Lollapalooza Chicago

Forget about cleaning, organizing your closets or sorting your junk drawers–at least for a week–and enjoy the summer festival fix in the comfort of your own home. Relive incredible past performances without getting on a plane, train or even in your car. With over 170 live performances over four glorious days, Lollapalooza Chicago is one of the biggest festivals in North America overtaking the city’s gorgeous Grant Park. Well, this year’s festival will be a deja vu journey into the past performances since 2003. Known for introducing the highlights of breakthrough music, the festival will open up its archives by giving you the opportunity to dance, sway and sing along right in your living room or on your home’s terrace with only birds, squirrels and rabbits as your backyard audience. Wear your shorts, PJs or other comfortable attire and have fun with Lolla.

Information
Lollapalooza.com

Photo courtesy of Lollapalooza Chicago

International Ocean Film Festival (IOFF)

With the festival indefinitely postponed, the organizers of the International Ocean Film Festival (IOFF) are offering a unique opportunity for us to watch virtual highlights of their award-winning films right in the comfort of our homes. Spectators who are fascinated by the beauty of life in the ocean and who support the mission to save the oceans are in for a special treat courtesy of IOFF. Guiding us on an international exploration of our oceans and its inhabitants, the films will dive into the remote stalls of French Polynesia, explore the rich marine ecosystems of the Galapagos, and meet the killer whales in the chilling waters of the remote Arctic. By raising awareness around the world, the films showcase more sustainable solutions and conservation efforts to the forefront and ensure a healthier planet for generations to come. These films are definitely for the entire family to watch and especially for young kids: our future generation of preserving beautiful and healthy oceans.

Information
intloceanfilmfest.org

Photo courtesy of IOFF

lone some Art Festival

Now through July 31, 2020

“Are you lonely tonight?” Little did Elvis Presley know how lonely your life can be during isolation. Definitely worth a song. Throughout June and July, the Montalvo Arts Center will present artworks around the Bay Area for viewing on billboards and bus shelters in a new public exhibition entitled lone some. In association with its 2019-2020 programming initiative, SOCIAL: Rethinking Loneliness Together, Montalvo will transform traditional advertising and commerce medium spaces into catalysts for conversation and connection. Seeking to inspire and provoke questions about what it means to experience loneliness, local and national artists and poets were commissioned to create works for presentation on billboards and bus shelters in the East Bay, San Francisco, and the South Bay. Artworks will be featured on billboards located in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and East San Jose, and on bus shelters throughout the Peninsula from San Bruno to Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, and Santa Clara. Art definitely talks…

Information
montalvoarts.org

Photo courtesy of Montalvo Arts Center

Blooming Festival at the Botanical Garden in San Francisco

The Garden is open! Finally, it’s time to stop and smell the flowers. Savor the beauty of one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in California and enjoy the freedom of escaping your home’s cocoon. The San Francisco Botanical Garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, showcasing over 9,000 different kinds of plants from around the world. The management recommends advance ticket reservations to reduce wait times, monitor crowd size, and ensure enough space for social distancing. The Garden remains free to all San Francisco residents and Garden members. They also continue to offer free admission every morning to everyone from 7:30am to 9:00am – a fantastic time for bird-watching. The second Tuesday of the month is also free to everyone. Commemorate 80 years of service by the Botanical Garden to the community and the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park – known as Everybody’s Park.

Information
415-661-1314
sfbg.org
Botanical Garden of San Francisco

Photos courtesy of BGSF

Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England, she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, with no borsch or piroshky on her home cooking menu. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out, mostly sushi.