It's election week! If you're looking to celebrate or commiserate among like-minded voters, we've got some events for you.
Plus, the holiday ice rink opens at Union Square this week, Magnolia Brewery celebrates a big anniversary, Goo Goo Dolls play the Fillmore, and Sports Basement hosts its annual SnowFest. Have a good one!
Monday, Nov. 5th
"Still They Persist: Protest Art of the 2017 Women's Marches"
When: Through Nov. 30th
Where: Pro Arts Gallery, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza (Oakland), proartsgallery.org
Why: The national touring exhibit makes its only Bay Area stop in Oakland with a curated archive of posters, sculptures, textiles, and photos that capture the climate surrounding the 2017 Inauguration Day Women's Marches around the country.
Hot, Fresh Omakase
When: Dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday
Where: The Shota, 115 Sansome St. (FiDi), theshotasf.com
Why: Chef Ingi "Shota" Son, who has hung his toque at both Morimoto in Napa and Omakase SF, leads the kitchen at just-opened restaurant The Shota, deftly slicing the catch flown in daily from Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market for high-quality sushi and Kaiseki-style cuisine. Two seatings are offered nightly at 5:30pm and 8pm.
Tuesday, Nov. 6th
Ralph Steadman Retrospective
When: Artist talk 5pm; reception 6:30 to 8:30pm
Where: Haight Street Art Center (215 Haight St.), haightstreetart.org
Why: More than 100 original artworks will take you on a trip through the 60-year career of renegade artist Ralph Steadman, a longtime collaborator of Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson and whose illustrated version of Alice in Wonderland (which we picked up in our college days) remains one of the coolest books on our shelf. Steadman—who still regularly contributes work to publications including The New Yorker—will be in the house for tonight's opening. // The reception is free and open to the public. Seats are limited for the talk; make a free reservation at haightstreetart.org.
Election Night
When: 7pm to 10pm
Where: The Wing, 115 Sansome St., Suite #200 (FiDi), the-wing.com
Why: Kill two birds with a fly-by at this well-feathered new women's coworking space that will be screening live election results—with wine. // Event is free and open to all; RSVP required at eventbrite.com.
League of Pissed Off Voters Election Night Party
When: 8pm
Where: El Rio, 3158 Mission St. (Mission)
Why: Get real-time election results in the company of drunk and similarly disgruntled Democrats.
Goo Goo Dolls
When: 8pm
Where: The Fillmore, 1805 Geary St. (Fillmore)
Why: Can you believe its been 20 years since Dizzy Up the Girl? (We're not talking to you, Millennials.) Relive your glory days tonight at The Fillmore as the Goo Goo Dolls celebrate the anniversary of their career-launching album. // Tickets ($168) are available at concerts1.livenation.com.
Wednesday, Nov. 7th
OMG the holiday ice rink is here!
When: 10am to 11:30pm daily, through January 21st
Where: Union Square, visitunionsquaresf.com
Why: Halloween is so last week. Tonight, get in the winter holiday spirit by lacing up your skates at the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink at Union Square. The opening ceremony goes down at 9:30am with appearances by Olympic ice skating champion Brian Boitano, assembly member David Chiu, drag royalty Donna Sachet, and San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal. // Tickets ($18/adults, $13/children) can be purchased in person or in advance at unionsquareicerink.com.
A Chocolate-y Dinner at Cala
When: 7pm to 9:30pm
Where: Cala, 149 Fell St. (Hayes Valley), calasf.com
Why: We don't need an excuse to eat too much and spend too much money at chef Gabriela Camara's Cala—the Hayes Valley Mexican restaurant is one of our favorites in town. But tonight, Cala's dishing out a multi-course savory feast to celebrate the 150th anniversary of SF's own Guittard Chocolate. You know what that means? Sweets! // Tickets ($90) are available on eventbrite.com.
Hump! Film Festival
When: Nov. 7-10, and Nov. 14-17
Where: Victoria Theatre, 296116th St. (Mission)
Why: You want to like porn. Well, kinda sorta—but it's just so...porn-y. Check out sex columnist Dan Savage's modern porn fest—Hump!—which brings its short-film series starring real people of all genders, ages, shapes, sizes, colors, and fetishes (no porn stars here) getting it on in San Francisco for the first time ever. // Must be 21+ to attend. For more info, schedule, and tickets ($25), go to humpfilmfest.com.
Thursday, Nov. 8th
Fort Point's Manzanita Launch Party
When: 6pm to 10pm
Where: Madrone Art Bar, 500 Divisadero St. (NoPa), madroneartbar.com
Why: You're sick of pumpkin-spiced bevos. Gather around for something a little different yet equally autumnal: Manzanita, a smoky fall beer from Fort Point Beer Company. Join their team for a special release party and get down to live piano music, snag some swag, and meet the head brewer who'll be on hand to discuss the finer points of this nutty, herbal altbier. (We know what we'll be drinking on our camping trips this month.) // Event is free to attend, beer is $5; for more details, go to facebook.com.
Girls in Tech Speaker Series
When: 6 to 8:30pm
Where: Warby Parker, 216 Stockton St. (Union Square)
Why: Rub elbows with boss women in tech—including Megan Cartwright, ThirdLove's Head of Data Science—at the hipster spectacles brand's new Union Square store tonight. You'll hear talks from three speakers, mingle, and shop. Enter the raffle for a chance to win a Warby gift card. // For more info, go to facebook.com.
Friday, Nov. 9th
SF Transgender Film Festival
When: Starting 8pm Friday
Where: The Roxie, 3117 16th St. (Mission)
Why: Running through Sunday, Nov. 11, the fest brings international films by and about transgender people to the Mission. // Tickets (sliding scale) are available at brownpapertickets.com.
A '20s-Style Glam Fest
When: 8pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday
Where: Barbarossa Lounge, 714 Montgomery St. (Jackson Square), barbarossalounge.com
Why: Don your glitter headbands and fringe for a Gatsby-themed fete—featuring a contortionist, a magician, DJs, dancing, and specialty themed cocktails—to celebrate the third anniversary of Barbarossa. // Register for free at eventbrite.com.
Prohibition Pong
When: 9pm to 1:30am
Where: Spin, 690 Folsom St., #100
Why: Keep the Gatsby vibes going all night long with another 1920s-themed outing at Spin, which is hosting a private ping pong party. Say five little words at the door to gain access. // Register for free at eventbrite.com.
Saturday, Nov. 10th
Truffle Cooking Class
When: 3pm to 7pm
Where: Civic Kitchen, 2961 Mission St. (Mission)
Why: Fall means earthy, foraged goodness. Learn to cook with fungi at this hands-on Italian cooking class where you'll make porcini risotto, creamed eggs with white truffles, and mushroom flan with cheese fondue and black truffles. // Tickets ($145) are available at civickitchensf.com.
SF Bacon + Beer Classic
When: Noon to 10pm
Where: AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza (Embarcadero)
WhY; Because bacon. And beer. Dive into a day full of lawn games, live music, 30+ bacon dishes, 100+ regional breweries, and even a bacon eating contest. Oh yeah. // Tickets ($56-$119) are available on eventbrite.com.
SF Open Studios
When: 11am to 6pm
Where: Mission, Castro, Noe Valley, and Duboce Triangle
Why: Catch the last weekend of the month-long artist studio tour organized by ArtSpan and discover (and collect!) the works of various painters, photographers, printmakers, glassblowers, sculptors, and more. // Event is free; more info is available at artspan.org.
Sunday, Nov. 11th
Magnolia Brewing's 21st Anniversary
When: 10am to 10pm
Where: Magnolia Haight, 1398 Haight St. (Haight-Ashbury); and Magnolia Dogpatch, 2505 3rd St. (Dogpatch); magnoliabrewing.com
Why: Magnolia Brewing is celebrating its 21st anniversary with a special deal: Buy a house beer for $3.25—the same price it was on Magnolia's opening day in 1997. While you're there, try one of their 12 new IPAs made in collaboration with 21st Amendment Brewing for the month of November.
New Patio Alert!
When: During business hours
Where: Birba Wine Bar, 458 Grove St. (Hayes Valley), birbawine.com
Why: The cute neighborhood wine bar Birba has finally opened its back patio. Nestle yourself into the garden greenery, order up a cheese plate and some bubbles, and toast to Sunday Funday.
White Truffle + Barolo Dinner
When: Two seatings, 5:30pm and 8pm
Where: Sorrel, 3228 Sacramento St. (Presidio Heights), sorrelrestaurant.com
Why: Tis the season for truffles. Indulge in a rich, eight-course dinner starring the beloved autumn ingredient, prepared by Sorrel chef Alex Hong. // Tickets ($295/person, $150/wine pairings) are available at brownpapertickets.com.
Sports Basement SnowFest
When: 11am to 4pm
Where: Sports Basement, 610 Mason St. (Presidio), sportsbasement.com
Why: Gear up for ski season at Sports Basement's annual winter shopping fair, stocked with merch from more than 30 primo brands. You can also pick up some lift tickets, enter their raffle, and enjoy a few beers. When you spend $100, you'll snag a 2-for-1 voucher to Squaw Alpine or a lift ticket to Bear Valley, while supplies last. // Event is free to attend; RSVP at eventbrite.com.
