27 Fun Things: 'The Nutcracker,' OMCA's Winter Fest, SFMade Holiday Fair + More Bay Area Events
Enjoy the magic of Christmas at the San Francisco Ballet's 75th annual performance of 'The Nutcracker.' (Courtesy of @sfballet)

27 Fun Things: 'The Nutcracker,' OMCA's Winter Fest, SFMade Holiday Fair + More Bay Area Events

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There are plenty opportunities to finish up your holiday shopping this week with the return of SFMade's Holiday Fair, City Hall's one-day pop-up, a Bazaar NightLife at Cal Academy, and Heath's Make Good Market.

Plus, Copita's 12 days of Tamales just might be the best Christmas countdown ever; Virgin Hotel serves up a boozy tea party; Union Square Ice Rink hosts a silent disco skate; there's an art walk on Divisadero; and the SF Ballet stages its 75th annual performance of The Nutcracker.

Get festive.


Monday, December 9th

Weekday Brunch

10am to 2:15pm, Wednesday through Monday

Cassava, 3519 Balboa St. (Outer Richmond), cassavasf.com

Brighten up a dreary rainy day with brunch at Outer Richmond gem Cassava, where they're now serving up delectable brunch bites six days a week. Go for their extremely popular Japanese-style breakfast, or their juicy fried chicken sando.


Super Smash Buddies video gamer battle

7:30pm to 9:30pm

The Detour, 2200 Market St. (Castro), detoursf.com

Super Mario Bros. pros show off their skills at this arcade bar for a themed drinking game event. Audience participation is encouraged to add new drinking rules to the game and enhance the silliness of the night. // Free to attend, find event details on Facebook.


Cheeses of Italy 101

6pm to 9pm

The Cheese School, 900 North Point St. (Ghirardelli Square), thecheeseschool.com

Take advantage of a last-minute addition to The Cheese School's usual calendar of cheese-centric events and grab a pair of tickets to this class teaching you the finest details about cheeses from Italy. Cheese tastings will also be paired with wine. // Tickets ($75) can be found on thecheeseschool.com.

Tuesday, December 10th

Pop-up Magazine tix on sale

11am

Online at popupmagazine.com

Here's your friendly reminder that tickets to Pop-up Magazine's 2020 Winter Issue tour go on sale today. The next show is at Oakland's Paramount Theater on February 6th (no SF show this time, unfortunately). Tickets would make a perfect gift—get 'em before they're gone. // Tickets will be on sale on popupmagazine.com.


City Hall Pop-Up Shop

11am to 5pm

City Hall, North Light Court, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Civic Center), sfgov.org

Finish up your holiday shopping at this one-day pop up presented by Mayor London Breed. You'll find locally made goods from more than 40 artisans and vendors representing all of the city's districts. // Free to attend, details on shopdine49.com.


Herbal Body Scrubs Workshop

6pm to 8pm

Feathered Outlaw, 1506 Webster St. (Alameda), featheredoutlaw.com

Make your own customized herbal body scrub with your favorite essential oil scents. Keeping it for yourself or gift it to a friend. Snacks and beverages will be available while you craft. // Tickets ($25) can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Wednesday, December 11th

Free Grilled Cheese

11am to 2pm (or until they run out)

The GrilledCheezGuy, 529 Stevenson St. (SoMa), grilledcheezguy.com

The GrilledCheezGuy is working on some new recipes and is ready to do a little consumer testing. Head over to his pop-up near 6th and Market street to snag one of 200 free gooey sandos.


Oakland Zoo Lights

5:30pm to 9pm, nightly through Jan. 5

Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd. (Oakland), oaklandzoo.org

The Oakland Zoo is getting in the holiday spirit with a million sparkling lights. Take in the lights of the Bay Area from a colorfully lit gondola, explore decorated animal enclosures, sing all your favorite holiday tunes during the "Music in Motion" laser light show, and maybe event meet Santa. // Tickets ($11/members, $12/non-members) can be purchased at oaklandzoo.org.


The Nutcracker

7pm tonight; showings through Dec. 29

War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center)

Experience the magic of America's original Nutcracker, now in its 75th season at the San Francisco Ballet. As usual, the spectacular show will feature more than 150 dancing characters, enchanting scenery, a live orchestra, and even "snow" falling outside. // Tickets (price varies by showing and seat) can be purchased at sfballet.org.


Champagne Wednesdays

5pm to 7pm

Quiver Bar at Epic Steak, 369 The Embarcadero (Embarcadero), epicsteak.com

Mark the middle of the week with a Champagne sampling along the waterfront. Epic is offering 50 percent off four varieties of Champagne Drappier offered by the glass, half bottle, full bottle, and magnum. There will even be some live Champagne sabering, so come ready for action.

Thursday, December 12th

Divisadero Art Walk

6pm to 10m

Various shops along Divisadero Street (NoPa)

NoPa will be even more bustling this evening as various shops and restaurants bring in special activations to celebrate Divisadero Art Walk. Find live music at Brenda's, a photo series at Bar 821, kombucha-beer and mezcal tasting at Topo Designs, and more. // Free to attend, find event details on Facebook.


Silent Skate Party

6pm to 7:30pm and 8pm to 9:30pm

Union Square, 333 Post St. (Union Square), visitunionsquaresf.com

Head to Union Square for one of two silent disco ice skating sessions where you can block out the background noise of downtown and get into your holiday groove. // Tickets ($25) include skates and can be purchased on unionsquareicerink.com.


Pineapple Collaborative Pantry Launch

Queens SF, 1235 9th Ave (Inner Sunset), queenssf.com

6:30pm to 8pm

The Pineapple Collaborative is launching its own line of pantry staples—think olive oil, apple cider vinegar, tahini, and more. To celebrate, they're hosting a launch party in SF where you can taste the goods and take some home, and also meet the women makers and farmers behind the brand. You'll enjoy apertifis by Haus and nosh on dumplings made with the pantry goods. // Tickets ($20/event or $68 includes a product bundle) are available on Eventbrite.


Holiday Bazaar NightLife

6pm to 10pm

Cal Academy, 55 Music Concourse Drive (Golden Gate Park), calacademy.org

NightLife at the Academy is going all out holiday tonight with a big marketplace showcasing artisan wares. Grab a craft cocktail and peruse the merch while bopping around to DJ beats. // Tickets ($15) are available at calacademy.org.


She & Him Christmas Party

8pm

Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave. (Oakland)

She & Him, the musical duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, are bringing the Christmas spirit to the Fox Theater in Oakland tonight. Wear your holiday finest and enter to win a special prize for best dressed. Comedian Alice Wetterlund will open the show. // Tickets ($50-$90) are available at thefoxoakland.com/events/she-him.

Thank you to our partners at Another Planet Entertainment.

Friday, December 13th

12 Days of Tamales

Through Dec. 23

Copita, 739 Bridgeway (Sausalito), copitarestaurant.getbento.com

Beloved Mexican restaurant Copita is celebrating the holidays with a tasty spin: 12 days of non-stop tamale action. Stop in for tamales and margs and take some tamales to go. Options include chicken and salsa verde; poblano rajas and panela; and cochinita pibil. // Tamales are $8 for one or $72 for 12.


Winter Fest

5pm to 9pm

Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. (Oakland), museumca.org

OMCA is bringing together the best of all the holidays with activities, food, and music inspired by Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Tackle candle making, participate in a flower art session, snack on eats from Off the Grid food trucks, dance to DJ music, learn about Mexican Christmas traditions, and check out the galleries late night. // Free to attend, event details on museumca.org.


Submission: Cocktails & Comedy

7pm to 10pm

The Armory Club, 1799 Mission St. (Mission), armoryclub.com

Like a little kink with your comedy? Head over to The Armory for a night of stand-up along with some tips and tricks from a member of the kink community. // Tickets ($15) can be found on Eventbrite.


New Show at Audium

8:15pm Fridays and Saturdays, select Thursdays

Audium, 1616 Bush St. (Lower Pac Heights), audium.org

The longstanding sound theater Audium is changing up its soundtrack after two years. Settle into total darkness for an audio experience—expect noises from nature, field recordings, and electronic sounds—like none other. // Tickets ($20) can be purchased at cityboxoffice.com.

Saturday, December 14th

Make Good Market

10am to 5pm today, 10am to 3pm Sunday

Heath Ceramics Factory & Showroom, 2900 18th St. (Mission)

The Mission's Heath factory and showroom is hosting 30+ local vendors this weekend for market with a bit of something for everyone—think wood carving, letterpress printing, and ceramic jewelry making. // Free to attend, find event info on heathceramics.com.


Upside Down Tea

2pm to 4pm

Commons Club at Virgin Hotel, 250 Fourth St. (SoMa), virginhotels.com

Downtown's Virgin Hotel is hosting a boozier version of afternoon tea with macarons, finger sandwiches, and tea-infused cocktails. // Tickets ($40) can be found on Eventbrite.


Detective Mystery Dinner

6pm to 9pm, Saturdays in December

Waterfront Hotel, 10 Washington St. (Oakland), jdvhotels.com

Whodunnit? Tackle the mystery over dinner during this immersive mystery experience. Four courses should allow plenty of time to crack the perplexing case. // Tickets ($80) are available at thedinnerdetective.com.


Jingle Beer Run

10am to 1pm

Monkey Bars, 2 Marina Green Drive (Marina)

Burn off all those extra indulgences with a three-mile fun run. Come in your holiday best—think ugly sweaters, Santa beard, and reindeer antlers—and make a dash for the finish line, at Pier 23, where beer and bloody marys will be served. Make a $10 donation to a charity of your choice. // Register for free (includes one holiday beverage, medal, and set of jingle bells) on Eventbrite.


Consciousness Hacking Holiversary

7pm to 11pm

Covo, 981 Mission St. (SoMa), hellocovo.com

This hacker-friendly party will feature new tech demos, a silent disco, meditation competition with brain headbands, a variety of beverages from beer to "mood-enhancing elixirs" and snacks. // Tickets ($35 and up) can be found on Eventbrite.

Sunday, December 15th

SFMade Holiday Fair

11am to 5pm

California College of the Arts, 1111 Eighth St. (SoMa), cca.edu

Explore some of the best goods made in the Bay Area including clothes, food, jewelry, accessories, chocolate, home goods, toys, and more. // Free to attend, find event details on sfmade.org.


All-You-Can-Eat Crab Feast

Noon to 3pm

SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St. (SoMa), somastreatfoodpark.com

Get ready for a crustacean-filled feast with endless Alaskan Dungeness crab legs, garlic noodles, salad, and iced tea—and if you're in the mood to imbibe, draft beer and carafes of homemade sangria available for purchase. Come hungry. // Tickets ($62/adults, $25/kids) are available on Eventbrite.


Holiday Champagne Bar

Noon to 8pm Thursdays to Sundays, through Dec. 31

Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St. (Union Square), westinstfrancis.com

Grab a glass of bubbly at this pop-up Champagne bar with glittering views of the Union Square ice rink and holiday tree. The bar is decorated in shimmering whites and golds and complete with an elegant Champagne tree. Menu options include Moët Impérial Brut, Chandon Rosé, Anchor Steam's Christmas Lager, cheeses, and baked goods. // Free to attend with food and drink for purchase; find event details on westinstfrancis.com.

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