October is here and with it come some serious festivals and fun.
Look out for Oktoberfest events, the Blue Angels, loads of live music, new restaurants, and more. Have a great week!
Monday, Oct. 1st
(Courtesy of Freds)
Angler catches on...
When: Dinner from 5 to 10pm Sunday through Thursday, and until 11pm Friday and Saturday
Where: Angler, 132 The Embarcadero, anglerrestaurants.com
Why: If you've always wanted to dine at Saison but found the prices to be beyond your pocket, get excited for a new dining destination from the same team. If the waterfront locale, bubbling fish tanks, and scaly taxidermy don't give it away, Angler focuses on seafood—and, unsurprisingly to followers of chef Joshua Skenes' Saison, wood-fired dishes. But unlike Saison, the menu is all a la carte, with options including antelope tartare, purple sea urchin, whole petrale sole, and a bone-in porterhouse steak.
Barneys SF finally gets a Freds!
When: Monday - Saturday 11am to 7pm; Sunday, noon to 6pm
Where: Barneys New York, 77 O'Farrell St. (Union Square), barneys.com
Why: Loyal Barneys shoppers in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago have long celebrated their purchases with Champagne lunches at Freds, the department store's restaurant that has eluded San Francisco fashion mavens—till now. At last the Union Square store is serving Fred's classics (think Estelle's chicken soup, Fred's spaghetti, and pomme frites). Make your way to the 6th floor and say chin chin.
SalsaCrazy Mondays
When: 7pm to 1:30am
Where: Neck of the Woods, 406 Clement St. (Inner Richmond), neckofthewoodssf.com
Why: It's not too late to sign up for this four-week salsa dance series complete with progressive lessons and all-night parties hosted by the SF Salsa Dance Academy. // Tickets ($60) are available at eventbrite.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 2nd
(Photography by Marianne Hale)
Meet a Red Panda
When: Multiple dates and times
Where: San Francisco Zoo
Why: IfOnly has put together a once-in-a-lifetime experience for animal lovers. Choose your preferred date for a private tour with the zookeeper in which you'll come FTF with a red panda and check out its custom-designed habitat at the SF Zoo. // Tickets ($325/person) includes a certificate of adoption, a collector's bracelet, and parking; available at ifonly.com/adventure.
Modern Elders & Millennials at Work
When: 6:30-7:45pm
Where: Marines Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter St. (TenderNob), marinesmemorialtheatre.com
Why: Because people are still relevant over the age of 35. Airbnb's millennial cofounder Brian Chesky and 52-year-old Joie de Vivre founder and legend Chip Conley—Airbnb's strategic advisor and author of the book Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder—have a candid convo about work, creativity and innovation. // Tickets ($15-$65) are available at eventbrite.com.
Free Play Tuesday
When: 6-11pm
Where: Brewcade, 2200 Market St. (Upper Market), brewcadesf.com
Why: If Tuesday is a just-one-drink kind of day, make it count with free games when you purchase an adult beverage from the bar. // For more info, go to facebook.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 3rd
Studio Tour at Gensler
When: 6-8pm
Where: 4500 Fremont St., #1500 (SoMa), gensler.com
Why: Of course you've heard of Gensler—the San Francisco–based architecture firm is the largest in the world. And you know they have a cool office. Tour the SoMa headquarters, which also houses Gensler's Brand Design team whose clients include the likes of Timbuk2 and SFO. // Tickets ($20-$30) are available at eventbrite.com.
See Garbage Live
When: 7pm (doors)
Where: Fox Theater (Oakland)
Why: It's the 20th anniversary of the band's sophomore album, Version 2.0—hear them play it in full, plus some B-sides. Because Shirley Manson forever. // Tickets ($50) are available at ticketmaster.com.
The Bay for Beto
When: 5:30 to 7:30pm
Where: Chambers Eat + Drink, 601 Eddy St. (Tenderloin), chambers-sf.com
Why: Because Texas is this close to electing its first Democratic senator since anyone can remember. Go for eat, drinks, and DJ beats to support Beto O'Rourke, the skateboarding Texas politician who was once in a punk band. // Tickets ($50 min. donation) are available at act.myngp.com; for more info, go to facebook.com.
Females in Food
When: 6:30pm to 8pm
Where: The Assembly, 449 14th Street (Mission), theassembly.com
Why: Go learn from five powerhouse women who are rocking the restaurant industry. Enjoy Smitten ice cream and drinks, while hear from Lindsay Tusk (Quince, Cotogna), Robyn Sue Fisher (Smitten), Neka Pasquale (Urban Remedy), Jessie Nguyen (Little Window), and Kavitha Raghavan (Indian Paradox) as they discuss how they've created each of their successful businesses. // Tickets ($15) can be purchased on theassembly.com.
Thursday, Oct. 4th
Oakland actor Mahershala Ali stars in The Green Book and will appear at a screening of the film at Mill Valley Film Festival tonight.
Mill Valley Film Festival
When: Various venues
Where: Through Oct. 14th
Why: This is as close to Sundance as the Bay Area gets. Opening night at MVFF brings two star-studded events: Go say hey to actress Rosamund Pike at the screening of A Private War (7pm at San Rafael Film Center) or what's up to Mahershala Ali and director Peter Farrelly at The Green Book, about a black jazz piano prodigy and his white chauffeur (7pm at CinéArts Sequoia). Also look for appearances from Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, and Moonlight director Barry Jenkins whose new film, based on James Baldwin's novel If Beale Street Could Talk, closes out the fest. // For more info and tickets, go to mvff.com.
Happy Hour With Red Car Wine
When: 5-7pm
Where: Batch, 1648 Pacific Ave. (Russian Hill), visitbatch.com
Why: Free tastings of sustainably harvested Sonoma wines and small bites are a just-perfect way to end a Thursday. But since this happy hour is also being hosted at Batch—the Russian Hill showroom founded by 7x7 Style Council honoree Lindsay Meyer—you can also shop while you drink. // Event is free; register at eventbrite.com.
Sharktoberfest Nightlife
When: 6-10pm
Where: Cal Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr. (Golden Gate Park),
Why: "It's like Shark Week—but with more beer and more actual science." Participating breweries include Ballast Point, Laughing Monk, Magnolia Brewing, Triple Voodoo, and more. // Tickets ($15) and info at calacademy.org/nightlife.
Joshua Tree Music Festival
When: Through Oct. 7th
Where: Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, 2601 Sunfair Rd. (Joshua Tree)
Why: Music lovers and vanlifers descend upon Joshua Tree today for the 12th annual, ultimate four-day campout with live performances from acts you've likely not seen everywhere else. Tune in for raucous blues, afro-funk, hip-hop, jazz fusion, electro dance and more. // Day passes ($60-$90) and festival passes ($200) are available at the gate and online, joshuatreemusicfestival.com/fall-festival.
A Nirvana Founder Plays Slim's
When: 7pm
Where: Slim's, 333 11th St. (SoMa), slimspresents.com
Why: Remember Krist Noveselic? Well, the OG Nirvana bassist is back with a new band, Giants in the Trees, composed of members all from his native Wahkiakum County in Washington State. Check out their fresh Americana sound—think banjo, slide, and accordion—at Slim's tonight. // Tickets ($20-$45) are available at eventbrite.com.
Friday, Oct. 5th
The Blue Angels!
When: Noon to 4pm
Where: Marina Green and San Francisco Bay
Why: Technically Fleet Week kicked off earlier in the week with brass band performances, ship tours, and more. But let's be honest: It's the Blue Angels air show we care about. Dose up your dogs with calming CBD tincture and then gather at the Marina Green Festival Center for the best view of the three-day spectacle that starts today. // For more info, go to fleetweeksf.org/events.
The What Women's Summit
When: 9am to 4pm
Where: Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop (Presidio)
Why: F is for Friday and Female Empowerment. Join The What founders Gina Pell and Amy Parker for a day long bossfest with conversation, lunch, and wine. Sign up for panels and workshops on health, money, writing, family, sex, and more. // For tickets ($599) and info, go to events.bizzabo.com.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
When: Through Oct. 7th
Where: Golden Gate Park
Why: Jeff Tweedy, Ani DiFranco, Deer Tick, Los Lobos, Patty Griffin, Alison Krauss, and Mavis Staples are just a few of names taking the stage at this free annual festival. // For more info and the full schedule, go to hardlystrictlybluegrass.com.
New Oakland Dinner Series
When: 6pm and 8:30pm seatings, Fridays and Saturdays
Where: The Gastropig, 2123 Franklin St. (Oakland), thegastropig.com
Why: Oakland's popular breakfast and lunch spot The Gastropig is now open for dinner—sorta—thanks to the Abstract Table, a new Japanese-influenced dinner concept that's popping up here on weekend nights. Expect laid-back evenings and artistic platings (five- and seven- course prix fixe menus are available) that focus on fish and ingredients foraged by the chefs themselves. // Reservations ($50-$70/person) can be made resy.com.
Crocodile Dundee & Dinner
When: 6:30-9:30pm
Where: MKT Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market St. (Union Square), mktrestaurantandbar.com
Why: MKT Restaurant is kicking off its new Friday night movie series tonight with Crocodile Dundee and a themed dinner to match. Take the fam for shrimp on the barbie, Australian wine pairings, and Tim Tams for dessert. // Tickets ($59/person) include dinner, snacks and wine, and are available eventbrite.com.
25 Years of 111 Minna Gallery
When: 5pm until late
Where: 111 Minna St. (SoMa), 111minnagallery.com
Why: The gallery-slash-events-spot is celebrating its quarter-century in SoMa with a special art exhibition and weekend of parties, starting with Friday night's opening reception and continuing into Saturday with an all-day (11am to 9pm) Qool bash with a different DJ every 45 minutes.
Saturday, Oct. 6th
(Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash)
Live Archaeology Dig
When: 10am to 2pm
Where: Archaeology Field Station across from the Presidio Officers' Club, 50 Moraga Ave. (Presidio)
Why: This free weekly series is coming to an end later this month, so get yourself to the Presidio to see a live dig in action. You never know what lies beneath this historic Spanish Colonial site.
Bottomless Oktoberfest
When: Noon to 4pm
Where: SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St. (SoMa), somastreatfoodpark.com
Why: Don you lederhosen (we know you have them) for unlimited beers, live music, lawn games, and food truck eats. Can't make it today? It's happening next Saturday as well. // Admission is free, but bottomless beer is $36; register at eventbrite.com.
Rare Barrel's 5th Anniversary
When: 1-7pm
Where: The Rare Barrel, 940 Parker St. (Berkeley), therarebarrel.com
Why: Toast the East Bay brewer's five-year mark with special anniversary brews, a dunk tank, food trucks, and a DJ. // Tickets ($25) include one beer ($5 additional beers), a commemorative glass, and raffle ticket; purchase at universe.com/events.
Silent Disco Beach Yoga
When: 5:30-6:45pm
Where: Ocean Beach
Why: Famed yoga teacher Janet Stone leads a waterfront class at golden hour to beats by DJ Drez. // Tickets ($33) are available at eventbrite.com.
Sunday, Oct. 7th
Castro Street Fair
When: 11am to 6pm
Where: Castro Street
Why: This 45th annual street fest is the perfect reason to play in the city's rainbow neighborhood. Go for live music, DJs, food and drink, street vendors, and all round local color. // Free; for more info, go to castrostreetfair.org.
Brunch at Violet's
When: 11am to 3pm, Saturdays and Sundays
Where: Violet's Tavern, 2301 Clement St. (Outer Richmond), violets-sf.com
Why: Among our favorite restaurant openings of the summer, the Outer Richmond seafood spot Violet's is expanding its offering with a delicious weekend brunch. Grab a table on the recently opened patio, order up a craft cocktail, and dig into egg and sausage breakfast sandwiches or shrimp and grits.
SF Indie Mart
When: Noon to 5pm
Where: Anchor Public Taps, 495 De Haro St. (Potrero), anchorbrewing.com/publictaps
Why: This outdoor DIY fest will bring together more than 40 makers—including woodworkers, ceramicists, fiber artists, designers, and more. Plus, you can learn to make stuff too with activities from Workshop SF. // Event is free; for more info, go to thesfindiemart.com.
