San Francisco Ballet Opening Night Gala and Don Quixote

Gala January 23 with ballet performance at 8 p.m.; Don Quixote January 25 through February 3

 

With the theme of “This is Passion,” the San Francisco Ballet is announcing the opening of its 2019 Repertory Season with the annual spectacular gala celebrating the artistry and expressiveness of SF Ballet, where the passion for dance and the selection of programs, scenery, music, and costumes is a visual delight not to be missed. Hosted by the hard-working magicians of the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary, the gala begins with a cocktail reception and dinner at San Francisco City Hall, followed by a performance by the SF Ballet at the historic War Memorial Opera House. Guests will return to City Hall for a glamorous after-party featuring desserts, music, and dancing. This is definitely the highlight of the grandest black-tie events in the city. Did you purchase your gown yet? Hurry…Proceeds benefit artistic initiatives, including new works, scholarships, and community education programs.

Don Quixote

Pure fun for all ages. With sparkling wit, exuberant artistry and characters, stunning costumes, scenery, and show-stopping dancing, Don Quixote is the stylish rom-com of classical ballet—and an audience favorite. Staged by Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov, Don Quixote, with sets and costumes designed by Tony Award-winner Martin Pakledinaz, features a lively cast of characters from the Miguel de Cervantes novel—and some of ballet’s most technically demanding dances to the magnificent music by Composer Ludwig Minkus. Don’t miss the appearance of a donkey and a horse – live on stage!

 

Tickets and Information
415-865-2000
sfballet.org
War Memorial Opera House
301 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco

 

Photos courtesy of SF Ballet

 

 

 

Russian Old New Year Celebration

Saturday, January 12th at 7 p.m; Sunday, January 13th at 1 p.m.

 

The Magical Jazz Night is this year’s repertoire for a very special Russian New Year celebration with U.S. cellist Ian Maksin at the helm of joyous festivities. Described as one of the most versatile and innovative musicians of the modern era, Maksin, who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and began his career as a musician at the age of six at the renowned Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory for gifted children. At seventeen, Ian moved to the United States to attend the Manhattan School of Music in New Your City and later became the principal cellist for the New World Symphony. His musical journey has taken him to performances with Mstislav Rostropovitch, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, P. Diddy, and Snoop Dogg, among others. Ian Maksin will perform blues, rock, jazz, and world music with DJ White Cloud as he entertains and inaugurates your New Year on a happy note. The theme of the evening is 3Ds: Dancing, Dining, and Drinking. The Russians really know how to celebrate! Join the party to catch up with your old friends and make new friends and remember: there is no need to be Russian to have a great time.

 

 

Tickets and Information
Prices range from $20 to $30
Russian Center of San Francisco
2450 Sutter Street in San Francisco

 

Photo courtesy of Ian Maksin

Tickets: https://ianmaksinsf.eventbrite.com

 

 

Temptation at the Fair: Exploring Food on Treasure Island 

January 26 at 10:30 a.m.

 

Little Island. Big Ideas. It was 80 years ago when the Golden Gate International Exposition offered a taste of California’s bounty: San Francisco’s specialties and exotic world cuisines. With prohibition repealed, local beer and wine flowed, and the latest food technologies were showcased. Come see what was cookin’ and how it influenced how we look at food today. Speakers: Pam Elder and Erica J. Peters, culinary historians of Northern California, will present a fascinating and delicious lecture at the Treasure Island Museum’s iconic Building One. The Treasure Island Museum lecture series on the past, present, and future are free and are presented on Saturday mornings at the architecturally stunning setting which provides an engaging museum experience. It also holds the memories of the Golden Gate International Exposition held in 1939 and 1940. For the past forty years, the Treasure Island Museum has been the steward for Treasure Island’s legacy. Only a 20 minute drive from downtown San Francisco, this is a must-visit man-made island in the middle of the Bay with breathtaking views and very rich history.

 

Information
415-413-8462
treasureislandmuseum.org
Treasure Island Museum
One Avenue of the Palms in San Francisco
Free Parking

 

Photo by Lina Broydo

 

 

It’s Time to Visit the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps

The holiday season of overindulging in too much food, wine, and relaxation is over. Time to lace up your new holiday gift of sneakers and start counting the stairs to heaven… well almost. Hundreds of secret stairways carve their way around the city’s hills and my favorite are the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps located on Moraga Street between 15th and 16th streets in the city’s Sunset district. The cheerful and colorful mosaic-tiled staircase emblazoned with doves, dragonflies, flowers, the sun, the moon, and hummingbirds will make your running (or as in my case, walking) much more enjoyable. When reaching the top, take a photo of your achievement in order to inspire your friends to join you in this healthy and fun activity. Happy and Healthy New Year! The 16^th Avenue Tiled Steps were created as a community project lead by directors, Jessie Audette and Alice Yee Xavier who commissioned artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher to create this uniquely attractive art work. The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps project began in 2003 and its opening day was on August 27, 2005.  San Francisco dedicated this day as the “16th Avenue Tiled Steps Day.”

 

Photo courtesy of SanFranLifestyle

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.