24 Fun Things to Do This Week (10.19.20)
Erected in celebration of Golden Gate Park's 150th anniversary this past spring, the SkyStar observation wheel finally opens this week. (James Watkins, courtesy of SkyStar Wheel)

24 Fun Things to Do This Week (10.19.20)

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After months of waiting, you can finally catch major views from the top of Golden Gate Park's 150-foot SkyStar.

Plus, eat your way through the city during Eat Drink SF; get cooking tips from Ayesha Curry; crack up with your favorite comedians during the Oakland Comedy Fest; and get your movie fix during several film festivals this week.

Watch international shorts and feature-length films during the San Francisco Dance Film Festival. Tune in at home, and also snag tickets to live viewings at Catharine Clark Gallery; through October 25th. // Tickets for individual screenings and festival passes ($50) are available at sfdancefilmfest.org.


See works by 12 artists incarcerated at San Quentin State prison in MoAD's new digital exhibit, Meet Us Quickly: Painting for Justice from Prison. Curated by Rahsaan "New York" Thomas, the exhibit features 21 pieces in a variety of mediums, each accompanied by a written statement from the artist. // View on moadsf.org


Virtually attend the 10th Annual A.I.M. West International Film Festival, honoring Indigenous Peoples Day and the 50th Anniversary of the occupation of Alcatraz; through Thursday. // Details and viewing on roxie.com


Soar above Golden Gate Park with a ride on the finally-open 150-foot ferris wheel. Remember when the attraction was supposed to open back in April, in honor of GGP's 150th anniversary celebration? After months of sitting empty, it will finally begin spinning this Wednesday. // Reserve tickets ($10 per 12-minute ride for adults through Sunday ($18 after that); children ride free) on skystarwheel.com.

Chat with Ayesha Curry about her new book, The Full Plate: Flavor-Filled, Easy Recipes for Families with No Time and a Lot to Do. Moderated by San Francisco Chronicle food writer Justin Phillips, the convo will cover recipe development, becoming a better cook, and making family-friendly meals on the fly; 3:30pm Wednesday. // Tickets ($11/members, $16/nonmembers) at commonwealthclub.org


Test your knowledge of horror movies, haunted locales, and more during Super Spooky Trivia Night. You'll have a chance to win prizes from Square Pie Guys, Super Duper Burger, San Franpsycho, and Yeti; Wednesday at 7pm. // dothebay.com


Treat yourself to a collaborative omakase menu from the chefs at Ittoryu Gozu and Akiko's; seatings at 5pm and 8:30pm Wednesday and Thursday. // Reserve ($225/person) on Tock.


Visit the city's first Latina-owned cannabis dispensary—the Union Square address is the fourth location of STIIIZY, from Sunnyvale native Cindy De La Vega, opened through the Cannabis Equity program. (There's also one in the Mission.) // stiiizy.com

Jam out with Thundercat IRL (but in your car) during the first Bayshore Drive-In concert. Additional shows this week include Shiba San & J.Phlip, Major Lazor, and Pink Martini this weekend; Thursday. // Tickets on dothebay.com


Order takeout from Feastin, a new local-business-friendly meal delivery platform created by restaurateurs. You can get prepared dishes and meal kits from the likes of 620 Jones, Che Fico, Atelier Crenn, alaMar, and Palette Tea House, as well as grocery staples and even cocktails delivered to your door. The best part? The restaurants are charged zero fees or commissions, making it the most restaurant-friendly platform in the biz. // Order and see the menu on feastin.com.


Screen the award-winning documentary Reel in The Closet, in honor of LGBT History month. The film will be followed by a chat with filmmaker Stu Maddux and photographer/activist Daniel Nicoletta; Thursday at 6pm. // Register for free (donations encouraged) on Eventbrite.


Take Smuin Ballet's Democracy in Motion choreography seminar taught by Amy Seiwert. Using Zoom's polling feature, participants will vote on choreographic choices and see how their vote directly impacts the creative process. All proceeds will benefit the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government; Friday at 5:30pm. // Register (pay what you can) on smuinclasses.org/

Appreciate the Bay Area's culinary community with 10 days of dining during Eat Drink SF. The fest kicks off with A Taste of San Francisco, an opening night dinner at The Vault Garden that will feature chefs including Reem Assil, Belinda Leong, and Jason Halverson. Don't pass up prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus for both takeout and outdoor dining. Then, close it out with a collab dinner at Epic Steak and Waterbar; Friday through November 1st. // eatdrink-sf.com


Don't Follow the Lights is an immersive, dark fantasy virtual adventure. Expect riddles, puzzles, live and pre-recorded actors, and a variety of endings impacted by your actions; shows at 9pm and 10:30pm this Friday and Saturday, plus Oct. 30-31. // Tickets ($30) on Eventbrite


Chow a four-course dinner at award-winning vodka distillery Hanson of Sonoma. Socially distanced outdoor tables have garden and pond views; Friday at 6:15pm. // Tickets ($125/person) on Tock


Watch Act I of San Francisco Playhouse's revised 2020/21 season.Art, by award-winning French playwright Yasmina Reza, addresses the complexities of friendships through comedy; stream Saturday through November 7. // Tickets ($15 and up) on sfplayhouse.org

Crack up at home during the second annual Oakland Comedy Fest, featuring sketch, music, and stand-up show with Xander Beltran, Chris Riggs, Sammy Obeid, Irene Tu, Max & Nicky, and more; 5pm to 9pm Saturday. // Tickets (all five shows for $35, or purchase individually) on oaklandcf.com


Can't get enough of movies? Tune in for the 18th Annual SF International South Asian Film Festival. Showing include Levity and Artivism starring queer Pakistani-American actress/director Fawzia Mirza; Word to Your Motherland, which explores hip-hop culture and its relationship with South Asian American youth; and Road to Ladakh, a love story about two strangers who meet near the borders of India and Pakistan; Friday through Sunday. // Details on thirdi.org


Get groovy during the 4th Annual Grateful Day Fest, which will include a socially distanced market on Saturday followed by hours of live streaming Dead tribute bands and '60s-inspired musicians on Sunday. // Details on telegraphfair.com


Watch San Francisco Opera's 2008 performance of Lucia di Lammermoor on Fort Mason Flix's drive-in big screen; Sunday at 6pm. // Tickets ($49/car) on sfopera.com

Sweat it out with The Boombox Studio on the Ferry Building's plaza. Every week through the end of 2020, you can take a fat-burning, muscle-building, socially-distanced bootcamp class—with bridge and bay views too; classes at 10am and 11am Sundays. // Sign up ($30) on theboomboxstudio.com


Explore more than 12 blocks of Oakland's Temescal during Picnic on Telegraph. Enjoy expanded seating at eateries like Burma Superstar, Marafuku Ramen, and Temescal Brewing; shop sidewalk sales hosted by Preserved Goods, Planter Base, and more; and even partake in a cardio dance party or Game Changer Fitness workout; 11am to 8pm Sunday. // Details on temescaldistrict.org


Celebrate California's independent booksellers during Heyday Harvest, a live broadcast honoring authors Greg Sarris and Innosanto Nagara; 5pm Sunday. // Register on salsalabs.org


Carve a jack-o-lantern at Pumpkins on Pikes, Nick's Cove's new annual Halloween tradition. You'll carve pumpkins on the beach then, after sunset, Nick's will illuminate Tomales Bay by lighting all the jack-o-lanterns. Bonus points for food and drink specials while you carve; 11am to sunset Sunday. // nickscove.com

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