This holiday week includes nonstop celebrations and a lot of eating. This is also the last week to take in glimmering holiday lights.
Burmese Crab Noodle Soup Pop-Up @ Ma's Burmese Kitchen(Courtesy of Ma's)
Monday, December 25th: Christmas Day Dinner @ Villon
When: 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Where: Villon, 1100 Market St. (Civic Center)
Why: Leave dinner up to Jason Franey (Campton Place, Eleven Madison Park, Canlis) to provide a stellar holiday dinner. He'll be cooking up a family-style meal with his delicious everything Hawaiian rolls, roast beef, creamed leeks with horseradish, and a buche de noel to finish. //properhotel.com
Monday, December 25th: Sweaty Asana to Indian Raga Music
When: 6:15pm
Where: Yoga Tree, 97 Collingwood St. (Castro)
Why: Get in some sweaty and soothing sun salutations to burn off holiday feasting—and any stress from excessive family time. There will be Indian Raga-influenced melodies and blues that's orchestrated in real time to the asana. // facebook.com
Monday, December 25th: See All the Holiday Lights
When: Multiple times
Where: Multiple locations
Why: What better way to cap off a Christmas dinner than by taking in all the twinkling, festive lights before they disappear for the year? From a tour through the city in a VW "hippie bus" to Widmer World, a fantastic display of moving and glowing decor sequenced to music, there are endless illuminated delights to take in. // See our full list of Bay Area lights.
Tuesday, December 26th: Masterclass with Thomas Keller
When: On demand
Where: Online
Why: Learn recipes and techniques from food god Thomas Keller (French Laundry, Bouchon) as he teaches you all his secret tips and tricks via MasterClass, an online education platform. There are also lessons from Gordon Ramsey, Wolfgang Puck, and Alice Waters, who will make her debut next year. // masterclass.com
Tuesday, December 26th: Sing-a-Long to the Sound of Music @ Castro Theatre
When: 1pm to 5pm
Where: Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St. (Castro)
Why: Join in on an annual sing-a-long and screening of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical in widescreen with subtitles so you'll know all the words. There will even be goody bags handed out so attendees can dress up as their favorite character for the costume contest. // Tickets ($16 general, $11 children and seniors) are available at ticketweb.com.
Wednesday, December 27th: Do Yoga With Cats @KitTea Cat Cafe
When: 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: KitTea Cat Cafe, 96 Gough St. (Hayes Valley)
Why: What could be more restorative than doing yoga with furry friends? Strengthen your practice with 10-12 rescue kitties and a certified instructor. The night will focus on Hatha flow for all levels. Arrive early for a cup of signature Japanese green tea. // Tickets ($34) are available at kitteasf.com.
Wednesday, December 27th: Go on a Wild Foods Walk
When: 12pm to 2pm
Where: Location will be emailed before the walk.
Why: Learn about the most common wild foods, medicinal plants and edible flowers; explore Bay Area plants that you often see on SF menu from miner's lettuce to wild radish flowers. // Tickets ($40) are available at foragesf.com.
Wednesday, December 27th: Get a Two-Hour Aura Reading @ Berkeley Psychic Institute
When: 8pm
Where: Berkeley Psychic Institute, 1730 Solano Ave. (Berkeley)
Why: Get ready for a New Year, new you by better understanding yourself. Investigate three past lives, chakra abilities, seven layers of your aura and answer three questions. // $40, berkeleybpi.com
Wednesday, December 27th: Lady's Night Archery Shoot @ Turra's Backroom Archery
When: 7pm
Where: Turra's Backroom Archery, 3260 Santa Rosa Ave (Santa Rosa)
Why: Channel your best Katniss Everdeen and shoot your bow amongst other lady archers. // $10 drop in, facebook.com
Thursday, December 28th: Burmese Crab Noodle Soup Pop-Up @ Ma's Burmese Kitchen
When: 7pm to 9pm
Where: Location disclosed upon booking
Why: Warm noodle soup is the perfect cure to chilly winter nights. Indulge in Burmese street food in three courses—tea leaf salad, a traditional crab mohinga (a seafood chowder with rice noodles and assorted tasty toppings including local crab), and plum tapioca with sweet potato, coconut cream and freshly shaved coconut. // Tickets ($37) are available at eatfeastly.com.
Thursday, December 28th: Dance the Night Away @ Lips & Rhythm label Night 004
When: 9pm to 2am
Where: Underground SF, 424 Haight St. (Lower Haight)
Why: Catch this stellar lineup of DJs from Lips & Rhythm records mixing a soulful blend of funk and jazz tunes. // facebook.com
Friday, December 29th: Attend a Winter Cocktail Party @ Bar Fluxus
When: 7:30pm
Where: Bar Fluxus, 18 Harlan Pl. (Union Square)
Why: There's nothing this bar doesn't have: a comedy-pop up, live painting from Zack Wiseman—an underground street artist from Alaska—DJ and dance floor, free candy, boardgames, and naturally winter cocktails like Hot Toddies, Seasonal Old Fashioneds, Spiked Eggnog; and a range of beers including Sierra Celebration, Anchor Christmas Ale, Sam Adams Winter Lager. It's even tucked away on a secret alley for added coolness. // $10 at the door or free with Eventbrite RSVP, sf-winter-cocktail-party.eventbrite.com
Saturday, December 30th: Son's Addition Launches Brunch
When: 10:30am to 2:30pm Saturday and Sunday
Where: Son's Addition, 2990 24th St. (Mission)
Why: The Bauer-approve, family run-restaurant by Marlowe alum is launching brunch and including an array of delicious items including charred avocado toast, fried chicken sandwich with spicy mole aioli, and spicy corned beef hash. // sonsaddition.com
Saturday, December 30th: + Sunday, December 31st : Brunch at Almanac Taproom
When: 10am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday
Where: Almanac Taproom, 2704 24th St. (Mission)
Why: Chef Justin Wright (Mason Pacific) joined local craft beer taproom, Almanac, last month and has introduced a brand new weekend brunch service. On the menu are benedict burgers, queso fundido fries, beermosas, IPA Micheladas and more. // almanacbeer.com
Sunday, December 31st: NYE Party at State Bird Provisions
When: 10pm to 1am
Where: 1529 Fillmore St. (NoPa)
Why: State Bird Provisions is hosting a special New Years Eve standing reception. There'll be all-you-can-eat passed State Bird provisions and classic snacks, as well as music all night long. Beer and wine are available a la carte. // Tickets ($250) are available at exploretock.com/statebirdsf/.
Sunday, December 31st: See Metric Live @ Mezzanine
When: 9pm to 3am
Where: Mezzanine, E 444 Jessie St. (SoMa)
Why: Listen to the new wave, rock sounds of Metric and special guests Deap Vally and Popscene DJs Aaron Axelsen & DJ Omar; plus general admission includes Hosted Russian Standard Vodka bar from 9-10pm while supplies last. // Tickets (starting at $80) are available at eventbrite.com.
Sunday, December 31st: Fireworks + EDM @ Sens
When: 9pm to 2am
Where: Sens, 4 Embarcadero Center TOP Level (Embarcadero)
Why: Get a front row view to fireworks and a dance party. // Tickets (starting at $124) are available at facebook.com.
