Happy Mom’s Day weekend Tomatoes! We found a few local gift ideas if you are still shopping, or just bookmark them for future gifting. We’re practically jumping up and down for joy over the blossoming number of live shows and events coming right around the corner. Virtual offerings are still hanging in strong, and you will love Anne Lamott online thanks to Book Passage. Ready to head out into the world?  SMUIN ballet and Palo Alto Players are ready to entertain. And with outdoor mask orders expected to be lifted shortly, we’re also breathing sighs of relief. The weather is beautiful so get out and (safely) enjoy yourselves.

Local Mom’s Day Gifts

Aromatherapy, it’s a thing.

Even if you aren’t a perfume wearer, or Mom has her own scent, local Indie artisanal perfumer L’Aromatica can help you find the perfect scent. L’Aromatica is a Latina-owned and operated artisan fragrance company based right here in Northern California. They offer small-batch, non-gendered fragrances. Each perfume tells a story, whether it was inspired by a flower, dessert, liquor, season, place or person. They offer discovery sets so you can try a wee bit before committing. And oh are they luscious! laromaticaperfurme.com

Diamonds for all.

Obviously, diamonds are a mom’s best friend. And at Curio Diamonds you can gift one for you and one for a friend or Mom or daughter. All items are under $60 and yes the sparklers are real, just grown in a lab. Check them out, you will love the shine. www.curiodiamonds.com

Event with Anne Lamont

I know I am making a broad statement, but who doesn’t love Anne Lamott? She is an inspired and inspiring local author (and New York Times bestseller) whose words are moving and authentic. And now Book Passage is offering a workshop with her in which she will share everything she knows about writing, and some of what she’s learned about life during COVID college. She’ll discuss how to get started if you are an aspiring writer, and she will discuss the hidden blessings of our year in quarantine. The workshop will also include plenty of time for questions, on everything from getting published, to getting your hope and faith in life back. Not just for aspiring writers, but don’t we all have a book inside of us? Saturday May 15^th 1 p.m. PT, Tickets are $75.

Theatre and Dance

Virtual and live performances are going strong to keep us entertained and help us get out of pandemic fatigue. From 42^nd Street Moon’s Billie Holiday virtual musical, to Palo Alto Player’s live performance of TEA FOR THREE and SMUIN Ballet’s outdoor performances, let’s get out and support the arts.

Lady Day

42^nd Street Moon is presenting the legendary Billie Holiday musical, LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL, virtually May 8 – 30^th. In an intimate format, we will get the opportunity for an in depth view of Billie’s triumphs and the life struggles that she endured. Doris Bumpus, a dynamo and well known Bay Area performer, portrays the spirit and strength of Billie Holiday and her inescapable experience as a black woman in American History. Holiday was one of the most influential jazz singers of our time. This show features some of her most famous songs and interlaced with stories of her life, Lady Day tells her story of racism, abuse, and addiction – all for the chance to sing. 42ndstmoon.org/moonbeams.

Tea for Three

Palo Alto Player’s outdoor staged production of TEA FOR THREE: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty runs for 12 in-person performances May 12-23. This play offers an intimate look at life in the White House for three First Ladies: Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, and Betty Ford. Artistic Director Patrick Klein notes “These three powerful women played massive roles in their relationships with both their husbands and their country. They used their privilege to advocate and push for social justice in a time when women’s voices often weren’t heard.” I’ll be attending next week but wanted to get the word out to you all as seating is very limited to allow for social distancing. Tickets are $40. http://www.paplayers.org

May 14-28. SMUIN al fresco

SMUIN ballet welcomes the sunshine and spring with this live (and streamed) show featuring excerpts from well known Smuin ballets, along with several new works choreographed and performed by eight company artists. Smuin al Fresco will take place at a variety of venues in the Bay Area. Taking all precautions, they want us to know that for Smuin al Fresco at Cal Shakes and Center for Dance, all attendees over 12 years old must present proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test result within 72 hours of the event. Masks will be required. Smuin Center for Dance is located at 1830 17th St, San Francisco. The outdoor performances are in the Center for the Book parking lot behind the building. You will enter on Rhode Island at 16th St. https://www.smuinballet.org/

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