August, can you believe it Tomatoes?  In case you still want to do a little travel, we found newly renovated tiny homes in Marin on the water at Dillon Beach Resort. GOOP and Ministry of Scent have new stores to peruse for your shopping pleasures. EVITA, a compilation of Karen Carpenter songs give us are coming to feed our love of song. Jerry Garcia Day is almost upon us and we found a solution for when you need a last minute mani – I mean who remembers to schedule ahead? Oh, maybe that’s just me.  Enjoy August and the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

Dillon Beach Resort

This beautiful resort sits on 55 coastal acres on the Marin-Sonoma County Line, between the mouth of Tomales and the entrance to Bodega Bay. Views of the magnificent Point Reyes National Seashore at Tomales Point can be enjoyed from any vantage point on the property, which features almost a mile of private beach. The historic inn was built in the late 1800s and has only changed hands three times in over 130 years – most recently into the care of a small group of Marin County families dedicated to breathing new life and love into this special place to eat, play + stay. The team has preserved the easygoing vibe of the retreat’s early days, while spiffing up the amenities and adding 13 new tiny homes to the existing 14 cottages clustered on the hillside.

Stay in the new tiny homes, designed to be fully functional and intentional. The 150-square-foot studios have floor-to-ceiling windows that make you feel as if you’re in the middle of the ocean, while fully stocked kitchens boast vintage-style appliances, gas ranges, and the necessary accoutrements for fresh pour-overs of Equator coffee. There are also pull-down murphy beds and concrete sinks in the bathrooms.

The resort’s other lodging options vary in size with some, like the two-bedroom cottages on the bluff closest to the beach, being ample enough for families and groups. These 1940s army bunkers still have some cool original features, but each has been updated with the same vintage beach-chic vibes. Coastal Kitchen is onsite a General Store provides you with the basics and a coffee shop ensure you don’t need to leave the property! Dillon Beach Resort .

Oct. 28. Ina is Coming

Ina is coming, but not until October. Knowing the popularity of our favorite Tomato Chef, tickets will sell faster than Ina’s signature roast chicken. I In Fall 2024 Ina Garten will publish her long-awaited memoir Be Ready When the Luck Happens  and for the first time Ina Garten will present an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey, sharing her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table. Ina Garten is the author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, a beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon, with millions of followers in the US and abroad. She is the host of Be My Guest and Barefoot Contessa on Food Network and Max. She will be in conversation at the San Francisco Memorial Opera House on Monday October 28^th at 7:30 p.m. [INA GARTEN TICKETS]

Aug. 17. The Music of Karen Carpenter

Karen Carpenter’s lilting voice was the soundtrack of our youth. San Francisco’s 42^nd St. Moon presents Laurie Roldan Sings a Song For you. This cabaret concert is inspired by the music of Karen Carpenter and there are only two chances to tap your feet and let your memories soar. The concert is a benefit for 42^nd St. Moon theatre, a theatrical organization that honors the past, present and future of musical theatre. This small theatre needs your support, and this is a wonderful way to help them. Saturday August 17^th at 7 and Sunday August 25^th at 3 p.m. 42nd St. Moon

EVITA Now at the San Francisco Playhouse

Calling all tomatoes who love the music from this Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice iconic musical about one of the most powerful women in Latin America, Eva Peron. The Tony-award winning musical charts young and ambitious Peron’s meteoric rise from poor illegitimate child to the powerhouse she is known for. In part through the lens of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, Evita recounts the incredible story of Argentina’s matriarch as she rallies the heart of a nation to bring about a new era in Argentine history. Right on Eva – let’s hear it for tomatoes who make a difference.  See this show at an at San Francisco Playhouse now through September 7^th. [EVITA]

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

It wouldn’t be summer without Shakespeare in a park – so head to Berkeley and watch Inferno Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Wear your best hippie threads, pack your picnic basket, bring the whole family, and immerse yourself in this enchanted world of music, movement, and magic. The actors will lead you on a marvelous romp, filled with Shakespearean verse, compelling physical theater, fantasy, and amazing creatures.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a play about love. (just to refresh your memory). Four young lovers run into the forest pursuing each other, bewitched by a spell cast by the fairy, Puck.  Both young men fall in love with the same girl until Puck reverses the spell and the two couples happily marry.

Now through August 11^th. Free Performances begin at 4pm in John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre, 41 Somerset Place, Berkeley, CA. The amphitheater will open at 3pm for picnicking. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Get Same Day Salon Appointments

Never pull your hair out again while trying to find and book a same-day appointment to tame those curls or paint your toes. San Francisco startup and online platform Salon Tonight makes it quick and easy with its proprietary software that aggregates tons of Bay Area salons and spas.

Founder Lana Bowen, a former SF hairstylist and salon owner, was moved to create what she calls the “Kayak for beauty” after years of listening to clients’ frustrations: “We got calls and texts daily from people looking for last-minute appointments. Many were calling 10-plus salons trying to find an appointment and then, ultimately, gave up because of how much time it took,” she says.

Indeed, ST’s streamlined process is as simple as choosing a location and desired service for that day or the next and, voila: A list of salons populates with appointment availability and essential info like open times slots, price and Yelp rating.  salontonight.com

Ministry of Scents

It may be jewel-box sized but Ministry of Scent’s new Pacific Heights shop feel like you are stepping into a Parisian boutique.  Known for its selection of not-found-everywhere niche fragrance brands, the retailer’s new boutique is truly stunning and chockablock with seductive scents and museum-worthy bottles. If you are looking to find “your” perfect scent the knowledgeable salespeople will help steer your nose in the right direction. Located on Fillmore Street, Sometimes referred to as San Francisco’s “Fragrance Row”, this scent filled store fits right in with the other perfume brands down the street, Diptique, Byredo, Le Labo and Aesop. ministryofscent.com

Head to the Goop Brick and Mortar Store

Shopping all goodies Goop, locally, is now a thing. Gwyneth Paltrow’s famous brand just flung open the doors to its richly decorated sixth permanent brick-and-mortar in Larkspur’s Marin Country Mart. Along with the full range of Goop beauty products and a curated selection of G. Label by Goop clothing, a collection of pretty little things (jewelry, homewares, wellness) beckon from luxurious oak shelving and displays.

Goop ya later. goop.com

Jerry Day

The Grateful Dead’s iconic bearded lead singer Jerry Garcia had deep roots in San Francisco, having spent his childhood in the Excelsior. After his death, the first “Jerry Day” was held in 2002 to raise money to fix a rundown playground, and an annual music celebration was born. For the festival’s 22nd anniversary, you will hear more than six hours of jams and tributes at the amphitheater in McLaren Park that now bears his name. And just like the Dead’s concerts never seemed to end, from 7-10 p.m. the festival leaves the park, spilling into the neighborhood for 11 different after parties, concerts and art installations gracing store-front windows and parklets.   August 3^rd, Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre McLaren Park. 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.