Cross your fingers for sunny weather this Hardly Strictly Bluegrass weekend!
Between CUESA's Farm to City four-course Sunday supper, three days of FoodieLand Night market, and the opening of yet another restaurant from a Chez Panisse alum, you'll be feasting all week long. Plus, catch a screening of Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am at Proxy; don your cocktail best and peruse the art and antiques at the San Francisco Fall Show's opening night gala; or head to Yosemite for a glamping getaway with The Assembly.
Monday, September 30th
La Boulangerie crew starts a pizza joint
11:30am to 7pm, daily
Apizza, 2043 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), apizzaforeveryone.com
Local bakery chain duo, Pascal Rigo and Nicolas Bernadi, are bringing their skills to a new genre—pizza. These guys are all about making pizza quick—and affordable—something we can get behind with our high-priced, high-paced city life. Things will be like more of a fast food model, where a 9-inch pie will run you $2.75 and up to around $7 depending on the toppings you get (meats, naturally, cost a little bit more). And if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, you'll be able to get some soft-serve from Loving Cup as well.
Cheese With Steve!
6pm to 8pm
Mission Cheese, 736 Valencia St. (Mission), missioncheese.net
Talk all things cheese and enjoy four seated cheese plus beer, wine, or cider pairings, with cheese aficionado and author of the newly released Cheese Beer Wine Cider: A Field Guide to 75 Perfect Pairings, Steve Jones. // Tickets ($45) include the book and are available on missioncheese.net.
Talk trash with Recology CEO
6:30pm to 8pm
Manny's, 3092 16th St. (Mission), welcometomannys.com
Curious about what happens to your trash, what counts as recycling, and how compost works? Get down to the nitty-gritty of all things trash during this chat with Recology CEO Mike Sangiacomo. // Tickets ($6-$54) are available on Eventbrite.
Tuesday, October 1st
Cheese fondue, please!
5:30pm to 10pm, Tuesday through Saturday
Matterhorn Restaurant and Bakery, 2323 Van Ness Ave. (Russian Hill), matterhornsf.com
Good fondue restaurants are tough to come by in our city and we were quite sad to see Matterhorn close last year. Fear not though, a new couple has brought the restaurant back to life. Choose from one of two classic cheese fondue options paired with housemade sourdough bread, veggies, and potatoes for dipping. Bonus for the on-theme decor including a miniature Swiss Alps display complete with a train and a legit real gondola cabin that's been turned into a cozy booth for dining.
Golden Week Eats
October 1st through 7th
Hakkasan, 1 Kearny St. (Union Square), hakkasan.com
Golden Week is a pretty important holiday in China, one with many decadent feasts. Enjoy your own celebration with a luxurious gold-ish special menu at Hakkasan. Four courses including a special gold cocktail (garnished with gold dust), a dim sum platter, peking duck served with pancakes and rare caviar, peking duck stir fry and a "golden ring" dessert made with yuzu pears, ginger, black tea, and cream. // The meal serves up to four people for $388. Reservations can be made on hakkasan.com.
Bartenders Can't Cook Competition
3pm to 6pm
Alba Ray's, 2293 Mission St. (Mission), albarays.com
Cheer on the mixologists from some of SF's best dining spots and watering holes, including Michael Kudra of Quince and Larry Piaskowy of Rich Table, as they duke it out in the kitchen. // RSVP to the free event on Eventbrite.
Free Tuesdays at MCD
11am to 3pm
Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 3rd St. (Dogpatch), sfmcd.org
First Tuesday of the month means free admission to the Museum of Craft and Design! Take the opportunity to explore the site-specific structures and sculptures by various artists in Interior/Exterior and a collection of machined objects in Dead Nuts: A Search for the Ultimate Machined Object. Plus, get inspired by artist Julie Alpert's Special Occasion—or Halloween—and decorate a picture frame in the MakeArt Lab. // Free to attend, art activities for all ages.
K-Beauty Demystified
5pm to 8pm
Maclaren Conference Center, USF, 2130 Fulton St. (Inner Richmond), usfca.edu
Talk all things Korean beauty, plus learn some new makeup tricks with live masterclasses, and network with beauty startup founders, makeup artists, and experts. Plus, enter to win prizes and leave with a goodie bag. // Event is free and open to the public. Register at usfca.edu.
Wednesday, October 2nd
The San Francisco Fall Show Gala
7pm to 9:30pm
Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, Festival Pavilion, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina)
Celebrate the first night of The San Francisco Fall Show with a super swanky gala, complete with live music, a caviar bar, and plenty of vodka and champagne. Attendees get a first look at the fine art and antiques, all available for purchase with proceeds benefiting nonprofit Enterprise for Youth, and admission to the remaining show days. // Tickets ($250 and up) are available on Eventbrite.
Fashion Fest
6pm to 9pm
WeWork, 1161 Mission St. (SoMa), wework.com
Mingle with fellow fashionistas and designers at this one night San Francisco Fashion Week pop up event. Check out demos and shop goods from local designers and startups including Tangent.AI, Emma Luna Co., and Focalized Designer, and maybe even leave with some stylish new threads. // Tickets ($10) can be purchased via Eventbrite.
Take a 2-D material class series
7:30pm
San Francisco Art Institute, 800 Chestnut St. (Marina), sfai.edu
The SFAI has launched their fall class schedule, packed with many different art tracks. This 8-session class kicks off tonight and incorporates teaching you many different mediums including "acrylic paint, gouache, oil paint, charcoal, pastels, graphite, ink, watercolor, and spray paint." The artistic possibilities already feel endless. // Tickets ($385) include all eight classes and can be purchased via Eventbrite.
Thursday, October 3rd
Living Room Live show
6:30pm
W San Francisco, 181 3rd St. (SoMa), marriott.com
Catch a free musical performance by singer-songwriter Tayla Parx, an R&B/hip-hop artist whose also been a co-writer for hits like "Love Lies" by Khalid and Normani and "Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande. Taking place inside the posh W Hotel, this is a pretty small show so take advantage of the special atmosphere. // Free to attend but RSVPs are required due to the small number of available tickets.TEDx San Francisco
9am to 10pm
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center), sfwmpac.org
Grab tix to this all day annual conference with the theme "Dare to Know" to hear a variety of speakers, including artist Leah Rosenburg; founder of Black Girls Code, Kimberly Bryant; President and Managing Partner of Palo Alto Investors, LP hedge fund, Dr. Joon Yun, and more. Plus, stick around after the conference for a reception at Chambers Bar and Restaurant with a DJ and music, art and games, and food and drinks of course. // Tickets ($189 and up) are available on Eventbrite.
42nd Mill Valley Film Festival
Today through the 13th
Various locations in Marin
There's nothing we love more than a good film fest. This year various theaters throughout the Bay Area will showcase 150+ films, workshops, and receptions. Films categories include music, "queer-ish," Latin films, tributes, special premieres, and world cinema // View films and get tickets on mvff.com.
Cocktails on Maiden Lane
6pm to 11 pm
Maiden Lane at Stockton St. (Union Square)
Don your cocktail best and get ready to dance the night away at romantic Maiden Lane. Drinks and hors d'oeurves will be plentiful at this lively annual affair, presented by the Bachelors of San Francisco, with all event proceeds benefiting local charity, Edgewood Center for Children and Families. // Tickets ($80) are available on Eventbrite.
Friday, October 4th
"Rise & Style" Q&A sesh
10:30am
La Bande inside the SF Proper Hotel, 1100 Market St. (Civic Center), properhotel.com
Gather round for a morning inspo session with leaders in fashion, beauty, and design. This first discussion will feature Tony Bravo, the Arts + Culture reporter for the Chronicle, who'll share an inside look at his work over the years, the industry in general, and his favorite trend setters. Bonus, you'll be in a prime spot to grab a coffee and breakfast at this cute cafe before your real work day has to start. // Free to attend, RSVP required.Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
6pm to 9:30pm
Proxy Walk-in Theater, 432 Octavia St. (Hayes Valley), proxysf.net
Outdoor film festivals in Hayes Valley are back at Proxy SF for the next five Fridays. Bring a blanket and snuggle up with a friend for these weekly movies, kicking off tonight with a screening of Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am. And don't worry about dinner—the Del Popolo food truck is serving up 'za and Fort Point beer will be available for purchase. // Free to attend, RSVP via Eventbrite.
Yosemite Glamping with The Assembly
11 am today through Sunday afternoon
AutoCamp Yosemite, 6323 CA-140 (Midpines), autocamp.com
Get ready to explore Yosemite National Park during this two night glamping getaway with The Assembly's ultimate girl gang. While you'll certainly spend time sharing stories around the campfire, rest assured that this is not your average camping trip—you'll stay in stylish two person luxury tents at AutoCamp, swim in the property's heated pool, and enjoy gourmet meals—and plenty of wine of course. // Tickets ($450) include all activities, wine, meals, and accommodations for the weekend and can be purchased on theassembly.com.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival
12pm to 7pm Friday; 11am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday
Hellman Hollow, Lindley Meadow, and Marx Meadow (Golden Gate Park)
The yearly free concert fest in Golden Gate Park is back again. Pack up your coolers with beer and wine (non-glass bottles only) and head into the forest for non-stop twangy tunes. There are also a ton of local food vendors on hand, so don't worry too much about the perfect picnic goods. // Free to attend, find more info on hardlystrictlybluegrass.com.
FoodieLand Night Market
3pm to 11 pm, today through Sunday
Golden Gate Fields, 1100 Eastshore Highway (Berkeley), goldengatefields.com
FoodieLand Night Market is back with all the noods, boba, lumpia, skewers, bao, and more. Show up hungry, and get ready to eat your way through over 100 vendors at this Asian inspired street food fest, plus grab drinks and shop art and jewelry with live music and DJs going all weekend long. // Tickets ($5 and up, includes coupon book) are available on Eventbrite.
Experimental flamenco dancing show
8pm, today and Saturday
Presidio Theatre, 99 Moraga Avenue (Presidio), presidiotheatre.org
Over at this recently renovated theater, watch a moving flamenco performance from an Oakland dance group telling the stories of those who've dealt with abuse and their strength. // Tickets ($35-50) are available on sintoniadance.com.
Saturday, October 5th
An Oakland Cemetery Food Tour
4pm to 6pm
Meet outside The Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue (Oakland), oakland.chapelofthechimes.com
Now that it's officially October, it's time going to get right into the spooky, fun Halloween activities. Take this 2-hour guided tour through the massive Mountain View Cemetery and the enchanting Chapel of the Chimes. On the way you'll discover the ghostly resting places of many Bay Area figures—plus snacks including chocolate, cupcakes, and a special cocktail that all tie in to some of the legends buried beneath these hills. // Tickets ($40) can be found on localfoodadventures.com.
Yoga and Mimosas
11am to 2pm
Hotel Via, 138 King St. (SoMa), hotelviasf.com
Kickoff your weekend with a killer combo! First enjoy an hour long CorePower vinyasa flow class overlooking Oracle Park and the Bay from Hotel Via's rooftop, then mix and mingle with other yogis and reward yourself with bottomless mimosas and apps. // Tickets ($32) are available on Eventbrite.
Grand opening of The Lede
12pm to 10pm
The Lede, 906 Washington St. (Oakland), theledeoakland.com
Whenever a Chez Panisse alum starts a new project, our ears perk up. Cal Peternell, a previous chef at the aforementioned restaurant, has just opened The Lede. The space is an old brewery and is pretty dreamy with a large outdoor space, a lot of brickwork, and numerous wall plants. Come by today for the grand opening and tasty Californian food made with local ingredients—pastas, sandwiches, cheese plates, soups and an array of duck dishes in the form of sandwiches, salads, and just solo.
Corks, Forks, Rhythm and Brews
12pm to 3pm
City of Alameda City Hall West, W Midway Ave. (Alameda), alamedapointinfo.com
Finish off festival season with a tasty spread of beers, wine, and food trucks. There will be eats from 20+ vendors and entertainment by a Neil Diamond tribute band. On hand you'll find a lot of wine, beer, and spirits by the likes of Drake's Brewing Company, Bent Creek Winery, Calicraft Brewing Company, Magnolia Brewing Co., Rock Wall Wine Co., Faction Brewing, Alameda Island Brewing Company, Taylor Family Vineyards, and Almanac Beer Co.—so come thirsty. // Tickets ($100) can be found on corksforksonthepoint.com.
Stomp grapes!
11am to 4pm
Belden Barns Winery, 5561 Sonoma Mountain Rd. (Santa Rosa), beldenbarns.com
Get ready for some purple feet as you pound some grapes into next year's wine. After you've done your part, wine taste through the property's various vintages, and sample some of the produce grown onsite with the owners in the fields. Pro-tip: bring your own picnic lunch. // Tickets ($30) are available on beldenbarns.com.
BBQ Without Borders
5pm to 9pm
Impact Hub Oakland, 2323 Broadway (Oakland), oakland.impacthub.net
Gather at this easy bay event to celebrate immigrant chefs in the Bay Area. There will be bbq food by multiple chefs for purchase in a variety of cuisines including Indonesian, Northern Iranian and Mexican. In between bites, take in singers, dancers, art vendors, short films, and a discussion panel. All proceeds support the National Immigrant Justice Center and Pangaea Legal Services. // Find tickets ($20-90) on Eventbrite.
Sunday, October 6th
SweatCon Fitness Festival
10am to 4pm (classes start after 1pm)
Fort Mason Gallery 308, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina), fortmason.org
Check out this new work-out event that's pretty much guaranteed to leave you beyond sore. Things start with a party at Fort Mason (yay!) with a braid bar, bites, juice bar, photo booth and DJ music—and a swag bag, score. After that, you pick one of 10 "tracks" across 5 different neighborhoods where you get to hit up 2-3 workouts back to back. SoulCycle, CorePower Yoga, Barry's, Uforia Studios, OrangeTheory and Pure Bare are some of the many studios participating. Our glutes are already aching. // Tickets ($75) can be found on Eventbrite. More event info on sweatconrally.com.
"Farm to City" fundraising gala
5pm to 10pm
Grand Hall (second floor) of the SF Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero), ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
This is one of the most stunning events by the CUESA team. Join them for a long table dinner in the glowing upper level of the ferry building for their Sunday Supper celebration. This feast includes four courses put together by 45 top local chefs with only the best farm ingredients and produce around. And keep the giving going with both live and silent auctions during the evening. // Tickets ($325) are available on cuesa.org.
End your weekend with a bonfire
Ocean Beach (Outer Sunset)
Enjoy the last few days of our Indian Summer heat with a bonfire at Ocean Bach before fall really kicks into gear. The fire pits at Ocean Beach will close at the end of October, so this the perfect time to take advantage of fog-less nights and slightly warmer evening breezes to enjoy the oceanside. // Find more details on the free fire pits at nps.gov.
