Super Bowl 50 is just around the corner, and San Francisco is about to be jam-packed with activities and events. You should already be well-versed in the upcoming Alicia Keys concert, but here are five more activities worth checking out, whether you care about football or not.
San Francisco Symphony’s Live Overture to the NFL’s Best Plays
NFL royalty will be out in full force next week, when the SF Symphony puts on a live accompaniment to the greatest tackles, blocks, snaps, punts, and touchdowns that the Emmy-winning NFL Films can offer, all projected on the big screen. Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen is hosting the event, and his buddy Ronnie Lott is co-hosting the pre-performance “ultimate tail gate,” a fundraiser for the Symphony’s education programs. Paging Joe Montana: There’s a wagyu slider, a future photo bomb, and a seat next to ours with your name on it. —Leilani Marie Labong // February 3-4, 201 Van Ness Avenue (Civic Center); sfsymphony.org/buy-tickets
"A Look at the Bay Area’s Most Unique Super Bowl" at NUMU Los Gatos
(Photo courtesy of Jim Steeg)
Did you know that in 1985, the Super Bowl was held at Stanford University, making it the fourth college stadium to host a Super Bowl? One of the most unique games in NFL history (Joe Montana and the Niners had a hometown advantage against Dan Marino and the Dolphins), you can see all the memorabilia from this moment in football history at NUMU Los Gatos this week, including a series of Apple seat cushions provided by the tech giant—who has released their first Macintosh just the year before—to help prevent splintering from the wooden benches at the stadium. Also on display: Super Bowl championship rings and the coin President Ronald Reagan flipped to start the game. // January 21 – March 27, 106 E. Main Street (Los Gatos); numulosgatos.org
Art Span Art Walk
ArtSpan is partnering with the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee to present the works of ten local artists at Super Bowl City in San Francisco. The chosen artists—Annie Galvin, Carol Kummer, Chad Hasegawa, Eric Rewitzer, Michele de la Menardiere, Paul Madonna, Phillip Hua, Rachel Znerold, Spencer Brown, and Stacey Carter— will present pieces that celebrate California, from landscapes of Yosemite to the urban sprawl of SF, and from the Gold Rush to today's tech-dominated economy. Show your support for local artists by stopping by. // January 30–February 7: Justin Herman Plaza (Embarcadero); artspan.org/community-engagement
Fireworks + Festivals at Macy's
If you're around Union Square, it's worth stopping by Macy’s flagship store to join the pre-Super Bowl party. Over the next week, festivities will include two fireworks shows over the Bay Bridge, day time activities at Macy’s Star Zone (including a game-day fashion show and performance by Alyssa Milano), a three-day Sports Illustrated fan festival (test out your QB skills in the interactive end zone), and a variety of in-store special events and player appearances. You may never want to leave. // Feb 4-6, Macy’s Union Square, Level 4; macys.com/endzone
Taste of the NFL
(Photo Courtesy of Taste of the NFL)
It wouldn't be Super Bowl Week without delicious tailgate food! Taste of the NFL will feature 36 different top chefs—one from each NFL city—to really get your taste buds tingling. Bump elbows with hosts Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods and Adam Richman of Man v Food as well as local celebrities and some of your favorite NFL players, before catching a performance from SF-based band Third Eye Blind, and eating until you have to be rolled home. // February 6: 2600 Geneva Ave (Daly City); Get tickets here.
Plan on getting around the City next week? Memorize this map of street closures:
