Hilary Pecis
-Art - Hilary Pecis: El Verano at Guerrero Gallery
Guerrero Gallery has relocated to a beautiful new space a block from Islais Creek, in the back of Living Green Design, and has inaugurated it with this wonderful show by Hilary Pecis in which she paints her SoCal backyard, the clutter around her house, her neighbor's bunny. Her eye for color and composition is highly satisfying.
-Theater - H.O.M.E. (Hookers on Mars Eventually) at The Strand
Campo Santo and director Sean San José bring their always-welcome spirit of risk and experimentation to this debut play by local Star Finch that takes place both in Oakland and on Mars. Finch expertly builds her world and sets her characters loose in it, and the trio of Lauren Spencer, Britney Frazier, and Michael Wayne Turner III are especially compelling in their roles as family members living on (literally) separate planets.
-Theater - Cabaret at the Golden Gate
50 years after its first Broadway production Cabaret has lost none of its punch and remains painfully current in a time when citizens are yet again being persecuted because of their faith and culture. This sexed-up production (with Randy Harrison as a very saucy Emcee) captures the grit and glamor of pre-WWII Berlin, and also the sense of impending doom. Pair it with a few installments of Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz.
-Theater - "Master Harold" ...and the boys at Aurora
L. Peter Callender and Adrian Roberts are magic on stage together in Athol Fugard's microcosmic tale from apartheid South Africa. Given the time and place you know exactly what turn the action will take, but thanks to the strength of the performances I still caught myself holding my breath at the end.
-Travel - Lodi
This wee friendly gem of a city in the San Joaquin Valley, surrounded by sun-baked vineyards, is a great place to taste unpretentious, award-winning Zinfandels (m2 Wines was a fave), or to stroll down charming School Street downtown (get libations and nibbles at Dancing Fox Winery & Bakery, Brix & Hops, Cheese Central), or to delve into the region's rich history at the exceptional San Joaquin County Historical Museum in Micke Grove Regional Park (said park also includes a peaceful Japanese garden), or to go paddling up the Mokelumne River (Headwaters Kayak will rent you a vessel and launch you from the boathouse on Lodi Lake). Make it the perfect overnight getaway with a stay at Wine & Roses and dinner at their lovely Towne House restaurant. That's what I did.