Oh tomatoes, do I have a treat for you!  “Waist Watchers the Musical” – guaranteed to help you laugh off a few pounds.  After you do that you can head to Fort Mason to grab a few of the calories you deleted at a festival celebrating our best food and drink. Not enough for you? Head to SOMA and check out America’s first baguette vending machine. My personal favorite is an annual fashion-show benefit featuring fashions from the St. Vincent De Paul Society of San Mateo (produced by yours truly!) Laughter, food and fashion, is there anything better?

Waist Watchers The Musical

OMG, so LOL funny. This rollicking celebration of women and weight is set in Cook’s Women’s Gym. 4 women sing and “step” their way into your hearts as they regale tales of food, friendship, love, life and sex. The energy, vocal quality and upbeat tunes make this an evening you will long remember. Set to music we all know, with just a slight variation on words (as you can imagine), this 90-minute fiesta for your soul will leave you breathless from laughter. Yes, indeed you will burn calories as you sit in your seat!

Playing now in Walnut Creek and in September in San Jose. Get your laugh on here.

Aug. 25-28. Eat, Drink SF

This is not your typical Food Festival. Yes, it celebrates the Bay Area’s world-class chefs and restaurants, and as you know we LOVE our food – considering our city the gastronomic center of the universe of course. Over four days you can taste your way through hundreds of booths offering every type of food you can imagine. You can purchase a ticket for all four days or buy for specific events.

The kick off this year is Taco Knockdown on Thursday the 25th at 6:30. A dozen chefs battle for the “taco” title. Guests try and judge and vote for the winner. Entries include unusual tacos, such as Hawaiian Smoked Brisket in Wonton and duck confit mole taco. This is just one of the variety of events you will encounter at this food orgy.  Get tickets to fill your belly.

Baguettes For Sale

Welcome to the future tomatoes. If you are in dire need of a baguette at any moment, head to SOMA where you can get a fresh baguette in a vending machine. The French company (of course) Le Bread Express, brought the machine to us via Paris – where there are 100 locations. The French are “the baker” experts, so you can be sure this is tasty and fresh.

The scoop is that a bakery in Burlingame preps and partially bakes the dough. It is loaded into the machine which has a built-in fridge and oven. Then they are baked throughout the day. Worst case your baguette is a mere 2 days old. You pay via credit, or apple pay ($4.25) Once you order, your crunchy bread is ready in about 20 seconds. Then you take your warm baguette, tear off a piece and yum. Located at The Myriad marked (2175 Market St.). Coming soon to Stonestown and maybe your area if you put in a request. Check this out.

August 30. Catherine Center Fashion Show

This event is near and dear to my heart as I am producing it for the 3rd year in a row. Catherine Center is a restorative justice program nestled under The St. Vincent De Paul Society of San Mateo County.  CC is a residential living center for previously incarcerated women. The women apply to join this healing community and while in residence (fully funded via private donations and SVDP), they are given opportunities to grow via unique programs along with more traditional methods. Yoga, meditation and yes, a Fashion Show, are part of their experience. CC helps to break the rate of recidivism while assisting these women as they integrate into society as the lovely people they are.

The Fashion Show is their one fund-raiser and these women are so authentic as they take to the runway. I guarantee that you will be moved as you witness them in transformation.

Fashions are all provided by the SVDP thrift stores of San Mateo County. Tuesday August 30th from 5:30 – 7:30 at Trinity Church in Menlo Park – 330 Ravenswood Ave.

Purchase Tickets here.