Say “I Do” at the Beautiful Hakone Gardens in Saratoga
From June 5

Great news for someone awaiting to say “I Do” as the gorgeous Hakone Estate and Gardens are ready to bless the newlyweds at their outdoor wedding ceremony. Due to the loosening of the Shelter in Place orders, effective Friday, June 5, 2020, Hakone Estate and Gardens will be able to host small outdoor ceremonies (for 25 guests or less) in their tranquil place of peace and harmony. Catering, including a beautiful wedding cake, can also be arranged. One of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s premier sites and 100 years old, Hakone is one of the oldest Japanese estates, retreats and gardens in the Western Hemisphere. Hakone has also been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2013. Enjoy the 18 acres of magnificent beauty nestled in the verdant hills of Saratoga overlooking Silicon Valley. By order of the Santa Clara County Health Director, all Shelter in Place, COVID-19 prevention, and social distancing policies will be strictly enforced.

Information
Call Events office at (408) 741-4957
hakone.com

Photo courtesy of Hakone Gardens

A Refreshing Escape to Sonoma Valley’s Wine Country
From June 5

With the motto of Retreat, Refresh and Renew, the St. Francis Winery and Vineyards of Santa Rosa are offering their epicurean Estate’s Pairing experience hosted by the Executive Chef Peter Janiak outside on the brand new Vineyard Portico, overlooking Wild Oak Vineyard. Chef Janiak’s unique epicurean style explores the wide range of fresh ingredients found in Sonoma County, creating a remarkable cuisine perfectly catered to the winery’s award-winning wines. Ample spacing has been arranged to allow for physical distancing between different parties and the winery’s staff at all times. Visits to the property will require reservations at this time.

Information
800-650-5437
100 Pythian Road at HWY 12 in Santa Rosa
stfranciswinery.com
St. Francis Winery and Vineyards

Photo courtesy of St. Francis Winery

Virtual Adoption of Pets

The high-tech connection reached the Humane Society of Silicon Valley (HSSV)! Now you can adopt a pet the same way you meet and converse with your coworkers, attend a medical appointment or learn to cook with top chefs–through video conferencing. The nearly century-old animal welfare organization just re-opened its adoption program where you can have Zoom interviews with prospective pets, complete adoption paperwork and pay — all online. Virtual adoption is a five-step process and the online application walks you through it. At the end of this process you can pick up your new pet within 24 hours. Dogs, cats, rabbits and hamsters are waiting to meet you and their new family. I love Kona and Scout, the wonderful additions to our family.

Information
408-262-2133
hssv.org
Humane Society of Silicon Valley

Photo courtesy of HSSV

The Exploratorium Presents the Virtual World Ocean Day
June 8, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

World Oceans Day is a global celebration and part of a growing movement to protect and preserve Earth’s life support system. The Exploratorium’s program will include discussions and films that explore the sights and sounds of the sea and the shoreline of San Francisco Bay. The program, primarily for families and children, will include several segments: “Life in a Drop of Seawater” with Mary Miller, program director in the Exploratorium’s environment group, and micro-marine biologist Anna McGaraghan from UC Santa Cruz; a music video to celebrate the return of the porpoise to the San Francisco Bay with California Director of the National Wildlife Federation Beth Pratt; “Ocean Motion” where Mary Miller and oceanographer John Largier will discuss tides, currents, and waves; and “Ocean Robots to the Rescue,” featuring Sebastien de Halleux, the Chief Operating Officer of Saildrone discussing how ocean-going robots can explore the ocean in ways humans cannot. Since 1969, the Exploratorium’s museum in San Francisco has been home to a renowned collection of exhibits that draw together science, art, and human perception, and that have changed the way science is taught.

Information
(415) 528-4444
www.exploratorium.edu

Photo courtesy of the Exploratorium

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.