Two words: Taco takeover.
On Friday, Off the Grid at Fort Mason will answer life's most pressing question: Who makes the best taco in town?
Plus, Fleet Week is back (well, maybe?), a Tim Burton–inspired pop-up bar feels right for spooky season, Good Good Culture Club and Liholiho Yacht Club are raising funds for Lahaina, and more.
Have a good one.
Find a rooftop and pop some bubbly—it’s Fleet Week. Well, maybe. For the first time since 2013, Fleet Week may be canceled due to the pending government shutdown. However, organizers and local businesses have their fingers crossed that festivities willcontinue as usual. If they do, catch free neighborhood concerts, art exhibits, sports tournaments, ship tours, and more. The big action is Friday through Sunday when the Blue Angels airshows take to the skies performing aerial stunts, flips, and tricks; Monday through Sunday. // Full itinerary at fleetweeksf.org.
Sing along to the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show at a screening of the original unedited movie with a live shadow cast and audience participation. Plus, a costume contest, and artifacts on display from the original movie; Monday at 8pm. // Curran Theater, 445 Geary St. (TenderNob); tickets at broadwaysf.com
Explore 17 pop-up shops inside formerly vacant storefronts in Downtown San Francisco as part of the city-funded "Vacant to Vibrant" program. For opening week, you can expect special events like the Sucka Flea Night Market with illuminated art, a Devil's Teeth Baking Co. drag show, hemming classes with Holy Stitch! and more. // Pop-up locations and hours at vibrantsf.org
Get into the spooky spirit at an immersive pop-up bar inspired by film director Tim Burton. For the month of October, you can experience haunting decor, themed drinks, games, and ghosts; Wednesday to October 31. // Storek, 149 9th St. (SoMa); tickets at explorehidden.com
Find yourself amazed by Mother Earth at NightLife: The Art of Nature. Dive into the world of underwater kelp forest ecosystems with a talk and photography showcase from 2023 BigPicture “Aquatic Life” winner Kate Vylet; enjoy a special Planetarium presentation featuring live music by Fire and Grace as neuroscientist Indre Viskontas takes you on a journey through this years’ winning BigPicture photos while learning about the impact of these images on our mind and world at large; and much more; Thursday at 6pm. // California Academy of Sciences (Golden Gate Park); tickets at calacademy.org
Get your kebab fix at the 68th Annual Armenian Food Festival. Taste your way through a range of authentic cuisine while also enjoying Armenian folk dancing, live music, art, and more; Friday, 5:30pm to 11pm and Saturday, noon to 11pm. // St. Vartan Armenian Church, 650 Spruce St. (Oakland); details at stvartanoakland.com
Head to the Fort Point Beer Garden for Ferry Flicks. At sundown on Fridays in October you can catch an outdoor screening of a classic, SF-based film. Up first: Mrs. Doubtfire. Tickets include picnic table seating and snacks. Plus, enjoy $5 draft pours before the show (5pm to 8pm); Friday at 7:30pm. // Fort Point Ferry Building (Embarcadero); tickets at eventbrite.com
It's time to decide who makes the best taco in town at Off the Grid's Taco Takeover. Fort Mason will transform into the biggest taqueria ever for your tasting pleasure while taco pros battle it out for bragging rights; Friday, 5pm to 10pm. // Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina); details at offthegrid.com
Explore the artists of Emeryville at the 37th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition. The carefully curated group show features nearly 200 pieces of artwork by 126 Emeryville artists spanning all media—from sculpture to furniture to poetry and dance. You can view the art, meet the artists, and join special events like poetry workshops and dance previews; 11am to 6pm, Wednesdays through Sundays in October. // Public Market Emeryville, 5905 Shellmound St. (Emeryville); details at emeryarts.org
Be the first to experience Trumer Brewery's renovated taproom at Trumer Oktoberfest. To celebrate, the beloved Berkeley brewery is hosting a Munich-style rager with traditional Bavarian food, live music from Polkageist West, stein hoisting and costume contests, and of course plenty of beer; Saturday, noon to 6pm. // Trumer Brewery, 1404 Fourth St. (Berkeley); tickets at eventbrite.com
Secure your seat for the grand finale of Kendall-Jackson's Farm-to-Table dinner series. Sip on wines from the famed estate before settling in for dinner in the vineyards prepared by two-time James Beard–nominated chef Kim Atler (Nightbird), featuring bounty from KJ's gardens and Snake River Farms' humanely raised and sustainable meats; Saturday at 5:30pm. // Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, 5007 Fulton Rd. (Santa Rosa); tickets at tock.com
Join the good folks from Good Good Culture Club and Liholiho at the Malama Maui Benefit & Marketplace, a party featuring food, drinks, artists and makers. Guests will receive a signed copy of Cook Real Hawaii by chef Sheldon Simeon, who will be visiting from Maui. One hundred percent of funds raised will be donated to the relief and rebuilding efforts in Lahaina; Sunday, 1pm to 4pm. PS: Also, make reservations for the restaurant group's benefit Malama Maui Dinner (Oct. 9) with guest chefs Pim Techamuanvivit (Nari, Kin Khao), Sri Gopanthan (Copra), and more. // Good Good Culture Club, 3560 18th St. (Mission); tickets at resy.com
Celebrate Oakland style at the launch of a new, annual five-day event highlighting local fashion, art, music, cuisine, and culture. Enjoy culinary experiences, cultural conversations, art walks, fashion shows, maker and designer marketplaces, musical performances, vintage shopping, and more; October 18-22. // Oakland Style events will take place at various venues in The Town. For a full schedule, go to visitoakland.com.
Thank you to our partners at Visit Oakland.
