(Courtesy of Daily Driver)
23 Fun Things: Stern Grove Festival, Corgi Con, a Warriors Watch Party + More Bay Area Events
10 June 2019
You could lay low and save your energy for the weekend's Stern Grove concert and North Beach Festival, but then you'd miss out on the rat bar popping up at the SF Dungeon, a very cool art show in Bolinas, the StarChefs gala, a delish new bagel spot, a breakfast pop-up at Che Fico Alimentari, a ceramics class, and more.
Have a most excellent week!
(Courtesy of @alembicsf)
Learn to craft your own cocktails with the help of the Alembic's expert mixologists.
Craft a tiki cocktail.
7pm to 9pm
The Alembic, 1725 Haight St. (Upper Haight), alembicsf.com
Make quintessentially Californian tiki cocktails with the best of the best—the mixologists at the Alembic. Learn some history, craft four drinks, enjoy a bite to eat and some conversation, and leave a little closer to being a cocktail connoisseur. // Tickets ($85) can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Get your pole dance on.
5:30pm and 7pm classes today
VRV3 Studios, 520 Haight St. (Lower Haight), vrv3studios.com
Get your fitness on with a fun pole dancing class at the new studio, VRV3. Pole dancing not your thing? They also have Lyra aerial hoop classes, or you can book a class that combines pole and hoop moves with parts of yoga, dance and ballet. Whatever you choose, you'll be getting a full body workout. // To celebrate the opening, all classes through Friday are $10 (classes will be $20-40 after). Classes can be booked on vrv3studios.com.
Warriors Watch Party
6pm
Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way (Oakland), oraclearena.com
Cheer on your favorite team from Oracle Arena as they take on the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Throw on your jersey and get ready for a performance by the Warriors dance team, giveaways, and much more. // A portion of proceeds will go to AEG Oakland Community Foundation and the Warriors Community Foundation. Tickets ($25) can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
Courtesy of Verjus
A French dip sandwich from the new to-go window at Verjus, weekday lunch only.
SF Jazz Festival
Through June 23rd
Today marks the official start of the SF Jazz Festival. Catch performances by Tia Fuller, Rudresh Mahanthappa, the Eric Alexander Quartet and more. // Tickets and schedule are available on sfjazz.org.
StarChefs 2019
7pm to 9:30pm
Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison St. (SoMa), terrasf.com
Some of the best chefs in the Bay Area are being recognized for their culinary achievements at this tasting party featuring 19 dishes, 19 drink pairings, and two signature cocktails. Award winners delivering bites tonight include Christa Chase (Tartine Manufactory), Robert Hernandez (Octavia), David Nayfeld (Che Fico), and Nicolas Torres (True Laurel). Yum. // Tickets ($100) are available on Eventbrite.
Grab a bite at Verjus—to go.
12pm to 3pm, Tuesday through Friday
To-go window located around the corner from Verjus, 528 Washington St. (Jackson Square), verjuscave.com
The Tusk team has added a special to-go window to their hit wine bar, Verjus, offering up weekday lunches to grab amidst your busy schedule. Munch on a menu of rotating sandwich special, starting of with a French dip ($12) and specialty sodas like iced tea, yuzu soda, and Kimino ume soda.
Channel the vibes of Peru
6pm to 9pm
La Mar Cebichería Peruana, Pier 1 1/2 (Embarcadero),lamarsf.com
Two Peruvian artists, Talavera Ballon and Miroslava Lipovec, are hosting an art show and Peruvian dinner. The duo will discuss their work, focused on social and cultural aspects of society related to immigrants. Chef Victoriano Lopez will follow up the show with a four-course meal paired with South American wines. // Tickets ($89) are available on Eventbrite.
Illusions of the Passed: A Theatrical Séance
7pm and 9pm shows
Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd. (San Jose), winchestermysteryhouse.com
Need a fresh reason to revisit Winchester Mystery House? Master magician Aiden Sinclair (America's Got Talent, Penn & Teller Fool Us) is in the house for an eerie Victorian-style séance, using antiques and relics to connect with those who've passed on. Can't make it tonight? There will be two more shows on July 17th. // Tickets ($59–$79) and are available online winchestermysteryhouse.com.
Stay Silly Comedy
8pm to 11pm
Cobb's Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave. (Russian Hill), cobbscomedy.com
Grab a drink and get ready to laugh yourself silly at this fun event held at Cobb's Comedy Club headlined by Kristen Frisk and hosted by Sydney Stigerts, with performances by a variety of up and coming local comedians. // Tickets ($9) can be purchased at Eventbrite.
(Courtesy of the San Francisco Dungeon)
Sip on an Ama-RAT-o Sour with a few furry friends.
Cocktails—and rat tails
7pm to 10 pm, through Saturday
The San Francisco Dungeon, 145 Jefferson St. (Fisherman's Wharf), thedungeons.com
Sure, you've heard of Cat Cafes, but ever considered sipping on cocktails with rodents? Enjoy an Ama-RAT-o Sour, play with free roaming rats, and take a tour of the Dungeon during this three-night event at SF's first bar to ever intentionally house the critters. The best part? The rats, supplied by Ratical Rodent Rescue, are all adoptable, so you can leave with a new furry friend! // Tickets ($49.99) include a signature cocktail and can be purchased on thedungeons.com.
Indian-style Omakase
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
August 1 Five, 524 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center), august1five.com
This posh Indian spot is mixing things up with a new weekday dinner series, At The Bar. Expect a five-course cocktail and dinner pairing menu centered around the theme Puns, Parables & Poem, inspired by California poet George Sterling's The City by The Sea. Looking at their website, we can deduce that oysters, crab, chicken, and pork ribs are in store, with some guaranteed impressive twists. // The dinner ($130) has just 10 seats per night and can be reserved on OpenTable.Vintage shopping night with St. Lightning
4pm to 8pm
The Assembly, 449 14th St. (Mission), theassembly.com
Looking to refresh your wardrobe before summer? Pop by this vintage shopping event to peruse clothing and accessories, discovered from L.A. to Paris. The St. Lightning team will be on hand to be your shopping gurus, along with their "denim doctor" to tailor any new duds—plus, wine. // Free to attend, RSVP required via theassembly.com.
(Courtesy of 4505 Burgers & BBQ)
Dive into a barbecue platter at 4505's new Oakland location.
4505 Burgers & BBQ Oakland
10:30am to 10pm, daily
4505 Burgers & BBQ Oakland, 3506 Macarthur Blvd. (Oakland), 4505burgersandbbq.com
Everyone in SF knows 4505 for their epic barbecue platters and their "best damn cheeseburger"—East Bay dwellers will be stoked to get their own meaty spot with the opening of a second location in Oakland. Expect a similar menu, a large outdoor patio, and a whole hog cooker onsite, delivering mouth-watering aromas daily. Bonus: They'll also have malt soft serve, and kids get a free cone with their meal.
Catch The Speakeasy before it's gone.
7:30pm
The Speakeasy's hidden location (North Beach), thespeakeasysf.com
One of our favorite all-out-themed ways to spend a night on the town, The Speakeasy is closing up shop on August 4th. Catch one of their last shows (on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays) before it's officially over. Never been? Don't miss it—you'll be transported to the 1920s in an immersive theater experience. Wander different rooms to explore the cabaret, casino, and bar while watching the drama between characters unfold (all with a cocktail in hand, of course). Make sure to wear your best decade-appropriate attire. // Tickets ($79 and up) can be found on thespeakeasysf.com.
Ceramic Pinch Pot Workshop
6pm to 8pm
Palette, 816 Folsom St. (SoMa), palette-sf.com
Palette, the new hybrid restaurant-art-gallery-studio-shop, has launched an array of arty events. Pop in for a ceramic class taught by their in-house ceramist focused on the pinching technique to create your clay masterpiece. Bites and wine from the restaurant portion will also be served throughout class—plus a special ice cream treat at the end. // Tickets ($90) can be found on palette-sf.com.
(Courtesy of Corgi Con)
Corgi Con at Ocean Beach.
Bagel time!
7am to 3pm on Saturday & Sunday; 6pm to 3pm on Wednesday through Friday
Daily Driver, 2535 3rd St. (Dogpatch), dailydriver.com
Daily Driver—a delicious bagel-centric bakery and restaurant—is officially open to the public. Stop by their new Dogpatch location to get fresh bagels with all kinds of toppings—housemade cultured butter, chevre, gravlax, fried egg, avocado, pastrami—you name it. In more of a lunch mood? There are bagel sandwiches including a bagel grilled cheese, lobster roll, and a bagel dog.
Corgi Con
10am to 2pm
Ocean Beach, between Stairwell 2 and 5 (Outer Richmond)
Prepare for hundreds of furry friends to descend upon Ocean Beach for this year's CorgiCon. There will be a group pic with all the pups, a costume contest, corgi races, and a "corgi ninja warrior," whatever that means. // Free to attend, find event details on corgicon.com
In Parallel: Windy Chien & Serena Mitnik-Miller
4pm to 7pm opening reception
Bolinas Museum, 48 Wharf Rd. (Bolinas), bolinasmuseum.org
Plan a day trip up to our favorite beach-chic town and stop in at the free Bolinas Museum for this new show (through Aug. 11) from two of our favorite local lady creatives. Look for watercolors by Mitnik–Miller (best known as the cofounder of SF's General Store) and rope art by Windy Chien (a recent guest on the 7x7 podcast). Make it to tonight's opening reception and meet the artists at a special gallery talk followed be a free concert in the courtyard. Guests can even try their hand at creating their own knot work at a special workshop station.
Daytime Disco
1pm to 6pm
Everdene, 250 Fourth St. (SoMa), virginhotels.com
Start the Pride celebrations early with a daytime party on this city's newest rooftop bar, featuring London-based DJ Wayne G. Disco attire is encouraged. Pro tip: Start the day with pre-game beats brunch at the Commons Club restaurant downstairs, with live DJ music and cocktail specials. // Tickets ($25) available on Eventbrite.
North Beach Festival
10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday
Grant Ave. and Vallejo St. and surrounding streets (North Beach)
Head over to North Beach for a leisurely Sunday at the neighborhood's 65th annual street fair. Grab a bite to eat from a selection of 20 gourmet food vendors, pick up some locally made crafts from 125 artisans, and enjoy live music at several stages. // Festival admission is free, find details at sf.funcheap.com.
Stern Grove Festival
2pm, Sundays through August 18th
Stern Grove, 19th Ave. and Sloat Blvd. (Parkside)
The annual outdoor concert series kicks off today with with Grammy-winning Digable Planets' mix of jazz and rap beats. Get there early to score some good seats. // Admission is free, or reserve a picnic table ($100 per guest, for 5 people or 10 people); see this summer's lineup on sterngrove.org.
Sound Meditation
3pm to 4:15pm
San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave. (Golden Gate Park),
Wind down your week with a complete body meditation accompanied by healing instruments including chimes, crystal bowls, planetary gongs, and the sounds and scents of the beautiful Botanical Garden. // Tickets ($28) can be purchased on Eventbrite.