Let's be honest: This week is mostly about food and thanks to a host of restaurant openings (Barbara Pinseria), re-openings (Magnolia Dogpatch), paired tastings, and Wine Country harvest festivals.
But there are also plenty chances to get your culture fix, do good from the community, say Om, and bust a move. Have a great week!
Monday, Sept. 24th
Pinsa Party!
When: Sunday through Thursday, 11am to midnight; 11am to 1am Fridays and Saturdays
Where: Barbara Pinseria & Cocktail Bar, 431 Columbus Ave. (North Beach), sfbarbara.com
Why: The team behind Il Casaro is turning its focus on pizza's dearest cousin: pinsas. Their new joint, Barbara Pinseria & Cocktail Bar, will offer a menu of eight airy Roman-style flatbreads including the Uove Tartufate (egg, truffle spread, smoked pancetta, and red onions) and the San Francisco (spicy salami, Italian Sausage, scamorza, mozzarella, and red onions). Several pastas, starters, and salads complete the menu.
Date Night at an Urban Winery
When: Thursdays through Saturdays, 5:30 to 11ish pm
Where: Tank 18, 1345 Howard St. (SoMa), tank18.com
Why: This urban wineries has just launched dinner service, offering up a range of small and shareable plates that pair perfectly with a glass of vino. Look forward to dishes like charred shishito peppers, beech mushroom arancini, skirt steak with salsa verde, and an on-trend Impossible burger. // Reservations recommended, tank18.com/reservations.
Monday Night Football
When: 5 to 8pm
Where: Bear's Lair Tavern, 2465 Bancroft Way, Suite 104 (Berkeley), bearslairtavern.com
Why: Cal alums will be pumped about the new menu and interior updates that accompany the reopening of Bear's Lair. Celebrate on Mondays during football season with a 12-inch pizza and a pitcher of PBR for $25. Plus, there's an outdoor beer garden and fire pits.
Cabaret With the Cast of Phantom of the Opera
When: 7:30pm
Where: Marines Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter St. (TenderNob)
Why: For one night only, the touring casts of Phantom and of On Your Feet (the Gloria Estefan story) are joining together to shake their jazz hands at Broadway Backwards, a one-night-only music and comedy cabaret to benefit Broadway Cares, the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation, and Equity Fights AIDS. // Tickets ($35-$100) are available at eventbrite.com.
Tuesday, Sept. 25th
Queue up at the Castro tonight for a chance to hear a live convo with director Spike Lee and screen his new film, BlacKkKlansman.
(Courtesy of SFFILM)
Tribute to Spike Lee
When: 7pm conversation, 8pm screening
Where: Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St. (Castro), castrotheatre.com
Why: The legendary director will be in the house and onstage for a conversation at this special tribute from SFFILM. Following the chat, catch a screening of Lee's latest brilliant work, Black KkKlansman. // Tickets are sold out, but you can line up for a chance to fill unclaimed seats; for more information and RUSH tix, go to sffilm.org.
Kusama - Infinity
When: 7pm and 8:50pm showings
Where: The Roxie, 3117 16th St. (Mission)
Why: Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Rooms have captured the imaginations and sapped the breath of art lovers worldwide. Step in the magical yet turbulent world of the world's best-selling woman artist at two documentary screenings today. // Tickets ($12) are available at roxie.com.
Wednesday, Sept. 26th
Metallica headlines tonight's benefit for UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospitals.
(Courtesy of concertforkids.com)
Cat Yoga
When: 7:30 to 8:30pm, Wednesdays
Where: Kit-Tea Cat Cafe, 96 Gough St. (Hayes Valley),
Why: Because Cats on Mats is a very cute name for yoga with furry felines. Have a cup of green tea and say Om in a Hatha flow class with zen rescue kitties. // Tickets ($30/person) are available at kitteasf.com/yoga.
Metallica in Concert
When: 8pm concert; 10 to midnight afterparty
Where: City Hall and Civic Center Plaza
Why: Tickets are hella pricey, but it's all for the kiddies. This ninth annual fundraiser for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals is once again presented by Salesforce in connection with its Dreamforce conference—and it's your chance to see one of the Bay Area's most beloved bands. // Tickets ($1,000 and up) are still available at theconcertforkids.com.
Thursday, Sept. 27th
Veuve Clicquot Harvest Fete
When: 6 to 9pm
Where: The Fairmont, 950 Mason St. (Nob Hill)
Why: Don your best garden party attire and make your way up to the rooftop of The Fairmont for bubbly Indian Summer soiree with an open bar (all you can drink Champagne!—plus beer and wine, small bites, and lawn games. // Tickets ($85-$125) are available at eventbrite.com.
Internetting With Amanda Hess and The New York Times
When: 6:30 to 7:45pm
Where: The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, commonwealthclub.org
Why: NYT critic-at-large Amanda Hess is mining the depths of the Internet Age and everything that's "weird, wrong, and totally sad" about it. Tonight she's in live conversation at Commonwealth Club with Amateur author Thomas Page McBee, whose book looks at masculinity through his experience as a transgender man; and Teen Vogue executive editor Samhita Mukhopadhyay, who is also the author of Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance and Revolution in Trump's America. // Tickets ($35) are available at Eventbrite.
Magnolia Re-Opens in Dogpatch
When: Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 11pm; till midnight Fridays and Saturdays
Where: Magnolia, 2505 3rd St. (Dogpatch), magnoliabrewing.com
Why: We've said so long to Magnolia Brewery's counter-service BBQ concept formerly known as Smokestack. After a slew of renovations, the location is pouring again, now transformed into a full-service restaurant with an expansive beer garden. Expect hearty burgers, clams cioppino, and roast chicken on the dinner menu. Keep an eye out for weekend brunch and lunch coming in a few weeks.
Friday, Sept. 28th
Wander the galleries of Contemporary Muslim Fashion for a reduced admission price tonight at Friday Night at the de Young.
(Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Questival San Francisco
When: 5pm Friday through 7pm Saturday
Where: Crissy Field, and throughout SF
Why: A zany, 24-hour outdoor adventure race through the city, Questival holds more than 300 unique challenges—donate watch the sunrise; catch a fish; take a cooking class—along with prizes and a festival home base at Crissy Field. Grab your tribe (teams are two to six people) and get going. // Tickets ($45) include a cool backpack and finisher's medal, and are available at cotopaxi.com.
Beach Volleyball + Live Music
When: 9am to 5pm daily, Sept. 28-30
Where: Avaya Stadium Grounds, 1123 Coleman Ave. (San Jose)
Why: Did you know that the Silicon Valley is home to the most decorated beach volleyball Olympian of all time? Kerri Walsh Jennings is putting on p1440, a three-day wellness and music festival with all the fitness you could want—from ping pong to yoga to personal trainers and volleyball clinics—as well as cooking demos, street dancers, and live acts including Foster the People and Grouplove. // For tickets ($20-$160) and more info, go to p1440.com.
Friday Night at the de Young
When: 5:30 to 8:30pm
Where: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. (Golden Gate Park)
Why: Friday nights this fall mean reduced admission to the museum's much-anticipated exhibit, Contemporary Muslim Fashion. Head out to the culture mecca tonight for food, drink, a performance by Dholrhythms Dance Company, DJ beats from Jimmy Love of Non-Stop Bhangra, and more. // For information and tickets, go to deyoung.famsf.org.
Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival
When: 7 to 10pm opening gala; festival through Sept. 30
Where: Sonoma Barracks, Spain St. (Sonoma)
Why: The 121st annual Sonoma harvest festival kicks off tonight with tapas, tastings, a silent auction, live music and dancing. Can't make it? The festival continues through the weekend with a grape stomp, races, art, and more. // Opening night tickets ($125/person) are available at eventbrite.com; for more info, go to valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.com.
Saturday, Sept. 29th
Bloody Mary Festival
When: 10:30am to 6pm
Where: SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St. (SoMa)
Why: Like Christmas for boozehounds, the Bloody Mary Festival is your chance to sample 10 of the best bloodies in the Bay Area, from restaurants including The Saratoga, Horsefeather, Portal Oakland, and The Elite Cafe. // For more info and tickets ($45-$55), go to eventbrite.com.
Yo Yo Ma's Oakland Block Party
When: Noon to 3pm
Where: Old Oakland, Washington St. at 8th and 9th Streets
Why: XQ Institute—an educational equity nonprofit—and Yo Yo Ma (yes, that Yo Yo Ma) are putting on an afternoon of performances, art installations, food, and a panel discussion to support the talents and endeavors of creative youth. // Event is free to attend; for more info, go to facebook.com.
Sake Day
When: 4 to 8pm
Where: Hotel Kabuki, 1625 Post St. (Japantown)
Why: Hosted by Hotel Kabuki and True Sake, this will be one of the largest sake celebrations outside of Japan, featuring tastings of more than 200 spirits and the chance to meet master sake makers. // Tickets ($70-80) are available at eventbrite.
Bandwagon Summer Music Series
When: Noon to 6pm; last Saturdays Aug. through Oct.
Where: Anchor Public Taps, 495 DeHaro St, (Potrero), anchorbrewing.com
Why: Soak up the Indian Summer sun, drink small-batch beers, and tap your toes to local funk bands. Keep an eye out for a special event collab beer made by Public Taps, in addition to other Anchor classics. // Tickets are $5 at the door; for more info, go to facebook.com.
Livermore Valley Wine Auction
When: 5pm
Where: Wente Vineyards, 5050 Arroyo Rd. (Livermore)
Why: It's a golden opportunity to slip into your sexiest black tie for local wine tastings, pairings, dinner, and auction to benefit good causes such as De La Salle Academy for low-income students and the Livermore Performing Arts Center. // For tickets ($275/person) and more details, go to lvwf.org.
For the Colored Girls
When: 3pm and 8pm
Where: Taube Atrium Theater, 401 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center)
Why: SF's African-American Shakespeare Company is witty, irreverent, and always poignant—we love it. Today's your last chance to see their production of the 1976 Tony-nominated play For colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. As if the title itself weren't amazing enuf, this is a timeless tale of women dealing with the "at times brutal, tender and dramatic arcs of their lives." // Tickets ($35) are available at coloredgirls.brownpapertickets.com; african-americanshakes.org.
Sunday, Sept. the 30th
Surfrider Beach Cleanup
When: 10am to noon
Where: Baker Beach
Why: BYO dog and reusable cup for free hot coffee and do a bit of good as you pitch in clean up Baker Beach with the Surfrider Foundation's local chapter. // For more information, go to facebook.com.
Presidio Picnic
When: 11am to 4pm
Where: Main Parade Ground Lawn (The Presidio)
Why: Because Indian Summer here and there's no time like the present to soak up some sun and eat food from a bunch of trucks. // For more info, go to offthegrid.com.
Harvest Celebration
When: 11am to 4pm
Where: Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, 5007 Fulton Rd. (Santa Rosa)
Why: Because it's the best time of year in Wine Country, duh. Go for cooking demos from award-winning chefs Kyle Connaughton (Single Thread) and Douglas Keane (Cyrus), wine and food pairings, live music, and much more. // Tickets ($150/person) are available at kj.com/events.
From Our Partners
Salesforce.org Philanthropy Cloud Keynote: Transform Your Corporate Giving Culture
When: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1:30 to 2:30pm
Where: Moscone West, 747 Howard St. (SoMa)
Why: Want to know how you can put your values to work? Join Salesforce.org's CEO Rob Acker and EVP Nasi Jazayeri as they walk through the most compelling idea to ever hit workplace giving. Philanthropy Cloud connects employees with causes they care about and makes it easier for you to engage with your community. If you're going to Dreamforce 2018, this is an event you don't want to miss! Learn how Sprint and Adidas are driving meaningful impact in their communities in partnership with United Way, one of the world's largest nonprofits. And kick off the new era of giving on the right foot, by hearing from two local Football Hall-of-Famers on the world of good they are doing for underserved communities. // Register to receive Salesforce.org limited edition swag or a chance to donate to your favorite cause,sfdc.co/PhilanthropyCloudKeynote. Can't join in person? Don't worry, you can still tune in. See the keynote live salesforce.com/video!
