25 Fun Things to Do This Week (11.30.20)

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Holiday cheer need a little lift? Get in the mood with virtual renditions of the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker, the SF Symphony's Deck the Hall, and even an audio broadcast of A.C.T.'s A Christmas Carol. Plus, shop handmade gifts online at the Renegade Shop or the Shipyard Artists' Virtual Holiday Art Market.

Not yet in the spirit? Throw your own at-home dance party to benefit some of SF's most beloved nightlife venues, scarf down vegan burgers, and score BOGO deals at Curry Up Now.


Explore BAMPFA's experimental virtual exhibit Orbits of Known and Unknown Objects: SFAI Histories / MATRIX 277. The exhibit explores San Francisco Art Institute's history via objects, stories, and photographs. // View for free online at matrix277.org.


Sit down with chef José Andrés and actor/activist Sean Peen as they chat about giving back during challenging times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrés' nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, has served nearly 25 million meals around the globe and provided laid-off restaurant workers with jobs; Penn's nonprofit, CORE, operates free COVID-19 testing centers around the country, with a focus on assisting underserved and vulnerable communities; Monday at 6pm. // Tickets ($10 or $5 for Commonwealth Club members) are available at commonwealthclub.org.


Check out Bakanal de Afrique's "Just Roll Through," a digitally projected street installation in the Mission. In partnership with Dance Mission, this free, in-person showing was created by artists from around the world and is part of the multidisciplinary Afro Urban festival; 5-7pm Monday. // bakanaldeafrique.com


If you've recovered from your Thanksgiving food coma, head to Curry Up Now for a Cyber Monday BOGO special. Use the code WINNER when you order menu items including Sexy Fries and Naughty Naan via the website or app in advance; Monday.

Shop small without leaving the comfort of your own couch via the Renegade Shop. Renegade Craft's new entirely online marketplace offers endless gifts including apparel, jewelry, candles, cocktail kits, and art prints made by nearly 150 artists. Categories like Self Care, BIPOC+ Made, and Under $50 make for an easy shopping experience. // renegadecraft.com


Engage in conversation on World AIDS Day with guest speakers, storytellers, and musicians. Powerful voices including Nancy Pelosi, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and Cleve Jones will highlight the interconnectedness of the AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics, and discuss healing and lessons for the future. You can also take a virtual tour of the famed AIDS Quilt; Tuesday at 10am. // aidsmemorial.org


Stream San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker online. In addition to streaming a 2008 production of the magical holiday favorite in HD, you can even take a virtual tour of the War Memorial Opera House and watch historical Nutcracker highlights; through December 31. // Tickets ($49 for 48-hour access) are available at donate2.app.


Get cooking tips from the Barefoot Contessa. Along with author/comedian Michael Ian Black, Ina Garden will discuss her newest book, Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, which is filled with 85 holiday-ready recipes like cheddar and chutney grilled cheese and Boston cream pie; Wednesday at 4:30pm. // Tickets ($45) include a copy of book and are available at showclix.com.

Take a stroll around downtown Healdsburg to view Voices, a series of temporary art projects made by more than a dozen artists. Explore eight 20-foot murals painted by local artists on the plaza, as well as several wondrous light sculptures and video projections. // artinhealdsburg.com


Visit Haight Street Art Center's Radical Imagining: Trans Resilience Is Powerful. Created to commemorate Trans Day of Resilience, the exhibit features pieces by trans people of color including Art Twink and Amir Khadar. View during daylight hours in the Community Garden at Laguna and Haight through January 31. // haightstreetart.org


Keep kiddos entertained with Fairyland's Magic Tree. In partnership with besties and Blindspotting stars Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, Children's Fairyland's new digital branch includes special performances, fairytales, activities, and more. // Register for free at fairylandsmagictree.org.


Tune in to Cal Academy's NightSchool: Wild Cats on the West Coast. You'll learn about mountain lion and bobcat conservation, plus how humans are impacting their ecology and populations; Thursday at 7pm. // Details on Facebook

Help raise funds for the city's independent dance floors by grooving along at home to Revive the Night SF. This multi-day virtual fundraiser will feature live music and DJ sets to benefit IRL venues including Public Works, F8, Monarch, and more. Be sure to make a donation for a chance to win prizes like limited edition apparel, tickets to Outside Lands 2021, and more; Friday through Sunday. // Details and RSVP (free, with option to donate) on revivethenightsf.com.


Watch BATS Improv's "Holiday Adventure." During this festive, narrative long-form Zoom show, the audience will have the opportunity to participate in key story moments; Friday and Saturday at 8pm. // Register (free, with option to donate) on improv.org.


Listen to A.C.T.'s A Christmas Carol: On Air.Ebenezer Scrooge and his holiday ghosts will come to life in audio format this year, complete with sound effects and seasonal melodies. Coordinate a virtual listening party and go behind the scenes with the artistic team on Friday, then head to Humphry Slocombe for a scoop of Victoria Sponge, inspired by play. Opening night broadcast is Friday at 6pm, stream on demand through December 31. // Tickets ($40-$60) are available at secure.act-sf.org.


Celebrate the music and contributions of "Manilatown" residents in SF from the 1920s to the 1960s by tuning into Club Mandalay's Manilatown Music. Host Carlos Zialcita will honor bands and songs popular with Filipino Americans over the years; Friday at 6:15pm. // Register for free on Eventbrite.


Nosh on massive plant-based burgers at Malibu's Burgers. The popular food truck's new brick-and-mortar outpost on Piedmont Avenue is slinging Impossible 2.0 patties with enticing ingredients like caramelized onions and garlic mayo sauce, plus barbecue pork ribs, milkshakes, and mozzarella sticks; opening Saturday. // malibusburgers.com


More into real meat? Head to Roam Artisan Burgers for two decadent, limited-time menu items made in collaboration with SPQR's Michelin-starred chef Matthew Accarrino. Order an Italian-inspired fried chicken sandwich topped with Point Reyes gouda, giardiniera aioli, and salsa rossa, plus a side of "Oreganata" fries dusted with herbs, lemon, garlic, and parmesan. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Outride, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of youth through cycling; through December 31. // roamburgers.com


Participate in Impala Racing Team's holiday run, benefiting Outdoor Afro, a nonprofit that inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. Opt to run the 10k or half marathon, round up a running pack of up to five friends, and create your own route; Thursday through Sunday. // Register ($10) on docs.google.com.


Sip some bubbly during Decant SF's Winter Champagne Fête. During this virtual holiday celebration, you'll enjoy two bottle selections form France's Jeaunaux-Robin production house, while hearing from growers and winemakers Clémence and Cyril Jeaunaux. Splurge on a caviar pairing flight from The Caviar Co.; Saturday at 12:30pm, with additional events on Dec. 12 and 19. // Register ($125) on decantsf.com.

Broadcast San Francisco Symphony's beloved family-friendly holiday show, Deck the Hall, at home. Expect special guests and plenty of hit tunes; this Saturday and December 19 at 3:30pm on NBC Bay Area, and Sunday at 11:30am on Telemundo 48. // sfsymphony.org


Learn to cook an impressive holiday feast and enjoy some Cakebread Cellars pours. On the menu? Stuffed quail with dirty rice and wild mushroom gravy, and braised venison shanks with pomegranate and quince. Along with the Zoom class, you'll also receive four bottles of Cakebread wines including a 2019 Sauvignon Blanc and 2017 Chardonnay Reserve; Friday at 3pm and Saturday at 10am. // Register ($285) at cakebread.com.


Connect with local artists and shop their wares during the Shipyard Artists' Virtual Holiday Art Market. On Sunday, Zoom from studio to studio and catch artist tours and interviews, then shop online through December 24; noon to 4pm Sunday. // Get free tickets at shipyardartists.com.


Watch Shotgun Players' The Light. Expect all sorts of emotions—including plenty of laughs, of course—during this 70-minute romance in which IRL couple Leigh Rondon-Davis and Kenny Scott play a couple forced to confront a devastating secret from their own home; Friday through December 13. // Tickets (pay what you can) are available at shotgunplayers.org.


Indulge in a Celebration of Truffles and Piedmont Wine at The Vault Garden, where Urbani Truffles and Bay Grape are teaming up with chef Jason Halverson to present a special five-course white truffle dinner with wine pairings; 5pm Sunday. // 555 California St. (FiDi); tickets ($295 per person) are available at exploretock.com.

Thank you to our partners at The Vault Garden.

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