A week of artsy pop-ups, free treats, and festivals.
Monday, May 7: Half-Price Mini Golf + Free Arcade Night
When: 4pm to 12am
Where: Urban Putt, 1096 South Van Ness Ave. (Mission), urbanputt.com
Why: Urban Putt—SF's fantastical, high-tech 14-hole indoor mini-golf course—is throwing a birthday party. Get in a game for $6, nosh free snacks, and play free arcade games.
Tuesday, May 8: A Civic Pop-Up Shop
When: 11am to 6pm
Where: SF City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl. (Civic Center)
Why: Head to the third annual City Hall pop-up and join SF Made, Square, Mayor Mark Farrell, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to shop goods from more than 40 makers, artisans and merchants with every district in SF represented. // RSVP at eventbrite.com.
Tuesday, May 8: Free Ice Cream
When: 4pm to 8pm
Where: Häagen-Dazs, 865 Market St. (SoMa), see all locations at haagendazs.us/locator
Why: Get a free scoop of ice cream or sorbet in a cup of cone to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Häagen-Dazs Loves Honey Bees. The brand is dedicating Free Cone Day to the hard-working pollinators. Have a sweet treat for a good cause!
Tuesday, May 8: Live Fire Feast
When: 5pm to 9pm
Where: Henry's, 2600 Durant (Berkeley), munchies.tv/dinner
Why: Canadian chef and Munchies star Matty Matheson is teaming up with Christopher Kronner (Kronnerburger) and Brandon Jew (Mister Jiu's) for a fish-centric, live-fire feast put on by Munchies and Cholula (the hot sauce). Come hungry and expect a little heat. // Tickets ($85/person) are available at resy.com.
Tuesday, May 8: Snag $20 Concert Tickets
When: Multiple times
Where: Multiple locations
Why: It's the final day of National Concert Week, and the last day to score $20 tickets to more than 2,000 shows across Live Nation's roster of summer tours. The acts span comedy, country, hip-hop, Latin, metal, rock, pop, and more with artists from Arcade Fire to G-Eazy, Odesza to Steely Dan. Tickets are limited so act quickly. // See the full list of artists at investors.livenationentertainment.com.
Wednesday, May 9: Sustainable Fashion Pop-Up
When: 5pm to 8:30pm
Where: Seedstore, 212 Clement St. (Inner Richmond)
Why: Head to a Conrado pop-up shop with designer Angela Sison. She'll be debuting limited-edition looks and discuss her line of sustainable and eco-conscious clothing created from dead stock fabrics. All of her pieces are produced in her mother's small family-run factory in the Philippines. // eventbrite.com, shopconrado.com
Wednesday, May 9: Birdsong Opens
When: 5pm to 8:30pm
Where: Birdsong, 1085 Mission St (SoMa), birdsongsf.com
Why: Chris Bleidorn (Atelier Crenn, Saison, Benu) opened Birdsong, his fine dining restaurant that celebrates the Pacific Northwest heritage cuisine. To that end, there'll be dishes of geoduck, elk, abalone succulents, and more presented in the form of a tasting menu. There'll be an elongated tasting menu with a la carte options coming later in the month.
Wednesday, May 9: Free Acroyoga
When: 7:30pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Sports Basement, 2727 Milvia St. (Berkeley), shop.sportsbasement.com
Why: Learn how to combine basic yoga poses with partner balancing and dynamic movements. No experiences or partner needed.
Wednesday, May 9: Stand-up Under the Stars
When: 7:30 to 9pm
Where: The Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph Ave. (Oakland), uptownnightclub.com
Why: Get in some laughs on Hump Day at a live stand up comedy show. The Uptown hosts some of the best local and traveling comedians seen on Comedy Central, HBO, MTV and Viceland. Tonight the space will be taken over by Paul Conyers (Tommy T's Comedy Club) Pete Munoz (SJ Improv) David Nguyen (SF Punchline, Bad Asians) Julie Ash (#HellaFunny) and Chris Storin (Comedy Central). Get there early as seating is limited. If it gets too cold, they'll move the show into the bar; afterwards you can belt your favorite tunes as they have karaoke all night starting from 9pm. // eventbrite.com
Thursday, May 10: New World String Project
When: 12:30 pm to 1:30pm
Where: Yerba Buena Gardens (Esplanade), 773 Mission St. (SoMa)
Why: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is in full swing with 100 free performances on three outdoor stages. This Thursday, New World String Project takes to the stage with their hybrid Celtic, Nordic and American folk tradition sounds. Together they'll be playing the fiddle, guitar, Celtic harp, and Swedish nyckelharpa. // ybgfestival.org
Thursday, May 10: Harbor House Inn Reopens
When: 6pm to 9pm
Where: Harbor House Inn, 5600 South Hwy 1 (Mendocino)
Why: The Harbor House Inn is back in Mendocino with a remodel and a new chef. At the helm of the kitchen is Matthew Kammerer (Saison, Attica). Kammerer will offer a daily changing coastal-inspired tasting menu composed of 8-10 courses (think albacore with radish, turnips, and citrus or abalone with sea vegetables. Wine pairings are available and optional, but highly recommended.
Thursday, May 10: Pop-Up Magazine's Spring Issue Show
When: 7:30pm
Where: Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway (Oakland)
Why: The internationally renowned live magazine is turning to Oakland this Thursday. Hear vivid stories accompanied by illustration, animation, photography, and an original score performed onstage from illustrious and prominent creatives like writer John Jeremiah Sullivan (NYTMag, GQ, Harper's), Helen Rosner (Eater, The New Yorker), Joy Bryant (Parenthood, Good Girls), and more. // Tickets ($38-$42) are available at ticketmaster.com.
Friday, May 11: Speakeasy Pop-Up
When: 5pm to 9:30pm
Where: Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, 1195 Evans Ave. (Bayview), goodbeer.com
Why: Sip a brew, nosh local eats, and shop artisan goods from jewelry to ceramics. There will also be brewery tours at 6:30 or 8:30 with an optional guided tasting. // eventbrite.com
Friday, May 11-13: Art Explosion Spring Open Studios Opening Gala
When: 7pm to 11pm
Where: Mission Arts Gallery, 2425 17th St. (Mission), artexplosionstudios.com
Why: See more than 100 artists including painters, sculptures, photographers, fashion designers and jewelers at Art Explosion's annual spring open studios.
Friday, May 11 through Sunday May 13: Powwow and Indian Market
When: Multiple times
Where: Eucalyptus Grove, Arboretum Rd. and Galvez St. (Stanford)
Why: Spend a day or the entire weekend immersed in Native American cultures through traditional music, dances, hand drumming, and events including an Indian art market. Overnight camping spaces are available. Take mom out for a unique experience this weekend! // powwow.stanford.edu
Saturday, May 11: Oakland Mural Festival Begins
When: 6pm
Where: 54 Washington St. (Oakland)
Why: Teaming up with Visit Oakland this year, the Oakland Mural Festival became part of the first ever Oakland Art Month with a week of artist residencies and workshops building up to the painting of nine new murals in the Jack London district. The event kicks off with a drink and draw on First Friday at their pop up gallery with Los Pobres Artistas. // facebook.com
Saturday, May 12: Range Life
When: 5pm to 10pm
Where: Range Life, 2160 Railroad Ave. (Livermore), rangelifelivermore.com
Why: If you don't have friends or family in Livermore, you now have a very good and delicious reason to visit: a new restaurant by Tartine/Kronnerburger alum Billy Niles. The menu is divided into snacks, appetizers, and entrees and includes delicious items like burrata with rhubarb, toasted hazelnut and nasturtium; Zuckerman asparagus with ramp breadcrumbs, bottarga and a fried egg; a ribyeye cap steak with marrow jus; and more. Sarah Niles, Billy's partner in life and the restaurant, is curating the wine list, and cocktails are also available.
Saturday, May 12: R&R Pre-Game for Mother's Day
When: 11:30a - 2:30p
Where: Hotel Zetta, 55 5th St. (SoMa)
Why: To get ready for Sunday's big brunch plans, check out Well + Away's healthy Mother's Day pre-game on Saturday. Bring your favorite mom along for a morning sweat provided by Mnt Studio followed by Burke Williams manicures, healthy bites, and plenty of Rose. // Tickets ($45) are available at eventbrite.com.
