This Halloween week is going to be a monster.
Gear up for Drake's big performance at SF City Hall, a Dragula show at Cal Academy NightLife, plus more Halloween parties, creepy gatherings, cult movies, and more.
Plus, foodies will find plenty to sink their teeth into as Off the Grid hosts its season-closer at Fort Mason, Bon Voyage serves up cocktails and Chinese snacks, and Sushi Ran hosts a Champagne-paired feast. Have a good one!
Monday, Oct. 22nd
The Bon Vivants say Bon Voyage!
When: 2pm to 2am Monday through Friday, noon to 2am Saturday and Sunday
Where: Bon Voyage, 584 Valencia St. (Mission), bonvoyagebar.com
Why: The latest bar from the Trick Dog team has landed with drinks infused with the flavors of Southeast Asia and Africa (think pineapple, ginger-infused gin, and rice milk), kitschy tropical decor...and Chinese food? Uh huh. Bites including pork-and-shrimp wontons, xiao long bao, and chow fun fried noodles will be served all the way up till 2am daily.
Microdosing: The Benefits, Risks, & Unknowns
When: 6 to 9:30pm
Where: Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF, 1675 Owens St. (Mission Bay)
Why: You've heard plenty about this Silicon Valley trend and you're interested in trying it out for yourself. Get the skinny from people who know what they're talking about, including psychologist Dr. James Fadiman and Ayelet Waldman, author of A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life. // Tickets ($30) are available at psychsems.com.
Meditate Amongst the Blooms
When: 7-10pm
Where: Conservatory of Flowers (Golden Gate Park)
Why: You've been to a sound meditation most likely, but what could be more zen than bathing in the sounds of chimes, crystal singing bowls, and gongs amid the flora of this San Francisco landmark. // For tickets ($33) and info, go to eventbrite.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 23rd
Talk About Impact
When: 6-8pm
Where: Counterpulse, 80 Turk St. (Tenderloin)
Why: Design can have a positive affect on the world. Learn how at this series of lightning talks with local creatives who are making it happen. // Tickets ($10) are available at eventbrite.com.
Zurich Meets SF Dinner Series
When: 5:30 to 10pm, nightly through Friday, 10.26
Where: Nightbird (10/23); SPQR (10/23-24); Rich Table (10/25); and Nopa (10/26)
Why: Because you've always wanted a taste of Switzerland. (Or more likely, you'll take any excuse to return to some our own city's best restaurants.) This five-night foodie fest brings some of Zurich's top toques for collaborative dinners. // For full event details and reservations, go to zurichmeetssanfrancisco.org.
Strange San Francisco
When: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Where: Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy St. (Tenderloin)
Why: Tuesday can be interesting. Head over to the TL for a bit of magic and hear uncanny tales of San Francisco's underbelly with Christian Cagigal, who's summoning the city's tortured souls for a night of spooking entertainment and haunted history. // Tickets ($12) are available at eventbrite.com.
Book Launch Party (oh Yeah Yeah Yeah)
When: 7:30pm
Where: The Bindery, 1727 Haight St., booksmith.com/bindery
Why: You dig the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but maybe you didn't know that guitarist Nick Zinner is also an accomplished photographer whose work has appeared in four previous books as well as in several major magazines. 131 Different Things is a novella—in collaboration with music writer Zachary Lipez and designer Stacy Wakefield—that's already getting rave reviews. Meet the authors and pick up a book. Can't make it tonight? Take two goes down Wednesday night (9:30pm) at Oakland's Octopus Literary Salon.
Wednesday, Oct. 24th
Bi-Rite Cafe Opens
When: 7am to 5pm Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
Where: Bi-Rite Cafe, 52 Grove St. (Civic Center), biritemarket.com
Why: As part of an ongoing project to revive Civic Center Plaza and the surrounding area, Bi-Rite Cafe is opening for breakfast, lunch, and all your snacking needs. Menu items include breakfast sandos, Sightglass coffee, baked goods, quinoa bowls, sandwiches, and salads—and soft-serve ice cream, of course.
Champagne Dinner
When: 6 to 9pm
Where: Sushi Ran, 107 Caledonia St. (Sausalito), sushiran.com
Why: Perennial favorite Sushi Ran is hosting a five-course dinner paired with Laurent Perrier Champagne. As if we needed to say more, dishes will include smoked quail eggs with ume puree; lobster stuffed delicata squash; and a chef's selection of nigiri. // Tickets ($175/person all inclusive) are available at eventbrite.com.
Thursday, Oct. 25th
A Michelin-Worthy Dinner in Wine Country
When: 6:30 to 9:30pm
Where: Robert Mondavi Winery, 7801 St Helena Hwy (Oakville), robertmondaviwinery.com
Why: Michelin-starred chef and James Beard Award nominee Elise Kornack, of Brooklyn's Take Root, is popping up in Oakville to cook a four-course fest with Robert Mondavi Winery's chef, Jeff Mosher. Enjoy special reserve and limited-edition wines while overlooking the vineyard. // Tickets ($145/person) are available at cellarpass.com.
Somm 3 Premiere Party
When: 6 to 9pm
Where: Landmark Clay Theatre, 2216 Fillmore St. (Pac Heights), landmarktheatres.com
Why: You can drink wine (lots of wine) with the cast after this one-night-only SF screening Somm 3, adocumentary that follows three industry leaders as they drink and discuss the rarest bottles they can find, while another sommelier settles long-time tasting disputes in the company of blind tasters. // Tickets ($95/GA, $195/VIP with after-party) are available at somm3sf.splashthat.com.
Creatures of the NightLife
When: 6-10pm
Where: Cal Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse (Golden Gate Park)
Why: Supernatural science, a Halloween Dragula show by The Boulet Brothers, a carnival of curiosities and chilling art, as well as DJ beats and drinks are on the offer at Cal Academy's Halloween-themed NightLife event this week. // For tickets ($15) and info, go to calacademy.org.
Friday, Oct. 26th
Last Call to See Magritte!
When: Through Oct. 28th
Where: SFMOMA, 151 Third St. (SoMa)
Why: Whether you nearly missed it or want to see it one last time, get to SFMOMA before the smile-inducing, thought-provoking exhibit René Magritte: The Fifth Season closes for good. // Tickets ($35) are available at sfmoma.org.
Off the Grid: Fort Mason Center End of Season Bash
When: 5-10pm
Where: Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd.
Why: Get your kicks with OTG one last time this year with a VIP tasting ($25; $35 with cocktail pairing) of the season's favorite dishes—including Jackrabbit's cowboy tots and El Porteño's Fugazetta empanadas, and Captain Crush cocktails—plus lion dancing and more. // For tickets and more info, go to offthegrid.com.
James Beard Foundation's Taste America Dinner
When: 6 to 10pm
Where: The Fairmont, 950 Mason St. (Nob Hill), fairmont.com
Why: It's an all-star lineup. Pop for a dinner devised by James Beard Award winner Abe Conlon (Chicago's Fat Rice) and Californios' Val Cantu, as well as cocktails, tastes, and dessert from local restaurants including Reem's, Mister Jiu's, Sorrel, Che Fico, Manresa Bread, Robin, and B. Patisserie. // A portion of the proceeds benefit the James Beard Foundation and its Taste America Scholarship Fund. Tickets ($375 and up) are available at jamesbeard.org.
Boo! A Halloween Spooktacular
When: 6pm to 1am
Where: Bill Graham Auditorium, 99 Grove St. (Civic Center)
Why: Shake it till you break it with several live music acts from Afrojack, Flosstradamus, Malaa, Dombresky, and more. // Tickets ($135) are available at ticketmaster.com.
Drake!
When: 9:30pm to 2am
Where: San Francisco City Hall (Civic Center)
Why: Drake is throwin' it down at City Hall in celebration of Halloween Weekend. Make sure your costume game is strong and join the contest, eat and drink up, and hear special performances and DJs. // Tickets ($99 general admission, VIP starting at $149) are available at eventbrite.com.
Saturday, Oct. 27th
Sundown Spookfari
When: 5pm Saturday until 10am Sunday
Where: Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd. (Oakland), oaklandzoo.org
Why: What better way to celebrate Halloween with the little ones (this event is geared towards ages 4-10) than by spending a creepy-crawly night at the zoo? Come out to trick-or-treat, meet the animals, and sing campfire songs. Dinner is provided. // Reservations ($95/person, $80/members; discounts for groups of 5) can be made at oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events.
Boo! Bark, Brew, + Bites
When: 11am to 4pm
Where: Jack London Square, Broadway at Embarcadero W. (Oakland), jacklondonsquare.com
Why: Don't have kids? Bring your fur babies (ok, real live children are welcome too) for brews, wine, and bites (the food kind) at the waterfront. There will be paw painting, photo booths, a pet psychic, and an animal costume contest—plus live music and vendors. // Free to attend; more event information on facebook.com.
4th Annual Craftsmen Exchange
When: Noon to 2pm
Where: Bernardus Lodge & Spa, 415 West Carmel Valley Rd. (Carmel Valley), bernarduslodge.com
Why: Escape big city Halloween weekend madness and spend a lovely afternoon in Carmel with local cheesemongers, beekeepers, pastry masters, winemakers, seaweed and olive oil experts, and more, all to the tune of live bluegrass music. // Admission is $75 per person and reservations are required; for more info, go to bernarduslodge.com/activities.
A Taste of Che Fico...in Napa!
When: 4 to 10pm
Where: Congregation Beth Shalom, 1455 Elm St. (Napa), bethsholomsf.org/
Why: Seriously, who isn't talking about Che Fico? Tonight, the buzzy restaurant's master of Italian-Jewish "street food," chef David Nayfeld, along with partner chef Itamar Abramovitc, is cooking up a three-course family-style dinner for L'Chaim Napa Valley, a celebration our Jewish winemakers. You'll have two hours outdoors to taste wines from 16 vendors before sitting down to feast. // Tickets ($50-$250) are available at eventbrite.com.
Sunday, Oct. 28th
The Bay Area's Best Haunted Tours
When: Through Halloween
Where: Various locations
Why: Get spooked at a classic haunted house, scream park, or on a wicked tour of the city. // For info, go to 7x7.com/4-bay-area-haunted-tours.
The Hunger
When: 6:30pm
Where: The Roxie, 3117 16th St. (Mission)
Why: Ease the Sunday scaries with a classic creepy flick as Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie vamp it up on the big screen. // Tickets ($13) are available at roxie.com.
Scream!
When: Doors 7pm, movie at 8pm
Where: Dirty Habit, 12 Fourth St. (SoMa), dirtyhabitsf.com
Why: Ever heard of a "silent cinema?" Don your headphones, grab a seat by a fire, and have a laugh as one of the all-time best Halloween flicks plays on the rooftop projector. Themed cocktails and bites will be on offer. // Tickets ($17) are available at eventbrite.com.
