As much as I love the theater, it is rare to go to a production and say afterwards, "I'd not only like to see that again, I'd like to take my husband, as well as Carolyn & Randy, Fred & Terely, Frank & Barbara, my folks ..." If you love Cuban Jazz music, dancing and if you live in or anywhere within a two-hour driving radius of San Francisco, The Mambo Kings is a must see. You have only until June 19th and then the show heads to Broadway.

Heck, I loved The Mambo Kings, the musical almost as much as I Love Lucy. This Oscar Hijuelos & Arne Glimcher adaptation of Hijuelos' Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was so good I'd buy stock in this production which officially opens today, Tuesday, May 31st.

In so doing, I'd secure four seats at The Golden Gate Theater from now until June 19th, in order to make sure that every one of my friends who loves Cuban Jazz gets the pleasure of this sensual, intoxicating and very funny show.

The Mambo Kings the musical is an extraordinary lens into Latin love, lust, longing, laughter and living large.

On November 2, 2004, America voted. It is official that President Bush will have four more years in The White House. So, what can disheartened, defeated Democrats do to lick their wounds? One outlet that will have you laughing hysterically takes place eight times a week in San Francisco. The place is called Club Fugazi. And the outlet is called "Beach Blanket Babylon."

Whether you're a tourist visiting San Francisco or a resident of the city, Steve Silver's Production, now in its 30th year, is as strong as it was on December 31st, 1986, the first time I saw the longest-running hit musical revue in theater history.

November 11th 2004's performance was as good as 1986's, and probably as good as 1974's performance when Silver first launched his production.

The signature, offbeat hats and costumes alone are worth the price of admission ($25-$75). The 33-foot-tall San Francisco skyline headdress has become world-renowned.

The political humor, especially for despairing Democrats, won't change history. But if laughter is the best medicine, there's no better place to lick your wounds than by watching and listening to Matt Alber, Curt Branom, Val Diamond, Renee Lubin, Doug Magpiong, Stirland Martin, Kenny Mazlow, Christy McIntosh, Tim McManus, Jennifer Moore, Jenny Moore, Phillip Percy Williams and The Beach Blanket Babylon Band.