga Sf, she brings the community outdoors to help us enjoy the beauty of our city and feel the grace and power of moving in nature. The class is accompanied by a well-known DJ/dancer/choreographer whose music transports. Headphones are provided so you can listen and tune in. http://www.outdooryogasf.com

Carnaval

Not exactly your typical Memorial Day event – Carnaval – but it is celebrated this weekend with all the glitz and glitter and colorful dancers.  The Grand Parade starts Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Watch a brilliant procession of contingents, most of which will feature beautifully adorned floats depicting rich multicultural themes and featuring performers who engage and entertain the crowds.

The 2–day festival will be held May 25th and May 26th on Harrison Street between 16th and 24th Streets. Delicious global cuisine, international music, dance, arts and crafts, and other fun activities and entertainment can be found on every street corner. The theme of this year’s event is Culture Heals. Carnaval SF – follows the traditions of the many countries represented and believe that culture has the power to heal. We love that the Carnaval organization aims to heal and build support systems for our community through the creation of culturally relevant art, music, dance and dialogue.  http://www.carnavalsanfrancisco.org

Reboot for Your Next Act

If you put your career on pause and are now ready to resume a career, or you’re ready to explore a different career path, you are going to find today’s episode invaluable. Listen in to my terrific conversation with Diane Flynn – one of the cofounders of ReBoot Accel – a Silicon Valley based company that assists women returning to the work force. And see the special offer below. Listen in now.

May 31. Reboot Workshop + Discount Offer

Reboot Accel presents an all day workshop at the Stanford Graduate School of Business May 31st from 8:30 – 3:30 p.m. “Polish your profile and presence and land the Job”. This event is for anyone looking to advance their career, return to the workforce or pivot to a new role, or for solopreneurs who might want to boost their online presence.

Join me as I will be there learning all about how to increase my Linked In profile, how to perfect my 30 second pitch, and even get make-up tips about “aging” skin from Sephora experts.  I’m looking forward to enhancing my personal brand, and to saying I took at class at The Graduate School of Business at Stanford as well. For more info: www.rebootaccel.com  Use Tomato25 for a 25% discount.

Documentary Film  Festival

For the next 16 days, The SF Documentary Film Festival presents true stories from around the world as well as from our Bay Area. They always present the most interesting films. This year the films seem extraordinary – wish they would give this tomato a preview! Films will introduce us to the Bay Area thrash metal scene, and the rise and fall of SKA music in our own backyard. We will get to meet folks having babies, adopting babies and tracking down their birth mothers. Films will take us to Ethiopia, Germany, Finland, India and even Barstow, CA to meet interesting people leading interesting lives.

We’ll learn about folks challenging the cries of “fake news,” fighting for reproductive rights, and against poaching the Earth’s most vulnerable animals. There will be a live comedy show at the Roxie, a Ska Night Double Feature with dancing in the aisles, and an 80s Alt Rock Sing A Long. On top of all that, there’s the return of the Bad Art Gallery party—with a whole new batch of art—and an event called Breakfast Club Bingo, where you follow the film looking for clues on your bingo card and win fabulous prizes. Guess your social life is taken care of! This is one wild ride into non-fiction storytelling. http://www.sfindie.com

June 1-2. Chamber Ensemble

The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble is comprised of 14 talented musicians who communicate with audiences through presentations of old and new chamber music. The ensemble presents two new pieces, Artemisia a new opera by Laura Schwendinger with a libretto by Ginger Strand (Junior Tomatoes!) This opera is one of passion, betrayal and art in 17th century Italy based upon the life of female painter Artemisia Gentilieschi. With projected images that come to life, Schwendinger’s new opera tackles Gentileschi’s struggles and triumphs as she battles inequality and reveals hidden stories.

A second micro-opera will also be presented. From The Field focuses on the art and milieu of Depression Era photographer Dorothea Lange, exploring the lives of migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl. Performances at the uber cool Z Space – 450 Florida St. http://www.leftcoastensemble.org