Prepare to eat. This week's events are food happy to say the least, with headliners including Presidio Picnic and Taste of the Nation.
You'll also find plenty of arts and culture with the opening of The Jungle, the 21st Annual Sonoma International Film Festival, Friday night at OMCA, The Crucible's spring open house, and more. Have a great week!
Monday, March 25th
Dino Days
When: Through May 5th
Where: East Garden of Cal Academy, 55 Music Concourse Drive (Golden Gate Park), calacademy.org
Life-size animatronic dinosaurs are taking over the gardens of Cal Academy, featuring our reptilian friends from the Late Cretaceous period (75 – 65 million years ago). You can also practice your excavation skills in two fossil pits and create dino-themed arts & crafts. // Tickets ($36) can be found on calacademy.org.
An Anti-Tasting Menu Tasting Menu
When: 5:30pm and 7:30pm seatings, Mondays through Wednesdays
Where: Comstock Saloon, 155 Columbus Ave (North Beach), comstocksaloon.com
This classic spot has a new chef's tasting menu, or rather an "anti-tasting menu tasting menu." In other words, expect this eight-course meal, changing daily, to be fun, engaging, and not overly formal. (Expect a few bonus surprise courses.) Dishes might include rock cod tiradito, har gow tortellini, and braised kakuni pork belly—plus breakfast coffee cake to take home. // The meal is $55 per person, and reservations can made via chefstastingmenu.wordpress.com.
Tuesday, March 26th
Verjus, the new Spanish-inspired wine and tapas bar from the team behind Quince and Cotogna.
(Christopher Stark)
The Jungle
When: 7pm, with shows running through May 19th
Where: The Curran, 445 Geary St. (Tendernob), sfcurran.com
Spend an evening at the theater for a most anticipated new show: The Jungle follows the lives of migrants in a refugee camp in Calais, France as they escape war and persecution while learning to survive in a new type of world. // Tickets ($59 and up) can be found at sfcurran.com.
Weekday Wine Bar Lunching
When: 11:30am to 4:30pm, Tuesdays through Fridays
Where: Verjus, 528 Washington St. (Jackson Square), verjuscave.com
Verjus, the highly anticipated wine bar and cafe from the folks behind Quince and Cotogna, is now open—and has just begun serving lunch. Pop over midday for a three-course menu and optional half-glass wine pairings—i.e. enough to get the job done before you scuttle back to the office. Menu items will change regularly, but expect seasonal dishes of vegetables, lamb, and rhubarb clafoutis. // The menu is $31/person, with $12 for pairings.
Female Founders in Food
When: 6pm to 9pm
Where: 222 Second St. (SoMa)
Hosted by Robyn Sue Fisher (Smitten Ice Cream) and Helen Russell (Equator Coffee), this panel will celebrate women founders in the F&B world and survey how they can leverage their positions to help build up others around them. Industry participants will incude Linda Esposito (La Cocina), Caitlin Landesberg (Sufferfest Beer), and Lenore Estrada (Three Babes Bakeshop). // Tickets ($10) can be found at eventbrite.com; proceeds support Girls Inc.
Wednesday, March 27th
22nd Annual Sonoma International Film Festival
When: Through March 31st
Where: Venues throughout Sonoma, sonomafilmfest.org
Today kicks off the Sonoma International Film Festival featuring more than 90 documentaries, animated, feature-length, foreign, and short films, all within walking distance of Sonoma's main plaza. Don't miss Botero, the documentary about Colombian figurative artist Fernando Botero, on the 28th and 29th. // Film Card Packages ($50) include four films; all-festival passes start at $325 and come with extra perks; tickets and info at sonomafilmfest.org.
Citizen Cope
When: 8pm
Where: August Hall, 420 Mason (Tenderloin)
He's played with Santana, Dido, and Dave Matthews Band. Catch Citizen Cope's blues/rock sound tonight at August Hall. Stay for the bowling. // Tickets ($46) at ticketweb.com.
Thursday, March 28th
Ice Cream Partaaaay
When: 1pm to 9:30pm
Where: Humphry Slocombe, 2948 College Ave. (Berkeley), humphryslocombe.com
Humphry Slocombe is opening its fifth Bay Area scoop shop. Swing by the new Rockridge locale anytime today for free scoops of their signature flavors (like our all-time fav, Secret Breakfast). They'll also be sourcing ingredients for new ice creams from local Berkeley providers like Eclipse Food Co., La Tourangelle, Rare Barrel Brewery, Renewal Mill, and TCHO. // Free to attend, $1 donation to their charity partner, Project Open Hand, encouraged. Event info on Facebook.
Taste of the Nation
When: 6:30pm to 9pm
Where: Regency Ballroom, 1290 Sutter St. (Nob Hill)
Graze at table upon table laden with bites from several of the best restaurants in town—think Ayala, Frances, Sorrel, and China Live—at this annual fundraiser benefiting No Kid Hungry. Wash it all down with unlimited wine pours, cocktails, and beer. // Tickets ($150 and up) are available events.nokidhungry.org.
Traditional Agave Spirit Dinner
When: 6:30pm
Where: Comal, 2020 Shattuck Ave. (Berkeley), comalberkeley.com
Dig into this special, four-course Oaxacan-style dinner with pairings of artisanal Mexican spirits. Plates will include wild shrimp ceviche, cauliflower soup, carnitas tacos, and an Oaxacan chocolate budin. Three spirits producers—from Siembra, Mezonte, and Pajarote brands—will be on hand to talk up their intoxicating brews. // Tickets ($75/person) include of food, mezcal, and service charge, and can purchased on ticketfly.com.
Yoga + Wine
When: 8pm
Where: Moongate Lounge, 28 Waverly Place (Upstairs from Mister Jiu's) (Chinatown), moongatelounge.com
What's better than practicing your downward dog before grabbing drinks at one of the coolest new bars in the city? That's what we thought. Head over to Moongate Lounge for a stretch sesh, then indulge in four tasting pours of natural wines curated by Louisa Smith. // Tickets ($55) can be found on Tock.
Friday, March 29th
Friday Night @ OMCA
When: 5pm to 9pm
Where: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. (Oakland)l, museumca.org
DJ, dance classes, and DIY clay fossils are all part of the after-hours fun at OMCA, where you can peruse all the current exhibits—including Black Power and Take Root: Oakland Grows Food—grab snacks from Off the Grid food trucks and brews from Blue Oak Beer Garden. You can also shop the marketplace of Bay Area artisan goods. // Full schedule of events is available online.
Diva Royale Drag Queen Show
When: 7:30pm
Where: Hue Lounge, 447 Broadway (North Beach), huesf.com
Catch dinner and a show hosted by Diva Drag Queen and her squad of divas like Madonna, Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, Liza Minnelli, Adele, Nicki Minaj, Whitney Houston, Sia, Brittany Spears, and Beyonce among other personalities. Wanna skip the dinner? Tickets for just the show are available too. // Tickets ($20 and up) are available on eventbrite.com.
Saturday, March 30th
Easter French Fair
When: 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Le Marché, 1144 Sutter St. (Nob Hill), lemarchesf.com
Francophiles can spend a blissful weekend perusing Frenchy goods and nibbling raclette, croques, and croissant from Le Marais Bakery at this family-friendly Easter fair with baguette twist. Look out for live music, games, and face painting and an easter egg hunt for the kids. // Free to attend; more info on Facebook.
Easter-Themed TreasureFest
When: 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday
Where: 500 Avenue N. (Treasure Island), treasurefest.com
TreasureFest is back, this time with a hoppin' theme. Scour the market to find golden eggs containing $250 worth of TreasureFest tokens to spend at the market. There will also be BOGO Mimosas from 10am to 11am, and jazz and funk music by the Kenya B Trio. // GA tickets are $4 online, or $7 at the gate; GA passes including drinks ($22-$36) are also available online only. Kids under 12 are free.
Open House at The Crucible
When: Noon to 5pm
Where: The Crucible, 1260 7th St. (West Oakland), thecrucible.org
Oakland's beloved arts education org, The Crucible, is hosting a special day of activities like ceramics, indigo dyeing, leather working, henna, and copper stamping. There will be live demos, fire performances, and an on-site art gallery. You can also explore exhibits about media forms such as neon, glass blowing, mold making, blacksmithing, and more. Food trucks and beer will also be offered. // Free to attend; get $25 off Crucible classes if you register at the event.
Dessert Festival
When: 12:30pm to 4pm
Where: SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St. (SoMa), somarts.org
Satisfy your sugar cravings at this epic dessert tasting event featuring treats from Frozen Kuhsterd, Bi-Rite, Three Twins Ice Cream, and Johnny Doughnuts (they're bringing a 10-foot doughnut wall, hello). Expect tasty cocktails, too. // Tickets ($35-$55) can be found on eventbrite.com; a portion of proceeds benefit the SF-Marin Food Bank.
Sunday, March 31st
Presidio Picnic
When: 11am to 4pm, Sundays through early October
Where: Main Parade Ground, Sheridan Ave (Presidio)
Our favorite way to laze about on a sunny (cross your fingers) Sunday has returned. This year kicks off with a performance from the Ohlone Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe, with follow-up dances from various groups happening on the third Sunday of each month. Taste from more than 30 food vendors curated by Off the Grid, including newbies such as Milk & Waffles, Turontastic, and Bowl'd Acai. There are also bike safety classes for kids, arts and crafts, yoga, lawn games, and music. // Free to attend; food priced a la carte at each vendor. Find more event info on presidio.gov.
Sunday Streets
When: 11am to 4pm
Where: The Excelsior, Silver to Geneva Avenue
You guys know the drill: A one-mile stretch of SF street will be shut down today so we can all roam free. Take a walk or ride your bike, and explore the Excelsior's main drag along with local vendors and live music. There will also be a pop-up community park, dog adoptions from Petsville, and picnic grounds. Grab the Common Cents Passport at an info booth to guide your visit and potentially win prizes. // Free to attend, more info on sundaystreetssf.com.
Goodbye Party (and Sale!)
When: 4pm to 6pm
Where: Gather, 541 Octavia St. (Hayes Valley), gathersf.com
Gather, Hayes Valley's neighborhood boutique and craft workshop gathering place, is closing after five years. Head over for one last hoorah to shop discounted merch (everything is 20 percent off until store closes) and drinks. Keep an eye out for craft pop-ups and a potential East Bay store on the horizon. // Free to attend; more info on Facebook.
