Happy New Year Tomatoes – I’ll never get tired of saying that in 2021!  May you all enjoy a healthy and safe year as we continue to bring you virtual events!  SF Sketchfest is the virtual comedy event of the year coming up soon. Oakland celebrates restaurant week, smaller than usual, but take out is the new norm.  Book Passage in Marin has some wonderful online events, and Chabot Space & Science Center gives you a chance to escape into the atmosphere through your own computer of course. Are you ready to manifest what you want? Listen in to this week’s Happy Hour Podcast. And if you love books, sign up the 3T’s February Happy Hour Book event.    

Listen in here or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jan. 30. Sketchfest Online

  Sketchfest goes online this year in a massive comedic lineup for FESTPOCALYPSE, an online fundraiser to keep SF Sketchfest in business. SNL’s Cheri Oteri and a smorgasbord of all-star SF Sketchfest alumni come together for one live-streamed show to celebrate 20 years of the festival. With comedy sketches, improvised scenes, game shows, ridiculous debates, musical performances and chats with entertainment icons, the show will feature all NEW performances and appearances from an ever-growing roster of some of the most beloved names in comedy, film and television.  

The show will be streamed live on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 5:00pm PT / 8:00pm ET, and ticket-buyers will have the ability to watch a replay of the event through Monday, February 1st at 11:59pm PT. With tickets starting at a low $20, this virtual event will help raise funds to keep SF Sketchfest, a fiercely independent and locally grown small business, afloat during the ongoing Covid-19 shutdown. Fans can support the festival further by buying various tiered tickets that include a virtual VIP afterparty with select performers from the show and special one-of-a-kind merch and swag items. https://www.sfsketchfest.com/

Oakland Restaurant Week

In 2021, to celebrate the businesses and people that have been nourishing Oakland’s communities, Oakland Restaurant Week gets upgraded to Oakland Restaurant (and More) Week—to promote all the businesses who contribute to Oakland’s culinary fabric. In addition to restaurants, be sure to show some love to Oakland’s breweries, food trucks, cafes, wineries, food trucks, pop-ups, dessert spots, caterers, and more! 

We all need to eat, so maybe take a drive to Oakland if you don’t live in the East Bay and pick up some tasty food to go. If it’s a sunny day, find a park, and have a seat to enjoy the sunshine. Highlights include mac & cheese from Homeroom, the Kebabery and pizza from Forge in Jack London Square. Pro-tip – Jack London Square has public tables where you can get your takeout, check out the yachts and dine, safely of course. http://www.visitoakland.com  

Virtual Book Events at Book Passage

Well-known and well-loved Independent Bookseller, Book Passage has a cornucopia of virtual events just waiting to be enjoyed. Located in Marin, this spectacular book store’s offerings are available to all of us (one of the good things to come from being forced to stay at home). Upcoming classes include –“ Write your best travel Story” With Don George, Tuesdays starting January 19 – Feb. 23rd. Like a graduate school creative writing workshop, participants will conceive, pitch and write an original travel piece of up to 2.500 words.  

Authors sharing their new works and wisdom include Gretchen Rubin and her new book “outer order, Inner calm”on January 12th, Ram Das with his book “Being Ram Das”on the 14th and on January 23rd, Jen Sincero, author of “You Are A Badass” shares her badassery virtually. Many more literary happenings coming up. Let’s support small businesses (can’t emphasize that enough.) http://www.bookpassage.com

Events at Chabot Space and Science Center

Chabot Space and Science Center has some wonderful offerings. Learn what’s going on in the sky. They have a regular event, “What’s happening in the sky this month”. Friday, January 15 7-8 p.m. head to Facebook or YouTube to join Chabot’s astronomers for a short tour of this month’s nighttime sky. Learn to recognize many of this month’s constellations and bright stars, and even learn a little about celestial navigation! The event is free, but donations are always appreciated.

Also, every Saturday from 0 – 10:30 p.m. join their resident astronomers on Facebook live and YouTube. Each week, astronomers guide you through spectacular night sky viewing through Nellie, Chabot‘s most powerful telescope. Weather permitting you will be able to view objects live through the telescopes and astronomers will be available for an open forum for all of your most pressing astronomy questions. Who is Nellie? Nellie is a 36-inch reflector telescope, housed in a rolling roof observatory that allows access to 180 degrees of sky. This modern, research-quality telescope offers breathtaking views of the cosmos.

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