This week is all about variety—learn to make kombucha or a succulent bouquet; attend wine or mezcal dinners, score deals from local shops and, as always, eat very, very well.
Monday, March 5-11: 7 Days of Women in Food
When: Evenings
Where: Various venues in SF and the East Bay
Why: In honor of International Women's Day on Thurs. March 8th, some of the Bay Area's most talented female chefs are collaborating for a week of celebratory dinners. The week kicks off at Rich Table with a dinner by Sarah and Evan Rich and chef Isabel of El Buen Comer; other highlights include chel Reem Assil (Reem's California) and Preeti Mistry (Juhu Beach Club) in Oakland; Bini Pradhan (Bini's Kitchen) with Traci Des Jardins (Jardiniere) at La Cocina Commissary Kitchen; and Gabriela Camara (Cala) with Alicia Villanueva (Tamales Los Mayas) at Alicia's Factory. // Tickets ($65) benefit La Cocina and are available at womeninfood.org
Monday March 5-6: Hear Contemporary Jazz Pianist Keiko Matsui
When: 7:30pm (doors), 8pm (show)
Where: Yoshi's 510 Embarcadero West (Oakland), yoshis.com
Why: The internationally acclaimed pianist, composer and humanitarian Keiko Matsui will be playing with a stellar group of musicians including Carlitos Del Puerto, son of famed Irakere founder and bassist Carlos Del Puerto. She'll also have a guitarist, percussionist, harmonica player, and string section.
Make a gorg arrangement at a succulent workshop with wine.(Courtesy of McEvoy Ranch)
Tuesday, March 6: DIY Kombucha
When: 7:15pm to 8:45pm
Where: Oaktown Spice Shop, 546 Grand Ave. (Oakland), oaktownspiceshop.com
Why: Learn to brew your favorite fermented beverage with additional spices and flavors at this workshop where you'll also learn about kombucha's history and healthy benefits. Take home a starter kit that includes a brewing vessel, SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria), starter liquid, sample tea, cloth cover, and illustrated instructions. // Tickets ($50) are available online.
Wednesday, March 7: Take a Spiritual Cannabis Journey
When: 7pm to 9pm
Where: Private SoMa location (emailed upon sign up)
Why: Learn how to create daily rituals combining crystals, stones, meditation, and cannabis as part of your spiritual practice. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. // Tickets ($15) are available at getsava.com.
Wednesday, March 7: Drink Mezcal
When: 5:30pm to 10pm
Where: Arguello, 50 Moraga Ave. (Presidio), arguellosf.com
Why: Enjoy Arguello's signature Mexican dishes, served buffet-style and paired with four different pours of Del Maguey's Single Village Mezcal, as well as red and green sangrita. There will also be an interactive cocktail-making station. // Reservations ($75) must be made in advance online.
Thursday, March 8: Attend a Winemaker Dinner
When: 6:30pm
Where: Del Popolo, 855 Bush St. (TenderNob), delpopolosf.com
Why: Because you still haven't been in the garden at Del Popolo, and this is their first winemaker dinner—the vino will come courtesy of Subject to Change Wine Co. And because Chris Kronner (Kronnerburger) is guest chefing. // Tickets ($90) include food, drinks, tax and service. Space is limited; reservations available at delpopolosf.com.
Thursday, March 8: Taste Surprising Fusion Fare
When: 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: Francisca's, 50 Moraga Ave. (Presidio), franciscassf.com
Why: Manny Torres (formerly of A16, SPQR, Quince, and Coi) launches his take on Venezuelan-meets-Italian cuisine with an affordable offering of a la carte options as well as a tasting menu at the reopened Francisca's. Try cornmeal arepas stuffed with burrata, pesto pasta with crab and avocado, and carbonara with trout roe.
Thursday, March 8: Make Something Cute
When: 7pm to 9pm
Where: Gather, 541 Octavia St. (Hayes Valley), gathersf.com
Why: Attend a leather moon bag workshop ($55) to score some basic skills in leather punching, tanning, cutting patterns, hand-stitching and finishing—and take home your own chic little pouch. There will be wine, snacks, and a discount on store merch.
Friday, March 9: See Local Art
When: 6pm to 9pm
Where: Rare Device Gallery, 600 Divisadero St. (Fillmore), raredevice.net
Why: Because everyone loves Rare Device, which is hosting its annual employee gallery exhibition, Verdantly Still, inspired by the team's fascination with plants. Look for works in mediums from paint to metal, by artists including Annie Amundsen, Lauren Brunsvik, Kayla Conyer, Isalina Chow, Giselle Gyalzen, Dave Medal, Sarah Rogers Miller, Erin Rice, Rachel T. Robertson, and Jenn Zipp.
Saturday, March 10: Join a Pottery Party
When: 5pm to 9pm
Where: Dusted and Blue, 1242 Mason St. (Nob Hill), dustedandblue.com
Why: You'll hang with creative peeps, listen to cool music, and peruse hand-thrown works by potter Sam Lee, who's celebrating the opening of her ceramics studio and store, which will also host pottery wheel classes.
Saturday, March 10: Chow a Jamaican Brunch
When: 10am to 3pm
Where: Kaya, 1420 Market St. (Civic Center), kayasf.com
Why: Kaya, Market Street's new modern Jamaican restaurant from chefs Nigel Johnson and Daniel Patterson, launches brunch service with cinnamon French toast with coconut-battered challah; caramelized black pepper tofu with a fried egg; salt fish fritters with chimichurri; fried plantains, and more.
Saturday, March 10th: Barry's Spring Fling
When: 7:30pm
Where: Hotel Zeppelin, 545 Post St. (TenderNob), viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
Why: Party with Barry's Bootcamp for access to a hosted bar (for the first hour), bites from Rambler, and music by Bay Area DJs. // Tickets ($50) will benefit the Family Equality Council and are available at barrysspringfling.eventbrite.com.
Saturday, March 10: Wear Your Zodiac on Your Sleeve
When: Noon to 4pm
Where: Hero Shop, 982 Post St. (TenderNob), heroshopsf.com
Why: Because it's always sweater weather in SF. Pick up a snuggly new one and get it personalized with your initials or zodiac sign when knitwear brand Le Lion pops up today at 7x7 Style Council honoree Emily Holt's Hero Shop. // RSVP at TUKE Consulting.
Sunday, March 11: Potluck in Wine Country!
When: 11am to 3pm
Where: The Charter Oak1050 Charter Oak Ave (St. Helena), thecharteroak.com
Why: This casual, meat-centric eatery from Meadowood's Michelin-starred chef, Christopher Kostow, is hosting a "potluck" brunch with some of his very talented chef friends. The family-style brunch—put together by the likes of Melissa Perello (Octavia, Frances) and Ravi Kapur (Liholiho Yacht Club)—will benefit El Cajon Project, a nonprofit that places at risk youth in fine dining kitchens. // Tickets are $150/person; for reservations, call 707.302.5583 or go to opentable.com; thecharteroak.com/news-listings/guest-chef-potluck-series.
Sunday March 11: Sunday Streets, Mission Style
When: 11am to 4pm
Where: Valencia Street, from Duboce Avenue to 26th Street, sundaystreetssf.com
Why: In its 10th year, Sunday Streets is taking over Valencia for a day of car-free community. Let the kids run, play, and bike while you peruse beloved local shops like Dog-Eared Books, longtime restaurants (hello, Puerto Alegre) and maybe even check out some of the 'hood's cultural institutions such as The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.
Sunday, March 11: Make a Succulent Bouquet
When: 10:30am to 1pm
Where: McEvoy Ranch, 5935 Red Hill Rd. (Petaluma), mcevoyranch.com
Why: You're curious about propagating, designing, and caring for succulent gardens, and you'll be very happy to take home a lovely DIY arrangement of your own. This workshop ($85) also includes a tour of the absolutely beautiful McEvoy Ranch, as well as a wine flight and olive oil tasting.
Sunday, March 11-12: The Shops Sale
When: Noon to 4pm
Where: Temescal Brewing, 4115 Telegraph Ave. (Oakland), temescalbrewing.com
Why: There's no better way we can think of to shop than to hit up more than a dozen of our favorite local stores (think Gather, Neeko, Dandelion Post, Seedstore, Resurrect, Field Day, Oak Common, and more), all gathered in one place (that serves beer) and offering major markdowns (50 to 80 percent off). // RSVP at facebook.com.
