WICKED, Sweetened by Psycho Donut
August 14 through September 8
WICKED donut available beginning August 8 

WICKED is returning to San Jose with the local Psycho Donuts company creating a limited edition WICKED donut. How sweet it is! The Broadway sensation WICKED looks at what happened in the Land of Oz, but from a different angle.

Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” With a thrilling score that includes the hits “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good,” WICKED has been hailed by The New York Times as “the defining musical of the decade,” and by Time Magazine as “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage.”

Having recently celebrated its 15th anniversary on Broadway, WICKED is the winner of over 100 international awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards. WICKED has also been performed in over 100 cities in 16 countries around the world and has thus far been translated into six languages. WICKED has been seen by nearly 60 million people worldwide. The production is directed by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello with musical staging by Tony Award-winner Wayne Cilento. Psycho Donuts’ Campbell (2006 Winchester Blvd., Campbell) and Santa Clara (2000 El Camino Real, Santa Clara) locations.

Tickets and Information
800-982-ARTS
ticketmaster.com
broadwaysanjose.com
For more information on Psycho Donuts, visit psychodonuts.com
WICKED donut available at Psycho Donuts’ Campbell and Santa Clara locations
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
255 South Almaden Blvd. in San Jose

Photo courtesy of WICKED

Iris Classes and Open Garden in the Wine Country
August 17 & 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hot days, summer in the city… Time to get away to Sonoma County’s Russian River Rose Company to join Roxie Nall, the resident Iris Expert, who will be there with a shovel in her hand to give a hands-on demonstration on how to dig, groom, and successfully plant irises, the beautiful princesses of the early spring.

Is your Iris patch blooming less and less as the years go by? Then this is a can’t miss class for you. Visit and enjoy the Butterfly Garden where Monarchs, Pipevine, and Tiger swallowtails flit from flower to flower, sipping sweet nectar. Leave your iPads, iPhones, and laptops at home and head for a beautiful, aromatic and delicious weekend experience in California’s wine country paradise–only a one hour drive from the City by the Bay. The souvenirs of the estate’s famous rose water, rose perfume, and rose petal tea are a must! Return on October 19 & 20 for the annual “Russian Tea & Fragrance Festival.” See you there…

Tickets and Information
No reservations needed. $2 donation appreciated.
Special pricing on all newly dug irises from the estate’s garden collection of over 220 varieties
Hourly raffle drawings for free plants
707-433-7455
russian-river-rose.com
The Russian River Rose Company
1685 Magnolia Drive in Healdsburg

Photo courtesy of Mikala Kennan

The 39 Steps
August 21 to September 15, 2019

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley continues its 50th Anniversary Season with the Olivier Award-winning comedy The 39 Steps, a 2019 Tony Award Winner! An uproarious high-speed spoof follows four fearless actors playing over 100 roles. The 39 Steps, London’s best new comedy, is based on the book by John Buckan and adapted by Patrick Barlow from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock.

Mingling mystery and laughter, this irresistible Broadway smash hurtles a notorious fugitive and a spellbound blonde from a raucous London music hall to Scotland’s most remote highlands and a den of devious spies. Along the way it creates trains, planes, moors, and more in a wildly funny flight to the heights of theatrical invention. Directed by Leslie Martinson, The 39 Steps stars Lance Gardner, Cassidy Brown, Ron Campbell, and Annie Abrams. With a mysteriously murdered agent, a crazy plot to destroy England, and a race against the clock to stop it, this brilliantly funny show is a tribute to the master’s greatest films. Who knew Alfred Hitchcock was so funny?

Tickets and Information
650-463-1960
theatreworks.org
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
500 Castro Street in Mountain View

Photo courtesy of TheatreWorks

Playing Ping Pong and Much More in San Francisco

After spending my teen years playing ping pong every day, I was thrilled to learn about Spin SF, a ping pong player’s dream location in San Francisco. Whether you’re an amateur or play competitively, this SoMa destination features a restaurant with lounge seating, full bar and ping pong courts, including two on the renovated outdoor patio with customized LED lighting, a TV and temperature-controlled ceilings and doors.

More of a spectator? Gather to watch some of the epic ping pong matches with your friends every Friday. Join at the center court for communal games, view championship ping pong matches, and challenge the SPIN pros for your chance at victory. Don’t miss the eats and drinks, like the Smoked Duck Goose Sliders ($21) and house fries washed down with the Topspin, a gin-based cocktail with grapefruit, lemon and bitters. This is truly a ping pong player’s fantasy land.

Information
Open from noon daily
415-636-5995
Wearespin.com
Spin SF
690 Folsom Street in San Francisco

Photo courtesy of Spin SF

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.