Tomatoes – check out this flashback, not that far, to the 90’s at a new interactive museum in Oakland. Love those Instagram pix of long dining tables set in a glorious surrounding? You can journey to wine country and enjoy your own farm to table experience, read on! Pride month comes to a close with perhaps the biggest celebration nationwide – San Francisco flies the rainbow flag with events beyond compare. And head out musical inspiration as the SF Symphony brings us unique musical pairings this summer – you will be inspired!

The 90’s

Jack London Square welcomes 90’s Experience—a multiroom interactive museum celebrating all things 90’s—making its debut on the Oakland waterfront in July. This 6,000 square foot immersive experience pays homage to the greatest hits of the 1990’s, bringing back everything from music, fashion, food, and pop culture.

On colorful display are 12 installations that utilize all five senses, including the transition from digital to analog, delectable smelling life-size markers, (my kids loved those!) a deep dive into Saturday morning cereal, and more! Guests are invited to take photos in front of some of the most nostalgic 90’s backdrops while seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and hearing what made this decade iconic. http://www.experiencethe90s.com

Upcoming SF Symphony Events

Join the SF Symphony on July 19^th for a journey to the far reaches of the universe as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing! Experience a spectrum of cosmic wonders enhanced with stunning visuals on the big screen, from mesmerizing masterworks by Ravel, R. Strauss, and Debussy, to intergalactic themes from Star Trek, to riveting blockbuster scores by legendary film composer John Williams. It’s an otherworldly musical ride you won’t want to miss. 

Leslie Odom, Jr.’s sensational performance as Aaron Burr in the original cast of Broadway’s hit musical Hamilton launched him to international acclaim and earned him the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album as a principal vocalist. In his first performance with the SF Symphony on July 20^th, Leslie Odom, Jr. takes center stage at Davies Symphony Hall in a summer concert you won’t want to miss!

San Francisco Pride

San Francisco Pride is something we can all get behind, no matter your sexual orientation. Always the city of acceptance, celebrating with the biggest parade around, the month celebrating LGBTQ awareness comes to a close this weekend. SF Pride is a non profit organization that aims to educate the world about gender equality. This year’s theme, Generations of Resistance, is not only a nod to the 50th commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, but also to those at Compton’s Cafeteria who stood up against police brutality in 1966.

The parade takes place Sunday at 10:30 along Market Street. Expect thousands of people if you plan to go. There are main stage performers and speakers who will move and inspire you including Kristin Beck, a retired US Navy Seal and transgender activist and Mayor London Breed. Be prepared to witness the hilarity of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, clap loudly at an international Cher impersonator and be entertained by music and dance performances. This is an important part of our city and we should be proud of SF! www.sfpride.org

Farm-To-Table Vineyard Events

Not going to France this summer? Head straight to the wine country and experience Imagery Estate’s French Connection Wine Dinner. The soirée will feature a caricature artist and live French music from an accordion and guitar duo, while the family-style dinner will consist of grilled peaches, bistro filet with bacon marmalade and wild mushrooms, lemon-herb risotto cake, grilled vegetables, and dessert, all paired with a diverse selection of red and white wines. Guaranteed to transport you right to the streets of Montmartre and Le Marais. 

Kendall Jackson’s notoriously gorgeous estate gardens are the backdrop to their monthly Farm-to-Table Dinners($175/person) held through October—and of course the gardens supply many of the ingredients as well. Each event will have a different themed menu highlighting local purveyors, such as Costarella Seafoods (July 13) and Liberty Duck from Sonoma County Poultry (Aug. 10). Look out for a completely vegetarian meal on September 14th. The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres and wine, followed by a seated, family-style dinner, and later, dessert in the tasting room. Wine will be flowing all night long, carefully paired with each course.

Robert Mondavi is always looking for fun ways to bring guests into their famed To Kalon estate vineyard, so every Thursday through October, there’s a hands-on Garden to Table Dinner ($160/person) on offer—a great excuse for a long Wine Country weekend. You’ll begin with a walking tour of the winery gardens to harvest ingredients for the meal, and then move into the kitchen to begin prep side-by-side with winery chef Jeff Mosher. The tour finishes with a peek at the winery facilities and, finally, you’ll settle in among the vines for a three-course dinner with wine pairings. You even get an apron and a recipe to take home.